Chapter 39: Karin and Izumi's Return, New Organization Members!
Byakuya woke up very early today.
Because today was a very special day—the day Karin and Izumi would return!
Not only that.
Today was also the day they would bring back his two new subordinates.
"I wonder if those two newbies will behave themselves?"
Carrying a trace of curiosity, Byakuya arrived at a bedroom on the second floor.
This bedroom had been specially modified by him.
A teleportation array was carved into the floor.
This array was a special item he had drawn from the system.
It was perfectly matched with his organization system.
As long as Karin and Izumi reached the secret outpost on the border of the Fire Country, they could use this array to come straight to him.
...
Time passed slowly.
Not long after,
on the spotlessly clean floor, an ancient-looking teleportation array gradually emerged.
It glowed with faint blue light, flickering mysteriously.
Moments later,
the blue light on the array suddenly flared brightly.
Buzz~
With a low hum, four figures appeared in front of Byakuya at the same time.
"We pay our respects to the Holy Master!"
Karin and Izumi simultaneously removed their hats, then dropped to one knee and bowed to Byakuya.
Seeing this, Pakura and Ringo Ameyuri behind them also knelt down immediately.
"Mm~"
A flicker of satisfaction passed through Byakuya's eyes.
Then he nodded expressionlessly.
"Here are the new mission cards, and the mission items.
Go carry out your tasks first."
With that, he tossed two mission cards, a bottle of medicine capable of curing terminal illness, and a Squirtle Silver-rank Pokémon Card to Izumi and Karin.
The two of them accepted the items, glanced at the cards, then bowed their heads again in respect.
"Understood!"
With that,
they stepped directly back onto the teleportation array.
And in the next moment, they vanished from the bookstore.
After watching the two leave,
Byakuya turned his head toward Pakura and Ringo Ameyuri.
"Pear Blossom and Violet should have already explained the rules to you, right?"
"Yes!"
The two women answered in unison.
Ringo Ameyuri had never held much loyalty toward Kirigakure to begin with.
After discovering how immensely powerful this organization was, she immediately became eager to join.
As for Pakura, she had once been a hero of Sunagakure.
Only to be betrayed by the Kazekage and sent to Kirigakure as a sacrificial pawn.
That betrayal had filled her with despair toward the dark politics of Sunagakure.
And by extension, toward the entire shinobi world.
At the same time, deep hatred burned in her heart.
She wanted revenge against Sunagakure. She wanted revenge against Kirigakure!
And after being revived and discovering that her strength had actually increased because of the resurrection,
she became deeply curious about this mysterious and overwhelmingly powerful Spirit Pavilion.
She thirsted for even greater power.
She no longer wanted to be a hero.
So she had come here willingly and obediently.
"Very good."
Byakuya nodded, then extended both hands.
"Since you've already made your decision,
then come and sign the contract with me.
Once the contract is signed,
your lives will belong to me.
I can erase you in an instant.
Think carefully… then place your hands on mine."
Pakura and Ringo Ameyuri exchanged a glance.
Then together, they placed their hands onto Byakuya's palms.
They had already thought everything through on the way here.
So although Byakuya looked very young—like a twelve-year-old child—
they didn't let it bother them.
Buzz~
As the contract was completed,
an identical "X"-shaped mark appeared on both of their bodies.
Ringo Ameyuri's mark appeared on the outer side of her right leg, above the knee where she kept her tool pouch.
Pakura's appeared on her back.
"Alright. Next, I will bestow power upon you."
Saying so,
Byakuya took out two Diamond-rank cards.
The Groudon card and Zekrom card, which originally hadn't displayed any matched user,
now clearly showed the names of the two women.
Thus,
Byakuya pressed the Zekrom card into Ringo Ameyuri's body.
And pressed the Groudon card into Pakura's body.
Just like last time when he gave Izumi the Mewtwo card,
not a single trace of chakra leaked out.
Because Byakuya had prepared in advance this time.
There would be no repeat of the massive chakra leak that happened the first time with the Ho-Oh card.
Looking at the two new organization members who had already fainted,
Byakuya nodded in satisfaction.
Then he headed toward the attic of the bookstore.
Up in the bookstore attic, Nohara Rin had already been confined here for more than a month.
Now, her teammate had finally been found.
It was about time for Byakuya to go see her.
"Holy Master."
Seeing Byakuya arrive,
Rin obediently dropped to one knee and bowed respectfully.
She looked completely different from the girl who had initially tried to negotiate conditions with him.
"Very good.
I've already located your teammate."
Byakuya said expressionlessly, "You can start preparing.
This afternoon,
the two of you will go on a mission together."
"Yes!"
...
"This time, our mission is actually to deliver medicine to that person…"
Inside the Fire Country outpost of the Spirit Pavilion,
Karin spoke while glancing at Izumi.
She knew about the connection between Izumi and that Uchiha Itachi.
So she was very curious.
After learning about the mission from Byakuya, what kind of reaction Izumi would have.
"Yeah~
I didn't expect us to meet again this soon either."
Izumi turned her head toward Karin and gave a soft smile.
Her large eyes immediately curved into gentle crescent moons.
Extremely tender.
"But…
delivering medicine to him is actually pretty good.
The Holy Master's meaning is that he's already terminally ill.
Without this medicine,
he won't live another four years.
So… the Holy Master's intention aligns perfectly with what I want~
After all…
the longer Itachi lives,
the longer he can suffer."
"Uh…"
Karin looked at Izumi, who was still smiling so gently,
and suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
"This… this girl hasn't gone completely dark, has she!?"
"Pear Blossom.
Let's go."
"Uh…
O-Okay!"
The two women left the secret outpost and sped toward Konoha Village.
Although they didn't know where Itachi was,
they believed Byakuya's words—once they entered Konoha, they would be able to sense him!
And the facts proved it true.
They hadn't even entered the village yet
when they already sensed two strange figures.
One with an enormous amount of chakra, like a human-shaped tailed beast.
The other with chakra that was extremely cold… yet strangely pleasant.
It was precisely the Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame mentioned on the mission card!