Our heroes spot their ninja friend Sanpei and his Gekkouga floating down a river, unconscious. After they mount a rescue, Sanpei explains that he's on a mission for his ninja master, Saizo, but a masked ninja and his Gamenodes partner keep trying to interfere. Satoshi and friends decide to help Sanpei on his mission, but soon Satoshi and Sanpei are separated from the others--just as the masked ninja strikes again. Keromatsu and Gekkouga team up to fight him off, and when the battle seems to be going against them, Keromatsu evolves into Gekogashira. The masked ninja then directs Satoshi and Sanpei to the manor where their friends are waiting. There, they discover Sanpei's pursuer is none other than Saizo, who has been using their encounters as a test of Sanpei's skills--and he's passed with flying colors. With everyone safely reunited, Satoshi challenges Sanpei to a battle, and soon our heroes are off once again to Hiyoku City.
—, edited by Tobias Clark