Returning to the base in silence, Yahiko called Nagato aside, intending to have a good talk with him about what happened today.
The two stood by the railing of the covered bridge, looking at the boundless dark clouds and rain in the sky, silent for a long time.
Yahiko gripped the slightly rusted handrail; a slippery, hard sensation came from his palm, chilling him to the bone.
He lowered his head and saw a layer of fine water droplets covering the iron handrail.
They absorbed the rainwater carried by the breeze, and every few seconds, one would become particularly full and round, swaying as if unable to bear its weight, then sliding rapidly along the curve of the metal, leaving a long, thin trail of water behind it.
Immediately, new moisture gathered, initially like fuzz, then quickly expanding to be visible to the naked eye, rolling off like its predecessors, repeating the cycle.
Yahiko was stunned for a moment, then snapped out of the repetitive and monotonous scene, opening his mouth to say, "Nagato, what do you think of what that person said?"
"Me?" Nagato lowered his head, his thoughts tangled like a mess of threads, "I don't know, Yahiko, Jiraiya-sensei talked about the Rinnegan before, and now 'Jhin' also says the same…"
"Perhaps the Rinnegan truly is that special, the hope of the entire Ninja World. But Nagato, you don't necessarily have to accept the path the Six Paths Sage has laid out for you."
Yahiko clapped his good brother's arm hard, wanting to give him some encouragement: "Just as I said before, you have your own will, your own destiny you want to fulfill."
"Mm." Nagato finally showed a hint of a smile, nodding vigorously.
He reaffirmed that what he wanted most was to help Yahiko achieve his wish, to restore peace to the world through understanding between people.
Just as Nagato was regaining his resolve, the protagonist of this dream—Yahiko—said something completely unexpected.
"Nagato, I've actually been considering for a long time, letting you be the leader of Akatsuki."
"Huh?"
"I'm not cut out to be a leader."
Yahiko recalled the conflict not long ago, during which he killed an enemy in self-defense; the opponent's pale face still flickered before his eyes today.
Pain spread across Yahiko's face like a spiderweb; his left hand, stained with blood, was clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and his fingernails dug deep into his flesh.
"That feeling still lingers on my hand, and just that alone already frightens me."
He took a deep breath to force himself to calm down, then turned to Nagato and said, "It's the same for everyone else; they're exhausted from continuous battles, and perhaps even their original ideals are on the verge of fading away."
"But you are different, Nagato, you possess the potential to become a hero, symbolized by the special Rinnegan. You can use it to rekindle everyone's new ideals."
"Yahiko, are you also going to use my Rinnegan?"
Nagato couldn't quite describe how he felt at the moment, turning his head helplessly to look at the wind and rain outside.
"I'm afraid of myself; I've always been in pain because of these eyes…"
"I understand."
Yahiko understood Nagato's reluctance regarding this matter but remained optimistic: "Don't worry, there's someone right beside you who can help you control its power—"
"Konan will always be with you."
He smiled silently, his gentle tone making one feel incredibly at ease.
Nagato gradually calmed down, and before he could think of how to respond, Kyusuke, who was in charge of intelligence gathering, rushed over, shouting, "Big Brother, something's happened!"
Yahiko immediately asked, "What is it?"
Kyusuke was out of breath, his eyes wide as he dropped a bombshell: "Hanzou has sent an envoy!"
The two exchanged glances, knowing this was not a good time for a heart-to-heart; dealing with Hanzou was more pressing.
Yahiko gathered the Akatsuki members currently at the base to meet the envoy.
The envoy wore the most common Ninja attire of the Hidden Rain Village, with a forehead protector, and in a businesslike tone, asked if he was Yahiko, the leader of Akatsuki.
"That's right."
"I am Lord Hanzou's deputy, named Harunzo."
After a brief self-introduction, the envoy continued to explain his purpose.
"I have long heard of Akatsuki's deeds; I heard that you do not advocate the use of force and insist on peaceful resolution of problems, which is truly admirable. Lord Hanzou entrusted me to deliver a personal letter; please accept it."
He pulled out a scroll from his Pregnant, holding it with both hands to show respect.
Kyusuke stepped forward to receive it, brought it back, and handed it to Yahiko, whose face changed dramatically halfway through reading, his tone filled with uncontainable urgency and excitement: "Is this true?"
"Yes, Lord Hanzou wishes to meet you personally. He has recognized the legitimacy of Akatsuki."
The crow's feet at the corners of the envoy's eyes became even more pronounced with his smile: "Lord Hanzou also hopes that in the future, the task of peaceful negotiations between the Hidden Rain Village and the three surrounding countries can be entrusted to you."
Upon hearing this, everyone, including Yahiko, was ecstatic.
They had worked hard for years, dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to the Land of Rain, and finally received recognition from their leader; how could they not cheer with joy?
Amidst everyone's joyful discussions, the envoy left the base.
Although it was still raining, Yahiko felt as if the sky had cleared, with sunlight piercing through the clouds and scattering onto the earth, making the world bright and warm.
He thought of every life extinguished by the heavy rain along this journey, his eyes stinging, yet he also felt that this outcome was very gratifying.
"Many people sacrificed for this moment; now, at last, we haven't let them down."
"It was your determination, Yahiko, to understand the pain of others, and your unwavering trust in Lord Hanzou all this time, that finally moved him."
Nagato walked up to Yahiko, smiling as he told him to look at the happy faces of their companions; some were even crying tears of joy.
"Akatsuki's ideals have been reborn; there's no need for the Rinnegan as a symbol."
"Everyone gathered here to follow you; the path you walk is the correct one."
Yahiko tightly clasped Nagato's hand, letting go of the apprehension and confusion in his heart… A hundred meters away, Jhin watched the Akatsuki Organization, which had turned into a sea of joy, and snorted, wiggling his fingers.
"Naive."
"So," White Zetsu sidled up obsequiously, "they're really going to meet Hanzou alone?"
"That's right."
Jhin recalled when he infiltrated the Akatsuki Organization years ago, Yahiko had expressed his willingness to trust Hanzou first, so there was no doubt he would go to the meeting unarmed.
This unique, innocent heart of the Ninja World would ultimately lead him to a dead end.
In the ethereal rain mist, Jhin leaned against a damp rock pillar and chuckled, the corners of his lips curving into a gentle arc like the warm sun, yet his hand roughly tugged at a branch growing from White Zetsu's body, making it stumble half a step.
"To prevent any small fries from getting in the way, take a few more White Zetsu and surround Akatsuki's base. Don't let any outside information get in."
His face was clearly smiling, but his eyes were like stagnant water in a deep pool, devouring all the light that shone into them, with only bottomless darkness residing there, seeping out wisps of bloodlust.
"If they find out something is amiss and escape, I'll slowly boil you into meat soup over a low fire."
...