Chapter 244 — Failed Show-Off
"Nagato, are you really planning to go to Konoha this time?" Konan asked, her voice quiet yet serious.
"Yes," Nagato replied coldly. "Uchiha Sasuke has already captured the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki. That means the Nine-Tails is the next target—and this time, I must be the one to obtain it."
"Don't worry. Hatake Kakashi won't be in Konoha at that time," a detached voice echoed from the other side of the room. "Leave Hatake Yusuke to me."
Nagato shot him a sharp look. "Fine," he said curtly, staring at Obito with an unreadably cold expression.
"Do you really have a way to kill Hatake Yusuke?" Konan asked suspiciously.
She didn't trust the masked man—no one could kill Yusuke.
But knowing Obito's extremely cautious and calculating nature, if he claimed he could do it, then he must have something prepared. Besides, beings like him lived far too long to resort to empty bravado.
"Kill Hatake Yusuke?" Obito let out a low chuckle. "No one can kill him. Even I—Uchiha Madara—couldn't do that. But restraining him… that's another matter. I have a method."
"Restrain him?" Konan frowned. "Are you sure you can manage that?"
Obito's Sharingan spun slowly behind his mask. "I admit it. Even at my full power, I doubt I could defeat him. But to hold him down for a while… that much is still possible."
Hearing that, Konan released a small breath she didn't realize she had been holding.
"Very well," Nagato finally said. "Let's hope you can truly stop him. Because if you can't, he will become our greatest obstacle."
His cold gaze pierced Obito. The masked man once told him that if Nagato mastered his techniques, he would become the strongest shinobi in the world.
And in a way, he was right—under his guidance, Nagato awakened the Rinnegan and killed Hanzo the Demi-God.
But as time passed, Nagato realized more and more—
This man was never someone to trust.
Like every other member of Akatsuki, he had his own ambition.
"Relax," Obito said calmly. "Once the Ten-Tails is revived, you will become a true god. Not even Hatake Yusuke will be able to match your power. When that time comes, the shinobi world will finally reach eternal peace."
Nagato's eyes gleamed sharply. "Fine. I'll trust you… for now."
"You have no other choice, Nagato," Obito replied. "You can only trust me."
His body twisted as space warped around him, pulling him into a spiraling distortion until he vanished completely from sight, leaving only Nagato and Konan behind.
"He cannot be trusted," Konan said flatly.
"Of course I know," Nagato answered softly. "But right now, we have no alternative. Everything is almost complete. Yahiko's dream, Jiraiya-sensei's dream, and ours… they will soon be fulfilled."
Nagato gazed up at the ceiling as if envisioning a peaceful world free of war.
Konan lowered her head, saying nothing. Although she didn't fully agree, resisting Nagato now would be no different from betraying their own hopes.
"Konan, go rest. This mission to Konoha… leave it to me," Nagato said.
"I'm going with you," Konan insisted. She knew that even Nagato himself wasn't completely confident—so she couldn't allow him to go alone.
Nagato stared at her for a moment before sighing softly. A hint of sorrow flickered in his eyes.
He wasn't sure whether Uchiha Madara—no, Obito—truly had the means to restrain Hatake Yusuke.
If he didn't, their entire plan would collapse. And if that happened, Nagato might die… but Konan could not be allowed to perish with him.
"Don't worry, Konan. We will succeed," Nagato finally said, his eyes filled with conviction.
He closed them, letting his mind drift back to the past—the time when he, Yahiko, and Konan were just children dreaming of peace in a world ravaged by endless war.
"If only I had remained an ordinary person… maybe that alone would have been happiness," Nagato whispered faintly.
— — —
Meanwhile…
Hatake Yusuke was completely unaware of their schemes. At that moment, he was relaxing with his brother-in-law Nawaki, casually enjoying lunch in the Land of Lightning.
"What's wrong, Brother-in-law?" Nawaki asked curiously when he noticed Yusuke suddenly pause mid-bite.
"How about we go watch something entertaining?" Yusuke said abruptly, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"Entertaining? What do you mean?" Nawaki blinked in confusion.
"A big fight between a member of the Uchiha clan and a Jinchūriki of the Tailed Beasts," Yusuke answered with a faint grin.
"Uchiha…?" Nawaki's expression instantly stiffened.
As a descendant of the Senju Clan, he naturally felt uneasy around Uchiha—especially since he was raised by Tobirama Senju, who was notoriously cautious of them.
"Yes. Let's go," Yusuke said. He grabbed the collar of Nawaki's clothes, and in an instant their bodies vanished.
The next moment, they reappeared high in the sky, overlooking the battlefield between Uchiha Sasuke and Killer B, the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki.
"Brother-in-law, is that guy… from the Uchiha clan?" Nawaki asked, pointing down at Sasuke.
"Yes. Uchiha Sasuke," Yusuke replied flatly.
"He looks pretty young," Nawaki muttered with a pout.
"Don't talk so much. Just watch," Yusuke said, his gaze calm as he observed the scene below.
Below them, Sasuke and Killer B were already locked in fierce combat. Killer B moved with rhythm and flow, wielding eight swords in a bizarre yet graceful dance—one that hid terrifying speed and overwhelming strength.
"That guy's so weird… using eight swords at once," Nawaki said in awe.
"That's just a circus act," Yusuke said dismissively.
"Then Brother-in-law must be amazing at Kenjutsu, right?" Nawaki recalled the massive blade he once saw Yusuke carry.
"Of course. I'm amazing at everything—except maybe giving birth," Yusuke said thoughtfully as he touched his chin. Inside, he added silently, though technically I could probably do that too, thanks to that strange Devil Fruit.
That fruit wasn't something from this world—
Horu Horu no Mi, the Hormone Fruit—
a power that allowed him to manipulate a person's hormones freely.
After being with Yusuke long enough, Nawaki already knew for certain that the man was unbelievably strong—stronger even than his sister, the Hokage herself.
"But Brother-in-law, doesn't the Sharingan let him read the opponent's movements? Why is he still getting hit so much?" Nawaki asked, watching Sasuke grow increasingly pressured.
"He can see the attacks," Yusuke replied calmly, "but Killer B blocks every possible route of movement using his swords. Sasuke can see the danger, but he has nowhere to go."
"Also," Yusuke continued, "Sasuke relies too heavily on his Sharingan. He forgets that Taijutsu is just as important. Since the Sharingan can predict movements, he neglected strengthening his own body."
Yusuke spoke with an icy, analytical tone. "Sharingan is indeed powerful—it strengthens Genjutsu, can copy techniques, and predicts movements. But too many Uchiha become weak because they depend on it too much. Including that brat right there."
Down below, Sasuke brought his hands together.
"Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!" he shouted, expelling a massive fireball toward Killer B.
Killer B chuckled. A layer of blazing red Chakra coated his entire body—the Eight-Tails Chakra Cloak—and he brushed aside the fire as if it were nothing.
Sasuke grit his teeth. "Chidori Blade!"
Lightning crackled along his sword as he dashed forward, slashing at Killer B.
But Killer B didn't flinch. He simply raised one of his eight swords and intercepted the strike. Sparks burst violently as the two blades connected.
A smug smile appeared on Killer B's face.
Playing with lightning in front of a Lightning ninja? Foolish brat, he thought.
Even Hatake Kakashi wouldn't dare challenge him in Lightning Release—let alone a youngster like Sasuke.
Sasuke retreated quickly, tension rising in his expression. Suddenly, two figures appeared beside him—Suigetsu and Jūgo—arriving to assist.
Sasuke bit down on Karin's arm, instantly healing thanks to her Uzumaki vitality.
"Is that girl… from the Uzumaki Clan?" Nawaki asked as he noticed her red hair.
"Yes," Yusuke said. "And her bloodline is quite special."
Nawaki nodded lightly. "Yeah… her power reminds me of my grandmother."
Yusuke turned his head. "What did you say?"
"I said… she has the same ability as my grandmother," Nawaki replied confidently.
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