The Last Ninja’s Last Mission

The end began when he left the village.1

The people of the hidden village of Caves had always considered us the best in the art of shinobi. We were the heroes of our village, the undefeated team of Akihiro and Akira. We were together in all our missions since we became full-pledged ninjas when we were fourteen years old. 2

No longer we could count the number of people we assassinated upon orders. We were merciless in slaying those who abuse the lower people in the society. We never asked for money in return. People who needed our help paid us what we needed most. They gave us food and we share them to our people in the village.3

Other hidden villages feared our name. Not to mention the elites who had always feared the people hidden in the mountains. The Falcon and the Serpent we were notoriously known - a deadly team of both the predator and the prey. Akihiro was the latter. He mastered his speed and fighting techniques. He was expert with all the weapons of the shinobi: kunai, shuriken, katana, name it. They feared him lurking in the dark. When he figured the target’s presence, death was always a possibility. Myself, being the serpent, had mastered my skills in illusions, poisons, tracking techniques, and the wonderful art of shinobi healing. My abilities then completed our indestructible team. I was Akihiro’s backup in missions and vice versa. 4

We would never have such reputations if not of our sensei. Master Sachiru taught us everything. Though, I had side teachings from Lady Yui, the best kunoichi in the village who knows all the existing poisons and their corresponding antidotes. Master Sachiru taught us the basics of the art of shinobi. It wasn’t an easy training. Akihiro and I were always dealing with death with every technique we learned from the great Master. 5

Master Sachiru always reminded us that whatever happens, a team is a team. Akihiro should never leave me in the battlefield no matter what. And the same thing for me. Though it seemed that Akihiro did most of fighting the enemies, I was always there to back him up, to heal his wounds and distract the enemies with my illusions while he would recover himself.6

But as what Lady Yui told me once, nothing lasts forever. The team of the Falcon and the Serpent was doomed. All those happy memories during our missions and all those promises never to leave one another had come to an end.7

It had been five years since Akihiro left the hidden village of Caves.8

***9

It was about midnight, five years ago. The moon was full and I could hear the festival of a town below our mountain. I was atop a bamboo trunk waiting for Akihiro to arrive. The rustling of the bamboo leaves added up my excitement for our next mission.10

By the hiss of the southern wind, he arrived.11

“Konbanwa,” Akihiro greeted.12

I gave a frown and replied, “You’re late as always.”13

He was supposed to laugh but he did not. Half of his body was sunken in a silhouette but I could tell from the half face I saw that he was kind of sad. And then I noticed that he never had his things for the mission as instructed. I began to doubt.14

“What’s the matter, Akihiro?” That moment, I was desperate to cheer him up. “Aren’t you excited for our next mission? We’re going to the hidden village of Three Streams!”15

I heard him sigh.16

“So where are your things? We should be leaving by now.”17

“Akira…I…” He was trying to speak. I didn’t interrupt him. “I’m sorry Akira…I can’t…”18

What did he mean ‘He can’t’? It was just another mission we normally take. “Why, Akihiro? Is there something of a change of plans? Did the High Ninja ordered something new?”19

“No, it’s nothing like that.”20

“Then spit it out my friend! We are a team. We trust each other. And well…we are running out of time.”21

It took a minute for him to reply. Never did I see my comrade thinking so deep. Then he said the words.22

“I’m done, Akira. I cannot be with you in this mission. I’m tired of killing. I’m tired of being a ninja. I despise being reborn in this shinobi world. I’m leaving tonight. I came to say my farewells.”23

For a moment, I couldn’t say anything. I was shocked. Akihiro must had rehearsed what he just said. He never even breathed. How could he say such nonsense?24

“But why?” That’s all I could ask.25

“It’s complicated, Akira. Someday, you’ll understand. I want to thank you for everything…before I leave.” Something glittered in Akihiro’s face as he said that. Was it a teardrop? I never saw him crying, not since his parents were killed in a mission.26

“Did you say goodbye to Master Sachiru? Does the High Ninja know?” 27

“They don’t know about this. You’re the only one who knows about my leave tonight. I know about the consequence. But I trust you, Akira. Are we not partners?”28

I felt some momentary bliss thinking that my team-mate cared about me. But something stirred my emotions from then on. I never felt it before. I didn’t know what it’s called. There were butterflies in my stomach.29

“I’ll leave you this.” He gave me something which looked like two white stones. And I realized those were his earrings - the feared earrings of the Falcon which were once teeth of a great tiger we slain in a mission.30

“I don’t know what to say.” The feeling was heavy. I felt it was better to burst to oblivion.31

“Just keep it, my friend. Goodbye.”32

In a wink of an eye, Akihiro, the Falcon of the hidden village of Caves, my ninja partner, vanished in the woods leaving the shinobi life forever.33

***34

A rule in the Ninja Code stated that a ninja should never try forsake his village. The verdict would be immediate death. The shinobi people would never risk other people knowing the secret arts. If the hidden village of Caves would find out that Akihiro left on his own, the High Ninja would declare him most wanted for assassination. To think, he was one of the best ninja in the village. 35

After Akihiro said his goodbyes, I went alone with my mission. I found it hard for me to accomplish my task. It took me a week in the hidden village of Three Streams to finish everything and return to my own hidden village. 36

“Where’s Akihiro? Where’s your team-mate?” The High Ninja inquired as I placed the bloody head of Sokamaru in a plate in front of him. 37

Sokamaru was our mission’s target. Our village found out that it was he, a ninja of the hidden village of Three Streams, who killed Akihiro’s parents in a battle ten years ago. It would have been better if Akihiro was with me in that mission. He always wanted to avenge his parents. And I did my best killing Sokamaru for his sake.38

“He fought so hard, my Lord. But he was lost in a combat with the target.” I rehearsed the story I made up for a myriad times. But still I shivered when I explained to the village leader. I knew why Akihiro wanted only me to know about him. He knew that I would cover for him. 39

“The great Falcon fell?” The High Ninja asked who was obviously in doubt.40

“Sokamaru practiced forbidden arts. My team-mate was gone before I backed him up. All that is left of him were these.” And I showed the High Ninja the Falcon’s earrings I soaked with a wild boar’s blood.41

The High Ninja would be wise enough to command ninjas with expertise in tracking to check if Akihiro was still alive and know his whereabouts. But after killing the infamous Sokamaru, I was promoted as head of the Tracking Team of our village. Everyone relied on me. When I said that I could never track Akihiro anywhere, no one objected.42

As for our sensei, Master Sachiru, I also told the lie. It was hard for me. But it would be harder if I told him the truth. It broke his heart. Nothing could sadden a shinobi mentor than learning that his student failed in battle.43

The whole village grieved for the loss of a hero. It was only I who knew the truth. 44

***45

I waited for a month until my fellow ninjas would no longer talk about my comrade’s death. It would endanger me if I speak more stories. I isolated myself for a while. Everyone understood me. It was hard for me to lose a partner.46

I tried to reflect on myself. Why was I doing that for Akihiro? He was a friend. We’d been with each other a lot. I knew a lot about him. He knew a lot about me. Why did I feel that our being a team wasn’t enough? Why did I crave for his presence when he left? What was the meaning of those butterflies in my stomach?47

And I found my answer. I remember a lesson with Lady Yui a long time ago. I asked her what is greatest cure of all illness. And she told me.48

“Love, Akira. Love is the greatest cure of all.”49

Love? All my life, I never felt such thing. I never had a parent or a sibling to feel it with.50

All I had was Akihiro.51

A month had passed and I decided to look for him. I followed Akihiro’s scent with the earrings he left me. There was this crave in my heart to see him once again. I had a lot of things to tell him. When he left the village, I didn’t try to stop him. But when I would see him, I would definitely force him to go back.52

I passed by a lot of places tracking him. My former team-mate did make sure he would be far away from our hidden village. But his scent was strong. I knew I could find him.53

I came upon a house in a town near the sea. I was sure Akihiro was in that house. I could feel him. I reached the place at dawn. I waited for the sun to rise so I could see him at last.54

I love Akihiro. I never felt so alone since he left. And Lady Yui was right. Love is the greatest cure of all. For when I saw his face once again coming out of that house when the sun was rising, I felt relieved. My loneliness seemed to cease.55

For a while I was in heaven. But then, something happened that ruined my sweet dream. A beautiful woman came out of the house and she hugged Akihiro. They kissed in front of my eyes.56

“But remember, Akira,” Lady Yui added when she was lecturing me about the greatest cure. “There’s one illness that even Love can’t cure sometimes.”57

“What could be that illness, sensei?” I asked.58

“It is also Love. For Love is also the greatest illness of all.”59

***60

Five years passed.61

A lot of things happened in a short span of time. Feudalism ended in our country. The wars were over. Everyone worked together for one glory. And with the peace spreading all over the land, the time for us who practice the art of shinobi was over. After all, we were but weapons used by people during the war.62

I became the High Ninja. But there’s nothing to be proud of it. My culture was dying.63

Master Sachiru became the High Ninja before me when the previous one was killed in a battle defending our hidden village. With the death of Master Sachiru two years ago, the responsibility for my whole village was passed down unto me. I was young and naïve. I could never give the best for my people even if I tried.64

When the wars were ending, a lot of my people as well as ninjas from other hidden villages were used by the warlords. Too many casualties. My people were decreasing in number. And with the traumas the children got after their parents died in battle, they were no longer interested in the art of shinobi. Like Akihiro who confessed to me once, the younger generation loathed the shinobi world.65

As the High Ninja, it was my responsibility to maintain the secrecy of my people and of our art. When everything would be at its end, it would be my job to take everything with me with my death. No knowledge or clues about our existence should be left behind.66

And the end had come.67

When the feudal lords stopped fighting each other, the war was turned to us. We became their enemies. We were the hindrances to what they call ‘peace’ and their mission was to eradicate the mountains with people who practice the shinobi. Soldiers began their search and many hidden villages were destroyed. My village was never spared.68

It happened last month. Those devils arrived with those horrible machines. With few ninjas left, it was hard to protect the village. If only Akihiro was with me. We could have defeated the enemies together. But the Falcon and the Serpent was gone five years ago. My people were killed until the last infant.69

I was the only one who survived.70

***71

I had come in the town near the sea with my last mission.72

For five years I’d been ill. Every month since I learned about Akihiro’s whereabouts five years ago, I’d been visiting his place and try to feel his presence. No, I didn’t talk to him or let him know my presence. He would never like it knowing that I’d been stalking him after he left the hidden village of Caves.73

If only I could. My heart had been burning with love for him. It’s the illness Lady Yui had told me before. It’s the love that cannot be cured by love.74

My visit tonight will be my last. Akihiro and I were the last ones of our hidden village. The secret would end with our deaths.75

The night was silent. I could only hear the waves in the shore nearby. I entered Akihiro’s house as silent as a ninja should be. And when I was inside, I burned the sleeping potion I prepared so that everyone would be asleep inhaling it. Then it’s the time to finish my mission.76

“You have arrived, my friend.”77

Someone’s voice from behind me caused me to shiver. I never thought I would be caught.78

“Ak---Akihiro, how’d you…”79

“Know that you’re here? And why am I still awake despite of that sleeping potion you burned? I’m a ninja too, if you can remember.”80

I was speechless. But I was quick enough to grasp at the kunai and grab three shurikens in my pockets.81

“Long time no see, my friend,” Akihiro continued. “How’s the village-”82

“THE VILLAGE IS GONE!” I screamed. It seemed that all of my emotions were rushing out of me. “If only you never left! Master Sachiru is dead and Lady Yui and the others. We are the last of the hidden village of Caves!”83

Akihiro fell silent. It must be hard for him knowing that our Master was gone. “S--so the end has come. And you’ve come to---to bury our village’s secret with our deaths?”84

I felt nervous. I was dealing with the Falcon after all. I never thought that we had to fight each other for the very end. “You’ve never forgotten the Code, eh?”85

“But Akira…I’m a different person now. I don’t practice the shinobi anymore. I have a family…I have a ---”86

“If only you never left Akihiro! We could have saved our village together! Master said we should never leave each other. You were selfish!” I was ready to kill my former team-mate any moment.87

“But you can’t kill me. You love me.”88

I seemed to drop the weapons I was grasping. My nervousness was at its height. My heart was beating fast. How the hell did Akihiro know about my feelings? 89

“You were here almost every month,” he continued. “I can smell you. But I knew right from the start that you will follow me…”90

“IT DOESN’T MATTER ANYMORE IF I LOVE YOU OR NOT, AKIHIRO! I have to carry out this mission. Only then I could redeem myself from the sin of lying against our people when you left the village five years go!”91

And the fight began.92

***93

It seemed that Akihiro was still the Falcon as I knew him before. He never practiced the art for five years but he still moved well. He never had any weapons. He fought me with his hands. But even as I fought him, the power of love within me was strong. It was hard for me to kill him.94

We had been fighting for half an hour already. The whole house was a mess. My mission’s target was as bloody as I was. And at last we stumbled upon a small room where a child was sleeping. Akihiro’s son. I found the Falcon’s weakness. I pointed the kunai at the sleeping boy.95

“Wait! Please Akira, spare my family. My little boy has nothing to do with---”96

“But if this is the only way to get you…then he will serve as a sacrifice!” I raised the kunai to kill the boy.97

It happened so fast. Akihiro rushed unto me. I pulled out my katana and in a wink of an eye, thrust the sharp blade unto his heart. Mission accomplished. Blood began to flood on the floor. And Akihiro fell down catching up his breath.98

In the midst of my victory, I heard Akihiro trying to say something. I kneeled beside him. It’s all over. He could no longer fight because I hit the most vital organ in his body. I would want to hug him but I had to act tough. I forced my eyes not to shed those tears who were about to flow.99

“Akira…why do you have to do this?” Akihiro was saying. “I wanted us to leave the shinobi world together. But you loved being a ninja. So I had to leave on my own. I didn’t want to take your life from you.”100

And the memories rushed in. I was confused. My illness was getting worse. And I replied, “Why didn’t you tell me, Akihiro?” I began to sob. “My world was ruined the day you’re gone. And I loved you more than a friend, more than a team-mate. My true dream was to be with you…always.”101

“I’m sorry, Akira. We are victims of our fates being ninjas. I’m glad it will end with us. My son, Akira, will no longer suffer the same fate we suffered.” He coughed out blood. He was getting cold. Life was draining out of Akihiro.102

“Akira?” I asked. “His name is Akira?”103

“I named him after you…”104

And Akihiro died in my arms.105

***106

By the morning, Akihiro’s wife and the young Akira would have their nightmares. But they should not worry for justice will be served. I should have killed them in their sleep. But I couldn’t. Killing innocent people was against the Ninja Code.107

I apologized to the little boy while he was asleep. He never knew that his father was a ninja. I hope he heard me in his dreams.108

It was almost daybreak. I was walking barefooted along the shores of the sea. For the last time I tried to reminisce the happy moments I had with Akihiro in the hidden village. Everything was gone. Our time had passed.109

Before he left, Akihiro told me that someday I would understand.110

No, I never understood. I would die with that enigma torturing me. I would never, ever understood why there was a thing as unrequited love.111

What was known as the art of shinobi was dying with me as I go deeper and deeper into the waters.112

THE END