บท 42: Chapter 41: The Spy
As Byakuya was deeply immersed in his thoughts, Shigure, who sat beside him, experienced a growing sense of unease. Shigure had already made a commitment to join the Akatsuki organization.
However, he couldn't shake off the feeling of apprehension caused by Byakuya's prolonged silence.
He started to wonder if his easy agreement had raised suspicion, leading Byakuya to contemplate silencing him to eliminate any potential threat.
At that very moment, Byakuya, snapping out of his reverie, suddenly became aware of Shigure standing beside him. He extended his hand.
"Sorry, I got lost in thought for a moment. But nonetheless, welcome to the Akatsuki organization."
After hearing this, Shigure's mouth twitched slightly. He was at least a Jōnin. Wasn't it risky for Byakuya to lose focus at such a moment, fearing that Shigure might retract his agreement and launch a surprise attack? But considering the strength demonstrated by Byakuya, Shigure suppressed the urge to criticize.
Byakuya indeed had the power to overpower him, and the pill he had just given him was definitely not clean; it must have contained something else.
After trying to calm his emotions, Shigure began to contemplate the future. If Byakuya was indeed a high-ranking member of the Akatsuki organization, joining them might not be a bad idea.
Over the past six months, he had gathered much information about the Akatsuki organization.
Many of his disappointed colleagues had also joined the Akatsuki. He had also secretly protected the Akatsuki, though he still believed in Lord Hanzō.
Even though Hanzō now stayed within Amegakure every day, allowing bandits to run rampant within the Land of Rain, Shigure believed that one-day Hanzō would rise again and lead the Land of Rain.
At this moment, Shigure realized that he didn't even know Byakuya's name, so he asked.
"How should I address you, sir?"
"Just call me Byakuya."
"Byakuya?"
Shigure paused, realizing that he had heard that name from his former colleagues. It seemed that Byakuya was indeed a member of the Akatsuki organization, ranking just below Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan. However, Shigure had assumed Byakuya was at least middle-aged, but he turned out to be just a youth.
After pondering for a moment, Shigure continued.
"Alright, Lord Byakuya, in recruiting me to join the Akatsuki organization, do you intend for me to leave Amegakure and join the Akatsuki, or do you want me to remain here in Amegakure?"
To Shigure, Byakuya's recruitment purposes boiled down to these two options: either to make him leave Amegakure or to enlist him as a spy.
If Byakuya wanted him to leave Amegakure, he had no choice. However, if he was to act as a spy gathering information for the Akatsuki, he would need to consider it carefully.
At this moment, Byakuya revealed Shigure's job description:
"After joining the Akatsuki organization, you will still be a ninja of Amegakure. You only need to follow orders from Amegakure as usual, and I won't interfere with you too much."
Byakuya paused for a moment before continuing.
"However, in addition to your duties for Amegakure, I have another task for you, which I hope you will complete with full dedication."
Then, Byakuya took out a scroll from his pocket and tossed it to Shigure.
Taking the scroll, Shigure realized that Byakuya wanted him to act as a spy within Amegakure. It seemed that the Akatsuki organization's goals were not as simple as they appeared, though their true intentions had not yet been revealed.
As he unrolled the scroll and examined it carefully, Shigure's expression changed instantly, and he regarded Byakuya with a strange look.
Byakuya hadn't asked him to gather intelligence about Amegakure; instead, he wanted Shigure to manufacture and sell goods according to the designs on the scroll, with profits split seventy-thirty.
As a black market merchant, Shigure's intuition told him that they would be extremely profitable once these goods were produced.
But why expose the shadow of the Akatsuki organization and force him to join if they wanted to invest and do business together? Wouldn't it be better for everyone to make money together without revealing their affiliation to the Akatsuki?
After contemplating momentarily, Shigure expressed his confusion.
"Lord Byakuya, do you really want me to do this? Don't you need me to gather intelligence from the village?"
Byakuya glanced at Shigure and sighed.
"Why would I need intelligence from the village? The Akatsuki and Amegakure are not enemies. I just need your help from the shadows. Speculatively, it's bribery and kinda threat to you, the Jōnin of Amegakure. If we don't have some influential figures to protect the business, what will happen if our industry gets targeted?"
"Influential figures?"
Shigure suddenly remembered the miraculous pill he had taken earlier. He had indeed received a favor, and now he had a profitable project in his hands. There wasn't anything excessive from the other party.
In terms of the outcome, it was undoubtedly beneficial for him, but the process made him feel uncomfortable as if he were being coerced.
But at this point, Byakuya wasn't finished.
"However, if Hanzō-sama really takes action against the Akatsuki, remember to inform us. After all, you are now a member of the Akatsuki organization."
With that, Byakuya disappeared from the alley, leaving behind a partially opened box filled with cash.
Glancing at the spot where Byakuya disappeared, Shigure then looked at the cash on the ground and the design scroll in his hand. He seemed to have inexplicably become a member of the Akatsuki organization.
And he only knew the name Byakuya, nothing else.
He only had two choices: follow Byakuya's instructions and report the matter to Hanzō-sama or report Byakuya as an enemy spy. But Byakuya turned out to be a member of the Akatsuki organization and hadn't asked Shigure to gather intelligence from the village.
Instead, he had offered Shigure benefits he couldn't refuse. Shigure was unsure whether reporting to Hanzō-sama would even make a difference or if it would lead to suspicion on himself.
He had to decide whether to pledge allegiance to Hanzō, risking being killed, or to quietly work for Byakuya, earning money while not compromising the interests of the village, but by turning a blind eye to certain matters.
After pondering, Shigure returned to his room and began to write the mission report.
In this report, he deliberately omitted tonight's meeting with Byakuya and lowered the quantities of the supplies purchased by the Akatsuki organization.
From the shadowy corner, Byakuya observed Shigure's behavior and took a deep breath in satisfaction. So far, Shigure's actions had been within his expectations. Although there had been some unexpected occurrences, everything had proceeded perfectly according to plan.
To implant this spy, Byakuya first used force to threaten Shigure into joining the Akatsuki organization. Then, he assigned Shigure simple tasks with sweet rewards that did not harm the interests of Amegakure, gradually leading him into a trap.
As time passed, Shigure's interests would become intertwined with those of the Akatsuki organization, making him a thorough member of it.
Of course, the most crucial aspect was that Byakuya had placed a seal within Shigure's body. Even if Shigure betrayed the Akatsuki organization, Byakuya could kill him instantly.
However, these were just precautions. Perhaps, given Yahiko's ideology and immense benefits, Byakuya wouldn't even need to resort to the seal.
Shigure might willingly work for the Akatsuki organization.
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