A man in an all-grey casual outfit and a wooden mask is walking through a combat-university type school with a teenage Shizu wearing normal clothing and a katana by his side.
"This world of ours...it's quite interesting, isn't it?" Shizu said
"A lot of things happened in the past that have led to these types of days...where the weak grow strong and strong grow even stronger" The grey-man replied
"Exactly...a lot did happen, right?"
"I lived through it, fought through it, and it was a changing experience in more ways than one"
"And I saw the aftermath of it all, the changes that had occurred...Somehow I can't believe that all of those events had brought out certain people's potential"
"For some of them, I brought out their strength...quite a shame some of it went to waste"
"How, when they strayed from the path you tried to make them avoid?"
"No...When some couldn't see beyond the surface, when they heard only what they wanted to hear, and they let their actions speak of nothing more than mindless emotions flaring..." While he said that there were several loud explosions outside
"So...J...mind telling me why you wear that wooden mask?"
"It's just a reminder of the past....that's all I have to say for now"
"So...why do you fight?"
"I should be asking you that...The reason I fight is to point people in the right path, but as you can see from other's that seems to be human nature to go what their heart says, not what morals say...to each their own I guess"
"The real reason J...don't mask the reason like you hide your past"
"I'm not hiding the past, I am embracing it, this is just a reminder of it"
"So, why do you always hold-back?"
"..." While he was remaining silent, a student went flying through the wall and another student came and picked him up to continue whatever they were doing.
"You aren't answering me"
"I fight with all my heart when I know someone is strong, they have a higher chance of survival, I know nothing about holding back nor restraint, even so, I am still a feared opponent when I hold back, that is how strong I am"
"So...when do we begin?"
"After I know the reason why you fight"
"Of course...my reason to fight is..." While he was thinking a spear came flying through the wall.
"Can't think of one? Give me one after you find your inner strength and you can see beyond what is there" He then pulled out one of his knives and Shizu unsheathed his katana. They charged at each other and clashed blades...
*Insert scene of Shizu fighting Ranked 101: Jerry Jenkins...and losing miserably*
Years later...
Morning was starting as Shizu drove up at the front of the combat school in his dune buggy with Sora (His white wolf companion) in the back.
"It's been a long time since I've been here" Shizu said as he got out of his vehicle, taking Sora with him
"This place bring any good memories?" Sora asked while both of them went through the school door's
"Well, I remember the first time I met Jenkins and what came after that..."
"So, anything good?"
"Nope...it was hell" After he said that, a spear came flying through the wall "Some things never change" Then they entered the courtyard where in the middle was Jerry Jenkins sitting at the fountain throwing a knife into the air and catching it.
"Shizu Irie, it's been a while" Jenkins said as sheathed his knife
"Yes it has Sensei Jenkins"
"Quit it with the formalities...whose the wolf?"
"I'm Sora, his companion"
"Okay a talking wolf...haven't seen that yet...So, you have an answer to that question I asked?"
"You still remember that?...The reason I fight...is so that I can see the people that live in this interesting world, how they see it and then see beyond it, what they hear and see how they interpret it, and see their actions to know what they feel...that is why I fight"
"That is quite a reason, okay then Shizu, after all of these years, let's see if you have what it takes to see the people of the world without dying" He stood up from his place and disappeared in a cloud of grey smoke...
This chapter of the storybook had just begun.