Elder Brother

"Trash!"

Nagato's curse did not provoke the slightest anger from the Stone Ninja. Instead, his face showed delight, as though what he had been waiting for was about to happen.

"Trash deserves to be treated like trash!"

The Stone Ninja's smile widened.

"Trash deserves to die in this filthy world!"

As soon as Nagato finished speaking, his pupils rapidly changed. Rings of ripples emerged within his eye sockets, like deep whirlpools that made one want to peer into their secrets.

At the same time, a translucent wall erupted from Nagato's body and slammed fiercely into the Stone Ninja's battered form.

Bang!!!

The Stone Ninja's utterly lifeless corpse flew into the air like a bloodstained rag doll.

Yahiko and Konan, who witnessed this scene, stared with their mouths agape in disbelief. They could hardly believe that their friend had done this.

But Feng Xun's eyes showed a look of realization. The scene before him finally reminded him of that long-forgotten plot.

It had been the same in the original story. Nagato had used the power of the Rinnegan after being provoked by a Stone Ninja, but the difference was that Yahiko's life had originally been threatened. Now, Feng Xun had taken his place.

Does this count as stealing Yahiko's credit? Won't Nagato turn into my little fanboy from now on?

While Feng Xun was lost in wild thoughts, Yahiko, sensing that the barrier had vanished, quickly ran to Nagato's side.

"Hey! Nagato, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Although he and Konan were both curious about why Nagato possessed such power, what mattered more now was whether he had been harmed.

Nagato turned his head slightly. His unfocused eyes looked toward Yahiko as he said in a calm but faintly trembling voice, "Yahiko, from now on, I'll protect you all..."

Nagato?

Hearing this, Yahiko did not know what was wrong with him or why he had suddenly said that. But when he saw the Stone Ninja's corpse in the distance, he seemed to understand.

After a moment of silence, Yahiko made a move that no one had expected.

He grabbed Nagato by the collar and slammed his small head into Nagato's forehead.

Bang!!!

The sudden heavy blow restored the light to Nagato's unfocused eyes. But before he could complain, Yahiko loudly scolded him.

"What are you talking about? I don't need your protection! So what if you're stronger than all of us right now? I'll surpass you sooner or later. I'll become a hero who changes this Shinobi World someday!" His voice softened as he continued, "So whether it's you or Konan, just stay behind me and accept my protection. Leave things like killing to me."

That was right. Yahiko had realized—or perhaps he had known all along—that his friend loved peace. He disliked slaughter, and he disliked war even more. Killing and war would only make Nagato lose himself, so Yahiko would bear it. He would shoulder it, no matter how great Nagato's power became.

They would always be his little brothers, while he would forever be their big brother—the elder brother who needed to protect them.

After hearing Yahiko's declaration, not only did Nagato's eyes redden, but Konan beside him also began to sob softly.

Even Feng Xun could not help falling silent.

It had to be said that Yahiko and the future Naruto were the same kind of people. Not only did they value their bonds, but even their talent for talking people into submission had been passed down through the same lineage.

He even felt that if Yahiko did not die in the future, Nagato and the others might truly achieve their dream and restore peace to the Shinobi World.

It seemed he was destined to fail at stealing Nagato's little-fanboy status.

With that thought in mind, Feng Xun, no longer able to resist his exhaustion, slowly closed his eyes and fell completely unconscious.

At the same time, Nagato, who had just been lectured by Yahiko, collapsed against him and fell asleep due to the backlash from earlier.

"Hey, hey! Nagato, what's wrong?"

"Big brother? Wake up!"

The cries of alarm from both sides made the two of them think of their teacher at the same time.

"Quick, let's take them to Teacher Jiraiya," Yahiko suggested.

"I should go find Teacher Jiraiya. Yahiko, stay here and take care of Nagato and Big Brother," Konan said, preparing to look for Jiraiya.

But before Konan could even stand up, the Teacher Jiraiya they had been eagerly waiting for arrived from afar with three other ninja.

When Jiraiya saw the mess covering the ground and the two unconscious children, he anxiously asked, "What happened?"

Before Konan could answer, Tsunade flashed to Feng Xun's side. Ignoring Konan's astonished gaze, she swiftly began examining Feng Xun's wounds.

Fortunately, Feng Xun's wounds were deep but not fatal. Before long, a pale green light glowed in Tsunade's palm as she placed her hand over his injuries.

Meanwhile, Jiraiya learned everything that had happened from Yahiko.

A Stone Ninja? Brought back to life?

He could not understand why an ordinary Stone Ninja Chunin had been able to attack three children without triggering the barrier, and it did not look like a chance encounter at all.

Fortunately, these children had resolved the problem on their own.

Jiraiya walked over to the dead Stone Ninja and examined his wounds. But no matter how hard he thought, he could not understand how the man had survived with a hole in his chest. Moreover, according to Yahiko's description, the wounds on his body that looked as though he had been crushed had all been inflicted by Nagato. What was going on?

These little brats really never gave me any peace of mind.

Jiraiya sighed inwardly and walked over to Tsunade, who was treating Feng Xun. Hesitating, he asked, "Is this child okay?"

After a while, Tsunade withdrew her medical ninjutsu and shot Jiraiya an irritated glare. "If this brat were really in trouble, do you think I'd still be here talking to you so calmly?"

Jiraiya scratched his head awkwardly, then continued, "Then could you take a look at the other child too? He's unconscious as well."

"Please, Lady Tsunade! You must save Nagato," Yahiko said, bowing deeply and sincerely.

Tsunade frowned at this. She told Minato, who stood nearby, to look after his younger brother, then walked over to the unconscious Nagato.

However, when she lifted Nagato's eyelids, she unexpectedly discovered the secret hidden in his eyes.

"This is?"

Not only Tsunade, but even Jiraiya was stunned when he saw Nagato's eyes.

Could this be the legendary Rinnegan?

Legend said that the Rinnegan had belonged to the Sage of Six Paths, the ancestor of ninjutsu. It could create all things and destroy all things. Only that could explain Nagato's actions from earlier.

Jiraiya recalled the prophecy the Great Toad Sage had given him, as well as Nagato and the others' dream.

He vaguely felt that Nagato was the Child of Destiny from the prophecy.

Just as Jiraiya and the others were overwhelmed with shock, outside the barrier, a strange creature resembling the leaves of a Venus flytrap emerged from underground.