Note: all speaking is translated from Mandarin

A sleepy little hamlet sat in a valley in Tibet, little ever happened there and the people were simple folk going about their lives in contentment.

High up on the side of the mountain stood a figure clad in the garb of the Ninja staring down at the village, a katana at his side "Amon?" he said quietly, turning his head slightly.

A man of average height who had a tattoo of a brain in the centre of his forehead and was wearing a black cloak appeared at his side, "Yes Knife of Shadow," he gestured at the hamlet. "that is the village"

"Very well, Shenai, we are taking the men down" he looked over his shoulder at the group of men who slid out of camouflage."Take the headman and his family prisoner, kill anyone who resists"

The Shadow-ninja Shenai stepped beside the Knife "Lord Knife, why is Amon not coming into battle with us" he glanced at the cloaked figure.

Amon said without looking over. "A Mentat is not a warrior"

"Then create cover for our approach" retorted Shenai.

At this the Mentat Amon turned his head and glared at Shenai. "Neither is a Mentat a sorcerer"

"Enough, we go now," Knife of Shadow drew his sword and turned to his two subordinates. "Shenai, you will lead the men down and attack the village in itself, Amon, you will come with me to the headman's hut"

The Shadow clan force ran down the hill to attack.

Less than three minutes later half of the village was dead or dieing and the rest were huddled in the town square, watched by Shadow clan ninja.

In the headman's house stood the eighteen year old Knife of Shadow watching the headman. "where is the Monastery?"

"Please, we are only simple people" said the headman. "we have done nothing to you, leave us in peace"

Amon dragged an eighteen year old boy into the house. "if I give you your son back will you tell me?"

"Please, do not hurt us" he pleaded. "I do not know where it is"

Knife pushed the boy foreword to the mans relief but suddenly he tripped the boy and in a deft move snapped his neck, "now you may have him back." He said to a man who had burst into tears.

Knife turned to Amon "bring me the girl" Amon bowed and walked out the door.

A moment later Amon returned with a girl of perhaps four or five. "your daughter?"

"Daddy?" said the girl.

"Kari!" he fell to his knees. "Do not hurt her"

"tell me" Knife drew his sword, sliced of one of the girl's hands then placed it to the girl's neck "I doubt she would last long with me" at that even Shenai turned in disgust.

"Do not hurt her" the headman bowed his head. "the monastery is at the base of the Yaks Horn"

"Thank you have helped me" said Knife, turning "However you are no longer of any use, Shenai kill the rest of them" he spun and his sword flashed twice, slicing the girl in half then taking the man's head.

Shenai stepped outside and held up a hand...and the killing begun, it took less than a minute before every man, woman and child in the village was dead.

Knife stepped from the hut and said. "we move now"

the Shadow clan was about to slip back into the snow when a flash heralded the arrival of a messenger "Lord Knife of Shadow, you and your subordinates have been given a new task" he said handing the Dagger a scroll. "you are to help the Blade of Shadow capture the Q creature, you will return to this task afterward"

Knife unrolled the scroll and read.