Parting Swords, Looming Shadows

In the darkness, a man dressed as a ninja sat silently in the flickering candlelight. The flames of the white candles were stirred by an insidious demonic aura, causing them to be extinguished one by one. The faint smoke condensed into a set of sinister snake eyes. A deep voice rushed towards the man from the darkness, "Our game is coming to an end..." The man furrowed his brow slightly, his hand gradually reaching behind him. The candlelight died out. An enormous serpent-like demon appeared amidst the aura, and the man unsheathed the ancient demon-sealing sword on his back. "How much longer can you keep me sealed away?" "Give up, submit to me, and become my vessel!" Hayabusa opened his eyes and returned to reality from his inner world. He was sitting in the Hikage Clan's cemetery, with no memorial halls or tombstones, only countless graves and ninja weapons leaning against them. Each weapon served as a monument for a fallen Dark Ninja, accompanying them in their eternal rest. At that moment, accompanying Hayabusa as he paid tribute to his clan members, was the ancient sealing sword - the Kusanagi, emanating a purple glow. Hayabusa gently caressed the Kusanagi, reflecting quietly on his life. In the world of exorcists, there exists a unique family - the Hikage Clan, a lineage of exorcist ninjas. These exceptional ninjas lurk in the shadows, employing immense determination and tireless effort to carry out the secret orders of the Association of Exorcists. They fight in silence, achieve victory in silence, and sacrifice in silence... Within the Association of Exorcists, members of the Hikage Clan are commonly referred to as "Dark Ninjas". These Dark Ninjas are a special force directly commanded by the five elders of the Association. The legendary yet elusive Hayabusa is the current leader of the Dark Ninjas. From a young age, Hayabusa could wield the Kusanagi, the sacred sealing artifact of the Hikage Clan. This sword also brought him a fateful “farewell companion”... Several years ago, as the cold light of the Kusanagi flashed by, Hayabusa burst into a fray to rescue Granger, who was besieged by a strange demon. Granger, however, seemed ungrateful. Without offering thanks, he stumbled away, wearing a stern expression. Hayabusa's subordinates scoffed, claiming that Granger was the infamous "Farewell Companion" who sent half-demon partners to their deaths, and it served him right to have no friends. However, as Hayabusa watched Granger's retreating figure, he thought to himself, "Ninjas, too, have no friends.”

Meeting Granger was just a brief moment in Hayabusa's combat-filled life. Subsequently, he was ordered to launch a surprise attack on the demon organization known as the Shadow Council. After an earth-shattering battle with its leader, the Serpent King, both Hayabusa and the Serpent King were severely injured. Just as the Serpent King was about to release all its spiritual power and perish along with Hayabusa, the Kusanagi Sword emitted a purple light, merging the two into one. As Hayabusa awaited death, he wondered: “Why? Is the Kusanagi saving me? But if so, I...” The severely injured Hayabusa then fell into a coma. The next moment, he saw Granger's spectral hand breaking through the veil... Soon after, Granger came to Hayabusa's side, announcing with a lazy smile that the elder had assigned them as partners. Hayabusa understood: he was now half-demon, a vessel for sealing the Serpent King. Thus, the Farewell Companion Granger joined Hayabusa, and they began their awkward collaboration. The Association of Exorcists' elders seemed determined to make use of Hayabusa before any issues arising from the Serpent King within him, so Hayabusa and Granger were forced to stick together through life-and-death missions. Hayabusa quickly discovered that the seemingly unrestrained Granger was a reliable sharpshooter, with his bullets always hitting the right target at the right time. Sometimes, Hayabusa could feel Granger's gaze from behind, especially during the heat of battle. He even caught glimpses of worry and... reluctance in Granger's eyes. “Was he concerned about me? Indeed, I was worried too. Every time I drew the Kusanagi to release the Serpent King's power, the seal would become more unstable. I can't contain it much longer...” After one battle, the duo received a new directive: find the strongest rogue exorcist - Qi. Hayabusa gazed at the rain-soaked streets and his distorted reflection in a puddle, and for the first time, he spoke: "I want to go home, to see something...” Seeing Granger's inquisitive gaze, Hayabusa added, "Alone." Hayabusa, seated in his family graveyard, solemnly paid his respects before standing up and looking around. Ninja clans were hidden in rugged mountains, valleys, and dense forests. A gust of wind swept through, sending leaves and flower petals swirling through the air amidst the burial mounds. Hayabusa removed his mask, allowing his face to feel the wind and the beauty of nature. It was a beauty worth dying for as a human and sacrificing oneself as an exorcist. Hayabusa looked towards the distant Wood City, the agreed-upon rendezvous point with Granger. Then, my Farewell Companion, Granger, I entrust everything to you.