You leave the chamber of Togashi Yokuni a bit more puzzled then when you entered.  He has certainly given you much to ponder.  You again pass through the dark pillars feeling the eyes of bloodllust upon you.  A deep growling voice echos out from an unknown source. 

"Fools!  So weak, so mortal.  You fly like blind bats but even bats have ears.  If this is the hope of Rokugan then why have faith?  Why have trust?  You are not bats...you are worms!  Do you not feel the vibrations in the land?  Do you not sense the snake about to bite?  Can you not feel the tiger about to... kill?!"

 A creature lunges from the darkness of the ceiling and lands on Kuno pinning him to the floor.  His torso is that of a powerful bushi but the rest of him...like a lizard, black claws on four legs.  His skill is great.  He holds his two swords at Kuno's neck.

"I am Togashi Hoshi, son of Yokuni, and I deem you unworthy.  Togashi Yokuni's puzzle has told you everything but you cannot hear it.  You must look beyond the words for he has handed you both names of the heroes and the methods to make them heroes.  He asks too much of you ridiculous mortals!  He has granted you time to prepare through journeys of the self.  Greed, desire, ego...learn your limitations.  You must be expected to throw away values.  Everything is your illusion!"

 He jumps into the air allowing his swords to leave Kuno's throat last.

 

"How dare you, Hoshi!" Udon yells into the surrounding darkness. "You would attack Kuno-san? You would defy fate? You would defy your father? How dare you!"

 

"I would follow you to the ends of the Empire. All you would need to do is ask if I would take a walk with you! And you would attack my friend! Get down here, Hoshi!" Udon foams from the mouth. "We are five sides of one, Hoshi! To attack one is to attack us all! Would you kill me, my Brother. Come Hoshi, put your Murimoto blades at my throat!" Udon screams with his arms spread.

 

A roaring Hoshi jumps out of the darkness with blades drawn. Startled as the quick and fierce advance, Udon can do nothing as Hoshi's blades find resting places at Udon's throat, poised to strike. "Foolish, Udon, I thought better of you, wlep. Angering me is defying your fate!"

 

Udon quickly recovered from the sudden appearance of the son of Yokuni. With blades at his throat, he stared into Hoshi's gleaming eyes. "Go ahead, Hoshi-sama. Defy fate, defy your father, defy Ryukan and plunge the Empire into 1000 years of darkness all because of your own limitations. Jealousy rules you, Hoshi." Udon said, slowing to a whisper. "There comes a time when the insect is no longer afraid of the reptile."

 

Behind the two Dragons came another whisper. "To some of us, we are all we have left. We will fight and die as one. Remove your blades, son of Yokuni." Keshijo said drawing his bow back, an arrow leveled at Hoshi.

 

Hoshi looked to the Tanto Bearers as if for the first time truly seeing them. Oku, with a thin blade in his hands began circling around behind the hulking Hoshi. Kuno was on his feet, his sword gleaming, ready to fight. Sousha crouched with 5 shiriukans drawn. The Tanto Bearers were set to fight a hopeless battle for one of their own.

 

A slow smile spread across Togashi Hoshi's face. "You mortals. You have such a great capacity to learn, but what is remarkable is your ability to teach." He removed his blades from Udon's throat and bowed to each of them.

 

Hoshi placed his huge hand on Udon's shoulder and said, "If fate allows us, Udon, I would ask you to take a walk with me some day."

 

"If fate allows, I will follow you, son of Togashi." Udon said with a bow. Before he raised up, Hoshi had disappeared into the darkness once more.

 

"You Dragons are a damn strange bunch of fools." remarked Oku, shaking his head.

 

It seems wisest to leave quickly.  Togashi Mitsu, called the greatest of Ise Zumi, sees you off.  Your paths down the mountain, as suggested by Yokuni, bring your destinies to different areas of Rokugan where your abilities will grow.  You can only imagine what evils grow around you.