[Rating: A]
[Permission increased, shinobi world gifts increased to three options.]
[Received shinobi world gifts: Chakra (small amount), Natural Energy Affinity (tiny amount), A-Rank ninjutsu (random)]
[Please select one.]
[Achieved A-Rank rating, may forgo shinobi world gifts for a random reward.]
The voice of the Lamp slowly echoed in Uchiha Shinji's ears.
After hearing it, he pondered, "Is it an A-Rank evaluation again?"
This time, his speed in eradicating the demons was already very fast, but the majority of the casualties in the town occurred before he arrived.
So he suspected that, under normal circumstances, the highest rating might just be A-Rank.
As for a higher rating...
He thought it might only be possible if he intercepted the demons before they invaded the shinobi world, wiping them out the moment they crossed over, or if he defeated a more powerful and formidable invader.
Next, he considered the three shinobi world gift options.
He immediately ruled out Chakra; he didn't need ordinary chakra right now. What he lacked was high-quality Yin Release Chakra, which he couldn't refine on his own.
He also set aside the random A-Rank ninjutsu for now. His current Mangekyo Sharingan dojutsu were sufficient for most situations; what he truly needed was a deeper development of his own dojutsu.
Of the three options, the only one that intrigued him was Natural Energy Affinity.
This natural energy affinity should help mitigate the natural energy's erosion on my body, increasing my chances of mastering Sage Mode.
In the shinobi world, successfully mastering Sage Mode was predictable to some extent.
Essentially, the stronger your body's endurance, and the more chakra you have to dilute the invading natural energy, the higher your chances of mastering Sage Mode.
Take Hashirama Senju and Naruto Uzumaki as examples.
So, the shinobi world gift of Natural Energy Affinity was indeed tempting to Uchiha Shinji.
However, after carefully weighing his options, he ultimately decided to forgo the shinobi world gifts and opt for the random reward.
He believed that raising his permissions level was the most fundamental goal. The higher his permissions, the more abundant future rewards would be.
If he focused too much on short-term gains and neglected long-term planning, when he eventually faced that mysterious Lampbearer, he might find himself at a significant disadvantage due to insufficient permissions!
So, he made his decision: "I choose to forgo the shinobi world gifts!"
[Generating random reward]
[Received 25 merit points]
[Total merit points being calculated]
[Total merit points: 46]
"I didn't expect to draw 25 merit points this time. It seems the amount of merit points from random rewards isn't fixed…"
He mentally calculated the outcome.
This time, his random reward yielded 25 merit points. Combined with the 5 points from the A-Rank rating, he had effectively earned 30 merit points in one go.
At this rate, one or two more similar encounters, and he'd be able to raise his permissions level again.
At this moment, Haku and Karin had already extinguished the deliberately set fires, leaving behind a scene where the townspeople, having barely fought off a massive fire, were all passed out from the smoke, just as Uchiha Shinji had orchestrated.
Uchiha Shinji scanned the area to ensure everything was in order before preparing to leave.
Just then, Karin suddenly said, "Leader, I…"
Seeing her hesitate, Uchiha Shinji asked, "What's wrong?"
Karin pointed to a distant forest, "In that direction, there seems to be a very faint chakra presence. I'm not sure if it's a demon."
"What!?"
Uchiha Shinji frowned and looked in the direction she indicated.
It was a dense forest. Even with his Mangekyo Sharingan, he could only see layers upon layers of trees.
Haku also grew cautious and asked, "Karin, can you be certain?"
Karin shook her head, "I can't be sure. That chakra flickers on and off, it feels somewhat like a demon but also not."
"Let's check it out!"
With a leap, Uchiha Shinji darted toward the direction Karin pointed.
He didn't assume that just because the Lamp had issued the reward, all the demons had been eliminated.
This involved other Lampbearers, and given his current low permissions level, his Lamp could be interfered with by others.
For this very reason, when selecting subordinates, he had chosen Karin, who possessed the Kagura Mind's Eye.
In his view, the Lamp and Karin's sensory abilities needed to complement each other; neither was inherently more reliable than the other.
Before long, the three of them had ventured deep into the forest.
Following Karin's ongoing sensory feedback, they adjusted their direction several times and eventually arrived at an old, dilapidated temple.
As Uchiha Shinji studied the temple, he asked, "Is it inside?"
Karin frowned, as if unable to make a clear judgment at the moment.
From the other side of the temple, Haku returned swiftly, reporting, "Master, there's candlelight inside!"
"Stay behind me."
Uchiha Shinji ordered before stepping into the temple.
As soon as he entered the main hall, he suddenly stopped, his expression shifting unpredictably.
Haku and Karin, following closely behind, were confused and also halted instinctively. They then looked toward the figure sitting cross-legged in the center of the hall.
In the center of the hall sat a blond-haired boy with a ponytail tied up high.
The boy also noticed the three newcomers and scrutinized them, saying, "Hey, who are you guys, dressed like wandering shinobi? Hm?"
Uchiha Shinji was stunned.
He recognized the blond-haired boy as none other than Deidara, the rebellious prodigy and favored disciple of the Third Tsuchikage of the Hidden Stone Village.
What surprised him was encountering Deidara in a place like this, at such a time.
He hasn't joined Akatsuki yet.
Looking at the familiar temple and the lone Deidara inside, Uchiha Shinji suddenly understood.
Clearly, Deidara had not yet been recruited by the Akatsuki, though by the timeline, it wouldn't be long.
After all, Uchiha Itachi, after joining Akatsuki, had a few notable tasks: assassinating the Fourth Mizukage, driving Orochimaru out of the organization, and recruiting Deidara for Akatsuki.
Recalling how, in the original timeline, Itachi recruited Deidara inside a temple, Uchiha Shinji guessed that Itachi might already be en route to recruit Deidara, perhaps even within the next couple of days.
After all, Deidara wouldn't likely stay in an abandoned temple for too long.
"Hey, I'm talking to you! What are you doing here in the middle of the night, wearing masks? Don't tell me the old man sent you to drag me back, huh?"
Deidara smirked, seeming to find some amusement as he reached for the clay pouches at his waist.
"What should we do?"
Uchiha Shinji inwardly groaned.
The three of them, dressed like members of Akatsuki, had already been seen by Deidara. Even if they fled now, once Deidara joined Akatsuki, he would know someone had been impersonating the group.
At that point, Akatsuki would surely hunt them down across the entire shinobi world.
And then Uchiha Shinji's plan of using Akatsuki as a cover would fall apart.
At that moment, Deidara pulled out two lumps of explosive clay from his pouch, saying, "I just had an idea. Let me show you my art! Hm!"
Knowing there was no way to avoid a confrontation, Uchiha Shinji stepped forward, steeling himself, and said calmly, "Deidara, I'm here to invite you to join us."
Deidara frowned, "Who are you?"
"Akatsuki."