Periodically, Matsu Shigeko would report that a crime in Ryoko Owari had been blamed on "ninja". While both of us scoffed at the idea, it has now become clear that there is a criminal gang operating in Ryoko Owari who claim to be the mythical "ninja" in order to intimidate peasants.
Though hardly the supernatural opponents that ninja stories describe, this gang is still widespread, violent and capable. Naritoki had made them his first priority in recent years, and succeeded in breaking part of their power before his death. One plausible theory is that his assassins were these fraudulent "ninja." A timeline of "ninja" activity in Ryoko Owari follows.
• In Matsu Shigeko's first year as magistrate (five years ago), a store that sold kimono was burned to the ground in the Month of the Dragon. The shopkeeper claimed that "the ninja" had done it, but no further progress was made.
• That same year, in the Month of the Dog, a merchant's wife claimed that a "dark clad ninja" had accosted her, threatened her with a shuriken, and stole a valuable necklace from her while she was in the Licensed Quarter.
• The next year, in the Month of the Tiger, a samurai claimed that he was assaulted by a gang of ten ninja. Upon investigation, Shigeko learned that the samurai had in fact been beaten by a ronin called Ample (P32). Ample was arrested, and when questioned denied any connection to ninja, claiming that the samurai had defaulted on a gambling debt When confronted with Ample's testimony, the samurai recanted, admitting that he'd been ashamed to admit defeat at the hands of a ronin.
• In the Month of the Monkey, a merchant made a curious complaint to Shigeko. He claimed that he had been extorted by "phony ninja" who threatened to burn down his shop in the Merchant Quarter if he didn't pay them. He said that he'd seen "real ninja" and knew that these thugs were fakes. However, Shigeko was unable to find any "ninja" in the area and was also unable to prevent the merchant from being murdered.
• The next year, another merchant was killed in the Fisherman Quarter. It happened during the Month of the Dragon; he was apparently tortured and killed in his own home, and his shop burned to the ground.
• In the Month of the Horse there was a dockside scuffle between the Moment's Edge Firemen (G12) and a group of "ninja". Two firemen were injured and no ninja were captured.
• The next month, Naritoki was installed as magistrate. He made pursuit of the "ninja" his first task.
• Two months after his arrival, in the Month of the Monkey, Naritoki captured and unmasked a "ninja" - in reality a dock worker with a record for public drinking - and executed him.
• After that, the"ninja" laid low for almost seven months. The next "ninja" associated crime was the murder of a merchant in the Licensed Quarter during the Month of the Dragon.
• In the first month of the next year, there was another melee between firemen and "ninja"- this time in the Merchant Quarter, with the Firemen of Daikoku's Garden. This seems to mark an increase in "ninja" activity. Naritoki believed that the gang had new leadership.
• In the Month of the Dragon, the "ninja" surprised and killed the leader of the Little Gate Firemen. That same month, Naritoki arrested and executed two "ninja" - both peasant criminals from the Merchant Quarter.
• It was in the Month of the Dog that the "ninja" first moved against a noble family, stealing a set of official trade documents from a home in the Noble Quarter.
• Two months later, in the Month of the Ox, Naritoki arrested a "ninja" for the crime - a ronin burglar from Niwa Shita no Kage Toshi. The "ninja" escaped from prison within a day.
• It took Naritoki five months, but in the Month of the Horse, he found the burglar "ninja" who was killed while resisting arrest.
• The next month, Naritoki ended a thorough investigation of the prison with the execution of a prison guard (L7). (You will recall that this was not long after one of the bandit Fade's men also escaped from prison.)
• That same year, in the Month of the Dog, valuables were stolen from the Otaku household. The "ninja" were suspected. The very next month (Month of the Pig), the magistrate's own mansion was burgled - possibly by the "ninja".
• This year, in the Month of the Ox, Naritoki staged a raid on Teardrop Island with thirty deputies. He killed four supposed "ninja" and captured three others (all of whom have since died during questioning).
• In the Month of the Rabbit, a smaller raid on a private home in the Fisherman Quarter resulted in the death of three more "ninja." This was only two months before Naritoki's assassination.
Reading this list might create the impression that the "ninja" of Ryoko Owari are everywhere, skilled at all manner of perfidy and able to engage in crimes with near impunity. This is certainly not the case. Not only was Naritoki able to strike decisive blows against this organization, it is also very likely that some (possibly many) of the crimes attributed to the "ninja" or in which their participation is suspected, were in fact committed by others. The menacing reputation of the ninja is surely a tempting cloak to any number of criminals. Not all of them are necessarily associated with a single, central organization.