Finally, the group was about to receive a new mission again.

"What do you think the mission will be about?" Soul asked.

"Whatever it is, I hope it's something challenging. I need to show my stuff so my adoring public knows how strong I am." Black Star said with a grin.

'Does his ego ever deflate?' Maka thought blankly.

"I'm sure it will." Maka said.

Arriving in Death's room, the team was meet with Lord Death himself along with Sid the zombie man and Spirit Albarn. Deciding to be nice and remembering what Stein said he would do the other day, Maka raised her hand to give a short but courteous wave to her father.

"Oh." Spirit let out, surprised but he smiled as he nodded back.

'She waved at me! Maka waved at me!' Spirit thought in pure joy. 'She still loves her papa!'

"You asked for us, Lord Death?" Maka asked.

"Indeed. An urgent matter has come up in the country and I need you all to handle it with swift haste." Lord Death said before glancing at Tsubaki. "And I'm afraid it concerns you the most, Ms. Tsubaki."

"Me? Why-" Tsubaki jolted as a thought came to her mind. "...It's him, isn't it?"

"Who?" Patty asked.

"Her brother." Lord Death said, shocking everyone. "The Enchanted Sword."

"Your brother? You never told me you have a brother." Black Star said to Tsubaki, who went pale as she closed her eyes.

"And is for good reason too." Spirit said.

"He's dangerous." Tsubaki said.

"Her brother, Masaumone, has two unique soul abilities thanks to his Enchanted Sword transformation. He can possess anyone that wields him, whether they be compatible with his soul wavelength or not." Lord Death explained. "Along with that and his ability of shadow manipulation, he's is a very dangerous person and a candidate for becoming a Kishin. It is imperative that you stop him before that can happen."

"Agreed and with the possessive wavelength of his, it'll be hard to subdue him if he possess an innocent victim." Death the Kid sad, rubbing his chin. "We'll need to think of ways to counter that."

"I already have an idea." Tsubaki said to them, looking serious. "I've had a plan for this even for years."

"Then I know I can trust you all with this assignment. Now off you go." Lord Death said.

Tsubaki was the first to leave, surprising Black Star as he rushed to catch up with everyone else.

"You think this is a good idea? She seems too close to this one already." Spirit said to Lord Death, referring to Tsubaki.

"I am confident she can pull this off. After all, she is a weapon with multiple transformations. And if all is as I theorized, she'll gain a new one and become even stronger to help protect the world." Lord Death said.

"I hope you're right, boss." Spirit said.

After loading up into the limo for another drive/flight, Tsubaki had explained to everyone the history of her ninja clan and their weapon philosophy.

How she was considered a prodigy because if her multiple transformations while her brother was jealous and cast aside for her.

It brought back some memories she hadn't thought of in a long time. Memories of the day the village's families would see what weapon form their children could transform into, a sort of rite of passage in their tribe.

"Tsubaki?" Maka said, bringing Tsubaki back to reality. "We know this might be hard, but you aren't alone here, remember that."

"Yeah, we can handle this. We've got a witch, a ninja, and the son of death in our side. We've got this." Soul said with confidence.

"But that's what makes me worried. If any of you are careless, my brother could force you to hold him and control you as the enchanted sword." Tsubaki said.

"I wouldn't worry about that, I'm far to strong for someone to control me!" Black Star said, flexing his arm.

"Or perhaps your soul wavelength could be too strong for him to control." Patty said randomly.

"Same thing!" Black Star said with a grin.

'I guess she sometimes does say smart things.' Tsubaki thought about Patty.

"So, where exactly is Masaumone?" Maka asked, poking at Kid.

"According to the file Father sent us before we left, we're heading to the Village of Needles in Japan." Kid said, looking at a Manila folder. "Masaumone has been sighted around that area, so that is where will find him."

"He couldn't have picked a nicer place?" Liz asked.

"I'm sure it's just a title." Patty said, picking up a child's magazine to read.

-A few hours later-

Patty was wrong, it was not a title. The Village of Needle actually had large needles/spikes sticking out of the buildings and land in random places!

"Who the fuck decided to live in a place like this!?" Liz asked.

"Some pretty tough people, I'd say." Patty said as they walked into the village.

"We should still remain vigilant, we have no idea when or where he will strike from." Kid said.

Everyone nodded as they walked around the village, seeing the locals going about their business but sending glances at the group.

Hateful and angry glances that they couldn't explain.

'Do these people hate outsiders that much?' Maka thought, actually feeling the hatred crawling up her skin thanks to her magic.

"Keep your eyes sharp." Kid whispered.

Everyone agreed as they kept walking, hearing the village people assembling and following them from behind.

'Okay, this is getting creepy.' Soul thought but was ready to fight.

Upon reaching the town square before a strange fountain, they were surrounded by the villagers as a man who appeared to be the chief stepped forward.

"Excuse me, sir, but is there something wrong?" Kid asked.

"Yes. Do you know what you bring with you into our village?" The chief asked with a glare before pointing at one of them.

"Huh? Me?" Black Star asked. "What's wrong with me?"

"Foolish boy, you are a monster. A monster of the accursed Star Tribe!" The chief shouted as the villagers pulled out normal weapons. "No member of that tribe is welcome in this village! Ever!"

'Is it too much to ask for a normal mission?' Maka thought.

"What?! This is a misunderstanding!" Liz said quickly with her hands up. "Black Star isn't like that!"

"Yeah, he's a cool dude. Not some murderer." Soul added.

"Regardless of your personal opinion, that tattoo om his shoulder is proof he is a member of that merciless clan. The one that slaughtered nearly all of our village years ago!" The chief said, clenching his cane tightly. "I was but a young teenager when it happened, one of the lucky few that survived as it hid underneath the corpses of my parents...their very last act of protecting me."

Hearing this story, Maka looked at Black Star's shoulder. Where his white star tattoo laid proudly.

All these years she's known him, she never once asked about it or about his family. To think he had been carrying something as heavy as this all along and hid it under all his arrogance or bravado, it made her think that he was like her in a way.

'I guess we both come from cursed families, don't we?' Maka thought.

"Sir, please. Let him stay. We were sent her by the DWMA because-"

"I am aware of what you're here for and thank you but he cannot be here!" The chief said, standing firm. "The rest of you can stay and help but the Star Child must leave or else we will not be held accountable for what happens."

Death the Kid looked at the chief, before looking at his friends.

"We're going to go search the woods around the town." Kid said.

"Around?" Tsubaki asked in surprise.

"We don't know if the Enchanted Sword is in the village yet. So it's best we sweep the border of the village before checking inward." Kid said, giving his logic. "That way, we can still do our job and the villagers won't have to attack Black Star."

"I guess that makes sense." Maka said.

"But what if he's already in the village?" Patty asked.

"Then we must return WITHOUT Black Star to subdue him. I'm sure Tsubaki's plan will work without him." Kid said firmly.

"What? Hang in!" Black Star argued.

"Quiet, demon! Your leader has spoken!" The chief said.

Maka glared at the chief for that as Soul held her back from doing or saying something rash, even if he didn't like what he was said about Black Star either.

"Whatever, let's just do this." Black Star said, glancing away from the villagers with a scoff. "Tch."

The group left as the villagers watched them closely, unaware of someone in the tree watching them as well.

Specifically, watching Tsubaki leave.

'How long has it been since we last saw each other, sister?' Masamone thought before follwing them stealthfully.

-Outside of the village-

The group walked around the border of the village, knowing Masamone would do something sooner or later.

And if he did, all of them were given specific instructions to let everyone else know they found Masamone.

For Maka, she'd send a magic blast into the air like fireworks.

For Black Star, he'd throw Tsubaki as a smoke bomb for an explosion.

And for Kid, he's send his flying skateboard spinning in the air like a propeller.

'You know any search magic that can help?' Soul asked in weapon form.

"Afraid not but Soul Perception should be enough." Maka said, looking around.

'Let's hope it is.' Soul said.

'At least out here, I can let my Soul Protect down.' Maka thought, looking around carefully.

She used Soul Perception as far as she could see, before she found one soul outside of the village, heading away from it.

"I think I found him." Maka said, starting to run.

'You sure it's him?' Soul asked.

"I don't that's why I'm not going to signal the others until we're close enough to see Masamone." Maka said.

"Well then we might as well make sure." Soul said as they ran off.

Little did they know it was a trick he learned. He's leading them away without having to even do anything.

'Shadow Manipulation, a blessing among my life of tragedy.' Masamone thought, hiding in a tree with his hands together. 'The shade of the trees increased my range, so I can stretch my shadows as far as I wish.'

He knew he'd have a better chance if he kept them FAR away from each other.

'That's one pesky pair distracted. Now for the others, including my dear sister.' He thought.