Chapter 533: What He Wants Isn’t Just Immortality—He Wants to Live Young and Strong

Yahiko's thoughts were painfully clear. Every time Konan showed joy because of Takuya, it was like a dagger to his heart.

After all, who could accept the girl they liked being happy because of another man?

Even if that man was someone they deeply respected.

Yahiko was stuck in an awkward limbo, unable to express his feelings or reconcile his emotions.

"Mm."

Takuya smiled faintly, raising a hand to ruffle the bun atop Konan's head. As he did so, he subtly exchanged glances with Kushina and Pakura, giving them a silent signal.

Kushina grinned knowingly.

"Well, I'll be heading out for now. I'll bring dinner later. You all can have your discussion."

Kushina decided to go home for a nap, leaving the house with a playful wave.

Pakura and Minato followed suit, quietly stepping outside. The two took up positions at the front and back entrances of the house, keeping watch to ensure no one could eavesdrop on the conversation inside.

Meanwhile, Takuya opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water, gesturing for the three tense figures to take a seat.

"I apologize for the sudden change of plans, keeping you here on such short notice. But don't worry about the Rain Daimyo. A senior from the village has been assigned to escort him safely back to Amegakure."

Once the trio sat down, Konan, unable to suppress her curiosity, spoke up.

"Teacher, did you call us back because of something important?"

"Yes, it's important," Takuya replied without hesitation. "This matter concerns the survival of the Akatsuki—and your own lives."

"What?!"

Konan's smile vanished instantly. Yahiko shot up from the couch in alarm, and even Nagato, usually composed, couldn't help but lift his head in shock.

Takuya waved a hand to calm them. "Don't panic. Hear me out first."

But before he began, Takuya sent a mental signal to Snowy.

"Master, don't worry. No one is hiding nearby. I'll keep watching over the area."

Snowy, his personal tailed beast, had sensing abilities far surpassing that of a regular Nine-Tails. After several enhancements, Snowy's capabilities were unparalleled.

With Pakura and Minato guarding the visible entrances, and Snowy monitoring covert threats like Black Zetsu, Takuya was confident no one could overhear their conversation.

"Teacher, is this because of me?"

Nagato's voice broke the tension. The usually quiet and reserved young man spoke with uncharacteristic urgency.

"Is it because of my cursed eyes?"

No matter how powerful the Rinnegan was, Nagato saw it as a curse—a pair of ominous, burdensome eyes that had brought him nothing but pain.

"Partially," Takuya admitted. He decided there was no need for pretense now.

"The true owner of those eyes is a very dangerous person. I believe they've been watching you—and possibly all three of you—for a long time."

Nagato's face turned pale. Konan and Yahiko exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions filled with dread.

"I kept you back because I need your cooperation to lure this person out of hiding. An enemy lurking in the shadows is always the most dangerous kind."

Takuya's words hit them like a tidal wave. The thought of being watched for years by a powerful, unseen adversary was enough to make their skin crawl.

"Perhaps you have many questions," Takuya continued. "Nagato's eyes are indeed extraordinary. But it's only recently that I've pieced together enough information to understand the full picture."

"For example, the legendary Sage's Eye—the Rinnegan—is not some divine anomaly. It's simply the final evolution of the Sharingan."

Nagato: "..."

Yahiko: "..."

Konan: "..."

Am I crazy, or is the world insane?

The Sage's Eye, a mythical power of legend, is just an evolved Sharingan?

That's terrifying.

Wait—how does Teacher even know this?

And why is he always covering his eyes?

A chilling suspicion crept into their minds.

Noticing their gazes filled with shock and doubt, Takuya chuckled wryly and raised a hand to point at himself.

"You're not wrong. My eyes are the same. I've been covering them because they've been evolving recently, which is a bit uncomfortable. But it should be over soon."

"Teacher... your eyes are also the Sage's Eyes?"

Konan's voice trembled as she struggled to process what she was hearing.

"Soon, they will be," Takuya said with a faint smile.

"But unlike Nagato's situation, my eyes don't burden me. If anything, they make me feel... invincible. These eyes grant unimaginable power.

Power to flatten all opposition.

Power to even bring back the dead."

"Of course, there are limitations," he added. "But my eyes can shift forms freely. I can toggle between the Sharingan, Mangekyo, and Rinnegan at will.

Nagato, however, cannot. His Rinnegan isn't his own. It burdens him, saps his strength. He's merely a vessel to nurture those eyes."

Takuya went on to explain the evolution of the Sharingan and the nature of the Rinnegan.

Nagato clenched his fists, his jaw tight.

Yahiko stammered, "So... so you're saying... the person who implanted these eyes in Nagato only sees him as a vessel?"

"Who could do something so twisted?!" Konan's voice was tinged with disbelief and fear.

"Based on my deductions, it's likely Uchiha Madara, one of the Uchiha clan's strongest warriors from the past," Takuya replied.

"Impossible!"

"Madara died ages ago, didn't he?"

"That's just an assumption. There are many ways to cheat death, especially for someone as powerful as Madara," Takuya countered, shaking a finger at them.

"My investigation suggests that Madara is still alive. These eyes on Nagato serve two purposes: nurturing the Rinnegan and leveraging Nagato's power."

"Why the Uzumaki clan?"

"Because their life force and chakra reserves are ideal for sustaining the Rinnegan. But beyond that..."

Takuya paused, letting the suspense build.

"What?" Konan and Yahiko leaned forward, holding their breath. Nagato stared at the floor, his fists trembling.

"I suspect it's to control Nagato, to force him to use the Rinnegan's power to revive Madara."

"Teacher, that's insane! Didn't you just say Madara is still alive? Why would he need to be resurrected?" Yahiko's voice was laced with panic and anger.

"Even if Madara is alive, he's probably old, weak—clinging to life by a thread," Takuya explained gravely.

"To use the Rinnegan's power fully, he needs a young, strong body. Reviving himself into such a state would make him unstoppable."

Konan and Yahiko were speechless.

Nagato's entire body trembled as he stared down at his hands, which had unknowingly clenched into fists so tight they drew blood.

Yahiko slammed his fist into the table, the sound reverberating through the room as wood splintered and fragments scattered across the floor.

"Damn it! Damn it all!"

"Yahiko, what are you doing?!"

Konan shouted angrily, grabbing his arm.

"This isn't Teacher's fault! The person targeting Nagato—and all of us—is Uchiha Madara, not him!"

"I know that! I just..."

Yahiko's voice trailed off, and he slumped back into his seat, burying his face in his hands. He couldn't find the words to defend himself.

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