After a brief pause, Uchiha Ren's gaze hardened, his voice low and resolute:
"Throughout history, no reform has ever come without bloodshed and sacrifice. Since I've seen the problem, I won't leave it for future generations to solve."
"Let the blood be shed… starting with us!"
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan stared blankly at Uchiha Ren.
At that moment, he seemed impossibly tall in their eyes, as if light radiated from him—like a rising sun.
Ren continued,
"You might think I'm too radical. That's only because you haven't seen what I've seen with these eyes."
"If you truly witnessed the darkness of this world, you might become even more radical than I am."
This wasn't an exaggeration.
Setting Yahiko aside, in the original course of events, Nagato would one day shoulder unimaginable burdens.
Compared to that, Ren considered himself relatively moderate.
Yahiko remained silent, his eyes filled with confusion.
For the first time, he didn't know what to do.
Nagato spoke up,
"Ren… I have another question. Why must a unified standpoint come before changing the system and liberating productivity?"
Ren smiled.
"That's a good question. Let's start with system reform."
"If other nations remain unchanged, and only the Land of Fire undergoes reform, what do you think would happen?"
Nagato shook his head.
Ren answered firmly,
"I can guarantee that once other nations notice the changes in the Land of Fire, they will unite and attack it."
Nagato frowned.
"Why? If the reform works, shouldn't others follow its example?"
"You're underestimating the darkness of human nature," Ren said.
"Reform, in simple terms, redistributes resources from the few to the many. That's unacceptable to those who currently benefit."
"That's why there will be bloodshed and sacrifice."
"Even if most people in the Land of Fire live better lives afterward, that very success will terrify the ruling classes of other nations."
"They'll brand it as dangerous, manipulate public opinion, and wage war."
"It's like a beam of light shining into a dark room—once the filth is exposed, the light itself is condemned."
"Breaking the old system inevitably offends those who profit from it. The two sides are naturally opposed."
"So before reform, you must first unify the standpoint—this reduces unnecessary bloodshed."
Reforming first and unifying later would provoke total resistance.
But if unity came first, those in power might hesitate, still clinging to hope.
"I understand," Nagato nodded. "Then what about liberating productivity?"
"That's even simpler," Ren said with a faint smile.
"It essentially means creating more resources."
"Without a unified standpoint, those new resources will only provoke greed."
"Take the Land of Fire as an example."
"It's the most fertile and resource-rich nation."
"That's why, since the First Great Ninja War, other nations have always been the ones to declare war on it—each trying to carve off a piece."
"That only intensifies conflict."
"Which is why I say both reform and productivity require a unified standpoint as a foundation."
Nagato nodded, his doubts resolved.
After a moment of hesitation, he looked at Ren again.
"Ren… do you have a concrete plan?"
"Nagato?!"
Yahiko and Konan both looked at him in shock.
Those words clearly signaled his willingness to follow Ren.
Nagato turned to them seriously.
"Yahiko, Konan—Ren is right."
"Our Akatsuki may seem effective, attracting many followers. But deep down, we all know the truth."
"Whether Konoha and Iwagakure end the war or withdraw their forces has nothing to do with us."
"They act only for their own interests—they don't care about us."
"To change that, there's only one path: unity… and reform."
"Only when we stand on the same side will they listen."
"Only by changing the system can people truly live better lives."
Nagato's voice trembled with emotion—he felt he had found a way to break this "curse."
Yahiko stared at him, his body trembling.
He was moved as well—but as the leader of Akatsuki, he had more to consider.
After all, this was his first meeting with Ren. Trust didn't come so easily.
Ren smiled.
"You don't need to decide anything today. This is just a conversation."
"I'll be staying in the Land of Rain for a while—we have time to understand each other."
"And even after I leave, it doesn't matter. My door will always remain open to you."
Yahiko and Konan both relaxed, their trust in him growing.
Nagato didn't press further.
There was no need to rush.
Yahiko said sincerely,
"Thank you, Ren. This conversation really opened my eyes."
Ren shook his head with a smile.
"We're learning from each other."
After a pause, his expression turned serious again.
"Now that we've discussed ideals, let's talk about something practical."
Yahiko hesitated.
"You mean Danzō Shimura and Hanzo of the Salamander?"
Ren shook his head.
"With me backing you, you won't have to worry about them."
"What I want to discuss is something else—something that concerns your lives."
The three exchanged confused glances.
Aside from Danzō and Hanzo… who else could be targeting Akatsuki?
Ren didn't keep them in suspense.
"Recently… has a mysterious man wearing a spiral mask approached you?"
Revealing information about Uchiha Obito was a decision Ren had made carefully.
Obito was currently intent on dragging Nagato into darkness.
In the original course of events, he even killed Akatsuki members who tried to rescue Yahiko from the trap set by Danzō Shimura and Hanzo—leading directly to Yahiko's death.
Although Ren's presence had already altered events somewhat, Obito would undoubtedly seek another opportunity.
If Yahiko and the others remained unaware, they would be easily manipulated.
Yahiko and the others were stunned, recalling the strange man who had approached them before Akatsuki was formed.
Yahiko said,
"Ren… do you know that man who calls himself Uchiha Madara?"
Ren raised an eyebrow.
"So you've already met him."
Yahiko nodded.
"When we first started out, he came to us."
"His target was Nagato… or rather, Nagato's Rennegan."
"He said his organization inherited the will of the Sage of Six Paths and would guide the wielder of the Rennegan onto the correct path."
"He talked about how where there is light, there is darkness… where there are victors, there must be losers…"
"He said that protecting peace inevitably leads to war, and protecting love creates hatred…"
"His words sounded reasonable—but then he claimed he could sever causality and create a world with only victors, only love, only peace."
"That's impossible."
"I felt his motives weren't pure, so I refused him."
Even now, Yahiko felt lingering fear recalling that encounter.
The man's presence had been suffocating—like a demon crawling out of hell.
Looking at Ren, he asked,
"Do you know who he really is?"
"I do," Ren replied.
"He isn't Uchiha Madara—but he is connected to him. You could call him Madara's successor."
Yahiko was shocked.
So that man truly had ties to the legendary "God of Shinobi."
Ren continued,
"As for what he said—don't take it to heart. It's a lie… one he doesn't even realize himself."
Nagato frowned.
"You mean the idea of a world with only victors and only love… is a lie?"
He had nearly been convinced back then.
If not for Yahiko's refusal, he might have joined.
Ren nodded.
"In the Uchiha Clan's shrine, there is a stone tablet passed down since ancient times. It contains secrets that can only be read with the Sharingan."
"It records how to awaken the Rennegan—and a method to create that 'perfect world.'"
Nagato froze.
"The Rennegan… evolves from the Sharingan?"
Ren explained,
"The Uchiha Clan descends from Indra, the eldest son of the Sage of Six Paths, inheriting his eyes."
"The Senju Clan descends from Asura, the younger son, inheriting his body."
"Normally, the Sharingan's limit is the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
"But when it gains the power of the Senju, it evolves further—into the Rennegan."
Ren didn't mention deeper secrets, but even this was enough.
Nagato murmured,
"But I'm not an Uchiha… nor a Senju… so why do I have the Rennegan…?"
He trailed off, already sensing the truth.
Ren confirmed it.
"That's right. Those eyes aren't yours—they were entrusted to you by Uchiha Madara."
"As for why… the Uzumaki Clan is related to the Senju and shares their vitality."
"Only the bodies of the Senju or Uzumaki can sustain those eyes."
"There aren't many left. Nagato—you were chosen as Madara's pawn."
Nagato's expression darkened instantly.
He had once believed himself to be a child of destiny.
Now he realized he was merely a vessel.
A pawn.
Yahiko suddenly spoke up,
"But… wasn't Uchiha Madara killed long ago by the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju? Nagato wasn't even born then."
Nagato and Konan looked at Ren.
The timeline didn't add up.
Ren shook his head.
"Madara didn't die in that battle."
"On the contrary… that was when he obtained Hashirama's power."
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