Jin paused for a moment before continuing.
"When Madara fused Hashirama's power and awakened the Rinnegan… he was already old."
"He no longer had the strength to carry out the 'peace plan' recorded on the stone tablet—one that required the Rinnegan to execute."
"So while implanting the Rinnegan into Nagato…"
"He also began searching for a successor."
"The masked man you met? He's the unlucky one Madara chose."
"Unlucky?" Yahiko frowned. "Isn't inheriting Uchiha Madara's legacy supposed to be an honor?"
To Yahiko, power was just a tool.
You could accept training without inheriting ideology.
Strength could serve your own will.
Jin shook his head.
"Madara's method of choosing a successor wasn't what you imagine."
"In order to ensure that the masked man inherited his will… Madara orchestrated everything."
He looked directly at Yahiko.
"Something like… letting you die once."
"And then forcing him to watch Konan die at Nagato's hands."
Yahiko felt a chill run down his spine.
He understood instantly.
That kind of emotional manipulation—
That kind of calculated despair—
It was monstrous.
He couldn't even put the feeling into words.
But he knew one thing.
He could never accept it.
Jin continued evenly.
"In short, Madara wasn't cultivating a successor."
"He was cultivating a chess piece."
"Being Madara's heir means having no human rights."
Yahiko nodded numbly.
Any envy he might have had vanished.
The masked man truly was unfortunate.
After a long silence, Nagato spoke.
"Jin-nii… what exactly is Madara's plan?"
If he was merely a pawn, he wanted to know the goal he was being used to achieve.
Jin did not hide it.
"The Eye of the Moon Plan."
"A project to cast a technique called Infinite Tsukuyomi over the entire world."
"To trap everyone inside an illusion."
"In each person's illusion, they would become a victor."
"They would have love."
"They would have peace."
Nagato: "..."
Yahiko: "..."
Konan: "..."
Some things were simply too absurd.
This "Eye of the Moon Plan" sounded like something meant to fool children.
Yahiko forced himself to ask,
"And in reality… what would happen to people?"
"They would be hung from trees," Jin replied calmly.
"And inside their beautiful dreams, their bodies would be transformed into humanoid weapons called White Zetsu."
"They would lose their will."
Silence.
Perhaps they shouldn't have asked.
There was no brilliance in that plan.
Only horror.
Jin continued, unbothered by their stunned expressions.
"Regardless of what you think—the masked man won't give up on you."
Nagato shook his head firmly.
"I will never accept his ideology."
"You don't need to," Jin said lightly.
"In Madara's design, you are merely a vessel."
"A tool."
"When the time comes, you would use the Rinnegan to resurrect him."
"He likely left many contingencies within you."
"Your will is irrelevant."
Nagato froze.
Then anger flared in his eyes.
He had thought himself chosen.
Now he learned he was just a container.
Yahiko suddenly grew tense.
"Then isn't Nagato in extreme danger? Jin-nii, can you help him?"
"Not yet," Jin replied seriously.
"And Madara is already dead."
"The contingencies he left behind may never activate."
"The one you must worry about now is the masked man."
"Why?" Yahiko asked.
"He's already unstable," Jin explained.
"According to Madara's original plan, he shouldn't have contacted you directly."
"But now he wants to drag Nagato into darkness."
"You and Konan may become tools in that process."
Nagato's expression hardened.
"You're saying… he might target Yahiko and Konan?"
Jin nodded.
"It's possible."
"And his ability is extremely troublesome. He appears and disappears like a ghost."
"You may not be able to guard against him."
He added quietly,
"And for certain reasons, I won't confront him directly right now."
"So you'll need to be cautious."
"Stay together."
"He wants to guide Nagato into darkness—not provoke his hatred outright."
"As long as you're not isolated, it'll be difficult for him to act."
In truth, the masked man's space-time ability—Kamui—made him nearly untouchable without preparation.
Jin had no intention of clashing head-on yet.
Yahiko nodded solemnly.
"Understood. We'll be careful."
Jin smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry too much."
"Before I leave the Land of Rain, I'll leave something behind for you."
"Something?" Konan tilted her head.
"You'll know when the time comes," Jin said lightly.
He then shifted the topic.
"So—are you returning today? Or staying the night?"
Yahiko hesitated.
"I'd like to continue talking with you, Jin-nii…"
"But the Akatsuki can't be left unattended."
"We'll head back today."
"There will be more chances," Jin replied.
"When Danzō comes knocking, I'll notify you."
"Stay vigilant."
"We will."
All three nodded.
Jin suddenly reached into his pouch.
"Oh—before you go."
"A small gift."
He handed each of them a palm-sized red book.
The covers were entirely crimson.
No title.
No words.
Only a strange emblem embossed on the front.
Yahiko blinked.
"Jin-nii… what is this?"
Jin smiled faintly.
"My thoughts about this world."
"Combined with the philosophy of a certain predecessor."
"When you have time…"
"Read it carefully."
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