The ninja woke up early in the morning and immediately set out in search of the true master of the fire element. Master Wu was ready to move, and his students quickly packed their things without unnecessary discussion—time was limited. They had only one goal: to find the one who possessed the power of fire.
- I have just one question...
Jay said.
- What is it?
Zane asked, looking at him with suspicion.
- WHY DID WE WAKE UP SO EARLY?!!!
- Jay, SHUT UP!!
Cole yelled at him.
- You two—QUIET!
Nya stepped between them and pulled them both by the ears.
- Hey!
Cole shouted in surprise.
- Ow, ow, ow!!!
Jay's voice followed.
- EVERYONE, SILENCE!
Master Wu shouted, unable to bear the noise any longer.
A heavy silence fell as Master Wu's gaze became stern and serious. His words left no room for argument, and even Jay understood that joking around was not the best idea right now.
- We must find the true master of the fire element. Time does not wait. We must act quickly and decisively.
His voice was calm but carried a hint of urgency.
- Yes, Sensei Wu.
Zane agreed, shifting his gaze to the others.
***
The ninja were walking along the street near the forest entrance when they suddenly heard shouting again. From the forest, the same girl they had seen yesterday ran toward them, waving her hands.
- Help!
She shouted, stopping in front of them, breathing heavily.
Master Wu, who was leading the group, quickly stepped forward to stop her.
- What happened?
He asked, trying to remain calm.
- There... there!! There are skeletons, walking ones!!!
The girl screamed, pointing toward the forest. Her eyes were full of terror.
- What?!
Nya exclaimed in disbelief.
- Not what, but who.
Zane said quietly, observing the girl.
Overwhelmed with fear, the girl turned and ran back toward the village without looking back.
- Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Cole asked, glancing at the others.
Zane, Jay, and Nya responded at the same time:
- Let's go there!
There was no hesitation. After a short pause, the ninja gathered their resolve and moved toward the forest from which the girl had emerged. The forest was silent, with only a light wind rustling the leaves. But an eerie sense of danger hung in the air. Now, they would have to face whatever was lurking among the trees.
***
The ninja moved cautiously through the forest, trying to stay unnoticed. They had already covered a good distance when they suddenly heard whispers—voices coming from deeper in the woods. Master Wu quickly raised his hand, signaling for silence. The ninja stopped and listened closely.
Master Wu and Zane swiftly hid behind the trees to avoid being seen. Nya and Jay ducked into the bushes, trying to remain invisible. And Cole... Cole decided that climbing a tree was the best way to observe, leaving everyone with the thought:
"That was an option?"
Soon, they saw them—several skeletons standing around a massive tree. They wore tattered black cloaks, and a red glow emanated from their hollow eye sockets, giving them a sinister appearance.
- Are you sure we're on the right track?
One of them asked another.
- Yes, the Dark Lord is waiting for the Golden Weapons. Now we just need to find them, or he'll destroy us.
The other skeleton replied in a rough voice.
- And don't forget, those weapons can help him regain his full strength. He wants them as soon as possible.
- Where exactly are we supposed to look?
A third skeleton asked.
- In the village of Kasaimura... There must be something there.
One of them said while standing guard.
- Just remember: if we find nothing, the Dark Lord will destroy us. This time, there will be no mercy.
The ninja held their breath, listening intently. They realized that these skeletons were searching for the Golden Weapons and that they were of great importance to the Dark Lord—the younger son of the First Golden Master. This was a serious threat.
Master Wu frowned, understanding the gravity of the situation.
- We need to act fast.
He whispered, analyzing the circumstances.
- If Samukai and his followers find any clues about where to search for the Golden Weapons, it could become a huge threat to all of us.
Zane silently agreed, and the ninja remained hidden, observing the skeletons. Time was short, and they needed to make a decision.
But, as always, at the worst possible moment, Jay stepped on a rock and nearly fell.
- A-ah...!
Nya quickly covered his mouth with her hand, but Samukai heard the noise.
- Jay, for crying out loud!
Cole yelled at him from the tree, trying not to make more noise but practically giving away their position.
- Who's there?!
Samukai shouted, turning in their direction.
Master Wu signaled that they should prepare for battle. He stepped out from behind the tree gracefully, moving cautiously to avoid drawing too much attention. Zane, Nya, Jay, and Cole immediately followed, ready for combat.
- Go!
Master Wu said quietly, and they charged toward the enemies to fight these mysterious creatures.
- To the right!!
One of the skeletons shouted, and that was all it took to trigger chaos. The darkness broke apart under the glow of their weapons as they clashed in battle.
Master Wu swiftly prepared for combat, maneuvering between the skeletons and countering their attacks.
Zane, Jay, and Nya defended themselves, each using their powers for both defense and offense. Meanwhile, Cole was locked in combat with Samukai, who proved to be a fast and powerful opponent.
- You won't defeat me so easily!
Samukai shouted, trying to break through Cole's defense.
- I'm no expert, but these skeletons definitely didn't take dance lessons!
Jay joked while deflecting attacks, trying to lighten the mood.
- Jay!!
The ninja shouted in unison.
Focus on the skeletons!!
Master Wu commanded.
- Yes, Sensei!
They all responded together, refocusing on the battle.
Unexpectedly, the same young man they had seen the previous day jumped from a tree branch. He landed swiftly and, without hesitation, began striking the skeletons with powerful blows, demonstrating impressive combat skills.
- I don't like trouble, but today, I'll make an exception!
He shouted as he struck one of the skeletons.
The ninja looked at him in surprise but quickly realized that his presence gave them an advantage.
- Who are you?
Zane asked, impressed by their new ally.
- A friend at the right moment.
The young man replied, swinging his sword before diving back into the fight.
Seeing that the battle was not going in their favor, Samukai changed tactics. He realized they wouldn't win this time, so he decided to retreat—but not before leaving their enemies incapacitated.
- Release the gas!
He ordered one of the larger skeletons.
Instantly, the skeleton lifted a small canister and pressed it, releasing a thick white gas that quickly spread through the area. The ninja tried to hold their breath, but the effect was immediate.
- MOM!!!
Jay screamed as he began losing consciousness.
- Don't let yourselves be caught!
Master Wu shouted, trying to keep everyone alert.
But it was no use—one by one, the ninja collapsed, succumbing to the gas. The young warrior who had just joined them also began to fade, though he managed to strike a few last blows before falling.
***
Samukai surveyed the battlefield with satisfaction. The ninja lay unconscious on the cold ground, along with their unexpected ally.
- We'll find where the Golden Weapons are before they even get back on their feet.
He muttered, signaling his warriors.
The skeletons quickly retreated into the forest, disappearing among the shadows, leaving the ninja behind. They were confident that their enemies wouldn't be waking up anytime soon.