radicalducati Answer to Chapter 414
Answer to Chapter 414
Both Nagato and Konan couldn't help but recall that harrowing moment when Yahiko resolutely chose to sacrifice himself to protect Konan. In that instant, he traded his life for the safety of everyone, but it also brought indelible pain to Nagato and Konan. Even more heartbreaking was the fact that all their like-minded comrades in the Akatsuki organization, who fought alongside them, perished in that bloody massacre. Now, only Nagato and Konan remained, struggling to survive, enduring the immense grief of losing all their companions.
Nagato's eyes were filled with boundless rage and pain, as if he wanted to burn the entire world to ashes. Tears welled in his eyes, a testament to his deep longing for the past and his endless sorrow for what he had lost. He remembered that heartbreaking moment when he could only watch helplessly as Yahiko, their spiritual leader, collapsed in his arms and left this world forever.
Yahiko's death plunged Nagato into despair, but it also ignited a deep-seated rage within him. He knew that only through power could he protect himself and those he cherished. Therefore, he resolved to pursue greater power, even at the cost of everything. However, when he recalled Yahiko's dying words, a warm feeling welled up within him. Yahiko hoped that Nagato would carry on his legacy and continue striving to achieve the ideal of peace. Although Nagato had embarked on a different path, he never forgot Yahiko's teachings, silently guarding the belief deep within his heart.
However, Nagato didn't let grief and anger consume him for long. He took a deep breath, readjusted his emotions, and continued recounting the story of the past. Although his heart was filled with a firm belief in peace, he still hoped to know if Naruto Uzumaki could find other ways to achieve world peace.
As Nagato's narration deepened, Naruto's expression constantly shifted. His gaze was sometimes solemn, sometimes thoughtful, as if he were trying to understand everything Nagato had experienced. He began to realize that Nagato's suffering did not stem from personal gains or losses, but from the turmoil and injustice of the entire world.
Naruto Uzumaki wholeheartedly agreed with Nagato's belief in a true path to world peace. While he acknowledged Nagato's commitment to peace, he couldn't accept Nagato's methods. His inherited dream from Jiraiya prevented him from accepting Nagato's approach of using bloodshed to make the world experience shared pain in order to achieve peace.
"I've told you my story, now let me hear your answer!" After Nagato finished telling his tale, he looked at Naruto, wanting to know what Naruto's response would be after learning his story. Would Naruto still hold onto the naive dream that Jiraiya had told him?
Naruto lowered his head slightly, his eyes filled with sorrow. He felt immense regret for Nagato and the others' fate. Perhaps back then, Nagato and the others had steadfastly embraced Jiraiya's beliefs and had been exploring that path ever since. But the world had not offered them the dawn of peace; instead, it had given them the cruelest reality.
Naruto Uzumaki didn't answer Nagato's question immediately. Instead, he reached into his ninja tool pouch and took out a book—Jiraiya's first book. Naruto stared at the book in his hands, his eyes downcast, as he recalled the dream Jiraiya had told him, causing a slight tremor in his heart.
“Perhaps that’s true. I also think what you said is true. I understand you to some extent now.” As Naruto said this, his fingers gripped the book in his hand tightly, and his expression turned angry as he continued, “But even so, I still can’t forgive you, and I still hate you.”
Nagato, upon hearing Naruto's reply, showed no surprise, simply stating calmly, "Then let's settle this!" He never believed that understanding someone would make them let go of their hatred. In the ninja world, hatred was like an invisible shackle binding all ninjas together. Once revenge was initiated, a chain reaction would occur, perpetuating the hatred and preventing true peace from ever arriving.
Nagato was already preparing for the battle launched by Naruto Uzumaki. Once the seeds of hatred were sown, revenge would follow. He had clearly understood this from the moment Yahiko died. His plan was to concentrate all the hatred in the ninja world onto himself, severing the hatred between ninjas. At the same time, he wanted to concentrate the power of the tailed beasts so that others could truly experience the same pain and understand the importance of peace.
However, Naruto Uzumaki had no intention of attacking. Instead, he gripped the book tightly in his hand and said in an extremely serious tone, "But Jiraiya-sensei said he believes in me and has entrusted everything to me. So I will try to believe in Jiraiya's beliefs. That is my answer."
Upon hearing Naruto's words, Nagato's expression finally changed, his previously indifferent demeanor gradually turning into surprise and confusion. He had never anticipated Naruto's decision, nor had he expected such an unexpected answer. He stared wide-eyed at Naruto, trying to understand the deeper meaning hidden behind this seemingly innocent boy.
Naruto Uzumaki did not stop speaking because of Nagato's change; instead, he continued firmly, "That's why I won't kill you!"
Nagato's face regained its composure, and he spoke gently, "Want to try to believe in Jiraiya-sensei's beliefs? I see, is that your answer?" But then, Nagato's tone turned furious, and he shouted, "So we... are supposed to believe you can bring peace to the world and wait? What a joke! Who would believe Jiraiya's nonsense now! True peace doesn't exist. As long as we live in this cursed world, such a thing will never exist."
Hearing Nagato's angry shout, Naruto's eyes hardened, his expression turned serious, and he said firmly, "Then... I will lift this curse. If peace truly exists, I will hold it firmly in my grasp. I will not give up!"
Nagato's expression changed drastically. He stared intently at Naruto, his voice becoming uncertain as he spoke, "You... what... what were those words...?"
Naruto Uzumaki answered with absolute certainty, "That's right, those words were all lines from this book. It's the first book written by Jiraiya-sensei. Jiraiya-sensei really wanted to use this book to change the world. At the end of the book, he wrote the name of the disciple who inspired him to write this book, and that's your name, Nagato."
“How could this be…” Nagato murmured, his expression shifting between shock, shame, and disbelief. His eyes widened, his lips trembled slightly, as if he had witnessed something unbelievable. His thoughts were a jumbled mess, like pages of a book tossed about by a storm. His once unwavering beliefs began to waver.
Nagato had always believed that Jiraiya carried this belief alone, but now he discovered that Jiraiya had also entrusted him with the same belief. This fact shocked him immensely, and at the same time, it made him deeply doubt and blame himself for his actions. He realized that he might have strayed from his original belief and embarked on the wrong path.
At this moment, Nagato was caught in a deep internal conflict and struggle. He didn't know how to face this sudden truth, nor whether he could still hold onto his original beliefs. His heart was filled with confusion and bewilderment, as if he were trapped in a dark abyss, unable to find a way out. However, although his beliefs were shaken, he was still unwilling to give up easily. He decided to re-examine his actions and consider whether he was truly on the right path. He needed to find an answer, an answer that would allow him to continue forward.
Naruto, ignoring Nagato's change, placed his hand on his abdomen. His voice was low as he spoke, "In my stomach, there's a tremendous pain... I don't know what other pain will come my way. But if I stop believing in myself because of this, if I change the protagonist's story, then it becomes a different story. The legacy left by my master becomes a different book, and that's not Naruto. I can't write like my master, so the sequel is the path I've walked in life. No matter how much hardship I encounter, I must keep moving forward—that's Naruto!"
After listening to Naruto's story, Nagato suppressed his emotions, closed his eyes, and slowly said, "If the protagonist is changed, will it become a different story? I'm your senior, we're from the same school, we should be able to understand each other, right? I said that before! That was originally a joke. You're an incredible guy, you remind me of my past self. I couldn't believe Jiraiya, no, not even myself... But you make me foresee a future different from the path I've taken."
With that, Nagato pulled his hands out of the device he was in and continued, "Then I'll try to believe in you too, Naruto Uzumaki." After saying that, he raised his hands and began to form hand seals. Then, the surging chakra within his body continued to boil and was transmitted to Nagato's eyes.
"Heretical Path - Reincarnation and Heavenly Life Technique!"
Upon hearing Nagato's voice, Konan's face showed a look of terror. She quickly rushed to Nagato and hurriedly tried to stop him, saying, "Nagato, you..."
"Never mind, Konan! I've made a new choice! The choice I abandoned before." But before Konan could finish speaking, Nagato interrupted her.