Nagato exclaimed, "Young Clan Chief, are you saying you'll only help if we hand over leadership of the Akatsuki after this is over?"
Yahiko remained silent, but under the dim light, his eyes shimmered with a complex expression, making it hard to guess what he was thinking.
You have to understand—at this moment, Yahiko was the current leader of the Akatsuki!
Hayate had made his conditions crystal clear: If they wanted his help rescuing Konan, then the Akatsuki must be handed over to him once it was done.
Wasn't that basically seizing Yahiko's authority in broad daylight?
"Young Clan Chief, isn't that… a bit too much?" Nagato's face showed clear discomfort.
Truth be told, Shippu was also quite uneasy about doing this. After all, his system task was simply to rescue Konan—yet now he was adding extra conditions of his own. If the system decided to punish him for it…
But apparently, his concern was unnecessary—no punishment came.
Looks like the system was rather rigid, only capable of issuing fixed choices.
Relaxing a little, Shippu turned to Nagato and said sharply, "Why beat around the bush? If you think I'm being shameless, say it. You think I'm just taking advantage of the situation?"
Nagato couldn't meet his eyes and instinctively avoided Shippu's intense gaze.
"But did you forget where this is!?" Shippu suddenly barked.
Nagato glanced around and was suddenly struck by realization—this was the forbidden land of the Uzumaki Clan, a secret place known to almost no one. This was where the Young Clan Chief had been sealed.
And now, with the Uzumaki Clan annihilated…
Didn't this mean the Young Clan Chief had been sealed here to avoid the clan's destruction and await a chance for revenge? But now, he and Yahiko had broken the seal—wasn't that a disaster?
Realizing the weight of his actions, Nagato panicked and blurted out, "I'm sorry, Young Clan Chief! I—"
"As a survivor of a destroyed clan, and you don't even know your responsibility? You're a disgrace." Shippu turned his gaze to Yahiko. "Right now, this is an opportunity! We can use the Akatsuki to revive the Uzumaki Clan!"
Nagato stood torn between family and friendship—between the legacy of his bloodline and his sworn brotherhood with Yahiko.
Yahiko took a deep breath and said, "Nagato, don't be troubled. After losing my parents, you and Konan became my only family. If we can rescue Konan, I'm willing to hand over the Akatsuki."
Nagato looked at Yahiko in shock.
"But," Yahiko continued, "The Akatsuki was founded to bring peace—not more bloodshed. If the Young Clan Chief intends to turn it into a mercenary group, destroying the major nations' economies and starting wars to conquer the world, then I absolutely will not hand over leadership!"
Shippu was taken aback—that was exactly the path Nagato would take in the future as the leader of Akatsuki!
His eyes narrowed into a sharp glint as he locked eyes with Yahiko. The air between them suddenly grew heavy and tense.
Just as Nagato stood frozen, unsure what to do, Shippu suddenly laughed.
"You dream big," he said mockingly. "Peace? Your dear Konan is about to die, and you're talking about peace? Even if you really did bring peace to the ninja world someday—what meaning would it have without Nagato and Konan?"
Yahiko frowned, his lips moved, but no rebuttal came.
"And besides," Shippu pressed on, "Konan being captured by Hanzō the Salamander already exposed major flaws in your organization. You, Yahiko, as its leader—must take responsibility!"
"I—am more suited to lead Akatsuki than you!"
Yahiko's frown deepened. "You?"
"Yes—me," Shippu answered firmly, without a hint of hesitation. "We'll settle this with a wager, based on this rescue mission for Konan!"
"If I win, you, Nagato, Konan—and the entire Akatsuki—will all be mine."
"If I lose, I'll join your organization and let you command me. You could even use my name to recruit the remaining survivors of the Uzumaki Clan." He pointed at Nagato's eyes. "And—I'll teach Nagato how to use the Rinnegan."
Nagato stared wide-eyed at Shippu. This was the very issue that had been troubling him—why he had left the Uzumaki ruins in the first place to find a way to use the Rinnegan.
He turned his gaze to Yahiko, waiting for a response.
What Nagato didn't know was that the Rinnegan wasn't an Uzumaki secret technique—it had been implanted into him by Uchiha Madara when he was very young.
After a brief silence, Yahiko thought it through and nodded—he accepted the gamble.
Three figures darted swiftly through the rain-soaked night.
Tap!
They stopped atop a rain-drenched tree trunk. Ahead, just within sight, lay a Gothic-style town—the Rain Village (Amegakure).
"We're here. You two go rescue Konan your own way. I've got another plan."
As soon as he spoke, Shippu's figure flickered and vanished into the rain.
"Yahiko, what do we do?" Nagato asked, looking to Yahiko for direction.
Yahiko looked toward Amegakure and said solemnly, "No matter what—even if I die—Konan must not be harmed."
With a sweep of his arm, he led Nagato into the heart of the Rain Village.
At that moment, Shippu closed his eyes and activated his sensory ability.
"Kagura Shingan!" (Kagura's Mind Eye)
Instantly, every movement within a several-kilometer radius appeared in Hayate's awareness with precise clarity.
"In the daimyo's mansion up ahead, there are twelve elite ninja. Three guard posts are positioned around the perimeter." Opening his eyes, he calmly reported the intel.
The situation… looked troublesome.
He already knew the coming events: Hanzō the Salamander would use Konan's life to force Nagato to kill Yahiko. In the end, Yahiko would choose to die, triggering Nagato's awakening of the Rinnegan and repelling Hanzō in a rage.
But to take control of Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan—and claim the Akatsuki—this battle had to be won! The tragedy had to be prevented.
"The key to flipping this situation is… Hanzō's greed for power." Shippu's eyes narrowed, and a plan formed in his mind.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a shuriken glinting with cold steel sliced through the air.
His hiding spot—was exposed!