"By the way… what are your plans for the future?"
After listening to Yahiko talk about their recent experiences, Yoru asked calmly.
"Are you still planning to stay here? The war is already over. If you come back to Konoha with me, you won't have to raise your blade against your own homeland."
He asked again.
After all, whether it was Yahiko's potential—or Nagato's Rinnegan—
Both were extremely important.
"No, Yoru bro."
Yahiko remained firm.
"Nagato and I will stay. We'll work hard to bring true peace back to the Land of Rain."
Yoru didn't press further.
After all, forced choices never lead to good results.
Instead, he turned to Nagato.
"By the way… why do you always let your hair cover your eyes?"
"Huh? You mean this?" Nagato pointed at his bangs.
"I don't really know… One day my mother suddenly told me to keep my hair down like this. She said I must never push it aside."
"An Uzumaki…" Yoru thought silently.
Nagato's mother must have been a surviving member of the Uzumaki clan.
Even if she didn't recognize the Rinnegan, she must have realized those eyes were extraordinary.
"It's fine," Yoru said gently.
"Push your hair aside."
"If you want to bring peace to this world, you must first use your own eyes… to see it clearly."
Nagato froze slightly.
Then he nodded seriously.
As expected of Yoru-sama…
Such profound words!
"Na… Nagato! Your eyes!"
Yahiko stared in shock as Nagato brushed his hair up—
Revealing those eyes.
The Rinnegan.
Yoru's gaze sharpened slightly.
Even he couldn't help but feel a trace of amazement.
Purple pupils—
Rippled like endless waves.
Mysterious. Ominous. Divine.
The Rinnegan—
The eyes of the Sage of Six Paths.
The legendary eyes said to "govern life and death."
Its wielder controlled Yin and Yang, possessed all chakra natures, and held god-like power.
Creation—
Or destruction.
Everything depended on the user.
It was also the only power capable of resisting the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
"The stone tablet of the Uchiha was altered…"
Yoru explained slowly.
"People think the Rinnegan evolves from the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan—but that's wrong."
"The Rinnegan is born from the fusion of Indra and Asura's power. It is a completely new dōjutsu."
"The Sharingan and Rinnegan are separate. When you use one, the other is suppressed."
"If I'm not mistaken…"
Yoru looked directly at Nagato.
"These eyes… are the legendary Rinnegan of the Sage of Six Paths."
He briefly explained its abilities.
Yahiko looked at Nagato with envy.
"If I had those eyes… maybe I could bring peace faster…"
But soon, he smiled again.
"Still… it's better that Nagato has them."
That was just who Yahiko was—
Straightforward, without hidden thoughts.
Nagato, however, was stunned.
He hadn't expected his eyes to be so terrifying.
There was no joy.
Only pressure.
Overwhelming pressure.
"Don't be afraid."
Yoru placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Power itself is neither good nor evil."
"It depends on the person who wields it."
"If you want to destroy the world—then you'll become a god of destruction."
"But if you want peace…"
"You'll become a god of peace."
"It all depends on your will."
Nagato lowered his head slightly.
"I… I just want to see the world you described, Yoru-sama…"
"A world without killing… without war… only peace."
His voice trembled.
Unlike Yahiko—
Nagato was not a natural leader.
He needed guidance.
"Then… follow me."
Yoru smiled.
"I will teach you how to use that power correctly."
"And show you what that world looks like."
Nagato looked at him.
At that moment—
It felt like sunlight pierced through the darkness in his heart.
"Yes… Yoru-sama!"
His eyes were filled with fervent admiration.
As if he had already seen that peaceful future.
"Hey! Yoru bro! Why are you taking Nagato away too?!"
Yahiko suddenly protested, a hint of jealousy on his face.
"Hahaha!"
Yoru laughed.
"A beautiful world can't be created by one person alone, Yahiko."
He looked at him seriously.
"I need your strength too."
"I… I understand…"
Yahiko scratched his head awkwardly.
"But I'll still rely on my own efforts to bring peace to the Land of Rain!"
"Of course."
Yoru nodded.
"Since you don't want to go to Konoha… I do have a place for you."
A mischievous smile appeared on his face.
"Huh?"
Yahiko and Nagato looked confused.
Why did Yoru-sama suddenly look… a bit suspicious?
Soon, after packing up, the three of them left the cave together.
Walking toward the distance.
…
Not long after they left—
The ground began to shift.
A strange figure slowly emerged.
Its head was surrounded by a plant-like structure—
Resembling the jaws of a carnivorous flower.
But the most horrifying part—
Was its face.
Half black.
Half white.
"Looks like Nagato has been taken away…"
The white half spoke casually.
"That's a bit troublesome…"
The black half replied in a low voice.
Two faces.
Two voices.
As if they were two separate beings.
"We should inform Madara-sama."
"Not a big problem," the white side said calmly.
"He's just Yoru. He can't stop our plan."
"He can't guard Nagato forever."
The black side fell silent.
Then—
The figure slowly sank back into the ground.
Vanishing completely.
Even Yoru's Observation Haki—
Had failed to detect it.
The true shadow of the ninja world—
Had just appeared.
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