The Konoha Chunin rose to his feet instinctively, every hair on his body standing on end. He opened his mouth to speak, only to find his throat dry; he could not force out a single word.
Across from him, the young man still watched him with a smile, making no movement whatsoever. Yet an inexplicable fear and sense of danger rose within him. He felt that it would not be strange at all if he died the very next second.
In Konoha, a ninja identification number was proof of identity that accompanied a ninja throughout their life. Everyone knew that Ninja No. 001 was the First, Senju Hashirama, followed by the former Ninja No. 002, Uchiha Madara. As for No. 003, that name could be seen at a glance on the stone monument once one entered Konoha.
The world seemed to freeze at that moment. Though the other party had not done anything, he himself was on the verge of collapse when a figure suddenly appeared.
It was a figure wearing a Goshawk mask, dressed from head to toe in a black robe. Others might not recognize him, but as the ninja responsible for recording those entering and leaving the village gates, he did. He was Goshawk, a high-ranking leader of Root and a figure second only to Danzo.
The instant he appeared, that profound terror vanished. The Chunin gasped and collapsed onto his stool without saying a word.
"Lord Goshawk!" Only after a long while did he speak in a low voice.
Goshawk ignored him and swiftly approached the young man. In a low voice, he said, "Lord Shin, why did you come in person? And why did you enter through the main gate?"
Shin looked at him with a smile and shrugged. "As a ninja of Konoha, it