Hyuga Arin sat atop the remains of a shadow construct. Before him floated a light screen—everything it displayed corresponded directly to the real world.
Yahiko was currently leading Konan and Nagato in rescuing people. Ever since saving that man named Duoliang, the three had developed an unspoken understanding—
Anyone who needed help would be saved.
Originally, they planned to bring rescued children back to their base.
But now, they had abandoned that idea.
Instead, they began establishing new strongholds.
The locations were chosen within abandoned cities. However, the three of them never fought over leadership. Instead, they handed over all authority of the new bases to others.
They might be young, but they understood one thing—
Adults were obsessed with power.
Of course, not all adults were like that.
But the three of them couldn't tell the difference.
So they simply gave up control entirely.
Their role was straightforward:
Gather survivors from the city and bring them to the base.
And defend against external threats when necessary.
Arin watched everything unfold from beginning to end.
"Violence is the core of all authority…" he muttered, shaking his head.
In his view, if people were made to understand that you possessed the power to kill them effortlessly—
Whether child or adult—
They would all choose submission.
The trio's past failures came from two things:
They were too weak.
And they insisted on kindness.
"In chaotic times, harsh measures are needed."
Clearly—
They didn't understand that principle.
Then again, most people in the ninja world were barely literate.
Being able to read and write didn't mean they understood logic.
Everyone just relied on "I think this makes sense."
The most obvious examples?
Someone who slaughtered his entire clan.
And someone who tried to train his younger brother through suffering.
(Uchiha Itachi: You might as well just say my ID number.)
Still, Arin had little interest in Yahiko's group.
Right now, he was more curious about something else.
"If I can farm the Nara Clan's Shadow Possession Technique…"
"Could I just wipe enemies out directly inside this place?"
He fell into deep thought.
After all—
The Nara Clan used shadows.
And here—
There was no shortage of shadows.
If the Nara obtained abilities like this, wouldn't they become unstoppable?
Even Uchiha Madara would have to take a couple of slaps.
And if they were that strong—
Then wouldn't he be even more invincible?
Which raised an important question:
"How do I farm a few Nara clan members, get Shadow Possession…"
"And go slap Uchiha Madara a couple times?"
He had wanted to do that for a long time.
…
"We're leaving," Yahiko said to the current leader of the base.
The man's name was Buxia—a righteous-looking man who held considerable authority within the settlement.
The base had already begun farming, livestock raising, and food storage.
If they could survive these next few months, they would become self-sufficient.
Buxia's expression darkened.
"The base still needs your strength," he said sternly.
"You're leaving at a time like this?"
"We're already short on manpower, and you're choosing to abandon us now?"
Most of the city's survivors had already gathered here.
All that remained was development.
But Buxia didn't want to lose the three of them.
Despite their age—
They were powerful.
"But there are more people who need saving," Yahiko shook his head.
He had already decided to move on to other cities.
"We won't stay here."
"You belong to this base," Buxia snapped, taking the moral high ground.
"Other places don't need you."
"You are the guardians of this city."
"If you leave and enemies come—what then?"
"Are you going to let these innocent people die?!"
"Have you even thought about them?!"
"…Sorry," Yahiko replied firmly.
"We are not this place's guardians."
"And this place has nothing to do with us."
Once Yahiko made a decision—
He would not waver.
No matter who tried to pressure him morally.
"If you won't even save yourselves," Yahiko said resolutely,
"then no matter how we try to save you, nothing will change."
"Nagato. Konan."
"Let's go."
Buxia's face twisted as he watched them leave.
"Hey!" he shouted.
"Aren't ninja supposed to complete their missions?!"
"You're from Amegakure, aren't you?!"
"If you leave like this, your mission is a failure!"
Yahiko tilted his head slightly.
"…Sorry."
"We're not ninja."
They were—
Chakra Users.
People who acted according to their own will.
"BASTARDS!!"
Amid Buxia's furious roar—
The three still left.
After leaving the city, they continued their rescue efforts in surrounding areas.
Just like before—
They gathered survivors and formed new settlements.
Then handed control over to the people themselves.
Given their age, it was impossible for others to fully trust them anyway.
And they wanted to save more people.
Once a base stabilized—
They moved on.
Some leaders respected them.
Others tried to force them to stay.
Actual combat was rare.
Most of their time was spent saving people.
But—
Their actions had begun attracting attention from Amegakure.
"Three children… saving the Land of Rain?"
Hanzo frowned as he looked at the reporting ninja.
"Yes," the Amegakure shinobi replied, kneeling.
"They are ninja, but carry no village identification."
"We don't know where they received their training."
"Ordinary rogue ninja are no match for them."
"However, they focus on rescuing civilians and building settlements."
"Several cities in the Land of Rain have already been reorganized by them."
Hanzo fell into thought.
"Could they be like that Uchiha Arin…"
"Konoha spies?"
"Bring them back," Hanzo said coldly.
"Have them join Amegakure."
The village needed combat power.
At such a young age, yet already able to defeat rogue ninja—
Their talent was undeniable.
The Amegakure ninja hesitated.
"They seem to belong to the same organization."
"It's called… Akatsuki."
Meaning—
They weren't easy to recruit.
"Akatsuki?" Hanzo frowned.
He had never heard the name.
"Are there other members?"
The ninja shook his head.
"For now… only those three."
Hanzo thought for a moment.
"A proper organization wouldn't send just three children."
"It's likely they created it themselves."
"In that case—bring them back."
"If they refuse…"
"Then bring them back by force."
"Yes!" the ninja responded.
After he left—
Hanzo remained seated, frowning deeply.
"Akatsuki…"
An unfamiliar name.
Yet—
For some reason—
It unsettled him.
And he couldn't explain why.
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