Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 365 Yahiko's Last Wish

Hyuga Kanan's face was ashen, his eyes, calm and still as a deep pool, fixed on the man before him, who had been tormented beyond recognition by those mysterious eyes. It was as if nothing in the world could stir the slightest ripple in his heart.

The man was emaciated, his face as pale as paper, and his once bright eyes were now dull and lifeless, as if the flame of his life was about to be extinguished. However, facing such a pitiful person, Hyuga Kanan felt no pity whatsoever. For he knew all too well that this man's fate was entirely his own fault.

In fact, Hyuga Kanan had a premonition about the true origin of these eyes. If the other party truly understood their secrets, how could they use them so recklessly and without regard for the consequences? Such behavior was tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst, ultimately bringing only utter destruction upon themselves. And now, it seemed that everything was exactly as he had predicted.

"How dare you shamelessly claim these eyes belong to you? Have you never noticed the strangeness of them? Have you ever witnessed your own eyes continuously drawing life force from their owner to achieve self-growth? Have you realized that your chakra and these mysterious eyes are fundamentally incompatible? Since you awakened these eyes, your body has been mired in a state of decay. Have you never given these anomalies any thought?" Hyuga Kanan's face was expressionless, his eyes as cold as ice. He questioned the person before him in an almost indifferent tone. Every word seemed to carry a heavy weight, striking the other's heart like a hammer blow, sending a chill down his spine.

At that moment, Nagato and Konan snapped out of their daze. Their gazes simultaneously turned to Hyuga Kanan, their eyes filled with surprise.

Ever since Nagato awakened the Rinnegan, he had been deeply captivated by its immense power. That unparalleled power seemed to possess a kind of magic, mesmerizing him. Nagato firmly believed that these eyes were a precious gift from heaven, bestowing upon him the mission of saving the shattered ninja world. He wanted to become the 'god' of the ninja world, to make the entire ninja world submit to him, and to bring true peace to the ninja world.

He was overjoyed, believing that with the power of the Rinnegan, he could turn the tide, rescue the ninja world from endless war and strife, and lead it towards true peace. This belief burned like a raging fire within him, driving him ever forward. However, he failed to realize that this power might not be as simple as he thought, and that the truth hidden behind it might be far more complex and profound than he imagined.

Konan remained by Nagato's side throughout, possessing a clearer understanding and insight into everything that had happened to him. However, lacking a firm sense of self, she always held unwavering trust in Yahiko and Nagato. Deep in her heart, these two were the pillars of her life. The memory of Yahiko's heroic sacrifice to protect her was an indelible scar etched into Konan's soul. From that moment on, she placed all her beliefs and hopes on Nagato alone, without a trace of doubt or suspicion. She unhesitatingly supported and followed every decision he made. This unconditional trust had become a deeply ingrained habit, making her willingly revolve around Nagato, like a planet orbiting a star, never abandoning him.

She, Nagato, and Yahiko had known each other since childhood, practically childhood sweethearts who grew up together. During those carefree years, they shared countless joys and sorrows, forging a deep and unbreakable bond. However, as time passed, the wheel of fate began to turn.

On that day, at the moment of Yahiko's death, Nagato suddenly displayed an astonishing ability—he awakened the legendary Rinnegan! This should have been a cause for great joy, but it was followed by endless worry and fear. Because every time Nagato used that mysterious and powerful Rinnegan, his once healthy and strong body would gradually become weak and frail.

Witnessing her friend's increasingly haggard face and frail health, she was frantic with worry. Countless times she pleaded with Nagato to give up using those dangerously powerful eyes, hoping to help him return to a normal life. But no matter how hard she tried, Nagato firmly shook his head in refusal. Faced with Nagato's unwavering stubbornness, she felt both helpless and heartbroken. Yet, her deep concern for her friend compelled her not to give up easily, and she continued to relentlessly search for a way to help Nagato escape his predicament.

However, without a doubt, facing this ninja world filled with endless crises and challenges, Nagato knew that he could never relinquish the immense power that allowed him to dominate everything. In fact, Konan understood perfectly well that Nagato's relentless pursuit of power stemmed not only from concerns for his own safety, but more importantly, from his deep-seated, unwavering belief—to protect himself and to fulfill the great legacy left by Yahiko: to lead the entire ninja world towards true peace.

This lofty yet arduous mission, like a towering mountain standing before him, compelled Nagato to embark on this rugged yet hopeful path without hesitation. He knew that only with unparalleled strength could he gain a foothold in this turbulent and unpredictable world; and only by grasping the immense power capable of changing the world could he possibly transform the distant vision of peace into a tangible reality.

Throughout the long years, Nagato endured countless hardships and dangers, experiencing the vicissitudes of life. Even so, he never wavered in fulfilling Yahiko's dying wish. He firmly believed that as long as he possessed the immense power of the Rinnegan and persevered in his efforts, he would one day be able to fulfill his promise to Yahiko, break the shackles binding all living beings, and allow the world to bask in the light of peace. This was the source of his unwavering motivation to fight tirelessly and forge ahead for the Rinnegan, even if it drained his life force.

Nagato carefully considered the questions Hyuga Kanan had asked, and he realized that the eyes in his sockets might not truly belong to him. Over the years, although the Rinnegan had granted him immense power, just as Hyuga Kanan had said, these eyes were completely incompatible with his chakra, and were indeed constantly draining his life force. He could never be the original owner of these eyes.

No one had anticipated this astonishing fact—it wasn't that the Rinnegan itself possessed unimaginably powerful abilities, but rather that these mysterious and magical eyes didn't belong to Nagato at all! It was as if a deeply hidden secret had been revealed, leaving everyone speechless and incredulous.

However, having already gone this far, Nagato could not possibly give up those eyes. He was already very close to fulfilling Yahiko's dying wish; as long as he continued to complete the plan, the dawn of peace was just around the corner.

"Even if these eyes don't belong to me, it doesn't matter. For Yahiko's last wish, for the ninja world to truly move towards peace, I am willing to give my life!" Nagato Uzumaki thought of Yahiko lying in his arms, yearning for the dawn of peace, and answered Hyuga Kanan with unwavering determination.

"Is that so?" Hyuga Kanan didn't refute anything. He had seen countless people and things in the ninja world who were willing to sacrifice everything for the pursuit of peace. But the person in front of him was the only one who was truly willing to give everything. And he had actually achieved some results.

"Look at the Rain Village under your jurisdiction, it has indeed developed quite well, I must say. However, I really don't understand what your so-called 'Akatsuki' organization is trying to do? Such actions will undoubtedly destroy the hard-won and precious peace of the ninja world! Your reckless provocation of those powerful ninja villages will only push the Rain Village, which you have worked so hard to build, into an even more perilous abyss, causing all your efforts and hard work to vanish into nothingness." Hyuga Kanan's face was ashen, his eyes fixed on the two people in front of him, unable to suppress his doubts and dissatisfaction any longer, and he questioned them sternly.

In truth, if he hadn't witnessed firsthand the flourishing prosperity of Amegakure, Hyuga Kanan would likely have simply viewed the Akatsuki as a group of ruthless, extreme terrorists attempting to overthrow the peace of the ninja world. But precisely because he had seen the remarkable achievements Amegakure under their leadership, he knew these people were no ordinary individuals and wouldn't have done such seemingly absurd things without reason. So the question arises: what unfathomable conspiracies and schemes lie behind the Akatsuki? What are their true intentions? All of this remains shrouded in mystery for Hyuga Kanan, elusive and difficult to fathom.

Hyuga Kanan genuinely believed that Nagato Uzumaki, who had already been pushed to his limits by those eyes, nodded earnestly, indicating that he understood. Although he was unwilling to expend his energy for the peace of this world, he still admired those who gave everything for their dreams from the bottom of his heart.

Hyuga Kanan admires those who are willing to work towards the dream of peace.