"Yellow Flash... Namikaze Minato?!"
Yahiko and Nagato exchanged stunned glances. Their expressions reflected a mix of disbelief and amazement as they processed Konan's words. Yahiko was the first to break the silence, turning to Konan with a sense of urgency. "Minato? Could it be the disciple that Jiraiya-sensei always mentioned—our senior brother?"
Konan nodded solemnly. "Yes. Konoha's Yellow Flash. He has already become a figure of legend in this war."
She began recounting Minato's accomplishments, her tone steady but tinged with awe. "First, he defeated the Fourth Kazekage on the Sand Shinobi front, forcing Sunagakure to release Shukaku, the One-Tail, and retreat in defeat.
On the Kumogakure front, Minato fought alone against both A and Killer B, leading Konoha's troops to deal significant damage to their surprise attack force.
"Because of his extraordinary speed and blond hair, the leaders of the great nations now refer to him as the Yellow Flash of Konoha. He's become a nightmare for the enemy forces."
Konan's voice softened slightly, a hint of disbelief creeping into her words. "Recently, during the Rock Ninja's campaign in the Land of Grass, Minato eliminated more than 800 Iwagakure ninja who were preparing to launch a surprise attack on Konoha. This forced Iwagakure to issue an unprecedented order to all its ninjas:
"No matter the mission or the number of allies, abandon the task and retreat immediately if you encounter Konoha's Yellow Flash.'
"Kumogakure has issued the same order. They would rather flee than risk engaging him."
Yahiko and Nagato sat in stunned silence, the firelight casting flickering shadows across their faces.
After a moment, Yahiko broke the silence with a sigh, glancing at Nagato. "No wonder Jiraiya-sensei always called his first disciple a rare genius. To have achieved such feats…"
Nagato nodded quietly, his piercing gaze fixed on the flames, while Konan continued.
"This Third Ninja World War," she said, "has been the most intense conflict since the founding of the ninja villages. And yet, Minato Namikaze has single-handedly turned the tide, transforming an unfavorable situation for Konoha into an outright advantage."
Her words carried weight, and for a brief moment, the three of them let the reality of Minato's achievements sink in.
But Yahiko's expression darkened, and he spoke in a somber tone. "This… is troublesome."
Konan frowned. "Why? Konoha has taken the initiative in this war, and the other nations are hesitating to act for fear of suffering further losses. If things continue this way, the war could end soon."
Yahiko shook his head. "It's not that simple. The other four nations are called the Great Ninja Villages for a reason. They didn't reach this point by being weak or passive."
Konan's eyes trembled slightly. "What do you mean?"
Yahiko explained, "The Third Ninja World War began because the other nations saw Konoha growing too strong after the previous war. The disappearance of the Third Kazekage was just an excuse.
But now, with Minato Namikaze's rise, the imbalance of power has grown even more pronounced. Konoha is becoming a dominant force. Do you think the other nations will quietly accept being reduced to supporting roles?"
"No," Nagato interjected, his voice heavy. "They'll resist with everything they have. The war will only escalate."
Yahiko clenched his fists, his eyes hardening. "And when that happens, the Rain Country will inevitably become a battlefield again."
Konan's expression darkened as she grasped the implications. "Why? The Rain Village isn't one of the Five Great Nations."
"That's precisely why," Yahiko replied. "Our location makes us vulnerable. The Rain Country sits at the crossroads of the Land of Fire, Earth, and Wind. If the Sand and Rock Ninja were to ally, the Rain Country would become their staging ground for an attack on Konoha.
"Even without an alliance, we have Hanzo the Salamander—a force the other nations see as a valuable asset. If the other villages win his support, it would strengthen their chances in the war.
"And they've already tried," Yahiko added grimly. "Kumogakure has approached Hanzo multiple times, according to our intelligence."
Nagato and Konan exchanged uneasy glances. The Rain Village had already suffered greatly during the Second Ninja World War, paying a bloody price for becoming a battlefield between the major powers. The thought of history repeating itself was almost unbearable.
"The Rain Country is in a precarious position," Konan murmured. "If we refuse to help, we'll anger one side. If we do help, we'll make enemies of the other."
Yahiko's gaze burned with determination. "We can't let ourselves be used as pawns again. The only way to change our fate is to grow stronger. That's why I created Akatsuki—to bring true peace to the Rain Village and stop the cycle of tragedy."
He stood abruptly, grabbing his ninja sword and driving it into the ground with a sharp clang. "We must act, and we must act now."
Nagato and Konan nodded firmly, their leader's conviction reigniting their resolve. Yahiko turned to Nagato, his voice softening.
"Jiraiya-sensei once said that you possess incredible power, Nagato. He believed that if used properly, you could surpass even Minato Namikaze."
Nagato's crimson hair glowed in the firelight as Yahiko's gaze fixed on his eyes—eyes unlike any other.
They were a deep, vibrant purple, with concentric rings rippling outward from the pupils. They radiated an aura of mystery and power, as if they held the secrets of the universe itself.
These were the fabled Rinnegan, the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths.
Yahiko's voice was resolute. "With those eyes, you can change the world. We'll make sure of it."
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