“They…
they…” Only a few moments had passed.
The bustling noises around them remained unchanged.
The streets were just as peaceful as before.
Yet those expressionless figures who had stared at them had completely vanished, as though what they had witnessed had been nothing more than an illusion.
Yahiko instinctively turned toward Konan.
Seeing the same look of disbelief on her face, he finally confirmed that he hadn’t imagined it.
Only then did he suddenly realize something.
From the city gate…
To the commercial district…
To the residential district…
They hadn’t seen a single patrol.
Not because there weren’t any.
But exactly as Unkawa had said— They simply couldn’t see them.
That was all.
Some people hid within the shadows.
In everyday life, they looked completely ordinary.
Nothing about their appearance stood out.
Yet behind those ordinary faces…
Each carried a different mission.
After receiving specialized assassination training from Unkawa…
Their duties included not only secretly protecting the townspeople…
But also…
Monitoring.
Evaluating.
“Hiss…” The realization sent a chill down Yahiko’s spine.
An unsettling image suddenly formed in his mind.
Suppose…
One day he betrayed Unkawa.
Thinking his disguise flawless…
He calmly walked through an alley.
Then he noticed…
The stray dog beside a trash bin had been silently watching him all along.
The instant their eyes met…
The mangy dog’s face suddenly displayed the exact same cold expression as those silent figures.
That…
Was what truly made them terrifying.
No one knew how they would appear.
No one knew what identities they hid behind.
The two people greeting each other with smiles every morning…
Could both be members of Akatsuki…
Without even recognizing one another.
Compared to the guards at the city gate…
Or the household registration system…
The organization Unkawa called Akatsuki was a far more terrifying safeguard.
“How can you do something like this?” After finally piecing everything together, Yahiko inhaled sharply.
“Do the townspeople even know they’re being watched?” He couldn’t quite explain what bothered him.
After all…
He had no intention of betraying anyone.
Nor did he want to repay kindness with treachery.
Yet…
Something still felt wrong.
Especially when he remembered the construction workers laughing and exchanging crude jokes moments earlier…
Only to suddenly wear those cold, emotionless expressions before disappearing without a trace.
Looking once more at the lively and harmonious city…
Yahiko suddenly felt as though a thin veil had settled over everything beautiful.
“You…” “Hey.” Before he could continue…
A low, cold voice suddenly spoke behind him.
It felt like someone had breathed icy air directly against his ear.
Yahiko shuddered instinctively.
Before he even had time to turn around…
A hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.
An overwhelming force surged from that single palm…
Flowing into his left shoulder…
His arm…
His neck…
“Urgh!” The crushing pressure robbed him of his breath.
Before he could utter another word…
His body was violently slammed face-first into the ground.
“Who was that?!” “Which bastard attacked me?!” Half his face splashed into a puddle, leaving him in an utterly miserable state.
Even so…
He desperately dug his fingers into the mud, trying to push himself back up while twisting his head toward the attacker’s blind spot.
His fingertips tore open against the rough ground…
Fresh blood appeared beneath his nails…
Yet the hand pressing him down never budged.
It felt as immovable as solid steel.
The only thing Yahiko could see…
Were a few strands of crimson hair.
“Do you even know…” “…who you’re speaking to?” Seeing Yahiko continue struggling…
The stranger pressed down even harder.
His icy voice carried unmistakable hostility.
“Do you really think someone like you…” “…who only knows how to spout pretty words…” “…can protect this place…” “…or create the future we seek?” “I despise fools like you…” “…who mistake their own stupidity for conviction—” “That’s enough.” Unkawa interrupted calmly.
“Don’t press so hard.” “…Understood.” The voice immediately stopped.
The pressure disappeared just as suddenly.
“Gasp…!” “Cough!
Cough!
Cough!” Yahiko pushed himself upright, gasping desperately for air while coughing violently.
Only then did he finally see who had attacked him.
It wasn’t the muscular adult he had imagined.
Instead…
It was a red-haired boy.
His skin was unnaturally pale…
Almost sickly.
His eyes were completely wrapped in black bandages.
“You…” Yahiko glared furiously.
But the boy ignored him completely.
Without even sparing him a glance…
He simply walked past.
Stopping before Unkawa…
He lowered his head slightly.
“Big Brother.” “Welcome home.” “You…” Unkawa sighed before smiling again.
He gently ruffled the boy’s short red hair.
“You’ve improved quickly.” “Before you made your move…” “Even I almost failed to notice you.” A faint smile appeared at the corner of the boy’s lips.
It disappeared just as quickly.
“You don’t need to flatter me.” “I still have a long way to go.” By then…
Konan had helped Yahiko to his feet.
She silently watched everything unfold.
“Big Brother.” Jiyun looked curiously at the red-haired boy.
Her attention lingered especially on his crimson hair.
“This is…?” Perhaps because of the way she addressed Unkawa…
The red-haired boy suddenly turned toward her.
His brows furrowed briefly…
Then gradually relaxed.
Jiyun instinctively narrowed her eyes.
She felt an invisible gaze sweeping over her from head to toe.
It was so meticulous…
So thorough…
That it sent chills down her spine.
It felt as though every secret she possessed had been completely exposed.
Yet…
The boy’s eyes were covered by bandages.
“Oh.” “I should introduce everyone.” Unkawa chuckled as he observed the children’s reactions.
Looking meaningfully toward the red-haired boy, he smiled.
“Like you…” “I brought these children back from outside.” Pointing toward the still-irritated Yahiko, he teased, “The one you beat up without asking any questions…” “…is Yahiko.” “And this is Konan.” “You frightened her, you know.” Pretending to scold him, Unkawa lightly tapped the boy on the head before pointing toward Jiyun.
“This is Jiyun.” “And her younger brother, Jiyu.” “Yamazato Jiyun.” “Yamazato Jiyu.” “I gave both of them those names.” “As for this bad-tempered red-haired brat…” “His name is—” “Nagato.” Before Unkawa could finish…
The red-haired boy stared directly toward Jiyun.
A faint smile appeared on his pale face.
“My name…” “…is Yamazato Nagato.” At the very moment those words left his lips…
A smile flickered across Unkawa’s eyes.
With a single thought…
His consciousness sank inward.
[Mission: Founding Akatsuki] [Status: Completed]
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