Chapter 201: Nagato: To Think He's Even More Radical Than Me!
Kinoshita Genichi went with Shizune to the Torture and Interrogation Department to wait for Uzumaki Ina. At the beginning of the year, Ina had been transferred to the department, as her "Mind Control" Kekkei Genkai was a huge asset in assisting interrogations and obtaining intelligence.
"Genichi! Shizune!" After a short wait, Ina emerged from the building, waving at them.
The three met up and went to buy ingredients for dinner.
"Uncle Genichi!" Along the way, a childish voice rang out.
He saw the blond-haired Naruto, pumping his short legs, charging toward him.
"Naruto," he bent down and stopped the boy, who couldn't brake in time. He smiled and asked, "Where's your mom?"
Naruto grabbed his wrist with both hands, hanging off his arm. "Mom's right behind me! Sister Shizune, Auntie Ina!" he greeted the other two.
"You should be calling me 'Auntie,' too," Shizune said, poking his cheek.
"Right, Sister Shizune!" Naruto blinked.
Shizune was helpless.
Genichi reached out with his left hand and flicked him on the forehead. "You little smart-aleck."
Naruto immediately grabbed his head and yelped, falling, but Genichi caught him with one hand. Just then, Kushina, carrying a vegetable basket, walked over, smiling. "Genichi, Ina, Shizune. Are you all going grocery shopping?"
"We are," Ina nodded.
Kushina looked around. "Eh? Where's Lady Tsunade?"
Genichi, who was teasing Naruto, smiled and said, "She's probably enjoying the sunset."
Kushina was taken aback for a moment, then laughed. "She's really in the mood for that."
After chatting for a bit, Naruto was grabbed by his mother, plopped into the vegetable basket, and carried away. "We're leaving first! Come over and play when you have time!" she waved goodbye. From the basket, Naruto also waved, a mushroom in his mouth.
"So kawaii," Ina said, her face full of affection.
Genichi just smiled without a word. Naruto was indeed cute now, but when he got a little older, he'd probably be a menace to society.
After returning home from shopping, Shizune didn't see Tsunade and asked, "Why isn't Lady Tsunade here yet?"
"She's resting in the quiet room," Genichi said. "Let's make dinner first."
The three of them went into the kitchen, talking and laughing as they started to cook.
Meanwhile, in the quiet room, Tsunade sat with her hands clasped. Green chakra light was already overflowing from her body, making her twin pigtails float slightly. On the wooden floor around her, small green buds were breaking through.
When the aroma of food wafted in, her stomach growled. She stopped her training and opened her eyes. The buds withered, and the floor returned to normal.
She stood up, left the room, and went to the dining room, where a table full of dishes was already prepared. She went to get a bottle of sake, sat down, and started to drink.
When all the dishes were on the table, Genichi took a cup. "I'll join you for a few drinks today."
Tsunade was taken aback. "Genichi, you're not an adult yet," Ina said, surprised.
"My birthday is November 17th, but I can be considered 18 now," he smiled. 18 by East Asian reckoning was still 18.
"Then I'll join too," Shizune said, getting a cup. Her birthday was the day after his, November 18th.
Tsunade looked at the three of them, then nodded. "Then let's all drink together."
And so, the four of them toasted. Once they started, they couldn't stop. By the time dinner was over, both Tsunade and Shizune were slumped over the table. Tsunade was mumbling something in her sleep.
Genichi and Ina looked at each other and both laughed.
"You settle them in. I'll clean up," he said.
Ina nodded. The two of them first carried Tsunade and Shizune to the latter's bedroom. Ina took care of them, and he cleaned the dining table and kitchen.
When he was done and ready to take a bath, he happened to run into Ina at the door. They looked at each other, then slipped into the bathroom together.
An hour later, the two of them returned to the bedroom to continue their research into the origins of life. But without realizing it, he suddenly found there was another person. The mysteries of life were indeed profound and required even greater effort to explore. Wait, how did another one get here?
The next day, early in the morning, Tsunade fled from Genichi's house. Then Ina and Shizune also left in a hurry, not even making breakfast.
Although he had been exploring the mysteries of life all night, he was still full of energy. He did his morning training as usual, then hummed a tune as he made breakfast for himself. Although he had been drinking, and had taken advantage of the situation a bit, it was still a breakthrough. To be honest, under normal circumstances, it would have been impossible. Unless he used Kotoamatsukami. But that wouldn't be as interesting.
This was good. Just give him one child first. There was love and affection, but there was also utility, and even more so, possessiveness.
After breakfast and washing the dishes, he put on his robe, took his scroll, and then vanished from the house.
In the morning, Tsunade was a little restless in her office. Shizune also kept her head down, not daring to speak.
Tap, tap, tap...
Tsunade suddenly stood up, left her office, and went to the advisor's office, where Minato was on duty.
"Lady Hokage," he stood up.
"Minato, is Genichi not in the village?"
Minato was taken aback for a moment, then quickly sensed. "His main body should be out. Is something wrong?"
"He went to the Hidden Rain Village," she said in a deep voice.
"He went alone?" Minato's expression changed slightly.
"Yes. Just know this for now. Keep it secret."
"I understand," he nodded gravely.
Tsunade returned to her office, stood by the window, her thoughts far away. Suddenly, she said, "Shizune, what do you think if I passed the position of Hokage to Minato?"
"Ah?" Shizune looked up, stunned. "Um, why would you suddenly say that? You haven't been Hokage for very long, Lady Tsunade, and you're still very young."
"It's not because of that," she waved her hand. After a pause, she sighed. "Forget it. We'll talk about this later."
Shizune secretly sighed in relief.
Outside the Hidden Rain Village.
On a mountaintop, Genichi suddenly appeared, his gaze fixed on the misty village in the distance. After a moment, he took to the air, flew into the village, and landed in a quiet corner, then began to walk the streets. Perhaps because of the rain, the villagers were all hurrying along. But he also felt a different kind of oppression, completely different from Konoha's atmosphere. Even during the Hanzō era before the war, the village hadn't felt like this.
However, the current Land of Rain had indeed changed dramatically. At least the countless small ninja organizations were gone, and ninja from other villages no longer gathered here to fight. The people were now enjoying a few years of peace.
Just as he was strolling through the village, in a high tower, Tendo Pain suddenly said, "A familiar chakra…"
"Is it Master Jiraiya?" Konan emerged from the darkness.
"No," he replied. "It's Kinoshita Genichi."
"He really came," Konan's expression changed. "I'll go buy some time and gather the others."
"There's no need," Tendo Pain turned. "This is a battle between him and me. Besides, the others wouldn't be able to participate. You just watch from the sidelines, Konan."
She was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I understand. But I will also make preparations."
Tendo Pain didn't speak, just leaped from the high tower.
In the village, Genichi stopped. "That was fast. The Rain Tiger at Will Technique is indeed impressive." His Electromagnetic Release could achieve optical invisibility, but it couldn't avoid a dual chakra-and-physical sensor technique like this. Of course, he had no need to hide himself. He was here specifically for a fight, not really to gather intel.
"Then let's change the venue, so as not to harm the innocent." He vanished.
North of the village, on a barren wasteland, on a mound, he waited quietly for a moment, then saw figures appearing one after another in front of him. At the same time, on another mound to the right, Aloe White Zetsu and Tobi also emerged from the ground.
"By the way, if Nagato also dies, what should we do?" Tobi said pessimistically.
"He shouldn't die that easily, right?" Aloe White Zetsu replied. "After all, he's the wielder of the Rinnegan. And Lord Madara also strengthened him to deal with this unexpected situation."
"But what if," Tobi said, "just what if? By the way, in that case, should we immediately surrender and pledge allegiance to Genichi? Lord Madara should understand us, right? After all, as artificial humans, we need a master."
Just then, Black Zetsu emerged from the ground, attaching to half of Aloe White Zetsu's body. "Tobi," he said sinisterly, "if Lord Madara heard what you said, he would probably be very unhappy."
"To be honest," Tobi spread his hands, "I'm very pessimistic about whether Lord Madara can be revived now. That guy Genichi is just too strong."
"Don't worry. Lord Madara will definitely be revived. Preparations have already been made," Black Zetsu said. "But if Nagato really does fail, we must take the Rinnegan. We must be prepared."
"Looks like we'll have to risk our lives," Tobi said helplessly. "Actually, I still think that defecting to Genichi is a bit more reliable."
Aloe White Zetsu and Black Zetsu both couldn't be bothered to respond to this idiot. Black Zetsu detached from Aloe's body again, sinking into the ground to lie in wait. Aloe White Zetsu also submerged. Tobi sighed, his single eye looking up at the gloomy sky. Who could understand that his mood was the same as this weather? By the way, do artificial humans also have emotions?
On the mound, Genichi looked at the Six Paths of Pain lined up, his gaze lingering on Tendo Pain. "Yahiko."
"It's been a long time, Genichi," Tendo Pain spoke.
"It has been. It seems you've become very proficient in the use of the Rinnegan."
"Pain allows people to grow quickly," he replied. "But your growth seems to be even more surprising. After all, even the Asura of the Ninja World, Madara Uchiha, died because of you."
"That was nothing," Genichi couldn't help but laugh. "It was just bullying an old man who was about to die. Your main body should still need some time to get here. Since that's the case, why don't we catch up and chat first?"
He glanced in the direction of the village, then asked, "Nagato, after Yahiko's death, you all seem to have awakened. So, can you tell me how you plan to achieve your original ideal now?"
"We were once friends," Tendo said. "If you want to hear, I am naturally willing to show you. And the method is very simple: use absolute military power to make the five great nations and the five great villages feel the pain of war. Because only by personally experiencing the pain of war can they feel the same way we do. Feel pain, experience pain, accept pain, understand pain. Those who do not know pain will never know what true peace is, nor will they cherish it."
Genichi nodded slightly. "Sounds good. At least it's more realistic than before."
"Oh? It seems you have a different view?"
"The proposition of peace is too big," he smiled. "And I am too small."
"I didn't expect you to be so pessimistic," Tendo said, slightly surprised.
"No," he said softly. "I just recognize who I am." Perhaps the Sage of Six Paths also recognized who he was? The thought flashed through his mind, and he continued, "Nagato, pain will be forgotten. One generation won't forget, but the second, the third, they will. The lesson history teaches us is that people never learn from history."
At this moment, Nagato felt a strong sense of agreement, just as Yahiko once had with him. So nothing had changed.
"Yes. We are in a vortex," Tendo lamented, his voice devoid of any emotion. "And humans are foolish creatures who will never be able to understand each other, no matter what. That's why they need me. So, to break this vortex, I inherited Yahiko's ideal and continue to lead the Akatsuki. We will possess the power to instantly destroy a country, to make this world feel true pain. Only then can the terror of this pain suppress war and lead the world to stability and peace. Before long, this pain will also be forgotten, after several decades. Once the terror is gone, people will fall into conflict again. And then, someone will once again make the entire world feel true pain. And so, a temporary peace will come again. In this endless vortex, because of pain, a temporary peace is created. This is my ideal. This is my reason for existence. And it is the destiny carried by the power of this god's eye, the Rinnegan."
Genichi listened quietly, then sighed softly. "I see. Destiny, huh? All I can say is, as expected of Jiraiya's student."
"I remember," Tendo said, "that you also once called Master Jiraiya 'teacher'."
"Indeed," he nodded. "To this day, I still respect him. I learned a lot from him when I was just a kid. And the reason you think I'm pessimistic is because I can't find a way to bring lasting peace to this world. Whether it was the First Hokage's method of balancing the five great villages, or your method of using the terror of pain to achieve peace, they are all just temporary. Because you will all die one day. And when you are gone, the balance will be lost, the terrifying deterrent will be gone, and so the vortex of war will reappear."
Tendo was silent, but then said, "This is already the best method, isn't it?"
He nodded, then smiled. "Nagato, I have a suggestion. You might want to listen."
"Please speak," he said gravely.
"Since the vortex of war is bound to appear sooner or later," he smiled, "then let's try to make it appear as late as possible. For example, get rid of all five great ninja villages. Unify all ninja under one banner. Before you die, choose someone to inherit that power. Although the power will be misused later, at least the peace can last a little longer, can't it?"
Hearing this, Tendo couldn't help but say, "So, you are even more radical than I am. But it is indeed a good suggestion. It's just a pity…"
A pity for what? That he couldn't stand with him. The path to godhood was destined to be a lonely one.
While the two of them were talking, Aloe White Zetsu and Tobi were dumbfounded. Especially at Genichi's words, which made them feel that this guy was more terrifying than anyone else. After all, even Madara hadn't thought of eradicating all five villages.
This guy… is a madman, isn't he? Tobi suddenly held his head. "By the way, if Lord Madara can't be revived, will this world be destroyed by him? After all, if all five great villages are destroyed, the ninja world will be finished, right?"
Black Zetsu, hiding underground, was also terrified. What he said did not fit his plan. Although capturing the nine Tailed Beasts, reviving the Ten-Tails, and then casting the Infinite Tsukuyomi could save his mother, Kaguya, without the nursery of the ninja world, it would be very troublesome to deal with the Ōtsutsuki main family in the future. What's more, reviving his mother didn't just require the Infinite Tsukuyomi; it also required the ninja of this world as vessels, to allow his unsealed mother to regain her strength.
"This guy… I must find a way to get rid of him." Black Zetsu had a bad feeling. Genichi was an anomaly. If he wasn't dealt with, he would be very, very troublesome.
(End of Chapter)