I will report on the status
Koga Chief Kishinmaru Minobe Murder Case Investigation Status
of the investigation of Koga Chief Kishinmaru Minobe's murder.
Investigation Status
My goose is cooked!
Your mama taught you better!
I'm sorry!
NSC Headquarters
Evidence at the scene was nearly nonexistent.
Our one piece of evidence is that lacerations from the murder weapon
are characteristic of Iga ninja sword wounds.
Accordingly, the 1st Division's person of greatest interest is...
No weapon, fingerprints, footprints, or articles found at the scene or in the vicinity Sole piece of evidence: Lacerations from murder weapon are characteristic of Iga ninja sword wounds.
- No suspicious people caught on surveillance cameras in the area - A forensic team investigated the murder scene (Given high probability of the culprit being a ninja, a wide area was searched) - No weapon, fingerprints, footprints, or articles found at the scene or in the vicinity - Sole piece of evidence: Lacerations from murder weapon are characteristic of Iga ninja sword wounds.
Tokisada Kaga, who will be quietly investigated.
Koga Chief Murder Case Task Force
EPISODE 4 CRAFTERS AND USERS
I apologize for arriving late!
I am Shione Kouzuki, assigned to this unit starting today!
Apologizing is a waste of time.
Yes, sir!
I'm honored to be working in the same group
as the Captain of the 1st Division and Head of the NSC!
Niceties are also a waste of time.
Koga Chief Kishinmaru Minobe's Murder - Initial investigation - No witnesses - No suspicious people caught on surveillance cameras in the area - A forensic team investigated the murder scene (Given high probability of the culprit being a ninja, a wide area was searched) - No weapon, fingerprints, footprints, or articles found at the scene or in the vicinity - Sole piece of evidence: Lacerations from murder weapon are characteristic of Iga ninja sword wounds.
I'd like you give you the task of tailing Tokisada Kaga.
Yes, sir!
Hold on, sir! She's a rookie still short on experience!
You have an objection?
No, sir.
What do you know of Tokisada Kaga?
Nothing definite, aside from his nickname "Tokisada the Demi-god."
The anecdotes all sound like superstition.
Take a look.
What's that black, haze-like thing?
That's Tokisada.
He's so fast that the surveillance camera can only capture afterimages.
Operate under the assumption that the superstitions surrounding him are all true.
Hey there, Gantetsu.
Tokisada...
I wanted to have a chat about something...
In two days, I'll administer a written test.
Written test covering general principles of ninja tools
It will be a general test on the workings of ninja tools.
The minimum ninja tools will be provided, so study thoroughly.
Huh?
I'd like you to teach me about ninja tools.
How wonderful! Gladly!
I was pretty confident in my academics, but...
It's so overly technical I'm lost just reading the questions.
Ninja Tools Test Example Problems
Idiot.
That's why I'm studying!
What? You were trying to solve them for real?
Huh?
Listen, a ninja tools exam is about using ninja tools to steal the test answers.
What?!
The day before the written exam, the teacher hides the answers somewhere.
Your job is to get your hands on them.
And of course, if the teacher catches you, you fail the exam.
Safe
Wait, really?
We only need one copy of the answers, so let's all work together!
How 'bout it?
I'm happy to join the team!
You help too, Kousetsu.
Hey, Suzaku, are ya really gonna leave that Iga asshole alone?
There's no need for me to act now. The time will come soon enough.
Then I'll be making a move of my own.
Go right ahead.
Huh? Like this?
Ah, you have to be more loving with it!
Jeez!
I'll just do it!
Sorry.
Sorry about that.
What kind of ninja can't do his own maintenance?
It's sad, right?
Don't let it bother you.
Most shinobi leave it to their ninja tool craftsman.
Also, I'm doing it because I like it.
Look!
Do you know what this mark means?
Saiga village?
The Ninja Gear, Cores, and tools the school provides were all made by my village.
I never get tired of seeing it.
Ryoko, you want to be a ninja tool craftsman, don't you?
I do. But... if only things were that simple...
My father is the leader of Saiga village.
But ever since I was little,
he's been telling me he won't let me succeed his position.
He's told me to instead live life like a girl.
I had to push hard to get him to let me attend the Academy,
but he told me I have to cut ties with the ninja world after I graduate.
Why? I can see how much you love ninja tools.
I'm sure my father has his own good reasons.
But to have the decision made for me, irrespective of my wishes...
It's hard to accept, you know?
You're out there, right, Kousetsu?
Me becoming a ninja already seems pretty dubious, but village chief? It's ridiculous.
How come it's not Uncle, or you, Kousetsu?
Ninjas value bloodlines.
But with Ryoko...
They have their ways. We have ours.
You'd actually be satisfied with me as the chief?
I'd obey regardless. That's the ninja way.
Height Limit
Oden
Sorry for greeting you with a shuriken like that.
Word is things are tense between Iga and Koga,
so I thought for sure you'd gone and done something.
Who do you think I am?
Aren't you Tokisada the Demi-god?
I'm a salaryman with a low monthly income.
Then let's talk business.
Could Iga help me out and buy these?
A ninja tool?
As a souvenir of a ninja village, buy a toy ninja!
Neat, right?
Yeah, no thanks.
With fewer ninjas, ninja tools aren't selling.
I'm betting on these guys. Come on!
We don't have money to gamble. Try Koga or somebody.
They won't buy 'em.
Aren't they your best customers?
Just recently, they came and said they're shifting their
ninja tool orders to factories overseas.
If your outfit's willing to match their prices, we'd consider it though.
Get serious! Is this some ploy to get Saiga's skills for a pittance?
Not at all.
We've got a different job for your outfit. Something only you can make.
Oh?
What?!
Money is no issue.
You people must be crazy!
What were the blueprints for?
That I can't disclose.
I still have my professional obligations.
No point trying to get them from me.
He took all the documents with him when he left.
You gonna take the job?
It's a huge job that'll take the whole village.
Taking it will effectively make us Koga's slaves.
That said, if I don't, Saiga village is finished.
Of course, I'm also considering just ending it with my generation.
You have a successor.
She's my darling daughter.
Far better to let her live happily in the sun than force hardship on her.
Seems a shame.
Take care of these tasks, too.
How soon?
Transaction record processing (TODAY!) Ninja tool factory deposits Order calls (cheap as possible) File organization
ASAP. Get to it.
Transaction record processing (TODAY!) Ninja tool factory deposits Order calls (cheap as possible) File organization Order more shuriken
※ Shorter skirt!
Order calls (cheap as possible) ※ Shorter skirt! File organization
What's with that face?
You're a woman. Smile and be pleasant.
The safes with the answers were set up today.
There's more than one, so let's pick one with as little competition as possible.
Hey, um, could we join you?
Huh? Won't that bring trouble your way?
To be honest, I thought people like me from a small village couldn't do anything.
But...
seeing you made me feel like maybe we could.
All right! The mission is tonight.
Until then, let's hammer out our strategy!
Now then, I guess I'll get to work.
This is Woodpecker. We've reached the office.
Owl, how's the coast?
All clear.
Okay, let's use this to scout things out inside.
Take it away, Ittoki.
What? Me?
That's a bad idea.
I want Ittoki to experience how wonderful ninja tools are.
Um... it's a shuriken, but basically it's like a drone, so...
Correct. You'll control it with your device,
and the image data from the camera in the center
will be displayed via a link with my device.
Safe
All right. Come back.
Oh, crap! Crap!
Hurry!
She's here! She's here!
We'll keep her busy! Find a way to get those answers!
Roger.
Shit, the focus is off.
Guess it's time for new contacts.
I'm seeing a ton of cameras.
As for systems...
Ugh, they've got thermal sensors.
So Heat Haze is a no go. What a pain.
Ready... boom.
Dang.
Yeah, it's gone.
Kirei! The key to the safe is gone!
Ms. Mitsuhashi probably has it!
Can you get it from her?
No way!
We have our hands full just running!
Let's split up!
Hey there, shrimp.
Himura!
Himura is after us!
Hello? Hello?!
I'm on it.
Ah, what do we do now?
I'll open the safe.
You can do that?!
It's a prototype, but it's Saga's newest lock-opening ninja tool.
It's not school-issued, so it's kinda cheating...
If you're not found out, you're okay!
Kirei! Buy us some time!
I can't get you much!
It'll be done in one minute!
Thirty-two minutes?! Piece of junk...
Left 9, right 15, left 7
And the blueprints are...
not here.
It's open!
We got 'em!
Everyone, withdraw!
You leave first!
S-Sorry...
We're done here.
Hey. Good work.
We've got something in the duct in front of the president's office!
Because of my error, I lost track of Tokisada
and failed to gain any information.
Do you want off the assignment?
No, please let me continue!
Then your assignment remains unchanged.
What? Are you sure, sir?
I need people who don't lose heart when faced with such an opponent.
Thank you, sir!
Thanking me is a waste of time.
What about the Koga factory?
Security was too tight for just a foodstuff factory.
Any hard evidence of a second operation?
Not that I encountered.
Kokuten Ninja Academy
Ready, begin!
Ninja Tool Test
It's totally different! Why...
I wish I could see the looks on their faces!
I bet they were drenched in a cold sweat!
I knew they'd never realize the answers had been switched out, since they're idiots.
It's over.
Well,
even though those weren't the expected problems, I was able to solve them anyway.
What?!
You solved them?!
You're kidding!
I'm from Saiga village, after all.
Ryoko, you'd be an excellent ninja tool craftsman.
It's crazy.
Huh?
To not get to do what you want to do... It's just crazy.
Is there no choice but to put up with it?
I'm not going to give up!
Not only did a ninja get in, but there's this bullshit?
I never instructed you to do this!
But the instruction memo was right here, plain as day.
Order toy ninjas from Saiga village 10,000 units Pay immediately!
Huh? A mistaken order?
Production's already begun, though.
We'll craft quality items worth the money.
I swear on our pride as Saiga village!
Business seems to be looking up.
Tokisada...
Cheaping out on an old model almost bit me in the ass. Make me a new one.
I can't do it in one or two days.
I guess your retirement's on hold until then.
When you get old, you start talkin' to yourself.
Kidou came to see me several years ago.
He wanted a Ninja Core that could hold
far more energy than even the best current Ninja Core.
I told him even we couldn't do that and sent him away.
Gantetsu...
Too much talkin' to myself.
Did you discover anything?
Yes.
I obtained intel from Saiga's leader.
I believe Koga's aim is the secret Ninja Core passed down in Iga.
Hold on a moment!
Does Iga's secret Ninja Core actually exist?
The stories say it was a technology born in war
and then sealed away by the Iga chief, a power too dangerous for human hands.
I always assumed it was a legend.
It does exist.
The location of Iga's secret Ninja Core is closely held,
being passed only to the chief.
Should you wish to see it, I cannot oblige. But it is real.
Then what is their objective in seeking it?
Koga is trying to start a war.
The cleaning penalty isn't so bad when we do it together!
Ryoko, you got a perfect score. You don't have to clean.
I want to help my friends.
It's almost like we're at a normal school, huh, Kousetsu?
What gives?
There's a traitor among us.
Huh?
It was most likely Koga that switched out the answers.
What?
They had to have known which safe we'd target.
Someone is in contact with Koga.
No way...
The attempted assassination of Iga's successor
became unprosecutable with the suspect's suicide.
Kidou managed to fully slip away.
It's frustrating.
The 2nd Division stands ready to assist you any time.
Here are the results from Satomi Tsubaki's autopsy.
Does anyone else know?
It was done in absolute secrecy, so no one knows but me.
A microchip was found in Satomi Tsubaki's brain, purpose unknown.
It's foolish.
That's clear.
And yet,
the cycle repeats.
Next time on Shinobi no Ittoki episode 5: "Cycle of Pain."
Episode 5: Cycle of Pain