Chapter 201: The Theory of Deterrence! Nagato's Heart Wavers—The Unforeseen!!!
"Konan, you seem to have something on your mind."
Renji turned his head to look at Konan. Of course she had something on her mind.
At this moment, Konan clearly understood how hard-earned peace was, and she could also understand why Renji acted as he did.
On one side stood the peace she could already see, and on the other was Nagato's dream. Naturally, this placed Konan in a painful dilemma.
"I've actually been thinking about something for a while."
Konan hesitated for a moment, then decided to make things clear to Renji.
She could feel that the situation now was different from when she first came here.
At the beginning, she had come merely to gather intelligence in secret, just as part of her mission as a ninja.
But the longer she stayed, the more she found herself growing fond of this place.
"Go on."
"Why did you choose me to be your secretary?"
Konan couldn't help but feel puzzled. They had only met once before.
Why did he trust her so much?
A secretary could access many confidential matters, even if she hadn't yet at that time.
"Because I wanted to."
"…"
What a blunt answer. Yet Konan couldn't quite describe the feeling it gave her.
"Forget it. You've been in low spirits these days, so I'll give you a few days off. Take some time to rest, maybe go out for a walk."
"A vacation?"
Konan was surprised. She had been here for a long time and had never once taken a break.
Every day there was an endless pile of documents to process. Since everyone was still learning to work together, friction was inevitable.
Many issues were ones the other secretaries couldn't easily handle.
Each of them still represented the interests of their original villages, and whenever Renji couldn't personally step in, everyone turned to Konan.
Konan didn't come from any of their villages. Moreover, as someone who was often at Renji's side and directly appointed by him, the others viewed her as his most trusted aide.
Thus, whenever matters arose that were too sensitive for the other five secretaries, they all sought Konan's help.
As a result, she actually had far more work than the rest.
Though it surprised her, Konan was secretly pleased. It meant she was quickly moving up and gaining access to more classified information.
However, this also meant that Konan had been working nonstop for months.
She had tried to ask Renji for leave several times, but he always turned her down—first saying that capable people should shoulder more responsibility, and later enticing her to stay with meals and small privileges.
But over time, she began to feel something was off.
"You're really giving me time off?!"
What kind of reaction was that?
What did she mean by "how could you possibly give me time off"?
Renji was speechless.
She had been asking for leave all this time, and now that he finally approved it, she was suspicious instead.
Originally, Renji hadn't allowed her any breaks because her results hadn't yet met his expectations—he needed her to stay longer.
Now things were different. He could tell that his influence on Konan's thinking had taken hold, and her view of this place had begun to change. So Renji decided to let her leave for a while.
"If you don't want time off, that's fine too."
"No, I'll take it!"
Konan wasn't about to refuse the chance. Besides, it had been far too long since she last contacted Nagato.
Renji's sensory ability allowed him to know everything happening in the shinobi world. To avoid exposure, Konan had refrained from any contact.
"Then go."
Renji said softly. Konan hesitated, then turned and left.
Watching her departing figure, Renji shook his head. He hoped she would return having settled this matter.
"Jiraiya, you're back."
Renji sat atop the Hokage Rock, gazing at the bustling streets below.
Behind him, approaching footsteps grew closer. Renji was curious—what brought Jiraiya back this time?
Since the founding of the Shinobi Nation, Jiraiya had left on his travels.
But as more people gathered under the new order, there were fewer places left to wander.
"Yes. The changes here are truly remarkable—different every single day."
Jiraiya had already been back for a while, but he couldn't help being drawn in by the transformation before him.
After wandering the streets for some time, he'd even considered returning to his old work. Yet the moment he came back, someone began tailing him—much to his annoyance.
He just wanted material for his next book! His novels were famous across the entire shinobi world—why treat him this way?
"Indeed. Ever since you left, everyone dares to visit the hot springs again."
"Hey, hey, what's that supposed to mean?!"
Jiraiya froze.
Did he really have to bring that up?
What did he mean by "everyone dares to go to the hot springs now that I'm gone"?
Was he really that perverted?
"Well, perhaps just a little."
"…"
Could Renji read his thoughts too?
Jiraiya sighed, sitting down beside Renji as they both looked over the lively village below. He pushed aside his earlier irritation—there were more important things to ponder.
The Shinobi Nation was undeniably better than Konoha had ever been.
Old man… it seems you were wrong after all.
Jiraiya thought to himself. He had once believed that Renji's rebellion, and the Uchiha's rise to political power, would never bring prosperity to Konoha.
After all, the Uchiha were warriors by nature, lacking political talent. A coup-led success would only encourage other clans to revolt.
Thus, he had truly grieved over Hiruzen Sarutobi's death. But even then, Jiraiya knew the old man had gone too far.
Now, seeing everything before him, he realized how mistaken he'd been.
After Renji unified the shinobi world and brought peace, Jiraiya went to consult the Great Toad Sage—only to become even more confused.
The prophecy had failed.
He had spent half his life following that prophecy's guidance, yet reality proved it wrong.
All his life's efforts had been in vain, leaving him wandering aimlessly across the world, unsure of his purpose.
"Renji, do you believe in prophecy?"
Jiraiya lifted his head and looked at Renji as he asked the question.
Hearing his words, Renji fell silent for a moment.
Had the prophecy truly failed?
No—it had not.
Isn't it in the anime that this crisis was resolved by Jiraiya's disciple Naruto, bringing peace to the shinobi world?
So the prophecy was not wrong; it was simply changed by my arrival, yet Renji does not believe in such prophecies.
This prophecy merely negates Naruto's efforts!
Is this what determinism is? The reincarnation of Ashura saves the world, much like when Otsutsuki Kaguya attempted to turn the entire shinobi world into a nursery for White Zetsu and was stopped by the two brothers of the Six Paths.
It seems the shinobi world's stability rests on that Six Paths family.
Wait—am I part of that family too? Renji was about to scoff when he suddenly realized he was counted among them.
If the luck continued, his abilities might end up as powerful as Otsutsuki Kaguya's.
Yet the shinobi world is still not truly peaceful; there are Otsutsuki on the moon, Otsutsuki Isshiki and Otsutsuki Kaguya remain, the Akatsuki's current status is unclear, Otsutsuki Momoshiki could appear at any time, and the Uchiha Madara issue remains unresolved.
Thus the apparent peace in the shinobi world may only be temporary.
"I do not believe in prophecy; there has never been a true Child of Prophecy."
Renji said calmly.
There was one before, but not anymore.
"Jiraiya, I only believe people should seize their own fate, not be arranged by destiny. I am so, the supposed Child of Prophecy is so, and you are too—why wander the shinobi world for that vague notion?"
Renji felt Orochimaru was the clearest-eyed among the three legendary Sannin; the others all bore their own flaws.
Orochimaru pursued immortality and Uchiha power, Tsunade remained mired in grief over family loss, and Jiraiya had lived his life for a prophecy.
The first lived for himself, the second lived in the past, and the last lived in destiny.
"Have you heard my story?"
"Your face tells a story."
Not many knew about the Child of Prophecy, so Jiraiya had not broadcast it widely.
A little inquiry would reveal the truth, and Jiraiya was surprised Renji already knew.
After hearing Renji's words, Jiraiya reflected on them. It seemed he had indeed been wandering the shinobi world for that very purpose.
In the shinobi world, Jiraiya had done two things: search for Orochimaru and search for the Child of Prophecy.
Everything else was incidental—like writing his risqué novels.
"Indeed, even the Great Toad Sage admitted his prophecy failed."
Jiraiya sighed; perhaps there was no longer reason to keep searching for the so-called Child of Prophecy.
If even the Great Toad Sage acknowledged failure, why continue the quest?
Yet he could not accept that all his years had been in vain.
"Live for yourself then; the village also needs your efforts."
Renji suggested, and Jiraiya laughed aloud, but did not immediately agree. Instead he said, "I want to find Orochimaru."
If the quest for the Child of Prophecy lost meaning, finding Orochimaru became Jiraiya's new obsession.
"By the way, I learned something in my investigation: a dangerous organization may have been discovered."
Jiraiya told Renji that after Orochimaru left Konoha, he had joined an organization.
The name of that organization was—
"Akatsuki!"
Jiraiya looked at Renji earnestly, implying that peace in the shinobi world was far from secure and many hidden forces still sought to destroy it.
"Renji, I want to protect the current peace, but only after I find Orochimaru."
He half agreed to Renji's request to stay, but made finding Orochimaru his condition; until then he would not remain.
Retrieving Orochimaru had become Jiraiya's lifelong fixation.
If searching for the Child of Prophecy had been living for a prophecy, finding Orochimaru was living for his own cause.
"All right, but don't go after that Akatsuki. I have my reasons."
Renji nodded; he did not fully grasp bonds and attachments. Initially when he transmigrated he thought only of cultivation, but upon realizing he could not change the Uchiha's fate, he planned to escape. After gaining strength, he would simply rise to clan leader.
He indeed lacked attachment.
Renji had no objection to Jiraiya seeking Orochimaru. The two old friends might spar, but would not kill each other; moreover Orochimaru might not even be a match for Jiraiya now.
As for Pain, that was another matter—if Jiraiya went now, it might echo the anime's ending where the wandering dragon returns to the sea and the sea does not welcome him.
"Fine. Renji, I must warn you: Akatsuki is an organization formed by powerful rogue shinobi from multiple villages. Who is in it now is unclear, but Orochimaru was once a member."
Orochimaru's strength aside, Jiraiya had intended to warn Renji further.
Yet he thought it better for Renji to investigate himself. During the shinobi wars one man once faced three villages alone.
"Konan?"
"Nagato, sorry I only returned recently."
In the Land of Rain, Konan felt a weight upon returning; after the founding of the Shinobi Nation, the Rain's population had noticeably dwindled and the place felt more oppressive.
"Konan, are you all right?" Nagato asked with concern; Konan nodded and reassured him, "I'm fine; it's actually quite good there."
"Quite good."
Nagato murmured, then asked, "What did you see?"
After looting Kado, Akatsuki had enough funds to act, and the masked man had urged immediate action.
Nagato hesitated over whether to start a war; delaying further might make the opportunity vanish.
"I believe there is no need to wage war."
Konan hesitated, then spoke her thoughts: she believed war was unnecessary now.
"What if I capture the nine tailed beasts and fuse them into the Outer Path Demonic Statue to deter them?"
"Why would you still do that, Nagato?"
Konan stared incredulously; peace had arrived—why would Nagato contemplate such measures?
Nagato shook his head, reluctant to trust the great nations. Since Konan left, Obito had sought Nagato frequently, and Nagato had been torn over whether to start a war.
Obito seized the chance, sensing Nagato's reluctance, and argued that possessing the Ten-Tails would serve as deterrence rather than immediate war.
With the Ten-Tails as a threat, peace could be maintained—this idea gave Nagato pause.
Great powers never understand the small nation's suffering, and with expansion ended, an unrestrained Renji might swing to extremes; a deterrent could make Renji think twice.
(End of Chapter)
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