CHAPTER VI

Manji clan s' plans

Sensei ordered all Manjis to come to their hideout.

- From now on, Yoshimitsu will be your leader. – Said Zeku Nasa. – You will respect him and his every decision. My death is coming soon, and Kobayasha is dead. Yoshimitsu is the best fighter, and smart. He will rule the Manji clan from now on.

Most of Manjis agreed to this decision, but one ninja was angry about that.

- That isn't fair! He just came to this clan, and he is already a leader!

- Tomodi? You dare not to agree with my decision? – Said sensei, in anger.

- If he is so good, he should prove he is the best fighter!

- OK, Tomodi. – Answered Yoshimitsu. –You want a match against me? You'll have it...

- But Yoshimitsu, you don't have to...

- Don't worry, sensei. I know what I am doing.

- Prepare to lose! You didn't see my skills yet!

Yoshimitsu and Tomodi entered the small arena in forest, and took their swords. Tomodi used katana, and Yoshimitsu used his Samurai sword Zeku gave to him.

Manjis came too, and they excitedly waited for the start of the match.

Tomodi attacked first, unexpected. He waved his katana, pointing to Yoshimitsu's head. Just when everybody thought he is dead, Yoshimitsu crouched and avoided the slash! Tomodi didn't show any sign of anger because of missed attack, he attacked again. Now he pointed to Yoshimitsu's chest, swinging his sword very quickly...

Yoshimitsu jumped above Tomodi, letting sword to pass below his legs. When he landed, He spotted Tomodi's hand holding a shuriken...

Tomodi threw shuriken, hoping it will kill that novice ninja, but Yoshimitsu surprised him again. He raised his sword quickly, blocking the shuriken!

His opponent was shocked. But Yoshimitsu didn't wait, he rushed to Tomodi, and kicked him in the stomach so hard that Tomodi flied about one meter back and fell on ground

- Why, you...YOU WILL DIE! – Yelled Tomodi, in anger.

He attacked again, now jumping above Yoshimitsu and pointing his katana to Yoshimitsu's head. Yoshimitsu waved his sword only once, and hit Tomodi's katana.

Katana fell on ground, along with Tomodi, who lost control and smashed himself on ground. He was unarmed. But Yoshimitsu didn't want unfair fight. He threw his sword and waited for his opponent to get up.

Tomodi tried to punch Yoshimitsu, but he hit the air, because his opponent just disappeared!

He turned and saw Yoshimitsu behind him. But he didn't react fast enough, so he received a knee in he stomach.

Tomodi was on ground, again. And he was angry. VERY angry. That was his biggest disadvantage.

Anyways, he realized that he cannot defeat his opponent without tricks, so he used old Manji technique – he became invisible!

- How do you think to beat me now? – Tomodi smiled.

But Yoshimitsu wasn't listening to him. He sit down and started meditating. Tomodi was confused...why his opponent meditates...NOW?

He realized the truth soon, when he saw that he is facing two, three, four, five...TEN ENEMIES!

Tomodi lost control of himself, because he was shocked and confused. And with his self-control, he also loses his ability to be invisible...

He was even more shocked when he found out that he is visible again!

Yoshimitsu made 9 clones of himself, and now he attacked Tomodi. His opponent couldn't react fast enough...

Tomodi felt punches and kicks from all sides. He started yelling, unable to do anything. Yoshimitsu's clones finally disappeared, and he came close to his opponent.

- Do you understand now that you can't beat me? – Yoshimitsu smiled.

But Tomodi didn't want to answer. He was angry on himself, on his opponent who defeated him, and on his whole clan.

Manjis rejoiced and congratulated Yoshimitsu on his victory. They accepted him as their leader.

- That was impressive – said Zeku Nasa, smiling. – I'm glad you showed him what you can do. I knew you could...

- Sensei! – Yelled a Manji ninja, running from forest.

- Masaki? What is wrong? –Asked Yoshimitsu.

- Uh...nothing, but I just checked the town and found out a juicy thing...a fighting tournament will be organized soon! And organizer is...Heihachi Mishima!

- Great! That will be a chance to steal more money and share it to poor!

- Excuse me, but I don't think I understand this...- Said Yoshimitsu, wondering.

- Ahh, well, I didn't explained you all about this clan – answered Zeku – We steal from merciless people, and share the money to poor. Heihachi Mishima is the son of Jinpachi Mishima, a very good karate fighter...he is cruel and we tried many times to steal money from him, but all of our attempts were failure. But looks like he is organizing a tournament, and that is a chance for something...

Zeku invited all Manjis to a place where Yoshimitsu used to practice with Kobayasha. They sit on ground, in Indian Style stance, waiting for sensei to give a plan.

- Heihachi Mishima is organizing a fighting tournament. – Started Zeku - I don't know why he does it...but anyways, this is a chance to steal money from him and share it to the poor. Someone needs to fight in the tournament as a decoy, while our ninjas steal the operating funds of tournament. So, who will be the decoy?

Manjis started negotiating, but nobody wanted to be the decoy.

- I will be the decoy. – Said Yoshimitsu.

- Yoshimitsu? But you are the leader now, and...

- Don't worry, sensei. I understand the danger of being the decoy, and I'm ready to go.

- OK. If that's your decision, I will accept it. Here's the plan. You will enter the tournament, and fight with other contestants. It doesn't matter will you win or lose, but you need to fight until other ninjas are finished with stealing.

- Right. That shouldn't be too much hard.

- Good. But we must prepare you for the tournament...hmm...you should get a new costume though, – Zeku smiled – that one is too old, right?

- Well, I am a bit bored of this one. - Yoshimitsu smiled too. – We should get a new one.

- Well, what are we waiting for?

After 2 hours of searching the Manji store, Yoshimitsu found an ideal outfit for him. He looked much different.

He had a red long hair, and his face was covered with white mask which showed happiness and sadness at the same time. His teeth were colored in yellow.

Also, there were two horns on his head, so he looked very similar to a demon. His armor was a combination of white and blue, and he had shades on his shoulders. He looked like a combination of a demon and a robot in his new outfit, but he liked it.

- Excellent! Just excellent! That outfit looks so good on you! Do you like it? – Sensei asked, happily.

- Yes. It is better than the old one. Now, where is the tournament organized?

- It is far from here...you need to go south-west, then over the big waterfall, and trough the Serene Forest. There is alternate way, but it takes too much time, and we need to get there faster.

- Who will come with me?

- Masaki, Dawan and Tokeda. They are good...and they will be there if you need some help or something unexpected happens. Beware though, because Heihachi's soldiers may think you are an intruder and open fire on you.

Yoshimitsu and three Manjis ran to the town where the tournament is organized. They were very fast, running faster than the best athletics. They are ninjas after all...

But when they came to waterfall, something unexpected happened. Tokeda stopped running, and grabbed his right cheek. Yoshimitsu, Dawan and Masaki stopped too, because they saw something strange is happening to their friend. Tokeda's face became red, and he fell on ground, still holding his cheek.

- What's wrong, Tokeda? – Asked Yoshimitsu.

But Tokeda couldn't answer. He just roused, then his body relaxed.

- Tokeda! – Yelled Dawan.

- No use of that! He is dead. – Said Masaki. – He has been shot by a needle full of poison...

- Get down! – Yelled Yoshimitsu.

He was right, because the danger wasn't over yet. Just a small moment after three permanent Manjis lied on ground, another needle flied to them. But this one missed.

- Use your invisibility! We must confuse the attacker! – Said Yoshimitsu, then disappeared.

Masaki and Dawan disappeared too, and that confused their opponent. The person who attacked them came close to place where the Manjis disappeared, thinking they left somewhere else. Yoshimitsu recognized the opponent straightaway.

It was Kunimitsu, again.

- Go – he whispered to Masaki and Dawan – I'll be right back...

Masaki and Dawan leaved the place, and Yoshimitsu was alone with his sister. But she sill couldn't see him.

- Come on, don't be a coward! Stop hiding and face me! – She yelled, although she thought nobody was there.

- Shame on you! – Said Yoshimitsu. – A true ninja doesn't kill like that!

- Wh...where are you? – Asked Kunimitsu, who was in panic now, because she couldn't see Yoshimitsu.

- Me? You can't see me. I am INVISIBLE. I am a SHADOW. You can't beat me, because your skills can't match mine. So, stop being ridiculous and start believing the fact that I AM YOUR BROTHER!

After saying this, Yoshimitsu appeared just in front of Kunimitsu. She quickly dashed back, grabbing her daggers. She was ready for fight, but she knew that person in front of her won't attack her. He is so convinced he is her brother...could that be true?

- Kunimitsu, you are my sister and I love you, but I WON'T let you kill my friends!

After that, he dashed to Kunimitsu so quickly that she didn't know what was going until she felt Yoshimitsu's sword on her neck.

But Yoshimitsu just wanted to scare her, he didn't want to kill her.

- Wait...wait! He can survive...I have a cure for that poison, just let me go!

- Do it...FAST!

He let her go, and she took a bottle, then put it in Tokeda's mouth. Few blobs saturated his mouth, and he opened his eyes.

- Yoshimitsu! Wh...where am I?

- Stay calm. You will be good after some minutes.

- Who is...she?

- Oh, I haven't introduced you two yet. This is my good sister Kunimitsu, who almost killed you. Kunimitsu, this is Tokeda, my Manji friend.

- Sh...she is your SISTER?

- No I am not! This crazy guy changed me with someone and he is now chasing me!
- I am chasing YOU? Excuse me, but you chased US!

- I want revenge for the death of my master...and my whole CLAN!

- Kudji-Kiri is finished forever, Kunimitsu. And it will never come back. But if you want revenge, you can have it. Come to the tournament.

- What tournament?

- I don't know the name, but it is south-west from here. Now go.

- You...won't kill me?

- No.

Kunimitsu quickly ran out of the place near waterfall. Yoshimitsu sadly looked at her until she ran out of his viewpoint. He came to Tokeda.

- Are you OK?

- I think so...where are Masaki and Dawan?

- They went to tournament. We need to go there too. Come with me.

Yoshimitsu and Tokeda ran to south-west, trough the Serene forest. It wasn't empty.

The noise of helicopters is heard. Yes...sensei was right...Heihachi's soldiers are here, and they'll eliminate every seen intruder.

- Why are they here? – Asked Tokeda.

- I don't know...maybe they want to use this forest in a tournament...maybe this place will be an arena! – Answered Yoshimitsu.

- Yes...possible...anyways, we need to avoid them. If they see us, we are probably dead.

- You are right. I'll go first. You go behind me and do what I do. – Said Yoshimitsu and started crawling.

- But Yoshimitsu, why you don't just use your invisibility?

- Well, someone has to lead you, right? How could you see me? Also, being invisible for too much time wastes my energy. Now let's go. Be quiet. – Whispered Yoshimitsu and continued sneaking.

He passed one soldier who was looking at two choppers. The helicopters' noise was too loud, so Yoshimitsu and Tokeda didn't need to be very silent.

But nobody musn't see them. If one of soldiers sees them, they are dead.

Yoshimitsu hide behind a big tree. Tokeda was still laying on ground. Yoshimitsu signed him to stay there. Now he needed to use one of his special abilities.

Tangian...the Third Eye. Yoshimitsu used an old Yoga technique...the third eye could leave his body and look where eyes can't reach, like a spirit.

His Tangian spirit left his cover and looked to the place where choppers and soldiers were located. Two soldiers near the first helicopter, three in the second helicopter...one soldier was crouching on other side of the tree where Yoshimitsu was hidden, and four soldiers were searching the forest for something...probably for a good place which could be used as an arena in tournament...

His Third Eye got back in his body. He knew the soldiers' paths, and pauses in their walking. That was strange...

The soldiers looked like they are waiting for someone...maybe Heihachi himself?

But Yoshimitsu needed to get out of that place, unseen. The most dangerous soldier was the one who was crouching near the tree where Yoshimitsu was hiding.

Yoshimitsu took a small gray ball, and when he was sure no soldier is looking that way, he smashed the ball on the ground where soldier was crouching.

That ball was actually a smoke grenade. After some moments, soldier's body relaxed and fell on ground.

Yoshimitsu and Tokeda needed to be fast, they must leave the place before some of the soldiers notice that one soldier is sleeping...

He signed Tokeda to follow him, then quickly rolled to other tree. Tokeda came to previous tree, where Yoshimitsu was before one second.

- Crawl to that tent and wait for me. – Whispered Yoshimitsu to Tokeda.

Tokeda started crawling to the tent, and Yoshimitsu crawled to a big tree, where no soldier could see him. But suddenly, he heard a voice:

- Jason? What's wrong, Jason?

Jason was surely a soldier who was sleeping. Yoshimitsu needed to react quickly. He sit on ground and started meditating. He will need all of his power for this...

- Jason is dead! There is an intruder! – Yelled Heihachi's soldier. He didn't know that his friend was just sleeping.

Yoshimitsu started rotating on axis, while smoke started to surround him. One of the soldiers spotted him.

- There he is! Kill him! – Yelled one of the soldiers.

But Yoshimitsu reached highest speed of rotating, he just disappeared! That was just an illusion, but he managed to trick opponents' eyes.

He «appeared» on the top of a huge tree. Soldiers shot at the place where Yoshimitsu was second after he disappeared, but they didn't shot him.

He was on the top of the tree, smiling. He could even see Tokeda's body from there. He is still waiting in his cover. Good...

Yoshimitsu grabbed three smoke grenades, and threw them to soldiers. He was very precise. All of remaining soldiers fell asleep.

He calmly got down, to ground, like nothing happened. He called Tokeda, without whispering:

- Get out, Tokeda. They are sleeping.

Tokeda standed up and came to Yoshimitsu and sleeping soldiers. He looked at the cards that soldiers carried on their uniforms.

- Tekken Soldiers...these are Tekken Soldiers... – Tokeda said.

- Hmm...that is probably the name of tournament too...Tekken? That means Iron Fist...

- Well, you'll probably win, because you have iron fists. – Tokeda smiled.

- I don't know, Tokeda...maybe I'll lose the tournament purposely. If I win it, I don't have big chances for entering 2nd Tekken tournament, if it ever organizes...but I think that, if Heihachi survives, he will create more than one tournament. I don't know the reasons of the tournament, but I don't care. The goal is to steal operating funds, right?

- Yes, of course. And if you win the tournament, you probably won't even get the promised prize...

- That's right. And if I win, Heihachi might want me dead, so I'll be in bigger danger. I will contest, nothing more, nothing less.

Yoshimitsu and Tokeda continued to the town.

The Tekken tournament is coming soon...and it will surely be a true test of Yoshimitsu's skills...