Episode 2

**Merciless Choices** (慈悲なき選択, *Jihi Naki Sentaku*) is the 2nd episode of Shinobi no Ittoki anime series.

## Synopsis

Ittoki has suudenly been urged to be come a ninja. After a talk with Tokisada, a ninja feared as the "Demi-god," Ittoki reluctantly agrees. But to get inito the Ninja Academy, Ittoki has to pass the transfer admission exam...

## Summary

To be able to protect himself, Yumika wants Ittoki to become a ninja. Ittoki still doesn't believe ninja exist and wants to call the police, but Kozo tells him they can outwit the police. Tokisada takes Ittoki outside and gives him two options: become a ninja or die. Ittoki is still confused about everything as he had a normal life until few hours ago and wonders what is even a ninja. Tokisada then gives him a third option, he will help him escape until things calm down. He reveals that Yumika ordered him that if Ittoki wants it. He proceeds to explain that Ittoki's father was the village chief, but he died when Ittoki was a kid and Yumika became the chief. She wasn't a ninja, but stepped up into the ninja world and protected the village. Ittoki cries and states he can't leave his mother alone.

Satomi learns that Ittoki is sheltered at the Iga estate and is out of their reach. She and the ninja with her then fear that they will bring disgrace to Enbi and they could be expelled or even worse. Satomi is determined to make Iga pay.

At Koga meeting, Housen questions Enbi if the attack on Iga was initiated by his subordinates and tells him that the NSC has already heard about it, and that puts Koga in danger. The two continue to argue, but Kido stops them as there is no point in arguing between themselves.

In the morning, Reiha tells Ittoki that going to school is too dangerous and shows him a video of Kokuten Ninja Academy, explaining he will be attending it. Its the only ninja school in Japan. Reiha explains that its a hidden school that non-student ninja can't sneak in, it has dorms were Ittoki can live in safety and is operated under NSC's jurisdiction. To get in, Ittoki will have to go through the admission exam in two days. Ittoki wonders what is NSC. Reiha explains its the National Ninjutsu Security Measures Committee. She reveals there was a major war in the ninja world about 70 years ago and NSC was formed after that to avoid further conflicts between villages.

Housen visits Yumika's store and introduces himself Koga Holdings sales director. He reveals that they are increasing their wholesale price and that Ninman Confections are now a subsidiary of Koga Holdings. Kozo is annoyed that they are buying business partners to pressure another village and wonders if its not a violation of the Ninja Ordinances. Housen states NSC states there was no issue. Hearing that, Yumika has no choice and accepts the new terms. At dinner that night, Ittoki asks Yumika if his father died because he was ninja, but Yumika doesn't answer him and just tells him to eat his dinner.

The day of the exam comes, but Tokisada still haven't learned the location of the exam, so he tells Ittoki they need to wait. Ittoki wonders if its okay that he haven't practiced at all as ninja are supposed to use ninjutsu. Tokisada and Kosetsu give him a strange look and try to explain that you can't create something out of nothing. Tokisada then gets a call and is shocked to learn the location. Tokisada then takes them to Koga service area. Ittoki and Kosetsu enter and she tells Ittoki to ask the worker where the ninja meal is. Annoyed, Ittoki does and the woman tells him to go in a back area.

Going there, they enter a room where they see other students and a man who explains they will be starting the exam now. He explains that the test will be a mock-ninja practical exam of "hide-and-seek". The examinees are split in hiders and seekers. The hider will leave first and hide somewhere within the service area, and a minute later the seeker will leave and try to find him in 10 minutes. If hiders are not found, they win, while the seeker needs to find and touch the hider to pass the exam. Kosetsu start first and easily finds his hider.

Ittoki is seeker and Maiko Yasukawa is hider. Right before leaving, she looks at Ittoki and grins. Ittoki recognizes that she is Satomi. After she goes to hide, Ittoki goes looking for her. Tokisada takes out a Koga ninja who tried to kill Ittoki. Kosetsu then warns Ittoki that it's not just Satomi, but other Koga ninja are there too. If Ittoki runs, he will be disqualified. She tells him to be on his guard and that she and Tokisada will try to protect him. Another ninja tries to kill Ittoki, but Kosetsu protects him and sees that he is using optical camouflage gear. She goes after the ninja in the bathroom and sees its Satomi. She engages her in combat, but Satomi lets other ninja fight Kosetsu and goes after Ittoki.

In the store, Ittoki takes a fire extinguisher and starts using it and yelling there is fire. The anti-fire system then activates and the water reveals Satomi, who attempts to attack Ittoki, but Kosetsu kicks her. A moment later, ninja come and capture Satomi and take her away. Ittoki wants to touch her, but the examiner tells him the time had already ran out when he activates the sprinklers. He wonders why he did it as there are other counters to optical camouflage and ninja should draw as little attention as possible. Ittoki explains he didn't want to get anyone else involved and wanted to get the people out of danger.

Ittoki has failed and wonders what to do and Tokisada tells him they have an island with no infrastructure and he can hide there until the next exam. Tokisada then receives a call which surprises him and tells Ittoki that he passed.

Hayato Goshogawara, Captain of the 1st Division of NSC, tells Kido that they have arrested Satomi and four others for attempted murder and misuse of ninja tools. Kida apologizes, but explains that those five had disappeared last month and Koga had been pursuing them as fugitive ninjas. Hayato warns Kido that if something else happens, Koga will have to take responsibility. As Hayato leaves the Koga building, he gets a call that Satomi has died.

Kominami Mitsuhashi questions Juzen Jiraibo on why he let Ittoki pass. Juzen explains that the character for shinobi is written with "blade" and "heart", and you cannot be a shinobi without heart. Tokisada reports to Yumika and states that they believe Koga has reach to the academy and even NSC. She asks Tokisada what he thinks of Kishinmaru assassination and the suspicion towards Iga. Tokisada states that without a doubt there is a traitor in the Iga village.

## Characters

* Yumika Sakuraba
* Kozo Moriyama
* Reiha Tsuge
* Ittoki Sakuraba
* Tokisada Kaga
* Kosetsu
* Satomi Tsubaki
* Housen Ban
* Enbi Takamine
* Kido Minobe
* Juzen Jiraibo
* Suzaku Ban
* Hayato Goshogawara