Chapter 410: The Fifth Disciple
"Sosuke… do you know about the Rinnegan?" After a long silence, Nagato finally chose to trust Mugetsu.
"I do." Mugetsu nodded with a smile. "It is the Six Paths Sage's eye, and it is right in front of me."
Nagato stared at him, stunned. Only now did he realize that Mugetsu had recognized his Rinnegan without him ever saying a word.
"Do not look so shocked," Mugetsu said gently. "There are many descendants of the Six Paths Sage in this world. Anyone who understands the Sage's history can recognize your eyes."
Nagato's expression shifted as if he had learned something new. When Mugetsu stopped speaking, he finally realized it was his turn to talk.
"Even though these eyes are mine, I still cannot control their power very well." Nagato's voice grew heavier. "The first time I discovered that I had this kind of power… was the day my parents were killed by Konoha shinobi."
His face darkened at the memory.
It was a wound that never healed. Back then, he had been a child who still had both parents.
Mugetsu lightly patted Nagato's back. In this world, Nagato's life was one of the most tragic, even among shinobi. Chosen by Uchiha Madara, his Rinnegan transplanted into him, his life arranged from the shadows, always losing the people he cared about.
"Because of what happened to my parents, I hated Konoha shinobi," Nagato continued. "But there was one Konoha shinobi who made me change how I saw them. Jiraiya sensei."
At the mention of Jiraiya, Nagato's expression eased, just a little.
If Nagato ranked the most important people in his heart, Yahiko would be first, Konan second, and Jiraiya third.
Jiraiya taught him many ninjutsu, hoping Nagato could better control the Rinnegan's power. He also encouraged Nagato again and again, and when Nagato sank into despair, Jiraiya was the one who pulled him back.
Even now, Nagato sometimes dreamed about those days. They had been peaceful. Warm. A time when he did not have to think too much.
Jiraiya made them understand that not all Konoha shinobi were evil. It depended on the person.
"The Sannin Jiraiya… I know him," Mugetsu said with a soft smile. "He is an incredible shinobi."
Nagato lowered his gaze.
"Jiraiya sensei taught me many things. Last time, when Yahiko was attacked by shinobi, I could not control the Rinnegan and I killed the enemy immediately."
His fingers curled slightly.
"I did not want to kill anyone. I thought there had to be a better solution than killing. But at that moment… my mind was filled with hatred. By the time I came back to myself, the enemy had already fallen. It was too late."
Nagato hated killing. To him, killing was the worst possible outcome. So losing control and slaughtering someone through a rampage of power felt like losing himself.
"Even after Jiraiya sensei taught me so many techniques, I am still like this," Nagato said, voice sinking further. "Maybe I am the only person he misjudged."
He looked down, as if ashamed to meet Mugetsu's eyes.
"Someone like me cannot save anyone. If I cannot even save the people close to me… how can I save the world?"
"Do not deny yourself," Mugetsu said firmly, meeting Nagato's gaze. "If you had not acted, Yahiko and the others might have been hurt. You protected your comrades."
"And since they attacked you, it was natural to retaliate. Their deaths are not your fault."
Nagato stared at Mugetsu.
For an instant, behind Mugetsu, he almost saw a familiar figure with white hair.
"Sosuke…" Nagato asked suddenly, as if the words slipped out on their own. "What do you think is the way to achieve peace?"
He wanted to know if Mugetsu would answer the same way Jiraiya once had.
"If you mean a plan that can definitely achieve peace," Mugetsu said, "then I do not have one."
"But if you mean striving toward peace, then that is exactly what we are doing."
"Spreading the idea of peace. Raising awareness. Improving ourselves…"
Nagato looked again.
The white haired figure behind Mugetsu vanished.
They were different after all.
Back then, Jiraiya's answer had been vaguer. Jiraiya said he had not found the answer either, then spoke about pain making people grow, making them learn to treat others gently. If everyone could understand each other, maybe a peaceful world would come.
Before leaving, Jiraiya placed the burden of finding peace onto Nagato's shoulders. He believed Nagato, with the Rinnegan, might be the reincarnation of the Six Paths Sage, and that those eyes carried the hope of peace.
Yet now, Nagato felt Mugetsu looked more like the savior Jiraiya spoke of than Nagato himself.
The Six Paths Sage traveled the shinobi world, spreading peace and forming the Shinobi Sect.
Mugetsu traveled the Land of Rain, spreading peace and forming the Shinobi Sect.
"Do not put so much pressure on yourself," Mugetsu said earnestly. "Even if you have the same eyes as the Six Paths Sage, you do not need to compare yourself to him."
"You are you. You are Nagato, not anyone else."
Nagato's body trembled.
Jiraiya had never said words like that to him.
Compared to being told he was the Sage's reincarnation, the savior, the chosen one, Nagato found he preferred something far simpler.
You are you.
You are Nagato.
The image of Mugetsu in Nagato's heart grew clearer, fuller, heavier with meaning. This was someone worthy of recognition.
"If you do not mind having another teacher," Mugetsu said with a light chuckle, "I can try teaching you some more techniques. I hope it will help you control the Rinnegan."
"Haven't I already been learning from you?" Nagato answered honestly.
He had always listened closely in Mugetsu's lessons.
[System: Do you want to establish a master disciple relationship with Nagato?]
Mugetsu looked at the sudden prompt and smiled.
"Of course," he said softly. "But next, I will teach you something a bit more special."
Without hesitation, Mugetsu selected yes.
This was the first time he had invested so much effort into recruiting a disciple.
He had been planning to take Nagato for a long time, and the real execution had taken even longer.
[System: Relationship established successfully. Current Trust Level: Two. Disciple Nagato has unlocked Disciple Cultivation Return to Master and Disciple Return.]
A starting trust level of two made Mugetsu quite satisfied. It meant Nagato already trusted him to some degree.
Mugetsu valued that trust deeply, because he recruited Nagato for Nagato's chakra. The higher the trust level, the stronger Disciple Return to Master would be.
Nagato's current chakra was already over 600,000.
Mugetsu estimated Nagato's natural growth peak would be at least five million. If Mugetsu could raise the trust level to four before that explosive growth period, he would never need to worry about chakra again.
Mugetsu had already calculated it. Trying to stockpile chakra through missions or classes alone was too slow, even compared to those with overwhelming talent.
He needed a disciple with monstrous chakra reserves, then rely on Disciple Training Return to Master.
Even if he gained 50,000 chakra per year, ten years would only be 500,000.
But with a chakra rich disciple like Nagato, and a trust level of four, he could gain tens of millions over a decade.
That was why Mugetsu had been so determined to make Nagato his disciple. The returns were simply too great.
"You are exhausted today," Mugetsu said, his smile gentle again. "Rest early."
It was already late. Not the right time to teach.
And because of Nagato's Rinnegan, Mugetsu also had to guard against White Zetsu's surveillance.
Mugetsu had considered this long before coming to the Land of Rain.
With his current sealing ability, he could set up a barrier that even White Zetsu could not eavesdrop through. He could teach Nagato inside that barrier.
The reason was easy to justify. Nagato's eyes were special. To prevent another rampage and keep everyone safe, they needed a controlled environment.
Nagato nodded.
He truly was tired, in every sense.
…
The Rain shinobi sent out by Lord Hanzo moved quickly.
First, they visited the village near the location Danzo had provided. After investigating, they obtained two key pieces of information.
One, someone had witnessed Yahiko's group fighting Iwagakure shinobi.
Two, after the battle, Yahiko's group had searched around for the bodies of the Iwagakure shinobi.
With these two points, it was almost confirmed that Yahiko's group had killed Iwagakure shinobi.
Next, the Rain shinobi asked about the Shinobi Sect's ideology. What they heard matched Danzo's report closely.
When Lord Hanzo read the intelligence, his expression turned grim.
He had warned Mugetsu before because he valued him, but he never expected Mugetsu to repay him like this.
Even if Mugetsu had not personally done it, in Lord Hanzo's eyes, Mugetsu was the leader of that group. Responsibility still fell on him.
Danzo seized the moment to pour oil on the fire.
"In my opinion, this Sosuke is plotting to seize control of Amegakure," Danzo said, voice heavy. "He wants to lure you, Lord Hanzo, into war with Iwagakure, then reap the benefits."
"Lord Hanzo, you are too lenient with geniuses," Danzo continued. "They do not have the willpower you and I have. Give them power, fame, and wealth, and they will be corrupted immediately."
"It does need to be dealt with," Lord Hanzo said coldly, nodding once. Mugetsu and the Shinobi Sect had crossed his bottom line. This was something he could not tolerate.
Danzo's smile widened. Everything was moving the way he wanted.
"My subordinates helped cover it up, so Iwagakure should not learn the truth too quickly," Danzo said. "If you do not want to go to war with Iwagakure, you can eliminate them swiftly. Then you can present it as an explanation to Iwagakure."
Danzo was already impatient. He wanted these three forces in the Land of Rain destroyed, preferably with both sides suffering heavy losses.
"Thank you, Danzo," Lord Hanzo said. He truly felt Danzo had helped him greatly.
"I have another way," Danzo added smoothly, "one that will make it easier for you to deal with Sosuke and his group."
Lord Hanzo looked at him, curious.
"Sosuke claims he wants peace, does he not?" Danzo sneered. "Then use that against him."
"Invite them somewhere, under the excuse of borrowing their strength to maintain peace together. We will set traps and arrange an ambush. With terrain and preparation, victory will be far easier."
Lord Hanzo showed agreement. The plan was feasible.
Even for someone at his level, fighting with the terrain in his favor was very different from fighting without it.
"At that time, I will dispatch Konoha shinobi to assist you," Danzo said, then hinted calmly, "but I hope you will also support me in other matters in the future."
"Mutual help is what friends do," Lord Hanzo replied, making his stance clear.
He did not mind having a powerful ally like Danzo, especially when Danzo had truly helped him avoid a disaster. If Danzo had not discovered this, Amegakure might have ended up in war with Iwagakure.
After finalizing the plan, Lord Hanzo quickly sent an envoy to find Mugetsu.
At that time, Mugetsu had just completed his travels across the Land of Rain, and the Shinobi Sect had been officially established.
All the shinobi except Kakuzu joined.
At first, Yahiko had been worried about the incident with the so called Iwagakure shinobi. But since there was no follow up for a long time, Yahiko stopped focusing on it and poured his energy into expanding Akatsuki.
He believed Akatsuki and the Shinobi Sect were not in conflict, because the Shinobi Sect was not truly an organization in the same sense.
It was more like a belief.
A yearning for peace.
And indeed, some shinobi were persuaded by Yahiko to join Akatsuki.
On one hand, Akatsuki already had some fame in the Land of Rain.
On the other, after spending time with Akatsuki members, some shinobi recognized Akatsuki's strengths.
Still, more people wanted to keep following Mugetsu, waiting for his next direction.
During this period, an envoy from Amegakure arrived with Lord Hanzo's proposal.
"Sosuke sama," the Rain shinobi said respectfully, presenting a scroll, "this is a handwritten letter from Lord Hanzo. Please read it carefully."
Mugetsu's Sosuke persona was now famous throughout the Land of Rain. Most shinobi recognized him.
Mugetsu gave a small nod, accepted the scroll, and opened it.
Yahiko, too curious to resist, leaned in to read along.
"Inviting the Shinobi Sect to jointly maintain peace in the Land of Rain!" Yahiko shouted, eyes wide in shock.
The other shinobi gathered around as well.
Mugetsu did not stop them.
To accommodate those who could not see clearly, Mugetsu read the entire letter aloud.
Most of it was filler.
The core message was exactly what Yahiko had already blurted out.
Lord Hanzo wanted to cooperate with the Shinobi Sect.
Many Shinobi Sect members looked stunned, then delighted.
To shinobi of the Land of Rain, Lord Hanzo was special. This letter was almost the same as Lord Hanzo personally saying, I acknowledge you.
The impact was enormous.
Yahiko, who idolized Lord Hanzo, was practically glowing. He was also a Shinobi Sect member, after all.
Of course, not everyone was dazzled.
Ikechou, for example, felt something was off.
He did not deny that the Shinobi Sect had a bright future, but the current Shinobi Sect was not strong enough to warrant this level of formal invitation.
Right now, the only truly powerful person was Mugetsu.
Normally, Lord Hanzo would not need to approach the Shinobi Sect so formally. If he wanted Mugetsu's combat power, he could simply recruit Mugetsu directly.
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