"I am here for the Rinnegan."
As soon as those words left his mouth, the atmosphere turned icy cold.
Nagato instinctively took a step back, and Yahiko immediately stood in front of him, shielding him.
Zenkichi observed the scene with faint amusement. Yahiko truly cared for Nagato.
No wonder that after Yahiko's death, Nagato would go so far as to use his body to lead the Akatsuki and fulfill his dream.
Suddenly, Jiraiya appeared before Zenkichi and shouted in a low voice, "You're no match for him—leave now!"
Zenkichi smiled. "Jiraiya, at least you're self-aware."
"But if you're so self-aware, then you should understand... they can't escape."
"How much time can you even buy them? How far could they get in that time?"
"It's useless. No one escapes me. Relax—I never said I was here to kill anyone."
He casually pulled up a chair and sat down.
Jiraiya remained tense, staring at him. "What do you want?"
Zenkichi replied lazily, "For certain reasons, I need to take the Rinnegan."
"If you cooperate, we avoid unnecessary trouble."
"I'm only taking his eyes. I won't endanger his life."
"With how advanced medical ninjutsu is now, giving him a new pair isn't that difficult."
Yahiko stepped forward sternly. "Impossible! Nagato is a member of Akatsuki, and the Rinnegan is a divine gift to the Land of Rain."
Zenkichi waved his hand casually. "A divine gift to the Land of Rain? Don't be absurd."
"The Rinnegan is the eye of the Sage of Six Paths. Do you really think just anyone can wield it?"
"Nagato is merely an orphan from the Uzumaki clan. What qualifications does he have to awaken these eyes?"
"He's only holding onto them. I'm just here to reclaim them."
His tone was calm, relaxed, as if discussing the weather.
Yahiko was momentarily stunned. "What? You mean the Rinnegan isn't his? Are you joking? What proof do you have?"
Zenkichi shrugged. "No proof. And I don't need to provide any. Even if I had it, I wouldn't bother showing it to you."
"I'm only telling you this because I'm in a good mood. That doesn't mean you're in any position to question me."
"Naive, young Yahiko... so naive."
Yahiko's face flushed with anger as he glared at him.
Zenkichi spoke slowly. "What's wrong? Angry? You really are naive."
"You actually think creating Akatsuki will stop the wars in this world?"
"Do you know how wars even begin? Do you really believe your hope for peace will touch the hearts of the village leaders?"
"Don't be foolish."
"Only when someone strong calls for peace will others listen. When the weak call for it, they get laughed at."
"Hashirama Senju was as naive as you. But he had the power to suppress the entire ninja world."
"That's why people respected his ideals. But you… you don't have his strength."
"Jiraiya, can't you see it? Akatsuki's goals are nothing more than an idealistic farce."
He glanced lazily at Jiraiya with a mocking smirk.
Jiraiya clenched his fists. "That has nothing to do with you! Someone like you—cold-blooded and heartless—could never understand dreams!"
Zenkichi scoffed. "Dreams? You mean fantasies in daylight? Spare me. I'm not here to argue philosophy."
"Hand over the Rinnegan and no one gets hurt. Jiraiya can vouch for that. I really am a kind person."
"Konoha once plotted to kill me with every trick in the book."
"But when I saw through it and defeated them… I spared them."
He said it as if it were a casual anecdote, eyes lazily shifting back to Jiraiya.
Jiraiya gritted his teeth. "No. No matter what, we can't give you the Rinnegan."
Zenkichi tilted his head slightly. "Really? So that's your stance? Jiraiya, do you value the Rinnegan more than their lives?"
Jiraiya's face tensed. "That's not what I said! Don't twist my words!"
Zenkichi smirked. "You didn't have to say it. Your actions already spoke loud and clear."
"You knew rejecting me would cost lives, yet you did it anyway."
"Do you have plans for the Rinnegan? What exactly do you intend to do with it?"
Yahiko's face flickered with hesitation. He wanted to object, but the words caught in his throat.
If refusal meant death, then what right did he have to speak on Nagato's behalf?
After all, the Rinnegan belonged to Nagato. Yahiko wasn't the one to decide its fate.
He turned to Nagato and said quietly, "Nagato, it's your call."
Nagato hesitated, then murmured, "If... if giving up these eyes means everyone will live, then—"
"No!" Jiraiya interrupted. "Nagato, you can't give him the Rinnegan!"
"You don't understand its importance. You don't understand your mission."
"You're the child of prophecy—the one who will change the world. The ninja world is waiting for you."
"Yahiko, Nagato, Konan... Why did you create Akatsuki?"
"And now, when it truly matters—when your lives are on the line—you'd just back down?"
"Don't give up!"
Jiraiya roared and charged toward Zenkichi without hesitation.
In his hand was a sealing talisman—an instant-cast technique—and he slammed it forward without warning.
"Jiraiya, you've chosen the wrong path."
Zenkichi shook his head, raised his hand, and fired a golden laser from one finger. The beam pierced the talisman mid-air, shattering the seal technique instantly.
"Now that you've made your decision... let me respond in kind."
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