Tonamura leaves the village and meets with Mayonaka. When they meet Mayonaka is accompanied by Kento.
Mayonaka: "Infiltration was a success I see."
Tonamura: "Yeah, There's a tournament coming up and I'm gonna be it."
Mayonaka: "That's nice, but we don't care for you. Your main purpose is to gather intel on the Chikara brat. His father was formidable, but it took everything we had to finish him off. We can't let his son live, or he will become even more powerful than we can imagine."
Tonamura: "He's just a kid. Like me."
Mayonaka: "Which is why it would be easier to kill him now!"
Tonamura: "Oh, I get it."
Mayonaka: "Kai's other son, the eldest one. He's out there somewhere. We couldn't find him. It's very likely he knows where we are and is waiting for the right moment. He scares me. We need to find him and kill him as well!"
Tonamura: "Why isn't he with Kame?"
Mayonaka: "Cause as it stands, The brat doesn't know his oldest brother is alive. He did this on purpose so the brat wouldn't worry about him and he can get his revenge on his own, allowing his younger brother to live a normal life."
Tonamura: "It's likely he checks on him though, or even stays in the village watching over him. So it would be hard for you guys to attack him if that's true."
Mayonaka: "Hmm, you're right. These damn Chikaras! They are going to get in my way of world domination, I can't allow that!"
Tonamura is dismisses from Mayonaka and he goes back to the village. He arrives at night time and when he walks in the first person to greet him is Kame.
Kame: "Tonamura right?"
Tonamura: "Umm Yeah. And uh you're Kame right?"
Kame: "Yeah. Kame Chikara."
Tonamura thinks to himself. "No matter what I have to go through it with it. For master."
Tonamura: "Well good luck in the tournament, I'm gonna go home now."
Kame: "Good luck to you too!"
Tonamura awkwardly walks away and heads towards his room in the academy's student apartment.
Kame heads home as well excited. He eats dinner with Jaken and then goes to sleep early, wanting it to be tomorrow already. Then Ziku lays in his bed thinking about Aiko and if she's ok or not. Meanwhile Omoi lies in his bed thinking about his dad and if he'll ever see him again. Hiroyuki sits on the rooftop of his house just looking into the sky. Then he starts playing his ocarina he got from his dad. While he's playing he starts to tear up. Shizuko and Jiro are eating dinner with their parents.
Marvelle: "Good luck on this tournament boys. Want you both to remember that no matter what we support and love you both."
Shizuko looks at his dad, but his dad just walks away from the table and goes into his room.
Marvelle: "Don't worry about it Zuko."
She kisses Shizuko and Jiro on the cheek and tells them goodnight.
Jiro: "Dad is a hard man to please Zuko. Just don't worry about it."
Shizuko: "Hmph, he never acknowledges me, it's only you. Like you're better than me. You're not! And we'll prove that during this tournament."
Shizuko walks away and goes to his room. Jiro sighs and just stays at the table.
Aiko is alone as she just stares out her window looking at the sky watching the stars. As she just stares out the window it transitions to another woman looking out her window.
Airi: "So she's alive. My sister is alive and out there somewhere. I need to find her, before it's too late!"
The next day begins as almost all the students are lined up and ready for the fitness testing. Omoi is late and Ziku fell asleep at his desk in Aizu's classroom. Aiko walks in looking for him and she sees him with his head on the desk asleep. Aiko looks at him and starts to feel tired herself. She goes to sit down and she lays her head next to Ziku's and falls asleep. About 20 minutes go by and Ziku wakes up. First thing he sees is Aiko sleeping. He blushes as he thinks to himself how pretty she is. Then all of a sudden she wakes up and both of them just stare at each other. Until Asuna comes in and demands they both hurry outside to get the testing started. When they go outside Ziku notices Omoi finally showed up. Ziku walks to him as they both smile and high five.
Asuna: "Alright let's begin."
During the fitness test. The students undergo a series of tests, including: a strength test, a speed test, agility, awareness, durability, fighting skill, intellect and energy(chi levels). Based on the total score of the students will determine where they are placed and the order.
Hiroyuki-
Intellect: 5
Strength: 2
Speed: 2
Energy: 3
Agility: 3
Durability: 3
Fighting skill: 3
awareness: 4
Total: 25
Bezune-
Intellect:4
Strength:2
Speed:2
Energy:4
Agility:3
Durability: 3
Fighting skill:2
Awareness:3
Total: 23
Kanju-
Intellect: 3
Strength:1
Speed:2
Energy:3
Agility:2
Durability:4
Fighting skill:2
Awareness:5
Total: 23
Kame-
Intellect: 1
Strength:5
Speed:3
Energy:3
Agility:3
Durability:3
Fighting skill:4
Awareness: 1
Total: 23
Shizuko-
Intellect: 3
Strength: 2
Speed: 3
Energy:4
Agility:3
Durability:2
Fighting skill:2
Awareness: 2
Total: 21
Kireina-
Intellect:5
Strength:1
Speed:2
Energy:4
Agility:2
Durability:1
Fighting skill:2
Awareness:4
Total: 21
Ziku-
Intellect:3
Strength:1
Speed: 5
Energy:5
Agility:1
Durability:1
Fighting skill: 3
Awareness: 2
Total: 21
Omoi-
Intellect:3
Strength:2
Speed:3
Energy:3
Agility:3
Durability:1
Fighting skill:3
Awareness:3
Total: 21
Jiro-
Intellect:3
Strength:2
Speed:3
Energy:4
Agility:2
Durability:1
Fighting skill:2
Awareness:3
Total: 20
Kotai:
intellect: 1
Strength:4
Speed:1
Energy:3
Agility:2
Durability:4
Fighting skill:2
Awareness:1
Total: 18
Bokutso-
Intellect:1
Strength:4
Speed:2
Energy:2
Agility:2
Durability:3
Fighting skill:3
Awareness:1
Total: 18
Kisaiju-
Intellect:2
Strength:2
Speed:2
Energy:4
Agility:2
Durability:2
Fighting skill:2
Awareness:2
Total: 18
Mikoto-
Intellect:4
Strength:1
Speed:2
Energy:4
Agility:1
Durability:1
Fighting skill:2
Awareness:3
Total: 18
Mireko-
Intellect:4
Strength:1
Speed:2
Energy:4
Agility:1
Durability:1
Fighting skill:2
Awareness:3
Total: 18
Limbo-
Intellect:5
Strength:1
Speed:3
Energy:2
Agility:1
Durability:1
Fighting skill:1
Awareness:4
Total:18
Haruna-
Intellect:5
Strength:1
Speed:2
Energy:3
Agility:1
Durability:1
Fighting skill:2
Awareness:2
Total: 17
Senpu-
Intellect:3
Strength:2
Speed:2
Energy:2
Agility:1
Durability:2
Fighting skill:1
Awareness:4
Total: 17
Yumi-
Intellect:3
Strength:2
Speed:1
Energy:4
Agility:1
Durability:1
Fighting skill:1
Awareness:4
Total: 17
Isamu-
Intellect:5
Strength:1
Speed:1
Energy:1
Agility:1
Durability:1
Fighting skill:1
Awareness:5
Total: 16
Aiko-
Intellect:4
Strength:1
Speed:1
Energy:1
Agility:2
Durability:2
Fighting skill:1
Awareness:4
Total: 16
Chiori-
Intellect:3
Strength:1
Speed:1
Energy:5
Agility:2
Durability:1
Fighting skill:1
Awareness:2
Total: 16
Shiro-
Intellect:3
Strength:1
Speed:4
Energy:2
Agility:2
Durability:1
Fighting skill:1
Awareness:1
Total: 16
Tonamura-
Intellect: 3
Strength:1
Speed:1
Energy:4
Agility:1
Durability:1
Fighting skill:1
Awareness:1
Total: 13
Poku-
Intellect: 2
Strength:1
Speed:1
Energy:2
Agility:1
Durability:1
Fighting skill:1
Awareness:4
Total: 13
With all of them being scored and ranked. Their power grids will now determine the teams that are generated. Some random, some by choice.
Team 1: Hiroyuki, Senpu, and Poku.
Team 2: Omoi , Haruna , and Tonamura.
Team 3: Kanju, Yumi, and Mireko.
Team 4: Kame, Shiro, and Aiko.
Team 5: Ziku , Isamu, and Kireina.
Team 6: Shizuko, Mikoto, and Chiori.
Team 7: Bezune, Kotai , and Kisaiju.
Team 8: Jiro, Bokutso, and Limbo.
With the teams formed the next part awaits as the trial which takes place in one week.
Asuna: "The instructors of the trial and tournament are obviously gonna be: Me, Hozu, Aizu and someone new we asked to help us keep everything grade A. That person is Mest."
Isamu: "Who's Mest?"
Just as he asks the question someone appears in behind them with a cloak covering his whole body and face.
Mest: "I'm honored to be apart of this. I wish good luck to all you."
Mest scans all of the students and then locks on Kame. In his mind he's thinking how big Kame has gotten and how he hopes Kenshi has been training him well.
Senpu: " Yes! Poku is on my team. She's small, but her body is great!"
Kanju: "Huhhh, just focus on the trial."
Hiroyuki: "Please. I'm gonna need you to focus."
Senpu: "Ugh, but why, you're like at the top of the list. That means you're the best right? You carry our team!"
Hiroyuki: "This list means nothing to me. I may be at the top, but hardest part about it is living up to the expectations."
Shizuko: "Yeah screw the list you ice cold bastard! I'll prove to you I deserve to be at the top!"
Hiroyuki and Shizuko just stare at each other as it gets real intense between them. Chiori steps in between both of them trying to defuse the explosive intensity they have. They both walk in opposite directions away from each other. Chiori sighs in relief.
Omoi: "We're not on teams."
Ziku: "Us on the same team wouldn't be fair."
Omoi: "Haha, Yeah you're right. Guess this means we're going against each other. Finally get to see who's the better warrior."
Ziku: "Yeah. I'm looking forward to showing you how strong I got."
Both of them smile at each other as a rivalry begins.
Asuna: "Alright everyone, get with your teams. Know your team, understand them, cause as of now you are one with your team. If one of you go down, you all go down. If one fights, you all fight. What you do in this week time you have is up to you. I suggest training with your team. This may be a fast week."
Kireina: "So this is my team. Ziku and Isamu."
Ziku: "Yeah, our team looks great!"
Kireina: "I'll be the leader of this team."
Isamu: "Did you just self assign yourself as the leader?"
Kireina: "Yes. Is that a problem?"
Ziku and Isamu get scared and both go hide behind trees.
Ziku: "Umm no, that's fine."
Shizuko: "So this is my team?"
Chiori: "I know it's great!"
Shizuko: "Just stay out of my way and don't be an idiot."
Mikoto: "There's no I in team. I don't care how strong you think you are. You won't win alone, so actually be a teammate!"
Shizuko: "Hmph, fine."
Omoi: "Tonamura right? So what's your ability?"
Tonamura: "You'll know when the time comes for me to show it."
Omoi: "Oh, ok."
Haruna: "Ugh, boys are stupid."
Aiko: "I want to apologize in advance because I'm not that strong, so if we lose cause of me I'm sorry."
Shiro: "Hey it's ok. We wouldn't blame you."
Kame: "Yeah , do not worry. We will protect you!"
All the teams interact and start to plan training sessions. One week until the trial begins. All the students end up going home to train with their teams. Asuna stays for a bit to talk to Aizu.
Asuna: "Who scores the lowest for the boys?"
Aizu: "It was umm Tonamura."
Asuna: "Hmm, he shouldn't have scored that low."
Aizu: "What do you mean?"
Asuna: "Tonamura is stronger than what he portrayed, there's something else going on!"
Aizu: "I get what you're saying, but we can't be for certain. We should see this to the end."
Asuna: "Yeah, I'm gonna have my eye on him though."
The day ends-
Over the course of the week, the students share their abilities with each other, familiarizing themselves with one another.
Kireina: "Well me and Ziku know each other's abilities, what about you Isamu?"
Isamu: "I uhh, rather not."
Kireina: "Come on, just tell us."
Ziku: "Just leave him, you're pressuring him."
Kireina: "I'm trying to understand this team better!"
Ziku gets scared because she yelled and he just becomes frozen in silence.
Isamu: "Fine. It's precognition. Downside of this is that it is completely random. Every time it happens, it causes strain on my mind making me forget events that happened just before. As of now I can only see certain aspects of the future, those aspects being the terrible ones. Actually when I think about it, I'm only able to see destiny so what I see can't be changed."
Ziku: "Woah! So having knowledge of the future doesn't cause it to change?"
Isamu: "Oh it does, but that's only if you're told. Here let me put it like this. Say I have a good vision, it could be of someone finding great fortune, or a great victory, or even finding love. If I mention what I saw or what could happen, it won't happen."
Ziku: "Oh I get it."
Kireina: "Wow, so in terms of skills, or talent, you are completely useless to us?"
Isamu: "Thanks for putting it in simpler terms I guess."
Ziku: "Hey, no one is useless. We all bring something special to the team. There's no doubt in my mind that you don't."
Isamu: "Thanks Ziku."
Kireina: "I was kidding you know. Obviously you bring more to this team, I mean you are the smartest."
Isamu: "There's only so far my brain can take me though."
Ziku: "It will take us far enough to win."
They all look at each other for a couple seconds until-
Ziku: "Hey Isamu lets spar!"
Isamu: "Umm ok sure."
While they spar Ziku notices how much fear is in Isamu. Ziku allows Isamu to land some hits, building his confidence. After some time Isamu is attacking with precision and keeping his eyes open gaining more and more confidence. Isamu gets tired and then stops. Kireina stands up and then takes her stance wanting to go a round with Ziku.
Kireina: "Let's see how fast you are!"
She rushes towards Ziku bombarding him with attacks. Ziku dodges every single hit, grabs her hands and then pulls her close. He smiles and then pushes away. He gestures for her to come on as she gets irritated and rushes again. She throws a punch combo that gets easily blocked, then she tries to hit him with her knee, but he dodges and she ends up falling. Before she can get up Ziku puts his hand out and helps her up.
Kireina: "You're fast."
Ziku: "That was kinda fun!"
Ziku continues to smile. With the number one thing on his mind being how the tournament will go. Kame is sparring with Shiro while Aiko just watches she gets amazed at how strong Kame is with him punching through trees and rocks. While all the students train throughout the week Asuna, Aizu, Hozu and Mest prepare for the trial. Asuna and Mest end up creating the perfect idea and concept for the trial.
The week ends and all the students are ready for the trial.
Asuna: "We have decided that this trial will consist of 3 main concepts. Teamwork, bravery, and analysis. How well you work together, how you create strategies to better yourselves, and how you face challenges will determine your outcome."
Mest: "This trial takes place here. Inside you will find it quite interesting. There are 4 levels, each increasing in difficulty. Each team will have a King. Your King will be targeted by a certain team as will the team you are on will also have a specific person to go for. If your King is defeated or captured your team will be eliminated. If you capture another King you are to bring them through the finish. The teams that have their King along with the ones they were assigned will win. Trick is, within your teams you don't know which one of you is the King. You just have who you are assigned to capture. You only have 3 hours until this trial is up, make what time you have worth the effort."
All the students look at each other until Hozu speaks.
Hozu: " All the Kings have been determined. Send one person from each team to draw the lot which gives your team the King you are to capture."
Hiroyuki, Omoi, Kanju, Kame, Ziku, Shizuko, Kisaiju, and Jiro all go up for their teams. Each of them given a card and they are told to go back and line up with their team. Then each team are given cuffs.
Aizu: "These cuffs are what you use to capture your assigned King. Once placed on someone, they halt Chi flow. With that being said, you must realize once you're captured you are rendered useless. Your team is your only way out."
Poku: "Who do we have to go for?"
Hiroyuki points the card to her. Her eyes widen as she looks at Hiroyuki who's eyes are locked on Shizuko.
Kireina: "Well, who is it Ziku?"
Ziku turns the card as Kireina looks at it she also gets a serious look on her face.
Kireina: "It's Kotai!"
Ziku smiles then makes eye contact with Kireina.
Ziku: "We could do it!"
Omoi: "Looks like we have to go for Aiko."
Shizuko: "I'll capture Senpu, just make sure you guys can handle yourself."
Kame: "Tonamura, is the King."
Jiro: "Kanju huh."
Kanju: "Jiro is our target."
Kisaiju: "Hmph, Isamu?! That's too easy!"
Now that all the teams know who they have to go for. The trial is about begin. In order for it to be efficient, each team will start in intervals. This gives time for them to gather themselves and think of a plan of attack and how they are going to defend. Hardest part for them is not knowing which member is the King. All the teams line up against a gate. Team 4 goes first, next team waits 10 minutes until they are given signal to go. The teams are dismissed in a spontaneous order. First Team 4, then Team 7, team 3, team 5, team 2, team 8, team 1 and then team 6. Given that each team was given time to create space, the trial begins and the hunt is on!
Mest: "Good luck to you all."
Asuna to himself: "Will he prevail?"