The System detected a +5000 increase in Senba Suzume's affection value.
Ding!
The System detected a +5000 increase in Kuroai's affection value.
Ding!
The System detected a +5000 increase in Sakikawa's affection value.
A total of 15000 affection points have been collected, and your companion Cursed Spirit, Rika Orimoto, has increased to Rank 65%.
Enough!
Shu!
Kuroai couldn't listen anymore.
He got up from the ground, knelt beside Shiratori Rin, put his hand on Shiratori Rin's shoulder, and said to Senba Suzume, "He's already very tired! Don't question him anymore! He did everything for us!"
"Are we more important than the future of Amegakure?"
Senba Suzume glared at Kuroai with red eyes.
Kuroai's throat tightened, his eyes reddened, and his gaze at Senba Suzume was filled with pleading.
He pleaded with Senba Suzume to stop talking!
Let Shiratori Rin rest for a while first!
"But in my heart, everyone in Amegakure is the most important. It's because of everyone that Amegakure exists, and only then will there be a future for Amegakure…"
Shiratori Rin's tearful voice rang out.
He looked up, met Senba Suzume's gaze, and tears streamed down his face.
Ding!
The System detected a +5000 increase in Senba Suzume's affection value.
Ding!
The System detected a +5000 increase in Kuroai's affection value.
Ding!
The System detected a +5000 increase in Sakikawa's affection value.
A total of 15000 affection points have been collected, and your companion Cursed Spirit, Rika Orimoto, has increased to Rank 66.5%.
These cat tears were worth it!
Shiratori Rin continued to sob.
"I'm sorry…"
Senba Suzume suddenly said.
He lowered his head and repeated, "I'm sorry."
He shouldn't have questioned Shiratori Rin.
He shouldn't have spoken to Shiratori Rin like that in Amegakure.
He was just…
Too worried about Rin.
"It's okay."
Shiratori Rin wiped away the tears from his face and gave Senba Suzume a bright, unreserved smile: "I know Brother Qianyu was so anxious because he was worried about me."
Ding!
The System detected a +2000 increase in Senba Suzume's affection value.
Your companion Cursed Spirit, Rika Orimoto, has increased to Rank 66.7%.
Senba Suzume reached out to Shiratori Rin and ruffled Shiratori Rin's hair.
Since Senba Suzume had contributed so much affection, Shiratori Rin generously let him rub his head!
The emotions of all four slowly calmed down.
Sakikawa looked at Shiratori Rin and teased, "You little brat, you're really something! You managed to evade the Village patrol, and even followed us without being discovered. You truly are Lord Hanzo's disciple!"
Shiratori Rin smiled shyly and humbly said, "It was just a coincidence!"
Kuroai clicked his tongue in wonder, "That's too much of a coincidence!"
Senba Suzume frowned and asked worriedly, "How did that Puppet master Akasuna leave?"
Kuroai and Sakikawa's expressions became serious, and they simultaneously focused their attention on Shiratori Rin.
Akasuna was a well-known Puppet master in Hidden Sand Village, after all.
Shiratori Rin visibly tensed under their gaze, his expression flustered: "It's… it's the curse… it ran out again… I won't let them hurt you…"
Kuroai immediately comforted him, "Rin, we're not afraid of you, don't worry."
Shiratori Rin stared at Kuroai, swallowed, and cautiously said, "I practiced controlling them well in the Village, but this time, when I saw you guys were injured, I got a little anxious, and they lost control… Then I don't know what happened, that Ninja just ran away…"
Senba Suzume and the other two exchanged glances.
The most likely possibility was that Rin's curse power lost control in anger!
The curse had already threatened Akasuna's life, so Akasuna chose to flee!
"That's amazing, Rin," Sakikawa patted Shiratori Rin's shoulder and laughed easily, "We don't even have your curse power! Don't be afraid of your own strength!"
Shiratori Rin's stiff body gradually relaxed, and he nodded towards Sakikawa and the others.
"So what do we do now?"
Kuroai looked at Senba Suzume.
Senba Suzume pursed his lips, his peripheral vision on Shiratori Rin.
He couldn't guarantee that the path ahead was without danger.
Similarly, he couldn't guarantee that they wouldn't encounter Akasuna again on the way back to Amegakure.
There was danger whether they advanced or retreated.
In that case, it was better to choose to take the contract to the border.
"Keep going forward."
Senba Suzume stood up and said to Kuroai and Sakikawa.
Kuroai couldn't help but smile, "Alright!"
Sakikawa looked at Senba Suzume, his eyes questioning.
Senba Suzume gently shook his head at him.
They had no other choice.
Sakikawa withdrew his gaze and put his hand on Shiratori Rin's shoulder: "Rin, you walk in the middle of us later."
Shiratori Rin nodded: "Okay, I understand."
The group of four continued towards the border of the Land of Rain.
Shiratori Rin was protected in the middle by the three of them.
…
Amegakure.
Training ground.
Hanzo stood still and looked at the rising sun.
Three whole hours had passed since five o'clock.
Shiratori Rin's figure was nowhere to be seen.
Hanzo's gaze became increasingly solemn.
"Lord Hanzo, Rin might have forgotten…"
The other Ninja in the training ground saw this and helped Shiratori Rin explain.
"Yes, Lord Hanzo, Rin is still a child who is growing, it's normal for him to oversleep."
The Ninja said, enduring Lord Hanzo's pressure.
Hanzo's gaze swept over them.
The Ninja immediately felt their scalps tingle, and no one dared to speak again until Hanzo's figure disappeared from the training ground.
Hanzo came to Shiratori Rin's single apartment, opened the window and entered. The room was empty.
His peripheral vision caught a piece of paper on the desk. He walked over and picked up the paper; it was a letter left by Shiratori Rin.
- Teacher, by the time you see this letter, I have already left Amegakure. I went to find Brother Qianyu. You don't have to worry about me, I will return safely with Brother Qianyu and the others. Do not worry.
Hanzo's pupils constricted.
He should have known Shiratori Rin was audacious in this regard!
He should have realized that Shiratori Rin had a close relationship with Senba Suzume. How could Shiratori Rin just watch Senba Suzume go to his death?
Hanzo held the letter and walked quickly towards the office.
Yushishi rushed to the office in a hurry: "Lord Hanzo, what's wrong?"
He took a breath, looking at Lord Hanzo, who was exuding a low pressure.
Hanzo handed the letter to Yushishi.
Yushishi scanned the contents of the letter, and his vision immediately went black, falling straight to the ground.
Muteki supported his body and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Yushishi tightly grabbed Muteki's wrist: "Rin… he followed Senba Suzume to the border for a mission…"
Muteki's body trembled, and his heart immediately sank.
A chill rose from his feet, quickly spreading throughout his body. Just thinking that Shiratori Rin might not return, Muteki felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
"Muteki, you lead twenty Ninja to the border to support Senba Suzume."
Hanzo commanded.
"Yes!"
Muteki quickly recovered from the terrifying conjecture, and he nodded without hesitation.
"Go quickly and return quickly!"
Hanzo said solemnly.
"Yes!"
Muteki immediately turned and left the office.