Chapter 244: Why Can't That Person Be Me!
The ninja coalition arrived in the Land of Water several days after Ryosuke.
However, the stir they caused was vastly different from Ryosuke's quiet entry.
When massive ships appeared on the sea, nearby fishermen spotted them early on. Panic spread quickly.
As the vanguard ninja squad leapt off the ships and strode across the ocean's surface in search of the Water Country's border, the local villagers were gripped with fear. Even if news had been blocked, the people knew—this was an invasion.
But the ninja army didn't attack ordinary civilians. After carefully checking the nearby fishing villages and confirming that there were no Akatsuki or Kirigakure ninja among them, the coalition released the villagers unharmed.
That alone was enough. The news swept through the entire Land of Water.
The Akatsuki had used inhumane means to control the Fourth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village, deceiving both the village and the nation into becoming enemies of the entire ninja world. Worse yet, they had begun capturing Jinchūriki from every village, provoking the major nations...
The truth, once sealed, was now fully exposed—though ironically, the last to know was the man at the center of it all.
When the people of the Land of Water learned the truth behind the coalition's arrival, they swiftly took sides. Supplies to the Hidden Mist were cut off entirely. The village stood isolated, disgraced.
And Kirigakure itself? It had known for some time about the Fourth Mizukage being under Akatsuki's control.
But they didn't believe it.
When the Mizukage declared that the Akatsuki was merely a secret division of Kirigakure, many had truly believed it. His words had been forceful, his aura commanding.
And because the Akatsuki members had followed orders perfectly, like model subordinates, they were even welcomed. Those who dared spread "false rumors" were enthusiastically expelled from the village.
At the time, they didn't know the Akatsuki had committed crimes as grave as stealing tailed beasts or inciting global war.
Who, in their right mind, would provoke all the major villages at once?
But now…
---
"I know everyone is confused about the situation—both in our village and the entire ninja world. You may even be unsure where to stand."
In the Hidden Mist Village, an urgent command from the Fourth Mizukage summoned every single Kirigakure ninja, regardless of rank, to gather in front of the Mizukage Building.
A massive crowd filled the plaza, capable of holding over 10,000 people. Even the surrounding streets overflowed. Still, it wasn't enough.
But ninja are resourceful.
They perched on rooftops, telephone poles, tree branches—anywhere they could stand, like flocks of birds. All eyes watched, waiting for answers.
Waiting for the Mizukage to speak.
"But unfortunately, they're right. I lied to you."
And that was all he said.
The next voice came not from the Mizukage, but from a red-haired middle-aged man beside him.
Nagato—the true leader of the Akatsuki.
Many recognized him instantly. He had once knelt before the Mizukage, swearing loyalty.
"He's just a puppet."
Seeing the confusion in the crowd, Nagato said casually, "And I was kneeling to myself, since he was a puppet made with my will."
"You...!"
The crowd stirred into chaos.
Some shouted, some cursed, others prepared to speak—but Nagato cut them off.
"I know you're angry. You might even want to kill me. After all, I killed your... beloved Mizukage?"
He paused, frowning.
"Actually, forget it. I don't think you cared much for Karatachi Yagura. No political achievements, rejected even as a Jinchūriki. Let me put it differently."
Spreading his arms wide, Nagato faced the crowd with a mocking smile.
"It was me who forced you to stand against your village. It was me who made you betray your homeland. Isn't that what you believe?"
"Liar!"
The shout rang out from somewhere in the crowd.
"Of course it's true."
Nagato shrugged.
"But have you ever stopped to consider—maybe it wasn't just me?"
Question marks formed in the minds of every Kirigakure ninja.
If they'd known the Akatsuki's true level, they would've dragged the group out themselves and begged forgiveness from the Five Great Nations.
"Ambition."
Nagato spat out the word like venom.
"You want to know why you believed me while others saw through the lie? Because it was convenient for you."
"Mei Terumi and her allies saw through it. Why didn't you?"
"The person who stood against me was Denji—an elder who's held power since Kirigakure's founding. Why did you abandon him and choose Yagura instead?"
His voice rose with intensity.
Then, in one swift motion, he clapped his hands together. The sharp sound rang through the air like a bell. The restless murmurs stopped.
Silence fell.
Alone on the rooftop, Nagato looked down at the quieted masses and sneered.
"It was your ambition that made you swallow the lies I fed you."
"If you truly believed the Fourth Mizukage could form a mercenary army from rogue ninja, then you also believed he could lead you to become the strongest force in the world."
"And if your real goal was power—absolute dominance over all other villages—then did it really matter who led you?"
"What were you thinking, choosing the convenient, charismatic Yagura over the aging and rigid Denji?"
His voice climbed higher, matching the growing tension.
The ninja army was approaching, and with it, the culmination of years of struggle.
Since Yahiko's death, Nagato had been building toward this moment. This was the final stage of his dream—twisted, bitter, and fully awakened.
"You've already betrayed your master," he said coldly. "And now, your reckoning is near."
"The ninja coalition of the Five Great Nations is coming. And their recognized Fifth Mizukage is Mei Terumi—the very person you exiled like a stray dog."
"Do you really think she'll spare you now?"
"The families of those people were massacred and plundered afterwards. So... do you still think you have a chance to stand on their side?"
Nagato's smile twisted into something feral. "No."
He savored this long-forgotten thrill. "She may spare a few of you… but she won't spare everyone."
"As for who she'll use to establish her authority—no one can say."
"But will you really gamble your life on blind luck? I don't think you're the kind of cowards who'd die so pathetically. The only choice you have is me! Only the Akatsuki!"
His voice rose with conviction. "And now that we've received news—the ninja coalition is attacking the Hidden Mist Village. So... you should already know who I am, and who some of our Akatsuki members are."
He pointed to himself. "I am Nagato, the leader of the Akatsuki. I possess the Rinnegan—the divine eye once held only by the legendary Sage of Six Paths!"
"I am the god of the new era! With war and suffering, I will cleanse the sins of this broken world. I will bring light to chaos through the might of my divine power!"
"If our goals are the same—to become the strongest force in the ninja world—then why not follow the one who has the strength to reach that result? Why not follow me—the one who will become the new god?!"
Each word rang out, firm and unyielding, echoing through the room like the tolling of a bell.
Outside, the crowd stood frozen. Inside the Mizukage's office, Akatsuki members remained still, watching in silence.
No one responded.
No one raised a fist or shouted, "I do!"
Could one village truly stand against the five greatest powers of the ninja world?
Of course not.
And so, no one spoke.
"In the next battle," Nagato said, his tone calmer, "I'll show you my strength."
Seeing that the crowd was stirred, but not swayed, he didn't seem bothered.
"But I hope… after witnessing my divine power—power enough to suppress the entire world—you'll make your choice."
"Join me, and become part of the Akatsuki."
"Or… become enemies of God."
---
"Do you really intend to let them join?"
As the crowd dispersed, their hearts heavy with conflicted thoughts, Konan stood beside Nagato on the rooftop, watching him stare into the distant mist.
"You seem… different. Is your goal still the same as it was back then?"
Her voice was calm, but layered with concern.
As someone who'd grown up with him, she could feel it—Nagato's changes ran deeper now than they had after Yahiko's death.
"Maybe not anymore," Nagato answered quietly, not even turning to face her.
"After seeing more of the world… I realized my old plans were foolish. Just as naive as Yahiko's dreams."
"As for them… even if we're going to use them as cannon fodder, we still need a reason that pushes them to fight. I'll give them that reason."
In the past, his body had been too weak to bear the burden of the Rinnegan. Back then, all he wanted was to bring the war-torn ninja world to some kind of end—however imperfect.
But now…
Nagato believed he could go beyond that. That he could shape more stories—his own.
Konan was briefly stunned by how plainly he admitted to his change.
Still, she didn't question him. She simply stood behind him in silence.
She had never been someone with strong opinions. When Yahiko was alive, she followed his lead. After he died, she followed Nagato. That had never changed.
"Is that guy coming?"
The wind howled softly, ruffling her paper-blue hair.
Nagato's voice lowered to a murmur. "I think so."
His gaze pierced beyond the Mist, beyond the Land of Water—toward a distant place wrapped in constant rain.
The Land of Rain.
The only place... where someone existed who could stand against him.
---
"I knew you'd come to this country."
In a small town, three or four villages away from Hidden Mist, inside a quiet pub…
Ryosuke sat at the bar, eyes fixed on the man with a missing arm beside him.
"...Sorry I didn't go to the Rain Country as promised," Shanks said after a pause. "Something came up."
He sounded genuinely apologetic. Then, with a sigh, added, "I'm a man who keeps his word… but this time, I had to come see it for myself."
Ryosuke leaned on the counter, his voice casual but dangerous. "Are you afraid that if I actually take down the space-time gate to your world, it'll bring disaster to your side? That you've come to see if this world's combat power is something your world can handle?"
"Maybe…" he added, "after crossing that gate, your navy and World Government did something terrible to another world?"
Shanks looked slightly taken aback by how blunt he was. Then he coughed and said, "That's... pretty straightforward."
"I do want to see what your world's average combat level looks like. And yeah, with the ninja coalition clashing against Akatsuki, the tailed beasts are bound to appear, right?"
"Of course," Ryosuke said, nodding. "They'll show up on a battlefield like this. You'll get a good look at our top-tier power."
"But honestly—this doesn't matter."
Shanks frowned. "Doesn't matter?"
"Yeah," Ryosuke said, turning to face him.
Around them, it was as if time had paused. The other patrons gave them space, unconsciously avoiding the two seats they occupied.
"Whether you assist us or not, we'll eventually plant space-time gates across many worlds. One after another. Your world might be among them—sooner or later. It's just a matter of probability."
"And if you're worried about what we'll do to your world, don't be."
"We Hyuga aren't a chaotic clan. In fact, we hate disorder."
He spoke with quiet certainty. "Rather than conquer aimlessly, we want to learn from other civilizations—to strengthen each other."
"And if that fails?"
He gave Shanks a steady look.
"If peaceful dialogue fails, we'll build up our strength from other worlds until we're powerful enough to conquer yours in one decisive blow."
"Then, and only then, will we 'communicate' by force."
Shanks didn't respond immediately. The pub remained eerily silent.
Ryosuke continued, "So you don't have to worry about choosing the 'right' side."
"Because there won't be two equal sides."
"There will only be two outcomes: either your world crushes us… or we crush you."
He let the words sink in.
"And just your existence, your opinion, your participation... won't change that."
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