The reception team stepped onto Sunagakure's defensive camp, established on the border of the Land of Wind.
What greeted their eyes was a scene of ruins and a charred graveyard.
The pungent smell of burning and the strong scent of blood mixed together, drifting across the desolate Gobi desert with the night wind.
The pale blue sky slowly spread from the horizon; deep night had passed, and dawn was approaching.
The bodies of Sunagakure Ninja were scattered everywhere in various twisted poses, mixed with over a dozen bizarre monster remains.
"Captain, what is this?"
A Rain Ninja frowned, staring at the monster corpse on the ground, and called out to Senba Suzume, who was not far away.
Senba Suzume, acting as the reception team's Captain, stepped forward and slowly crouched in front of the monster's corpse.
His gaze fell on the headbands scattered around the monster.
"There are headbands, but no bodies..."
A strange glint flashed in Senba Suzume's eyes.
Could it be...
A bold conjecture immediately surfaced in his mind.
Senba Suzume stood up with a solemn expression: "Let's go meet up with Isou and the others first; they should know what happened."
"Yes!"
The Rain Ninja nodded, following behind Senba Suzume.
Senba Suzume walked towards the center of the camp.
Soon, the Amegakure's forces appeared within Senba Suzume's sight.
They were gathered in the center of the camp, with mountains of bodies piled beside them.
Their armor was covered in congealed dark red bloodstains.
Senba Suzume looked around; there were no casualties.
He breathed a sigh of relief, his gaze quickly drawn to Isou.
Shiratori Rin was curled up on Isou's broad shoulder, his face pale, his eyes tightly closed.
[Ding!]
[System detected Senba Suzume's Distress Value +5000]
[Your Cursed Spirit Kenjaku's Rank has increased to 35%]
Senba Suzume walked towards Shiratori Rin, his legs feeling weak.
His heart kept sinking.
[Ding!]
[System detected Senba Suzume's Distress Value +5000]
[Your Cursed Spirit Kenjaku's Rank has increased to 40%]
Shiratori Rin silently thought to himself, "He wouldn't think I'm dead, would he?"
[Darling, little Senba Suzume has, after all, experienced the death of a younger brother once ~ He's not like you, a child born without parents and naturally cold-blooded, oh ~]
Shiratori Rin sneered: "Are you saying you have parents?"
[Darling, I have a mother, oh ~ My mother is the Main System, oh ~]
Shiratori Rin said indifferently: "Is that so? Then you're even more pathetic! Born with a mother but not raised by one! Working black jobs at such a young age."
[...Mom! Wuwuwu!]
The System emitted a sharp screeching sound in Shiratori Rin's mind.
Shiratori Rin immediately felt refreshed.
Senba Suzume walked step by step to Shiratori Rin's front, extending his trembling hand.
His hand paused; Shiratori Rin, leaning on Isou's shoulder, had his lips slightly parted, emitting an extremely faint breathing sound.
Senba Suzume's eyes were slightly red, and relief immediately surged from the bottom of his heart.
"Rin, what happened to him?"
Senba Suzume stared at Isou and asked.
Isou explained: "Don't worry, he's just over-exhausted his Chakra and fallen asleep."
Pity filled Senba Suzume's eyes as he said to Isou: "You guys go back to the camp first! Leave this place to us!"
He hoped Isou could quickly take Shiratori Rin back to the camp to rest properly.
Cleaning up the battlefield was, after all, the task of their reception team.
"Okay!"
Isou nodded. He carefully supported Shiratori Rin, his steps steady, and led the infiltration team's Rain Ninja back to the camp on the border of the Land of Rain.
On the way back, the sky was bright, and the distant mountains were draped in a layer of red.
The sun gradually rose from the deepest part of the valley, casting a golden glow that paved the path beneath their feet.
The Rain Ninja camp gradually became clear in their sight.
"They're back! It's Lord Isou and the others!"
"The assassination team! It's Lord Hirushi!"
"Look! It's Isou! And on his back... it's Rin!"
"..."
The Rain Ninja rushed towards the camp gate, their eyes bursting with ecstatic light as they watched Isou and the others return safely.
No casualties was the greatest victory!
Suddenly.
The crowd parted as if by an invisible force, automatically creating a wide passage.
At the end of the path, Hanzou stood quietly.
Hanzou did not speak or make any movements.
But the entire camp's clamor, the moment he appeared, was as if a mute button had been pressed, instantly falling silent.
Isou gradually walked forward and bowed his head before Hanzou.
"I have fulfilled Lord Hanzou's trust!"
"Sunagakure's border camp..."
"Completely annihilated!"
The Rain Ninja immediately erupted in fervent cheers.
Hanzou's gaze slowly moved, sweeping over Isou, Hirushi, Miozawa, and the others one by one, finally resting on Rin on Isou's shoulder.
His eyes conveyed a questioning look.
Isou immediately explained: "Lord Hanzou, Rin has over-exhausted his Chakra and fallen into a deep sleep."
The emotions in Hanzou's eyes were complex; all the Ninja who carried out the surprise attack mission returned safely, yet only Shiratori Rin was over-exhausted and in a coma.
[Ding!]
[System detected Hanzou's Nostalgia Value +3000]
[Your Cursed Spirit Choso's Rank has increased to 52.2%]
Shiratori Rin lay on Isou's back, trying his best to control his facial expression.
"Why is it Nostalgia Value?"
As soon as this question left his mouth, Shiratori Rin somehow understood.
"Hanzou is so shameless!"
[Darling, Hanzou is indeed your Master ~]
Shiratori Rin gasped.
The System's combat power is soaring now!
Did it secretly enroll in classes?
Hanzou looked at the Medical Ninja standing nearby.
Water Heart and Rose Moon had long been impatient, and once Lord Hanzou signaled with his eyes, they immediately rushed out of the crowd and quickly came before Isou.
Water Heart's movements were gentle as she carefully checked Rin's condition. After confirming that Isou's words were true, she nodded to Isou.
Isou very carefully transferred the sleeping Rin from his shoulder to the stretcher prepared by Water Heart and Rose Moon.
The stretcher was lifted by Water Heart and Kiri Tsuki, and the two walked steadily towards the medical tent under the solemn gaze of all the Ninja.
The Ninja's gaze fell on Shiratori Rin's pale face.
Shiratori Rin lay on the snow-white stretcher, appearing exceptionally fragile.
The Ninja once again clearly realized that Shiratori Rin was still a child.
Yet, it was this child who had selflessly saved the Ninja's lives multiple times, fearlessly stepped forward to protect Ninja much older than him multiple times, and brought victory and hope to the Amegakure multiple times...
[Ding!]
[System detected Rain Ninja A's Awe Value +1000]
[Ding!]
[System detected Rain Ninja B's Awe Value +1000]
[Cursed Spirit activation value not reached, Awe Value stored]
[Ding!]
[System detected Rain Ninja C's Faith Value +2000]
[Ding!]
[System detected Rain Ninja D's Faith Value +2000]
[Cursed Spirit activation value not reached, Faith Value stored]
What Cursed Spirits can Awe Value and Faith Value activate?
Shiratori Rin couldn't figure it out for a moment.