"Shin, since you know so much, you must have your own ideas on how to proceed, right?"
Yahiko rubbed his forehead, trying to process everything. "My mind is a bit chaotic right now. Tell me your plan."
Knowing such important history instantly broadened Yahiko's horizons. He realized his past thinking was far too simplistic and localized.
Shin stepped forward, the firelight casting his tall silhouette onto the rock wall like a drawn sword.
"It's very simple. We get stronger. We get stronger at absolutely all costs," Shin declared, his voice decisive. "This world, from ancient times to the present, has operated on only one truth: the strong set the rules, and the weak can only obey."
He looked directly at Yahiko. "If we cannot even protect ourselves, how can we shelter others? Today we kill local villains, but tomorrow we might be crushed by a major hidden village."
Yahiko fell silent. Nagato subconsciously touched his eyes, his fingertips trembling slightly.
Though they were kind-hearted, they weren't stupid. Having grown up as war orphans, they deeply understood the absolute necessity of strength.
"Therefore," Shin said, sweeping his gaze over the core trio, "the first step is to possess the strength to suppress a city. Only then can a city be pacified. Next, possess the power to crush a nation, and a nation can be stabilized."
He paused, letting each word weigh a thousand pounds. "If one day we can stand above the entire Ninja World with overwhelming might, then peace will no longer be a dream. It will be an order we personally forge. Whoever dares to start a war, we will eliminate them."
Konan, however, lacked confidence. "Although we received Master Jiraiya's teachings, there are many people in the Ninja World far stronger than us. How can we possibly bridge that gap?"
"With this," Shin said, suddenly pointing squarely at Nagato.
Nagato shuddered, never expecting to be thrust into the spotlight again.
Yahiko looked at his friend thoughtfully. "Shin, are you planning to rely entirely on the Rinnegan?"
"The Rinnegan is the legendary Kekkei Genkai of the Sage of Six Paths," Shin enunciated clearly. "Since it currently belongs to Nagato, it is our greatest trump card. We don't need to worry about the original owner's schemes right now. The eyes are in Nagato's sockets, so they are his weapons."
"What we must do is ensure Nagato completely masters this power at any cost," Shin continued. "We train him until he becomes the new 'Sage'—a being powerful enough to deter the Five Great Nations from making any rash moves!"
Faced with such a monumental responsibility, Nagato felt incredibly awkward.
"I... I can't do it. That's a literal God we're talking about! How could I possibly compare? It would be better to give the eyes to Yahiko. Yahiko can definitely do it..."
Yahiko just grinned and threw an arm around Nagato's shoulder. "Nagato, we'll be relying heavily on you from now on! When you become the Sage, we can finally realize our ideals."
"I, I, I..." Nagato stammered, overwhelmed, but Shin interrupted him before he could spiral.
"However, I only know the legends of the Rinnegan; I don't know the specific intelligence regarding its biological mechanics," Shin warned. "Therefore, we must establish a dedicated research laboratory. We need to recruit medical personnel and purchase machinery to study the eyes safely. Forcing its development blindly might destroy Nagato's body."
Yahiko nodded repeatedly in agreement. Nagato fell silent, realizing that since the plan was cautious, reliable, and aimed at protecting everyone, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.
Konan immediately grasped the biggest logistical issue. "What about money? What about connections? We often can't even afford enough food to eat. Where will we find the resources for a laboratory?"
Shin waved his hand, a confident smile on his face. "This is just a long-term roadmap; we take it step by step. Moreover, this doesn't conflict with your original routine. We can still help ordinary people, but we use those actions to recruit loyal members and find ways to accumulate funds."
"That's right! Let's brainstorm together and see who has good ideas!" Yahiko cheered, energized by having a grander, actionable path forward.
"Yahiko, I must remind you," Shin said seriously. "This world is full of betrayal and conspiracy. We cannot tell newly recruited members about our true, overarching plan. Otherwise, there is a massive risk of exposure to the major villages."
Yahiko's attitude, however, was stubbornly firm. "Shin, the Sage of Six Paths and the First Hokage—they were smarter and stronger than me. The only thing I can compare with them on is a sincere heart. If I hide our true goals from our comrades in the name of secrecy, we will never inspire the loyalty needed to realize our ideals."
This passionate speech gained the immediate, firm support of Nagato and Konan.
Shin mentally sighed, realizing this was just Yahiko's unshakeable persona. Honestly, if Yahiko truly possessed the cold, calculating nature of a scheming warlord, Shin wouldn't have dared pledge allegiance to him anyway.
Yahiko's unwavering conviction made Daibutsu and the other peripheral members feel a rush of excitement. A leader like this deserves absolute loyalty! they thought.
Calming down, the group began to fully engage their minds, tossing out various suggestions. One person's wisdom is limited, but a group is powerful. The collective brainstorming yielded several excellent directives.
First, they needed to expand cautiously. Like-minded, strong individuals would become core members, while peripheral personnel would be recruited to gather intelligence and run businesses for funding.
Second, Kyusuke knew of a treacherous canyon with nearby towns and rivers that could serve as a highly defensible hidden base.
Third, if outside forces contacted them, they would not rashly engage in conflict. They would adopt a neutral stance and negotiate first.
Finally, they planned to systematically recruit specific Rain Ninjas who were known to detest the ongoing civil wars.
This was the benefit of having comrades. Problems that would have taken Shin years to solve alone were mapped out in hours.
The next day, they evacuated the safehouse, sending Kyusuke out to scout the canyon and contact his Rain Ninja acquaintances.
Meanwhile, far away in the Land of Lightning...
Kiichiro stood outside a large mining operation, watching carts of raw ore being extracted by the workers. He was lost in thought.
Although this mine had excellent reserves and provided a stable daily income—more than enough for Kiichiro to live a wealthy, comfortable life—it was pocket change compared to his lofty ambitions.
Figuring out how to earn massive, nation-building wealth was giving him a headache. Although Kyosuke and the others in the dreamscape had proposed many business ideas, the final execution rested entirely on him.
"Young Master, it's time for lunch," a voice called out softly.
The elderly butler, Mikuri Tomokazu, walked up behind Kiichiro, bowing respectfully.
Kiichiro nodded, muttering softly to himself. "That's right, people need to eat. Why don't we start with the catering industry first? The investment is low, the return is fast, and it won't attract the immediate, covetous eyes of the major ninja clans."
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