The building shook and cracked under the force of their landing. Raiden groaned, his body aching. The ninja beside him was still, lying motionless for a moment before slowly pushing himself up. His mask stayed firmly in place, hiding his face completely.
With a deep, rough voice, the ninja muttered, "Ugh... What happened?"
Raiden gritted his teeth and sat up, trying to shake off the daze. "Oof. That was a rough one, huh?"
The ninja slowly stood up, dusting himself off. His eyes narrowed at Raiden, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana. "Don't talk like you know me," he growled. "You've done enough."
Raiden wasn't about to let him leave so easily. He stepped in front of the ninja, blocking his path. "I didn't come here to fight you," Raiden said, his voice firm. "I came here because I need someone like you."
The ninja stopped, his hand still on his sword, but his eyes locked onto Raiden with suspicion. "Someone like me?" he asked. "What do you want with me?"
Raiden's eyes grew serious. "I've always admired ninjas," he said. "You live by your own rules. You fight for your own cause. That's what I want. I'm not asking you to fight for me. I'm asking you to join me. I want a crew. A family of strong people who are free to live their own way."
The ninja narrowed his eyes. "And why would you want to gather a crew? What's in it for you?"
Raiden took a deep breath, his voice growing harder. "I want to create a world where everyone can live by their own will. Where people can be free. No one should ever be a slave again. If you join me, you won't have to answer to anyone. You can follow your own path. You can be free. I'll fight for that freedom every day, and I'll show you that it's not just words. It's my goal. And I'll prove it to you."
The ninja lowered his katana, though still cautious. "Bold words... You really think you can prove that? A lot of people have promised me freedom before. And they've all failed."
Raiden smiled, his hand extended towards the ninja. "I'll prove it, step by step. Not with just words, but with action. You'll see why you should follow me."
The ninja stood there for a moment, staring at Raiden's outstretched hand. He was silent, thinking. Then, finally, he spoke in a low voice. "You've got guts. I'll give you that. But if you mean what you say, show me."
Raiden's smile widened. "Welcome to the crew," he said confidently.
The ninja hesitated just for a moment, then gave a slight nod. Without saying his name, he extended his hand to Raiden. "We'll see where this goes."
And just like that, the two of them formed an unlikely bond. It wasn't through force, but through shared goals and conviction. Raiden had gained the ninja he wanted, and the ninja had found something he hadn't realized he was searching for.