The TSD Kids:

The Adventurer’s Agency

Lv. 28

The Hidden Ninja Village

We’ve succeeded in routing the evil that plagued GreyStone Village. It turns out the right eye of Xylos, the Eye of Discord, had taken control of the late Bernard’s soul. We nabbed the eye and saved the town from Petrification. We’re certain there’s other parts of Xylos out there, but as to where they are is the real question…

Three days after coming back, things have come to be quite calm. Of course, these past few days weren’t lacking the usual calls for our help. We had just gotten some today. Some of us stayed behind, including me. Speaking of whom…

T: “Ah… this is great…”

I had taken the time to snooze out on the balcony of our house. Napping on the couch was fine, but this time I wanted some fresh air. Besides, the others were cleaning, and I wanted to stay out of their way.

T: “When I’m busy adventuring, I’m happy… when I’m not, I’m happy! I guess all I can say is… I’m happy!”

The breeze started to blow. Suddenly, something started tickling my nose!

T: “Huh? W-what’s that? (Sneezes)”

I looked and saw that it was green hair.

“Hi!”

T: “Oh, Ellis…”

She was lying right next to me.

Ellis: “What are you doing?”

T: “Nothing, as you can plainly see…”

Ellis: “Oh. Can I join you?”

T: “Eh, why not?”

I closed my eyes again. I was already aware that Ellis was on my right, but then it felt like someone was on my left too! I looked and saw a long ponytail.

“I thought you were asleep.”

T: “Nope, I’m awake. What are you doing, Sofia?”

Sofia: “Nothing. I just wanted to see what you were doing.”

T: “Oh. Well, carry on then.”

After a few minutes, I was fast asleep again. I wasn’t too sure if Sofia or Ellis were awake or asleep, but I then heard someone say,

“So that’s how it is. You were just too tired to help me clean, huh?”

T: “What?”

I sat up and saw Tracy next to Sofia.

T: “I was out here to stay out of your way.”

Tracy: “Well you could’ve cleaned a window or something…”

T: “Well, sorry…”

Tracy: “Don’t sweat it, I’m done anyway. Now I’m just bored…”

She was looking up at the sky.

T: “Okay…”

I then went back and closed my eyes yet again. But something was telling me that I should get up and see who has just joined us now.

T: “…Sho… why are you here now?”

He was lying next to Ellis, who was now asleep.

Sho: “I grew tired of meditating, so I needed to clear my head.”

T: “That’s… cool.”

I went back and closed my eyes again, but now I just couldn’t sit still!

T: “Aargh! Now I feel like a sardine!”

Sofia: “Huh?”

Ellis: “W-what?”

The others stopped daydreaming and sat up as I stood up and leaned against the sidebar.

T: “Seriously, what are you four doing, really?”

Ellis: “I told you, I just wanted to see what you were doing.”

Sofia: “I only want to hang out with you; is that so bad?”

Tracy: “I’m bored.”

Sho: “Everyone else was here, so I thought, ‘what the heck’.”

T: “Well you know what I think?”

Tracy: “That you want to be left alone?”

T: “No! No! Let’s try and do something together! We are the only ones here at the moment.”

Sofia: “Like what?”

T: “Why don’t we head to the beach? Cobalt Island, I say!”

I hopped up on the rail, and let myself fall over backwards!

Sofia: “T!”

They all looked over, only to see me hover back up to them as Tornado T.

T: “Pack a shovel and your finest swimsuit, we’re going clam-hunting! Paula has assured me there won’t be any squid attacks for quite some time!”

Ellis: “Fine by me!”

Sho: “I suppose some fun in the sun wouldn’t hurt.”

But before they could leave the balcony…

“Hey! Down here!”

Sofia: “Who’s…?”

They looked over to see a head of blue hair.

Ellis: “It’s Harold!”

Still hovering in midair, I said,

T: “Hey, what’s up?”

Harold: “The sky, and apparently, you!”

T: “He, he… right…”

I dropped down to him, as the others headed through the house to the front door.

Sofia: “What brings you here today?”

Harold: “I’ve come to ask if you guys are up for another trip to Cornet Village.”

Sho: “Where?”

Harold: “You’ll see when we get there.”

Tracy: “Well, what’s the reason?”

Harold: “I’ve been hanging with that friend of yours, Sean. He’s been to see someone named Reina about a mechanical arm.”

T: “Oh yeah! Good thing he remembered.”

Harold: “I was chatting with Reina, and as it turns out, she’s told me quite a bit about a certain place she used to live. I believe you’d find it rather familiar, T!”

T: “Really now?”

Tracy: “Sounds interesting! It must’ve been one of those places you visited when you were still a tyke!”

Harold: “So, shall we be on our way?”

T: “Let’s go!”

We made our way to Cornet Village and eventually to Reina’s house.

Sho: “That… is not something you see everyday… a giant pink neon sign for the whole village to see! How do they sleep at night with it on?”

Tracy: “That’s what I said!”

We approached the door. Two doormen dressed as ninjas stood before it, as well as Dan, Reina’s younger brother. He recognized us when we stood before him.

Dan: “You!”

He pointed at me.

T: “M-me?”

Dan: “Yeah, you! You’re the guy who… brought down the Officials and everything… thanks, I guess.”

T: “You’re welcome. But bear in mind I didn’t do it alone.”

Dan: “Right. Uh, my sister’s expecting you…”

He along with the doormen stood to the side.

Tracy: “If there are two guys here, how come you’re standing here with them? They look plenty strong enough.”

Dan: “Sis is making me stand out here cause I… broke one of her favorite bowls…”

Tracy: “Uh… huh…”

We went in.

Sean: “Okay, how does that feel, Reina? It doesn’t hurt, does it?”

Reina: “Not at all! Thanks!”

Sean: “It may take some getting used to, after having been without an arm for a while.”

Reina: “I’ll get used to it. Ninjas can adapt, y’know!”

Harold: “Hey, look who’s here!”

We all stepped past the screen into the common room.

Reina: “Ah, I was wondering when I’d see you all again!”

T: “Hello!”

Reina: “Hey kid, how are ya? Say… who’s this, with the long hair? Kinda handsome…”

Sho: “(Turning red) I’m Sho. So, T, this is the ninja/fireworks maker that was mentioned… is it true that she actually…? During your match with her…?”

T: “(Sigh) Yes, but I’d rather not get into it…”

And judging by the looks on the girls’ faces, they too, would rather not remember that little happening!

Reina: “Check out my new arm! I knew you guys would fulfill your end of the deal!”

Ellis: “But normally, the need for an arm would be rather hard to come by!”

Tracy: “Just be glad we have a technology expert on the team!”

T: “Hey, what about me? I designed this, remember?”

I held up A.N.A.L.Y.Z.E.R.

Harold: “All right let’s get down to brass tracks. Wasn’t there something you wanted to share with T, Reina?”

Reina: “Oh, right! Let’s do that then.”

We sat on cushions on the tatami floor as we talked.

Reina: “So as I was talking with Harold here, he mentioned that you’ve been to quite some interesting places, T!”

T: “You could say that. A lush forest glen and a ghost-filled mausoleum definitely wouldn’t be boring.”

Reina: “So do tell, do you remember a place called Cherry Blossom Village?”

T: “Hmm…”

Ellis: “That sounds like a pretty name. Do you know, Harold?”

Harold: “I’ve only just heard of it through Reina here. Do you remember, T?”

T: “Yes… yes I do! That was when I was in the middle of getting the Seiryuu Medallion!”

Reina: “Well, after chatting with Mr. Demon Hunter here, I went ahead and called up a certain someone who lives there. They’d be really happy to see you! Just so you know, I used to live there!

Sofia: “That’s nice. I suppose we’re going to go right?”

T: “I’d like to see who’s waiting to see me. If it’s who I think it is… but wait!”

Reina: “What is it?”

T: “Isn’t it a little far from here?”

Reina: “Oh, no problem! I know a super special way as to how to get there! It’s fast and easy!”

T: “Really?”

Tracy: “I wonder what that could be…?”

Then I suddenly remembered what Reina was referring to!

T: “Uh… heh, heh, could you tell me what it is, in my ear first?”

She came close and whispered it in my ear. It was exactly as I thought.

T: “Okay, now I’d like for you to…”

I whispered in her ear.

Reina: “Sure! DAN!!”

Dan: “(In distance) What?!”

Reina: “Your punishment’s over! The three of you get in here!”

Dan came in, followed by the two doormen. After speaking to them quietly, they exited and reentered with a handful of scarves.

Sho: “What are those for?”

Reina: “Don’t wanna spoil the surprise! Put em’ on!”

Everyone except for me was blindfolded.

Reina: “Right this way!”

I knew exactly where we were headed. We were led into a certain column-like room.

Sho: “(Sniff, sniff) Do I smell gunpowder?”

T: “Yes, Sho.”

Sho: “Uh, why?”

In a surprisingly cheery voice, I yelled out…

T: “That’s because we’re in a cannon!”

Sho: “I see… a WHAT?!”

T: “A cannon! Reina’s gonna send us a-flying to where we need to go!”

In that instant, everyone took his or her blindfolds off!

Ellis: “Oh crap, not again!”

Harold: “I didn’t sign up for some cannon flight!”

T: “Oh well, if we decided to hoof it, we’d be keeping our mystery person waiting!”

Tracy: “But I don’t wanna go the way of Team Rocket again!”

T: “It’s too late!”

Reina: “Happy landings!”

Sofia: “Oh man… and… wait a minute! When she spoke to you quietly…! You knew, T!”

As everyone else was yelling frantically, I once again took in the moment, but this time with a smile on my face.

T: “The look on their faces when they found out… priceless! At least this time, I’m prepared!”

Reina: “5… 4… 3… 2… 1…!”

BOOM!

T: “Hey… HEY! Wake up! Wakey-wakey!”

Ellis: “Oh… I had the worst dream… that Reina shot us out of a cannon again…”

Tracy: “Must be a bug going around; I had the same dream…”

Sho: “I was hallucinating, wasn’t I?”

T: “Heh, heh well, I’ve got something to tell you; but it’s really gonna bum you out…”

Ellis: “What?”

T: “You’re not dreaming! None of you are! Open your eyes!”

They did so, and they came to realize they were miles off the ground!

All: “AAAAHHH!!”

T: “Stop yelling! You’re not falling, are you?”

I had turned into a raccoon dog and made a leaf parachute.

T: “Ah, the breeze up here is soooo comforting, eh?”

Tracy: “I guess.”

T: “And this why it’s gonna be a shame to do this… it’s really gonna bum you out this time!”

Harold: “What would that be?”

T: “See ya!”

Just like last time, I ditched the parachute and dove down to the ground!

Harold: “Of all of the skills I learned as a demon hunter, why was it there was never one that granted flight?”

Sofia: “Not again…”

They fell!

T: “Almost…”

I had already reached the ground and was positioning myself to soften their fall.

T: “There it is!”

I morphed into a large, soft cushion, and caught them all, without casualties!

Sofia: “Couldn’t you devise a less scarier way of getting us down here?”

T: “I work with what I’ve got! What more can be said?”

Sean: “Is this the place? I don’t see a village.”

Tracy: “All I see is a forest.”

“That’s because it is hidden.”

Tracy: “Huh?”

We turned and saw the doormen from Reina’s house.

Sofia: “What’re you two doing here?”

Doorman A: “We too also hail from Cherry Blossom Village.”

Doorman B: “We rode along on gliders so we could aid you in getting into the village.”

A: “It is well concealed in this forest.”

Harold: “Then by all means, lead the way.”

And in we went into the forest.

Sean: “It’s very dense in here.”

Sean’s comment may have been a bit of an understatement. We could hardly see the sun!

A: “I must admit, it has been a while since we’ve been back here.”

B: “I hope he haven’t lost our way, brother…”

Sofia: “You hope you’re not lost?!”

Tracy: “Then how are we supposed to get to this village?!”

B: “I know there was a trick as to how to get there…”

Sho: “Is it one of those super-secret ninja techniques?”

A: “Not exactly… but let me share with you this one time when I was battling a Flunky…”

Soon everyone’s voices trailed off as each of them went off in four different directions…

T: “Where’d they go…? Man… ah well, wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been here alone…”

I looked around. Four pathways were around me, but which way to go?

T: “I remember this forest… but how did I go through it again? Hmm?”

I looked at the ground.

T: “Cherry blossom petals… fragrant and pink.”

The pink-white petals did seem out of place among the normally green leaves. They were scattered at the front of the passageways…

T: “Oh!”

I went to the northern passageway.

T: “There’s more over here than the other ones… ah! I remember now!”

I knew I had to go down this way. I followed every passage that had the most petals lining it. Then…

T: “A signpost! I made it!”

It read as follows:

Very good, you followed your instincts and made it here. You just might have the skills of a ninja, maybe…. Cherry Blossom Village is just down this path.

T: “Sweet!”

Suddenly…

Tracy: “What’s up with this forest?!”

Sean: “There’s no end to it!”

Everyone came in from the other three passageways and bumped into each other! They stood there rubbing their heads in pain.

T: “So glad you could catch up…”

Tracy: “We didn’t even see you!”

Doorman A: “Ah! You made it to the way out, Sir T!”

Doorman B: “It’s as if you’ve been here before…”

T: “I have been here before, dude.”

A: “Yes, well, we two will go on ahead. Please come soon.”

After they went on ahead, we went forward thereafter.

Sofia: “I wonder what Cherry Blossom Village is like?”

Ellis: “It has to be a pretty-looking place. The name alone sounds delightful.”

T: “You’re just going on the name alone. Remember Ellis, every rose has its thorns. And as I think about it, looking at you, Sofia and Tracy kinda proves that saying all the more!”

Sofia: “You certainly are full of compliments!”

Harold: “I’d like to know more about these ninja my self. I gotta see if I can implement some of their skills in my demon hunting…”

Suddenly, a shuriken landed in the ground near my feet!

T: “What the…?!”

Then several ninjas dropped down from the trees!

Sofia: “I think you’re about to learn firsthand!”

“Intruders!”

“How did you get through the forest?”

Tracy: “Uh… we don’t know?”

“Lies!”

They were about to attack, but…!

“Stop!”

“Eh?”

Another ninja, shorter than the others stepped in between them. The person looked female.

“Which one of you is named T?”

Everyone else started to inch away while pointing at me!

T: “(Sarcastically) Oh, real cool, guys!!”

But even without those sellouts pointing me out, the person seemed to recognize me.

“It’s you!”

She seemed to have a completely different look in her eyes when she ran towards me. When she came close, she…!

“It’s you! It’s you! It’s finally you!”

T: “Ah! W-what’re you…?”

She caught me in a surprisingly strong bear hug!

Sean: “I guess this is the person…”

Sho: “Must be…”

Harold: “Hm.”

But the boys’ word fell on deaf ears. The girls thought otherwise!

Sofia: “Oh no! She’s trying to squeeze the life outta poor T!”

Tracy: “That must be one of those secret ninja techniques!”

Ellis: “Let’s get her!”

The three of them instantly tackled her and held her down!

Sofia: “You leave him alone!”

Ellis: “We’re only here to find someone who wants to see him, and if you do anything, so help us, we’ll…!”

T: “Girls, stop!”

Tracy: “Huh?”

T: “Stand down! She’s not a threat!”

Sofia: “If you say so…”

They stopped. The ninja girl then removed her face guard and said,

“How dare you three jump me like common thugs?! And you!”

She pointed at me.

“What do you mean, saying I’m not a threat?”

T: “Ha, ha, you know what I mean!”

Ellis: “Are we missing something here?”

Tracy: “Just who are you?”

“Gimme your name and I’ll give you mine!”

T: “Just chill out, okay? Everyone, this is…”

Usagi: “I am Usagi, and I am a top-ranked ninja! I’m the best you’ll ever meet!”

After getting through the woods, we finally meet the person who has wanted to meet me. What will happen next? You’ll have to read the next episode to find out!