On top of the pine tree.
Yahiko dangled his legs, his spirits low. No one would feel good after their dreams were shattered, especially by themselves.
"Teacher... you were right. It's too difficult for people to understand each other and let go of hatred," Yahiko paused, a hint of pain in his expression.
"Even I, who yearned for this dream, cannot achieve it. How can I ask others to do so? Heh, it's truly ironic." His lips were cracked from biting them countless times, and the blood dripping onto his clothes had already congealed.
"I can sacrifice myself for others, but I cannot bear to see Nagato and Konan hurt. Others also have their own families, people they need to protect. Yet, I wish for them to abandon their hatred and forgive each other. What a ridiculous dream."
This was bad! It seemed he had gone a bit too far. Lin Yu looked at Yahiko, whose eyes had lost their light. The cheerful, strong young boy now carried a trace of adult melancholy.
Lin Yu felt the need to correct him. He tidied his thoughts and began, "Yahiko, why are you so fixated on people understanding each other and resolving hatred to achieve true peace?"
Yahiko, hearing this, found a flicker of confusion and bewilderment in his dim eyes. How could peace be achieved without mutual understanding and the resolution of hatred?
He didn't understand, but he didn't interrupt. He knew Lin Yu would explain.
Lin Yu pulled Yahiko up and looked into the distance, saying slowly, "Yahiko, look at the forest beneath our feet, and then look at the forest near the town in the distance. Do you notice any difference?"
"Hmm... I don't see anything different here. The one near the town... is more orderly?" Yahiko's eyes widened as he looked into the distance. Though he couldn't see clearly, he could vaguely make out that the trees in the distance were much neater than those in the forest.
"Exactly, it's orderly. They are both trees, so why is there a difference?"
Lin Yu didn't prolong the suspense and continued, "The trees near the town were planted by humans. Humans set 'rules' for them, and they had to obey, so they are very 'harmonious and friendly' with each other."
"As for the ones in the forest, as you can see, they are of various heights and thicknesses, their branches are messy and intertwined without restraint. Without constraint, it's like the current Land of Rain. I must say, before Hanzo of the Salamander died, the Land of Rain wouldn't have been so chaotic. At least the Rain Shinobi would have been restricted from slaughtering civilians."
"But, before that 'Hanzo' died, the Land of Rain was already tormented by war. Many families were broken apart," Yahiko said, somewhat confused.
"That's why simply setting rules isn't enough. Everyone must abide by the rules, including those who set them. Once someone breaks the rules, it disrupts everyone's peace and they must be punished. If everyone abides by the rules, war will not break out, and the peaceful and beautiful world people desire will come."
Yahiko's eyes lit up, a hint of hope in his voice, and he murmured, "Is there really such a beautiful world where everyone abides by the rules?"
Lin Yu's eyes held a trace of remembrance, and with a hint of regret, he nodded heavily. "Yes! And I have seen it. The people living in that country are protected by a group of 'the most beloved people' from the outside, and internally constrained by democratic rules. Everyone understands and obeys the law, and there is no war."
"I really want to see that country," Yahiko's eyes shone, seemingly re-energized.
"Heh, perhaps there will be a chance in the future," Lin Yu chuckled. He himself didn't know how to get back!
"Let's go. Let's go back." Lin Yu didn't wait for Yahiko's reply, grabbed him by the collar of his back, and jumped down.
"Teacher, can you please not carry me like this? It's so undignified!"
...
In front of the small wooden house, Nagato looked at Yahiko with some worry. "Yahiko, how are you?"
Yahiko was still a bit dejected, not having fully understood some things. He said to Nagato with a complex expression, "I'm fine, Nagato. Teacher is waiting for you, go ahead."
Nagato suddenly had a bad premonition. He walked into the dense forest, looking back twice.
As for Konan... she was by the river, happily grilling fish with Jiraiya. Two foodies!
Back on the top of the tall pine tree, compared to Yahiko, Nagato's expression was calm. He lowered his head, his gaze beneath his red hair fixed on something unknown. Lin Yu remained silent, and so did he.
Lin Yu looked at the silent boy, and an evil thought arose in his mind. He said softly, "Nagato, your eyes... they seem different from ordinary people."
Hearing this, Nagato's Rinnegan, hidden by his red hair, suddenly contracted. His body involuntarily trembled, and his voice became weak. "I... I don't... Ah!"
Lin Yu suddenly lowered his body, lifted Nagato's red hair that covered his eyes, and stared at the Rinnegan, whose pupils were slightly dilated with fear and apprehension. Indeed, they were not his own eyes; Nagato couldn't switch them at will.
Nagato was startled by Lin Yu's action, and his expression became even uglier, his voice trembling. "I... I'm not a monster. I don't know what's wrong with my eyes. I really don't know!"
Lin Yu gently smoothed Nagato's trembling eye corners, his tone unchanged. "These eyes of yours possess a power beyond your imagination, a power not belonging to mortals. These are the eyes of a Sage."
Nagato stopped trembling upon hearing this. His expression held painful memories, and he asked doubtfully, "Really? Aren't these cursed eyes? Because of these eyes, I've suffered so much hardship and torment. Are they really the eyes of a Sage?"
Lin Yu let go of Nagato's red hair and sat down cross-legged with him, looking at the sky and saying slowly, "I have no reason to lie to you. These eyes of yours are a treasure many people dream of. Whether you possess them is a blessing or a curse."
Lin Yu sighed. The blessing was that Nagato could instantly possess power that ordinary people could not reach. The misfortune was that he was merely a pawn for someone, and using the Rinnegan, which did not belong to him, would severely consume his life force. In the original story, Nagato's body became emaciated from overusing the Rinnegan and he was eventually killed off by the plot.
"Then... do you want them?" Nagato hesitated for a moment, then revealed a resolute expression.
"Hmm? What did you say?" Even Lin Yu was somewhat surprised.
Nagato took a deep breath, and for the first time, lifted his own red hair, saying earnestly, "Do you want these... Rinnegan eyes of mine? I can give them to you."
"Do you know what you are saying?" Lin Yu felt the child's thought process was astonishing. Was he trying to provoke Uchiha Madara into beating up Lin Yu right now?
"I know. I can give you these eyes, and I only ask that you protect Yahiko and Konan." In Nagato's heart, if these cursed eyes could exchange for Yahiko and Konan's safety, he would not hesitate to sacrifice himself.
"Ah hahaha, even if you didn't give them to me, I would still protect Konan. As for Yahiko, I think you should protect him yourself. Since you possess such extraordinary talent, if you don't make good use of it, even Madara-sama would jump out and beat you!"
"Ah?" Nagato didn't quite understand Lin Yu's last words, but his small face nodded heavily. "Yes! I will definitely protect Yahiko well!"
"Besides, why do you think you are the only one who possesses such eyes?" Lin Yu smiled mysteriously and mentally chanted: *Unfreeze*.
Lin Yu turned his head to look at Nagato. Three black tomoe in his eye sockets spun rapidly, eerie and demonic...