"I come for the Rinnegan!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room dropped to freezing point.
Nagato instinctively stepped back, while Yahiko stood in front of Nagato, shielding him behind his back.
Yagyu watched this scene with interest. Yahiko truly loved Nagato deeply!
No wonder after Yahiko died, Nagato used his body to lead the Akatsuki, vowing to realize his wish.
Jiraiya flashed in front of Yagyu, shouting in a low voice, "None of you are his match. Leave quickly!"
Yagyu looked at Jiraiya with a smile. "Jiraiya, you're quite self-aware!"
"But since you have such self-awareness, you should know that they can't escape."
"How much time can you buy them? How far can they run in that time?"
"It's useless! In front of me, no one can escape. Calm down; I didn't say I wanted your lives!"
Yagyu spoke casually, pulling over a chair and sitting down.
Jiraiya stared at Yagyu warily, demanding, "What exactly do you want?"
Yagyu said lazily, "For certain special reasons, I need to take the Rinnegan away."
"If you cooperate, we can all avoid a lot of trouble."
"I'm just taking a pair of his eyes; it won't endanger his life."
"With medical ninjutsu being so advanced nowadays, giving him a new pair of eyes isn't difficult."
Yahiko said in a deep voice, "Impossible! Nagato is a member of the Akatsuki, and the Rinnegan is a treasure bestowed upon the Land of Rain by the heavens."
Yagyu drawled, "A treasure bestowed upon the Land of Rain by the heavens? Don't joke around."
"The Rinnegan are the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths. Did you think just anyone could possess them?"
"Nagato is merely an orphan of the Uzumaki clan; what qualification does he have to awaken these eyes?"
"He was merely keeping these eyes safe for someone else, and what I'm doing is simply taking them away."
Yagyu spoke unhurriedly, with a relaxed and leisurely expression.
Yahiko was stunned. "The Rinnegan aren't Nagato's? Are you kidding? What proof do you have?"
Yagyu said casually, "I don't have proof, nor do I need proof. Even if I did, I have no reason to tell you."
"Telling you this much is just because I'm in a good mood; it doesn't mean you're qualified to question me. Young Yahiko, why are you so naive?"
Yahiko's face instantly flushed red as he stared at Yagyu angrily.
Yagyu spoke slowly, "What, angry? If you ask me, your naivety is truly impressive."
"You're actually naive enough to think that establishing an organization called Akatsuki can stop the wars in the ninja world."
"Where do you think wars come from? Do you think your wish for peace can move the hearts of those ninja village leaders?"
"Stop joking!"
"When the strong pray for peace, they get a response from others; when the weak pray for peace, they only invite ridicule."
"Senju Hashirama was just as naive as you back then, but he possessed the power to suppress the ninja world."
"So his desire for peace was heeded by others. Unfortunately, you don't have his strength."
"Jiraiya, surely you can see it, right? All of the Akatsuki's actions are just a farce."
Yagyu glanced lazily at Jiraiya, his expression mocking.
Jiraiya said angrily, "These matters have nothing to do with you! A cold-blooded person like you will never understand what a dream is."
Yagyu scoffed, "Dreams? Daydreams, more like. Enough, I have no interest in discussing this with you."
"Give me the Rinnegan, and I won't hurt you. Jiraiya can testify to this point; I really am a kind person."
"Back then, Konoha shamelessly ambushed me, preparing a series of measures to take me out."
"But after I saw through their schemes and defeated them, I didn't go on a killing spree against them."
Yagyu spoke casually, glancing sluggishly at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya gritted his teeth and shouted in a low voice, "No! Under no circumstances can we give him the Rinnegan."
Yagyu said calmly, "Is that so? Then, what is your opinion? Jiraiya thinks the Rinnegan is more important than your lives. do you think so too?"
Jiraiya's expression darkened, and he shouted hurriedly, "What nonsense are you spouting? I never said the Rinnegan was more important than their lives."
Yagyu laughed casually, "Although you didn't say it, your actions show that's exactly what you think."
"Knowing full well that refusing me would cost them their lives, you did it anyway."
"Do you have designs on the Rinnegan? What do you want to do with the Rinnegan?"
Yahiko's expression fluctuated uncertainly. The refusal he was about to blurt out was swallowed back down.
If refusing Yagyu meant death, then it wasn't appropriate for him to refuse outright.
After all, the Rinnegan belonged to Nagato; Yahiko wasn't qualified to make such a big decision for him.
Yahiko looked at Nagato hesitantly and said softly, "Nagato, make the decision yourself!"
Nagato hesitated, then said slowly, "If it can protect everyone's lives, these eyes..."
Jiraiya said anxiously, "Nagato, you can't hand over the Rinnegan."
"You don't understand the value of the Rinnegan at all, nor do you understand your mission."
"You are the Child of Prophecy who can change the ninja world; the entire ninja world will change because of you."
"Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, what was your purpose in founding the Akatsuki?"
"Are you going to choose to retreat just because you're facing a life-threatening danger now? Don't retreat!"
Jiraiya shouted angrily and charged at Yagyu without hesitation.
A sealing tag appeared in Jiraiya's hand, containing an instant-cast sealing jutsu, which he slapped unceremoniously toward Yagyu.
"Jiraiya, you've chosen the wrong path."
Yagyu shook his head, raised a finger, and fired a laser. The golden beam pierced through the sealing tag, destroying the formula on it.
"Since you've made your choice, let me give you a passionate response!"