Hunter bowed to his class, dismissing them for the day, and headed back towards the main building of the Thunder Academy. He was heading for Sensei Omino's office as earlier he had gotten a note saying that he wanted to see Hunter at the end of the day's classes. It had been a long, hot day and Hunter wanted nothing more than a shower and a cold drink, perhaps a good hearty meal, and a chat to Cam as he hadn't talked to him for a few days. He musings quickly faded as he suddenly found himself outside Sensei Omino's door and he knocked softly.

"Come in Sensei Bradley." Hunter opened the door, bowing slightly in respect as he entered. Sensei Omino motioned for him to sit down opposite him and Hunter did. "Thank you for stopping by Hunter, I know it's been a long day." Hunter gave him a small smile.

"But it was a good day Sensei. I have a lot of promising students that are coming along on well in their training."

"That is good to hear. No doubt you are wondering why I have asked you to come and see me." Hunter nodded, his curiosity aroused.

"Yes Sensei." Sensei Omino handed him a piece of paper and gave him a tiny smile.

"I received this request this morning from an old friend of mine and Sensei Watanabe's. I would like you to be the one that goes to his aide." Hunter looked up in surprise at the Sensei words. Go to his aide? What did Sensei mean by that? Hunter was confused.

"Go to his aide Sensei?" Sensei Omino smiled gently and gestured to the paper.

"Read, you will see." Hunter looked down at the paper and began to read softly out loud.

"Dear Sensei Watanabe and Sensei Omino,

It is our devout wish that you are both in fine health when this missive reaches you. It is with deep regret that Sensei Palan and I have had to contact you with this request for your most urgent aide.

As you know, the Fire Ninja Academy and Ice Ninja Academy are both based in New Zealand. The Fire Academy is located on the North Island; the Ice Academy on the South Island. Before recent times, this has been enough distance to keep the interaction between our students to a minimum, thusly reducing any unforeseen accidents or rivalries flaring up. But something has happened of late to cause these feelings of rivalry to become so out of control that our students are fighting each other, over the slightest of things. Sensei Palan and I have tried everything…"

Sensei Laglia Fire Academy Sensei Palan Ice Academy".

Cam finished reading the notice and looked up at his father, the note in his hands.

"I can understand them requesting our help Dad if this is as bad as this letter states, but why show this to me." Kanoi Watanabe smiled gently at his son. Cam may be extremely intelligent, but sometimes even the most obvious of things missed his notice.

"I have something for you." He held out his hand, a small folder in it and without thinking Cam took it, glancing down and then raising an eyebrow in surprise.

"First class airline tickets and the Academy credit card." Cam looked up, confused. "Dad?"

"I have chosen you to go and help my old friends at the Fire and Ice Academies. With recent happenings and our own past history, you are the best one to help them. Plus, I can not think of any one more suited to go." Cam stared down at the first class airline ticket and credit card and then back at his father, a smile on his face.

"Thank you for the vote of confidence Dad. Is Sensei Omino sending someone?" Kanoi gave Cam a warm, somewhat secretive smile.

"Yes he is. Sensei Omino and I have already discussed this matter once we both received their letter this morning. But I'm letting you find out for yourself who it is. Call it an early birthday present since I have the feeling this situation will require you to be away for your birthday, hence the reason for the credit card. Use it to have some fun while you are away, buy yourself something nice. I have already spoken with your grandfather, he has excused you from your classes while you away. He seems to think that this will be an excellent training exercise for you." Kanoi gave his son a rare grin. "Now go my son, you have much packing to do and little time to do it. Your flight leaves first thing in the morning and you'll have to be at the airport early." Cam swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded as he rose. He was stunned to the core and touched by his father's faith in him.

"Thank you Dad. This means a lot, I don't know what to say. I'll see you later, before I turn in for the night and leave in the morning." Kanoi just smiled and watched him go. Yes, Cam would do well at this task. Smiling to himself, Kanoi went back to finishing off the student reports that wouldn't write themselves.

Cam went back to his room and grabbed a dark green backpack from his wardrobe. Putting the ticket and credit card in his wallet he then began to dig through his things looking for his passport. Sometimes he was such a pack rat with the things in his room. Usually he was so neat and organized, but the way things had been lately he hadn't had the time to keep his room up to its normal tidy state, let alone put things away. He had just found his passport, glad that he'd remembered to renew it last year when his cell phone rang. He reached over and absently opened it as he put his passport by his wallet and walked towards his dresser, opening the top drawer as he absently answered it.

"Yes?"

"Do you always answer the phone so polite and friendly?" Cam inadvertently smiled at Hunter's teasing tone. Hunter always had a way cheer him up with even the most innocuous comments.

"Sometimes, it depends on when a person rings me. What's up?"

"Nothing much, just wanted to let you know I'm going to be out of town for a few days and won't be around." Cam raised an eyebrow and stopped going through his drawers taking out clean clothes.

"That's ironic."

"How so?" Hunter's tone was curious and Cam sat down on his bed, leaning against the bed head, leaving the packing for a moment.

"Dad's sending me to New Zealand to help out..."

"The Fire and Ice Ninja Academies." Cam frowned, suddenly two and two made four.

"How did you know that?" Hunter chuckled softly and Cam could hear him moving about his room in the background.

"Because Sensei Omino is sending me as well. Let me guess, early flight in the morning?" Cam chuckled slightly as well, relaxing a little bit more with the knowledge he was going with someone he trusted to watch his back.

"Yeah, and with a first class ticket as well. Dad even gave me the academy credit card and told me to have some fun while I was away; he said it was an early birthday present." Hunter chuckled along with him.

"Funny, Sensei Omino said basically the same thing since my birthday's a few days after yours. So, we go, sort these guys out and then what? Have a few days off exploring New Zealand?" Cam shrugged as he heard Hunter stop moving about in the background.

"We could do that. I'm dying to see where they shot Lord of the Rings, just like I know you are as well. Apparently there are tours you can go on."

"Yeah that would be cool, wouldn't it? So why don't we do that then. It'll take what, a day to kick these guys into line, and then spend a couple of days exploring the wonders of New Zealand and then head back home. How does that sound?" Cam thought it over a few moments, the excitement of actually getting to go to another country beginning to creep up on him. Cam smiled even though Hunter couldn't see it through the phone. He was beginning to look forward to this trip now, plus he was spending it with Hunter, that was always a bonus. Lately, he'd been finding that he was really enjoying spending time with the Thunder Ninja. Hunter had been managing to keep him sane in these sometimes insane times that they now lived. Although some part of him still was amazed that he'd become such good friends with the Crimson Ranger. They were two total opposites but somehow, they were great friends.

"I think they could do without us for a few days don't you?" Even down the phone line Cam could swear he could see Hunter smirk.

"I think they could. It'll make them appreciate us all the more when we get back." Cam couldn't help the small grin that appeared on his face. "After all, the pair of us are indispensable, it's about time people realized that." Cam raised an eyebrow.

"There's no end to your ego is there?"

Hunter couldn't help the wide smirk on his face as he heard Cam's wry tone on the other end of the phone. He loved teasing Cam, his friend had the most wry sense of humor he had ever known and he enjoyed making Cam laugh. His friend was so serious sometimes, he needed lightening up and reminding that life was fun. Hunter had made it his mission when they were together to make sure Cam enjoyed himself.

"Hey, one of us has to realize that they are completely indispensable, and since you're always stuck either fixing stuff or you in your grandfather's Samurai classes, one of us has to have enough ego for the both of us." Cam's familiar wry sarcastic tone came back at him almost instantly.

"Oh you're enough of something Hunter, I just haven't figured out what yet." Hunter grinned even though Cam couldn't see it, enjoying their friendly banter.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" He tried to act indignant, but he was having too much fun. Teasing Cam was fun as he never knew what way Cam would go. Cam just chuckled in response.

"When I figure that out you'll be the first to know. Meet you at the airport in the morning?" Cam was reluctant to end the call but they both had packing to do.

"Yeah, I was thinking about 5.15 since check in times at 5.30?"

"Sounds like a plan to me Hunter. Make sure you bring something thick to read, it's about a 17 hour flight to Wellington."

"That I can do; just started a new Tom Clancy one I just bought. I also just hope they have a good in-flight movie. Something with some storyline to it I hope."

"Wouldn't it be ironic if it was all three Lord of the Rings movies?" Hunter chuckled as he shook his head.

"At least it'd be something good to watch. So, catch you in the morning?"

"Sure thing Hunter. 5.15 Outside the airport entrance. And don't forget your coat; it'll be just coming into autumn when we get there so it might be chilly." Hunter grimaced.

"That's the only downside, we're traveling to the other side of the world and it's going to be a different season over there."

"It is the southern hemisphere Hunter, everything's opposite to what we have here."

"I know. Anyway I'm going to finish packing. See you in the morning?"

"Bright and Early Cam. Night."

"Bye." Hunter ended the call and slumped back on his bed. Going to New Zealand with Cam on a secret assignment for the Ninja Academies. This would be an interesting trip to say the least.

Hunter had been finishing his packing when his phone rang again. Not checking who it was he opened it and spoke with a grin in his voice.

"Cam if this is you reminding me not to be late tomorrow morning…" Blake's laughter caused him to pause in his packing and Hunter grinned slightly.

"Why would Cam be calling you to remind you not to be late in the morning?"

"Hey little bro, what are you doing calling me this late?" Blake's grin could be heard in his voice.

"Well, I was ringing to see how my big brother is. Can't I do that?"

"Plus you can't sleep?"

"Plus I can't sleep. Got in one Hunter. Too excited about the races I have in the next few days." Hunter smiled as he flopped down on the bed. A few nights before a big race and Blake had the habit of always ringing him at odd hours because he was having trouble sleeping.

"Figured as much. So anything in particular you wanted to talk about?"

"Not really. Just wanted to talk you know? I kind of miss not being there with you sometimes is all." Hunter smiled.

"I know Blake and I miss you too. Actually I'm glad you called. I have some news."

"And would that have anything to do why you thought I was Cam?" Blake's tone was curious.

"Cam and I are heading to New Zealand for a few days." Hunter had no problem telling Blake what was going on. Back after Lothor had been defeated and Blake was about to leave on his tour with Factory Blue Hunter had gotten them cell phones, and had asked Cam to make sure that they were secured so that they could talk about anything and everything in private and not have to worry about anything. Cam had been happy to oblige.

"New Zealand with Cam. Okay, whatever for Hunter?" Hunter leaned back, settling in for a long call. Sometimes he and Blake talked to the wee hours of the morning.

"The Fire and Ice Ninja Academies are having trouble with their students and some sort of evil thing is involved. Sensei Omino and Watanabe seem to think that the two of us can handle whatever it is."

"Well you two are really good fighters Hunter. And plus Cam's super smart, he can usually figure anything out."

"Yeah I know. It'll be an interesting trip that's for sure."

"So, why are they asking for help anyways? I thought that the Ninja Academies were all autonomous anyways."

"Well I asked Sensei about it that when he was telling me this afternoon. Apparently when the Academies were founded eons ago in Japan they started out as just a few minor Academies to guard various things. At first it was against invading armies and then evil spirits and then it grew from there. When the Japanese people moved out into the world, they took the Academies and their duties of protecting the innocents, guarding against evil that type of thing, with them."

"It's like Sensei Watanabe said. The Wind Ninja Academy wasn't put in Blue Bay Harbor by accident."

"Exactly. Each Ninja Academy, wherever it is in the world, was put where it is due to something that it has to guard or protect."

"So what's in New Zealand that needs two Academies near by?"

"We don't know. Sensei said I would find out when I get there."

"And how does Sensei know these guys anyway? I thought each Academy was autonomous of one another. It's only because of the whole Lothor thing that Wind and Thunder have anything to do with one another."

"Well, Sensei was telling me that when a teacher, usually a head teacher, is slated as the current Academies ruling Sensei successor then that person is sent to Japan to study with the masters over there. Usually it happens once a generation and that's how all the Senseis get to know one another. They study each other's discipline and get the entire history of the Ninja Academies. They also learn where each Academy is located and what it is guarding or protecting, something like that. He didn't go into much detail."

"So that's how Sensei knows Sensei Watanabe."

"Exactly. And it's how they know these two Senseis from New Zealand."

"I wonder where else in the world are there Academies." Hunter laughed.

"I asked Sensei the same question, you know, where are they all located and why didn't I get told this stuff when I became head teacher. You want to know what he said?" Blake laughed.

"I can guess. The time wasn't right or something equally as deep right?"

"Right. Said that I didn't need to know at the time, but now I do."

"Wonder if Sensei Watanabe told Cam all this." Hunter snorted.

"Bro, this is Cam we're talking about. He probably learned it in his crib." Blake laughed, knowing that Hunter loved to tease Cam sometimes.

"Yeah you're probably right. Anyway, I'm going to turn in now."

"Okay then bro; watch yourself and good luck in the race. I'm sure some of the guys will be along to watch you race."

"I doubt it; it's in a place called Stone Canyon. But you never know. Watch yourself down there Hunter. I won't be there to get your back."

"It'll be okay Blake. I'll have Cam with me, and besides you, he's about the only other person I'd trust to watch my back on a mission such as this. You just watch your own back."

"I will. Have fun and bring me back a present." Hunter laughed.

"Don't worry I will. Take care Blake and I'll call you when I get back. If you need me for anything, Cyber Cam will undoubtedly be able to get in touch with us."

"Isn't that the truth? Say hi to Cam for me. Catch you when you get back Hunter."

"See you then little bro." The call ended and Hunter hung up the phone. Glancing over at a photo of the two of them taken recently after Blake's last win Hunter grinned. His gaze slid to the clock and he sighed. He had packing to finish.