Extreme Danger

Haku gently nudged Shinji, who was lying on the ground. "Shinji-kun, wake up!"

Shinji groggily opened his eyes. "What happened to me?"

Haku avoided Shinji's gaze. "Maybe you were just too tired. You fainted a moment ago."

"Is that so?" Shinji clutched his stomach and muttered to himself, "I must be hungry!"

Seeing that Shinji wasn't pressing the issue, Haku secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Afterward, the two of them went to Ichiraku Ramen and ate their fill.

Back at the apartment.

Shinji closed the door, then pressed his ear against the wall to listen for any activity next door. Once he confirmed there was nothing unusual, he let out a sigh of relief, dropping his pretense.

Without a doubt.

The mysterious person who had appeared at the training ground earlier was his shadow clone.

He had invited Haku in this manner entirely out of necessity.

His identity as a remnant of the Uchiha made him a target for many in the Ninja World who coveted the secrets of the Sharingan. Furthermore, his identity as the 'Lantern Bearer' made him a thorn in the side of the force invading the Ninja World.

Therefore, he had to hide his identity.

Even when recruiting a subordinate, he couldn't easily reveal his true self.

Otherwise, once the secret of possessing the Mangekyo Sharingan was leaked, or his identity as the 'Lantern Bearer' was exposed, it would bring about unimaginable disaster!

Precisely because of this.

His choices for recruitment were actually very limited.

They needed to possess a certain level of strength and potential for growth, and he needed to have something on them. Otherwise, who would be willing to join his mysterious group looking so secretive?

That's why for his first subordinate, he chose Haku, a spy lurking in Konoha as a Kirigakure ninja.

Firstly, Haku possessed immense talent, a rare genius ninja capable of forming hand seals with one hand at such a young age, coupled with the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, his potential was enormous.

Secondly, Haku's identity as a Kirigakure spy was the only leverage he had to invite Haku to join.

Now was not the time for him to be picky; without some leverage, he couldn't recruit any promising geniuses at all.

Of course, he had hesitated about coercing Haku in this manner.

However, if he, the 'Lantern Bearer,' failed, the Ninja World would be doomed. In such a situation, everyone he recruited was less being used by him and more like saving themselves.

"Sigh, I wonder if Haku can keep a secret..."

He felt quite guilty at the moment, unsure if his earlier blustering threats had actually worked.

However, Haku's concern for his life just now had surprised him somewhat.

"Does he really consider me a friend?"

He shook his head.

Because he sensed Haku deliberately approaching him, his attitude toward Haku had been quite cold, at least in his own opinion.

Therefore, he didn't believe Haku truly considered him a friend. Perhaps, as Haku had said, he simply didn't want to implicate an innocent person.

This was also the reason Shinji deliberately brought up the Akatsuki Organization as a cover.

Because if things went wrong and the people he recruited exposed him, the Akatsuki Organization cover would mislead the direction of the investigation.

Furthermore, as the Ninja World was captured by the mysterious 'Lantern Bearer's' Light Marks.

In the future, more and more powerful demons would invade, and eventually, even the mysterious 'Lantern Bearer' himself might show up.

If he and his team eliminated demons under the guise of the Akatsuki Organization.

Even if their identities were accidentally leaked and the mysterious 'Lantern Bearer' found out, the other party would only pursue them along the Akatsuki Organization's trail.

Besides, Pain also wanted to bring peace to the Ninja World!

He should be able to understand.

Just then, there was a sudden noise from next door.

Shinji listened intently for a moment, realizing Haku seemed to be going out.

He frowned. "Going out this late? Is he going to report to his handler?"

Thinking this, he quickly bit his finger, formed a hand seal, and summoned Meiqiu.

From the puff of white smoke, Meiqiu poked its little head out. "What's wrong? What's wrong? Is the cloak I custom-made for you not good enough?"

Shinji sighed. "It's not about the robe. Sigh, I think I messed up."

Meiqiu licked its fur. "Then it has nothing to do with me."

"What do you mean it has nothing to do with you? You lazy cat, do you still want your salary!" As he spoke, Shinji pointed at Haku, who was hurrying outside. "Hurry up and follow him, see who he meets and what he says."

Meiqiu jumped onto the windowsill. "Will I get beaten up if the other party discovers me?"

"No."

"Oh, then I'm going!"

Meiqiu finished speaking and pushed open the window.

It wasn't until Meiqiu's paws were almost out the window that Shinji said leisurely, "You won't just get beaten; you'll be silenced directly!"

Meiqiu stumbled and fell straight out the window.

In a forest.

Haku arrived under a tree and gently knocked on the trunk.

Soon, a dark figure appeared on the other side of the tree, and a low voice came out, "You're late."

Haku lowered his voice as well, "I couldn't get away just now."

The dark figure said, "Is Konoha suspicious of you?"

Haku shook his head, "No."

"Very good." After a pause, the dark figure continued, "How is the mission going?"

After a moment of hesitation, Haku replied, "I feel like Shinji Uchiha has accepted me. He might even consider me a friend now."

"What makes you think that?"

Haku answered seriously, "He talks to me every day!"

The dark figure was silent for a moment, then said in agreement, "He is an Uchiha. To be able to do this much, it seems he really does consider you a friend."

"Mhm!"

Haku nodded.

The dark figure then said, "However, the village is more concerned with Sasuke Uchiha right now. The family wants you to get close to Sasuke Uchiha."

Haku said, "I'm not classmates with Sasuke Uchiha, so I have no reason to get close to him."

The dark figure's tone turned a bit colder, "Shinji Uchiha is just an ordinary Uchiha. The true secrets of the Uchiha Clan are very likely hidden within Sasuke Uchiha. He is the key. You must get close to him! This is not a discussion, it's an order!"

"I understand."

Haku sounded a bit helpless.

The dark figure could sense Haku's emotions, "You should know what the Uchiha did to us, Kirigakure!"

Haku argued, "But the Uchiha have been wiped out! Shinji and Sasuke are both victims. They are innocent!"

The dark figure snorted coldly, "Hmph, a victim who could subdue a rampaging Nine-Tails at the age of seven? Even now, you dare to underestimate the Uchiha? Haven't enough people in Kirigakure died?"

"I... I understand."

Haku lowered his head, obeying the dark figure.

The dark figure changed the subject, "Get close to Sasuke Uchiha, investigate whether he still has contact with Itachi Uchiha, and also, investigate if Sasuke has joined an organization!"

Haku asked, "What organization?"

"It's a very terrifying organization. We received intelligence that Juzo Biwa, one of the former Seven Ninja Swordsmen who defected, and Itachi Uchiha have both joined this organization and become members. " After a pause, the dark figure emphasized, "The village now considers this organization extremely dangerous. All information related to it is top priority intelligence!"

Haku immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.

Juzo Biwa and Itachi Uchiha were both influential figures at the pinnacle of the Ninja World. An organization that such individuals joined was enough to send shivers down one's spine just thinking about it!

As Haku waited expectantly, the dark figure slowly said, "The name of that organization is... Akatsuki!"

"!? "

Haku froze.

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