Chapter 247: Analyzing Naruto and Sasuke's Decline

"Lord Kakuzu, I... I can't hold on any longer." Nagato sat on the ground, drenched in sweat, panting heavily. Even his Rinnegan appeared dim and lifeless at this moment.

"Nagato, can you even handle this?" Kakuzu twisted his neck, the third Rinnegan embedded in his forehead glowing with a sinister red light.

"I really... can't go on."

"Weakling." Though Nagato wasn't as frail and emaciated as in the original timeline, that didn't stop Kakuzu from using that nickname.

"Looks like power that doesn't truly belong to you will never take you far..." Kakuzu mused as he studied Nagato. Despite possessing Uzumaki blood, Nagato had only managed to develop his Rinnegan to the limits of an ordinary person's capabilities—Super Shinra Tensei and Chibaku Tensei. Compared to Uchiha Madara, who wielded the Rinnegan like a cheat code, the difference was night and day.

Two people with the same Rinnegan yet vastly different levels of power—was it really just a matter of talent? In the end, Kakuzu believed it came down to whether the power was truly one's own.

This was much like how fans often criticized the way Naruto and Sasuke were nerfed later on.

From an objective standpoint, the weakened versions of Naruto and Sasuke in Boruto actually made sense. After using Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei, Naruto lost his Six Paths power. Later, he spent years sitting in an office, buried in endless paperwork. The mental and physical exhaustion, combined with lack of combat experience, dulled his fighting instincts. Without Truth-Seeking Orbs, he also lost the ability to fly. Oh, and there was probably another factor—Hinata draining his energy.

So yeah, Boruto-era Naruto became a shadow of his former self.

On the other hand, Sasuke spent years wandering the world, constantly engaged in battles. His combat awareness didn't degrade as much. However, he seemed to inherit Kakashi's unfortunate tradition—constantly running low on chakra, frequently collapsing from exhaustion.

Sasuke's infamous "Uchiha Body Slam" moment was a direct result of his deteriorating strength. The reason? His Rinnegan.

The power of Yin-Yang Release grants the ability to create all things—this is the essence of the Rinnegan. However, Sasuke never truly mastered Yin-Yang Release. His Rinnegan was a gift from the Sage of Six Paths, not something he awakened naturally.

During his battle with Naruto, Sasuke didn't suffer from chakra depletion because he absorbed the chakra of all nine Tailed Beasts. That gave him an almost limitless supply, allowing him to unleash his strongest technique, Indra's Arrow. But in Boruto, all those external buffs were gone. Without the Tailed Beasts' chakra, sustaining the Rinnegan's abilities drained him quickly, leaving him in a perpetual state of exhaustion.

The conclusion? Cheating your way to power might feel great for a while, but there's always a price to pay later.

Rock Lee's Eight Gates were locked away for over 600 episodes. Naruto and Sasuke's overpowered abilities were stripped away in Boruto, leaving them as glorified punching bags.

That's why true strength is something you have to cultivate yourself—it's the only power you can truly rely on.

...

"Nagato, remember—your Rinnegan is a tool. Use it, but never depend on it. Convert its power into something that is truly your own."

"Lord Kakuzu, I don't understand what you mean!"

"Then think about it this way—if you didn't have the Rinnegan, how would you fight?"

Nagato fell into deep thought.

...

As Kakuzu and Nagato discussed the nature of power, the White Snake Sage slowly approached.

"Kakuzu, it seems you've nearly mastered Ryūchi Cave's Senjutsu."

"Yeah, more or less. Now comes the hard part—merging all three Senjutsu styles. I've already dismantled the first two fusion techniques, breaking them down into their core components. Merging them back together will take more time and effort."

Kakuzu opened and clenched his hand, feeling the unique energy surging within him.

"Not bad, not bad. Finally, someone has truly learned Ryūchi Cave's Senjutsu," the White Snake Sage said, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke. There was a note of satisfaction in its voice.

"Heh, don't worry, White Snake Sage. I'll make sure Ryūchi Cave's Senjutsu spreads far and wide."

"No." The White Snake Sage's eyes turned sharp. "Not just spread. You must ensure that old fossil from Shikkotsu Forest and that senile fool from Mount Myōboku never surpass us! Understood?"

Kakuzu smirked, while Nagato beside him was at a loss for words.

So, this was all just a matter of pride, huh?

To be fair, the White Snake Sage had every reason to feel competitive. Over the years, both Shikkotsu Forest and Mount Myōboku had trained powerful shinobi who brought prestige to their Senjutsu. Meanwhile, Ryūchi Cave had been left behind.

Orochimaru had great potential, but he squandered it in his pursuit of immortality, ultimately damaging his own soul. In this timeline, Kabuto was unlikely to surpass him—unless Orochimaru had a sudden change of heart and let Kabuto take over his body, which seemed highly unlikely.

Perhaps decades later, a kid named Mitsuki might have the potential to change things. But that was far off in the future.

...

"Alright, Kakuzu. If you have business to attend to, go take care of it. But make sure to visit Ryūchi Cave often. And don't forget to bring cigarettes."

Kakuzu chuckled. That last part was the real priority, wasn't it?

"Understood, White Snake Sage. I'll make sure to send people with plenty of supplies."

Unknowingly, Kakuzu had created a loophole. The White Snake Sage wanted cigarettes, but someone had to deliver them. That meant more shinobi entering Ryūchi Cave. If they happened to pick up some Senjutsu skills while they were there, all the better. Those who failed wouldn't be a loss, but those who succeeded would be an unexpected gain.

...

After wrapping up their affairs at Ryūchi Cave, Kakuzu and Nagato left.

"So, what was it you wanted to tell me earlier? Don't tell me trouble's brewing again in the shinobi world."

As they walked, Kakuzu asked casually.

"Lord Kakuzu, it's nothing major. But it seems Sunagakure is making some suspicious moves."

"Sunagakure?" Kakuzu frowned, pausing for a moment.

Right now, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was in charge. The Third Shinobi War had just ended, and Sunagakure was struggling in the aftermath. With their land covered in endless desert, rebuilding their economy should have been their top priority. Yet instead of stabilizing their village, Rasa was stirring up trouble?

"Is this about my Land of Dragons?"

"No. Based on intelligence from the Akatsuki, Rasa isn't targeting the Land of Dragons. His sights are set on the Land of Water. His objectives seem to be twofold—first, to assess the true strength of the Land of Water, and second, to extract some financial benefits to alleviate Sunagakure's economic struggles."

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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