Once A Ninja, Always A Ninja.

It had been a year since Karina had left. We expected to see her soon, but she hadn't returned for a long time. Before she left, she had given us some fireworks and strange devices as a token of gratitude for the favors we had done for her. Kai and I decided not to use them until she came back.

Even though things were not the same without Karina, I still had my master, who I considered my father, and Kai, who I considered my brother. I also had my lineage and the people in it. The people here were kind and friendly. Many loved and trusted my master and valued Kai and me in the same way.

I made a promise to my master and the others that I would become a strong ninja and protect them all. I saw this place as my home rather than just a place of shelter, and my master took care of me like a father would.

Most of our time was devoted to training and learning about our culture - how a ninja fights, works, and lives. My master continued to train Kai and me with intensity, repetition, and thoughtfulness. The training was challenging but not impossible.

As we progressed, our training became more competitive. Kai and I would spar to test our strength and skills against each other. Our master wanted to learn the difference in strength between us, identify our weaknesses, and help us improve. Competitive training made us stronger.

I managed to defeat Kai in a stick fight. My master watched the match with great interest and was pleased with my performance. He came over to congratulate me.

"I like your moves and your point of view," he said. "If you continue like this, you will lead the ninja clan in the future, son."

"Thank you, master," I replied.

Kai didn't like the way I talked to our master and disagreed with his assessment.

"Master, it's not fair," he protested. "You always favor Shou in a match."

"I favor both of you, Kai," our master replied calmly. "But the winner deserves the credit."

Kai was upset. He had suffered a few defeats recently. He wanted to vent his frustration.

"Ever since Shou came, I've always been put on the back burner," he said bitterly.

"That's not true, Kai," our master replied.

"Yes it is," Kai insisted. "And he's not even of ninja blood. He's just a slave and always will be."

Our master's expression hardened and he slapped Kai hard with his left hand.

"That's enough, Kai," he said sternly. "Behave yourself."

Kai stared at our master, wide-eyed.

"You're going to regret this," he said before storming off.

Kai ran away after hearing those words and left us behind. I wanted to stop him by shouting his name, but I didn't want to be rude in front of my master.

My master noticed the worry etched on my face and spoke calmly, "Don't worry, Shou. Anger is a fleeting emotion. It will pass."

I bowed my head in apology, "I'm sorry, Master."

He shook his head, "It's not your fault. I'll speak to Kai when he returns. For now, go and rest." I did as my master instructed and retreated to my room.

Despite his reassurances, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in my stomach. As I lay down on my bed, sleep eventually claimed me. However, a loud noise jolted me awake in the middle of the night. It was a sound that was familiar to me - the sound of fireworks exploding in the sky. Excitement coursed through me as I thought that perhaps Karina had arrived. But as I stepped outside, I realized that I was wrong. Someone from the hill was setting off our fireworks and disrupting the peaceful night.

Confusion clouded my mind until my master summoned me to his side. "The fireworks have attracted unwanted attention from outside troops," he explained gravely. "You must find Kai and leave this place as soon as possible." Just as I was about to set off in search of Kai, the door burst open from the other side. The Fourth King himself strode into the room. Fear gripped me and I retreated to stand behind my master.

My master unsheathed his sword and pointed it at the king, "You should never have come here." The king's eyes flickered towards my master before he stepped further into the room, "Takehiro, it's been too long."

My master's voice was firm, "Take your men and leave my village." The king's expression remained impassive, "You should have accepted my offer when you had the chance." My master's grip on his sword tightened, "You're nothing but a slave to your own ambition." The king's lips curled into a sneer, "My nephew may be powerful, but we work together towards a common goal - to eliminate all those who stand in our way." My master countered, "Even if you defeat us here today, the other clans will not stand idly by." The king's smile turned cold, "The clans you trust so blindly have already accepted defeat and joined our cause." My master stood his ground resolutely, "Even if we fall here today, the Ninja clan will never tolerate such treachery."

The King continued to speak from the shadows, his voice laced with malice. "Your lineage may have died out, but fear not. With this young man by my side, we will breathe new life into it." It was then that I realized the truth - it wasn't the King who had set off the fireworks. It was Kai. He had betrayed us and led the troops right to our doorstep.

As Kai stepped into the room and stood beside the King, a sense of dread washed over me.

The King cast one final glance at my master before speaking again, "I warned you that you had already lost." My master's expression crumpled in sadness as he looked at Kai. Tears of frustration and betrayal welled up in his eyes, "How could you do this? I loved you like my own son." Kai's expression remained cold and unfeeling as he replied, "I was never your son. I will rebuild this lineage with power and a new sense of justice."

After those words, the king emerged from the shadows and swiftly killed my master with a single movement. My master was too distraught to fight back due to the betrayal he had suffered. Involuntarily, his sword slipped from his trembling hands and clattered to the ground. He looked at me one last time before collapsing to the ground.

"I remember you," the king sneered. "You're the boy who set the castle on fire. You tried to save Kai and the others, but do you want to know what really happened? I killed them all, just like your master lying there on the ground."

"No," I protested. "We saved them."

Kai suddenly appeared from behind the king and joined in his speech.

"They were nothing but slaves and they got what they deserved," he said coldly. "Shou,"

The king approached me, his intentions clear. "Now it's your turn," he said, his voice cold and threatening. "I will kill you, and Kai and I will build a new lineage of ninja."

"No matter what," I growled, "I will kill you and Kai and avenge my master's death." With that, I grabbed my master's sword and started swinging it at the king, but he was too fast and grabbed me by the throat.

"Quite pathetic," he sneered.

But I had already planned for this moment, I had tampered with some of Karina's devices and bound her to the gunpowder before King arrived. With one hand still gripping the king's wrist, I reached for the button in my other hand and pressed it without hesitation. The resulting explosion engulfed the house and the king and Kai escaped the burning house with ease, leaving me in the flames, assuming I was dead. But I survived, badly wounded and barely clinging to life.

That day I saw Karina after a long time, it was she and her grandfather who saved me from the fire, her grandfather made me a suit of armour to hold on to life.

When I awoke, I was trapped in a suit of armour, unable to live or breathe without it. But I still had my master's sword and a burning desire for revenge. In time, I would improve both myself and my armour, and one day I would have my revenge.