Legend of the Brown Ninja Read online

  THWANG!

  The fork sword sprang loose all at once, and Soto crashed back into his pirate crew. They toppled over and tumbled into a nearby cell.

  Dareth couldn’t help himself. He slicked back his hair.

  “Who’s next?”

  “Enough!” hollered the Mechanic. He stomped right up in Dareth’s face. “It’s time to settle this once and for all.”

  Are you sure you want to face off against the Legendary Brown Ninja?” asked Dareth. He was starting to get the hang of this. “Let me know now if I should go easy on you.”

  The Mechanic grabbed Dareth by the throat with his robotic arm.

  “Dareth!” cried the ninja.

  “Ulp!” Dareth choked. “It’s okay, guyzzz — I got dizz!”

  “So,” rasped the Mechanic. “Should I try flinging you around like that boulder? Or disassembling you limb from limb?”

  Dareth mustered all his energy to keep from blacking out. “That’s a strong grip you got there,” he gasped. “Are you sure you want to take me on?”

  “As sure as I want to crush every bone in your body,” said the Mechanic.

  “You’re sure, sure?” asked Dareth. He grasped the Mechanic’s robotic arm with both hands. “Or you think you’re sure?”

  “I know I’m sure,” growled the Mechanic.

  “Then think fast!” gasped Dareth.

  With one quick motion, Dareth pressed the big red release button on the remote control in the Mechanic’s hand.

  The ninja’s cell door sprang open!

  “NINJA-GO!!!”

  In a swirl of red, blue, green, black, and white Spinjitzu, the ninja whirled out of the vengestone cell and caught up all the prisoners in one gigantic tornado. For an instant, the only thing the warden and Dareth could see was a whirlwind of dust, smoke, and flailing arms and legs.

  When the ninja were through, all the prisoners sat tied up in bits of their own prison uniforms, lumped together in one giant pile. Last but not least was the Mechanic. Jay rocket-punched him to the very top of the pile.

  Dareth dropped to the floor, gasping.

  “You okay?” Kai asked Dareth.

  Dareth gasped. “Never better.”

  Lloyd clapped him on the back. “Told you,” he called to the inmates. “No one messes with the Brown Ninja.”

  Just then, the guards returned, carrying dozens of takeout bags.

  “Did we miss something?” the head guard asked.

  Later that evening, the six ninja and Dareth sat at Master Chen’s Noodle House. Dareth had called ahead and asked Skylor for a favor. This evening, the ninja would enjoy the restaurant all to themselves. No media. No fans. Just friends.

  “Come to papa,” said Cole as he dumped a bowl full of puffy potstickers into his mouth. “Oh my gawd, guys.” He munched. “It tastes so good when it hits your lips.”

  “Thanks for getting us the place all to ourselves, Dareth,” said Nya. “After this, I’d say you only have 99,999 favors left to go before you don’t owe us anymore.”

  Dareth waved away the remark with his chopsticks. “Don’t be silly. I knew what I was doing all along.”

  “Really?” Jay cocked an eyebrow. “You knew you were sending us into a minefield of dangerous criminals with a vengestone cell in their arsenal?”

  “So I was fuzzy on a few details,” said Dareth. “But hey, you guys got to show off your teamwork or whatever that you’re always talking about. So, you’re welcome.”

  “Well, I hope you realize that we really are done with all the celebrity stunts,” said Lloyd. “No more interviews. No more setups. We can’t always come to your rescue.”

  “Relax,” said Dareth. “I’ve got my sights set on bigger goals now.”

  The ninja looked at one another.

  “Really?” said Nya. “There’s something bigger than interviews and press tours?”

  “Yeah,” said Kai. “Like what?”

  Dareth smiled and took a big chomp out of a dumpling. “I realized today there’s a true hero Ninjago City needs to know about. A hero who has been masked, hidden in the shadows, but no more.”

  “And that would be … ?” Cole asked.

  “Me, of course!” exclaimed Dareth. “The Brown Ninja does indeed have real power! All this time, I’ve been the groupie to your boy band (plus one girl). Now I’m taking off on my own solo career. Yep, I’ve already planned out the promo: Shrouded in Mystery: Who Is the Brown Ninja? There will be book tours. Photo shoots. And an AUTHORIZED documentary. I’ll be celebrity and manager all in one.”

  The ninja all groaned.

  “Well, guys, he’s finally done it,” said Nya.

  “Done what?” asked Jay.

  “Tapped into his true potential,” Nya said. “I don’t think his head could get any bigger without exploding.”

  The ninja laughed as Dareth slurped down an entire bowl of noodles in one big gulp. “Gotta keep up my energy,” he said.

  Suddenly, Dareth’s face turned bright red, and beads of sweat poured down from his hairline. “T-t-too … h-hot …” he stuttered, fanning his mouth. “T-t-oo … many … noodles … too much … h-heat …”

  Lloyd laughed and handed Dareth a glass of water. “Like I told you guys,” he said. “No one is stronger than the Brown Ninja when it comes to power — the power of hot air!”

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  First printing 2016

  e-ISBN 978-1-338-09093-2

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