Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 250: Rinnegan

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Clang! Clang! Clang!

Hundreds of kunai clashed against an invisible barrier, bouncing off in all directions.

"What the—?!"

The surrounding ninjas gasped in shock.

"Those eyes…"

Hanzo, standing at the front, finally noticed Nagato's Rinnegan.

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On the opposite side of the basin, Tonari, still holding Konan, watched with burning interest.

"So, this is the true power of the Rinnegan."

A smile tugged at Tonari's lips.

"Nagato's always rejected this power, unaware that it's the very source of his strength—the strength to change the world."

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Konan, struggling in Tonari's grip, finally spoke up.

"Who are you?!

Why do you know so much about Nagato's eyes?!"

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Tonari chuckled beneath his mask.

"The Rinnegan… the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths.

Even if I wanted to ignore them, could I?"

His tone was nonchalant, but Konan wasn't fooled.

He was clearly hiding something.

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But one thing bothered her more:

"Why did you save Yahiko earlier?

Are you our enemy or ally?"

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Tonari released Konan's wrists without hesitation.

"Watch closely.

You'll soon witness the true power of the Rinnegan.

And don't even think about running—you're far from escaping me."

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As his words fell, the situation below erupted.

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"I'll protect my comrades… myself!"

Nagato's furious roar echoed across the battlefield.

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A powerful gust exploded from his body, forcing Yahiko to stumble backward.

His eyes widened in alarm.

"Nagato, no! Stop!"

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"Nagato!!"

Konan cried out from the cliffside, her face streaked with tears.

But it was too late.

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Nagato had embraced the Rinnegan.

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For the first time, he truly synchronized with his eyes.

A surge of power flooded his senses, almost overwhelming.

"This… this is the power of a god!"

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His hands flashed through seals.

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"Summoning Jutsu: Gedo Statue!"

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BOOM!

Thick smoke erupted from the ground.

A monstrous figure emerged behind Nagato—

Its body gnarled and skeletal, skin like ancient wood.

Its sightless eyes were veiled by a white cloth.

Ten spinal-like stakes jutted from its back, while its lower half remained submerged in the earth.

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The Gedo Statue roared, shaking the ground.

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Even the battle-hardened Ame-nin froze.

"W-What is that thing?!"

Their ranks broke into murmurs, panic bubbling beneath the surface.

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But Hanzo—he sensed it more clearly than anyone.

The killing intent, the overwhelming presence—

"This creature… is on an entirely different level."

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Even Hanzo, the "Demi-God," felt a sliver of fear.

But Tonari, standing calmly beside Konan, smiled.

"It's finally here. The Gedo Statue."

"Without it, Uchiha Madara's lifeline is cut. His end is near."

"One less threat to worry about."

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Konan, her hands trembling, clutched Tonari's sleeve.

"What is that thing?!

What did you tell Nagato?!"

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"The Gedo Statue."

Tonari answered without looking at her.

"Only the Rinnegan can summon it.

A vessel for unimaginable power… and unimaginable cost."

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"The Rinnegan…"

Konan's grip loosened as dread settled in.

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Meanwhile, the Gedo Statue stirred.

A black rod extended from its mouth, slithering toward Nagato.

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Clink… Clink… Clink!

The rod branched out like tree limbs—

One… Three… Ten…

By the time it reached Nagato's back, it had split into dozens of jagged black stakes.

Without hesitation, the stakes pierced his spine.

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"Nagato!!"

Yahiko shouted, eyes bloodshot.

"Stop!!"

Konan's voice broke with desperation.

But Nagato was deaf to their pleas.

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As the rods dug deeper, blood sprayed from his mouth.

Tonari's Sharingan spun rapidly, analyzing the process.

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"The chakra flow… it's siphoning directly into the Gedo Statue."

"Nagato's chakra is barely enough. It's draining his life force instead."

"No wonder he became so frail in the future. This moment sealed his fate."

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Nagato's once-slender frame withered further.

Skin clung tightly to bone, his cheeks hollowing out.

Only his eyes, glowing with the Rinnegan's power, remained vibrant.

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At last, the Gedo Statue had absorbed enough.

Its mouth yawned wide, and from the abyss within—

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A chakra dragon emerged.

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Brilliant and ethereal, the dragon's serpentine form coiled through the air.

It moved unnaturally fast, unburdened by mass.

Wherever its gaze fell, it struck like lightning.

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Each ninja it touched—

Collapsed instantly.

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Their souls were ripped away, bodies falling lifelessly to the mud.

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Tonari's smile faded, replaced by calm calculation.

"Soul extraction… like the Human Path, but far more destructive."

"It's the perfect battlefield weapon."

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Hanzo's expression darkened.

Even he couldn't devise a quick countermeasure.

In mere seconds, his elite Ame-nin—

Gone.

Danzo's Root operatives—

Gone.

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The chakra dragon, bloated with stolen energy, grew to an absurd size.

It slithered around the entire basin, encircling the battlefield like a predator toying with its prey.

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Finally, the dragon's head hovered before Hanzo and Danzo, crimson eyes gleaming.

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Below, Yahiko rushed to Nagato's side, barely able to support his skeletal frame.

But Nagato…

He wasn't the same.

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"This power… this is true strength!"

His breath came in ragged gasps, but his Rinnegan gleamed with madness.

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The chakra dragon lurched forward, jaws snapping at Hanzo and Danzo.

Both men vanished with Shunshin no Jutsu, narrowly escaping.

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BOOM!

The dragon obliterated the cliffside they stood upon.

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From a nearby treetop, Hanzo and Danzo glared at each other.

"That's the Rinnegan's true power… monstrous."

Hanzo rasped, voice hoarse with disbelief.

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Both had failed miserably.

Their elite units lay scattered, lifeless across the basin.

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Danzo clenched his fists.

His entire plan—to crush Akatsuki and eliminate Tonari—

In ruins.

"Damn it… Even if I return, Hiruzen will question me.

And the Hokage seat will slip further from my grasp!"

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Hanzo broke the silence.

"We'll withdraw.

That boy's power has limits.

Look at him—he's already half-dead.

He can't maintain this forever."

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Danzo hesitated, then nodded grimly.

"Agreed. From now on, we must treat Akatsuki as a major threat.

We'll find another opportunity to strike."

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Both men vanished into the rain, leaving the carnage behind.

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But Nagato, consumed by rage, didn't pursue them.

Instead, the chakra dragon turned—

Its head locked onto Tonari and Konan.

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Tonari stood his ground, unfazed.

"You're wasting your strength, Nagato.

Every second you maintain that dragon, you burn more of your life away.

Is that how you want to die?

Leaving Konan behind?"

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Konan gasped, snapping out of her daze.

"Nagato! Stop!

Forget about me—take Yahiko and run!!"

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Tonari facepalmed.

"Seriously? The more you plead, the more he'll refuse to back down."

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Sighing, he seized Konan's wrists again, binding her effortlessly.

"End this."

Tonari's voice dropped, cold and commanding.

"Or I'll kill her here and now.

Three seconds. No bluff."

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The dragon froze.

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Nagato blinked, clarity returning to his maddened eyes.

"No…"

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The massive chakra construct shattered into countless fragments.

Clink! Clink! Clink!

The black rods anchoring Nagato to the Gedo Statue snapped, though several remained embedded in his back.

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Without chakra to sustain it, the Gedo Statue itself vanished into thin air.

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Tonari, still gripping Konan, teleported into the basin using Flying Thunder God.

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Konan broke free, rushing to Nagato's side.

Her breath hitched at the sight.

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Skin and bones.

Nagato could barely stand without Yahiko's support.

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"Nagato…"

Tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Why did you push yourself so far?"

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Nagato weakly smiled.

"Konan… You're safe.

That's all that matters."

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For the first time since the battle began, Yahiko found his voice.

"Who the hell are you?!

Why interfere? What do you want?!"

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Tonari shrugged.

"Does it matter?

My identity changes nothing.

Focus on what's in front of you."

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Yahiko's hands clenched into fists.

"What do you want, then?"

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Tonari's gaze drifted to Nagato's eyes.

"Simple.

One of those eyes.

One Rinnegan."

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"Absolutely not!"

Yahiko and Konan snapped in unison, stepping protectively in front of Nagato.

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Tonari sighed, arms crossing lazily.

"Predictable."

"Listen.

You're missing the point.

Two Rinnegan are killing him.

One will suffice.

Give me one, and I'll heal Nagato.

You keep your power—and your lives."

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Yahiko hesitated.

But before he could answer—

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"I'll do it."

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Nagato spoke.

His voice was weak but resolute.

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"Take it.

If it saves my friends… it's worth the price.**"

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Tonari smiled behind his mask.

"Wise choice, Nagato."

"Now… let's truly shape the future."

To be continued…

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