In the Ninja Academy, grunts echoed constantly as thousands of ninjas trained, each clad in distinct elemental uniforms. Trees swayed gracefully under the windy day, their leaves whispering as the sun illuminated the tops of the pagodas, making them feel ancient and awe-inspiring.
The entire atmosphere carried an overwhelming sense of power, as if one had stepped into a completely different world—one forged by formidable shinobi.
Yet, as everything proceeded as it did every morning, a portal completely out of place in this realm suddenly opened.
And from it emerged Zayne and Tommy, both fully suited in their Ranger forms.
Zayne stood in his Phase 1 Omni-Suit, while Tommy was donned in the Zeo Red Ranger suit.
Their appearance alone showed they were ready for anything that might come. They knew this mission could be peaceful—or extremely dangerous. It all depended on the residents of this place.
Tommy scanned the surroundings carefully, trying to ascertain their exact location while also watching for any immediate reaction to their illegal migration into the realm. He half-expected alarms, guards, or hostile ninjas to descend upon them at any moment.
But to his surprise, none of that happened.
"I isolated our location. No one can find us," Zayne said, noticing Tommy's tense posture and explaining the situation before he could overthink it.
Tommy quickly accepted the explanation. He knew Zayne possessed bizarre gadgets in his arsenal, so something like this wasn't entirely shocking. With Zayne's reassurance, his nerves eased considerably. It seemed there was no need to worry—for now.
"Let's go. I've pinpointed the location of the gem. It's in that pagoda," Zayne said, tilting his head upward and pointing toward the tallest and most ancient building some distance away.
Tommy followed the direction of his finger, locking onto the structure. But the moment his senses brushed against it, his mind churned. He felt two powerful auras emanating from within. One was familiar. The other was strange—domineering, oppressive.
The familiar aura was undoubtedly the Dino Gem.
The other, however, was unidentifiable, at least for now.
That unknown presence reignited Tommy's unease. The aura felt overwhelmingly powerful—far stronger than Zayne himself. To make matters worse, Tommy's own power was still sealed.
"Zayne… are you sure we can get the gem?" Tommy asked, voicing his concerns. "I felt the aura in that building. It was terrifying. Whatever is guarding the gem is extremely powerful."
He hoped, even slightly, that Zayne would reconsider and cancel the mission—at least until they were strong enough to face whatever guardian awaited them.
Zayne fell silent, fully understanding the difficulty of the task. He, too, could feel the oppressive presence from the pagoda. Activating his morpher, he analyzed the aura directly.
A clear, bold ranking flashed across the holographic display.
[B-Tier]
Zayne's eyes narrowed.
That level was far beyond anything he had ever faced. His own maximum strength was only C+, and the gap between those ranks was like heaven and earth.
But still…
He had to do this.
The gem—and the mission granted by the Omni-Grid—left him no room for hesitation. His resolve remained unshaken.
[Side Mission Unlocked…]
[Secure the Black Dino Gem and make Sensei Watanabe submit]
[Time Limit: 7 Hours]
[Reward: ?? (Based on performance)]
The notification echoed within his mind the moment he fully accepted the mission. It was the first one that didn't specify a reward, meaning the outcome could be meager or extraordinary.
Zayne was betting on the latter.
This mission mattered. He needed more strength. His plan was simple: first, reason with Sensei Watanabe. If words failed… then force would suffice. The Ninja Academy couldn't even use the gem properly—it was wasted here.
"No need to worry, Dr. O," Zayne said calmly, a confident smile forming beneath his helmet. "I'm pretty sure we can handle it. And if things get out of hand, we'll leave and plan for another time."
He needed Tommy's support. This journey was dangerous, and he knew it.
Zayne himself wasn't afraid. At worst, he would die and revive. What concerned him more was whether Tommy would have the resolve to see this through.
Tommy looked away, his mind deep in thought, emotions unreadable. After a few minutes, he finally spoke.
"Alright, kid. I'll trust you. But if we can't handle it, we're leaving."
Zayne chuckled, utterly satisfied. "Sure, sure. We'll leave when that time comes. Now let's go—we've wasted enough time."
Tommy shook his head in resignation. His worries seemed like passing wind to the teenager beside him. He had been the same once—hot-blooded and fearless.
Without wasting another second, he followed Zayne. Their steps were light and swift, their movements blurring as they advanced. Only the leaves betrayed their passage, stirred violently by the wind as they vanished toward the ancient pagoda.
Minutes later, they got to their destination. Rows of humans in Ninja-clad clothes could be seen training in rhythm.
The moment Zayne and Tommy stepped into the training grounds near the pagoda, the atmosphere shifted sharply.
Grunts, shouts, and the rhythmic clash of training weapons abruptly ceased. Hundreds of eyes snapped toward the two armored figures that had appeared almost out of thin air. The trainees—young and old alike—instinctively spread out, feet sliding across the stone floor as they took defensive stances.
Kunai were drawn. Short blades gleamed. Elemental-like energies flared subtly around some of them.
They did not attack.
Not because they lacked courage—but because every instinct they had screamed the same warning.
Danger.
The two figures before them were extremely strong. Moreover, they were.....
Rangers.
Everyone in the Ninja Academy knew the stories. Armored warriors who fought against evil and protected the world. Beings who wielded power that could disrupt the balance of a country. Even without sensing their auras directly, the pressure Zayne and Tommy radiated was suffocating.
An older trainee stepped forward, his posture firm but cautious. His eyes never left them.
"Intruders," he said loudly, his voice carrying authority. "Identify yourselves. Who are you?"
The others nodded subtly, hands tightening around their weapons. They wanted answers, too. Were they friend or foe
Zayne remained silent, helmet tilted slightly as he surveyed the area. Tommy stood beside him, equally still, his instincts screaming as he took in the layout, calculating how many of them he could take down at once, if a fight broke out.
Before either of them could respond—
"Let them in."
A calm voice spoke, covering the entire surrounding. It was loud.....clear enough for any of them to hear.
Yet it carried an undeniable weight that pressed down on everyone present.
The trainees stiffened instantly.
Some swallowed.
Others lowered their weapons without even realizing it.
No one dared question the command.
The crowd parted immediately, forming a clear path forward. Even the elder trainee stepped aside, bowing his head slightly in respect.
Zayne's lips curled faintly beneath his helmet.
"He allowed us entry this easily," he thought. "Heh… he must be curious."
Sensei Watanabe.
Zayne knew it had to be him. There was no other presence in this realm capable of exerting such quiet dominance. The old master must have been intrigued—concerned even—that two outsiders had entered his domain without triggering any alarms.
Zayne and Tommy moved forward.
The moment they crossed a certain threshold—
The world shifted.
Space folded unnaturally, the scenery warping like disturbed water. The training grounds vanished in an instant, replaced by a vast, serene courtyard. Smooth stone tiles stretched endlessly beneath their feet, surrounded by ancient wooden structures adorned with symbols of the Ninja Academy's lineage.
Zayne felt it immediately.
"Power of space. Eh...Show of power," he thought with a click of his tongue. "Tch. He's trying to intimidate us."
Tommy, on the other hand, felt his breath hitch.
"Shit… he thought grimly. He's more powerful than I thought."
The pressure here was far denser than outside. Controlled. Refined. Like standing before a mountain that hadn't moved in centuries.
At the far end of the courtyard sat Sensei Watanabe.
He appeared calm, seated on a simple wooden platform, dressed in traditional robes. His posture was relaxed, his expression warm—but the power behind his eyes was unmistakable.
He observed them quietly.
Their reactions did not go unnoticed.
Good, Sensei Watanabe thought. He was satisfied that he got some reaction out of the strangers before him. He had to show them who had the upper hand in whatever might come after.
"Please," he said politely, gesturing toward the cushions before him. "Sit."
Zayne and Tommy exchanged a glance.
They nodded.
Both accepted the invitation and sat across from him, movements measured and respectful. Not at all, like that of an enemy.
A small wooden table separated them.
Sensei Watanabe lifted a teapot, steam curling gently into the air, and poured tea into three cups with practiced ease.
"Please have some tea," he said kindly.
Zayne's gaze flicked briefly to the cups.
"Old schemer," he thought.
It was subtle, but effective. In this culture, drinking tea together symbolized peace and openness. Refusing would imply hostility. Accepting meant trust.
And trust meant revealing oneself.
If they drank, they would have to remove their helmets.
If they refused, they would announce their intent as provocateurs.
Sensei Watanabe watched them closely.
Tommy felt the tension immediately—but Zayne had already decided.
Both Rangers reached up and removed their helmets.
Sensei Watanabe's eyes narrowed slightly—
And then widened in surprise.
Their faces were… wrong.
Not obscured.
Not hidden.
But blurred.
As if clouds drifted perpetually across their features, shifting and reforming no matter how hard one tried to focus. No defining traits. No identity to grasp.
A powerful concealment technique.
Sensei Watanabe's interest deepened.
Zayne lifted the teacup calmly and took a sip.
"Good tea," he said lightly, his tone teasing.
The words snapped Sensei Watanabe out of his thoughts.
Both Rangers placed their cups down, then calmly donned their helmets once more.
"Hmph," Zayne thought. "Good thing I came prepared. This old man is too cunning."
Sensei Watanabe maintained his amiable smile, unchanged from the moment they arrived.
"Now then," he said gently. "You have entered my realm unannounced. Tell me—what brings two Rangers to the Ninja Academy? If there is any way I can help, I will try."
Zayne leaned back slightly, relaxed but direct.
"We're here for the Black Dino Gem," he said plainly.
Sensei Watanabe's eyes immediately deepened a few shades darker. As if he had guessed their intent.
"And before you misunderstand, I'll explain." Zayne immediately added after noticing his reaction
He spoke calmly, clearly laying out the origin of the Dino Gems—their connection to dinosaurs, their role in maintaining balance, and the danger of allowing them to remain dormant or misused in a world that couldn't fully wield them. Moreover, the fact that it was practically useless in this realm. Keeping it locked any longer could cause severe and unforeseen consequences.
Tommy joined in, his voice steady.
"The gem doesn't belong here, Sensei. It was never meant to be sealed away indefinitely. If it remains idle, it could destabilize the energy network of the rangers to which it is tied. Worse… others might come seeking it."
Sensei Watanabe listened silently.
His smile slowly faded. He finally figured out what they had 'sneaked' in for.
The warmth in his eyes cooled, replaced by something ancient and unyielding.
When Zayne finished speaking, the courtyard felt colder.
"I see," Sensei Watanabe said at last.
Then his gaze hardened.
"I think I've tolerated you enough as strangers in my realm," he continued, his tone no longer welcoming. "You should leave."
Tommy's eyes widened slightly behind his visor.
He hadn't expected that.
Not so abruptly.
Zayne, however, remained composed. Already expecting such a reaction. For something to be deliberately locked away by someone with such power must be of great allure and importance to him.
He inclined his head slightly. "Are you sure you can't hand it over?"
Sensei Watanabe did not hesitate.
"Leave."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Final.
Zayne exhaled slowly and stood up.
Tommy followed, his expression tense, conflicted.
Zayne straightened, facing the old master squarely.
"Guess it's the hard way then."
Those words drifted with the wind
For a split second—
Nothing happened. Only a green leaf was flowing past them.
Then—
Three auras exploded simultaneously.
BOOM!