When Shin woke up, it was already morning. Ayano told him that the Third Hokage had not stayed in the study long last night before leaving.
When he arrived at the Hokage's Office, quite a few people were waiting downstairs. Upon seeing Shin, they all bowed to the young man.
"Lord Shin!"
Shin merely responded indifferently. After entering his office, he first summoned Maruboshi Kosuke and Might Duy, who had returned to the village.
"This was entrusted to me by Yahiko, Akatsuki's leader, for delivery." Maruboshi Kosuke handed over a box.
Shin took it and gave it a glance, seeing that it had been sealed.
"It seems the mission went smoothly."
Maruboshi Kosuke said, "There was danger, but no real mishap. Hanzo the Salamander was very powerful. If not for the antidote, Duy and I would already be dead."
"Akatsuki lost quite a few members. Now that Hanzo the Salamander is dead, Amegakure is in complete chaos. It will not be easy for Yahiko and the others to quell the unrest and take power."
Shin nodded. "That is no longer our concern. If Akatsuki cannot even accomplish this much, then their time is simply up."
Seeing that Might Duy seemed hesitant to speak, he asked, "Is there something you want to say?"
Only then did Might Duy speak. "Lord Shin, I'm only a Genin. Why do you keep assigning me such high-level missions?"
Shin said, "When you came to see me before, wasn't this exactly the sort of mission you wanted?"
Might Duy scratched his head awkwardly. Back then, he had only wanted to earn more mission rewards. He had never expected to keep risking his life like this. It was not that he feared death so much; he simply felt that if he died so easily, Guy would have