Chapter 355 – The Pure Land
After finishing their meal at Yusuke's home, Yahiko and Nagato prepared to head back to Amegakure. Hearing that the shinobi world had finally achieved a semblance of peace brought a genuine sense of joy to both of them.
However, the revelation that the man they had long believed to be the real Uchiha Madara was actually an impostor left them utterly shaken.
Even more so, when they learned the true origins of the Rinnegan, a cold shiver ran down Yahiko's spine. Despite his idealistic nature, he wasn't foolish. He understood all too well that if he had remained as naive as he once was, not only would he have perished, but Konan and Nagato would have been dragged down into the grave with him.
Nagato remained relatively composed, having pieced together parts of the truth a long time ago. Yahiko, on the other hand, had mostly been relying on what Konan had shared with him.
As for the changes Nagato had undergone, Yahiko didn't hold a grudge. He knew that everything Nagato did was for the sake of their shared dream—and to ensure Konan's safety above all else.
With a new understanding of the current state of the world, the two decided to depart for the Land of Rain immediately. Even though Nagato no longer possessed the Rinnegan, he was still a member of the Uzumaki clan with an incredibly pure bloodline.
His mastery extended across all five elemental nature transformations, backed by a massive reserve of chakra. While he couldn't quite be compared to Naruto in terms of sheer volume, his power was easily on par with the likes of Senju Tobirama.
He possessed dozens of times more chakra than an average shinobi. Even among those at the Kage level, Nagato remained part of an elite few. Only the legendary Kage of the older generations could truly stand as his equals.
Yahiko was a bit humbler in strength. He sat around the Jōnin level, and even then, he wasn't necessarily at the top of that bracket. Growing up in a small, war-torn nation had its limitations.
Despite having Jiraiya as their sensei, the Toad Sage himself didn't specialize in Water Release. Consequently, the three orphans had very few ninjutsu resources to study from in their early years.
Furthermore, Yahiko was a commoner with talent that could only be described as average. Among the trio, he was undeniably the least gifted in terms of raw shinobi potential.
Nagato stood at the apex of their group's talent. Beyond his Uzumaki heritage, his long-term synchronization with the Rinnegan had granted him a profound mastery over the five basic nature types.
Then there was Konan. Her talent spoke for itself. Creating an original ninjutsu is an incredibly complex process that demands genius-level intellect and chakra control.
Yet, Konan had managed to develop her own unique Hiden technique in a remarkably short time. For an orphan to reach the Kage level is an achievement in itself, but to innovate an entirely new branch of combat is nothing short of extraordinary.
As the two friends prepared to leave, Konan walked them out to say her goodbyes.
"Konan, there's no need to see us off. Seeing you happy with the person you love... it makes Yahiko and me truly glad," Nagato said with a soft, sincere smile.
"He's right, Konan! Nagato and I are heading out first. But don't you worry, we'll be coming back often to crash for dinner. I never would've guessed that annoying guy was actually such a good cook!" Yahiko added, that familiar, goofy grin plastered on his face.
Konan shot Yahiko a look of mock annoyance. Coming over just to eat? If Yusuke hadn't been doing it specifically for her sake, there was no way he would have stepped into the kitchen. Before Chiba and China were born, Yusuke had rarely ever cooked at all.
"Alright, Konan. We're off," Nagato said, giving her one last look before pulling Yahiko along toward the border of the Land of Rain.
Konan watched their retreating figures until they vanished from the horizon, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
"Thank you, dear," Konan murmured, glancing at Yusuke, who had appeared behind her at some point. Her face flushed slightly; she clearly wasn't quite used to using such an intimate term yet.
"Let's go back inside," Yusuke replied with a faint smile, reaching out to playfully pinch the bridge of her elegant nose.
Taking the initiative, Konan took his hand in hers as they walked back into the warmth of their home.
A few days later, Yusuke found himself staring at a desolate, dark landscape.
"So, this is the Pure Land?" he mused, scanning the eerie environment.
He had spent the last few days contemplating how to reach this realm. Eventually, he activated the Naraka Path and summoned the King of Hell once more. Stepping through the summons, he finally located the path leading to the World of the Dead.
However, the path controlled by the King of Hell was fraught with danger. Hatake Yusuke had come here with a specific goal: to find the Shinigami—the Death God—and eventually challenge him.
But there was another reason. He wanted to find Kurenai Yuhi's mother, as well as his own biological mother whom he had never met. He couldn't understand why the Rinne Rebirth Jutsu had failed to bring them back.
After all, it had worked for Nagato, Madara, and even Minato. Everything had been successful for them, so why not for his own family?
"Has someone arrived?"
Deep within the gloom, the Shinigami opened its eyes.
"Bring that person to me," the Death God commanded, sensing a strangely familiar aura.
"By your command, Your Grace," a man clad in black robes responded.
"And one more thing," the Shinigami added. "Show him the utmost respect and courtesy."
"Understood."
Though the robed man was confused, the Shinigami held absolute authority here. He didn't dare question the order.
"Are you curious?" the Shinigami asked.
"Your servant does not dare to speculate," a cold, feminine voice rang out from the shadows.
"It is no matter. I ask for courtesy simply because that man... is stronger than I am," the Shinigami stated calmly.
His demeanor was a complete 180-degree turn from the fury he had displayed during their previous encounter. Now, he seemed hauntingly serene.
A thick, blood-red mist swirled around the Shinigami's form, obscuring his true appearance from view.
"Your servant does not understand. Logically, there should be no one in this world more powerful than Your Grace," the woman's voice spoke again.
"Hahaha, true. In this world, I should indeed be the strongest," the Shinigami chuckled. "You're probably wondering why I'm not the least bit tense, aren't you?"
"Indeed."
"You'll see. Just wait until he arrives, and you will understand," the Shinigami said.
Elsewhere, Yusuke was observing his surroundings when a figure suddenly materialized before him. The entity was draped in black robes, his face hidden, and a swirling aura of death clung to him.
"Honorable guest, please follow me. The King has been expecting you for quite some time," the black-robed man said.
"Oh? Interesting. Expecting me? Now I'm truly curious. And you're being remarkably polite," Yusuke noted with an amused glint in his eyes.
"I do not know why. I am simply following the King's decree," the man replied in a flat, emotionless tone.
"Impressive. Fine then, lead the way to the Shinigami. I want to see what he's plotting," Yusuke said, a playful smile playing on his lips.
The robed guide led Hatake Yusuke toward the Death God's palace. Atop the throne sat a figure shrouded in a dense, crimson aura. Even Yusuke's Six Eyes couldn't pierce through the mist. It was the first time his ocular powers had been stymied like this.
"You've finally come, Hatake Yusuke," the Shinigami greeted him.
"Oh? Your attitude is definitely fascinating. You're a far cry from how you acted that day," Yusuke replied, his interest piqued.
"If I told you that I purposely baited you into coming here that day, would you believe me?" the Shinigami asked.
"Hmm? I don't have a grudge against you, so why do that? As far as I know, we're strangers," Yusuke said, pondering the situation.
"How should I put this... The 'you' that stands here now doesn't actually know me," the Shinigami explained.
"Oh? Well, this just keeps getting better," Yusuke remarked.
At that moment, the blood-red aura around the Shinigami surged, thickening into a giant, spectral hand that lunged toward Yusuke.
Boom!
A terrifying burst of power exploded from Yusuke's body. The bloody aura was instantly repelled, sent flying back by the sheer force of his presence.
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