"That's too kind of you, Miss Ayane. So, may I take them and leave now?"
"Of course. However, I don't understand, since you have contact with Hakushi, why not pursue a deeper cooperation?"
Ayane asked this.
Nagato's contact with Hakushi probably stemmed from the scroll obtained from Konoha Asami Shinsui, creating a secret connection between them.
Nagato gazed deeply at Ayane and replied, "I greatly admire Mr. Hakushi's abilities, but when it comes to ideological conflict, it's a matter of life and death. Mr. Hakushi is not a pacifist."
"That's truly a shame."
As Hakushi's confidante, Ayane naturally knew the despicable side of that man.
He only thought this era was unreasonable, so he wanted to change it, to transform the world into the way he envisioned.
Therefore, Nagato saying Hakushi is not a pacifist was very true.
The word 'peace,' being too idealistic, was not something suitable for Hakushi.
Nagato inherited Akatsuki's will; although his methods were vastly different from the past Akatsuki, his goal remained for the sake of the word 'peace.'
The specific plan likely involved the Tailed Beasts as well.
"Then, goodbye, Miss Ayane."
"Please go ahead... However, I hope not to hear any unfavorable news regarding the Hidden Star Village."
Ayane gave Nagato one last piece of advice.
The Hidden Star Village was very important to the Land of Demons but not its Achilles' heel. Discarding it, they could always activate alternative expansion plans, albeit delayed.
But the Land of Rain and the Hidden Rain Village were different; they were Nagato's lifeline, his roots, and Nagato couldn't part with anything there. It was the country and village he swore to protect with his life.
Nagato naturally understood these priorities, nodded seriously, and turned to leave.
◎
Yin Style is the art of imbuing the spirit.
Yang Style is the art of bestowing life to the body.
The combination of the two forms the Yin-Yang Style, the art of formless creation, the simulation of life.
It seems very simple, but combining the two styles is not as easy as imagined.
Especially for a normal-bloodline ninja like Hakushi, who doesn't possess Otsutsuki bloodline, exploring Yin-Yang Style with his own abilities would require an immense amount of effort and time, and might not even resolve the Yin-Yang Style issue.
In the military laboratory of the Land of Demons, Hakushi delved into the Yin-Yang Style Jutsu he obtained from Nagato.
Many of its mysteries were previously unnoticed by Hakushi, or even if noticed, he had no way to resolve them.
Though the Yin-Yang Style Jutsu given by Nagato was incomplete, this portion was sufficient for Hakushi to deduce much, and applying it to practical research should not be difficult.
However... Hakushi awkwardly glanced at the large floor-to-ceiling glass cylinder next to him, inside which a human body was submerged, its bones and flesh growing slowly, nearing the day of its complete awakening.
"It's rare to see you troubled."
Silently, a voice came from beside him. Ruri was there, observing Hakushi's troubled expression, and asked.
"According to the original plan, the Yang Clone will soon be formally deployed, replacing Ayane in the Hidden Star Village, working with Akakage to manage the village. But now it seems the plan needs to change. The Yin-Yang Style Nagato gave me requires some time before I can produce a result. Applying it to the Yang Clone will take quite a bit of time."
Hakushi planned to use the unborn Yang Clone as the first experimental subject for the Yin-Yang Style.
If he succeeded in applying the Yin-Yang Style to the clone, his power would drastically increase.
Unlike Ruri and Ayane, he, as an ordinary ninja, could no longer gain significant enhancements through training.
No matter how well he planned, Jonin was essentially his limit.
Ninjas like Kakashi, who didn't possess Kekkeigenkai but had terrifying talent, were extremely rare in the Ninja Realm.
Of course, the deceased Namikaze Minato also counted as one.
"Why not select a candidate from the other clones?"
"Hmm, I guess that's the only way. I'll send Raidenmaru over."
He was the only clone among his current ones capable of speaking normally and without issues. If there was a communication barrier with the Hidden Star Village subordinates, it would be awkward.
Shadow Dancer needed to stay in his shadow, ensuring his life safety.
"By the way, why did you come looking for me?"
Hakushi remembered something and asked.
"I need to use Shikkotsu Forest for a while; a few clansmen have made some progress in Immortal Technique, and I want to see if they can advance further, perhaps even achieving my level of power while in Three Tomoe Sharingan state."
Hakushi knew what kind of power Ruri was referring to.
Imagining the Uchiha ninjas under Ruri, each activating their Three-Tomoe Sharingan, forming giant and fierce samurai warriors, wielding giant swords, charging into the battlefield...
For the enemy, it might be an unimaginably brutal massacre.
Even though it might not be as exaggerated, Hakushi believed such scenarios were likely in the future.
"Got it, I'll let Katsuyu know. But I've been away from home quite a bit lately, take care of Ichihime."
Hakushi suddenly sighed, feeling a headache.
"Ichihime? What happened? Did she get into trouble at school?"
"Don't worry, she's been well-behaved at school, no trouble..."
But at home, it's another story.
Thinking about what Ichihime did at home, Hakushi was overwhelmed.
When Ayane returned and saw their child dressed as a girl, she would definitely crush his bones.
Even though she gets along well with others, why is she a different person at home?
Could it be that it's her way of showing affection for her brother?
None of his three children were easy to manage.
Some are foolish, some are wild, and some...thinking about it, Hakushi felt his blood pressure rise.