The entire ninja world recently had become aware that Konoha would change leadership, with the Hokage succession ceremony scheduled for a week later. The new Hokage was set to be Minato Namikaze.
This news quickly spread across the ninja world. Many of the ninjas were still very young, and in this chaotic world, a ninja's lifespan was generally very short.
In some villages with a small population, even students who had just graduated from the academy—or hadn't even graduated yet—were sent to the battlefield. These children, who were not yet strong enough to protect themselves, faced a significantly higher chance of death on the battlefield.
Surviving an old age in this chaotic ninja world was no easy task.
For this reason, many ninjas had never witnessed a change in Hokage before.
The last time a Hokage was replaced was when the Second Hokage died during the First Ninja War.
People who had seen such things were unlikely to be still alive now.
So, when the ninja world learned that Minato Namikaze would become Konoha's new Hokage, everyone felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. Even though they weren't from Konoha, witnessing such a historical change in their lifetime was considered a rare and remarkable event.
As public interest surged, discussions across the ninja world centred around Konoha's recent scandals involving the Third Hokage and the upcoming ascension of a new Hokage. People began to link these events in many places, shifting the focus from the scandal to the impending leadership change.
The number of discussions grew, and so did their influence. Before long, the entire ninja world knew the name of Minato Namikaze.
This was a significant departure from the original timeline, where Minato's rise as Hokage came a few years later, during which the Third Ninja War had begun. Minato was already a more seasoned young man, known for his composure and many years of experience, earning the nickname "Konoha's Yellow Flash."
Although he had earned the title of the Yellow Flash now, not many people recognised him, and his recent battles had just begun to make his name known. Many people still didn't know who he was, but now he was more famous than he had been in the original timeline, and people were paying much more attention to Konoha's leadership change. This heightened interest was primarily due to the shocking revelations by Orochimaru and Danzo, which had captured the ninja world's attention.
Minato's ascension to Hokage was tied to this media storm, fueled by Orochimaru and Danzo's explosive revelations. What began as a scandal had now become a public spectacle, with everyone watching as Konoha's young genius, Minato Namikaze, smoothly took over the position of Hokage.
As this media frenzy continued to grow, at the centre of it all—at Konoha's gates—three members of the Akatsuki organisation stood, exchanging glances as if in the middle of a disagreement.
"We still need to stay in Konoha," Konan said firmly, standing her ground. She looked at Nagato and Yahiko, who were already turning to leave and spoke each word with clarity and resolve. Her purple eyes shone with determination, reflecting her strong will to stay.
Yahiko glanced between Konan and Nagato, noticing Nagato's darkened expression. He spread his hands, indicating that he wasn't getting involved in the decision. His facial expression suggested that he was leaving it to the two of them to decide, and once they reached a consensus, he would follow along.
Yahiko had learned to adapt quickly to his changing role, even though he didn't like it. He kept his dissatisfaction hidden and didn't express it.
In the past, Yahiko had made the final decisions. When Konan and Nagato disagreed, they would turn to him for guidance. Usually, both of them would follow his lead with little input. Nagato, in particular, had always been reserved, speaking even less than Konan.
But things had changed. Yahiko's status had diminished, and he could only watch as Konan and Nagato stood opposite sides of the argument. He knew that his voice no longer held weight. Now, it was up to them to decide, and once they did, he would follow.
As Yahiko remained silent, the pressure fell on Nagato.
Nagato stood still, his back facing Konoha and, thus, Konan. He couldn't see her expression or Yahiko's stance but could sense the silence.
After contemplating, he stopped and turned his head to face Konan.
"Minato Namikaze doesn't want to take us in," Nagato said in a low, sombre tone. His voice had a trace of sadness and detachment as if the issue hadn't profoundly affected him. He stood there, exuding an air of natural arrogance, a new-found confidence he had gained after discovering his Otsutsuki lineage.
To put it bluntly, Nagato had become arrogant.
This wasn't unusual for Nagato.
In the original timeline, after awakening the Rinnegan, he had even referred to himself as a god.
In essence, Nagato suffered significantly during his youth. Despite his lack of talent during his early training, Jiraiya's praise that he could change the world had deeply influenced him. From then on, Nagato began to see himself as someone special. After learning that he was part of the Otsutsuki clan, a powerful and terrifying race, his self-perception inflated further to the point where he viewed the entire ninja world as insignificant, its inhabitants no more than ants beneath his feet.
At this moment, Nagato's tone suggested that he felt he had been turned away by mere ants—residents of Konoha who didn't understand his greatness. He believed he could easily stand his ground here if he wanted to, but he chose not to because of his respect for Aoba.
However, he failed to realise that his Rinnegan hadn't yet fully awakened, and he didn't have the power to back up his lofty words.
His confidence remained unshaken, emanating from him in every word and action.
After finishing his sentence, Nagato's Rinnegan eyes emerged from behind his red hair, staring coldly at Konan, devoid of emotion. Every time those eyes appeared, it was as if he were a machine, with a gaze so void of feeling it made him seem robotic.
"Do you want me to kneel and beg him?" Nagato's tone remained calm, but there was a sharp edge of sarcasm and disdain, signalling his deep dissatisfaction with Minato.
"We might have other options..." Konan responded, her voice carrying a strange sense of unease. She felt as if Nagato had become someone completely unfamiliar. This was not the Nagato she had known—the one who cared for and cared for her during her time of need.
But ever since their encounter with Aoba, she had noticed a drastic change in Nagato. It was as if he now considered himself part of a higher race.
While Konan acknowledged Nagato's unique heritage, his aura now made her uncomfortable.
There was a growing distance between them, and she felt powerless to bridge the gap.
"All we've done is make a single attempt with Minato Namikaze, and we haven't even fully explored that possibility. Even if we don't continue with Minato, we can still find other ways to live in Konoha," Konan said softly, hoping to shift their perspective.
"Hahaha..." Nagato burst into laughter, his tone dripping with mockery. It was as if he found Konan's words laughably naive.
"How naive you are!" Nagato said, his gaze on Konan filled with contempt. He now saw her as someone entirely different from the person he once knew, much like Konan saw him as a stranger.
Nagato had once cared deeply for Konan, but now he could barely recognise her. The change in her demeanour since her time with Aoba had led to a shift in how he viewed her.
He had once been willing to do anything for Konan, but her growing admiration for Aoba, or Otsutsuki Shiren, had created a wedge between them.
With a cold smile, Nagato shook his head.
"I won't beg Minato Namikaze again, nor do I want to enter Konoha. If you want to stay, then go ahead on your own..."
With that, Nagato turned around and walked away without looking back.