There Will Be No Peace
After listening to Chi Yu's analysis, Yahiko was left speechless.
"Could it be… that everything we've done—our efforts for peace in the shinobi world—was wrong? Is peace in this world even possible?"
Chi Yu looked at the disheartened Yahiko and said calmly, "There's nothing wrong with your desire to bring peace. But your timing is flawed. If the world were already at peace, then your ideals would be commendable.
But right now, it's an era of war. Your rhetoric threatens the interests of those in power. That makes you dangerous to them—and therefore, 'wrong' in their eyes."
Yahiko frowned. "But isn't that contradictory? If it were a time of peace, we wouldn't need to fight for peace at all."
Chi Yu sighed. "Yahiko, in this chaotic shinobi world, people like you—idealists—are exceedingly rare. Why do wars begin? It's because of conflict: economic inequality, political strife, injustice, deep-rooted grudges, and fear. When such contradictions reach a breaking point, they erupt into war.
And once a war begins, it means those contradictions can no longer be reconciled peacefully. Do you still believe everyone can simply sit down and talk things out?
If dialogue were enough to end a war, then how do we account for the lives already lost? The suffering endured?"
Chi Yu's eyes narrowed. "No, Yahiko. War ends only when one side is defeated. Only through overwhelming power can conflict be silenced. That is the cruel truth."
Yahiko clenched his fists tightly.
He didn't want to agree—but deep down, his experiences were telling him Chi Yu was right.
His push for peace talks had ultimately led the Akatsuki down a dark, irreversible path.
"…Is there truly no way to achieve lasting peace?" Yahiko asked in a low voice.
Chi Yu shook his head. "There is—but not through the method you envisioned. However, your companions are on a path that could bring long-term peace to the shinobi world."
Yahiko looked up, startled. "Companions?"
Chi Yu nodded slightly.
"You mean… Nagato and Konan? That's… that's great! I knew it—Nagato is the one destined to save the world!"
A hopeful smile broke across Yahiko's face.
Chi Yu smiled faintly. "Don't you want to know how Nagato plans to achieve peace?"
Yahiko blinked, intrigued. "What do you mean? What method?"
Chi Yu's tone turned dark. "Nagato has come to believe that this world is cursed… and that true peace is a fantasy. People will never truly understand one another.
So, he plans to collect the Tailed Beasts. He'll develop new forbidden techniques, forge weapons with enough power to annihilate entire nations—and use that fear to control the world. Peace through fear, through pain."
Yahiko's eyes widened.
That wasn't the Nagato he knew.
"But… Nagato would never— He's not that extreme…"
Chi Yu raised an eyebrow. "Why are you so surprised? Frankly, Nagato's method is the most realistic one I've heard. As long as the threat exists, people will fear it. They'll submit. Peace will be maintained—whether they like it or not."
Yahiko gritted his teeth and grabbed his head in frustration. "No… that kind of peace… that's not peace!"
"Then what kind of peace do you seek?" Chi Yu asked coldly.
Yahiko met his gaze. "A peace born of understanding. Where people don't need fear to keep them from fighting."
Chi Yu scoffed. "Jiraiya really filled your head with dreams. You talk about 'understanding'… but didn't you punch me when we first met? If understanding is so simple, why didn't you understand me? You haven't even realized your own contradictions. And you expect the world to?"
"I…" Yahiko tried to argue—but couldn't. He had no response.
Chi Yu stepped closer, voice low and sharp. "Yahiko, your peace is nothing more than a fantasy. And let me tell you this—if Nagato weren't being used, I wouldn't have saved you. Because Nagato's method has the highest chance of success. You are a threat to that success."
Yahiko stiffened. "Used? What do you mean… 'Nagato is being used'?!"
Chi Yu stared directly into Yahiko's eyes. "Where do you think Nagato got his Rinnegan?"
Yahiko replied instinctively, "He was born with it. Wasn't he?"
Chi Yu laughed bitterly. "Born with it? Then he must be Uchiha."
"What? No, that's impossible. Nagato isn't from the Uchiha Clan."
Chi Yu activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, both eyes spinning with power. "The Rinnegan is the final evolution of the Uchiha's dōjutsu. It's not something the Uzumaki Clan is born with."
Yahiko froze. "Wait… then… Nagato is—"
"From the Uzumaki Clan. Red hair, strong life force. But the Rinnegan?" Chi Yu's voice turned bitter. "That was implanted. Someone gave it to him—planted him in a grander scheme."
Yahiko's voice was hoarse. "Then… he's just a pawn?"
"Exactly. And if this plan continues, Nagato will eventually be discarded—left to die."
Yahiko's eyes widened in horror. "Who gave him the Rinnegan? What's the goal?!"
Chi Yu shook his head. "I won't tell you that now. If you try to meet Nagato, both of you will be eliminated. You'll ruin the plan of the one pulling the strings—and Nagato will lose his only value. The Rinnegan can be given to someone else if needed."
Yahiko staggered backward and fell to his knees. "No… no… it can't be…"
Then suddenly, Yahiko leapt up, grabbing Chi Yu's shoulders. "You must have a way! You saved me—you clearly want something. If there's anything I can do to save Nagato, I'll do it. Anything!"
Chi Yu smiled faintly. "You're not as naïve as you seem. Yes, there is something I want you to do. But there's one condition: from this point forward, you must not try to contact Nagato or Konan. Not for five years, ten years—maybe never. Can you accept that?"
Yahiko's hands trembled. He stared down, lost in thought for a long moment. Then he looked up, meeting Chi Yu's gaze with solemn determination.
"Promise me one thing," he said. "Promise me they'll be safe."
Chi Yu nodded. "If you keep your end of the deal—I'll keep mine."
Yahiko closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"…Alright. Then I promise you."
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