"Grasping the present, huh..."
Yoru's words echoed in the minds of every member of the Akatsuki. His voice was calm, almost casual—but it carried a weight that no one could ignore.
And the more they thought about it… the more it rang true.
In every era, peace only ever came when someone powerful enough to enforce it appeared.
The Sage of Six Paths ended the chaotic samurai era, established Ninshū, and spread Chakra, leading the entire world into decades of peace. People thus hailed the Sage of Six Paths as the 'Father of Shinobi,' the very 'God of Shinobi.' But after the Sage of Six Paths died, the world reverted to its former state, only now, those fighting and killing each other were shinobi instead of samurai.
Then came Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, who ended the Warring States Era and founded the hidden village system. For a time, peace returned.
And again—when he died, the world fell into darkness.
So it went, again and again.
Only when a godlike force appears does the world know peace. And when that force is gone… the killing begins anew.
"No need to look so conflicted, Yahiko. You too, child of the Uzumaki."
Yoru downed the last of his sake, savoring the warmth.
"Decades of peace is no small thing. Even if it only lasts that long, it's still worth it—for the sake of multiple generations."
"Decades of peace…"
Yahiko and Nagato repeated the words quietly, eyes distant.
They were still just teens, barely into their twenties. But they were childreon born from war, raised in bloodshed. And they knew—better than most—how cruel this world really was.
Alliances were worth less than the paper they were written on. Peace treaties lasted only until someone saw a new opportunity. Everyone pursued their own interests, without care for the cost.
Win or lose, villages just licked their wounds and prepared for the next war.
If they could bring even a few decades of peace to this world… perhaps that really would be something worth being proud of.
But how?
How could they reach that point?
"Good question." Yoru's gaze fell on Nagato. "If I'm not mistaken, your eyes... they should be the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths, the Rinnegan."
"If any power exists that can surpass the Five Great Nations and dominate this era… it's those eyes."
"So you're saying," Nagato replied slowly, "I should master these eyes—use them to become someone like the First Hokage?"
His uncovered Rinnegan locked with Yoru's exposed eye. For a moment, the air between them stilled.
"That's right," Yoru said calmly.
"Of course, that's just a suggestion—a way of thinking. You don't have to follow my path. Everyone has their own."
"Honestly, your current approach isn't bad either. Spreading the pain and consequences of war—helping the world understand suffering. Sowing seeds of peace, one person at a time."
"In many ways, it's the nobler path. But it's also slower, harder, and far more exhausting."
"Personally," Yoru added with a faint smirk,
"I'd rather trust my own fists than the conscience of others."
"After all, peace is hard-won, but destroying it is simple. With just a small thought from a ruler, years, even decades, of your efforts could vanish in an instant."
The Akatsuki fell silent again.
Yahiko especially looked shaken.
He'd noticed it too—during all his travels across the war-torn shinobi world.
No matter how hard he worked to spread the message of peace… no matter how high the cost… the actual results had been depressingly limited.
Even those who had suffered through war, who had come to understand its horror, who believed in Yahiko and the Akatsuki—even they, once thrown back into reality, were soon consumed again by greed, hate, and ambition.
They went right back to being the kind of people who started wars.
That… was the truth.
That was the nature of humanity.
"Anyway," Yoru said, rising to his feet,
"that's enough chit-chat for one night. I've got a summit to attend tomorrow, and I need my rest."
"You'll be handling security again, right? I'll count on you."
He gave a casual wave and exited the tavern, leaving the Akatsuki in stunned silence.
No one spoke until a waiter hesitantly approached their table.
"Sirs, that gentleman hasn't paid yet, so..."
"What?!" Yahiko looked distraught as the waiter extracted several more ryō bills. He slammed the table, not too gently. "That damn bastard! He's going to be the Fourth Mizukage and he's already pulling such shameless stunts!"
"Consider it the fee for this enlightenment, Yahiko."
"After all, what he said made a lot of sense, didn't it?"
Yoru strolled down the snowy streets, humming to himself contentedly.
Although the Rinnegan was right before him, Yoru chose not to make a move on Nagato. First, there were too many individuals eyeing those eyes already: Obito Uchiha, Madara Uchiha, Black Zetsu, and even the Sage of Six Paths himself in the Pure Land. They might all be watching those eyes.
Sure, the Rinnegan would be valuable for soul research… but triggering that level of attention just for a tool?
That would be stupid.
Yoru wasn't strong enough to survive the wrath of the entire shinobi world—not yet.
Besides, he needed Nagato and the Akatsuki.
"A group that opposed the current state of the shinobi world, wielding the eyes of a god—that was the perfect lightning rod to draw attention away from Kirigakure."
While the world focused on Amegakure, he'd let Kirigakure quietly rebuild—away from scrutiny.
That was the ideal outcome.
But suddenly—
Clack.
Whir.
Zing!
Several needles flew from the falling snow, aimed straight for his neck.
Thunk!
Clink!
Yoru made no move, allowing the senbon to strike him. But instead of easily piercing flesh, the senbon, upon touching Yoru's skin, bounced off as if hitting steel, clattering to the ground. Seeing this, someone hidden in the shadows narrowed their pupils slightly.
But they quickly calmed down, gazing intently, their fingertips twitching. The next moment, two figures leaped into the air from different angles, kunai and short swords gripped tightly in their hands, and lunged at Yoru!
"Bakudō #8: Seki."
A pulse of energy flared. The attackers were blown backward midair.
But their bodies weren't flesh—they were wood, humanoid puppets with mechanical joints.
Creak. Snap. Whirrrrr—
To the horrified gazes of the surrounding residents, the two figures began to twist unnaturally, emitting strange sounds. Their limbs sprouted long blades and saw-like edges. Like killing machines, they charged at Yoru again.
"Cheap toys."
Yoru didn't even raise an eyebrow.
"Hadō #32: Ōkasen."
Twin arcs of yellow fire burst from his hand, slamming into the puppets and incinerating them on the spot.
"Tch—!"
From the shadows, a puppeteer cursed and pulled back his chakra threads. He scrambled to unseal another puppet—but it was too late.
Yoru was already standing right in front of him.
"You—!"
The man had no time to react. Yoru's blade flashed.
Blood sprayed against the wall.
"If you're going to come after me, at least gather some intel.
Puppet chakra threads are painfully visible to the Sharingan."
Yoru sighed helplessly. Behind him, several more shadows stirred. Accompanied by the clanging of mechanisms, several bizarre-looking puppets, some with their bellies open to reveal their inner workings, others with extended limbs and barbed appendages dripping venom, burst from the shadows like frenzied monsters spotting prey, pouncing towards Yoru.
The puppeteers' skills varied, as did their numbers, but there were a total of seven puppets. From front, back, left, and right, all directions. In an instant, all avenues around Yoru were completely sealed by these killing machines!
In a flash, the puppets' attacks landed.
However, the same situation as before on the street recurred. Yoru's body seemed to possess a mysterious energy layer. All attacks that landed on him were repelled, and the puppets' strange and sharp attacks could not advance an inch against this barrier!
"Watching a puppet show after a good meal is quite entertaining."
"But your performance is terrible."
He drew his zanpakutō—Hyorinmaru.
With one swing, the biting blade force directly turned all the puppets into scattered wood chips
The puppeteers behind them were all greatly alarmed by this sight and quickly formed hand signs.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Wind Release: Wind Cut—ugh!"
Before the second jutsu could finish, Hyorinmaru sliced through them, blood trailing behind.
But just then—
A series of fireballs exploded from behind.
Boom!
Flames roared. The ambush had been timed perfectly—immediately after Yoru killed the last puppeteer.
It should've worked.
But—
As the smoke cleared, a blade rested against the throat of the orange-haired kunoichi who had launched the attack.
"Wha—?!"
She froze, unable to move.
"You Sunagakure shinobi always look so surprised when your assassinations fail."
Yoru's voice came from behind her.
"You target someone without intel, use the same tired tricks, and expect things to go your way… No wonder you lost so badly to Konoha."
He looked her over, then gave a faint smirk.
"Been a while, Pakura."
"Yuki Yoru…"
She practically spat his name.
They'd fought many times in the early years of the Third Great Ninja War—Yoru as Kirigakure's top ANBU squad leader, and Pakura as one of Sunagakure's elite.
"You… You've grown this powerful?!"
"You clearly haven't been keeping up."
Yoru tilted his head in mock surprise.
"Wait—don't tell me Sunagakure panicked when they heard about the summit and rushed you lot back from the front lines to disrupt it?"
She didn't answer. But her face said it all.
"Figures. Sunagakure never disappoints when it comes to stupid decisions."
"Enough insults! Just kill me already!"
Pakura glared at him, teeth clenched.
"Now why would I do that?
Kirigakure doesn't have Scorch Release bloodlines.
And here you are, delivering yourself to me."
Yoru raised his palm. Pakura's eyes widened.
"Four Symbols Seal."
"Bakudō #4: Hainawa."
A chakra seal spread across her stomach as ropes of energy snapped into place—binding her arms and legs.
Then, seeing her lips twitch, Yoru sealed her mouth with a shard of ice.
"Can't be too careful."
He hoisted her over his shoulder, smirking.
"Well then. Let's head back to the inn."