Naruto: Talent Entry Perks

Looking at the frenzied Uchiha Obito, Nagato frowned and said, "Are you crazy? Letting everyone sleep forever in an illusion world—how is that any different from exterminating all of humanity?"

"The difference," Uchiha Obito refuted, "is that one dies happily in a dream. Their life is joyful, all wishes come true, there's no exhaustion, no betrayal, no pain or illness. The other—dies cruelly, or gets enslaved by the strong, betrayed by those close, and attacked by disease…"

"The average life expectancy of humans and ninjas is so low. Rather than letting them die in war, suffer through birth, aging, sickness, and death, and experience all the darkness of human nature—why not let them live long, beautiful lives in a dream and die peacefully without pain?"

Nagato looked at Uchiha Obito silently for a moment before sneering. "Heh… escapist."

"Don't you want to see Yahiko again?" Uchiha Obito suddenly raised his voice, like he'd been struck.

"Of course I do."

Nagato looked around the dark Kamui space, as if he could see the three of them when they were young, and as they grew. He murmured, "Over the years, I've dreamed of Yahiko countless nights. I dreamed he never died, that he changed the world, even realized his ideals—eliminating war, bringing lasting peace to the ninja world, becoming a savior."

"But once I woke up, it all vanished."

His purple Rinnegan looked down at Uchiha Obito, and Nagato said flatly, "Even if the dream is eternal, it doesn't change the fact that… the Yahiko in the dream is fake."

"But… the will and ideals Yahiko left behind are real."

Nagato raised his hand, clenched his fist, and with a firm expression declared, "If understanding can't bring peace, then I'll inherit Yahiko's ideals and use absolute power to end the endless wars, and force everyone to live in peace under pressure."

"What if you die?" Uchiha Obito said in a low voice. "Even the God of Ninja couldn't achieve immortality. How can you? When you die, the ninja world will just be like during the First Ninja World War—the flames of war will rise again."

"When I die, I'll leave the Outer Path Demon Statue to all the nations, so they can all use its power to keep each other in check," Nagato replied. "As long as every nation has access to the Outer Path Demon Statue, no country will dare act recklessly."

"Hmph, do whatever you want."

Uchiha Obito sneered. "The mission of the Uchiha clan is to guide the Rinnegan's true owner. If your path is wrong, then the will of the Sage of Six Paths that dwells within you will choose a new successor. Then the stone tablet's prophecy will be proven correct."

Nagato was half-believing and half-doubting. He asked, "Where is this Uchiha stone tablet?"

"It's beneath Konoha—you won't see it." Uchiha Obito saw through his thoughts and laughed coldly. "Only those with Mangekyō Sharingan can read it. It's the inheritance and duty of the messengers of the gods. You Rinnegan holders must rise from weakness, experiencing the many forms of life. You can't just evolve into the Rinnegan."

"Likewise, the evolved Rinnegan can't summon the Outer Path Demon Statue, and is doomed to never become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki. That kind of eye… is a loser's eye!"

Nagato went silent.

After a long while, he slowly said, "Let's go."

Hearing that, Uchiha Obito quietly breathed a sigh of relief again.

Whether Nagato believed him or not, the immediate crisis for him and Black Zetsu had passed, and he could continue staying in the Akatsuki organization.

Still, to prevent any last-minute betrayal, Uchiha Obito was ready to activate Izanagi the moment he approached.

Fortunately, Nagato didn't try to sneak attack him with the Human Path, and instead exited the Kamui space with him.

Even after returning to the forest outside, Nagato didn't lash out. Instead, he gathered the four Pains who had come with him.

"Leader."

The figure of Black and White Zetsu emerged from the ground, still showing respectful behavior toward Nagato.

During this time, he didn't even glance at Uchiha Obito.

"Let's go. Everything stays the same."

Leaving only that sentence, Nagato and the four Pains all turned into white smoke and vanished.

Surprisingly, they had been summoned back by reverse summoning.

After confirming through strong perception that Nagato had truly left, Black Zetsu asked in a deep voice, "Obito, what did you say to Nagato?"

"Anyway, our existence hasn't been exposed. It won't affect the plan." Leaving just that, Uchiha Obito activated Kamui and disappeared.

"Can we trust what he says?" White Zetsu asked.

"It doesn't matter anymore. That guy… is unreliable."

…

"Thanks to you this time, Izayoi-kun."

Elsewhere, Orochimaru was expressing his gratitude to Izayoi.

"It was just a small matter," Izayoi replied with a smile. "But Lord Orochimaru may have to change bases again."

"It doesn't matter. All the important research is in the scrolls. It's just a shame—it will cost money and time to get the equipment again." Orochimaru smiled, unconcerned.

"That black-and-white guy can merge with earth and plants. If my Wood Release didn't just happen to counter him, you might've been in danger this time," Izayoi admitted that he had been watching Orochimaru, then said, "Sasuke is preparing to learn senjutsu. You should stay with him in Ryuchi Cave for now. Once Sasuke masters Ryuchi Cave's senjutsu, I'll give you the Reaper Mask. That way, you'll be able to protect yourself."

Orochimaru's eyes suddenly burned with desire. He subconsciously stuck out his tongue and smiled. "He's already ready for senjutsu? Looks like Sasuke-kun's compatibility with Hashirama cells is higher than expected."

"Lord Orochimaru, Sasuke is my second-in-command, someone I've trained for years. He's the future 'Uchiha Madara' of Konoha," Izayoi reminded him sternly. "Don't cause trouble, or even if I admire you, I'll erase you and the village's Mitarashi Anko."

Hearing that, Orochimaru's pupils shrank. He stared at Izayoi in shock.

Then, his smile stiffened and his voice trembled. "Izayoi… how do you know?"

"There's no perfect ninjutsu in this world. Every technique has its weakness, just like the five-element chakra nature cycle." Izayoi spoke calmly, his tone full of contempt. "When you're a child, adults seem invincible. As a Genin, Jōnin and Kage seem unreachable. But once your strength surpasses what ordinary people and geniuses can imagine, you realize their methods and strength are childish."

Izayoi pointed to his own chest and looked at the sweating Orochimaru. "The First Hokage's wife had the Kagura Heart Eye because she was the Nine-Tails jinchūriki—it could perceive good and evil. I, with the Spiritualization Technique, can perceive souls."

"Your current soul state—and the soul fragments in the cursed seal—are completely exposed before my heart eye."

"So… don't disappoint me."

After saying this, Izayoi's body rapidly swelled and turned into a massive tree.

It was another Wood Clone.

"Lord Orochimaru, are you okay?"

Yakushi Kabuto supported Orochimaru, his body drenched in cold sweat.

Even though it was just a Wood Clone, the pressure Izayoi brought was greater than that of Nagato or Uchiha Obito.

"Nagato… Ōtsutsuki Toneri… Izayoi… Uchiha Obito… The Uzumaki, Ōtsutsuki, Senju, Uchiha… Rinnegan, Tenseigan, Wood Release, Mangekyō Sharingan… Hashirama Senju, Uchiha Madara, Nagato, Ōtsutsuki Toneri, Izayoi… combat power beyond the Five Kage…"

Orochimaru ignored Kabuto and stared at the towering tree, muttering to himself as a flash of inspiration struck.

"What is the connection between these four ninja clans and their bloodlines? Why do only these four produce beings whose power the Five Kage can't even dream of? Why can Sharingan and Hashirama cells balance each other? What's the relationship between Senju, Uchiha, Uzumaki, and the Sage of Six Paths? Is the Ōtsutsuki clan a friend or foe of the Sage?"

Suddenly, a flash of white light crossed Orochimaru's mind. His eyes widened.

"Outer Path Demon Statue… Tailed Beast Plan!"

Orochimaru's body trembled with excitement.

"Lord Orochimaru, are you okay?" Kabuto asked again.

"I'm fine. I'm more than fine…" Orochimaru let out a familiar sinister laugh, gazing at the giant tree. "Kabuto, the storm of the new era is coming. It's both a lucky and unlucky era. We'll learn the truth of the world—but it will only bring the despair of powerlessness."

"Because we're all just… mortals."

…

After handling the Orochimaru situation, Izayoi kicked Uchiha Sasuke out and sent him to Ryuchi Cave to meet Orochimaru.

Then, Izayoi and Hinata also ended their vacation and joined Aburame Shino to complete missions and accumulate achievements.

As a creditor, Izayoi had already learned in advance that the first half of the Chunin Exams would be held in March.

It was a special month.

From first to fifth years, Ninja School students would undergo their annual evaluations to determine the top students.

Sixth-year students would face graduation exams.

Unexpectedly, the Chunin Exams—normally public—would be held privately this month.

Since they also had to accumulate enough merit for this year's Jōnin assessments, Team 8 no longer accepted C-rank missions. They started with B-rank missions instead.

Izayoi also stopped accepting escort missions.

They were too tiring.

Unless the client was from the Land of Fire, escort missions could take one or two weeks. If they were from somewhere remote, even more than half a month.

So, Izayoi chose assassination and espionage missions.

He originally hoped for war-related tasks—but after the shock Nagato and Ōtsutsuki Toneri caused, the world had quieted down.

Smaller countries secretly sought refuge with the Land of Rain's daimyō. No one dared cause trouble.

The five great nations didn't provoke each other, either.

Everyone feared drawing Toneri's attention and being used as a pawn to counter Akatsuki.

The ninja world had entered a strange peace.

So, assassination missions surged.

If you can't fight openly, you do it from the shadows.

In one month, Team 8 completed 13 B-rank missions with incredible efficiency.

Among Genin, this performance was terrifying—Aburame Shino's record was that of a great demon king.

Even Izayoi and Hinata were just a few A-rank missions away from qualifying for the Jōnin assessment.

Tsunade was relieved—she could see retirement on the horizon.

By this month, the tension from Nagato and Toneri's confrontation had finally faded.

People still had to live.

Thanks to the five great nations, the Akatsuki was tied to the Hidden Rain Village and seen in a positive light.

With Nagato's overwhelming power, no one dared pressure the Rain Country or demand the return of their nation's missing-nin, fearing they'd upset the balance.

Seeing that the major powers weren't joining forces against Akatsuki, many clever clients started commissioning missions from the Hidden Rain Village.

After all, their prices were low, they had many high-level fighters, and their leader was the new era's God of Ninja.

On the black market, the Akatsuki—made up of S-rank missing-nin—was now the strongest mercenary group.

Rain Country civilians, Hidden Rain villagers, and Akatsuki members all felt life getting better.

They knew it was all thanks to Nagato.

And Nagato knew the truth—it was just the great nations throwing him scraps to placate him.

If he wanted to simply rule a corner of the world, it'd be enough.

But Nagato didn't have such selfish ambitions. He wanted peace for the world.

Now that commissions were increasing, they were just helping him gather funds.

Once the Three-Tails revived, the Akatsuki would act.

So in the end—who was really being fooled?

Just like that, time entered March of Konoha Year 61.

As the first half of the Chunin Exams approached—

The ninja world, calm for two months, stirred again.

A major event was about to rock all the nations.