Outside the chamber, Mary and Shiranui Mai, now close friends, sat together with the dog, sharing a quiet conversation. And what else could these two possibly gossip about? The topic was obvious.
Looking toward the yard where Andy, almost fully healed, was stretching and practicing his punches, Mai sighed and whispered to Mary.
"Mary, tell me, why are men so boring? It's always punching, training, striving to be the strongest in the world. Can't they find anything meaningful to do?"
Mary stroked her beloved Dalmatian without looking up.
"Like what?"
"Like… dates! Like going on dates!"
"That doesn't sound particularly meaningful either."
"How can you say that? Dates help build affection!"
"You and Andy need to build affection? Aren't you childhood sweethearts?"
"Only sort of. He didn't come here until he was fourteen, and I was the one who taught him how to fight in the first place."
Rubbing the dog's head vigorously, Mai gazed at Andy as he practiced with fierce focus, and sighed.
"He's like a brick wall—always so rigid, always training. And me? I'm the last descendant of the Shiranui clan, from a long line of ancient ninjas, a noble family if there ever was one! My family's heritage is nothing if not traditional!"
Mary chuckled, eyes still fixed on her dog. "Traditional? You?"
"Of course! Just because I dress like that doesn't mean I like it! That outfit is a family heirloom, okay? I don't enjoy wearing it, but Shiranui techniques require the special clothing to fully work. I have no choice."
Hugging her knees, Mai sat on the ground, exasperated. "He's a stubborn blockhead—never takes the initiative. My grandpa won't even give him the time of day. Ugh, what terrible taste I have…"
Mary snorted without glancing up at Andy, still happily patting her Dalmatian. "Yes, your taste really is pretty bad."
Mai, who had been grumbling in peace, instantly perked up, not at all pleased. She could talk down Andy all day, but someone else doing it was another story.
With hands on her hips, she glared and barked, "Hey! That's rude! What do you mean my taste is bad?"
Mary shrugged. "Didn't you just say that?"
"I did, but that doesn't mean you should agree! Besides, my taste might be bad, but yours is worse!"
"Uh, excuse me?"
"You know that crazy guy who bites people? Where's the appeal there? All he does is pick fights! He's vicious, fights dirty, and loves to ambush!"
"Oh, please. We're not dating. He's a wanted criminal, okay? I'm planning to arrest him, and that's all."
"Is that all?"
"Well… he did save my life, so technically I owe him. He's my benefactor."
"A life-saving benefactor?!"
At this juicy tidbit, Mai's eyes lit up as she scooted closer to Mary, pestering her for details.
With a resigned sigh, Mary relayed the entire story of what had happened on the plane—the hijacking, the frantic life-or-death struggle, the daring high-altitude rescue, and their emergency landing.
The epic tale filled Mai's eyes with stars. Cupping her face, she swayed dreamily. "Oh, that is *such* a classic hero-rescues-beauty story! It's so dramatic, so romantic! Why can't something like that happen to me?"
Mary rolled her eyes at Mai's dreamy expression. "Sure, it sounds romantic, but I'd like to see you endure being frozen at high altitudes, only to fall and smash into the ocean. He only saved me because he chose to. If he hadn't, I'd be dead right now."
"Oh, he would have! If a guy who bites people can rescue you, my Andy would never just leave me! I'm sure of it! He'd…"
But Mai was cut off mid-sentence as a thunderous boom sounded at the entrance of the dojo. The gate shattered, the massive Shiranui signboard split in half and flew into the air.
The surrounding disciples, who had been training, yelped in shock and hurriedly scattered.
Mai's expression immediately hardened. She stood up and strode toward the entrance.
When she arrived, she found a group of monks in tattered robes, their heads crowned by straw hats, each wielding a metal-tipped staff. Their faces were etched with fierce determination, and their eyes gleamed with malice.
As Mai approached, the leader of the monks thrust his staff forward, its metal rings jangling ominously. He spoke in a low, menacing tone.
"Where is Shiranui Hanzou? Tell him that the Tsukimi Clan has come to pay him a visit!"
"Tsukimi Clan?!"
At these words, Mai's expression froze, her eyes sharpening with fury. She had grown up hearing her grandfather say that her parents had died at the hands of the Tsukimi Clan. Her hatred for this rival faction was deep-rooted.
Clenching the edges of her kimono, she gave it a quick flourish, transforming in an instant. Dressed in her crimson ninja outfit, Mai reached into her top and, with a flick of her wrist, drew a paper fan.
She snapped it open with a sharp *crack*, partially concealing her face behind it as she spoke in a low, menacing tone.
"You don't look like visitors to me—you look like troublemakers. You want to start something? Not without my permission!"
Watching the standoff, Andy, who had stopped his training, walked up and joined Mai's side, his hands wrapped in bandages as he addressed the intruders with equal hostility.
"Coming here to stir up trouble? You've got the wrong place."
At this, Tsukimi Soukaku sneered.
"Oh? You must be the Shiranui heiress. Quite a beauty, I see. And you…" He glanced at Andy, his lip curling. "A foreigner? Has the noble Shiranui Clan fallen so low that it needs foreigners to guard its gates?"
"You!" Mai's face flushed with anger as she gripped her fan tightly, ready to strike.
But before she could make a move, footsteps sounded from behind her.
With steady, rhythmic steps, an elderly figure emerged from within the dojo, pushing the doors open and walking into the courtyard.
Hands folded behind his back, dressed in the traditional Shiranui male attire, Shiranui Hanzou's elderly features belied a gaze as sharp as a hawk's.
Staring at Tsukimi Soukaku, Hanzou's voice was cold and unwavering.
"I hear you're looking for me?"