"Nagato..."
Looking at the skinny disciple filled with hatred in his eyes, Jiraiya sighed deeply. Then, he stepped in front of Nagato. "I don't know what happened, why Yahiko died, or why you turned into this. But... I can tell you clearly that everything you're doing now is wrong!"
"Then what do you say is right? What exactly is right?!" Nagato said angrily.
"I don't know what's right, but more important than finding the right way is the power of believing."
Jiraiya seemed to be remembering. "That's what you told me back then, right? Nagato. Have you forgotten?"
Nagato's expression faltered as memories buried deep in his mind resurfaced.
That was a rainy day filled with confusion.
He had found Jiraiya, who was eating noodles, and told him about his confusion about how to bring peace to the world. At that time, he hadn't figured it out, nor had he found a real way to bring peace to the world.
But he believed that this way existed in the world!
Even if this world was cursed with wars that could never be stopped, he would break that curse!
"If there is anything in this world that can bring peace, I will grab it tightly! Nagato, from the moment you said those words, I have always believed that you are the child of fate. I believe that you are the one who can bring change to the ninja world and bring peace to this world."
Naruto: "??"
Do you say that to every disciple?
Jiraiya didn't notice Naruto's strange look and continued watching Nagato, saying, "So I really want to know, where did the Nagato who said those words go? What... what happened?"
This was the second time Jiraiya had asked this question. This time, Nagato didn't refuse Jiraiya, but he didn't answer immediately either.
Nagato was silent for a long time, seemingly remembering, hesitating...
During this time, Konan watched Nagato silently from the side.
Compared to Nagato, she, as a woman, was much more emotional and hadn't completely forgotten her feelings for Jiraiya.
But she wouldn't give Nagato any advice. No matter what decision Nagato made, she would support him unconditionally!
"Since you really want to know, then I'll tell you..."
After the two dawdled for so long, Nagato finally told Jiraiya what had happened after he left.
Yahiko, in order to bring peace to the ninja world, had led them in creating the Akatsuki.
Later, as their influence in Amegakure Village expanded, Hanzō of the Salamander feared they would replace his position. So, he allied with Danzo of Konoha to ambush them under the pretense of peaceful talks, kidnapped Konan, and threatened Nagato with Konan's life, forcing him to kill Yahiko!
After listening to Nagato finish, the expression on Jiraiya's face changed constantly, from anger, to sadness, to regret, finally turning into silence.
"That's how it is, Teacher Jiraiya. Knowing this, what would you do? If your most precious comrade was killed with such a ridiculous excuse, what... would you do?"
Faced with Nagato's question, Jiraiya didn't know how to answer.
He had experienced comrades dying before his eyes. He had avenged some of them, but he had done nothing for others.
Just like Hanzō of the Salamander had killed many Konoha ninjas, but they could still only choose to survive.
"I would kill him!"
Naruto suddenly interjected. "Jiraiya, do you need to hesitate about this? If you've been too relaxed for too long and don't know who to compare it to, then think about Tsunade! If Tsunade was killed in front of you, what would you do? Would you be kind and merciful and spare that person's life? If you really did that, then don't be a ninja writer anymore. Go to the Fire Temple and become a monk. Have Chiriku move away the big Buddha in the temple, and you sit there! Compared to you, Buddha cutting flesh to feed the hawk is just child's play!"
Jiraiya: "..."
"Uzumaki Naruto, do you think so too? Let's work together. We are both disciples of Teacher Jiraiya. Maybe the two of us working together can really bring lasting peace to this ninja world!" Nagato looked at Naruto with expectant eyes.
But Jiraiya looked wary.
Wouldn't it be that one wasn't saved, and another one fell in?
He was about to say something, but Naruto spoke first.
"I'm not interested."
Naruto rested his face on his hand and said casually, "Where there are people, there will be conflict. It doesn't matter what kind of world it is. People have differences in wealth, and there are also ranks. Some are strong and some are weak, some are kind and some are evil. Why bother so much?"
Nagato frowned. "Is that what you think? As a disciple of Teacher Jiraiya, your will is beyond my understanding."
"My will is very simple: feel the present, enjoy life, be selfish, be free, do whatever you want. That's my will!"
Naruto said carelessly, "If I were you, I wouldn't do such boring things as collecting the tailed beasts, destroying the ninja world, and making people share the same pain."
"Wouldn't it be good to revive Yahiko and then enjoy life together? Or, if you're really so kind, then go help those who need help. Of course, you need to give up your previous naive ideas."
"The foolish way of nonviolent non-cooperation can only rely on the kindness and pity of others."
"The reason Yahiko died was because he was too naive. He always thought that he could get people to understand each other just by talking without fighting. Everyone has their own desires and pursuits. The reason a strong person will sit down and talk to you is definitely because you have equal or even greater power than them!"
"So you need to master power first, and then pursue your ideals... So, in a sense, what you're doing now isn't wrong. It's just that you're meddling way too much... The fighting in this world won't stop no matter how many people you kill. When there are few people, the fighting is small; when there are many people, the fighting is big!"
"For those in power, their own interests are always the most important. Unless you achieve..."
"Achieve what?" Seeing Naruto stop talking, Nagato asked.
"Nothing. Anyway, that's also an ideal country. The inferior nature of people is destined for some to be ruled and some to be in power."
Naruto curled his lips. "Anyway, that's all I have to say. I won't participate in your affairs. I advise you to give up your ideas too. Because... the Nine Tails is still inside me! If you want to collect the nine tailed beasts, you will be my enemy. If you are my enemy... today, for Jiraiya's sake, I won't kill you. But next time, I won't let you go."