Chapter 21: The Angel Who Wields Heavens Door
The maniacal laughter Maeda let out after leaving the room grew fainter and fainter, and the underground base returned to a dead silence once more.
Konan looked at the Golden Broken Arrow in Yahiko's hand.
"A successful messenger has finally appeared. Since we have a successful sample, can your experiment proceed to the next step?"
At this moment, the broken arrow flickered with an eerie luster under the dim light, as if the blood from just now was merely an appetizer.
"No, there's no need."
Yahiko pulled out a white cloth from his pocket to wipe the arrowhead, his tone flat. "The experiment is over; my previous thoughts have been verified."
"What?"
A flash of bewilderment crossed Nagato's pale face, and then his Rinnegan fixed on Yahiko, waiting for an answer.
"Yahiko, out of over a hundred death row prisoners, only Maeda succeeded. This can't even be called a probability; it's practically a stroke of luck. If you don't continue to increase the sample size, how can you be sure—"
"Because I've already seen it," Yahiko interrupted Nagato.
He slowly turned around, looking at Konan and Nagato as he spoke.
"There is one thing whose detailed mechanism I haven't told you yet." Yahiko pointed to the center of his brow, where another eye seemed to be lurking. "My Stand, [King Crimson], possesses an ability called [Epitaph]. It allows me to see images of what will happen in the next few dozen seconds."
Konan and Nagato exchanged looks, both seeing shock in each other's eyes. Predicting the future? That was a privilege held only by the legendary Great Toad Immortal.
"Though it's only a few dozen seconds, the future I see is a destiny that will absolutely occur."
Yahiko's voice carried a confidence that suggested he was in control of everything. "Just a moment before Maeda stabbed the arrow into his neck, I had already seen the image of a Stand emerging behind him through [Epitaph]. That's why I was certain he would succeed."
Having said this, Yahiko spread his hands, a playful curve hooking at the corner of his mouth.
"The so-called experiment was only to verify if my 'eyes' were accurate. Now that the results are out, the future is indeed as I saw it. So next, it's time to help you both achieve Awakening."
The atmosphere instantly became solemn.
Nagato frowned. "But what if the future you see is our failure and death? Wouldn't that be..."
"No need to worry, this involves the manipulability of 'fate'," Yahiko said with a smile.
"Remember the Water Clone technique I had you both learn? How is your practice going?"
Konan was somewhat puzzled but answered truthfully. "The Clone technique is a basic for a Ninja, and my Chakra attributes are primarily Wind, Earth, and Water. A C-rank Ninjutsu like the Water Clone is easy to learn once you grasp the trick. However, I've already developed the more practical 'Paper Clone,' which can not only scout but also detonate. Why bother specifically learning the easily exposed Water Clone?"
"I've learned it too," Nagato nodded. "Combined with the Rinnegan, no Ninjutsu presents a barrier to me."
"Very good. Actually, something like Konoha's Shadow Clone would be best, but since the Hidden Rain Village doesn't have such a thing, this will have to do for now."
Yahiko walked up to the two of them.
"Konan, you go first. Nagato, stay by her side and remember to sense Konan's physical condition."
He held up a finger, his tone grave. "The following operation is a matter of life and death, so listen closely."
"The reason Hanzou was able to escape from me back then was by utilizing the characteristics of the 'Water Clone' Ninjutsu. My [Epitaph] did indeed see the image of him being killed by me; that was an absolute truth. But he replaced his original body with a Water Clone, causing fate to be defrauded."
A light of wisdom flickered in Yahiko's eyes.
"The future I saw only had the result of 'Hanzou being killed by me,' but that 'Hanzou' wasn't necessarily the original body."
Konan's pupils dilated slightly. Being incredibly intelligent, she instantly grasped Yahiko's meaning. "You mean..."
"Exactly, that is what we are going to do now."
Yahiko gripped the arrow tightly, his gaze burning. "In a moment, I will activate [Epitaph] and predict the future of me piercing you with the arrow."
"If in the future vision I see images of your death, it means your conviction isn't enough to earn the arrow's recognition. At that instant, I will give you a signal, and you must perform the Water Clone technique without hesitation."
"Let the Water Clone bear the result of being pierced by the arrow; let the Water Clone 'die'."
"As long as the predetermined fate of 'being pierced' and 'dying' is completed, your original body can survive and wait for the next opportunity."
"Conversely, if in the future vision I see a Stand appear behind you..." Yahiko paused, revealing a haughty smile. "Then it means your Aptitude as a Stand Ninja is recognized by fate!"
Konan was shocked by Yahiko's idea.
Crazy.
Too crazy.
Gambling with one's life while using Ninjutsu to defraud fate. This kind of tactic was likely something only someone like Yahiko, who possessed the power of foresight, could come up with.
"I understand."
Konan took a deep breath without the slightest hesitation. She took a step forward and extended her arm, which was as white as jade. "Let's begin, Yahiko. I trust you."
"Don't be nervous, clear your mind."
Yahiko's voice was soothing, and then his gaze sharpened.
"King Crimson!"
A red-and-white humanoid phantom emerged from behind Yahiko. On its distorted face, a small face on its forehead snapped its eyes open.
[Epitaph]—Activate!
Yahiko's vision changed instantly as he saw the images of ten seconds later.
In the vision, the golden arrowhead pierced Konan's fingertip.
Konan only frowned slightly, and immediately after, a strange surge of energy erupted from within her. Countless white sheets of paper danced in the void, finally coalescing behind her into a young boy Stand wearing white clothes and a transparent hat.
"This is..."
Yahiko's pupils constricted sharply.
No image of death—success on the first try!
Konan's Aptitude was actually high enough to succeed in one shot!
"There's no need for a Water Clone."
Yahiko deactivated Epitaph, the red light in his eyes fading. He looked at the slightly nervous Konan before him, a confident smile playing on his lips. "It seems fate favors you even more than I imagined, Konan."
Immediately after, the arrow in Yahiko's hand struck toward Konan's slender finger like a venomous snake.
A drop of bright red blood seeped out, and the moment it touched the arrowhead, it seemed to be instantly evaporated by some kind of power.
"Ugh..."
Konan gave a muffled groan, feeling a jolt of electricity rush from her fingertip to her brain. The sensation wasn't painful; rather, it felt like an Awakening of the mind.
Like a blind person seeing color for the first time, or a deaf person hearing sound for the first time.
A brand-new dimension of the world unfolded before her eyes.
"Rustle, rustle—"
Without needing to form hand signs, countless white papers appeared out of thin air, but this wasn't her Paper Style. These papers spun and folded rapidly in the air, finally hovering behind her.
A white humanoid Stand, about a meter tall, manifested. It wore a white tailcoat like a magician's and had a transparent dome-shaped top hat on its head.
It floated quietly behind Konan, exuding an intellectual and mysterious aura.