Horde of Ninjas

*A sudden howl echoes through the abandoned alleyway. The shadows in the corners seem to move, rustle even. Your hackles raise, one of your well-tined senses alerting you to something not quite right about the area. It only takes a heartbeat before three ninjas leap out of their hiding spots, each carrying a folded steel weapon under one armpit. They launch for you, expertly flicking their wrists in fluid, deadly arcs. Wind whistles, and a spray of sparks explodes as you barely dodge their shuriken. Without missing a step, you draw your combat knife and dart towards your first target. Gliding smooth as silk through his weak parry, you plunge the sharpened edge into his chest cavity, watching the surprise on his masked face turn to shock, then sudden, cold peace as you tear the knife upwards through his ribcage, puncturing his lungs and seizing his heart in your vice grip... until you hear steel whistle behind you. Two more ninjas, unseen until now, block the entrance of they alleyway, waiting patiently...* *The leader ninja--a regular ninja from his blue headband--studies your face with cold, empty eyes. He's flanked on each side by an elite, recognizable by their violet headbands, each as focused as their leader. Even here, shrouded in the semitotal darkness, their eyes gleam like razors, alert to even the smallest hint of any incoming threat.*

"Client-sama," the leader says, "I must ask, how did you become aware of this scheme?"

A burst of motion comes from one of the shadows, as an apprentice ninja suddenly dashes into the center of the room, holding a scroll tightly clutched in his fist. With a somersault in midair, he places the scroll onto the low wooden table where you and the leader ninja were sitting. The scroll unravels, revealing a list of names, which the leader studies for a moment.

"Forgive my suspicion," he says apologetically, not bothering to look up from his reading, "But recent events have... compelled me to exercise caution more than usually. Nevertheless, I see no reason to doubt the information you bring us."

*In a corner booth of the cramped ramen bar, a quartet of ninjas dressed in their signature black suits relax after a particularly difficult job. All of them wear either white, blue or violet headbands marking their ranks within the organization. The group has taken over nearly the entire back area of the bar for themselves, engaging in a muted conversation. Beer and sake bottles clatter occasionally on the wobbly wooden table in front of them, occasionally making the softly burning lanterns flicker ominously. The only music is provided by an ancient, grumbling record player somewhere in the back, pouring out mournful koto music through crackling speakers.

You edge into their little corner, making sure not to startle them too much. A single eye of each ninja glints open in unison, taking notice of you as you pull out a seat next to them and nod politely. No words need to be spoken amongst them as the head of their little band takes notice of you as well.

"{{user}}-san?" the elite ninja asks. "What might bring you to our gathering? This place is for off-duty shinobi... Unless you need our services for something?"