I Am Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 386 - 386 Yahiko's Charisma

Yahiko and Konan supported the eyeless Nagato, expending every ounce of their strength to retreat towards Amegakure.

Even though they were already far from that riverbank battlefield, the terrifying explosion sounds and intense fluctuations from Chakra Collisions coming from behind still made the ground beneath their feet tremble slightly.

The three of them staggered to the vicinity of Amegakure's entrance, finally temporarily leaving the most dangerous area.

Yahiko and Konan simultaneously stopped, panting as they looked back towards the area shrouded by the vast forest, now dominated by the figure of a sky-touching, earth-standing blue giant.

"What is that... a Ninjutsu?!" Konan's voice carried a tremor. Looking at that over two hundred meter tall Complete Body Susanoo, even at such a distance, that oppressive aura that seemed capable of tearing the sky and suppressing the earth still made her feel difficulty breathing.

She couldn't help but worry for Menma, who had stayed behind alone to cover their retreat.

Yahiko's expression was equally grave. His orange hair was plastered to his forehead by rain and sweat. He clenched his fists tightly.

"Believe him... Menma... definitely won't be in any trouble!" He sounded like he was comforting Konan, but even more so, convincing himself.

Just as they were filled with worry, that seemingly invincible blue giant suddenly dissipated like a popped bubble, leaving only that abruptly appearing dense forest as proof that what had just happened wasn't an illusion.

The roar of battle also abruptly ceased. The direction of the battlefield fell into an uneasy dead silence.

"What happened? The battle... ended?" Konan murmured, uncertain and shocked.

Yahiko frowned deeply, shaking his head. "Don't know... but this quietness makes one even more uneasy."

Just then, led by Kyusuke and Daibutsu, Kanon, and several Amegakure's Ninjas including Amado who had rushed over upon hearing the news, quickly arrived at the village entrance.

When they saw Nagato, supported by Yahiko and Konan, with only two bloody, empty sockets where his eyes had been, his face pale as paper, everyone's expressions instantly changed dramatically!

"Nagato!!" Kyusuke rushed forward in a swift step. He suddenly looked up at Yahiko and Konan, his voice turning hoarse from extreme anger: "Who did this?! Which bastard did it?!"

The burly Daibutsu hurried forward. His face, usually always bearing a kind smile, was now covered with gravity.

He carefully helped Yahiko lay the nearly collapsed Nagato on a stretcher quickly spread by several Ninjas.

Then he asked in a low voice, "Was the enemy's goal Nagato's eyes?"

Although most members within Akatsuki didn't know that Nagato's circled-pattern eyes were the legendary Rinnegan, through their long companionship, everyone knew Nagato possessed an extremely special pair of eyes.

In the Ninja World, such peculiar eyes often meant some powerful Kekkei Genkai and Dojutsu, just like the Konoha Hyuga Clan's Byakugan and the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan… treasures enough to invite covetousness.

Now, with Nagato's eyes brutally gouged out, the enemy's purpose was self-evident.

Amado pushed up the orange sunglasses on his nose bridge, squatted down, his fingers covered with faint Chakra Light, carefully examining Nagato's condition.

A moment later, he looked up, a trace of unbelievable surprise flashing in his eyes. He said to Yahiko and Konan, "Strange... although his vital signs are weak from blood loss and intense pain, the life force and Chakra within his body, after losing those eyes, instead... have become more active and vigorous? As if a heavy burden has been lifted."

Beside him, Kanon, originally filled with anxiety and worry, heard Amado's words. Her purplish-red eyes lit up slightly, as if remembering something.

She murmured softly, "I think I heard Menma-sama mention before that he said Nagato's eyes seemed to have been 'fostered' with him. Could it be that losing the burden of these external eyes allowed Nagato's Uzumaki Clan's physique to function more smoothly?"

This speculation made everyone's hearts skip a beat.

Then Amado stood up and said, "Since others could transplant a pair of eyes for Nagato, we can use the same method to transplant eyes for Nagato, letting him regain his sight."

Hearing Nagato could regain his sight brought some relief to Yahiko and Konan. But immediately after, concern for Menma on the battlefield surged again.

Kanon looked up towards the direction of the silent forest, her gaze becoming firm. "I have to go help Menma-sama!"

"Kanon! Don't be rash!" Konan immediately reached out and grabbed her.

Konan looked at Kanon's urgent eyes and shook her head, her tone calm and composed: "The enemy is too strong! If we rashly go over, not only won't we be of help, we'll instead distract him and become his burden! Believe in him. Since he had us leave, he must have his own confidence!"

Kanon bit her lip, her eyes filled with unwillingness and powerlessness.

Yahiko, Kyusuke, Daibutsu, and the others also fell silent.

That deep feeling of powerlessness, watching a comrade fighting a bloody battle while they couldn't even get close to the battlefield, swept over everyone present.

They were already Special Jonin or Elite Jonin in the village, but before that level of battle, they seemed so insignificant.

Yahiko took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the frustration in his heart and the pain over Nagato's injury.

He knew now was absolutely not the time to wallow in negative emotions.

As the leader of Akatsuki, as the one who would shoulder Amegakure's future, he had to step forward!

"Everyone, don't be discouraged!" Yahiko straightened his back, his gaze sweeping over all his companions with worried and indignant expressions. His voice was steady and powerful, carrying an inspiring force: "A moment of strength and weakness doesn't represent forever! Menma is fighting for us! Although we can't directly participate in that level of battle, we absolutely cannot just stand here and wait!"

He quickly began deploying, showing excellent on-the-spot command and leadership abilities.

"Konan, Amado-san!" He looked at the two: "Please immediately take Nagato back to the village, find the best Medical-Nin to treat his injuries and stabilize his condition!"

"Yes!" Konan and Amado nodded heavily, immediately calling several Ninja to lift the stretcher and quickly head into the village.

"Kyusuke! Daibutsu!" Yahiko's gaze turned to his two capable assistants: "Immediately organize all combat forces of Chunin rank and above in the village! Construct emergency defensive lines on the village outskirts, especially in the direction facing the battlefield!"

"Once battle shockwaves or impacts come, you must immediately join forces to perform defensive ninjutsu, exhausting every effort to protect the village, protect the civilians inside!"

"Understood!" Kyusuke and Daibutsu didn't hesitate, immediately turning around, starting to loudly shout commands, directing the arriving Ninja to quickly take action.

Finally, Yahiko looked at Kanon, who was still clenching her fists and staring at the battlefield. His tone softened somewhat: "Kanon-san, you and I will act as the mobile reserve team. We'll guard here, closely monitoring the battlefield's movements. Once any unexpected changes occur, or if Menma sends a signal, we can react immediately and provide support!"

Kanon looked at Yahiko's steady, firm gaze. The anxiety in her heart slightly calmed.

She nodded fiercely, but her eyes still locked on the distance. "I understand, Yahiko!"

Under Yahiko's orderly command, the originally somewhat panicked Amegakure's Ninjas, due to the powerful enemy's attack and Nagato's severe injury, quickly found a backbone and began acting efficiently.

One defensive line after another was established. A cohesive force began gathering on Amegakure's shattered outskirts.

Although they still couldn't participate in the distant battle, this united determination to protect their homeland seemed particularly precious at this moment.

...

In an unnoticed shadowy corner, the half-black, half-white Zetsu slowly protruded half its body.

The small pupils of Black Zetsu looked through the rain curtain, gazing distantly at Yahiko giving orders and calming people at the village entrance.

"This kid named Yahiko... does have some leader charisma." Black Zetsu's hoarse, gloomy voice softly sounded. "Under his organization and the cohesion of his ideals, this shattered Amegakure probably won't take long to rise again, even... grow into a force not to be underestimated. It's not impossible to be second only to the Five Great Ninja Villages."

This sudden variable made Black Zetsu begin reassessing future plans.

Would Yahiko and his advocated path of peace affect its thousand-year-planned [Mother-saving Plan]?

However, these thoughts were just fleeting.

Black Zetsu quickly refocused its attention on the distant battlefield.

Compared to this still budding force, the outcome of the battle between Madara and that mysterious youth was the key determining the future direction.

It calmly analyzed the situation: If Madara won, it's naturally the best, as the plan could continue.

But if Madara lost...

Black Zetsu's gaze turned deep. It must think of a way to retrieve the Rinnegan, born only once every thousand years, as much as possible.

That was the key to his mother's revival.

If things truly became impossible...

Its pitch-black, tar-like body wriggled slightly, revealing an extreme patience and coldness.

Then just continue lurking.

He has been waiting for a thousand years, why care about these mere decades?

As long as the hope of his mother's revival remained, Black Zetsu would never give up.

Unlike in the world Menma came from, where Black Zetsu had basically completed its layout, just waiting to capture Tailed Beasts to launch the [Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan], in this parallel world, Black Zetsu's plan was just beginning to unfold.

It hadn't even selected the new 'pawn' to revive Madara yet, so naturally, there wasn't that 'just one step away' unwillingness and impatience.

For it, time was the cheapest thing.