Ittoki, I'm going to tell you about Iga's secret Ninja Core.
A... secret Ninja Core?
It was sealed away because its power was too great,
and its location has been passed down only to chiefs.
It is a weapon.
This is the registry of Iga ninjas.
Once your name is recorded here, you will be a true Iga ninja.
Are you prepared to make that commitment?
What, are you that upset school is starting?
Huh?
No, it's just...
This was a really fun summer break, wasn't it?
Hey, um...
Once you graduate, does that mean you're a full-fledged ninja?
What do you mean?
I mean, um... I'm wondering when you start feeling like you're a ninja.
Good question...
You just do one day.
Huh?
Before you know it, you do. Everything works like that.
Is that how it works...
Young Master! Emergency!
The Academy is closing temporarily.
Huh? That's sudden. Why?
They say it's due to large numbers of absences.
But most likely that's an excuse.
Everyone come with me for a moment.
African daisies blooming en masse
Here in Chukyo Nature Park, the African daisies have bloomed en masse.
This is an extremely rare phenomenon and has drawn many visitors.
Why are we watching this?
It's a code.
Huh?
They're convening a Ninja Grand Council.
According to experts—
It can only be convened on the command of the head of the NSC.
Exhibition Days before opening: 96 Let's bloom African daisies at night!
The leaders of all the prominent villages are called
to form a high council of 13 ninja clan heads.
Flowers that bloom at night: African daisies
The meeting decides the future for all ninjas in Japan.
It has been a full 70 years since a Council was last convened.
Jesus!
Come on. Are you kidding me?
Would you like some champagne?
Sorry. I have business to attend to. I'll get off here.
Pray for my safe travels.
Very well, sir.
We Iga ninjas hold a seat on the high council.
I'd never heard of a Ninja Grand Council.
It has a stiff and formal sound to it.
So... it's as big a deal as it sounds?
I was told that in the last Council,
an armistice was signed to suspend the state of war between the villages.
Blasted shadow hunters...
They haven't sniffed anything out, have they?
No need to hesitate.
Proceed with your work undaunted.
Come, Housen.
Yes, sir.
With the holding of a Ninja Grand Council come special precautions.
Though they normally abide by the non-aggression pact,
village leaders will be gathered in one place.
You must employ strict vigilance.
Dismissed.
Captain!
Why did you not inform us?
Because I judged it not to be necessary.
Not even the agenda for the Council?
I intend to assign the security of the meeting room to the 1st Division.
It will become clear then.
I keep being led around by the nose.
I joined the NSC out of a desire to do what's right.
But now, I can't even tell what the right thing is.
And so I'd at least like to understand the mission I'm on.
What makes something "right"?
What?
Until you can answer that, just focus on the task before you.
Take care of things while I'm away.
Yes, ma'am.
Um...
Should I, as heir, be going as well?
A kid's job is to study.
Don't neglect your studies just because your summer break is longer.
Okay.
I'll be back later.
Have a safe trip.
Chinese Food
Delicious Ramen
Dumplings
I'll have fried rice, no eggs!
Any dumplings?
Three boiled, two fried.
Coming right up.
Sorry. I don't have time for autographs or handshakes today.
I'm sorry, ladies. I'll make it up to you next time.
Does he like photo booths?
And he's doing it alone?
Wow, an entire field of African daisies!
Three, two, one!
A natural look, yet pretty and cute
Session in progress
Mr. Iboro?
Gantetsu Suzunone of Saiga village should back us up.
And also Tamayo Katori of Bizen.
Tamayo... I haven't seen her in a while.
You're the only one who's ever won that stubborn old woman over, ma'am.
Take care not to let any comments like that slip during the Council, please.
Pardon me, ma'am.
Due to construction No Through Passage
Due to construction No Entry
The High Council
A late appearance.
That's the fallen but still noble Iga ninjas for you.
Kuroudo Dazai of "Kurohabaki," Mutsu
Excuse our tardiness.
If you hadn't gone the wrong way...
Oh, Tokisada the Demi-god!
Remember me? We fought to kill each other several years ago.
Enya of "Uesugi Tradition," Dewa
Huh...
I'd heard you'd lost your fangs. I see it's true.
Same for you.
Fighting has never been my strong suit. Aren't you mistaking me for him?
Juzen Jiraibou of "Ichizen Tradition," Owari
Musou Benkei of "Shadow Taisha," Ureshino
I hate types like him.
I hate stiff meetings even more!
Pipe down, pipsqueak.
What's that?
Oh, you're sensitive about it.
Yachiyo Mochizuki of "Takeda Tradition Wandering Priestesses / Covert Agents," Kai
Forgive my rudeness.
You wanna die, cosplay hag?
I wouldn't mind settling Kawanakajima here and now.
Be quiet.
This meeting is for discussion. There is no need for violence.
He's right, Ms. Yachiyo. Why dishevel your lovely outfit?
Iboro of "Hachiya Troupe," Izumo
Your smirking face is as irritating as ever.
Irritating.
Mandara Samuragouchi of "Mukyokuryoujou Tradition," Suruga
Irritating indeed.
The players are all present. Let's start the show.
Amadeus Yoshinaka Nishina of "Togakure Tradition," Shinano
Be prepared to act at any moment.
Right.
With everyone here,
I shall now begin the Ninja Grand Council.
Hold on a moment. I don't see anyone from Saiga village.
Saiga is now under Koga's umbrella.
What?
Saiga's workshop officially became our subsidiary.
This is the result of a mutual agreement.
Thus, Saiga withdraws from participating,
saying it will follow Koga in all decisions.
Something is amiss. Tamayo isn't here from Bizen either.
Samon Katori of "Bizen Tradition," Bizen
The Fuma are now under our umbrella as well.
The chief cannot attend, so I am here as a proxy.
Kisuke Ninokuru "Houjou Tradition Fuma Clan," Sagami
Please, you're the chief. Fuma's done this charade for 500 years.
Well, it's understandable you'd be wary.
It's the first Grand Council in 70 years. It would come as quite the surprise.
I'll get straight to the point.
The Ninja Ordinances have been broken,
and the balance we have protected over all these years is being threatened.
By Koga village.
You mean the little thing between Iga and Koga?
That's a minor—
On the contrary.
I believe Koga's actions extend to the entire country.
Based on what?
You stated earlier that Saiga became a subsidiary.
Where, precisely, are they working?
A Koga Ninja Tool factory.
There is no record of Saiga working
at any of Koga Holdings' officially registered facilities.
Instead, most of the members of Saiga seem to have suddenly vanished.
It does not end there.
There have been frequent cases
where small-scale villages are never heard from again.
And at the Ninja Academy, I hear voluntary withdrawals far exceed normal numbers.
That is correct.
So the captain was investigating Koga for acts of aggression...
But why did he hide it from us and investigate alone?
It must be because Koga's influence reaches everywhere, including the NSC.
I see. If true, that is a problem.
What does Koga have to say about this?
Only that it is entirely groundless.
Guess we're done now.
Then let me hear from everyone gathered here.
If Koga has acted against your village, I'd like you to testify here and now.
For Ninja Ordinances violations, affected party testimony holds great weight.
Depending on the testimony, Koga's chief may even be arrested on the spot.
So this was the purpose of the Grand Council.
Koga is powerful.
Arresting them will prove difficult,
but with the council on our side, if we surround them and cut off escape...
Nothing to say here.
I can't say the relationship is that close, but I don't recall any problems either.
Me neither. To begin with, Kurohabaki has long had deep ties to Koga.
Chief of Togakure.
These days my battleground extends outside Japan, so no.
For me, my concern lies much more with my fans than my village.
Exactly! We're attempting to turn ninjas into a global business.
Chief of Bizen.
Uh, I...
have nothing to report.
What the hell?
We convene a damn Grand Council, and it's all, "There have been no problems"?
This is rude of me to say,
but aren't Koga and Iga in a sense both guilty aggressors?
Just how did they kill the mighty Kishinmaru? I'd love to hear it.
Captain Goshogawara, it is as you've heard.
It appears you were worried over nothing.
I do believe I have yet to give my answer.
Watch what you say.
It's somewhat hard to listen calmly to the words of a filthy chief killer.
Regarding that, I say only that it is entirely groundless.
I ordered no such operation,
nor is there anyone in Iga who would do such a thing.
It is a false allegation you leveled against us.
We investigated Koga and obtained evidence
that they're developing a new Ninja Tool... or should I say "weapon."
Furthermore, we have information that they're targeting Iga's secret Ninja Core.
Ohh, so that's real.
Koga is attempting to use false vengeance as a pretext to invade Iga
and expand its power.
In response to this, Iga is prepared
to destroy its secret Ninja Core.
Are you sure? Isn't it a valuable deterrent?
We passed it down over generations to pay respect to our ancestors' greatness.
The secret Ninja Core was sealed away to avoid great bloodshed, in the first place.
If it stands to ignite a conflict in the present,
then to bury it forever would also be following our ancestors' wishes.
You think you can fool us with hackneyed pretty words?
Steal, scheme, kill, sneak.
That is a shinobi's true desire.
That is the way of the past.
We are not in the ninja glory days of the Warring States period.
What is needed of us now is not military might and scheming,
but for us to protect the people's harmony. Is that not so?
Iga will let all that has happened be water under the bridge.
In exchange, we ask one thing.
Do not take anything else from us!
I testify that Bizen
has experienced Koga aggression!
The Kusunoki house has already been scattered.
And the branch families' small villages have fallen as well.
We no longer have the power to fight back!
I'm sorry I couldn't speak up immediately.
Grandmother was pained by the village's steady collapse,
and she took her own life.
Seeing all of that happen, I...
Thank you for your courage.
What would you say a show needs?
It's love and peace.
The Hachiya make their living through entertainment.
But it's a fickle industry.
That unreliability and fragility was used against us.
And now I alone am supporting the entire village.
It's all because of Koga.
Iboro...
It would appear none of us are unaffected.
Dazai...
When you get old,
you find things that are more important than favors and indebtedness.
Then I take it all of you are testifying?
I have my own piece to add as well.
You got a little too naughty, Kidou.
A village's chief must take responsibility for the crimes of the village.
I arrest you on suspicion of violating the Ninja Ordinances.
I will go willingly.
Thank goodness.
Captain Goshogawara, has Chief Kishinmaru's killer still not been found?
The matter is currently under investigation.
I pray a just decision is rendered.
Pardon the interruption.
I am Genji Karajishi, Captain of the 2nd Division.
Why is Captain Karajishi here?!
Is it an emergency?
Yes. I am here to report that conclusive evidence has been found
that Koga Chief Kishinmaru Minobe was killed by Iga.
Proceed.
Due to the jamming by the culprit, there was no security footage of the scene.
Or so the 1st Division concluded.
After investigating independently, the 2nd Division
succeeded in extracting trace fragments of that data.
See for yourselves.
You call this blurry video proof? Don't be ridiculous!
What's important isn't the video but the audio.
Audio?
Each village's Ninja Cores are custom devices.
It is known that there are subtle differences
in the sounds their internal structures produce.
This security camera recorded the audio at the scene.
Analysis shows the frequencies and wavelengths emitted
are a 99.7 match for an Iga Ninja Core.
This is nonsense!
This conclusion was reached using the latest in ninja forensic technology.
It seems like sufficient evidence to me.
What about you, 1st Division Captain?
A village's chief bears responsibility for the village's crimes.
Will you come with me?
That won't help your chief.
We have done no wrong.
We need only prove our innocence.
Tokisada! Remember what you ought to protect.
Tell Ittoki this for me.
"Take care of Iga."
The Ninja Grand Council is now concluded.
They arrested Mom?!
But we are innocent.
There is nothing to worry about. Keep a level head.
Are you okay?
Stay calm.
Yeah.
I'll do anything. Tell me how to rescue Yumika.
Make no moves right now.
Ittoki, I have a message from Yumika—I mean the chief.
"Take care of Iga."
Kozo.
Ms. Reiha.
Yes?
Uncle.
I have a request.
I'd like you to gather the members of Iga village.
The NSC arrested the acting chief because of an Iga plot!
This is a declaration of war from Iga!
We will fully mobilize. Steel your conviction!
We must annihilate the village of Iga!
I will have you all handle the interrogations of Koga's acting chief and Iga's chief.
What about you?
I have something to investigate.
So you're going it alone again.
I will follow your orders.
But we cannot help you if we're always being left out.
Captain, please trust us.
Then here are my orders.
From here on, act according to your own sense of justice.
Analysis Room 2
Why was he hiding this until now?
That's...
Karajishi!
Are you losing your edge?
This is Koga's latest model.
To think I managed to sneak up on you.
Three cheers for scientific advancement.
To think you'd sink to this...
You're one to talk.
Your favoritism toward Iga is inexcusable.
They killed Koga's chief, you know.
There's something rotten about that video!
It can't be accepted as evidence!
I swear.
There's just no reasoning with you.
Kozo! Will Yumika really be okay?
No need to worry! She'll be back in no time!
But in the worst-case scenario...
She'll be fine!
Even though it's temporary, it's hard to stay calm without her.
Oh?
Young Master?
He looks so funny!
Do I stand here?
Yes. Right there.
Um...
Everyone, please be seated.
I believe you are all aware, as you know, of the news
that the chief is absent due to... myriad circumstances.
With the chief absent, in accordance with the Ninja Ordinances,
we must select an acting chief.
As such...
Ittoki Sakuraba
As an Iga Ninja and the 19th legitimate successor to the Iga lineage,
I, Ittoki Sakuraba, wish to serve as acting chief.
Young Master...
Just until my mother comes back.
Iga Chief Yumika Sakuraba,
I sentence you to death.
Episode 7: Where Does Justice Lie?
The sun sets.
That's the signal to start.
It can't be stopped.
Next time on Shinobi no Ittoki episode 8: "Dusk Brings a Storm."
Episode 8: Dusk Brings a Storm