With Kirigi dead, The
Hand wait outside for reinforcements, waiting for their time to strike. Inside,
Stone uses a technique to manipulate energy in order to restore the recently
deceased Black Widow back to life. Natasha tells them about getting poisoned,
utterly confused why she isn’t dead. Daredevil introduces her to Stick,
realizing that there are many things Stick’s capable of that Stick never taught
him. Stick and the other members of the Chaste suddenly become aware of the
Hand ninja closing in on them, surprising Matt who didn’t hear anything! They
form a circle as the Hand enter the apartment, surrounding them. An epic battle
erupts between Daredevil, Black Widow, and the Chaste against the members of the
Hand. The Hand continue to pour in, and Daredevil disarms one ninja of his sai,
demonstrating remarkable self-taught prowess with them.
Though they fight back
valiantly, the Hand just keep pouring in and Claw is killed. Stick realizes
they’ll soon be overrun and determines there’s only one course of action. He
joins hands with Shaft and the two of them begin another technique of manipulating
energy. This time, they’re drawing the life energy out of the surrounding Hand
ninja into themselves. Stick tells Stone to watch over Daredevil and Widow and
Stone shields them just as the energy becomes too much to bear. Stick and Shaft
explode from the effort, leaving a smoking pile where they once were. Matt can
only sit there stunned. He demands that Stone bring them back, but Stone points
out it’s impossible, there’s nothing of them left. Stone goes to meditate to
determine what the Hand’s next course of action will be, figuring it will take
them time to regroup.
Matt thanks Natasha for
getting involved but makes it clear they’re only friends, pointing out he’s
marrying Heather in a week. Just then, Heather herself comes in, quite clearly
drunk, and Natasha watches on with a disapproving smirk. Later, Daredevil and
Black Widow head out to search for the Hand and end up splitting up, with no
idea where to look. Natasha goes to see Foggy who admits that he’s worried sick
about Matt. He points out that Matt’s been in a downward spiral since Elektra
died and explains that whole situation. He feels Matt hasn’t been himself,
especially in his treatment of Heather, essentially ruining her company to give
her more incentive to marry him. Foggy and Natasha devise a plan and Natasha
forges letters to Matt and Heather from each other saying that things are over
between them. Later, Stone meets with Daredevil and Black Widow once more,
having figured out what the Hand is planning. He theorizes that with Kirigi
dead, the Hand are looking for a new champion and that they plan to resurrect a
mighty warrior buried right there in New York: Elektra!