Daredevil #296

While Daredevil attack The Hand, disciples of Stick known as The Chaste appear and help defeat their common enemy. Members of The Chaste include Star, Flame, Spear, Stone, and Wing. They quickly defeat all the rank and file ninja, causing them to evaporate.

When the battle is lost, the Jonin orders Izanami to kill him and absorb his essence as part of their ritual for The Beast. Once this is complete, she leaves but is gunned down by the police when she charges them. She is then taken to the morgue.

Later Sabini arrives at the Kingpin's office and demands to know why he received no protection from Kingpin since he has been making the required protection payments. Fisk ignores him, concentrating on the larger picture: someone is trying to challenge his empire. When Sabini insults Fisk directly (a move he immediately regrets), Fisk has his associate Maltese poke out only one eye.

Elsewhere Matt has convinced Karen to meet with him in his first attempt to reconcile with her. This plan is put on hold when Stone finds him and asks for his assistance in defeating The Hand. Matt reluctantly agrees and follows Stone.

In the morgue, Izanami awakes prior to the autopsy and kills the mortician before leaving.

The Chaste and Daredevil arrive at a meat packing plant to prepare for the return of Izanami. Stone knows that she plans to transfer the spirits she has accumulated into a new human vessel, thus continuing the legacy of The Hand. He also knows that she will be drawn to this building due to the fung shui design which attracts evil spirits.

True to Stone's prediction, Izanami arrives and attacks them. During the battle a traitor is revealed -- the newcomer Spear. He has made a deal with The Hand to be the vessel to receive the spirits from Izanami. Fighting her way through the other members of The Chaste, Izanami grabs Daredevil and announces to Spear that these gifts are much better suited for Daredevil than him.