Yuzuru gave the Third Raikage a brief explanation of what the Rinnegan was, and the more the Raikage listened, the happier he became.
One way or another, the Hidden Cloud would soon gain another powerful ninja.
The eyes of the Sage of Six Paths—how powerful must that be?!
With that thought, the Third Raikage spoke deeply to Nagato and Konan. "From now on, you two are shinobi of the Hidden Cloud. You will follow Uchiha Yuzuru. If anything arises, you may also report to me."
The Third Raikage did not dwell on the matter and immediately assigned Nagato and Konan to Yuzuru's command.
Though most of the village's authority had gradually settled into Yuzuru's hands, the Third Raikage held no resentment. He understood Yuzuru well—his ambition far exceeded a single village. The Raikage had already accepted the future where he would follow Yuzuru's lead.
—
—
After leaving the Raikage Building, Konan looked at Yuzuru curiously. "Lord Yuzuru, you seem to know a lot about the Rinnegan?"
Yuzuru nodded. "That's right. You two, come with me to the training grounds. I'll teach Nagato how to use the power of the Rinnegan."
Both Konan and Nagato froze in shock.
Konan stared wide-eyed. "Lord Yuzuru… you know how to use the Rinnegan's power?"
That was completely different from simply knowing of its existence or its origin. Even Nagato himself had never truly known how to use its power.
How did Yuzuru know?
Sensing their stares, Yuzuru said calmly, "Just follow me."
Soon, the three arrived at a secluded training ground within the Uchiha compound—Yuzuru's private training area, where no one approached without his permission.
Yuzuru sat directly on the ground and motioned for them to do the same. "Sit."
Nagato and Konan sat across from him. Nagato spoke anxiously, "Lord Yuzuru, how do you know so much?"
"Just call me Yuzuru." He said gently, then looked straight at Nagato. "Because those Rinnegans… do not belong to you."
"What?!"
Nagato and Konan almost shot to their feet.
Konan protested, "Nagato has had those eyes for as long as he can remember! I can testify!"
Yuzuru shook his head. "That is precisely the truth I am about to tell you. Calm down and listen."
Hearing that, they forced themselves to stay quiet despite their rapid breathing.
To them, Yuzuru was the embodiment of overwhelming power and mystery. Every word he spoke struck directly at their nerves.
Once they settled, Yuzuru organized his thoughts and spoke slowly.
"When I was in the Land of Grass, I met Uchiha Madara."
Nagato and Konan's pupils shrank violently.
Uchiha Madara?
Wasn't he a legendary figure?
Hadn't he been killed long ago by Hashirama Senju?
Seeing their confusion, Yuzuru explained, "Madara didn't die. Instead, he survived until this era using the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."
"He gained the power of All Creation during his battle with Hashirama. Later in life, he evolved his Mangekyō Sharingan into the Rinnegan."
"But by then, Madara was too old. He knew his body could no longer execute his plans. So after summoning the Demonic Statue, he transplanted his Rinnegan into you, Nagato."
Nagato murmured blankly, "No wonder I always felt these eyes were difficult to control… they were never mine to begin with?"
If the Rinnegan evolved from a Mangekyō Sharingan, then as a member of the Uzumaki clan, he should never have possessed such eyes.
Konan asked, puzzled, "Yuzuru, how did you learn all of this?"
"Madara intended to train me as his successor and entrusted all his plans to me."
"I pretended to accept and deceived him. His entire legacy was passed to me."
"And as the vessel for the Rinnegan, Nagato, you were part of that legacy."
Legacy?!
Nagato's heart tightened painfully.
After meeting Jiraiya, he had believed himself to be the Child of Prophecy destined to bring change to the ninja world. The Rinnegan had been proof of that.
Only now did he realize he had merely been Madara's vessel.
A tool.
'Right, how could someone with my personality ever become the legendary Child of Prophecy...'
Seeing Nagato's shaken expression, Konan gently comforted him. "Nagato, Yuzuru chose to tell us the truth. That means he doesn't see you as a pawn. You don't need to carry that burden anymore."
Nagato let out a strained laugh and nodded. "You're right, Konan. From now on… I'll just be myself."
The legendary Sage's eyes, Jiraiya's expectations, the hope of peace… all of it had weighed heavily on him.
Now, though tinged with disappointment, the truth somehow brought relief as well.
Yuzuru was satisfied.
He had revealed only part of the truth—just enough to crush Nagato's pride.
The Rinnegan's power could distort a person's mind. In the original timeline, Nagato became stubborn and extreme after grasping its power.
Yuzuru had no desire to deal with that kind of trouble. He needed Nagato to understand he was not a savior.
A precaution, nothing more.
Konan, reassured by Nagato's recovery, turned to Yuzuru once more. "Yuzuru, earlier you mentioned Madara's plan—what is it?"
"And what exactly is the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path?"
"And the power of All Creation—how did Madara obtain it?"
"Oh, and if Madara survived, how did he fool Hashirama back then?"
Konan's questions poured out endlessly. Yuzuru waved a hand. "These matters involve too many complexities. I will tell you more when the time is right."
"Alright, let's stop talking about these digressions." Uchiha Yuzuru proactively changed the subject, "Next, I will first explain the various abilities of the Rinnegan to you."