Chapter 68: Fusion of the Samsara Eye
In the end, Ayaan gave up on the idea of completely devouring the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. At least for now, he wouldn't make any further plans until the statue had absorbed enough chakra and began to transform into a God Tree.
Just like Hashirama's cells, the chakra within the Outer Path Statue has the ability to turn people into trees. Perhaps only after it has fully absorbed the tailed beasts' chakra and returned to its original form as a living creature would it resemble an actual animal.
Even with the Baku Baku no Mi, it's impossible for a snake to swallow an elephant whole. If Ayaan forcibly devoured the Outer Path Statue, he wouldn't die—thanks to the fruit's powers—but his entire lifeform would change, turning him into a tree.
Indeed, his power would skyrocket, but he would no longer be human.
Ayaan was living a good life and didn't carry deep hatred in his heart. He had unlimited potential ahead of him, so naturally, he wasn't desperate enough to take such a path.
Even by only absorbing the Rinnegan, Ayaan's body and chakra saw a tremendous leap. Especially in terms of Wood Release, his power had reached a level nearly comparable to Hashirama Senju.
In fact, Ayaan firmly believed that if he mastered Sage Mode, his Wood Release would surpass even Hashirama's.
Just like how Uchiha Madara's Rinnegan evolved further after acquiring the Sage's body, Ayaan's own Sage Body had undergone significant evolution after absorbing the eye. It was now partially complete.
Moreover, thanks to the system from the One Piece world, Ayaan's already formidable physique had transformed further. Previously, his chakra refinement was like a thermal power plant burning coal. Now, after absorbing so much of the Ōtsutsuki bloodline, it was like using nuclear fuel—on par with actual Ōtsutsuki descendants.
The difference? Most Ōtsutsuki descendants could only burn through a ton or two of "nuclear fuel." But with Ayaan's physique, he could handle the equivalent of hundreds of tons!
Of course, even a refined descendant isn't equal to the original Ōtsutsuki clan. So despite all the upgrades, Ayaan was still nowhere near the Sage of Six Paths. At best, he now stood shoulder to shoulder with Naruto and Sasuke during their late-peak periods.
"That's more than enough," Ayaan muttered with a smile, sensing the overflowing chakra in his body. Then he opened his dark dimension and casually tossed out the unconscious Jiraiya, Nagato, and Konan.
Now, Nagato—who had once been emaciated with chakra rods embedded in his back—now looked healthy. He was still a bit thin, but no longer skeletal.
More importantly, the black rods in his back—once a symbol of his connection to the Outer Path—were completely gone. His red hair, which had once looked like withered weeds, had regained its vibrance.
Before long, all three regained consciousness. When Nagato opened his eyes, it was clear he was no longer blind. His new eyes had the sharpness of an eagle.
At first, he seemed confused—understandable, since he remembered dying. But as soon as Konan woke up and shouted, "Nagato!", clarity rushed back to him.
Jiraiya actually woke up first, but thanks to his age and experience, he remained calm and observant.
Seeing that everyone was awake, Ayaan smiled faintly. "Looks like you're all conscious again. Can I speak now?"
The three exchanged looks. Jiraiya, still maintaining a light-hearted front, scratched the back of his head and chuckled, "Ah, sorry. I just got a bit too excited. I thought you were going to kill Nagato."
"…Sensei Jiraiya," Nagato murmured, his voice complicated.
He slowly stood up, feeling the strength surging in his legs. For a moment, the sensation of having a fully functioning body was so surreal that he thought he was dreaming.
Without the Rinnegan, he no longer had the overwhelming, godlike sense of power. It was as if his Chuunibyou had been instantly cured. And now that he was effectively at someone else's mercy, his mindset was calmer than ever.
In the past, Nagato had assumed that an enemy would never spare him, which led to deep-rooted hostility. But now, seeing that Ayaan had not only spared him but fully healed his body and restored his chakra, he couldn't help but be confused.
He didn't know how much Ayaan had sacrificed to restore him—but clearly, if the goal was to kill him, Ayaan wouldn't have gone to such lengths.
And then there was Jiraiya. Despite everything, in the end, he had tried to protect him—even if it hadn't helped.
Now, Nagato was more rational and composed than ever.
"How do you feel?" Ayaan asked casually. "I healed your body, fused a considerable amount of Hashirama's cells into you, and transplanted a new pair of eyes. They're the ones I used previously—not any bloodline limit, but they're excellent for long-distance and motion tracking."
"…It feels good. Thank you." Nagato ran a hand along his legs and chest. He couldn't deny it—Ayaan's medical prowess was astonishing. His body, once riddled with injuries, now felt strong and free of stiffness. Not even hidden wounds remained.
But the one most emotional was Konan. Seeing Nagato whole again brought tears to her eyes.
When the excitement finally died down, Nagato looked toward Ayaan. "You healed me, so I assume there's something you want. If there's anything you need from me—so long as it doesn't harm Konan or go against my principles—I'll do it."
He had accepted that Ayaan hadn't spared him for nothing. At worst, he'd give away the life that had been freely returned to him—and enjoy a few moments of true living.
However, before he could say anything else, Konan grabbed his arm tightly and interrupted, "Not again. Do you think I'm a child, Nagato?"
"I won't be a burden forever!"
Watching the two bicker like they were about to bid each other farewell, Ayaan rolled his eyes. "Relax. I don't need anything from either of you, really."
"Well, actually," he corrected, "I only need something from Konan—and it's not dangerous."
At those words, both Konan and Nagato fell silent and turned their eyes toward him.
A dark mist rose from Ayaan's body, and he slipped into the shadows of his personal space. When he reappeared a moment later, he was holding a familiar figure—dry red hair, emaciated, with dozens of chakra rods embedded in his back.
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