Flame of Recca, Vol. 7

Book excerpt: Armed with the power to control flame, Recca Hanabishi finds himself in an awkward situation when a mysterious older woman pops into his life one day. Is she good? Is she evil? What exactly does she want with the young ninja firecracker? Becoming a ninja is just a childhood dream for16-year-old Recca, until a fateful encounter reveals he has inherited ninja powers, including the ability to wield fire! As Recca learns to master the ancient ways of his ancestors, he is drawn to protect a mysterious girl named Yanagi... Once a year, the world's most ruthless assassins band together under the Death Dome for a deadly martial arts tournament. It's kill or be killed in this annual clash of the team titans. Forced to participate in this bloody headbangers ball, Recca and his crew have thus far defeated every opponent they've met. But, really, what choice do they have? At stake is the life of young Yanagi Sakoshita, the girl who Recca has vowed to protect forever. Recca's gift is his power to manipulate fire. But the teenage ninja also hosts the power of the Eight-Headed Dragon inside him. When Team Hokage's latest foe discovers a way to release one of these dragons, even Recca must bow to the serpent's cruel and temperamental anger.