In the shinobi world, beyond the well-known Byakugan and Sharingan, there exist some unique and mysterious dōjutsu—special eyes that occasionally appear.
Danzo's initial lack of interest in these unusual dōjutsu stemmed from the fact that most of them were individual phenomena, unable to be passed down like the Byakugan or Sharingan.
But as he listened to Hanzo's subordinates describe the eyes in question, Danzo grew increasingly intrigued.
Until it hit him—those weren't just any strange eyes; they matched the description of the legendary Sage's Eyes.
Thud!
The realization made Danzo's heart skip two heavy beats, the intensity unlike anything he had felt before.
The Sage's Eyes… Wouldn't they be even more enticing than the Byakugan or Sharingan?
In an instant, Danzo's greed ignited.
If he could extract those eyes and implant them into himself, then…
A glint of avarice flashed in Danzo's solitary eye.
Hanzo immediately noticed something was off with his ally.
"Danzo, set aside those petty thoughts. Those eyes don't belong to you."
"And they don't belong to you either," Danzo retorted coldly.
Hanzo's hand gripped the handle of his scythe, while Danzo instinctively raised his guard, prepared for Hanzo to suddenly strike.
Danzo was well acquainted with Hanzo's ruthlessness—he had once pursued Danzo across miles, nearly ending his life. If not for his loyal subordinates sacrificing themselves to buy time, Danzo would have perished long ago.
Knowing Hanzo's dangerous nature, Danzo was always on alert.
Realizing that there was no way to keep the secret of the Sage's Eyes from Hanzo, and unwilling to risk a direct confrontation, Danzo spoke slowly:
"Hanzo, you must have already guessed. Those strange eyes are undoubtedly the legendary Sage's Eyes. But aren't you curious how a brat from the Uzumaki Clan came to possess them?"
Hanzo didn't release his grip on his scythe.
Danzo continued:
"If this information has reached us, then spies from other villages have likely uncovered it as well. It's safe to assume that the Five Great Shinobi Villages are already aware of the Sage's Eyes.
Once they take an interest, the Land of Rain will undoubtedly become a battleground once more."
"Damn it!"
Hanzo's expression darkened as he cursed under his breath.
He didn't need Danzo to spell out the implications—he could see the writing on the wall.
The Sage's Eyes… Who wouldn't be interested?
Hanzo desired them. Danzo desired them. And the Five Great Shinobi Villages would certainly stop at nothing to seize them.
"We need to join forces and secure the person with the Sage's Eyes before anyone else does."
Weighing the pros and cons, Hanzo decided to compromise and propose a temporary alliance with Danzo. Together, they would capture Nagato.
Then they could deal with the other villages.
If Hanzo could claim the power of the Sage's Eyes, why would he fear the Five Great Shinobi Villages?
"..."
After a moment of silence, Danzo nodded slowly. "Agreed."
Only by working together could they hope to take control of the Sage's Eyes.
If they turned on each other now, the arrival of other villages would all but eliminate their chances.
Meanwhile, Nagato returned to the temporary Akatsuki base, confident the information had spread.
"Sensei, the members of the organization have spread the message. It's likely that spies from the various villages have already picked it up."
"Good."
Takuya patted Nagato on the shoulder, reassuring him:
"Now I can confirm that someone has tampered with your heart. For now, I can't remove it, but trust me—I'll keep you safe. Return to the Akatsuki's current base for now."
"Yes."
Nagato had no doubt about Takuya's words. If Takuya promised to protect him, he believed it would happen.
"Nagato."
As Nagato reached the doorway, Takuya suddenly called out:
"Once this is over, you may lose those eyes for good. I'll try to arrange for you to have a pair of ordinary eyes instead."
Implanting ordinary eyes was well within Tsunade's abilities. While she avoided experiments and taboo research, it didn't mean she lacked the expertise. She simply chose not to tread that path, unlike Orochimaru, who seemed drawn to anything forbidden.
Nagato paused for a moment. His usually stoic face softened with a faint smile:
"Sensei, I'd be more than content with a pair of eyes that are truly mine."
He brushed his hair aside, revealing his Rinnegan.
"These eyes have been nothing but a nightmare for me. I never wanted them in the first place."
He wasn't lying.
In the original timeline, Nagato had hoped to use the Rinnegan to protect Yahiko, Konan, and the Akatsuki, fulfilling the dreams they had shared.
But now, Nagato longed for a pair of his own eyes, even if they were ordinary.
All he wanted was to see the light, to see his friends, and to live a simple life with them.
It was a straightforward and honest wish.
"It'll happen."
Takuya chuckled, shaking his head.
"When that time comes, you three can settle in Konoha—if you're still willing to call me 'sensei.'"
"That's been our dream all along. Yahiko and Konan would be thrilled."
Nagato couldn't help but smile.
It was rare for him to show such joy, but at this moment, he couldn't hold back.
After all, Takuya had finally accepted them—not just as allies but as family.
"Sensei, I'll head back now."
Waving goodbye, Nagato left confidently.
Takuya noticed that the once-downtrodden boy now stood tall, shoulders back, ready to start a new chapter of his life.
Nagato's change in demeanor was a good sign. He had finally begun to leave his past behind and was looking forward to a brighter future.
"Yahiko and Nagato want acceptance, but Konan…"
Takuya sighed, unsure of how to handle Konan.
Her feelings for him clearly extended beyond a mere teacher-student relationship. It was evident she wanted more.
Later, Takuya informed Tsunade:
"Let's release some of the intelligence to Kirigakure and Sunagakure. Since they're public allies, sharing a bit of information seems reasonable."
Meanwhile, as Ay and his team left the Land of Fire and approached the Land of Iron, they were halted by a message from the Third Raikage.
"Father."
When the Third Raikage arrived, Ay briefed him on everything that had transpired in Konoha. The Raikage listened intently.
"Konoha's intelligence may not be entirely accurate, but it holds enough value to justify the cost. This kid's bond with the Eight-Tails seems promising."
Compared to other villages, Kumogakure treated its Jinchūriki better, especially Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki.
"The delegation will return to the village. The rest of you, follow me."
The Third Raikage wasted no words. He ordered the diplomatic representatives to return while the combat team accompanied him to the Land of Rain.
On the way, he shared newly gathered intelligence:
"There's a group in the Land of Rain called the Akatsuki. One of their three leaders possesses the legendary Sage's Eyes."
"I need to investigate this matter personally."
The Sage's Eyes?!
What on earth was happening in the Land of Rain?
Even such a mythical power had emerged there.
One of the Akatsuki's leaders?
Could it be the red-haired boy who always kept his face obscured by his hair?
___________________________
(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read up to 50+ Chapter at Patreon com/ Emik01.
DO NOT FORGET POWER STONE AND CHATTING