I Will Lead the Charge

"Jiraiya-sensei, didn't you say before that Jinchuriki had a lot of chakra even without Tailed Beast chakra? Then why..."

Jiraiya shook his head. "You can't use a Jinchuriki's method, at least not for now. It's absolutely impossible."

"Jinchuriki use violent Tailed Beast chakra to stimulate their own chakra and make it grow. That stimulation is extremely intense. Without the Tailed Beast chakra's powerful recovery ability, you'd only be left with hidden injuries all over your body and end your ninja career early."

As he spoke, Jiraiya's expression became exceptionally serious. "Never try this method on your own. It's extremely dangerous. If accelerating chakra growth were that simple, then anyone could just pour their chakra into someone else's body..."

After giving them a thorough explanation, Jiraiya emphasized once more, "So don't harbor any wishful thoughts. Chakra training is something that must be approached with utmost caution. Don't mess around on your own. If you have any ideas, tell me first."

Seeing Jiraiya's serious expression, Chiba could not help feeling a slight chill in his heart. Luckily, he had not been foolish enough to recklessly try it with Nagato. Otherwise, he might not even have known how he died.

It seemed that, until he had accumulated enough knowledge, he should give up on conducting his own research and innovation.

Chiba had originally planned to use some of his knowledge to develop special ninjutsu, but now he decisively abandoned that idea.

A while later, Jiraiya went out to find dinner, leaving the two of them to continue adapting to the chakra.

Watching Jiraiya's retreating back, Nagato could not help complaining.

"Jiraiya-sensei really went too far. He deliberately made it sound so serious. He scared me to death just now."

Hearing Nagato's words, Chiba felt a slight warmth in his heart.

Nagato was obviously acting so frightened because he was worried Chiba would not be able to bear such a blow.

Chiba lightly waved his hand and smiled. "It's really nothing. Jiraiya-sensei only meant well."

Suddenly, Chiba remembered something.

"By the way, if I borrow your chakra, it won't affect your training, right?"

Chiba had actually thought of this question earlier, but Jiraiya's interruption had made him forget to ask.

"Basically, it won't. I don't spend all day practicing ninjutsu. When I train taijutsu or refine chakra, I don't use much chakra. We can stagger our training times. When I'm practicing ninjutsu, you can practice taijutsu or something. Jiraiya-sensei already planned it out."

As he spoke, Nagato seemed to remember something.

"Also, Jiraiya-sensei said a few days ago that developing ninjutsu wasn't as effective for me as developing my eyes' Kekkei Genkai. He also said I could develop some Yin-Yang Release or something. I don't really understand the details, but I probably won't practice much ninjutsu by then."

"Mm. When that time comes, my chakra will be even more abundant. We can bring Konan and Yahiko along too, so they can speed up their training as well."

As he spoke, Nagato unconsciously revealed a radiant smile.

Compared to the strength Jiraiya spoke of, the feeling of being able to help his companions undoubtedly gave Nagato immense happiness.

"Kekkei Genkai and Yin-Yang Release..."

Hearing those two terms, Chiba could not help showing a trace of envy in his eyes.

As expected, Nagato truly grew as if he had cheats. While Chiba was still excited about being able to develop a few more elemental affinities, Nagato had already begun developing the Kekkei Genkai that represented the Ninja World's highest-tier abilities.

That kind of gap was truly frustrating.

Still, no matter what, with the method Jiraiya had provided, the gap had at least narrowed a little.

Overall, Chiba was in quite a good mood.

Chiba lightly patted Nagato on the shoulder and laughed. "Come to think of it, I really should thank you, Nagato. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have had the chance to use this method to become stronger. You're really something."

Nagato immediately lowered his head shyly, his eyes full of joy at being praised.

"No need to thank me. Do we really need to say such things between us?"

"Haha, you're right."

Suddenly, Nagato thought of something.

"Actually... I have some other ideas, but I didn't dare tell Jiraiya-sensei..."

"Oh? Other ideas?"

"Mm-hmm. I was thinking, since I can transfer chakra to you like this, maybe in the future I can use certain jutsu or tools to transmit chakra to you from afar during battle. Then I can refine chakra in the rear while you fight with unlimited chakra."

Chiba was slightly stunned after hearing this. Was this Nagato's later ability to transmit chakra to the Pain Six Paths? But...

"Why would you think that? Jiraiya-sensei said it too, didn't he? Chakra can exert far greater power in your hands than in ours. If you're considering us, there's no need..."

Nagato gently shook his head. "No..."

As he spoke, Nagato's face showed a trace of dejection, and he gently buried his head against his knees.

"I actually... don't like fighting. I don't want to kill people either. If possible, I wouldn't even want to become a ninja."

Nagato's voice was full of gloom.

"I'm not afraid of fighting... I just hate the feeling of killing people. After I killed that person last time, I felt very guilty. Even though I knew that if I hadn't killed him, you would have been in danger, but..."

"Nagato, you..."

Chiba quietly looked at Nagato, opening his mouth slightly but not knowing what to say.

When he watched the anime in his previous life and saw Nagato feel guilty for killing that Rock Ninja, Chiba had thought Nagato was overly indecisive. That Rock Ninja had nearly killed them, yet Nagato had needed Jiraiya to persuade him for so long before he escaped his guilt.

But now, seeing this scene again, he felt the mockery of fate with startling clarity.

Clearly, Nagato did not want to become a ninja, yet he was dragged into the Ninja World's greatest vortex. Clearly, he did not want to kill, yet his hands would have to be stained with blood. Clearly, he only wanted to stay with Yahiko and Konan forever, yet even that simple wish was ruthlessly destroyed.

"Sorry, Chiba. I know I'm useless like this, but..."

Chiba gently patted Nagato on the shoulder and smiled. "I understand."

Chiba had originally thought that Nagato creating this chakra transmission for him might have been a butterfly effect caused by his arrival. But after hearing Nagato's thoughts, Chiba suddenly felt that even without him, Nagato would probably have created it anyway.

Later, Hanzo only knew that Konan and Yahiko were important figures in Akatsuki and wanted to find a way to deal with them, yet he did not recognize Nagato. Clearly, that was not normal.

Unless Nagato rarely took action, because as long as he made even a casual move, it would be unmistakably conspicuous. Any one of his jutsu would have been enough to make him famous throughout the Ninja World.

And there was Yahiko. Chiba had always felt it would be difficult for him to gain strength sufficient to rival Hanzo in just a few years. It was even questionable whether he could reach Jiraiya's level.

Yet Hanzo, whom even the Sannin could not defeat, believed Yahiko posed a severe threat to him.

He had even spared no expense to bring in Danzo to deal with him. If Yahiko had not truly possessed enough strength at the time, Hanzo would not have gone to such lengths, setting up an ambush with so many people to attack him.

All of this proved something.

Suddenly, Chiba had a guess. Could it be that Nagato had positioned himself as a little mana battery dedicated to providing Yahiko and Konan with unlimited chakra and other support abilities?

That would make it reasonable for Yahiko to threaten Hanzo. Yahiko had not been fighting alone.

For a moment, Chiba suddenly felt rather helpless.

Fate really was something else. Chiba wanted to be the main force and deal damage, but his talent limited him to support. Yet Nagato clearly possessed top-tier offensive power, but insisted on becoming support.

This really was...

Looking at Nagato, who had lowered his head in dejection, Chiba helplessly shook his head.

He had originally planned to be a pure support, but it seemed he would have to take on some damage-dealing work too.

Chiba lightly patted Nagato on the shoulder and sighed. "Since you don't like killing, Nagato, then from now on, just stay in the back and support us. It'd be best if you could give us some defensive and mobility abilities or something. As for me... hmm..."

Chiba suddenly thought of a line.

"I will lead the charge!"