Chapter 116 (Patreon)

The moment those words left Yujiro’s mouth, both Jiraiya and the Nine-Tails, who was crouched on the desk, froze in shock.

“The Rinnegan?!”

Jiraiya drew a sharp breath, his gaze immediately snapping toward Yujiro.

“Yujiro... are you talking about the Rinnegan—one of the legendary Three Great Dōjutsu?”

“Yes.”

Yujiro nodded casually.

Strictly speaking, however, describing the Rinnegan as merely one of the Three Great Dōjutsu was not entirely accurate.

After all, the Rinnegan was the ultimate evolution of the Sharingan.

The conditions required to awaken it, however, were extraordinarily demanding.

Long ago, Uchiha Madara had carefully laid out his plans. During his final battle against Senju Hashirama at the Valley of the End, Madara had bitten off a piece of Hashirama’s flesh.

He had also prepared Izanagi in advance, using the forbidden power of the Sharingan to rewrite the reality of his own death.

After escaping death, Madara returned to his underground hideout and implanted Hashirama’s flesh into his own body, cultivating Hashirama’s cells within himself.

Finally, when he was already approaching the end of his life, Madara awakened the Rinnegan.

Madara was the reincarnation of Indra and possessed Indra’s chakra, while Senju Hashirama was the reincarnation of Asura and possessed Asura’s chakra.

By combining the chakra of Indra and Asura, Madara recreated the chakra of the Sage of Six Paths and awakened the Rinnegan.

“Yujiro... are you saying that someone within this mysterious Akatsuki organization possesses the Rinnegan?”

Jiraiya took another deep breath, his voice becoming unusually grave.

“Yes.”

Yujiro nodded.

The figure who appeared to be the leader of the Akatsuki was Pain—the Six Paths of Pain.

Pain possessed the Rinnegan.

Of course, those eyes had not originally belonged to Nagato.

When Nagato was still a child, Uchiha Madara had secretly transplanted his Rinnegan into him.

Nagato, too, was merely another piece on Madara’s board.

Madara intended for Nagato to eventually use the Outer Path—Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to resurrect him.

“Yujiro, are you certain it’s really the Rinnegan?”

Kurama finally spoke, his voice low and solemn.

“The last person to possess those eyes was the Sage of Six Paths himself.”

“So what if they’re the Rinnegan?”

Yujiro smiled as though it meant nothing.

“And so what if the Sage of Six Paths once possessed them?”

He looked at the grave expressions on Jiraiya and Minato’s faces, then shook his head helplessly.

It seemed he had frightened them more than he had intended.

“During the Second Shinobi World War, I once took in three disciples.”

Jiraiya slowly began to speak.

“One of those three possessed the Rinnegan.”

“Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan. All three of them were children whose lives had been destroyed by the war. I met them in... the Land of Rain.”

Jiraiya’s voice abruptly trailed off.

A faint trace of disbelief flashed through his eyes.

The Rinnegan.

The leader of the Akatsuki.

Could it possibly be one of his former students?

The more Jiraiya considered it, the more plausible it seemed.

The Land of Rain was one of the few places whose current situation he had never investigated closely.

In the past, Jiraiya had received reports from the Land of Rain claiming that all three of his former students had died in battle.

However, judging by what Yujiro had just revealed, there was a very real possibility that those reports had been false.

“Pervy Sage, don’t overthink it.”

Yujiro glanced at Jiraiya, immediately understanding what was going through his mind.

“You should spend your time writing the next volume of Icha Icha Paradise. You can gather material while you travel. Wouldn’t that be much better?”

Yujiro already knew that Jiraiya was considering travelling to the Land of Rain to investigate the matter personally.

However, Yujiro deliberately chose not to reveal anything further.

He knew exactly what would happen if Jiraiya went there.

Once Jiraiya entered the Land of Rain, there was a very real chance that he would never return.

Yujiro did not dislike Jiraiya, so it would be better for him to remain in Konoha.

“All right.”

Jiraiya glanced at Yujiro and smiled bitterly.

It seemed his thoughts had already been seen through.

Even so, Jiraiya felt strangely touched.

It appeared that he still held at least some importance in Yujiro’s heart.

“Konoha can continue operating as usual and focus entirely on its development.”

Yujiro turned toward Minato.

“As for the Akatsuki, leave them alone for now. There’s no need to worry about them.”

As he spoke, the corner of Yujiro’s mouth rose slightly.

“After all, I’m the one protecting Konoha.”

Minato nodded.

A smile returned to his face, and the concern that had weighed on him moments earlier disappeared.

Seven or eight years ago, Yujiro had already been capable of fighting three Tailed Beasts by himself.

There was no need to mention how powerful he had become now.

The current Yujiro was even more mysterious and unfathomable than before.

Moreover, Yujiro was not the type to make declarations without confidence.

Since he had said there was nothing to worry about, then everything would undoubtedly be fine.

With that thought, Minato finally relaxed.

Yujiro picked up his sword and leisurely left the Hokage Building.

Inside the office, Minato watched him leave before speaking with a solemn expression.

“Yujiro really is someone you can rely on.”

“He is.”

Jiraiya stood beside the window, watching Yujiro’s figure below.

Yujiro walked with the same carefree and unrestrained air as always, refusing to be bound by anyone or anything.

…Please give me flowers…

“Jiraiya-sensei, I intend to hand the position of the next Hokage over to Yujiro.”

Minato’s sudden declaration caused Jiraiya to freeze.

After a moment, Jiraiya raised a hand and rubbed his chin.

“I’m afraid Yujiro won’t agree.”

“That’s what I’ve been thinking as well.”

Minato smiled bitterly as he looked at Jiraiya.

“Yujiro doesn’t seem to have the slightest interest in becoming Hokage.”

“Don’t worry. When I get the chance, I’ll try giving him a few subtle pushes in that direction.”

Jiraiya scratched the back of his head.

“The Akatsuki...”

Minato glanced at the intelligence scroll resting on the desk.

“Leave them alone.”

Jiraiya laughed.

“If Yujiro says there’s nothing to worry about, then there’s nothing to worry about.”

“There’s no reason for us to remain anxious. Instead of worrying about the Akatsuki’s fighting strength, it would be better to trust in Yujiro’s power.”

Minato nodded firmly.

That was right.

Yujiro’s strength was so overwhelming that, until now, no one had ever forced him to reveal his true trump card.

After leaving the Hokage Building, Yujiro eventually arrived outside his home.

A blonde woman was already standing near the entrance, waiting for him.

“Tsunade?”

Yujiro looked at the smile on her face.

“Is something wrong?”

The moment he saw that smile, Yujiro knew she was not planning anything good.

“Yujiro, I’m officially informing you of something.”

Tsunade took two steps forward and looked up at Yujiro, who was now an entire head taller than her.

For a moment, Tsunade could not help feeling emotional.

The little Yujiro she had known back then had already grown into a fine young man.

He was even much taller than she was now.

Without realizing it, Tsunade became lost in thought while staring at him.

Yujiro tilted his head.

He waited for quite some time, but Tsunade still did not continue her announcement.

“So... are you going to tell me or not?”

Yujiro’s voice finally pulled her back to reality.

“Ahem...”

Tsunade raised her left fist to her mouth and coughed lightly.

“From now on, I’m moving into your house.”

She placed her hands on her hips and grinned.

“Well? You should be thrilled.”

Yujiro stared at her, his curiosity growing.

“You’re moving into my house?”

“That’s right.”

Tsunade smiled proudly.

“You should be honoured. One of the Legendary Sannin is personally moving in with you.”

Yujiro replied without the slightest change in expression.

“Sorry. I refuse.”

Tsunade fell silent.

“...”