Chiba hadn't forgotten why Jiraiya had agreed to teach them: he'd seen Nagato's Rinnegan and thought Nagato was the person he had been searching for.
The reason Jiraiya was able to see Nagato's Rinnegan was a chance attack that happened not long afterward.
At the time, Jiraiya wasn't with them. Yahiko and Nagato encountered a Rock Ninja who had been wandering outside the village, and for some inexplicable reason, the man tried to kill them.
Just as Yahiko was about to be killed, Nagato awakened the power of the Rinnegan and killed the ninja with a single blow.
Nagato and the others had always chalked it all up to fate.
But Chiba, who knew what was really going on, certainly didn't see it that way.
You'd just decided to seek a teacher when you found Jiraiya. Jiraiya had just decided not to take you on when he happened to discover your ability.
Even by chance, things couldn't possibly line up that perfectly.
Besides, with Zetsu's abilities, if someone that murderous had really approached them, Zetsu would have dealt with him before Yahiko and Nagato even realized there was danger. There was no way he'd let them end up in a situation like this.
So, barring any surprises, this attack was yet another show directed by Zetsu.
And Chiba had never believed the claim that Nagato and the others had been guided to Jiraiya as if they were truly chosen by fate. From the very beginning, it had all been a show put on by Zetsu.
In this performance, Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, and even Jiraiya were nothing but his pawns.
A few days later, Chiba went into the forest with Yahiko and Nagato to look for that evening's dinner.
"Ah, looks like we don't have a chance with Teacher Jiraiya."
Yahiko sounded a little dejected.
"Teacher Jiraiya seems like a softhearted person, but he's surprisingly stubborn. Once he's made up his mind, it's hard to change it."
"Yahiko."
Before Chiba and Nagato could comfort him, Yahiko burst out laughing again.
"It's fine. Even if Teacher Jiraiya won't teach us, we can definitely find someone else who will. Once Teacher Jiraiya leaves, we'll—"
While Yahiko was excitedly talking, several sharp whooshes suddenly came from the side.
Their long-practiced instincts made them dive to the ground in an instant.
A moment later, they turned toward the attacker, their faces grim.
Several Kunai were embedded in the ground not far from them. If they hadn't reacted quickly, they would probably have been killed.
"It's a ninja!"
Yahiko was the first to react. He grabbed Nagato and Chiba and took off running.
After a brief moment of surprise, Chiba quickly realized what was happening. Cold sweat beaded across his forehead.
Chiba knew that, barring any surprises, this was probably just another show directed by Zetsu.
Nagato aside, he and Yahiko surely had more important roles to play. As useful pawns, they shouldn't die at a time like this.
So, theoretically, they were safe.
But theory was still just theory. When he actually faced such danger, he couldn't help panicking a little.
After all, it was only a guess. What if he really did die because of one little mistake?
So Chiba ran for his life, too.
But how could they outrun a ninja like this? Before long, the Rock Ninja caught up with them.
The Rock Ninja quickly grabbed Nagato, who was at the back, by the neck and lifted him off the ground.
"Heh heh heh. Struggle! The more you struggle, the happier I'll be."
Nagato struggled nonstop, but it was no use. Just as he felt himself about to suffocate, Yahiko suddenly sprinted back and bit down on the Rock Ninja's hand.
The Rock Ninja cried out in pain.
"Let go! I said let go!"
The Rock Ninja punched Yahiko hard in the stomach, making his whole body curl up like a bow from the pain.
But even then, Yahiko refused to let go. He glared fiercely at the man in front of him, his eyes full of ferocity.
"Mm! Mm!"
Yahiko clamped down with all his strength and wouldn't let go. The Rock Ninja dragged him across the ground as he moved.
"Mm."
"Damn it!"
Enraged, the Rock Ninja dropped Nagato and swung another brutal punch at Yahiko.
This time, Yahiko couldn't hold on. He flew several meters through the air, then tumbled to the ground and lay there, unable to get up.
It all happened in the blink of an eye. By the time Chiba ran back, the Rock Ninja had already drawn his weapon and was walking toward Yahiko, who lay on the ground.
"Damn brat! You dared to hurt me. I'm going to kill you!"
Looking at the Rock Ninja's vicious expression, Chiba barely had time to think before he found himself standing in front of Yahiko.
"Heh. Another brat? Fine. I'll kill you both."
As he spoke, the Rock Ninja thrust the Kunai in his hand toward Chiba.
Just before the Kunai pierced his body, Chiba found, to his surprise, that time had slowed.
His memories flashed before his eyes.
Had he been wrong?
It was strange, but he didn't regret dying to protect Yahiko.
Just as Chiba was about to be killed, Nagato also felt as if time had slowed.
He watched helplessly as the Kunai drew closer and closer to Chiba's chest. Nagato's pupils widened, and his whole body trembled as he gasped for breath.
"Huff, huff."
Suddenly, Nagato's eyes changed, forming one ring after another.
"AAAAAAAH—!"
BOOM!
A translucent blue wall-like force shot into the unguarded Rock Ninja.
In an instant, the Rock Ninja was sent flying more than ten meters. He landed on the ground, blood flowing from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. After struggling weakly for a moment, he stopped breathing.
Staring blankly at the corpse before him, Nagato didn't know what to do. He stood frozen in place, unable to react for a long time.
After being saved, Chiba also seemed to have exhausted all his strength. He sank to one knee.
Looking at the rings in Nagato's eyes, Chiba couldn't help feeling moved.
So this was the power of the Rinnegan? Even in the hands of a child like Nagato, who had never learned to use chakra, it could easily kill a ninja.
Just then, Jiraiya finally arrived after noticing the commotion.
"Yahiko!"
He quickly picked Yahiko up and carefully examined him. After finding that Yahiko had only suffered a minor injury and had temporarily passed out, Jiraiya breathed a sigh of relief.
"Don't worry, Yahiko's fine. He—"
Jiraiya was about to say something else when he finally saw Nagato's eyes.
Could these be...?
Even someone as widely traveled as Jiraiya couldn't help feeling shocked.
Could this be the legendary... Rinnegan?!
Before you continue