Haku and Karin also noticed the glowing orbs floating around Uchiha Shinji, their faces full of wonder.
Uchiha Shinji, however, was deep in thought.
The Dream Construct was undoubtedly Enmu's ability, and since dreams belong to the spiritual domain, it fit perfectly with his Mangekyo Sharingan.
Due to the lack of guidance, genjutsu had always been his weak point.
But with Dream Construct, it might compensate for this flaw. So without much hesitation, he decided to claim this reward for himself.
The real dilemma, though, was the Small Drum and Extreme Speed.
The Small Drum was a physical item, and if he carried it around, his identity would be exposed. So this item could only be given to either Haku or Karin.
The same went for Extreme Speed.
If he accepted it, he could only use it when dealing with invasions. If he used it in his day-to-day life at the Hidden Leaf's shinobi academy, Haku and Karin might recognize it.
"The Small Drum can only be used inside buildings, so its potential is limited. But it can be a lifesaving tool in critical moments. Giving it to Karin would provide her with extra protection. As for Extreme Speed, I'll give it to Haku. He's already skilled in taijutsu, and this will only make him stronger."
After deciding, Uchiha Shinji first absorbed the Dream Construct orb himself, then he turned to Haku and Karin, instructing, "Each of you takes one. Haku, take the one on the left. Karin, the one on the right."
Following his command, Haku mimicked Uchiha Shinji, reaching out to the glowing orb. He froze for a moment, then a look of joy appeared on his face.
Karin also reached for the orb and found that it turned into a palm-sized drum in her hands.
"Huh? Isn't this the same drum that was on that demon? Wait, it's a little smaller."
She recognized that this drum was very similar to the ones that had been on Enmu earlier, though it was a bit smaller.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Shinji had finished absorbing the memory fragments from Dream Construct and couldn't help but smile.
Just as he had hoped, the experience Enmu had with constructing dreams filled in the gaps in his understanding of genjutsu.
Although improving his genjutsu wouldn't happen overnight, it would require constant practice and experimentation.
At the very least, he wouldn't be groping in the dark anymore, relying solely on guesses and speculation.
After regaining his composure, Uchiha Shinji looked at Haku and Karin.
Seeing the joy on their faces, he knew they had already grasped the effects of the rewards. He then spoke seriously, "Now, I need to tell you both a principle you must remember!"
"Please, go ahead!"
Hearing the seriousness in Uchiha Shinji's voice, Haku and Karin immediately straightened up, their expressions becoming serious.
Uchiha Shinji said slowly, "Remember, anything related to demons—including objects, information, or even memories in people's minds—is contamination to the shinobi world!"
"What!?"
Haku and Karin were stunned. Karin almost dropped the drum in her hands.
Uchiha Shinji didn't comfort them but instead spoke even more sternly, "That's why any information regarding demons must not be leaked. Any spoils we acquire from them must be used by us alone—never to be shared or spread!"
Karin couldn't help but ask, "What happens if it gets out accidentally?"
Uchiha Shinji glanced at Karin, answering, "Once it leaks, those foreign objects and information will act as a chain, anchoring the shinobi world to the demons' world. It will spread like a contamination, ultimately pulling two unrelated worlds together!"
Karin swallowed nervously, "A-And then?"
"Then, both worlds will face destruction!"
After revealing all of this, Uchiha Shinji felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
Karin, however, was confused, "But if that's the case, why are the demons invading our world? Won't their world be destroyed too?"
Haku seemed to grasp something, saying, "That's why you used genjutsu on that demon earlier, right?"
Uchiha Shinji nodded slightly, "To be honest, I still don't know why the demons are invading the shinobi world."
Both Haku and Karin felt a deeper sense of foreboding.
Uchiha Shinji saw their expressions and thought to himself, "As expected, pressure never disappears, it only transfers."
Reflecting on the Extreme Speed he had just acquired, Haku asked worriedly, "Master, will the information in our minds pose a threat to the shinobi world?"
Karin also looked nervously at Uchiha Shinji.
Uchiha Shinji shook his head, "Don't worry, we are the exceptions! We can block this contamination, but that protection only applies to us. If your spoils are leaked, the contamination will spread."
Karin gripped the drum tightly.
Uchiha Shinji looked at her and said, "You'd better keep that drum on you at all times."
"Yes!" Karin quickly nodded.
She had actually grown fond of the small drum that could manipulate space. She just hadn't realized the drum carried such great risk.
Fortunately, the drum was small, unassuming in appearance, and emitted no chakra. Carrying it around shouldn't attract any attention.
"Alright, remember what I just told you! Memories of demons are also a form of contamination, so now we'll split up and gather all the survivors in the town."
Uchiha Shinji gave his orders.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Haku and Karin didn't object and quickly set off to carry out Uchiha Shinji's instructions.
The town wasn't large, and after being ravaged by six demons, only a little over a hundred survivors remained.
Fortunately, all of them were still trapped in Enmu's dream. It didn't take long for Uchiha Shinji and his team to gather them all in one place.
Looking at the more than a hundred survivors lying across the street, Haku asked in a trembling voice, "Leader, what do we do with these survivors?"
Karin turned her head away, unable to bear the sight.
If memories were contamination, the only solution seemed to be eliminating all the survivors who had memories of the demons.
Seeing that Haku and Karin had misunderstood, Uchiha Shinji said calmly, "You've misunderstood. If the demons can leave memories in their minds, I can take those memories away!"
With that, he activated his Mangekyo Sharingan.
In an instant.
Uchiha Shinji entered the dreams of all the survivors and used his Mangekyo Sharingan's genjutsu to seal away any memories of the demons in their spiritual bodies. He then implanted a false memory of a fire that had swept through the town that night.
After exiting their dreams, he covered his eyes, breathing heavily.
Sealing the memories of over a hundred people, then using genjutsu to implant false ones, had been an immense strain, even for his Mangekyo Sharingan.
But to Uchiha Shinji, it was worth it to spare himself the moral burden of slaughtering over a hundred innocent people!
Haku and Karin noticed Uchiha Shinji's fatigue and asked worriedly, "Leader, are you alright?"
If before they had felt fear or resentment toward their leader for forcing them into a mysterious organization, now those feelings had turned into reliance and trust.
Uchiha Shinji waved his hand, "Prepare to finish up!"
Pointing to several areas, Uchiha Shinji instructed Haku and Karin to set fires, creating a scene that matched the false memories he had implanted about the fire.
With so many people having died at the hands of demons, there had to be a plausible explanation for Uchiha Shinji's genjutsu to hold.
A fire was the perfect cover!
Haku and Karin quickly got to work.
Before long, the once dark town was engulfed in towering flames.
[Calculating rewards]
[Rating: A]
Once again, the voice of the Lamp rang in Uchiha Shinji's ears.