Part 16 (1/2)

The whole situation put him on edge and he still couldn't believe he'd been talked into it. Although he'd experienced some tough challenges during his training as a samurai breaking wood with his bare hands, running the Gauntlet and even overcoming the limits of mind and body by standing beneath a raging waterfall this topped them all.

A tense silence hung over the crowd of ninja as they waited for the Test of Truth to begin. To Jack's right, Shonin and Momochi observed him with interest, wondering how a gaijin gaijin would fare against such a ninja challenge. Jack glanced nervously over to the group on his right, spotting Hanzo, Tenzen and Miyuki at the front. She was taking some pleasure in Jack's discomfort, attempting to psyche him out by staring at him. Hanzo was fidgeting with excitement. Of all the other ninja students in attendance, Tenzen was the only one with an encouraging smile on his face. would fare against such a ninja challenge. Jack glanced nervously over to the group on his right, spotting Hanzo, Tenzen and Miyuki at the front. She was taking some pleasure in Jack's discomfort, attempting to psyche him out by staring at him. Hanzo was fidgeting with excitement. Of all the other ninja students in attendance, Tenzen was the only one with an encouraging smile on his face.

Jack was already perspiring and his heart raced. He took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself. Soke had advised him to clear his mind of all thoughts, not even contemplate whether he would pa.s.s or fail. To do so would guarantee failure and the consequence could be fatal.

The whole purpose of the Test of Truth was to enter the Ring of Sky to experience the Void and channel the unseen power of the universe. It was necessary for him to enter a state of mus.h.i.+n mus.h.i.+n, 'no mind'. He had to act without thinking without relying on his physical senses.

'Let the Test of Truth commence,' announced Shonin.

Jack knew Soke held a razor-sharp ninjat ninjat in his hands. Without warning, the Grandmaster would strike at his head. It was up to Jack to get out of the way. But, of course, he didn't know in his hands. Without warning, the Grandmaster would strike at his head. It was up to Jack to get out of the way. But, of course, he didn't know when when to move. He had to to move. He had to sense sense the attack. the attack.

This was the Test of Truth.

Jack called upon all his meditation practice with Sensei Yamada. He closed his eyes, emptied his mind and slowed his breathing. Jack took comfort in the fact that he'd experienced mus.h.i.+n mus.h.i.+n once before during a duel. He now sought that supreme mental state of a warrior in combat, one where he expected nothing, but was ready for anything. once before during a duel. He now sought that supreme mental state of a warrior in combat, one where he expected nothing, but was ready for anything.

For a brief second, Jack imagined Soke's sword slicing through his skull, but quickly pushed the gruesome image away. He had had to focus. to focus.

The Grandmaster could attack at any moment.

Allowing his awareness of his surroundings to expand, his survival instinct reached out like tentative fingers in the darkness. The air around him became motionless, time seeming to stand still.

It was no more than a sense of intent. But, in the s.p.a.ce of a heartbeat, he felt a surge of energy push him to one side. He rolled with it, moving a fraction of a second before the gleaming blade of the ninjat ninjat scythed through the air. scythed through the air.

The Grandmaster had struck ... and missed.

Jack came to a stop at the very lip of the rock, teetering on its edge.

'Congratulations!' said Shonin as Jack backed cautiously away from certain death. 'Not everyone survives that test unscathed.'

The students applauded Jack's success, while Hanzo bounced up and down in delight. Even Miyuki acknowledged the feat, begrudgingly clapping along with the other ninja.

Jack was too shaken up by the experience to do anything but breathe a long sigh of relief.

'This completes your initiation into the Five Rings,' said Soke, addressing Jack. 'Having experienced them all now, you're firmly on your way to learning how to endure like the Earth, flow like Water, strike like Fire, run like the Wind and be all-seeing like the Sky. Stay the path and you'll complete the journey.'

The Grandmaster turned to his students.

'Jack's no longer samurai,' he declared. 'From now on, he's a ninja.'

30.

FIRST M MISSION.

Back in the village square, the students gathered round to personally congratulate Jack. Hanzo stood proudly beside him.

'Told you the tengu tengu could do it,' he boasted to Kobei and his friends. could do it,' he boasted to Kobei and his friends.

Tenzen clapped Jack firmly on the shoulder. 'I always knew there was ninja blood in you.'

Jack grinned in response. He never imagined in his wildest dreams that he'd actually become a ninja, let alone feel proud proud of such an achievement. But during his time with the of such an achievement. But during his time with the s.h.i.+n.o.bi s.h.i.+n.o.bi, he'd come to see them in a new light. While Soke hadn't been completely open with the truth, his intentions had proved honourable. The ninja had protected him from the samurai, taught him ninjutsu ninjutsu and even tried to make amends for Dragon Eye's sins. A single tree certainly didn't make a forest. and even tried to make amends for Dragon Eye's sins. A single tree certainly didn't make a forest.

Deep down, Jack knew he'd always consider himself a samurai first and could never reconcile his father's death with being a s.h.i.+n.o.bi s.h.i.+n.o.bi. But he also realized that being a ninja could have its advantages.

The last to approach was Miyuki.

'You did well,' she said, almost managing a smile. 'But all this has just been practice. You're not a true true ninja until you've completed your first mission.' ninja until you've completed your first mission.'

Jack gave Miyuki a questioning look.

'You need to prove yourself,' she explained. 'Come, Shonin has summoned you.'

Miyuki led Jack inside the farmhouse.

'This is an unnecessary risk,' Momochi was arguing as Jack entered the reception room. 'What if he makes a mistake? Or, worse, he's discovered?'

'It's a straightforward a.s.signment,' replied Shonin. 'Besides, he'll be invisible.'

Shonin beckoned Jack to join them. 'Are you ready for your first mission as a ninja?'

Jack bowed his head in response, praying he wouldn't be required to a.s.sa.s.sinate anyone.

'Momochi's in charge. He will brief you.'

The second-in-command looked incensed, his moustache twitching in annoyance. He was clearly unhappy that Shonin had once again overruled him.

Jack was equally concerned. Here was Momochi's ideal opportunity to ensure he failed ... or even orchestrate his capture by daimyo daimyo Akechi. Akechi.

Grunting his disapproval, Momochi reluctantly addressed Jack. 'We believe daimyo daimyo Akechi is planning an offensive against the ninja clans in these mountains. We need to know what preparations he's made: how big his army is; when and where he will attack. The more we know about our enemy's plans, the easier it will be to stop him.' Akechi is planning an offensive against the ninja clans in these mountains. We need to know what preparations he's made: how big his army is; when and where he will attack. The more we know about our enemy's plans, the easier it will be to stop him.'

Despite the risks, Jack realized this might be the opportunity he'd been looking for. Not only could he learn of his location in the Iga mountains, he might find a way to send a message to Akiko.

'I'll need to know where daimyo daimyo Akechi is,' said Jack. Akechi is,' said Jack.

'Maruyama Castle, two days' trek east.'

'Am I to go alone?'

'Of course not!' snorted Momochi. 'One of our most experienced ninja, Zenjubo, will lead the party, which will comprise Tenzen, s.h.i.+ro, Miyuki and you you.'

'So when do we leave?' Jack asked.

Shonin laughed. 'I like like this new ninja!' this new ninja!'

The next morning, they gathered in the farmhouse for their final briefing. Zenjubo, a tough, no-nonsense man of few words, handed out their supplies and equipment. He acknowledged Jack with a brief bow of his head, but made no comment as to his inclusion in the team.