"The Akatsuki represents hope."

"The dark age of the Ninja World is about to end, and a new era of peace, understanding, and light is coming."

"We will be the ones who bring the dawn to the Ninja World."

"We will protect peace through dialogue, mutual understanding, and great strength, naturally dispelling darkness like the dawn."

Haruki looked at Himura, Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, his voice quietly flowing into their ears. It was gentle like flowing water, yet as resilient as solid rock.

"Akatsuki?"

Yahiko's breathing quickened, his face lit up, and he clenched his fists, looking at Haruki with bright eyes.

"That's an excellent name!"

"Aren't we just like the Akatsuki?"

He looked at Haruki excitedly.

Haruki nodded at him.

"Yes, we ourselves are the Akatsuki."

"Akatsuki…" Himura smiled. "From now on, we are the Akatsuki."

A smile also involuntarily appeared on Nagato's lips.

"Then Kikyogahara will be the Akatsuki's base."

Himura looked at Haruki and asked, "Haruki, what do you think?"

Kikyogahara was located among the mountains, and Himura had the ability to hide the village, so there was no better place than Kikyogahara to be the Akatsuki's base.

"Good." Haruki nodded heavily.

He looked at Himura, his eyes gleaming. "We will go out and recruit people who share our ideals, and I'll trouble Himura with establishing the base."

Himura couldn't help but laugh, and he waved his hand grandly. "What's the trouble? I'm also a member of the Akatsuki."

Yahiko grinned, revealing a brilliant smile.

That's great!

Yahiko suddenly felt that the road ahead was no longer confusing at all.

His gaze involuntarily fell on Haruki. If it weren't for Haruki, he might have remained in confusion. Haruki's presence had shown him the direction. They had the same experiences and the same will. They were the ones who understood each other best.

[Ding!]

[System detected Yahiko's Affection value +5000]

[Your Love Curse growth value has increased to 46.1%]

Haruki raised his eyebrows. He looked at Yahiko beside him, and Yahiko showed him a mouthful of white teeth.

"…"

Haruki averted his gaze.

"Then let's set off."

Yahiko said excitedly, rubbing his hands together, already unable to contain himself.

What he wanted most now was to do something big, to establish the Akatsuki and give it an initial scale. Just the five of them were too few.

Haruki couldn't help but laugh. "Yahiko, don't you feel tired?"

Yahiko shook his head decisively. "I'm not tired at all. I'm full of energy."

"Then Konan…"

Haruki looked at Konan, Konan might need to rest for a while.

Konan's pupils gleamed, and she also looked at Haruki with full energy. "I'm not tired either. I won't hold you back. Don't underestimate me."

Haruki gave her a thumbs-up. "I've always known Konan is very capable."

Konan pursed her lips and smiled shyly.

[Ding!]

[System detected Konan's Affection value +2000]

[Your Love Curse growth value has increased to 46.3%]

"Nagato…"

As soon as Haruki spoke, Nagato immediately said, "I can also do it."

Haruki was stunned for a moment, then he gave Nagato a smile.

"Thank you for supporting me, for standing on the same front with me."

Haruki looked deeply at Nagato and Konan, the light in his eyes made Nagato and Konan unable to look directly.

Nagato's pupils contracted, and the perpetually rainy and damp space in his heart seemed to be illuminated by sunlight.

Tears started welling up in Konan's eyes again.

It's so good!

It's so good to have met Haruki!

[Ding!]

[System detected Nagato's Affection value +5000]

[Ding!]

[System detected Konan's Affection value +5000]

[A total of 10000 Affection points have been collected. Your Love Curse growth value has increased to 47.3%]

"Haruki, why are you thanking us?! We are the best of friends. We are the most important people to each other."

Yahiko's hand rested on Haruki's shoulder, his voice firm and strong. "Your ideal is my ideal, and my ideal is your ideal. We are one."

Haruki almost lost control of his expression.

Who is one with you?

If you can't speak properly, don't talk nonsense.

After Haruki looked at Yahiko with a moved expression, he turned to look at Himura, stood up, and said, "Then we'll go first. I'll leave this place to you."

Himura nodded. "Don't worry."

The cry of a crow sounded from outside the door. The sound of flapping wings grew closer, and a dark shadow flew in from outside the open wooden door, landing on Haruki's arm.

Himura's surprised gaze moved back and forth between the crow and Haruki.

"You…"

"Crow…"

Himura, having been a ninja for many years, was experienced, and he immediately judged, "Is this your crow?"

Haruki nodded, and he said to Himura a little sheepishly, "I asked them to help me find traces of hidden ninjas."

A look of sudden understanding appeared on Himura's face. "So that's it. I had been wondering why crows had been following me lately? I even thought my good luck was coming."

Himura looked at the crow and nodded. "With the help of crows, I believe our team will expand quickly."

He didn't care at all that Haruki was using crows to monitor him. If it weren't for the crows finding him, he wouldn't have met Haruki, wouldn't have created the Akatsuki with them, and wouldn't have met a kindred spirit at this age.

Crows were indeed auspicious birds, didn't it bring him good fortune?

However, Haruki could communicate with crows, which showed that Haruki himself was auspicious.

"Himura, if you have something to tell me, you can ask it to pass the message to me, and I will know."

Haruki placed the crow in his hand on Himura's shoulder.

The crow's dark eyes rolled, staring at Himura.

Himura nodded seriously. "This will make our contact much more convenient."

Besides delivering messages, the crow could also monitor Himura for Haruki.

Although Himura appeared very fanatical, one could know a person's face but not his heart.

Haruki himself was a master actor, so how could he completely trust someone he had only met once?

(End of Chapter)

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