Chapter 176: Three Years' Time
Three years had passed since the end of the Ninja World Tournament.
Order throughout the ninja world had gradually stabilized.
Under the leadership of the Hokage from Konoha, evils and monsters were swept away, the lands were pacified, and a new order was established.
With that individual's presence in Konoha, no matter how ambitious someone might be, they did not dare to show themselves.
---
Amegakure (the Land of Rain)
This country, which once seemed eternally drenched in sorrow, had also changed greatly in the past few years.
First, Senju Hashirama assisted them without compensation for a full year, extending the dense woodlands from the former Bird Country into the Rain Country. He then integrated the two terrains.
Considering who he was, Nagato simply couldn't match the mastery of Wood Style shown by that grandmaster.
At the same time, the Fire Shadow Village in the Wind Country did not lose out.
With the reanimated Orochimaru assigned as general manager, they implemented a plan to divert water from the Land of Rain westward to the Wind Country.
Deva Path Pain (Yahiko), leading the Six Paths of Pain, had blasted out an enormous river course by force.
Truth be told, seeing Rain's people living better with each passing day, Nagato—who now held the title of "Rain Kage"—was less eager for any "armed deterrence" plan.
He wasn't the most resolute person by nature; having witnessed Kagami's divine might, plus Jiraiya's guidance…perhaps his current peaceful life was not so bad.
---
"Not like this!"
"Nagato's gone soft!"
In a dimly lit underground chamber, Zetsu, Sasori, and Obito held a clandestine gathering.
"Even Kakuzu-san has forgotten our cause, actually bootlicking that old enemy Senju Hashirama for some tiny gains in the new canal project!" Sasori growled angrily.
He'd once admired Kakuzu's strong will. Now, a small cut of profits from the waterway was enough to make him abandon his old self—how shameful!
Obito glanced at the other two and spoke coldly.
"A few days ago, Nagato contacted me…"
"He wants to follow Jiraiya's advice and set the Tailed Beasts free."
…
"Absolutely not!" Black Zetsu hissed, voice sharp with rage.
"How naive. Fusing the Ten-Tails is our last card to play against Uchiha Kagami. If Nagato refuses to cooperate, we'll have to resort to backup methods!"
Obito gave a humorless smirk. "Like the curse seal Madara left in my heart?"
…
Zetsu fell silent for a moment. This couldn't remain secret forever, so he owned up boldly: "It was necessary. I hope you understand."
"No matter."
Obito's tone was flat. "Content with fleeting peace, Nagato still fails to grasp the reality of this world."
To Obito, it wasn't just about Rin.
It was that moment she lunged onto Kakashi's blade, utterly demolishing Obito's view of the world. Villages, ninjas…as long as such systems remained, tragedy was inevitable.
Even this apparent "peace" under the First Hokage's era was only sustained by a single overwhelmingly powerful figure, forcibly imposing calm. Yet plenty died in the Ninja World Tournament alone.
People could never truly understand one another.
That was the real despair to Obito—the world itself. Only the Infinite Tsukuyomi could save everyone.
…
Such was the Uchiha's nature: until they suffered a colossal defeat, they would never change their convictions.
Finally, Black Zetsu relaxed. As long as Obito remained steadfast, their plan endured.
He continued, "Not just the curse Madara left, but also the White Zetsu cells we implanted in Nagato. We can manipulate him if we must."
…
"He's had the Tailed Beasts—Two, Three, Four. Nagato holds Seven, Eight, plus the Kinkaku-Ginkaku Nine-Tails chakra… The crux remains his Rinnegan," Obito said, rising, voice turning grim.
"Our next meeting: we bring an end to Nagato."
"He's the one clinging to naive fantasies."
---
Atop the central tower of the Rain Country…
Yahiko, Nagato, Konan watched the sunset in silence.
Konan crouched down, knees to her chest like a little girl, her eyes shining with gentle tears.
Nagato, gazing at her back, could feel how she'd begun to move on from Yahiko's death, gradually placing hope in the Rain's future.
That was good…
He shifted his gaze to the Deva Path (Yahiko) by Konan's side, who stood there stiffly like a statue.
Only you, Yahiko, looked right standing by Konan.
Only you…could truly bring her happiness.
Quietly, Nagato slipped off his "Rain Kage" hat, shadow covering his face as he gave a faint smile.
He'd wait. Once everything was settled, once he convinced Obito and them to let go of hatred, he'd bring Yahiko back.
Rinne Tensei…
Maybe these eyes exist specifically so Yahiko can return. Perhaps he was the one truly meant to lead Rain, not Nagato.
If that was his fate, he accepted it willingly.
He'd have no regrets in death…
…
From up in the sky, though, there was a pair of White Eyes brimming with malicious intent.
They observed this land with boundless hatred.
---
Konoha Village, Uchiha Compound.
Training ground.
"Yo, Sasuke, you're still training all day, huh!" a voice called.
Three years had passed. With plenty of nourishment and top-grade medicinal resources, Naruto had grown notably tall for his age of around ten, looking more like a teenager of fourteen or fifteen. He paid extra attention to his hair, but training wore it out, leaving it spiky.
Seated on Naruto's shoulders was a toddler—perhaps two or three years old—a little girl with flowing crimson hair, big sky-blue eyes, and the porcelain cuteness of a living doll.
Namikaze Karin, the daughter of the Fourth Hokage.
"Yes, big brother Sasuke, hello." Little Karin blushed nervously, greeting him timidly.
Sasuke paused in wiping sweat from his face. He was shirtless, his torso covered in scars.
Not only was he doing rigorous daily training, but over the last three years, he had also joined squads eradicating monsters. He'd been in countless bloody struggles.
Naruto, who was already tall among his peers, found himself half a head shorter than Sasuke.
"Man, how'd a Uchiha get more buff than me?" Naruto muttered.
Sasuke calmly rewrapped bandages around his arm. "If it's not urgent, don't bother me."
Up close, Naruto could sense the terrifying power Sasuke's body contained.
After Naruto fully managed "Normal State: Four Gates," Kagami had trained him for a year, though Naruto often felt his teacher was partial to others. Being without Sharingan, he ended up relying more on his parents' special training instead.
Observing Sasuke's impressively muscled physique, Naruto poked at it. "Hard to believe you're only turning ten today."
"Ten?"
It'd been a long time since Sasuke paid attention to his own birthday.
"Yep. Mikoto-Auntie specifically invited us, said she's hosting a party for you. You didn't know?"
"Pointless."
"Naruto, it's because you care about that stuff you can't keep up with me."
"Your 'purity' is too low."
Naruto blinked blankly—he had no idea what Sasuke meant.
Sasuke finished tying his bandages. As he moved to resume training, Naruto spoke up again:
"Shisui-nii and the others are back, and Teacher Kagami might come, too."
Standing in place, Sasuke paused, fetching a shirt from his bag.
"Tch, troublesome…" he muttered.
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