Harvesting the Rinnegan

After listening to Kou's words, Konan pondered for a moment, looked into Kou's open eyes that met her gaze, and finally nodded.

Seeing that she had made her stance clear, Kou stopped beating around the bush and spoke directly:

"To activate Infinite Tsukuyomi, the conditions are not only to become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, but the user must also collect a complete pair of Rinnegan."

Now, Ban wants to complete his pair of eyes; he still needs this one you have.

At this point, Kou Shen gave Konan a very deep look:

"And this means that we now hold a way to thwart his plan at its very root."

"That is—destroy this Rinnegan!"

"What?!"

Konan gasped in surprise, her pupils dilating violently.

Before she opened her mouth, she had actually considered many possibilities.

But she never imagined that Kou would want to destroy this Rinnegan!

Konan stared incredulously at Kou's solemn expression. After a moment, the shock transformed into a slight sense of apology.

Perhaps I've misunderstood him.

Unlike Konan, whose mind was filled with complex emotions, Jiraiya's eyes flashed with a thoughtful expression after hearing Koko's words. He nodded and replied:

"Destroy one of the Rinnegan, so that Madara will never be able to meet the necessary conditions to activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi..."

This is indeed the only way we can stop his plan right now.

At this point, Jiraiya paused, a deep worry appearing in his gaze as he looked at Kokoro:

"However, while doing this might stop Madara from implementing his Eye of the Moon Plan, we still don't have a way to defeat him head-on."

Once Ban finds out that we've destroyed that eye, he'll retaliate in a rage. What will we then offer him in return?

"... I'll handle it."

He Jiraiya with unwavering resolve:

"Uchiha Madara, leave him to me."

Jiraiya looked at Koko with surprise and asked in confusion:

"But you just said..."

"Right now, I really don't have the ability to deal with that guy, Madara."

The knocking sound interrupted Jiraiya's question, and he spoke in a deep voice:

"But having awakened the Rinnegan, I might have the confidence to fight Madara."

"Awaken... the Rinnegan?"

Konan frowned and repeated the sentence in confusion.

"Good."

Kou turned his gaze to her and said calmly:

"As I mentioned to you earlier, Nagato's Rinnegan was secretly transplanted into him by Madara when he was young."

The Rinnegan is an evolution of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Since Madara was able to Sharingan to the Rinnegan level back then, I, who also possess the Mangekyō Sharingan, naturally have the foundation to awaken the Rinnegan.

However, the method I use to awaken the Rinnegan will be somewhat different from Madara's.

As he spoke, the crimson Mangekyō Sharingan quietly appeared in Kotomi's deep black eyes.

As the two scarlet lights illuminated the dimly lit basement, a powerful aura instantly filled the small space.

Konan and Jiraiya felt the imposing aura, and their bodies tensed up instinctively.

That's a ninja's instinct.

Konan looked into Kou's eerie eyes, as if recalling some unpleasant memories, and asked him in a dry voice:

"What is the method you're talking about?"

"The solution lies in that Rinnegan in your hand."

Kou smiled meaningfully, raised his hand, and lightly touched the corner of his right eye with his fingertip, calmly saying:

"My right eye's Mangekyo Dōjutsu is called Inari God, and its ability is absorption."

You must have witnessed it firsthand during the battle in Konoha.

He lowered his hand and continued speaking to Konan:

"This Dōjutsu can not only absorb Chakra and Ninjutsu, but it can also absorb the eye power within the eyes and feed it back into my own Mangekyo to replenish its energy and even... promote evolution."

Konan seemed to suddenly understand something, and whispered:

"You want to absorb the power of Nagato's Rinnegan to help your Mangekyo evolve into the Rinnegan?"

Absolutely right.

Kou nodded calmly and said in a solemn tone:

"Due to some 'fortuitous encounters' (digging up old graves), my Mangekyō Sharingan has now reached its Mangekyo."

"And as long as I absorb the original power of that Rinnegan, I will be able to truly awaken the Rinnegan."

At that time, my strength will inevitably undergo a qualitative leap that even I myself could not have predicted.

He paused for a moment, then said to Konan with great confidence:

"Even if my opponent is Uchiha Madara, whom you say is several times stronger than I am now, I might still have the confidence to fight him!"

He paused here, then turned to look at Jiraiya, who was frowning and clearly processing his words quickly, Jiraiya gave a playful smirk:

"Besides, even if I can't defeat him by myself after activating the Rinnegan, I still have other backup plans."

For example, I can use the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, which I have perfected over the years, to "invite" the First Hokage, the "God of Shinobi," and the cunning Second Hokage to the battlefield.

With those two helping out, plus my awakened Rinnegan, I refuse to believe we can't defeat that old geezer Madara!

"Hmm, with your Rinnegan awakened, plus the Lord First and Second Impure World Reincarnation, the odds of victory are indeed much higher..."

Jiraiya nodded earnestly, unconsciously muttering in agreement.

But he suddenly reacted halfway through his sentence, jumping up exaggeratedly:

"Wait, something's not right!! What did you just say?!"

A modified Impure World Reincarnation? Invite the Lord First and Second?!

Jiraiya's eyes widened, and he instinctively leaned closer to Kō, asking in shock:

"Where did you get this Impure World Reincarnation from? And you even modified it?"

No, wait! The important thing is that you actually want to use Edo Tensei to Impure World Reincarnation the Lord First and Second?!

That's blasphemy against the spirits of fallen heroes! Do you even know what you're saying?!

"Tsk, if you're going to talk, just talk. Why are you getting so close?"

With a look of disgust, Kouchi pushed Jiraiya's large face, which was almost right in front of him, away a few notches and said irritably:

"At a point like this, what's the point of talking about blasphemy? Is this the time to talk about rice noodles?!"

In this critical moment, we must use every available means first.

He casually flicked his hand and added dismissively:

"It's just asking the two old folks for help, it's not like we're not going to send it back to them."

"They'll probably be really happy to see Madara, why are you making such a fuss?"

"That's still not allowed--"

Jiraiya wanted to say something more, but suddenly, as if remembering something extremely crucial, he asked Kou in shock:

"Wait! You didn't actually have your eye on the remains of the Lord First and Second all along, and prepared their Impure World Reincarnation in advance, did you?"

Lao Kou turned his face away somewhat guiltily and blinked innocently.

"... Hehe!❛˓◞˂̵✧"

"Hey, you idiot!!!"

Jiraiya shouted through gritted teeth, grabbing Koko's shoulder and shaking him violently back and forth:

"I knew it! You little brat, you've suddenly changed your behavior these past few years, going to Konoha more often!"

So it wasn't that they missed us, but rather they were worried about the remains of the First and Second Lord First!!

I've been scheming all this time about how to bring you back to Konoha! How could you possibly accept my sincerity?!

Give me back all the money I've spent on meals for you over the years!

Konan stood aside, watching the absurd scene unfold before her with a complex expression.

She wanted to say something, but looking at Jiraiya- Teacher's menacing old face, she opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

Kou keenly noticed the expression on Konan's face, and a subtle smile appeared on his lips.

He skillfully grabbed Jiraiya's hand, which was still shaking his shoulders violently, and then forcefully flung it behind him.

"Smack!!"

With a crisp, muffled thud, the white-haired immortal's sexy, large buttocks gave the cold, hard ground a Icha Icha Paradise embrace.

"Aww!! Damn it, you brat!!"

Jiraiya let out a miserable cry and cast a deeply resentful glance at Koko.

Ignoring Jiraiya behind him, Koko focused his gaze on Konan's eyes, which now held a hint of determination, and slowly spoke:

"It seems you've already made up your mind."

Tell me... what's your answer.

Konan took a deep breath, as if she had made a major decision, and nodded emphatically to Kou:

"I see."

She looked into those scarlet eyes and said, word by word:

"Nagato's Rinnegan... I'm entrusting it to you."

There should be one more chapter today, but I'm a bit too tired to keep going. I'll make up for it later. There should be three more chapters in three days.