Kapitel 23: Chapter 23: There will always be times to utilize
Before the atmosphere turned awkward, Byakuya took the initiative to speak up.
"Nagato-senpai, don't worry. I'll go and persuade Konan-senpai later to reduce the number of explosive tags she sells appropriately and raise the prices. Then, you won't have to work so hard."
"T-thanks…"
Nagato found Byakuya's words somewhat odd, but still managed to force out a thank you. After all, without Byakuya's strategy, the organization's financial crisis would have been impossible to resolve, and their comrades wouldn't have regained their smiles. With logistical support in place, the Akatsuki members could now carry out their missions with peace of mind.
"If you must thank someone, Nagato-senpai, why not spar with me? I'd like to see Nagato-senpai's strength and assess the gap between us."
Byakuya suggested a sparring match after Nagato's thanks. The evaluation on the system panel was locked, and Byakuya was eager to test his true strength.
Nagato hesitated for a moment upon hearing Byakuya's request, but ultimately nodded in agreement. He too was curious about Byakuya's actual strength.
Previously, Byakuya had demonstrated strength on par with a chuunin, but after their trip to the Village Hidden in the Grass, Byakuya alone had diverted the attention of the Grass Shinobi, showcasing combat capabilities far beyond those of a chuunin. Even with his Rinnegan activated, achieving such feats was extremely difficult.
After nodding in agreement, Byakuya and Nagato moved to the center of the open space, formed the seal of opposition, and then stepped back from each other, leaving enough distance between them. Karen, the sole spectator at the scene, stood at the edge of the field, eagerly anticipating the outcome of this spar.
Karen's gaze darted between Byakuya and Nagato, both formidable opponents in her eyes. Byakuya's swift takedown of a Rock ninja with explosive tags lingered in her memory, a testament to his prowess.
Nagato, on the other hand, bore the legendary Rinnegan, the Sage of the Six Paths' own eyes.
The official start of the match shattered the tense silence. Nagato slammed his palms together, a guttural yell escaping his lips.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
Chakra surged, swirling into a miniature tornado in his grasp. With a forceful thrust of his palms, the fierce wind roared towards Byakuya's position.
Caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, Byakuya was flung through the air. But his Paper Release technique served him well, allowing him to regain control and achieve aerial dominance. Paper shurikens materialized in his hands with practiced ease, flying like deadly darts towards Nagato.
Nagato's eyes widened momentarily as he reacted with a swift leap, narrowly evading the shurikens that landed harmlessly at his feet. He knew Byakuya had mastered Konan's Paper Release, but witnessing his proficiency was a different story entirely. The display surpassed even Konan's own skill.
The fight intensified. Nagato launched a barrage of basic ninjutsu techniques, aiming to force Byakuya back to the ground and nullify his aerial advantage.
Byakuya, however, displayed his agility, weaving through the attacks before landing gracefully atop a towering tree.
Despite not utilizing his Rinnegan, Nagato's strength remained undeniable. His effortless mastery of all five basic elemental releases rendered him a formidable opponent capable of countering most conventional ninjas. In a way, he resembled a younger Third Hokage.
But Byakuya wasn't fazed. Even the basic elements held no threat for him now. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a torrent of explosive tags, long accumulated for this very moment. The tags rained down, creating a series of thunderous explosions upon contact with the ground.
Nagato, forced to retreat on the ground, furrowed his brow. The spar Byakuya mentioned and the one he envisioned diverged significantly. Yet, he could only truly evaluate Byakuya's full strength through such a battle.
The ground trembled around Karen as she listened to the relentless symphony of explosions. She envisioned herself as a lone blade of grass buffeted by a raging storm. Originally a mere spectator, the sheer intensity of the battle now forced her to retreat, putting a safe distance between herself and the clashing titans.
The commotion at the training grounds did not go unnoticed by the active Akatsuki members stationed around the base. Exchanging hurried glances, they converged towards the office, intent on reporting the matter to Yahiko.
Yahiko listened intently as his subordinates relayed their report. His gaze drifted towards the training grounds – the continuous explosions were a dead giveaway. Byakuya, without a doubt, had stirred things up again.
Konan, unlike Byakuya, employed explosive tags with a calculated approach. He recalled her recent refusal when he requested some for practice, citing them as products meant for external sales only.
With a sigh, Yahiko shifted his attention to the plan book on his desk.
"It's not an enemy attack. Just Byakuya practicing his jutsu. Head over there, assess the situation, and tell him to see me afterward."
"Understood!"
The Akatsuki ninja acknowledged, curiosity piqued about the unfolding events at the training grounds.
Several Akatsuki members soon arrived near the area, only to be intercepted by Karen. Recognizing the recent addition to the organization, they shot her puzzled looks.
"Hold on. Byakuya-sama and Nagato-senpai are sparring inside. Getting too close could be dangerous!"
Karen instructed, her expression serious.
Her warning was cut short by a sudden eruption of blinding light nearby. Before the ninjas could adjust to the intense glare, deafening explosions ripped through the air, sending tremors through the ground.
The Akatsuki members, now shell-shocked, exchanged stunned glances. They had joined the Akatsuki under the belief it was a peace-driven organization, completely unaware of the immense power harbored within its ranks. This revelation shattered their expectations.
Across the training grounds, Nagato, panting heavily, glared at Byakuya in the distance. He'd been forced to unleash Shinra Tensei to repel the barrage of explosive tags. Byakuya, too, displayed signs of chakra exhaustion.
As the spar escalated, both fighters instinctively resorted to their most potent techniques. The aftermath painted a picture of mutual damage.
Picking up a towel from the ground, Byakuya dabbed the blood trickling down his forehead, gasping for breath.
"Nagato-senpai, your strength surpasses my expectations. Is this the power of the Rinnegan?"
Nagato, a tremor of fear still lingering in his voice, recollected the onslaught of explosive tags.
"Why, Byakuya? Why force me to use the Rinnegan? I don't desire to wield these eyes. I haven't mastered their abilities yet."
"Nagato-senpai, confronting this power is inevitable. It's far better to adapt to the Rinnegan's potential now, to unlock its full strength, than to wait for a desperate moment or a tragedy."
Byakuya approached Nagato, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Nagato remained silent, his hair obscuring the Rinnegan from view. This wasn't the first time Byakuya had spoken of such an approach.
Just then, the commotion at the training grounds subsided. This lull drew the attention of Akatsuki members and Karen, who rushed towards the scene.
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