Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan stared at Uchiha Jin in silence.
At that moment, he seemed impossibly tall in their eyes—his presence radiant, like a rising sun breaking through storm clouds.
Jin continued calmly.
"You may think I'm radical."
"That's only because you haven't seen what these eyes of mine have seen."
"If you witnessed the darkness I've witnessed…"
"You might become even more radical than I am."
That wasn't empty rhetoric.
Yahiko aside—
In the original timeline, Nagato would one day shoulder the world's pain alone, believing only overwhelming suffering could bring understanding.
Compared to that future, Jin considered himself restrained.
Yahiko lowered his head, conflicted.
For the first time, he wasn't sure what the right path was.
Nagato, however, spoke up.
"Jin-nii… I have a question."
"Why must a unified standpoint come before institutional reform and liberating productivity?"
Jin smiled faintly.
"A good question."
"Let's start with reform."
"If the Land of Fire alone changed its system—while other nations remained the same—what do you think would happen?"
Nagato hesitated.
"That's what I don't understand."
Jin's tone was steady.
"I can guarantee this—once the other nations notice the change, they will unite to attack the Land of Fire."
Nagato frowned.
"Why? If the reform proves successful, wouldn't others imitate it?"
"You underestimate the uglier side of human nature," Jin replied.
"Reform, at its core, means redistributing resources from the few to the many."
"To current vested interests, that is unacceptable."
"That's why there will be blood."
"Even if the majority of the Land of Fire prospers under reform—"
"It's precisely that success which will terrify vested interests in other countries."
"They will label the Land of Fire an anomaly."
"They will manipulate public opinion."
"Then wage war."
He paused.
"When a beam of light shines into a dark room, the filth becomes visible."
"And somehow… the light becomes the crime."
"Breaking the old system means offending those who benefit from it."
"They stand naturally opposed to change."
"So before reform—"
"You must unify the larger standpoint."
"That reduces unnecessary bloodshed."
If reform begins before unity, it's open war.
If unity comes first, resistance becomes fragmented.
Nagato nodded slowly.
"I understand."
"Then what about liberating productivity?"
Jin smiled.
"That's even simpler."
"Liberating productivity means creating more resources."
"But without unified standpoints, newly created resources will only provoke envy."
He continued.
"Take the Land of Fire."
"It is the most fertile and resource-rich nation in the shinobi world."
"And what happened?"
"From the First Great Ninja War onward, other nations were always the first to declare war on it."
"They all wanted a piece."
"More wealth without unity only fuels larger conflict."
"That's why reform and productivity both require a unified standpoint first."
Nagato exhaled softly.
The logic clicked into place.
After a pause, he lifted his head.
"Jin-nii… do you have a concrete plan?"
"Nagato?!" Yahiko and Konan both turned toward him in shock.
That question carried weight.
It wasn't curiosity.
It was alignment.
Nagato met their eyes seriously.
"Yahiko. Konan."
"Jin-nii is right."
"The Akatsuki's actions look meaningful. We've attracted many followers."
"But deep down, we know something."
"Whether Konoha and Iwagakure cease fighting has nothing to do with us."
"They act only for their own interests."
"They don't care about our ideals."
"To change that reality—"
"We must unify."
"We must reform."
"Only when we stand on the same larger standpoint will they be forced to listen."
"Only by reforming the system can people truly live well."
His voice trembled—not with doubt, but awakening.
He had glimpsed a way to break the curse.
Yahiko stared at him, body trembling slightly.
Truthfully, Jin's words had moved him too.
But as leader of the Akatsuki, he had to think beyond impulse.
He had just met Jin.
Trust wasn't built in a single conversation.
Jin chuckled softly.
"You don't need to decide anything today."
"We're just talking."
"I'll remain in the Land of Rain for a while."
"We have time to understand one another."
"And even if I leave someday—"
"My door will always remain open."
Yahiko and Konan visibly relaxed.
Nagato said nothing further.
There was no need to rush.
Yahiko looked at Jin sincerely.
"Thank you, Jin-nii. Today's discussion… opened my eyes."
Jin shook his head lightly.
"We learn from each other. Your ideals gave me insight too."
Then his expression shifted.
"Now that we've discussed ideals—"
"Let's talk about something practical."
Yahiko blinked.
"You mean Shimura Danzo and Lord Hanzo?"
"That matter is covered," Jin replied calmly. "As long as I'm here, you won't be harmed."
He paused.
"I'm referring to something else."
"Something that concerns your lives."
The three exchanged uneasy glances.
If not Danzo… not Hanzo…
Then who?
Jin's voice lowered slightly.
"Recently…"
"Has a mysterious man wearing a spiral-pattern mask approached you?"
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