Dojutsu kekkei genkai—a byword for a unique and formidable kind of power.
The Sharingan of the Uchiha clan, the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan, the Ketsuryugan of the Chinoike clan—the immense strength of these three great ninja clans stood as undeniable proof of the power of dojutsu.
Yet, no matter how terrifyingly these three clans' dojutsu were hyped up by other ninja, no matter how powerful they were in their own right, their abilities and origins could ultimately be traced and understood.
Only the Rinnegan, the legendary dojutsu said to be possessed by the progenitor of shinobi, the Sage of Six Paths, was different.
From beginning to end, it had only ever existed in word-of-mouth legends and vague, ethereal myths.
Thanks to Kurama, Naruto knew with certainty that the Sage of Six Paths was no mere myth, which meant the Rinnegan was also real.
But he had never imagined that the Sage's eyes would actually appear on a ninja of the Uzumaki clan.
"When the world descends into chaos, a messenger sent from the heavens, the wielder of the Sage's eyes, shall bring about a reformation the world has never seen. He is the creator god who will bring order to the world, or the destroyer who will reduce all to nothingness..."
The above was a direct quote Naruto had read in a book.
Inside his mental scape.
"Kurama, is it for real?" Naruto asked.
"...It's real." Through his jinchuriki's eyes, the Nine-Tails gazed at the red-haired young man, at his purple, rippled eyes. Kurama's expression was dazed, filled with utter disbelief.
The old Sage's Rinnegan... To think it actually appeared.
Outside.
Seeing Naruto's astonished expression, Yahiko said proudly, "That's right! The Sage's eyes! Doesn't it just make you want to join us right away?"
"This is truly unexpected. I never thought I'd be fortunate enough to witness the legendary Sage's eyes with my own," Naruto said, overcome with emotion. "I take back what I said earlier. Perhaps you truly do have the ability to achieve the peace you seek."
Although immense power didn't mean everything, it was undeniable that when a person or an organization possessed great strength, many things came with it.
Empty promises were always met with ridicule, but ideals built upon a foundation of strength often inspired genuine aspiration.
Hearing this, Nagato smiled shyly. It was clear he was a young man who was very reserved around strangers.
"This is when you should be promoting our ideals to him!" Yahiko clapped Nagato on the shoulder. "Honestly, you're a much better fit to be Akatsuki's leader than I am."
"No, Yahiko, you're the leader of Akatsuki!" Nagato seemed to have heard something unacceptable, shaking his head vehemently as he declined.
Naruto looked at Yahiko in that moment, slightly taken aback. Sunny, free-spirited, and ambitious. Nagato might have the power of the Rinnegan, but even this short interaction made Naruto understand that Yahiko's personal charisma was no less compelling.
He could become a qualified leader, one who put people at ease and inspired genuine, heartfelt trust.
Putting himself in their shoes, Naruto knew that in this aspect, he definitely couldn't compare to Yahiko.
"Indeed, there's much I need to learn from you all," Naruto said with a sigh.
"Huh? Is that so?" Yahiko, not quite understanding, scratched his head and smiled.
Meanwhile, in the Land of Wind, at Rouran.
"You are Mukade?" Seramu quietly appraised the ninja below her.
He was as thin as a bamboo pole, and everything about him, from his words to his general demeanor, exuded a gloomy, unsettling aura.
He's the complete opposite of Naruto-kun, she thought. Whether it was their first meeting or subsequent interactions, Naruto-kun had always given her an impression of confidence, easygoing grace, and refinement.
"Your Majesty, I am Mukade." Mukade forced what he considered a passable smile, oblivious to how utterly terrifying it appeared to Sara, who stood beside her mother.
The little girl swallowed hard. Her mother's teachings allowed her to maintain the decorum expected of the next Queen of Rouran, even in the face of such a visually horrifying experience.
"Why have you sought me out?" Seramu asked, recalling Naruto's warning as he departed.
"I possess a technology that can build Rouran into the most powerful force in the entire shinobi world," Mukade declared with a confident smirk.
"And what is the price?" Seramu didn't refuse outright, instead posing a question. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
"As Your Majesty must surely understand, nothing can be created from thin air. To achieve such a grand vision, the energy required would naturally not be insignificant," Mukade stated, revealing his objective.
To be honest, he too was quite astonished by his journey to the past. Initially, there was an unavoidable sense of loss—loss for the Dragon Vein's chakra. But once he had sorted through his thoughts, he realized this situation actually offered far more room for maneuvering.
He didn't claim to know every detail about the Third Great Ninja War and the subsequent developments in the shinobi world, but he was familiar with the general outline. Rouran had been destroyed during the Third Great Ninja War; he had naturally researched this conflict in depth.
"You've come for the Dragon Vein?" Seramu's tone immediately turned hostile.
Her lineage in Rouran had guarded the Dragon Vein for generations, precisely to prevent this immense energy from spiraling out of control and causing irreparable damage to the surrounding lands.
As the current Queen of Rouran, having received the mantle of power from her own mother, the previous queen, she knew better than anyone just how terrifying the Dragon Vein truly was.
If not for her clan's innate affinity with the Dragon Vein, allowing them to control this terrifying power, not just Rouran, but even the Land of Wind, and perhaps the neighboring Land of Fire, would not be as peaceful and tranquil as they were today.
She bore the respect and love of the people of Rouran; therefore, she had to protect this land and the people who had lived here for generations.
To wear the crown, one must bear its weight.
She enjoyed the best resources this land had to offer, so she had to fulfill her responsibilities.
And now, someone—an outsider, no less—dared to speak so presumptuously of the Dragon Vein in her very presence!
From a dark abyss beneath the high tower, a purple, misty energy slowly surged forth. Under the control of the one on the throne, it gradually enveloped the tower.
Gulp...
Mukade had personally experienced the terror of the Dragon Vein's energy. Under this oppressive pressure, even if he wasn't a sensor-type ninja, he understood he was now walking a tightrope.
The slightest misstep would send him plummeting into a bottomless abyss.
Damned records! Didn't they say the Queen of Rouran was an ordinary person?!! Mukade screamed internally. He had to admit, he'd seriously miscalculated.
He had originally thought that in Rouran, a place supposedly full of ordinary people without ninja, he could move about freely even without his puppets, his strongest assets. Even if negotiations failed, he could still escape.
He had overlooked one crucial point: how could Rouran establish itself as a state within a state, right in the Land of Wind, one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries? The mercy of the Land of Wind's Daimyo? Don't be ridiculous. That weakling bastard was definitely no saint; Mukade was absolutely sure of that.
"Your Majesty, I can free your people from heavy, tedious, repetitive labor! Allow them to live in more spacious houses, ensure they have meat at every meal..." Under the crushing pressure threatening his life, Mukade threw out all his trump cards, even making some unrealistic promises. "And all of this requires just a little bit of the Dragon Vein's energy."
"...Let's hear it."
At that moment, Seramu's aloof voice was, to Mukade, no different from the most beautiful female voice in the world.