Yahiko stared at Ryūga, his fists clenched tight. No one had ever attacked his ideals so viciously before.
They could insult him, but never his beliefs!
He stepped closer to the immobilized ninja.
Ryūga watched this passionate fool warily.
"You're wrong."
"I never once thought everyone could understand my ideals. If everyone could, then wars would never have started in the first place..."
"But I have the patience and courage to share my beliefs with others, one person at a time."
"No matter what anyone says, I won't give up!"
"Even if you call me a fool or a madman, I'll keep moving forward!"
"Because this is my ninja way!"
"I'll see it through until the very end!"
Yahiko's fists trembled with emotion.
Ryūga's pupils contracted, staring in disbelief at the boy before him.
Shiratori felt equally stunned. Looking at Yahiko, he could almost see someone else, the yet-unborn Child of the Prophecy, Naruto. No wonder Nagato and Konan would later see Yahiko's shadow in him. Their personalities were identical.
His gaze lingered on Yahiko's face, expression shifting slightly.
"What a fool..."
Ryūga's muscles relaxed as he slumped against the floor. He stared at the ceiling, the boy's passionate words still ringing in his ears.
Unable to stop himself, he turned his attention to Shiratori, "Do you actually believe his words? If I'm not mistaken, you've survived countless brutal battles. The enemies who died by your hand number in the dozens, don't they? Even with blood on your hands, even after watching comrades die in front of you, can you really believe problems can be solved through talk?"
Ryūga's question drew everyone's attention to Shiratori.
Shiratori cleared his throat. His moment had arrived.
"I believe in it."
He nodded firmly.
[Affection detected: Nagato +3000 points]
[Curse Growth - Love: 51.3%]
Confusion flickered across Ryūga's eyes. "Why?"
He couldn't understand. How could someone who'd been on the battlefield believe in something so naive?
If Shiratori had truly experienced war, he should know that solving conflicts through dialogue was nothing but a fantasy.
Yahiko's eyes lit up as he looked at his friend.
He knew Shiratori would support him.
They shared the same ideals. They would fight together for those shared beliefs.
Warmth flooded his chest.
Shiratori met Ryūga's gaze. His expression was calm.
"Precisely because I've experienced the cruelest wars, because my hands are stained with blood, because I've watched my closest comrades fall before my eyes, more than anyone else, I believe that understanding and dialogue are the only way out of this cycle."
He glanced at Yahiko, then back to Ryūga.
"Just now, Yahiko left out something crucial. Before peaceful dialogue can happen, you need power first, power strong enough to influence the shinobi world. That's the foundation of everything else."
Ryūga blinked. He had to admit, this kid's words made far more sense than the blonde boy's passionate speech.
"Don't misunderstand. The power I'm talking about isn't overwhelming strength, and it's not meant to start wars, it's power to protect the right to speak."
Shiratori's tone carried absolute seriousness.
Ryūga's expression grew solemn.
"I know perfectly well that in the shinobi world, kindness without strength is just weakness. When an enemy comes at you with a blade, shouting 'Let's talk peacefully' means nothing. The only thing that can make him lower his weapon and sit at the negotiation table... is a sharper sword."
Unconsciously, Ryūga found himself nodding.
Konan's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Shiratori with pure admiration.
[Emotional energy detected: Faith +3000 points]
[Insufficient threshold for cursed spirit activation]
[Energy stored for future use]
"The wars I've fought and the power I've gained taught me something, I need to forge that kind of sword."
"This sword isn't for killing, but to force those who refuse to talk... to sit down and listen."
"This sword strips away the privilege of the strong who crush the weak, and creates the equal ground necessary for dialogue."
If his arms weren't bound, Ryūga would have applauded on the spot.
Shiratori's gaze swept over Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko before settling on Ryūga.
"We're all victims of war. We're the orphans war created. We know the cost better than anyone. It's because we've endured that pain and suffering that we want to try a different path."
"I don't reject power, I want to redefine its purpose."
"Power isn't for conquest, but for protection."
"Power isn't to inspire fear, but to provide security."
"I don't deny past wars, because the sacrifices made on those battlefields had meaning."
"Our fallen comrades didn't die to continue an endless cycle of revenge, but to build a world where such sacrifices would no longer be necessary."
"The dialogue I advocate isn't weakness, but an act of strength and wisdom, backed by real power."
"I don't want endless bloodshed. I want everyone in the shinobi world to walk together toward prosperity."
After that long speech, Shiratori's lungs were ready to give out.
[Faith detected]
[Multiple sources: +3000 points each]
[Total accumulated: 12,000 points]
[Activation threshold reached]
[Cursed Spirit: Geto Suguru (Cursed) - ACTIVATED]
[Development progress: 23%]
Wait a second!
Shiratori frowned in confusion: Suguru is a cursed spirit? Isn't he a jujutsu sorcerer?
[Confirmed: Deceased sorcerers can manifest as cursed spirits under specific conditions]
Who cursed him?
He was bewildered. That shouldn't have anything to do with him, right?
[Faith energy channeled through host's cursed energy has caused Suguru to manifest as cursed spirit]
"..."
Fine then.
Will Satoru, Kento, and the others also become cursed spirits?
[Affirmative: Possibility exists under similar conditions]
"That's... hard to imagine."
Ryūga's voice echoed weakly from the floor.
Shiratori's gaze fell on him.
The ninja was sprawled on the ground, blood pooling beneath his shattered limbs. His face had gone pale, expression vacant as he stared at the ceiling with a strange smile tugging at his lips.
"To think you already understand the world so clearly. I've lived so many years, and yet I'm not even as wise as a bunch of kids..."
His lament carried the sound of something breaking inside.
"As long as you're willing to turn around and start over, it's never too late!"
Yahiko stepped closer, his voice ringing with determination. The light in his eyes stirred something deep within Ryūga's fading consciousness.
If only... But blood continued draining from his limbs, and a bone-deep chill crept upward. His eyelids grew heavier.
"I won't... make it in time..." Ryūga whispered with regret.
He had realized the truth too late.
Too late... because he was already dying.
"You will make it."
Through his haze, he heard Shiratori's calm voice.
Make it? Could it really be true?
The blurry scene before his eyes gradually sharpened into focus.
To his shock, warmth was returning to his body. Pain flared as wounds began knitting together, the crawling sensation of healing flesh, the closing of torn arteries.
[Emotional energy detected: Awe +3000 points]
[Insufficient threshold for cursed spirit activation]
[Energy stored for future use]
Green light emanated from Shiratori's hands as Ryūga's wounds closed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Only after all the injuries had healed did Shiratori pull back.
Ryūga stared at his hands and feet in wonder. His head snapped up, pupils wide with shock as he felt strength flowing back into his limbs, not quickly, but steadily and continuously.
Such powerful medical ninjutsu!
He looked at Shiratori with respect. No wonder this boy could become Hanzō's student.
Beyond combat prowess, he even possessed extraordinary healing techniques.
Something shifted in his heart, and a single thought surfaced.
Maybe... maybe these children really could change the entire world.
"Ranga!"
Suddenly he remembered his subordinate.
He rushed to Ranga, who lay motionless in a pool of blood, and lifted his upper body. Ranga's face was deathly pale. The tendons in his arms and legs had been severed, leaving him helpless, forced to rely on Ryūga's support.
Ryūga cast a pleading look toward Shiratori.
Without a word, Shiratori stepped forward and placed both hands over Ranga's wounds.
Within moments, Ryūga watched in amazement as the cuts on his subordinate's wrists and ankles sealed themselves.
He helped Ranga to his feet, then turned to Shiratori with a broad grin. The scars on his cheeks twisted as he spoke.
"I suppose your ideals need more people to join, don't they? How about I join you?"
Ryūga declared without hesitation.
Yahiko's eyes blazed with excitement as he turned toward Shiratori.
They had succeeded. They had actually convinced a ninja to join Akatsuki.
"We've founded an organization called Akatsuki, gathering like-minded people from across the shinobi world."
"Akatsuki welcomes you."
Shiratori extended his hand toward Ryūga.
The scarred ninja looked at the offered hand, his grin widening as he clasped it firmly.
"Akatsuki's current base is in Kikyōhara. The leader's name is Himura." Shiratori explained.
Ryūga raised his eyebrows in surprise. He hadn't expected they already had a base and a leader, he thought he'd be the very first recruit.
"Alright."
He nodded.
"I'll join."
Standing silently beside him like a shadow, Ranga suddenly spoke.
Ryūga turned to look at him. Ranga stared back and said, word by word, "Wherever you go, I go too."
Moved, Ryūga patted his shoulder.
"..."
The power of bonds in the shinobi world never ceased to amaze Shiratori.
"Very well. Welcome to Akatsuki."
He smiled.
As he spoke, the sudden beating of wings sounded outside the window. A black shadow shot through like dark lightning, landing neatly on his arm.
It was a crow, its feathers completely pitch-black.
He extended the bird toward Ryūga.
"This crow is for you."
Ryūga accepted it, letting the crow perch on his shoulder. After glancing at it once, he asked curiously, "What's it for?"
He couldn't sense any chakra in the bird. That meant it wasn't a summoning beast.
What could an ordinary crow possibly do?
"This crow will guide you to Himura at Kikyōhara."
Shiratori's eyes gleamed slightly.
Of course, more importantly, the crow would also monitor Ryūga and Ranga.
If they made even the slightest wrong move, the crow could instantly detonate, taking both their heads off.
Ryūga nodded and stroked the crow's sleek feathers.
The bird gently pecked his palm, docile and harmless, no one would imagine it was actually a living bomb.