Kasuga Osamu has started to hold regular tournaments to encourage his developing shurikenjutsu students. During a recent such event several new competitors arrived together, doing quite well in the standings. When Yasu was eliminated in the semi-finals against Toru, he became upset and stormed off with his friend Juro. Shortly thereafter a student who identified himself as Hanzo appeared to lose against Daidoji Emi, but to Kasuga's trained eye it appeared that he was hitting exactly what he was aiming at even when he missed.
Later in the evening as the students left, Kasuga noticed loud noises coming from an alleyway. Apparently the three young men had lain in wait and were assaulting Toru, hurling insults at the handsome, well-dressed student until Hanzo stepped forward and knocked him unconscious with a single, well-placed kick.
Several students had been at a restaurant together when a disturbance was caused by a group of young men.
They refused to pay and when the owner insisted, Yasu flashed a shuriken
from his sleeve and quietly threatened the man. Toru intervened,
resulting in a brawl that saw one of Yasu's companions fatally wounded. He was brought back to the lab in the hopes that he could be saved, but the wounds were too severe.
Upon returning to the lab a note was found affixed to the door with a shuriken reading "blood demands blood."