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Appearing in Shades of Green, chapter 2[]
Major characters[]
Minor characters[]
- Eiji
- Neko Ninja
- Villagers
Locations[]
- Usagi's world
- Farming village
- Neko Ninja hideout
Objects and Vehicles[]
Summary[]
Night has fallen and sleepy villagers patrol the perimeter of their village. Two Neko Ninja sneak past the patrols and up to Kakera-sensei’s home, where they peer in through a window. Inside, the disoriented Turtles prepare to do battle, taking up defensive positions. Raphael thinks that Kakera is Master Splinter, but Donatello tells him to look again, because it’s not him. He believes it’s another of the Foot Clan’s tricks and, spotting Gennosuke and Usagi's swords, prepares to waste them.
Leonardo stops his brothers, saying that he knows one of them. He walks up to greet Usagi, who he’s encountered three times before, and Usagi returns the greeting. Don says it’s the rabbit-man that Leo told them about and an astonished Michelangelo says that Leo was telling them the truth. Leo asks Usagi what is going on and who his friends are. Usagi introduces Gen and Kakera, who explains that it is because of him that they are there. He tells the Turtles that their village is encircled by ninja of the Neko Clan who are determined to capture him for his powers – and to murder all witnesses. Kakera tells them they need their help and Leo assures him they will help, though Raph wonders what they’ve gotten themselves into. Kakera then says that even with the four Turtles, it is not enough and that more must be summoned. He muses that maybe this time he should use some frogs.
Outside, one of the villagers complains to himself about being on guard duty. He is a farmer and should work the fields, not stay locked within their own fences. He suddenly spots the two Neko Ninja and shouts “Spies!” He is quickly cut down, but not before his cries draw out Usagi, Gen and the Turtles. Usagi says to keep them alive for questioning as they chase to pair of Neko’s. He thinks the fence will slow them down, but the Neko easily jump over it. Usagi slices through a fence rail and Leo leaps through a gap. One of the Neko tells his partner to go on and he will slow them down. As the second Neko races away, the first turns and throws a shuriken.
Leo bats the shuriken away with his sword and the Usagi leaps past him to strike the Neko, bringing him down. The Neko tries to rise and Usagi warns him to stay down, but he ignores the samurai and pulls out another shuriken. Usagi quickly drops his enemy. Gen curses that the other got away while Usagi laments the waste of life. Don suddenly notices that Leo is missing.
Meanwhile, the second Neko Ninja reaches the deep woods. He runs along a trail, past some boulders, and hops on top of rocks to cross a stream. The Neko is completely unaware that Leonardo is following him. Squatting on a tree limb, Leo notes that the guy has doubled back so many times it’s hard to keep track of which way they are going. Fortunately, he’s marked the trail. Later, the Neko reaches what looks to Leo like a ruined temple. Since everything seems quiet, Leo decides to do some looking around. As he starts forward, Leo notices a trip wire and then looks up to see sentries in the trees. Realizing that the place is better guarded than he first thought, he decides to go back to the village and tell the others what he’s found out.
Inside, the Neko spy, named Eiji, reports that the rat is back in the village. When another Neko asks about his partner, Eiji says that he was killed. Standing on rafters overhead, Gunji tells him that he is overseeing the operation and reports are to be given to him. Later, in another part of the compound, Eiji concludes his report with the fact that there are now seven of them – the old rat, four kame ninjas, the rhino and a long-eared samurai, which draws a reaction from Chizu. Gunji believes the kame ninja must be formidable to have gotten past their guards. After the report, Chizu and Gunji walk the halls, with Chizu reiterating her stance that the operation is getting too complex, and they should abandon it before they suffer greater losses. Gunji does not agree, saying that he’ll succeed and then the Neko Clan will turn to him for their leadership.
Standing before the clan, Gunji announces that they must attack the village tonight, before more of the rival ninja clan arrive. He says that their numbers are enough to capture the rat and that their agents in the field will continue guarding the borders so that no more ninja sneak past.
Back at the village, the farmers stand watch. Two of them converse about the situation, wondering if the Neko are out there. One of them says they hadn’t attacked before because Kakera-sensei was meditating in the mountains for the past two days. He is glad that Kakera brought back some help with him. Usagi asks Kakera if he thinks that patrolling the village perimeter is enough of a safeguard against an attack. Kakera says no, but since they are farmers not warriors, they do what they can. Gen is glad at least that the fence has been reinforced. Usagi wants Kakera to use his wizardry to find out what their enemies are planning, but the old rat tells him that his abilities are not magic, he is just in sympathy with the tides of nature.
Michelangelo comes running up to the group exclaiming about the wonders of the place. He compares it to seventeenth century Japan, except with animals instead of humans. Gen demands to know who he’s calling an animal. Mikey goes on, wondering how they all evolved – how a horse is a horse, but a rabbit is a person. Usagi tells him that they are all creations of the Gods, as are all the things around them. He then asks if the people from their world look like the Turtles. Mikey has to admit that they are kind of unique and that they were created by an accident. He still has many questions, such as whether they have tails. Gen finds the question to be too personal and then says at least they wear clothes.
Kakera calls out for them to cease their squabbling and look. One of the outlying houses to the South is on fire. In answer to Gen’s question, Kakera says they have no choice other than to let it burn. Raph wishes that Leo was back and Mikey concurs because he’s getting worried about him. A villager begins running towards the fire, as it is his house, but Usagi catches and stops him. Suddenly, the sentries cry out that the ninja are swarming over the North wall, using the fire as a diversion.
Kakera tells them the warriors to go, that he will stay with the villagers. As they head towards the attackers, Usagi tells the others to stay alert and that the village guards will warn them if there are other attacks elsewhere. They reach the fight, seeing dozens of ninja entering the village, having overwhelmed the sentries. Usagi, Gen and the three Turtles leap into battle and a frenzied fight ensues. Then another cry goes out that the South wall is being attacked. On cue, a Neko Ninja tosses down a smoke bomb, rendering the defenders momentarily sightless. Meanwhile, Kakera is fighting off the new set of attackers, which includes Gunji. Kakera orders the villagers to stay back, which they do, though one of their number goes to alert Usagi. Gunji taunts Kakera, saying that not even he can stand up to five of the best of their clan. Suddenly, Leonardo leaps over the wall, shouting that maybe with help he can.
Leo joins the fight, taking down ninja until one of them throws ninja dust into his eyes and then delivers a vicious slash to his carapace. On the North side, the smoke begins to clear and the defenders note that all of the attackers are gone. They race to the other side of the village, but the Neko have all left there as well. Usagi races to Leo, who is bleeding from the wound to his carapace. Usagi urges him not to exert himself as Leo pushes himself upright, only for Leo to respond “No—They’ve captured Kakera…”.
See also[]
Trivia[]
- This issue was collected (albeit in black and white) by Dark Horse Comics in Usagi Yojimbo Book 8: Shades of Death.