Chapter 507: Nagato's Ideals
Ino was in front, Minato Namikaze behind. Using the brief moment of levitation provided by the Flying Thunder God Technique, two Giant Rasengans struck Tendo Pain's body in succession, one from the front and one from the back.
Tendo Pain's body was pierced through, his chakra pathways extensively damaged. The chakra that had been gathered to its absolute limit spun out of control and violently exploded.
The Super Almighty Push could not be activated; the chakra could only detonate in its most primitive form.
With a deafening BOOM.
The shockwave from the explosion a thousand meters in the sky reached the ground. The mere aftershock shattered a vast number of windows, sending shards of glass and dust flying everywhere. A misty ring of air formed around Tendo Pain's location, first contracting, then violently expanding.
Ino and Minato Namikaze used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to the ground separately.
Ino used her Wood Golem Technique to protect herself and also managed to catch Sai, who had been knocked unconscious by the blast wave.
The big man, Choza Akimichi, caught Minato Namikaze with a Partial Expansion Jutsu on his palm.
The massive explosion lasted for more than ten seconds, and a white light enveloped the entire village of Konoha.
Half a minute later, Ino emerged from the Wood Golem.
She looked around. It was alright. The damage wasn't too severe. Just the glass in and out of the rooms was shattered. It was much better than the completely flattened scene from the original timeline.
The surrounding villagers got up one after another. A dead silence fell over the crowd as everyone stared straight ahead.
Ino smiled, dispelled the Wood Golem, and retreated into the crowd, resuming her role as a spectator.
The higher-ups who were in the know were fine, but the uninformed villagers and ninja were stunned.
They stared blankly at the man with the words "Fourth Hokage" on his clothes, completely at a loss for words.
Impossible, right? He's been alive all this time?
Minato Namikaze turned around and looked at the village and villagers he loved so dearly, feeling very emotional.
He saw many familiar subordinates, colleagues, and seniors in the crowd. He saw Hayate Gekkō, who was said to be terminally ill but now looked hale and hearty. He also saw Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
He said gently, "Everyone, I'm back."
Homura Mitokado stepped forward and announced that Minato Namikaze had never died. He had faked his death to investigate Akatsuki's conspiracy.
The Konoha ninja were a bit incredulous, but there was no use in not believing. The truth was right before their eyes.
Minato Namikaze had become the Fourth Hokage partly due to the support of the village's higher-ups, but on the other hand, his own reputation was also sufficiently high.
The ninja in the village didn't say it, but in reality, they had been dissatisfied with the few old schemers for a long time and had hoped for a young, energetic leader.
Now, after surviving a disaster and learning that the Fourth Hokage had endured hardship and hidden his identity to protect them and the village, the enthusiasm of the public was completely ignited.
The few higher-ups all knew that this scene was a play directed by the master-disciple duo of Jiraiya and Minato. To call it a play was a bit much, but Minato Namikaze did need a grand occasion for his return. To just come back quietly? That wouldn't fit his status as the Fourth Hokage, nor would it be conducive to his future work.
Ino waved at Minato and pointed into the distance. Minato nodded lightly.
In a dark cave a dozen li from Konoha, Jiraiya walked in.
He could also use Sage Mode. It wasn't difficult to use the spiritual energy on the black rods to track back to the source.
The cave was very dark. Nagato was shirtless, his body emaciated. His face was gaunt, and his once-lustrous red hair now hung over his shoulders like withered grass.
The Super Almighty Push had failed to launch, and the backlash from the jutsu had caused him to bleed from his nose and mouth. He was nearly unconscious on his life-support machine, his breathing faint.
As Jiraiya entered the cave, he slowly opened his eyes.
The pale purple Rinnegan emitted an invisible ripple.
"Jiraiya-sensei."
"Nagato, don't fight anymore. Let me help you," Jiraiya said with great sincerity.
"Help me?" Nagato repeated his words. "Jiraiya-sensei, Konoha ninja, under the banner of helping the Rain Village resist the invasion of the great villages, killed my parents. Afterward, they said it was a misunderstanding, a friendly fire incident. Shimura Danzō said Akatsuki was a cancer that would only bring war to the Rain Village. He helped Hanzō of the Salamander to besiege us, and Yahiko died tragically in my arms. The price of the Konoha ninja's help is too great. Sensei, how else do you want to help me?"
He coughed forcefully. "Hatred connects us all. I am grateful that you came to teach us back then, even though I know it was because of the Rinnegan. But I, Yahiko, and Konan, we are very grateful to you. You gave us the warmth of a home, gave us the courage to face this cold world."
He continued, "But how long can gratitude last? Beautiful things are always fleeting. Now, all that is left in my heart is hatred. Is this world a world dominated by hatred? Otherwise, why can't I see anything else?"
"If you kill me here, sensei, and destroy Akatsuki, what then? The world will not change at all. Hatred will still be there. It will breed new Pains. All the victories you achieve are just a temporary self-satisfaction."
Nagato shook his head. "So, Jiraiya-sensei, your so-called help is too shallow. I am no longer that orphan from the Rain Village. I don't need your help."
Jiraiya was not very good at making long-winded arguments. Coupled with his guilt, he really didn't know how to persuade him. He could only try to convince Nagato from another angle. "Your eyes are the Rinnegan, the eyes of the Sage, right? Have you ever thought... why would the Sage's eyes, which have been a legend in the ninja world for thousands of years, suddenly appear on you? Don't you think there's a conspiracy behind it?"
"A conspiracy?" Nagato shook his head. "These are my eyes. This is my mission. My everything!"
"Hahahaha—" Ino chuckled as she walked out from the shadows. "What nonsense are you talking about in broad daylight? Your mission? Are you also going to say you're a god? Such a weak god."
Nagato knew his time was short. He now particularly enjoyed debating with people. Plus, he acknowledged that Ino was a strong person, worthy of debating with him.
He said with conviction, "What is a god? Does a god leave behind power? Wrong. A god leaves behind ideas. I heard that in ancient times, someone stole chakra from the Progenitor of Chakra and then distributed it to everyone. Later generations called him a god. He stole chakra; I steal the Tailed Beasts. My actions are no different from my predecessor's. Later generations will remember my actions today and carry on my ideas. And you, you are just a group of pitiful worms trying to stop progress. One day, you will be destroyed by the power of progress!"
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