https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-408-The-Reincarnation-of-the-Six-Paths-Sage-Chakra-/12558531/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-409-Longmon-s-Rampage-8-4k-Part-2-/12558533/
Chapter 409: Longmon's Rampage (8.4k) (Part 1)
Chapter 409: Longmon's Rampage (8.4k) (Part 1)
On their journey, Kakuzu paid close attention to Mu Yue.
He believed that Mu Yue's ideas were impossible and too idealistic. If Mu Yue couldn't do what he claimed, then his proposals were mere fantasies.
However, the more Kakuzu observed Mu Yue, the more he had to admit that Mu Yue was truly a good person.
If Mu Yue was merely pretending, then Kakuzu could only conclude that Mu Yue was the best actor in the ninja world.
Everything Mu Yue did seemed to come from the heart, without a hint of pretense. Even when teaching ninjutsu, he treated everyone equally and didn't neglect those with lesser talent.
"You're too perfect to be from this world, but being too perfect is also a flaw. What is your true motive?" Kakuzu pondered, still suspicious of Mu Yue's intentions.
"You give me too much credit," Mu Yue said, turning to Kakuzu with a hint of surprise. "I'm far from perfect."
He was caught off guard by Kakuzu's high opinion of him and felt that he was being overly flattering.
In truth, Mu Yue wasn't putting on much of an act. Most of the time, he was simply being himself. The only times he had to act were when he was in Konoha, either in front of his disciples or at the Ninja Academy.
Mu Yue was aware of his own limitations. While his followers believed he was knowledgeable, his understanding of many subjects was only superficial. After all, in his previous life, he had been an ordinary teacher-in-training.
Mu Yue could only try to adapt the knowledge he had to the context of the ninja world as best as he could.
Directly applying his knowledge from his previous world was unrealistic. Aside from the differences in technological advancement, the ninja world was filled with supernatural powers.
For example, Mu Yue believed that the Six Paths Sage's ninjutsu should not be passed down through hereditary succession. However, in reality, even without a hereditary system, the leader chosen would still be a descendant of the Six Paths Sage.
In those times, the leader selected, if not the strongest, would at least be among the top-tier ninjas. And the descendants of the Six Paths Sage inherently possessed extraordinary talents passed down from the Sage, setting them far above ordinary people.
Nonetheless, Mu Yue still felt that there was a significant difference between becoming a leader through one's own abilities and becoming one due to blood relations.
"As for my goal," Mu Yue replied after a moment's thought, "I suppose I just want to make the world a better place."
Mu Yue had always been willing to do what he could to help others. By taking on Longmon as his disciple and strengthening his power, he could also improve the lives of the people in the Land of Rain.
"What benefit do you gain from making the world a better place? With your strength, you could easily start your own ninja organization and amass a fortune within a few years—a fortune that could buy you a lifetime of pleasure. Wouldn't that be a happier life?" Kakuzu asked, unable to resist his curiosity any longer.
A smile appeared on Mu Yue's face. "Then why do you keep earning more money? Isn't it enough for your needs?"
Kakuzu was taken aback, unable to immediately respond to Mu Yue's question.
Of course, he had more than enough money. The rewards Kakuzu received for completing high-reward missions were more than enough for an ordinary person to live a life of luxury for several lifetimes.
Kakuzu began to reflect on his career as a black market ninja. With each completed mission and the subsequent increase in his assets, he felt a sense of accomplishment. Villages could betray, companions could turn their backs, but money never would.
"You feel happy when you earn more money, and I feel happy when I see the people's lives improving and the world moving towards peace. We have different pursuits," Mu Yue said contemplatively.
The surrounding disciples wore thoughtful expressions, and some of the ninjas even recorded the conversation between the two.
Ever since Kakuzu had joined the group, this had become a regular occurrence during their travels in the Land of Rain.
Initially, some ninjas were displeased, feeling that Kakuzu was being disrespectful to Mu Yue.
However, Mu Yue did not reprimand Kakuzu and even encouraged questions. As a result, his followers could not disagree.
Then, they realized that Kakuzu's observations were keen, and his questions were sharp and insightful, addressing some of their own inner doubts. So, whenever Kakuzu asked a question, the other followers would settle in, knowing that they were about to learn something valuable.
As time passed, Mu Yue and his group had traveled through most of the Land of Rain. All that remained was the northwestern region bordering the Land of Earth, and their journey through the Land of Rain would be complete.
At this point, Mu Yue no longer lectured alone. He encouraged his followers to summarize their learnings and share their insights.
"I want to be the first to speak," Yahiko said excitedly.
He had a lot he wanted to say, not just to his companions in the Akatsuki, but also to Mu Yue and the ninjas they had traveled with.
"As I traveled with Sojiro, I gained a lot of insights," Yahiko said passionately. "Before, I just wanted to bring peace to the Land of Rain and the ninja world, but I didn't think deeply about how to achieve that goal..."
"So, have you figured it out now, boss?" Konan asked with a playful smile.
Yahiko stumbled for a moment, then said with a slight lack of confidence, "These things aren't that easy to figure out. But I believe that if we all work together, we'll definitely find the right answer."
"Here he goes again with the 'working together' thing," Konan teased. "Boss, your speech skills are as lacking as ever."
The other Akatsuki members laughed, and even Longmon couldn't help but smile.
Yahiko's speeches were devoid of any technique; they were fueled solely by his passion. In the beginning, he had received his fair share of criticism from the Akatsuki members.
"Ahem, let's not worry about that," Yahiko cleared his throat. "Anyway, learning is essential, and so is putting what we learn into practice. This journey through the Land of Rain has given me more confidence in our quest for peace."
Many among them could relate to Yahiko's experiences, as the prolonged wars in the Land of Rain had orphaned countless children.
Yahiko then spoke about the transformation in his mindset, gradually shifting from hating the Land of Rain to hating war and striving for peace.
"I know firsthand how bitter the life of a war orphan is, and I don't want there to be any more war orphans in the Land of Rain or the ninja world. Sojiro, everyone, join the Akatsuki! Let's work together to make our dream of peace a reality!" Yahiko concluded passionately, inviting them to join his cause.
He believed that ninjas who embraced the Ninjustu religion would also embrace the Akatsuki, as both sought peace, and they could all strive toward the same goal.
Juzo gave Yahiko a thumbs-up, acknowledging that this was indeed a great opportunity to strengthen the Akatsuki.
"You certainly know how to pick your moments," Kakuzu said, leading the way with a round of applause. "But let's discuss the other matters later."
The rest of the ninjas enthusiastically applauded Yahiko, who had indeed delivered a compelling speech.
Moving forward, individuals were encouraged to volunteer, and if no one stepped up, Mu Yue would randomly select someone.
Longmon hoped he wouldn't be chosen, as he wasn't adept at such things.
Unfortunately, this activity included everyone, and despite Longmon's silent pleas, he was selected when half the group had already spoken.
Longmon, unsure of what to do, stepped onto the makeshift platform and looked down at the dozens of ninjas below. He opened his mouth to speak but found his mind blank.
Longmon had always been attentive during Mu Yue's lessons, as they were interesting enough to captivate him, even if he just treated them as stories.
However, in this situation, he had forgotten everything Mu Yue had taught him, as if he had never learned them in the first place.
Longmon envied Yahiko, who, despite his lack of eloquence and frequent teasing, always spoke with passion.
"Just share your thoughts and insights casually; there are no specific requirements," Mu Yue said with a gentle smile, noticing the awkward atmosphere.
"If you feel nervous, just imagine that everyone below you is a turnip."
With Mu Yue's reassurance, Longmon felt more relaxed, and he gradually recalled what he wanted to say.
"Longmon, look at me," Yahiko suddenly said.
Longmon turned to Yahiko and saw a large, thick white turnip; Yahiko had used Transformation Jutsu to turn himself into a turnip.
Longmon paused for a moment, then laughed out loud, finding Yahiko's current appearance hilarious.
"You can do it, Longmon!" Yahiko cheered.
Some of the other Akatsuki members who enjoyed mischief joined Yahiko, transforming themselves into turnips, creating a bizarre sight among the crowd. Some non-Akatsuki ninjas found it amusing and followed suit.
Looking at the sea of turnips below, Longmon struggled to hold back his laughter as he began to share his insights. Although his speech wasn't exceptional, he managed to express his views and complete his turn smoothly.
After everyone had spoken, Mu Yue turned to Kakuzu.
"What are you looking at me for? I'm not your student," Kakuzu said, crossing his arms.
"It won't take much time anyway, and you don't have anything else to do right now," Mu Yue said with a smile.
Kakuzu's face darkened slightly. If he hadn't come to the Land of Rain and met Mu Yue, he would be making money or on his way to making more.
Kakuzu let out a cold huff and, with a displeased expression, stepped onto the platform and launched into a critique of the group. He had mostly been an observer in Mu Yue's team, helping out only during mealtimes, and the rest of the time, he was idle. It was fair to say that he was an outsider within the group.
In Kakuzu's opinion, Yahiko was a hot-blooded fool. In the ninja world, such idealism could get him killed, and he was helping others count their money. He believed Longmon kept his feelings bottled up, and even his companions couldn't understand him, so how could he expect everyone to understand each other? Chikashi was too cautious and seemed like the type to betray his teammates. Aside from Mu Yue, Kakuzu criticized everyone using examples from their daily interactions.
As for Mu Yue, Kakuzu wanted to critique him the most, but he couldn't find any faults. His pride wouldn't allow him to make something up, either.
"You should all thank Kakuzu. Not everyone would be so considerate and help you correct your mistakes," Mu Yue teased.
The ninjas laughed, and while those who were initially criticized felt embarrassed, as it was like a public execution, the more Kakuzu spoke, the less awkward they felt. After all, if everyone was publicly executed, then no one was.
During dinner that evening, the ninjas continued to joke around, using Kakuzu's assessments of them to tease each other.
"Sojiro, I think we should split up and go to different villages to spread the teachings of Ninjustu. That way, we can speed up the process and improve everyone's abilities at the same time," Yahiko suggested, coming up with a good idea.
Spreading the teachings of Ninjustu was something Mu Yue had recently proposed. Before that, their journey had been more about spreading the name of Ninjustu and practicing their skills.
After all, the Land of Rain was the territory of the Rain Ninja Village, so they had to be cautious at the beginning.
"Let's see what everyone thinks. We'll put it to a vote," Mu Yue said, leaving the decision to the group.
In the end, most people agreed with Yahiko, as the day's speeches had been enlightening for everyone.
Once they decided to split up, Mu Yue formulated a detailed plan.
For safety reasons, each group had to consist of seven or more people, and they couldn't stray too far away. Every three days, they would return to Mu Yue to report their progress and attend his lessons.
He wanted to use this opportunity to help the ninjas within the group understand Akatsuki better.
At first, Yahiko made good progress, spreading the Ninjustu ideology and helping his companions better understand Akatsuki.
But accidents always happen suddenly.
In a certain village on the border of the Land of Rain, Yahiko and his team were attacked by Iwagakure ninjas.
"We are ninjas from the Land of Rain. There is no war between the Land of Earth and the Land of Rain. Have you mistaken us for someone else?" Yahiko didn't want to engage in a meaningless battle, and he tried to stop the opponents with his words.
However, the Iwagakure ninjas ignored Yahiko's plea and, instead, launched a fierce attack on him, seemingly angered by Yahiko's leadership.
It was then that Yahiko realized that these Iwagakure ninjas were no ordinary foes; they were likely an elite squad.
"Don't hurt anyone. Let's just subdue them," Yahiko shouted.
He was mainly reminding Nagato, as Nagato's power could easily kill their opponents if he lost control of his emotions.
Nagato nodded. In this situation, killing the Iwagakure ninjas would bring trouble to the Land of Rain.
Though Yahiko's team didn't want to harm the Iwagakure ninjas, their opponents showed no such restraint. Each attack was aimed at their vital points.
This put Yahiko, who was surrounded, under immense pressure. In a moment of carelessness, his arm was slashed, and blood blossomed.
Seeing the blood on Yahiko, Nagato froze.
Yahiko was the most important person to Nagato, without a doubt.
When Nagato had lost his parents and was wandering in the ninja world, it was Yahiko who had led him forward, helping him emerge from his sadness and embrace a new life.
Although Konan was also a companion Nagato valued, Yahiko held a special place in his heart. If he had to describe it, Yahiko was the first ray of light Nagato encountered in his darkness.
"Die!" The Iwagakure ninja fighting Nagato seized the opportunity and lunged at him with his sword.
Boom!
Nagato's Rinnegan eyes trembled, and a terrifying aura surged from his body. The attacking Iwagakure ninja was sent flying and slammed into the ground, leaving a trail of blood.
The other Iwagakure ninjas were startled by this terrifying aura.
But before they could react, Nagato moved with incredible speed and strange, powerful techniques, killing them all.
When Nagato finally snapped out of his daze, there were only corpses on the ground, and his four Ninjustu teammates were stunned.
They never expected that in addition to Mu Yue, there would be another powerful member in their group, and such a young one at that.
(End of Chapter)
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