After narrowly escaping from the castle, Kai and I found ourselves on the road together. With no other options and nowhere else to go, I had no choice but to follow him. We had been walking for almost a day, and I had no idea how much further we had to go.

Kai strode confidently ahead of me, his steps sure and unwavering. I didn't think we were lost, but the pangs of hunger gnawed at our stomachs and sapped our strength. We didn't know if we were being followed or not, so we moved cautiously, always on guard. The constant tension and uncertainty left us both exhausted.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky and approached its zenith, Kai finally came to a stop. I wasn't sure if we had reached our destination or if he was about to collapse from hunger. But then he pushed aside the bushes in front of him, clearing a path for us to follow.

"Here we are," he said, "the ninja bloodline clan."

I was taken aback. I had no idea that Kai was a ninja until he told me. I had never seen a ninja before, let alone an entire clan of them.

The house that stood before us was massive. Its pointed roofs were painted a dark red color and stretched so far back that I couldn't see where they ended. The land beyond the house was flat and well-tended, like a field.

Kai quickened his pace as he made his way towards the imposing structure. "My master must be inside," he said over his shoulder. "Let's hurry."

As we approached the entrance of the house, I couldn't help but marvel at the door. It was unlike any I had ever seen before. The door was made of a transparent material and instead of opening inwards like a traditional door, it slid to the side.

Just as Kai was about to open the door and step inside, we heard a voice from within. "The future of my lineage depends on this," it said. "I have to do this."

We couldn't make out the rest of the conversation, only catching those last few words. Suddenly, the door slid open and two figures appeared in the doorway. One was clearly a samurai, his face obscured by a mask. The other was a tall and imposing man.

As the samurai walked past me, I could feel the fear he radiated. When he turned his head to look at me, his cold gaze seemed to pierce right through me. Even though I didn't know who these men were, it was clear that they were powerful.

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As the men walked away, another voice called out from behind the door. "Kai, is that you?" it asked.

Kai took a few steps forward and a man appeared in front of him. He wasn't young but he wasn't too old either. He called out to Kai in a joyful tone. "Master," Kai replied, "I'm back."

Kai's master approached him with concern etched on his face. He carefully examined Kai for any signs of injury. Satisfied that he was unharmed, the master's curiosity got the better of him.

"Where have you been?" he asked. "I've been looking for you everywhere."

Kai replied in a steady voice. "I'm fine," he said. "There's no need to worry. The king took me prisoner, but thanks to my friend here," he gestured towards me, "I managed to escape."

As Kai turned to look at me, his master followed his gaze. "Well, I'm glad to hear that," he said. "And what is your name, young man?"

"My name is Shou, sir," I replied.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Shou," the master said with a smile. "And thank you for saving my student. You must be tired and hungry after your ordeal. Come inside and join us for a meal."

At the master's invitation, we changed out of our travel-worn clothes and into clean garments. We sat down at the table and began to eat. I couldn't remember ever having tasted such a delicious meal. The food was hot and fragrant, and I savored every bite.

When we had finished eating, the master led us to a different room. It was spacious and airy, with plenty of room to move around. The master knelt on the floor and gestured for us to do the same.

Once we were all seated, the master turned to me. "Shou," he said, "I would like to know more about where you come from."

"I don't know where I come from," I replied.

"What about your family? Your lineage?"

"I have no family," I said. "No ancestry. I've been working as a slave since I was eight years old. That's all I know."

"I see," the master said thoughtfully. "And what do you think of the ninja clan?"

"I wasn't sure they even existed until I met you," I admitted. "But you certainly have some good food."

The master chuckled. "There's more to us than just good food, crazy ninja," he said.

He took a deep breath and began to speak. "Listen, son," he said. "Many years ago, I had two children of my own. But I lost them to illness, along with my wife. Kai's father was the leader of the ninja clan, but when he died, I took over. I promised Kai that I would look after him. He's a brave boy, just like you. And my clan needs people like you."

"But I'm not of ninja blood," I protested.

"Every bloodline has its own special qualities," the master said. "But in the ninja bloodline, it's not just about blood. We value character and bravery above all else. I don't have ninja blood either, but look where I am now."

I didn't know what to say. This was an opportunity unlike any other, and I wanted to seize it with both hands. I wanted to learn about the ninja way.

"I would be honored to be your student," I said.

"The honor is mine, young warrior," the master replied with a smile.