Chapter 204 Nagato Joins In! (Second update, seeking subscriptions and monthly votes)
He thought he was about to ascend to godhood, but his final step was knocked away.
The blow to Nagato was undoubtedly severe.
However, having endured hardships, his will was, in a sense, incredibly firm, so he didn't collapse.
As Sarutobi Asuma had said, he hadn't reached the limit of his Rinnegan's development.
Hearing the change in Nagato's address for him, Sarutobi Asuma smiled slightly and said, "I've met them. You've met them too!"
"I've met them too?"
Nagato's gaze swept across the surroundings. "Is it this land, shattered beyond recognition?"
"This level, indeed, is something I cannot achieve right now."
Sarutobi Asuma looked up at the azure sky. "No!"
"More than just here!"
Nagato was puzzled.
Sarutobi Asuma withdrew his gaze and asked with a smile, "You've seen the moon at night, haven't you!"
"That was also created by the Sage of Six Paths!"
"The technique you just used, Chibaku Tensei!"
Nagato instinctively looked up at the sky.
Of course, he couldn't see it now.
However, this information was shocking enough.
Compared to the moon above his head, his Chibaku Tensei was indeed insignificant.
Sarutobi Asuma floated in mid-air and sat down cross-legged, looking at Nagato. "You should remember what I told you about the inheritance of the Rinnegan, right!"
Nagato nodded. He naturally remembered what Sarutobi Asuma had said back then.
However, he hadn't fully believed it.
With such powerful eyes, if he hadn't awakened them himself, who would they belong to!
Who would give such eyes to him!
Sarutobi Asuma saw through Nagato's thoughts and chuckled, "It seems you don't believe me."
"Then I'll tell you a piece of history, about the Sage of Six Paths."
"After the Sage of Six Paths pacified the chaotic world, he had two sons. The elder son, Indra, received the Sage's eyes; this son, Ashura, received the Sage's body, inheriting a part of the Sage of Six Paths' power."
"Later, Indra gave rise to the Uchiha clan, while Ashura gave rise to the Senju clan. Oh, and the Uzumaki clan also carries Ashura's bloodline."
Nagato was stunned, then exclaimed in shock, "The Sharingan and the Rinnegan have this kind of relationship! Could it be..."
"That's right!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded. "The Sharingan can be considered a degeneration of the Rinnegan."
"You have the bloodline of the Uzumaki clan, and it's very pure, possessing immense vitality, which is why you can bear the power of the Rinnegan."
"But you don't have the bloodline of the Uchiha clan, so theoretically... or rather, if your father wasn't from the Uchiha clan, it would be impossible for you to awaken the Rinnegan on your own."
Nagato's mind was heavily shaken. He couldn't help but stagger back two steps, then suddenly looked up at Sarutobi Asuma. "You... you know the origin of these Rinnegan!"
Sarutobi Asuma said, "You should have a guess already, don't you!"
"Uchiha... Madara!"
Nagato's voice was extremely hoarse, his fists clenched tightly.
"So, do you think your current path can truly achieve peace!"
Sarutobi Asuma asked again.
Nagato tried to calm himself down, looked up at Sarutobi Asuma, and asked, "Then, Mr. Asuma, in what way do you wish to achieve peace!"
Sarutobi Asuma smiled and said, "Unification. What do you think!"
"Unification of the Ninja World. Like Konoha now, or Amegakure, where various ninja clans and countless civilian ninjas gather together, using systems to restrain everyone. Even if there are conflicts and disputes, they are often resolved before resorting to force."
"Unification of the major countries. When regional development is unbalanced, interests can be distributed. Because they are people of the same country, they are our own people, making understanding much easier."
...
Sarutobi Asuma brought out the same argument he had presented to Jiraiya, Uchiha Shisui, and others, trying to sell it again.
But Nagato wasn't easily persuaded. After listening, he said, "So, it also requires a war of immense scale!"
"And, as you said, after you die, won't there be people who start wars again and split the unified nation!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded with a smile. "Of course, there will be such people. I can set rules to restrain people's bodies, but I cannot restrain their hearts."
"However, at my current age, as long as I am alive, no one will dare to step forward. At least fifty years of peaceful unification. By then, I will have planted a seed in everyone, a concept."
"Or rather, I will have erected a monument for those who come after."
Nagato asked, confused, "What do you mean?"
Sarutobi Asuma smiled and asked, "Back then, you all admired Hanzō, the Ninja Demigod, didn't you?"
"Or rather, the goal for most of the ninja in your Amegakure was Hanzō, the Ninja Demigod!"
"Just like for us ninja in Konoha, or any other village, when we're young, most people aim to become Hokage."
"Whether it's a Ninja Demigod or a Kage, they are figures standing at the pinnacle of the Ninja World. They're like the summit of a mountain, and those climbing it all aim for them."
Nagato nodded, vaguely understanding Sarutobi Asuma's meaning.
"When I unify the Ninja World, at that time, I will plant a seed of unity in everyone across the entire Ninja World."
"Let those ambitious successors aim for me."
Sarutobi Asuma's tone was calm and light: "Perhaps fifty or a hundred years after my death, when the unified Ninja World becomes corrupt, someone will stand up to overthrow it, igniting a great war."
"Then, a few years or a decade later, the Ninja World will be unified again, maintaining peace for decades, even centuries."
"Of course, it might also end with a small coup, without any large-scale war."
Nagato was shaken. This was indeed a path he had never considered.
Moreover, it seemed more "correct" than the path he had previously considered, or the one Yahiko had spoken of.
However.
"This still doesn't achieve eternal peace, does it?"
Nagato said gravely, "It just extends the cycle of war!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded, "You're right."
"I've also told my disciples that there is no such thing as everlasting peace in this world."
"After all, even stars will eventually perish!"
"The most I can do is to maintain peace for as long as possible."
Nagato fell silent.
Sarutobi Asuma's method aligned with his own intentions.
It was merely taking one more step beyond his original plan.
After a long while, he looked at Sarutobi Asuma and said, "So, you want me to be a pawn for you!"
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled, "Who isn't a pawn?"
"You are a pawn, and Uchiha Madara is also a pawn!"
Nagato mulled over this profound statement, then asked, "So, what is your plan?"
Sarutobi Asuma's smile faded, and he looked at Nagato sternly, "Have you decided?"
"Once you know certain things, there's no turning back."
"If you lose control, I will not hesitate to eliminate you."
"You still have a chance to regret this."
Nagato said lightly, "If Yahiko were here, I think he would also agree with your idea."
"Besides, even if I didn't participate, you would still treat me as a pawn, wouldn't you?"
"Compared to being a pawn who knows nothing, I prefer to be a pawn with my own thoughts and my own pursuits!"
Sarutobi Asuma smiled, "Very good!"
Snap!
He snapped his fingers, and Nagato immediately noticed the surroundings change, "Genjutsu?"
"Before I explain the plan, it's necessary for you to learn some history."
Sarutobi Asuma's figure appeared, and he began his lesson.
Half an hour later.
The Genjutsu was released.
Sarutobi Asuma approached Nagato, raised his hand, and placed it on his exposed left shoulder, leaving a faint golden dragon imprint.
"This is a Chakra mark; it can save you at a critical moment."
"Also, have Konan protect the kunai I gave her."
With that, Sarutobi Asuma's figure disappeared.
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