"Captain, why hasn't Rin returned after such a long time?"
The Rain Ninja looked worriedly at the empty desert ahead.
Miozawa's brows were furrowed, and his heart was also filled with worry, but his identity as Captain prevented him from showing it, as it would only make the Ninjas more uneasy.
Miozawa took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down: "Wait five more minutes. If Rin still doesn't appear, Shuzo and Kinja, you two go look for him."
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
Shuzo and Kinja, who were called out by Miozawa, nodded.
Time passed by second by second.
Miozawa closed his eyes, his brows furrowing tighter, as various terrible conjectures flashed through his mind.
"Captain!"
"Rin is back!"
Suddenly, the excited voices of the Rain Ninjas erupted in Miozawa's ears.
Miozawa sharply opened his eyes, and the figures of Rin and Puppet No. 1, riding on a broom, rapidly approached them.
Shiratori Rin landed steadily on his broom in front of Miozawa.
No. 1 stopped behind Shiratori Rin.
"Brother Miozawa, I'm back!"
Shiratori Rin gave Miozawa a brilliant smile.
Miozawa breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's great!"
"It's good that you're okay!"
Miozawa could finally relax.
"We found ambushing Sunagakure Ninjas ahead, but they've all been dealt with now."
"There's no more danger ahead, so we can go in and set up traps."
Shiratori Rin's voice held a hint of excitement, and his eyes still held the innocence of a child.
What he did was completely contrary to his relaxed tone.
Upon hearing the content of Shiratori Rin's words, the trap squad members all froze without exception.
Miozawa's pupils dilated, his lips slightly parted, and he stared intently at Shiratori Rin in front of him.
"Rin..."
"Were those ambushing Sunagakure Ninjas killed by you?"
Miozawa swallowed, saying with great difficulty.
Shiratori Rin nodded.
The Rain Ninjas' gazes were all focused on him.
"Did you kill them by yourself?"
Shiratori Rin nodded and then shook his head, stating precisely: "It was No. 1 and my Cursed Spirit."
The Rain Ninjas looked at each other.
"Rin, thank you."
Miozawa sincerely thanked Shiratori Rin.
Shiratori Rin looked at the gratitude in everyone's eyes, scratching the back of his head: "Everyone doesn't need to thank me. We are companions, and companions should help each other, shouldn't we?"
"Ding!"
"The System detected Miozawa's affection value +2000."
"Ding!"
"The System detected Shuzo's affection value +2000."
"Ding!"
...
"Currently, a total of 100,000 affection points have been collected. Your Accompanying Cursed Spirit Rika Orimoto's Rank has increased to 91.6%."
"You're right!"
"Companions must help each other!"
Miozawa said solemnly.
"We can't waste any more time. The First Ambush Unit, always ready behind us, is waiting for our results!"
Miozawa's gaze swept over the Rain Ninjas in front of him, and with a wave of his hand, he commanded: "Move out!"
"Yes!"
Everyone's voices echoed in the air.
Shiratori Rin remounted his broom and ascended into the air.
Amidst the wind-eroded rock formations.
A crow lightly pecked at the feathers on its body on a rock, its dark pupils observing any disturbance in this desert.
The team of Rain Ninjas, dressed in black Ninja attire, silently entered the rock formations.
Miozawa raised his hand and made a gesture.
With the silent command issued, all Ninjas in the trap squad immediately sprang into action.
Shiratori Rin remained by Miozawa's side, waiting for the Ninjas to complete the task of setting up traps.
Miozawa looked at Shiratori Rin beside him. After Shiratori Rin perfectly completed one impossible task after another, he could no longer view Shiratori Rin as an ordinary Ninja.
"Rin, do you know how many camps Sunagakure has established along the path from Hidden Sand Village to the Land of Wind border?"
Miozawa asked.
Shiratori Rin nodded. He had seen them on the sand table in Hanzo's tent and had specifically counted them at the time: "Four."
"That's right!"
Miozawa nodded: "There are four!"
His gaze looked towards the Sunagakure Camp located in the Riftwind Canyon in the distance, his eyes shining with firm resolve: "As long as we occupy these four camps, then our war against Hidden Sand Village will be half won! Therefore, no matter the cost, we must take these four camps!"
Shiratori Rin nodded, his eyes equally firm: "Mm! I'll work hard!"
"Ding!"
"The System detected Miozawa's affection value +3000."
"Your Accompanying Cursed Spirit Rika Orimoto's Rank has increased to 91.63%."
"Let's work hard together!"
A warm smile appeared on Miozawa's stern face.
Shiratori Rin nodded.
"After the traps are set, you'll retreat with Shuzo and the others back to a safe Domain."
Miozawa continued.
"Then what about you, Brother Miozawa?"
Shiratori Rin immediately asked.
Miozawa smiled: "Ten Ninjas from the trap squad will act as bait to lure the Sunagakure Ninjas from the camp into the traps."
Shiratori Rin carefully observed Miozawa. Miozawa at this moment looked very much like someone who had made peace with sacrifice.
"Brother Miozawa, the bait mission must be very dangerous!"
Shiratori Rin stated with certainty.
Miozawa didn't answer. His hand rested on Shiratori Rin's shoulder: "Every Ninja's ultimate destiny is death. Every Ninja is prepared to sacrifice themselves. Sacrificing for what one loves is a kind of happiness!"
Shiratori Rin: "..."
No, buddy, why are you stealing my lines?
"But I don't want everyone to sacrifice."
Shiratori Rin said.
Miozawa was taken aback, a hint of unbearable sadness surfacing in his eyes.
For Shiratori Rin, accepting the death of those around him seemed to be a difficult process.
But this was a battlefield, and Rin would have to get used to it sooner or later.
Therefore, Miozawa said nothing more.
"I diligently practice controlling Cursed Spirits, desperately want to learn more Ninjutsu, even secretly learn enemy Ninjutsu, and develop new Ninjutsu day and night..."
"I do all of this to keep everyone alive!"
"I hope I can play a greater role on the battlefield and reduce the dangers everyone faces..."
Shiratori Rin lowered his head, his voice choked with emotion.
"But I value everyone's lives so much, yet Brother Miozawa doesn't value his own life..."
"Ding!"
"The System detected Miozawa's affection value +5000."
"Your Accompanying Cursed Spirit Rika Orimoto's Rank has increased to 91.68%."
"Brother Miozawa, have you forgotten?"
"My Puppet can act as bait!"
"No one has to put themselves in danger!"
Shiratori Rin looked at Miozawa, his eyes red.
The Ninjas who had finished setting the traps stood silently beside Shiratori Rin and Miozawa.
"Ding!"
"The System detected Kinja's affection value +3000."
"Ding!"
"The System detected Shuzo's affection value +3000."
...
"Currently, a total of 150,000 affection points have been collected. Your Accompanying Cursed Spirit's Rank has increased to 93.18%."
Hearing the conversation between Shiratori Rin and Miozawa, the Rain Ninjas spoke with difficulty: "Rin, one Puppet is too few. It's not enough to lure out the Sunagakure Ninjas. We must go..."
Shiratori Rin looked at them and retorted: "Who said there's only one Puppet, No. 1?"