Chapter 71 – Rematch Against the Three Akatsuki Members
"So… you seem to understand the Rinnegan quite well, don't you?" Nagato asked cautiously, his deep voice laced with curiosity.
"More or less," Hatake Yusuke replied casually. "Just… a bit more than you do."
"Then tell me," Nagato pressed, his eyes shining with interest, "how do I unlock the Rinnegan's full power?"
Yusuke looked at him for a moment before letting out a soft sigh. "That… probably isn't something I can teach you. Only you can draw out its true power. After all, those eyes aren't mine."
Of course, Yusuke didn't say the last part out loud: Those eyes aren't yours either.
He understood better than anyone. The Rinnegan was the final evolutionary stage of the Sharingan — a pinnacle that could only be reached through very specific means. And just like its predecessors, awakening its true power required one thing above all else: a surge of intense, personal emotion.
Hearing his answer, Nagato's expression dropped, disappointment clearly written across his face.
"Well then, it looks like Akatsuki is developing nicely," Yusuke said, changing the topic with a light tone. "If there's nothing urgent, I'll be heading off now."
"So soon?" Konan's voice had a trace of longing in it.
"There's no need to rush off like that," Yahiko added with a subtle smile. "Besides, we've grown quite a bit stronger ourselves. What do you say we spar for a bit?"
Yusuke's grin widened. The warrior's spirit inside him stirred at the invitation.
"Alright," he said, fire lighting up in his eyes. "Show me how far you've come."
The four of them moved to an open training field. The wind picked up around them, carrying with it the tension of impending battle.
"Ready yourself," Yahiko said, gripping a kunai tightly. "I'll be coming at you first."
"Good," Yusuke replied with a playful smirk. "Let's see what you've got."
Without waiting, the trio rushed in from three different directions, surrounding him.
Yusuke calmly drew his legendary blade, Enma.
Yahiko reached him first, kunai slicing through the air — but with a casual flick, Yusuke raised his still-sheathed blade and blocked it with ease.
"Really now," he muttered, voice edged with sarcasm. "Attacking head-on with a kunai… against a swordsman? Should I call you brave… or just stupid?"
With a minimal twist of his wrist, he batted Yahiko away, sending him skidding back. Then, in one smooth motion, he drew Enma from its sheath — a flurry of radiant slashes erupting from the blade.
Light-blades shot toward the three, but Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan reacted swiftly, scattering with practiced agility.
Yusuke vanished the next instant — his body a blur of speed, using the Shave Technique to close the gap instantly.
"Santoryu… Falcon Slash!"
He slashed mid-air toward Yahiko with a blazing arc.
"Damn it—! Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
A wall of hardened earth rose in front of Yahiko, but it crumbled like paper under Enma's force.
"Banshō Ten'in!"
Nagato activated his Rinnegan, unleashing a powerful gravitational pull that yanked Yusuke toward him. His body was dragged through the air with incredible force, giving Yahiko the chance to retreat.
"Dance of the Shikigami!"
Konan launched a barrage of razor-sharp paper, folding into spears, blades, and darts — all flying toward Yusuke mid-air.
"Hatake Sword Style: Lotus!"
Yusuke's blade spun and danced, carving through the paper storm while simultaneously freeing himself from the gravitational pull.
But the assault wasn't over.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" Yahiko roared, weaving hand signs in rapid succession.
A massive dragon made of churning water surged forward — but Yusuke countered with a single swing of Enma, now crackling with sword aura, splitting the dragon clean in half and slashing forward toward Nagato.
Nagato barely evaded with a swift leap, his gravitational hold dispersing in the process.
"Such absurd power," Yusuke muttered, catching his breath. "Looks like swordsmanship alone won't cut it."
He slid Enma back into its sheath.
"Fire Fist!"
A massive flaming punch erupted from Yusuke's hand and launched forward like a meteor.
"Shinra Tensei!"
A violent repulsive wave exploded from Nagato, shattering the flame in an instant.
"Not bad," Yusuke said, amused. "But what about this?"
A second Fire Fist followed — this one nearly twice the size of the first.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Nagato repelled it again, but this time, the attack wasn't fully destroyed — it merely halted.
The difference was clear now. Nagato wasn't yet the version of Pain who would one day fight Naruto — but he was already stronger than Naruto at that time.
"Water Gun!"
Yahiko formed seals and blasted a concentrated stream of water to smother the lingering flames.
"Paper Rain!"
Thousands of razor-edged paper sheets rained from the sky.
"Flame Ring: Flame Pillar!"
Yusuke raised his hand, summoning a column of roaring fire to block the paper deluge.
"I'll take him head-on, Konan!" Yahiko called out. "His flames are too much for you!"
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
Nagato and Yahiko roared in unison — twin torrents of water erupting like crashing waterfalls, aiming straight for Yusuke.
"Banshō Ten'in!"
"Paper Shuriken!"
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Spear!"
A sequence of attacks descended upon him. Yusuke's body was jerked through the air, pulled by gravity, pelted by paper and impaled by earth. But just before the impact—
"Divine Fire: Shiranui!"
A burst of intense flame exploded from his fists, scorching everything in his path and breaking free of the pull. His body flashed and vanished.
He reappeared nearby, brows furrowed.
"So this is Banshō Ten'in… Even if I break it by force, if Uchiha Madara were to use it…"
Yusuke clenched his fist. Even light could be pulled into a black hole. Madara may not be there yet… but stopping me? That would be nothing to him.
"Speed is weight… Have you ever felt a kick traveling at the speed of light?"
He vanished again.
In a blink, he was behind Nagato — and landed a kick that cracked the air.
Nagato, unskilled in close combat and unable to react due to the Rinnegan's cooldown, took the full brunt.
"Yata no Kagami!"
Yusuke's body bent light itself, refracting his image. In a flash, he rebounded off his own light and appeared beside Yahiko, slamming his heel into his side.
It all happened in a single breath. But it felt longer — thanks to the effects of Yata no Kagami, a light-based misdirection technique.
"I give up…" Konan murmured, trembling from the adrenaline.
"You're… way faster than before, aren't you?" she asked quietly.
"Haha. You could say that."
"We lost…" Yahiko muttered.
After a few parting words, Yusuke left Akatsuki behind. Konan watched him go with quiet reluctance. And just like that, he was on his way back to Konoha.
By the time Yusuke reached the village, night had fallen. He walked straight to the Hokage's office.
Letting out a sigh, he pushed open the door.
"This whole Hokage business… I don't envy it."
"Come in," a tired, raspy voice answered from within.
"Hokage-sama," Yusuke greeted with a lazy tone.
"Yusuke. What brings you here?" Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up with curiosity.
"Nothing major," Yusuke said blandly. "Just that Hanzo and Iwagakure are getting real cozy. Their people are starting to gather in his territory."
"Oh…" Hiruzen blinked slowly. Then it hit him. That's not major?! That's basically a declaration of war!
"Sit, Yusuke. We need to talk."
"Alright."
"What do you think about the chances of war breaking out?"
Yusuke shrugged. "Nothing much to say. A lot of people will die. Some more tragically than others."
"If war does come… would you be willing to stand at the front lines for Konoha?" Hiruzen asked gravely.
"You want the honest answer?"
"Of course."
"Then… no. I wouldn't."
Hiruzen's eyes widened. He hadn't expected such blunt rejection.
"Why?" he asked, frowning.
"It's simple," Yusuke replied coldly. "Would you throw everything away for people who nearly got your father killed? For a village that treated your family like garbage?"
Hiruzen stayed silent.
"Maybe you would. But I won't. My father did nothing wrong. The fault lies with them."
"Yusuke… please. Just give the village one more chance."
"Chance?" Yusuke scoffed. "When did they ever give my father a chance? My little brother was scorned. My father humiliated. As a son and an older brother — what reason do I have to forgive them?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"And don't even try to guilt me. You're the Hokage. Yet even you hesitate. If the leader of this village can't lead by example — why should I show mercy?"
Hiruzen sighed deeply.
"Protecting the village… is the Hokage's duty."
"That's exactly why," Yusuke said calmly, "I have no interest in becoming Hokage."
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