After hearing Chinya's analysis, Yahiko was completely stunned.
"Does that mean... were we wrong all along to strive for peace in the shinobi world? Is true peace simply impossible?"
Looking at Yahiko's disheartened expression, Chinya said, "It isn't wrong for you to chase peace — but you picked the wrong era to do it in. If we were already living in peace, that wouldn't be a problem.
But this is a time of war. Your talk about peace challenges the interests of those in power now, so it becomes wrong."
Yahiko frowned and asked, "But doesn't that contradict itself? If we were already in an era of peace, then no one would even need us anymore."
Chinya sighed, "Yahiko, it's rare to find someone as innocent as you in this complicated shinobi world. Why do wars break out? It's always because of conflicts, unequal interests, social injustices, and other such reasons.
"Once war has started, it means words are powerless — only bloodshed can bring resolution.
"If these contradictions can't even be reconciled anymore, do you really believe having everyone sit down together will end the war?
"If merely talking could end wars, how would we account for all the losses and lives lost during wartime?
"Wars only end when someone wins. Now do you get it?"
Yahiko clenched his fists tightly.
He really didn't want to face the truth.
Yet his current experiences told him Chinya was right.
Because his proposal for peace talks had brought the Akatsuki to the verge of complete destruction.
Frustrated, Yahiko looked at Chinya, "Then is there truly no way to achieve lasting peace?"
Chinya shook his head, "No. However, what your companions are currently planning might bring temporary peace to the shinobi world."
Yahiko blinked, "My companions?"
He quickly figured it out, "You mean Nagato and Konan! That's great — I knew Nagato was the savior!"
His tense nerves immediately relaxed and a smile appeared on his face.
A subtle smile also appeared on Chinya's face, "Don't you want to know exactly what method Nagato is using?"
"What method?" Yahiko asked curiously.
Chinya smiled mischievously, "Nagato now believes this world, shackled by endless hatred and suffering, can never achieve true peace. He thinks people will never completely understand each other.
"That's why he plans to gather all the Tailed Beasts, develop new kinjutsu, create Tailed Beast weapons, and obtain power capable of instantly destroying an entire country. He'll use people's terror of pain to crush wars before they even begin."
Normally, Nagato wouldn't reach this plan yet.
In reality, this wasn't a plan Nagato would have conceived on his own — it was originally Obito Uchiha's idea, which he later presented to Nagato before Nagato chose to embrace it.
But what good would it have done if Yahiko had known sooner anyway?
Chinya had absolutely no intention of letting Yahiko meet Nagato.
Yahiko froze upon hearing this. "How could this happen... Why would Nagato become so extreme..."
Chinya asked in confusion, "Why do you look so shocked? To be honest, Nagato's method of achieving peace is actually the most feasible one. As long as weapons exist, people will always have fears and hesitations. No one would dare to act recklessly and peace under Nagato's rule would naturally be achieved."
Yahiko gripped his head, shouting, "That's not it! Not at all! This isn't peace!"
Chinya questioned, "Then what kind of peace are you hoping for?"
Yahiko replied, "The peace I envision is when people truly understand each other."
Chinya scoffed, "You've really been lured by Jiraiya's grand illusions. That kind of peace will never exist. You say you want a peace where people understand each other, then why did you start by punching me?
If it's about mutual understanding, why didn't you try to understand me? Since you yourself haven't achieved that, how can you expect others to do it?"
"I... I..."
Yahiko wanted to fight back, but had no words to counter.
Chinya stepped close to Yahiko, staring him down as he spoke, "Yahiko, the peace you're talking about is simply impossible to achieve. Let me tell you this—if it weren't because Nagato was being manipulated, I wouldn't have saved you at all. Because Nagato's method has the highest chance of success. Your existence now only interferes with Nagato..."
Yahiko asked anxiously, "Manipulated? What do you mean that Nagato was being used?! Who's behind this?!"
Chinya countered, "Do you know where Nagato's Rinnegan truly came from?"
Yahiko immediately answered, "Of course it was innate!"
Chinya scoffed, "Innate? Then Nagato must be from the Uchiha Clan."
Yahiko frowned in confusion, "What do you mean? How could Nagato possibly be from the Uchiha Clan!"
Chinya activated the Mangekyo Sharingan in both of his eyes: "[Mangekyo Sharingan] Because the Rinnegan is the ultimate form of the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan."
Yahiko was utterly stunned, "The final form of the Sharingan... So does that mean Nagato is truly part of the Uchiha Clan?"
Chinya twitched his lips, finally believing what White Snake had said—that Yahiko was naïve.
Chinya responded irritably, "All members of the Uchiha have black hair—there's no other hair color. Nagato belongs to the Uzumaki Clan."
Yahiko's mind was now in chaos: "Uzumaki Clan? But... then why does Nagato have the Rinnegan?"
Chinya answered, "Why else? Someone must have given it to him! Ever since Nagato obtained the Rinnegan, he has already fallen into a deadly plot. If things keep going like this, Nagato has only one fate ahead—death."
Yahiko's pupils dilated sharply as he urgently asked, "Who gave Nagato the Rinnegan? And what exactly is this conspiracy?"
Chinya shook his head, "Not telling you now. If you go looking for Nagato right away, you and he won't survive long. Because you're interfering with the plans of the one pulling the strings behind the scenes, and Nagato will lose whatever usefulness he still has."
Nagato's value lies in his Rinnegan. If the Rinnegan can be given to Nagato, it can also be given to someone else to continue the plan."
Yahiko fell weakly to the ground, murmuring, "How could it come to this..."
Yahiko suddenly stood up and grabbed Chinya firmly by the shoulders, "You must have a way, right? You saved me—you must want me to do something for you! Just tell me, as long as it means saving Nagato, I'll do anything!"
Chinya gave Yahiko a faint smile and said, "Now you're being smart. That's right, I do have something for you to do. But there is one condition: before I finish my business, you absolutely cannot meet with Nagato or Konan. This time might be five years, maybe ten years, maybe forever. Can you handle that?"
Yahiko's hands on Chinya's shoulders trembled. After a long silence, he seemed to have made a firm decision. Looking straight into Chinya's eyes, he asked, "Then can you promise me—can you guarantee that Nagato and Konan will be safe?"
Chinya nodded, "As long as you fulfill your part, I will too."
Yahiko took a deep breath and replied firmly, "Okay, I agree."
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