boyutpedia Chapter 96 Xiao Nan Takes Nagato as Her Subordinate: The Gap Between Man and God
Chapter 96 Xiao Nan Takes Nagato as Her Subordinate: The Gap Between Man and God
Chapter 96 Xiao Nan Takes Nagato as Her Subordinate: The Gap Between Man and God
Let's go back ten days.
In the rocky mountains of the Land of Rain, heavy dark clouds and a white curtain of rain give the barren mountains a cold and oppressive atmosphere.
During the war, apart from the safest western region, it was rare to see a civilian in the rocky mountain area outside Amegakure.
Those who were capable either bypassed the battle lines between the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire and fled to the neighboring Land of Grass.
They either travel over mountains and valleys from the three major regions of the east, south, and north to the western region, or they escape from the rain country from the western region to enter the neighboring bird country.
Those who lack the ability either remain in inhabited villages and towns, clinging to a glimmer of hope, or hide in rare, deep forests or caves that are ubiquitous in the Land of Rain.
The Nagato family was one of those who went into hiding.
Even so, they could not escape their fate.
Despite not having experienced the First Shinobi World War, the Land of Rain, having stored up so many resources, could only sustain itself for less than two years.
On the border front, if Konoha were to send troops into the Land of Rain to wage a war of attrition and a protracted war with Amegakure, it would be impossible for everyone to return to resupply.
The Ninja World War was a war between nations, and neither ninjas nor civilians could remain uninvolved.
The only difference is that ninjas possess great strength, while ordinary people are powerless.
In peacetime, the latter might be the former's financial backer.
During wartime, they are lambs to the slaughter.
Unable to breach the defenses of Amegakure and unable to return to their own camp to resupply, the only thing the Konoha ninja could do was loot.
They prioritized villages and towns, where there were plenty of supplies.
If they encounter a family without members, they will make a decision based on their own circumstances and conscience.
The Nagato family's residence was discovered by Konoha ninjas who were hiding from an assassination squad at night. While looting supplies, they accidentally killed Nagato's parents, causing Nagato to awaken the power of the Rinnegan and instantly kill the Konoha ninjas before falling into a coma.
After he woke up, his home was gone.
One second she had both parents, the next she became a war orphan, leaving Nagato in a daze.
After burying his parents' bodies, he wandered aimlessly through the rocky mountains, completely disoriented and unsure of where to go.
After wandering for an unknown amount of time, extreme hunger and climbing had taken away all her strength. Even the rain felt as heavy as stones. Nagato finally collapsed on a slope, unable to bear it any longer.
Seeing this, Tobi, who had been assigned by Madara Uchiha to protect Nagato, couldn't help but go out to check on his condition.
However, he was reprimanded by White Zetsu: "Tobi, you idiot, have you forgotten Lord Madara's warning again? We cannot interfere with Nagato's growth."
"But—won't he die if he does this?" Afei scratched his head.
"He's someone who has awakened the bloodlines of the Thousand Hands and the Uzumaki clan, how could he possibly die from such a minor ordeal?"
"So we're just going to leave it like this?"
"Don't worry about it for now. We'll help him in other ways if he really can't hold on any longer. We absolutely cannot expose our presence."
"All right."
Afei and Bai Jue continued to observe.
After an unknown amount of time, Nagato, who had fainted from hunger, slowly regained consciousness.
With the little strength he had regained, Nagato struggled to his feet and continued his unsteady climb, trying to cross the mountains to find a place inhabited by people.
But before he had gone far, he accidentally kicked a protruding rock and fell flat on his face.
Nagato struggled to his feet again and continued walking like a zombie.
Soon, he fell flat on his face again. This time, nothing tripped him; he simply didn't have the strength to walk.
In her hazy state of consciousness, Nagato seemed to see a pair of feet appear before her in her blurred vision.
Then the rain, which had been hitting me like pebbles, suddenly disappeared.
Nagato struggled to lift his eyes and saw a purple-haired girl, who looked a year or two older than him, crouching down with one hand holding a paper umbrella and the other a vegetable basket. She squinted her amber eyes and gave him an angelic smile.
"—Would you like some?"
Konan took a long loaf of bread from the basket and handed it to Nagato.
This scene will forever be etched in the red-haired boy's heart.
He didn't speak, but instead raised his hand shakily, caught the long bread, and stuffed it into his mouth.
I swallowed the first bite with difficulty, and then, as if awakened by something, I suddenly had the strength from who-knows-where and began to wolf it down.
Xiao Nan watched this scene with a smile.
But deep down, I couldn't believe it.
It's unbelievable that this peer, who was on the verge of starvation, possessed eyes just like the Sage of Six Paths from the mythology.
Despite the reminders and guidance from Gojo Yoru, Konan remained expressionless, though she felt a sense of gratitude in her heart.
Even if someone could sense emotions, they could only sense pity in the girl.
This is the kindness of angels.
Just like Haku did with Zabuza Momochi, Konan doesn't have any stress response unless it involves Yoru Gojo.
Seeing Nagato wolfing down his food, choking several times, Konan took an apple and a bottle of milk from the basket, placed them in front of him, and smiled, "Eat slowly, no one will take it from you."
"Thank you—thank you."
Having regained some strength, Nagato, who had gone from lying down to kneeling on the ground, finally managed to utter a muffled thank you.
Unfortunately, his bangs covered his Rinnegan, and the fact that he was looking down made it impossible to see his eyes.
After he finished the long bread and was reluctant to eat the milk and apple, Xiao Nan seemed to guess what was going on. Her pity deepened, but she asked knowingly, "Are you lost and can't find your way home?"
"I—I have no home anymore—my parents are both dead—"
Nagato finally raised his head, revealing his Rinnegan beneath his bangs. Whether it was rain or tears, they slid down from the corners of his eyes.
His voice was choked with sobs, filled with sadness and confusion.
This scene left Xiao Nan somewhat dazed, as if she had returned to the first half of last year.
She saw her own reflection in Nagato.
If she hadn't met Lord Yoru back then, Nagato might be her future now.
She wasn't even as good as Nagato; at least no one would be after her to help her.
So, Xiao Nan murmured softly, "Me too—"
Nagato, who happened to overhear this, was taken aback and stared blankly at Konan, as if he had found a kindred spirit.
Coming to her senses, Konan's angelic smile returned. She pointed behind Nagato and whispered, "If you're looking for people, you're going the wrong way. You should keep going that way."
She took out another long loaf of bread and stuffed it into Nagato's arms. Konan stood up and encouraged him, "Live on! Once you get through this, you'll find the world is completely different."
After speaking, Xiao Nan walked uphill.
Nagato stared blankly at Konan's retreating figure holding the umbrella, then, as if possessed, got up and followed her.
Xiao Nan quickly noticed a tagalong behind her, stopped and turned around, saying helplessly, "This is all I can give you, I also need to make a living."
"No—no—I don't want to eat—"
Realizing that Konan had misunderstood him, Nagato quickly shook his head and explained, his tone sounding very flustered.
That thin body, unhealthy skin, and red hair covering his eyes made him look nothing like a boy, but rather like a red-haired little sister, compared to Konan, who had been pampered for nearly two years, had fair skin, and developed an unusually large body. Although they were the same age, Konan was more than half a head taller than Nagato.
Xiao Nan feigned confusion and asked, "If you're not looking for food, then why are you following me?"
"Can I—can I come with you?"
Nagato expressed his thoughts, but fearing rejection from Konan, he quickly added, "I—I can do anything!"
Xiao Nan didn't agree immediately, but instead asked, "You're also from the Land of Rain. Besides your parents, don't you know anyone else? Aren't you going to go find them?"
Nagato shook her head, her eyes dim: "I live in a very remote place, and I don't know anyone anymore."
"yes."
Konan pretended to be deep in thought, then carefully examined Nagato before suddenly smiling and saying, "Alright, I can give you a chance."
"Really?"
Nagato looked at Konan with an excited expression.
"It's just an opportunity." Xiao Nan wagged her finger. "If you don't have the qualifications, I can only send you to a place with people, because I have more important things to do."
"Uh-huh----"
Although he didn't know what Konan meant by "aptitude," Nagato nodded repeatedly.
"Come on up." Konan waved and then led Nagato up the hill.
Only after the two disappeared down the slope did A-Fei and Bai Jue's faces emerge from the ground.
"As expected of someone who has awakened the Senju and Uzumaki bloodlines in such a rare way, and is the lucky one chosen by Lord Madara. He's really lucky." White Zetsu sighed slightly. "To be able to meet a fellow ninja with chakra in such a remote place, it seems we don't need to find a way to help him embark on the path of a ninja."
Afei, with his arms crossed, nodded in agreement from underground.
Konan led Nagato across mountains and valleys, from one mountain to another.
Xiao Nanfang stopped halfway up the mountain and then looked around the mountainside, searching for something.
Finally, her gaze settled on the petal pattern carved into the mountainside.
Handing the basket to Nagato beside her, Nanami, under his questioning gaze, pressed her little hand against the flower petal pattern.
Then, an unbelievable scene came into Nagato's view.
Black lines appeared on the mountain wall, forming vertical rectangles.
The rock-like color faded, and explosive tags with the character "爆" (explosion) drawn on them flew out from the mountain wall, stuck to Xiao Nan's body, and then disappeared.
As a piece of colorful cloth fell down, the original mountain wall was transformed into the entrance to a cave.
Konan picked up the colorful cloth essential for the invisibility technique and smiled at the dumbfounded Nagato, saying, "Come in."
Following Konan into the cave, Nagato watched as she lit the oil lamps and rearranged the entrance. His voice, tinged with tension and awe, betrayed him: "You—you're a ninja master?"
"Ninja master? That doesn't count—"
Konan stroked her chin, thought for a few seconds, and then smiled sweetly, "According to my research, only ninjas who are born in ninja villages, graduate from ninja academies, and receive headbands and ninja numbers can be considered true ninjas. People like me who accidentally embarked on the path of ninjas, without joining a ninja village, can only be called wandering ninjas, or roaming ninjas for short."
"Gurgle————"
Nagato couldn't understand a word. After confirming that Konan was a ninja, he was completely at a loss.
Konan comforted her, "Don't be so nervous. If you have the talent, you might be able to become a rogue ninja like me."
"What?"
Nagato was stunned, wondering if there was something wrong with his ears.
Then, in an uncertain tone, he asked, "You—the aptitude you just mentioned, is it the aptitude to become a ninja master?"
"good."
Konan said seriously, "I have important things to do and don't have time to take in and take care of ordinary people. If you want to stay by my side, you'll have to become a ninja like me. If you don't have the aptitude to become a ninja, you're destined not to be of any help to me. I can only send you to a place where there are people."
"I—I will try my best."
Fearing that Konan would abandon him, Nagato quickly shouted, "I will definitely become someone who can help you!"
"I'm really looking forward to it."
Konan smiled and introduced herself: "Let's get to know each other. My name is Konan. I'm seven years old. I was born in Amegakure. Due to the sudden attack by the Land of Earth, I became a war orphan and am currently wandering around."
"You—you're only seven years old?" Nagato's tone was full of disbelief.
Looking at Xiao Nan, who was more than half a head taller than him, he thought that Xiao Nan was two or three years older than him, but it turned out that they were the same age.
Hmph—that's because you haven't met Lord Ye.
Konan's lips curled into a smug smile, pleased that she shared something in common with Gojo Yoru.
She saw her own reflection in Nagato once again.
Last year, when I learned that Lord Ye was only eleven years old, I must have had the same expression.
On the surface, Konan smiled and said, "Once you become a ninja and have the ability to make money, you'll soon be just like me."
"Now it's your turn. Please introduce yourself."
"----yes."
Nagato snapped out of his daze and quickly said, "My name is Nagato, I am seven years old, and I was born in the southern part of the Land of Rain. I have forgotten where I used to live. My previous home was in a remote place, and now—now I am also a war orphan."
As she was speaking, Nagato suddenly lowered her head.
Although they are both seven years old, he and Xiao Nan are not even in the same league.
Konan walked over and patted Nagato on the shoulder.
Looking up at Nagato who was staring at her, Konan flashed a bright smile, but with a mischievous grin, and said, "From now on, you're my little brother, my temporary subordinate. If you want to become a full-fledged employee, you'd better work hard."
Konan was initially very nervous about getting close to the owner of the Eye of the Immortal.
Especially after learning that there were unseen and undetectable creatures watching the vicinity of this person with the Eye of the Immortal, Xiao Nan was even more worried that she might expose a flaw.
Before Gojo Yoru sent her back to the Land of Rain, Konan had mentally rehearsed their first meeting countless times. Now that she was finally in contact with Nagato, all of Konan's nervousness and unease vanished.
It's as if Nagato has found a kindred spirit.
The same applies to Xiao Nan.
To be precise, Nagato's current state is that of a male version of himself before he met Yoru-sama.
And the current version of himself is a super-weakened version of Lord Ye.
Konan already knows how to train Nagato, and is fully confident that she can turn this male version of herself into a subordinate of Lord Yoru's subordinate.
"----yes."
Nagato, of course, had no idea what Konan was thinking.
He felt no resistance to Xiao Nan taking him in as a younger brother; instead, he was overjoyed to have found a new source of support.
Both of these descendants of the vortex seem to enjoy being subservient to others.
Kushina Uzumaki was like this, and so was Nagato.
Looking at Nagato, who made no attempt to hide his emotions, Konan saw her own reflection again.
That childish, mischievous quirk only intensified.
So she put her hands on her hips and said in a serious manner, "From now on, you have to call me Konamsa."
"Yes, Khonan Samah!"
Nagato stood at attention as if he were being trained in military discipline.
Watching the two little ones playing house, White Zetsu, hidden in the mountain wall, was unusually speechless.
Ah Fei clapped and exclaimed, "Koh Nam Sam, so handsome!"
It's a pity Ah Fei doesn't have eyes, otherwise his eyes would definitely be shining.
Seeing A-Fei's eagerness to join in, Bai Jue couldn't help but remark, "They really are three little kids."
Immediately, he shared all the images he had seen and the information he had collected with the other White Zetsu.
Madara Uchiha quickly learned of Konan's existence.
A slight smile crept onto his lips: "Found a new bond so quickly? What a lucky brat."
"Lord Madara, should we examine that girl?" the White Zetsu clone asked.
"You don't have the ability to read memories, so there's no need for that." Madara Uchiha closed his eyes again, saying indifferently, "She's just a war orphan who luckily became a ninja. If she harbors any ill will towards Nagato or makes a move, Nagato will automatically activate the power of the Rinnegan, and with Tobi protecting him in the shadows, she won't be able to cause any trouble at all."
"Let Nagato enjoy a wonderful childhood before he grows up. That girl might become our pawn in the future."
As if struck by a thought, Madara Uchiha suddenly opened his eyes, staring at the White Zetsu clone and asking, "More than that, I'm curious about that brat from Konoha who mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique. Have you found out what he did during his disappearance? Why has he returned with such a drastic change?"
"We couldn't find anything. All we can confirm is that he wasn't in Konoha during the time he disappeared." The White Zetsu clone looked helpless. "The Flying Thunder God Technique's formula is just too small. It can attach itself to people and animals, and the formula might be moving at any time. During the time he disappeared, he might not even have been on the Ninja Continent."
Madara Uchiha said with a deep gaze, "A ninja's chakra doesn't suddenly surge for no reason. It's either due to external influences or something he's experienced that caused the energy within his body to surge."
Madara Uchiha was so certain because he possessed both qualities.
When a member of the Uchiha clan awakens the Sharingan, their brain secretes Yin Release chakra, which also affects the chakra capacity in their body.
After he received the Hashirama cells, he not only gained the Yang attribute, but his Yang Release chakra and Yin Release chakra also increased wildly.
In the end, his blind eyes not only recovered, but also became the Rinnegan.
Gojo Yoru did not become a Jinchūriki, nor did he use his physical abilities to heal and absorb the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki's chakra. Instead, his own chakra level permanently increased.
This is very strange.
Especially upon his return, he displayed powerful Black Lightning Secret Techniques, showing growth in many aspects.
It would be no exaggeration to say that they have undergone a complete transformation.
Developing secret techniques couldn't possibly lead to such a huge improvement; he must have gone through something.
Madara Uchiha couldn't help but recall the photo that White Zetsu had given him last year.
Those flying thunder god spell patterns scattered all over the ground might really be hiding some secret of his.
This secret is the reason why he was able to instantly kill fifty-five Sand Ninja, and it is also the reason why such a huge change occurred in him in less than a month after he disappeared.
Madara Uchiha was not afraid of using super techniques that revealed their true nature; every technique has weaknesses and flaws.
Just like his complete Susanoo, which possesses the divine power to rewrite maps, when faced with Hasi Lama's Wood Release, his chakra is absorbed by her frantically, making him weaker and weaker as he fights, while she becomes stronger.
The Rinnegan is not without its limitations; otherwise, he wouldn't have transplanted it to Nagato without fear of the latter losing control.
What Madara Uchiha feared was the unknown methods.
As a ninja from the Warring States period, no one understood the importance of intelligence better than Madara Uchiha.
Gojo Yoru's Flying Thunder God Technique is at most a bit troublesome, and difficult to leave behind.
If the Flying Thunder God Technique is combined with that unknown method, it might affect my resurrection plan.
Before his death, Madara Uchiha had to figure out Gojo Yoru's secret, determine whether he could pose a threat to Nagato, and then prepare a way to deal with him before he could go to the Pure Land with peace of mind.
The white Zetsu clone seemed to sense Madara Uchiha's thoughts and asked, "Lord Madara, should we attack him?"
"No rush. Continue monitoring the Uchiha clan. Find a suitable pawn first." Madara Uchiha shook his head, his eyes flashing with a cold, scarlet light. "If no one can uncover the secret behind his sudden increase in strength during this battle, I'll personally intervene once I find the representative I need."
Black Zetsu, hidden inside the Gedo Mazo, was quite satisfied with Madara Uchiha's caution.
It's a pity he hasn't appeared as an embodiment of his will yet, otherwise he would definitely have told Madara Uchiha about his discovery.
The reason that kid suddenly became stronger is most likely because he synthesized a bloodline limit.
That wasn't the Black Lightning Secret Technique, but rather Storm Release: Black Lightning.
It was precisely because of the bloodline limit that the brat's chakra level surged, and his black lightning ability was different from the black lightning ability developed by the Third Raikage.
He achieved his bloodline limit at the age of twelve, developed a powerful lightning release technique, mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, and became the ace fighter of the five great ninja villages, which was indeed very dazzling.
But in the past thousand years, Black Zetsu has seen countless such super geniuses.
The fates of these extraordinary geniuses are ultimately the same.
That is, to shine brightly for a time, and then become a stepping stone for the reincarnations of Asura and Indra.
Bloodline limits their potential.
Even the reincarnations of Ashura and Indra could not surpass him, let alone Uchiha Madara who achieved the unification of the two poles.
Even if Nagato had only transplanted Madara Uchiha's Rinnegan and awakened the Senju and Uzumaki bloodlines, he was still someone this kind of person couldn't possibly mess with.
Putting aside everything else, even the most basic Preta Path technique is enough to make these ninja geniuses feel despair.
Your limit is merely the lower limit of the ultimate eye technique; this is the difference between humans and gods!
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