"So, Shimura really is the Daimyo of an entire country!" Aoi nodded to himself once he had confirmed this fact. "Then I've made my choice. It's you — the Land of Ono."
This nation might be a little small, but it was still a fully sovereign country. Besides, when an opportunity drops right into your lap, refusing it would be nothing short of a waste!
"Young Master... can we go now?"
While Aoi was deep in thought, the two shinobi from the Land of Birds cautiously lifted their heads.
"We've told you absolutely everything we know. We swear we didn't lie about a single thing!"
"I know," Aoi nodded with a smile. But before the two men could breathe a sigh of relief, he raised a single finger.
"However, there is one small favor I need you to do for me."
"A... small favor?"
Their faces fell. "Brother... you aren't planning to make us go die for you, are you?"
Aoi looked genuinely surprised. "Where did that thought come from? I just want you to help me put on a little play, that's all."
"A play?"
Aoi grinned and nodded. "You two go after those children... and I'll come and 'save' them."
Instantly understanding the game, the two crafty shinobi slapped their thighs in realization.
"Oh! We get it! You want to offer help when they are most desperate, and sacrifice yourself to save their lives so they will be forever grateful!"
Aoi's face darkened instantly. "If you don't know how to use idioms correctly, don't use them..."
"Offer help when desperate" didn't quite fit the nuance, and as for "sacrifice myself to serve a master"... in this world, there was no one qualified enough to be his master!
Nevertheless, the two shinobi moved quickly. They transformed and slipped into the sand, heading straight for the trail left by the children.
Shimura really was too naive. How could two ordinary children possibly escape the tracking abilities of a shinobi in this vast desert?
A ninja only needed the faintest trace of a scent, and they could track their target to the ends of the earth!
"Found them!"
Shinki was dragging Noko through the desert, trudging step by step. It hadn't been long since they fled; two civilians simply couldn't have gotten very far.
Swish... swish... swish...
Sand grains shifted and rolled. Noko's eyes went wide, and she tugged at Shinki's clothes. "Brother! I hear something behind us!"
Shinki glanced back, but saw nothing. Gritting his teeth, he called out, "Noko, we can't look back anymore. Don't think about it. We just have to survive!"
Noko shook her head helplessly. She knew she really had heard a strange sound...
Swish... swish... swish...
As the two shinobi drew closer, even Shinki finally noticed the movement beneath the sand. But by then, it was already too late.
"Hehehehe!"
Two figures leaped out from beneath the dunes. Sharp, curved blades slashed straight toward the siblings' throats. One quick strike was all it would take to send them to the afterlife!
It's over...
Shinki's eyes widened in pure terror. They caught up?
Resistance? Impossible!
Even with a sword, I was no match for these shinobi. And now I don't even have a weapon... I'm dead for sure!
Faced with the gleaming blades, Shinki instinctively closed his eyes. He had given up. If he couldn't fight back, then he might as well accept his fate.
Yet... he waited and waited, but the fatal blow never came.
He opened his eyes in confusion. Standing right in front of him was a familiar back. Two fists had punched straight through the chests of the snarling attackers.
With a simple grab, the stranger crushed their curved blades into powder.
"Brother Aoi!"
Noko cried out in shock and delight.
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