154.Bewitching

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Seeing the shocked expressions on the faces of the children, Sōsuke smiled gently and said softly, "That's right, as you might have suspected, we are not currently Leaf Village shinobi."

"How... can... it... be!?" Although all three children had thought this, they found it hard to believe when Sōsuke admitted it aloud.

Sōsuke lowered his eyelids and took in the expressions on the children's faces. His own expression grew slightly more serious, and he said softly, "Indeed, it's true."

Then, he turned to Yahiko, his deep eyes locking onto him. He continued in a low tone, "Yahiko, I've heard from Saki that your mother died at the hands of the Sand Village shinobi..."

Hearing Sōsuke's words, Yahiko's expression froze. He was suddenly confronted with the most painful memory of his life, and his young face became contorted with a mix of sadness and anger as he gazed at Sōsuke.

Konan and Nagato, who were watching this interaction with concern, couldn't understand why Sōsuke had brought up this painful subject.

At that moment, there was a soft sound, "Pat!"

Suddenly, warm palms covered Yahiko's orange hair. Startled by Sōsuke's unexpected action, Yahiko's eyes widened, and his face showed bewilderment.

"Have you already forgotten... that pain?"

Accompanied by a deep, low murmur, Sōsuke placed one hand on Yahiko's orange hair and bent down, his profound gaze locking with Yahiko's slightly stunned eyes.

Yahiko's eyes were filled with sorrow, and he couldn't bring himself to meet Sōsuke's gaze.

Sōsuke gently ruffled his hair and didn't push the distressed child further. Instead, he looked at Konan and Nagato and spoke softly.

"Konan... your parents actually died at the hands of Leaf Village shinobi."

Hearing Sōsuke's words, Yahiko and Nagato were both shocked, and they instantly turned their gaze toward Konan.

Konan's face turned pale in an instant, her lips trembling slightly as she struggled to find words.

How could it be that Leaf Village shinobi...

Clearly... Sōsuke and Saki were such good people...

Looking at the sorrow in Konan's large, tear-filled eyes, Sōsuke's face showed a hint of compassionate tenderness, and he said softly, "It was also because of that incident..."

"That Saki and I defected from Leaf Village..."

Upon hearing Sōsuke's words, the expressions of the three children froze, and they looked at him in astonishment.

Only after seeing the warmth in Sōsuke's gaze as he looked at Konan did they understand that Sōsuke and Saki had become rogue ninjas from Leaf Village because of this reason.

So... Sōsuke and Saki... it's because of me...

Konan, her pretty face filled with worry, thought to herself.

At that moment, Sōsuke turned his gaze slowly toward Nagato.

He gently walked up to Nagato, reaching out his palm slowly before Nagato.

The children were all puzzled by Sōsuke's actions, and Nagato, in particular, widened his eyes, looking at the growing hand approaching him.

"Swoosh!"

Sōsuke gently brushed aside Nagato's long red bangs that covered his eyes.

Looking at the eyes with a pattern of reincarnation, Sōsuke's face revealed a compassionate expression, and he murmured softly, "Rinnegan, huh..."

"You must be Nagato... I'm sure you've also endured that kind of painful experience... after all, you are the inheritor of these eyes."

Upon hearing Sōsuke's words, Konan and Yahiko wore puzzled expressions, but Nagato, gazing at Sōsuke with a mournful expression, spoke softly, "Rinnegan... these eyes..."

As he said this, he suddenly realized and his eyes widened. His expression changed slightly, and he exclaimed, "What do you mean by this? What does my parents' death have to do with these eyes!?"

Sōsuke, with a compassionate expression, gazed at him and said in a low voice, "The eyes of the legendary Sage of the Six Paths... born to bring peace to the world... bearing that responsibility, your life is destined to be filled with suffering... Do you understand?"

Hearing Sōsuke's words, Nagato was left in stunned silence, his expression bewildered. In his mind, he revisited the memory of his parents dying to protect him, the enigmatic Leaf Village ninja who caused their deaths, and suddenly, pain washed over him.

"Why? Why? Why do I have these eyes!?"

Nagato cried out in pain, tears streaming down his face.

Konan and Yahiko, though not entirely understanding the details of what Nagato and Sōsuke were discussing, realized that Nagato's experiences were somehow connected to his eyes.

At that moment, a hand gently patted Nagato's young shoulder.

"Nagato... look at your comrades..."

Sōsuke's magnetic voice slowly entered Nagato's ears.

Hearing his words, Nagato, with tear-filled eyes, looked at Konan and Yahiko. Seeing the concern and care on their faces, Nagato gradually stopped sobbing.

"They, just like you, Nagato, have also endured the world's pain..."

"Do you understand the responsibility bestowed upon you by these eyes now?"

At this point, Sōsuke's voice came again.

Nagato looked at him in confusion.

Seeing Nagato's puzzled expression, Sōsuke spoke softly, "In the Land of Rain, due to the wars, Leaf, Sand, even the foreign Rock ninja, have all been embroiled in this conflict..."

"So many people have experienced this pain, far more than just you..."

"However, with these eyes, you can change it all, bring an end to the world's wars."

Hearing Sōsuke's words, Nagato looked dazed, his face still wet with tears, and said, "Do I... do I have that ability?"

Sōsuke lowered his gaze to him, revealing a gentle smile and said softly, "With these eyes, you have the power to change the world."

"My goal is to end the suffering caused by these wars in this land. I don't want to see those scenes anymore."

"Are you willing to help me? To use your strength and the potential hidden in those eyes to help me create a brand new world?"

Hearing his words, all three children looked at Sōsuke in amazement.

Create... a brand new world...

In the eyes of the children, Sōsuke at this moment was like a compassionate savior, radiating a warm and gentle light.

"I'm willing! I want to use these eyes to help you!"

Nagato's young face, now devoid of grief and confusion, looked at Sōsuke with determination.

Konan's face blushed slightly, and although she wasn't sure how useful she could be, she murmured, "I... I'm willing too... I want to help my brother..."

The two of them turned to look at Yahiko, causing him to blush and glance away before saying, "There's no way I'd leave this kind of thing to you... after all, I'm Saki's disciple!"

Hearing the words of the three children, Sōsuke's face revealed a warm smile, and his voice, like a gentle spring breeze, said softly, "I'm glad that you have this resolve."

"You are all very talented children, especially you, Nagato."

"Remember, a new world will be born in your hands, and the people of this land will no longer suffer because of you."

Hearing Sōsuke's words, Yahiko had a slight grin of joy, and Konan, with a slightly reddened face, thought to herself, "As long as I can help my brother, it's all good..."

Nagato's young face was filled with determination.

Create a new world...

I will use these eyes to help you fulfill this noble ideal!