Without the slightest hesitation, Chiya focused his mind.
"Unlock."
The instant the command was issued, the two enormous chakra forces within him, completely opposite yet sharing the same origin, found their final destination.
They began spinning and merging at an unprecedented speed.
An indescribable power, as though it had touched the very origin of the world, gathered deep within his eyes before erupting.
"Ugh!"
Even Chiya couldn't help but close his eyes.
When he opened them again, his deep black eyes had undergone a complete transformation.
The dark color had been replaced by a profound violet, with concentric ripples spreading outward from the center of his pupils, containing the power to govern all creation.
Cold.
Majestic.
As if they could see through life and death itself and command the laws of the world.
The Rinnegan!
His own Rinnegan!
At that moment, he could clearly feel his power reaching an entirely new level.
His perception of chakra, space, and everything in existence had risen to an unprecedented height.
[Congratulations, Host, on unlocking the Rinnegan.]
[Congratulations, Host, on obtaining all of the Rinnegan's basic abilities.]
[Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the Rinnegan's exclusive ability: Fleeting Splendor.]
[Fleeting Splendor: A unique divine technique that the Host may activate at any time. It unconditionally converts any unfavorable event that occurred within a certain period of reality into an illusion, thereby rewriting reality itself.]
"An exclusive ability?"
"Interesting..."
Chiya murmured to himself.
It could unconditionally turn any unfavorable event in reality into an illusion and then rewrite reality itself.
It was unbelievably overpowered.
The ability immediately reminded him of Izanagi.
Izanagi allowed its user to turn any unfavorable event that happened within a certain period into something that had never occurred, leaving only the outcomes beneficial to the user as reality.
Compared to Izanagi, his exclusive ability was even more powerful.
Chiya immediately issued another command to the system.
"Open my status panel."
A translucent screen appeared before him.
[Name: Uchiha Chiya]
[Age: 26]
[Chakra: 200 Ka]
[Special Abilities: Rinnegan, Uzumaki Clan Bloodline, Senju Clan Physique, Sharingan (Eternal Mangekyō), Storm Release, Ice Release, Lava Release, Boil Release, Dark Release, Steel Release]
[Skills: Divine Technique: Fleeting Splendor (Rinnegan Exclusive), Kachi
Rinnegan: Shinra Tensei, Super Shinra Tensei, Banshō Ten'in, Chibaku Tensei, Elephant Turning Technique, Chakra Absorption, and other basic abilities.
Mangekyō Techniques: Yomi Higan, Karma Reincarnation, Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, Kotoamatsukami
Forbidden Techniques: Izanagi, Izanami
Secret Technique: Hydrification Technique
Master of Sealing Techniques, Master Swordsman, Susanoo, Master Medical Ninjutsu, Master Fire Release, Master Genjutsu, Master Weapon Techniques, High-Speed Body Flicker Technique, Shadow Clone Technique, Three Basic Techniques, and more.]
His chakra had increased this much?
Chiya had expected this breakthrough to boost his chakra, but he had never imagined it would increase by such a massive amount.
The system was certainly generous with its rewards.
Killing Uchiha Madara this time had turned out to be an incredible bargain.
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Chiya returned his attention to reality.
His newly awakened Rinnegan slowly swept across everyone present.
As his gaze passed over Minato, Kushina, Yahiko, Konan, Obito, and even the exhausted Nagato, who had just completed the summoning, each of them felt an instinctive reverence rising from the depths of their souls.
It was absolute suppression born from a higher level of existence.
"Brother Chiya... your eyes..."
Kushina covered her mouth in shock. Even the golden chakra cloak around her flickered unsteadily as disbelief filled her eyes.
Minato's expression also turned grave.
He could clearly sense that Chiya had become even more unfathomable than before.
Yahiko and Konan were even more shaken. They had only just learned from Nagato about the terrifying origin of the Rinnegan.
Yet now, another Rinnegan wielder had appeared before them, awakening it naturally in such a manner.
Chiya gradually restrained the overwhelming power within his eyes. The ripples of the Rinnegan slowly faded, returning once more to deep black.
Yet the invisible pressure surrounding him did not disappear completely.
For one of the few times, a genuinely relaxed smile appeared on his face, the expression of someone who had finally laid down a heavy burden.
"Uchiha Madara's final breath has been completely severed."
His calm voice echoed throughout the silent valley with unquestionable finality.
"From this day forward, he no longer exists in the ninja world."
Those words were like a decree of absolution.
Nagato, who had kept his nerves taut this entire time, finally let out a long breath of relief.
His body went limp, nearly collapsing, but Yahiko quickly caught him.
He had pushed himself far beyond his limits, yet his eyes were filled with relief... and confusion.
The greatest nightmare that had manipulated his life was gone.
But...
What came next?
"It's over... It's really over..."
Nagato muttered as he looked toward the enormous Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, his expression complicated.
It had once been Madara's lifeline.
Now, it was nothing more than an ownerless shell filled with ominous power.
"Lord Hokage."
Supporting Nagato, Yahiko looked respectfully toward Chiya.
"What should we do with the statue? The power it contains is simply too dangerous."
Everyone's eyes turned toward the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
It stood there silently, its nine giant eyes tightly shut, yet it seemed as though they could open at any moment and bring destruction upon the world.
Chiya gazed at the statue with a deep, thoughtful look.
For a brief instant, countless memories flashed through his mind.
His journey through time...
His brief yet unforgettable encounter with the Rabbit Goddess...
And the complicated emotions that still lingered.
Now that he possessed the Rinnegan, reviving her was no longer impossible.
But the thought disappeared as quickly as it came.
Reason completely suppressed it.
The time was far from right.
The ninja world had only just begun settling into the fragile new order he had established through overwhelming strength.
Konoha's dominance had only recently been secured, while internal reforms were still underway.
Reviving Kaguya Ōtsutsuki now would bring far greater risks than rewards.
It was not a wise decision.
"Nagato, release the summoning and return it to the place where it belongs."
Chiya's voice regained its usual calm decisiveness, without the slightest trace of hesitation.
"Leaving it in this world will only invite disaster."
Nagato nodded and formed another series of hand seals.
Guided by the power of the Rinnegan, the enormous body of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path gradually became transparent.
The surrounding space twisted once more before the statue was erased as though wiped away by an invisible hand, disappearing completely.
The suffocating pressure vanished along with it.
Only the roaring waterfall and the mournful wind sweeping through the cliffs remained in the valley, as though everything that had just happened had been nothing more than a dream.
With the greatest hidden danger finally eliminated, everyone's tense nerves could at last relax.
Minato began skillfully directing Obito to clean up the remaining traces of the White Zetsu.
Meanwhile, Yahiko helped the weakened Nagato to one side so he could rest, the two speaking quietly together.
Chiya's gaze, however, settled on Konan, who stood alone some distance away, staring absentmindedly at the river.
Her blue-violet hair swayed gently in the wind flowing through the valley.
Her delicate profile was beautiful, yet filled with lingering sorrow and a hint of uncertainty.
Everything that had happened today had been too overwhelming.
The sheer amount of information and the truth revealed had completely overturned the worldview she had spent years building.
Chiya slowly walked over.
The sound of his footsteps pulled Konan from her thoughts.
She trembled slightly before turning around.
The moment she saw it was Chiya, panic flashed across her eyes, and she instinctively tried to avoid his gaze.
But in the end, she forced herself to meet his eyes.
Those eyes, which had only moments ago transformed into the Rinnegan before returning to normal, were so profound that they unsettled her.
"Chiya... Lord Hokage."
Her voice was low and slightly hoarse, carrying an almost imperceptible sense of distance and reverence.
The difference in status, the vast gap in power, and the earth-shattering truth she had just learned all made her feel an invisible distance separating them.
Chiya stopped in front of her.
His calm gaze rested upon her as though he could see through every trace of her unease and uncertainty.
"You don't have to address me like that."
His voice was gentler than usual, though it still retained its characteristic steadiness.
Konan pressed her lips together, unconsciously twisting the corner of her clothes between her fingers, unsure how to respond.
Silence spread between them.
Yet it wasn't awkward.
Instead, an unspoken understanding quietly flowed between them.
"Thank you... for today."
Only after a long while did Konan finally speak, her voice trembling slightly.
"If it weren't for you... we might have remained in the dark forever, nothing more than pieces on someone else's chessboard. We might even have walked toward destruction without ever realizing it."
The terrifying Infinite Tsukuyomi that Nagato had described from the stone tablet still left lingering fear in her heart.
"I only did what needed to be done."
Chiya answered calmly, as though stating an undeniable fact.
"Uchiha Madara was the common enemy of the entire ninja world. His existence threatened Konoha and everyone else."
After a brief pause, his eyes drifted toward Nagato, who was recovering his chakra, and Minato, who was speaking with Yahiko.
"Telling you the truth was necessary to stop him. But more importantly... you deserved to know."
His gaze returned to Konan, and the focused look in his eyes made her heartbeat quicken uncontrollably.
"Especially you, Konan."
Those words were like a stone dropped into a tranquil lake, sending endless ripples through her heart.
She looked up at him, confusion filling her eyes.
Chiya stepped forward ever so slightly, closing the distance between them.
The simple movement caused Konan's entire body to tense, while warmth spread across her cheeks.
He could clearly smell the faint fragrance surrounding her, light and elegant like fresh paper and ink.
"It seems the rain in the Land of Rain has never truly stopped."
He suddenly spoke of something seemingly unrelated.
His gaze appeared to pass beyond the valley itself, toward that nation forever shrouded beneath gray skies.
"I still remember the first time I met the three of you. It was on a rainy day like this. Three children with nowhere to turn, yet your eyes still held the determination to defy fate."
His words carried Konan's thoughts back to that cold and hopeless night in the rain.
It was the man standing before her who had brought them food, warmth, and a fragile glimmer of hope.
That memory had always remained hidden within the softest corner of her heart.
She had never forgotten it.
"I never forgot."
Chiya's deep, magnetic voice struck directly at her heart with every word.
"The way you looked at your companions... the determination to protect them at any cost."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"All these years, I've been quietly watching over you."
"I know you founded the Akatsuki and have been trying to change the Land of Rain in your own way."
"That couldn't have been easy."
He rarely spoke this much.
He had never spoken in such an open, almost confessional manner.
Konan listened in silence as warmth mixed with an aching tenderness welled up inside her.
"I'm sorry for telling you the truth and dragging all of you into this conflict."
His tone became unusually solemn.
"It was never my intention."
"But circumstances left me with no other choice."
"I don't want this to make you fear me, distance yourself from me, or feel... that you've been used."
He leaned forward ever so slightly, allowing Konan to clearly see the unmistakable sincerity in his eyes...
And perhaps something that could only be described as tenderness.
"Konan."
He spoke her name softly, yet it carried an inexplicable power.
"I didn't tell you all this simply because you're a member of the Akatsuki or Nagato's companion."
He paused, carefully choosing his words before deciding upon the most straightforward and mature way to express them.
"It's because, in my heart, you've always been that girl who kept growing stronger beneath the rain... someone worthy of my complete honesty."
Konan's heart skipped a beat, and her breathing stopped.
Without giving her a chance to interrupt, Chiya continued steadily.
"The ninja world is vast and complicated."
"Power."
"Strength."
"Conspiracies."
"They make up most of my life now."
"But beyond all of that, there are still certain people and things worth treasuring... worth protecting."
His eyes remained fixed upon her.
"And you're one of them."
"My feelings have nothing to do with status or allegiance."
"They're simply about you."
"I admire your character."
"And... I care about your happiness and your sorrow."
The wind sweeping through the valley seemed to fall completely silent.
Konan could hear nothing except the thunderous beating of her own heart.
Her cheeks burned.
Her blood raced.
An overwhelming sense of unreal happiness mixed with shock and nervousness surged through her.
She had never imagined that someone as powerful and respected as Chiya would say such things to her.
His words were so sincere.
So dignified.
There wasn't the slightest hint of frivolity.
Instead, he placed her beside him as an equal... as someone precious.
"I..."
Konan parted her lips, only to discover that emotion had caught in her throat.
Her eyes filled uncontrollably with tears.
Years of endurance.
Years of struggle.
Her uncertainty about the future.
And the affection she had buried deep within her heart, never daring to hope would be returned...
At that moment, they all found an outlet.
She lowered her head.
Her shoulders trembled slightly as silent tears fell onto the cold stone beneath her feet.
Chiya didn't rush her.
He simply waited quietly, giving her all the time and space she needed to process the overwhelming emotions.
His patience and respect were answers in themselves.
Only after a long time did Konan slowly raise her head again.
Her tear-filled eyes, usually so calm and melancholy, were now overflowing with countless emotions.
Gratitude.
Relief.
Shyness.
And a fragile courage that had finally begun to bloom.
"Lord Chiya..."
Her voice still quivered with tears, yet it carried far more determination than before.
"I... I've never forgotten either."
"I've always remembered your kindness back then... and everything you've done since."
"It's just..."
"The distance between us..."
She hesitated.
Their difference in status.
The delicate relationship between Amegakure and Konoha.
Each felt like an invisible chasm standing between them.
"Those things shouldn't become obstacles."
Chiya's voice was calm and unwavering, filled with absolute confidence.
"You're Konan."
"And I'm Uchiha Chiya."
"That's enough."
"As for everything else..."
"Leave it to me."
Konan looked into his eyes.
The unquestionable sincerity and deeply hidden tenderness within them finally swept away the last traces of hesitation in her heart.
Taking a deep breath, she nodded gently, as though using every ounce of courage she possessed.
She said nothing.
Yet that single nod expressed everything she wished to say.
A faint but genuine smile appeared on Chiya's lips.
He raised his hand.
Rather than embracing her, he gently brushed away the tears that still lingered on her cheek.
The movement was natural.
Respectful.
"Amegakure still needs all of you."
"And the Akatsuki's ideals aren't completely opposed to Konoha's."
As he withdrew his hand, his usual calm returned, though a trace of warmth remained in his voice.
"Perhaps in the future, we'll have more opportunities to work together."
"But for now, return with Yahiko and Nagato."
"Stabilize your organization."
"What happened today must remain an absolute secret."
Konan nodded once more.
Though her emotions still churned within her, her thoughts had become much clearer.
She knew he was right.
All of them needed time to process everything that had happened today.
"I understand."
Her voice was still slightly hoarse, but it was filled with newfound resolve.
Chiya looked at her one last time.
His eyes seemed to say that everything was only just beginning.
Then he turned and walked back toward Minato, Kushina, and the others to arrange the next steps.
Konan remained where she stood.
Watching his tall figure disappear into the distance, she could still feel the lingering warmth where his fingertips had brushed against her cheek.
Her heart overflowed with indescribable emotions.
It seemed as though a single ray of sunlight had finally pierced through the gloomy sky, illuminating the lake that had long remained silent within her heart.
The road ahead would undoubtedly remain full of challenges.
But at this moment...
Her heart was filled with a hope and determination she had never known before.