"The Rinnegan—the supreme eye that governs life and death—is the ultimate dōjutsu once possessed by the Sage of Six Paths, the founder of ninjutsu itself. Legend has it that whoever wields the Rinnegan can naturally master all six chakra natures, control both Yin and Yang, and command powers beyond human comprehension. Such a person could be a god of creation, capable of forging worlds—or a god of destruction, able to end them."
Jinghang painted a vivid picture of the Rinnegan's wonders, leaving Nagato and Konan completely bewildered.
Seeing the confusion on their faces, Jinghang rolled his eyes and decided to cut to the chase. He pointed straight at Nagato's eyes.
"I'm talking about your eyes, kid."
"My eyes?!"
"That's right. These are the very eyes once possessed by the Sage of Six Paths—the Rinnegan!"
Nagato was utterly lost. Sure, he'd always known his eyes were different, but as for their origin? He had no clue.
"How could I possibly have the Sage of Six Paths' eyes?"
Nagato muttered.
"Your family hails from the Land of Whirlpools. Most of the Uzumaki clan from that land are direct descendants of Asura, the Sage's younger son. So, it's not at all strange for the Rinnegan to appear in your bloodline."
Of course, Jinghang couldn't tell him the truth—that those eyes were transplanted by that old schemer, Uchiha Madara. That would only make things messier.
"Wait... you knew all this from the start?!"
Not bad, the kid's sharp. Jinghang nodded.
"That's right. The moment I laid eyes on you, I knew."
"Then why—"
Nagato couldn't help but question Jinghang's motives.
"They say every five hundred years, the world is shaken by great change, and such change always needs a chosen one to lead the way. You are that chosen one!"
Jinghang pointed dramatically at Nagato, his tone leaving no room for doubt. Nagato looked at his own frail, paralyzed body and managed a bitter smile.
"Lord Kazekage, you must be mistaken. Just look at me—how could I be anyone's chosen one?"
"Not so! When Heaven is about to entrust a person with a great mission, it first tests his will, exhausts his body, starves him, makes him suffer, and frustrates his every step. All this to strengthen his resolve and build his spirit. You've suffered more than most, seen the depths of human misery—perhaps that's precisely the trial you needed. Isn't this Heaven's way of prompting you to lead the world out of suffering, to overturn the old order, and create something new?
From the moment I discovered you, I knew you were destined to change this world. And I'll give everything I have to support you, to help you realize that vision!"
With that, Jinghang actually bowed deeply to Nagato.
His words rang in Nagato's ears like a bell at dawn, stirring something deep within him. Even if he didn't understand every word, he felt it in his bones—this made sense.
I am the chosen one!
All the pain and hardship I've endured, it was so I could see the world clearly—and change it!
Yes, it must be so.
These miraculous eyes are the proof.
"What should I do?"
Nagato looked at Jinghang with newfound determination.
Perfect. He's getting into character already.
"First, you need to get familiar with those eyes of yours," Jinghang said.
"Uh… do you know how they work?"
Truth be told, Nagato himself had no idea. Aside from the two times he'd lost control—once when his parents died, and again when Yahiko was killed—he'd never consciously used his eyes' power.
You don't know, but I do, Jinghang thought to himself. Shinra Tensei, Banshō Ten'in, Chibaku Tensei… every single one is a world-shaking jutsu.
"I know a thing or two. Come on, let's go over it in detail. Konan, you should listen too. Since Nagato can't move easily, you'll need to protect him. Let's start with those black rods behind you. They're not just iron rods..."
Jinghang began a serious lesson on the mysteries of the Rinnegan.
"Danzo has gone too far this time! To actually do that to Hatake Sakumo—that's outright murder!"
Minato Namikaze slammed his hand on the table.
"Minato, calm yourself. In moments of crisis, composure is key."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was dark as thunder, his eyelids twitching as he fought to suppress his own fury.
Hatake Sakumo had always been Hiruzen's most trusted confidant—brilliant in ninjutsu, sharp and resourceful. Placing him at Danzo's side had been a deliberate move to keep Danzo in check.
Who could have imagined Danzo would be so brazen, so reckless, as to orchestrate Sakumo's death?
And that report Danzo submitted? What a joke! As if two nobodies from Amegakure could take down Konoha's White Fang. Ridiculous!
"I know you're hesitant to act. You're worried about disrupting the Northern Army's campaign against Sunagakure," Minato said quietly.
"The campaign against Sunagakure is a matter of life and death for Konoha. As much as I despise Danzo's methods, he has at least achieved the strategic goals for now. Changing commanders at this critical moment... would only harm the greater good."
By the end, Hiruzen was grinding his teeth so hard it was audible.
"But if we let him get away with this, won't Danzo just—"
"Does he think that by eliminating Sakumo he's free from oversight? The ten thousand ninja of the Northern Army are Konoha's, not Danzo's private army! Hmph! Injustice breeds its own downfall. After the war, I'll settle accounts with him myself!"
Hiruzen slammed the table again.
Seeing that the Hokage already had a plan, Minato fell silent.
After a long pause, Hiruzen composed himself and turned to Minato.
"Sakumo has a son, Kakashi Hatake—a truly exceptional child. Let him follow you. Teach him well. He's the orphan of a hero, and we must treat him with honor."
"Yes, I'll make sure he grows up to be as fine a ninja as his father," Minato replied solemnly.
At that moment, Yahiko's body was nearly naked, clad only in shorts. Black rods had been embedded at every joint, as well as his nose, ears, and chin—his appearance now identical to the Deva Path Pain from the original manga.
Jinghang carefully lifted Yahiko's eyelids, removed his gloves, and examined him closely. He nodded in satisfaction. He might not be a medical ninja, but after so much time around Tsunade, he'd picked up a solid understanding of anatomy. Handling this was a breeze.
"Looks about right. Okay, Nagato, try channeling your ocular power into Yahiko's eyes."
Nagato pushed his wheelchair forward, eyes locked on Yahiko as a surge of dōjutsu energy flowed into the body.
"Focus on the Yin-Yang Release chakra rods. Control it carefully," Jinghang reminded.
Credit where it's due—Jiraiya had given Nagato a solid foundation in ninjutsu. Nagato's chakra control was sharp. The Yahiko lying on the bed began to change: his eyes slowly developed those iconic ripple patterns, shifting from dull to a vibrant violet—the unmistakable Rinnegan.
"Good. Now, try sitting up," Jinghang instructed.
Slowly, "Yahiko" sat up.
"Excellent. Mission accomplished. Get used to it—move around a bit."
Jinghang was genuinely pleased. To think that the legendary Deva Path Pain was created by his own hands—what a sense of accomplishment.
"Yahiko" stood up, taking in his new form.
"Yahiko!"
Konan couldn't hold back any longer. She cried out and threw herself into "Yahiko's" arms.
"Yahiko" embraced Konan gently, his voice soft and comforting.
"Don't cry. I've always been here."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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