After returning to the village, Shinji first used 'Jikibi' to contact Yakumo. That evening, he stealthily infiltrated the Kurama clan's main residence and entered Yakumo's room.
Yakumo, who had been waiting for some time, hurriedly greeted him. "Leader!"
"Mm," Shinji nodded and stepped into Yakumo's bedroom.
"Leader, the Dark Akatsuki attacked and captured Hidden Rock's two Jinchūriki. I accompanied the village's shinobi army to provide support and clashed with the Dark Akatsuki several times. Because I feared exposing my identity, I couldn't rescue Hidden Rock's Jinchūriki. Please punish me!"
Yakumo reported the details of Hidden Leaf's mission to aid Hidden Rock with a look of apology.
Shinji said, "This isn't your fault."
Yakumo quickly asked, "Leader, when will we begin our counterattack? To take back the Four-Tails and Five-Tails from the Dark Akatsuki?"
"No plans for now," Shinji shook his head.
He had considered seizing the Tailed Beasts but, after careful deliberation, decided it wasn't worth stirring up trouble.
First, the 'Ten-Tails' husk, the 'Gedō Statue,' was in Nagato's possession.
Second, seizing the Tailed Beasts would inevitably lead to conflict with the five great shinobi villages.
Thus, instead of competing with both the five great villages for the nine Tailed Beasts and the Akatsuki for the 'Gedō Statue,' it was better to sit back and let the Akatsuki take on the thankless task.
Shinji's response left Yakumo confused. "Leader, are we just going to watch the Dark Akatsuki collect the Tailed Beasts?"
After a moment's hesitation, Shinji laid his cards on the table. "Yes."
Yakumo's face was filled with bewilderment. "Why?!"
Shinji looked directly into Yakumo's eyes. "Before I tell you the reason, I have a question: Are you willing to become my attendant and remain loyal to me forever?"
Yakumo didn't answer immediately. She thought it over carefully before saying, "Everything I have now was granted by you. Without you, I'd be nothing but a cripple who couldn't even become a shinobi. So, I'm willing to become your attendant and pledge my loyalty to you!"
"Good!" Shinji nodded lightly.
Immediately, he activated the authority of the 'Lamp,' designating Yakumo as his 'attendant.'
After officially becoming the 'Lampbearer,' his quota for 'attendants' had increased from two to four.
In other words, besides Haku and Karin, he could recruit two more attendants who would be protected by his 'Lamp,' immune to contamination.
Since the contamination from the Demon Slayer world to the shinobi world could no longer be contained, Shinji had held off on using these two slots. Now, as he was about to reveal information about the Hegemon to Yakumo, he had to first make her an 'attendant.' Otherwise, the moment Yakumo learned about the Hegemon, she would be contaminated by it.
As for the final 'attendant' slot, Shinji hadn't decided who to give it to.
It could be Shion, Neji, or even Sasuke. Whoever among the three achieved a breakthrough in strength first would likely become his final 'attendant.'
After confirming that Yakumo was now protected by his 'Lamp,' Shinji slowly said, "Do you remember the red lights hidden in the clouds in the Demon Slayer world?"
Yakumo didn't understand why her leader suddenly brought this up but nodded. "Yes, I remember them vividly. Those red lights gave me an unsettling feeling. Even Ido didn't dare look directly at them."
Shinji said gravely, "That was the power leaking out when the Hegemon was devouring the world's barrier!"
"The Hegemon?! Devouring the world's barrier? The Demon Slayer world's barrier?" Yakumo was stunned, then realized, "The world's end spoken of in the Demon Slayer world—was that it?"
She had always thought the prophesied end of the Demon Slayer world stemmed from the Demon King, Ryūhei Ubuyashiki.
Even after defeating Ryūhei Ubuyashiki, the Demon Slayer world remained in a state of oppressive collapse, leaving her vaguely uneasy.
Only now, hearing Shinji's explanation, did she understand that the true source of the Demon Slayer world's end was something called the 'Hegemon.'
Shinji nodded slowly. "Yes, the Demon Slayer world's invasion of our shinobi world was because the Hegemon had set its sights on them, and they wanted us to be their scapegoat!"
Yakumo processed this for a moment before asking, "Lord, what exactly is the Hegemon?"
Shinji shook his head. "I don't know what it is, what it looks like, or what abilities it has. All I know is that it feeds on worlds, chasing one after another across the universe. Every world it targets has only one fate: to become food in its belly!"
Yakumo was so shocked she couldn't speak.
Shinji continued, "It's currently devouring the Demon Slayer world. Because of the contamination from the Demon Slayer world to our shinobi world, the Hegemon has also caught sight of us, making our world its next target."
Yakumo asked, confused, "Contamination?"
"Everything from another world, even information, can be considered contamination in our shinobi world. This contamination causes the two worlds to draw closer. When it reaches a certain level, the two worlds overlap in space-time—literally colliding and destroying each other!"
"The Demon Slayer world's frequent invasions of our shinobi world accelerated this contamination, bringing our worlds too close. Now that the Demon Slayer world is being devoured by the Hegemon, we no longer need to worry about a collision. But because the worlds are so close, the Hegemon devouring the Demon Slayer world can follow the contamination to find our shinobi world."
"Any information about the Hegemon is also a form of contamination, speeding up its ability to sense our world. Only by becoming my attendant can you be shielded from this contamination. That's why I had to make you my attendant before I could tell you everything!"
Shinji explained what 'contamination' was, its consequences, and how to shield against it, pouring all the information into Yakumo.
Yakumo struggled to process this unsettling information, her face darkening.
After a long pause, she said, "I understand why you're not taking action. You want to use the 'Ten-Tails' to confront the Hegemon?"
Shinji nodded lightly.
With everything laid out so clearly, it was natural for Yakumo to reach this conclusion.
Yakumo continued, "Does the Dark Akatsuki know about this? What's their relationship with us?"
Shinji replied, "They don't know about the Hegemon. We're not with them! Their goal is to dominate the shinobi world, using their own methods to bring some form of peace. Our goal is simple: to ensure the shinobi world survives!"