Baika Clan, Lady Merci's former ninja comrades from way back when... as in, way back.
Their number include arrogant tanuki leader Zenichi, self-interested iriomote cat Utaha, and thuggish serow enforcer Nagito, all single-mindedly dedicated to the old ways even centuries after the death of their cult leader sensei, felled by a young Merci's hands in a traitorous act of rebellion that they haven't forgotten.