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.
===
BONUS CHAPTERS!
Let's aim for the ranking this time, and you will get bonus chapters:
1000 PS = 5 Bonus Chapters!
1500 PS = 10 Bonus Chapters!
Please get this book in ranking so I can translate more chapters in a batch.
Read advance chapters here:
www.patr eon.com/OberonLA
Shock rippled through the Akatsuki members as they entered the training ground. Their eyes widened at the scene before them.
The once smooth expanse of the training area was now a wasteland. Craters of various sizes dotted the ground like grotesque wounds.
Uprooted trees lay scattered like fallen soldiers, and broken branches littered the area. But the most prominent feature was the large, unmistakable oval-shaped pit dominating the center.
The sheer scale of the destruction spoke volumes. This wasn't your average jutsu – it was the work of an incredibly powerful technique.
Even a combined effort from several Earth Release users wouldn't have caused such widespread devastation. Additionally, the nature of the damage hinted at a jutsu unlike any they'd seen before.
Karen, though slightly better at concealing her surprise compared to her companions, couldn't entirely mask the astonishment on her face.
Shaking off the initial shock, Karen approached Byakuya and pointed towards the Akatsuki members behind her.
"Lord Byakuya, these seniors seem to have something they wish to discuss with you."
Byakuya acknowledged her with a curt nod and walked towards the group. He had anticipated this moment. Using explosive tags to bombard Nagato wasn't exactly a stealthy tactic, especially considering the confined space of the Akatsuki base.
However, completing the intense sparring session with Nagato was vital, even if it meant revealing some of his power. There were two key reasons behind his actions.
Firstly, he wanted to instill a sense of urgency in Nagato. The near-death experience would hopefully push him to delve deeper into the secrets of the Rinnegan and develop techniques like the Six Paths of Pain. This, in turn, would accelerate Byakuya's own reward system.
Among the Akatsuki's leadership, Konan's combat prowess heavily relied on the number of explosive tags at her disposal.
Significant growth in her strength seemed unlikely in the short term. Nagato, on the other hand, possessed immense potential, like an unopened treasure chest waiting to be explored.
Yahiko, the leader, served his purpose well enough, but Byakuya held little hope for exceptional growth from him.
Secondly, Byakuya aimed to leverage this display of power to elevate his standing within the organization.
While he held a squad leader position, his status paled in comparison to the founders, particularly Yahiko.
Even securing vital supplies for the Akatsuki did little to significantly improve his standing. The missions he undertook alongside Konan and Nagato inevitably raised suspicions amongst the others.
Byakuya approached the Akatsuki members, a confident smile gracing his lips. "We were just having a sparring session, Nagato-senpai and I," he announced. "Anything wrong? Perhaps you'd like to join in the training?"
The Akatsuki ninjas exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes darting towards the vacant training field nearby before quickly snapping back to Byakuya. Their slender frames wouldn't last a second in a battle of this scale.
However, Byakuya's casual admission sent a tremor through them. The enormous pit was a consequence of his sparring with Nagato? This implied Byakuya possessed power on par with Nagato, potentially even rivaling a jonin from the Five Great Shinobi Villages!
"Lord Byakuya, we're aware you were at the training ground. Yahiko-sama requested your presence at the office. As for the sparring… well, we have duties to attend to and wouldn't want to disrupt your training."
With that, the Akatsuki members mumbled hurried excuses and scurried away.
The respectful address, "Lord Byakuya," brought a surge of satisfaction to Byakuya. This recognition was a step in the right direction; his standing within the Akatsuki was undeniably on the rise.
But what did Yahiko want? Was there a critical mission on the horizon? No point in dwelling on it – he'd get his answers straight from Yahiko himself.
However, before heading to the office, Byakuya had one more task at hand.
He returned to Nagato, a light smile playing on his lips.
"Nagato-senpai, have you made any progress in unlocking the Rinnegan's potential? Remember, if you can't even best me, how can you hope to protect the others?"
Byakuya's intention was clear: to use combat as a motivator, to spark a desire for greater strength within Nagato.
Nagato, however, furrowed his brow in confusion.
"Byakuya, why this constant pursuit of power? Isn't our current life satisfactory? Do we truly need to become stronger?"
Byakuya was momentarily struck silent. Before the Akatsuki faced near-annihilation, Nagato's approach to mastering the Rinnegan was undeniably relaxed. But continuing down this path could prove disastrous for the organization's future.
After a few seconds of contemplation, Byakuya's expression hardened.
"Nagato-senpai, have you forgotten who we are? We were all orphaned once. You, better than anyone, understand the consequences of powerlessness."
Nagato seemed lost, struggling to decipher Byakuya's underlying message.
"Yahiko-senpai needs me," Byakuya continued, not wanting to waste any more time. "I'll take my leave for now."
He gave Nagato a long, hard look before turning to depart from the training ground. As he did, Byakuya deliberately flexed his arm, revealing a glimpse of blood staining the sleeve.
Karen's sharp eyes caught Byakuya's injured arm. She hurried over, her voice laced with worry. "Lord Byakuya, that looks painful. Would you like me to use my healing blood on it?"
As she spoke, Karen retrieved a small vial filled with her crimson liquid, a potent substitute for medical ninjutsu.
Byakuya, however, shook his head. "Don't worry, Karen. It's just a Shinra Tensei injury. The repulsion is forceful, but it's nothing serious. It will heal in a few hours."
While Byakuya's words held truth – he could handle the wound – there was more to his refusal. He, too, possessed the Uzumaki clan's remarkable regenerative abilities. Unlike ordinary ninja, even severe punctures mended within days.
But most importantly, Byakuya saw an opportunity. He wanted to showcase this extraordinary power.
To his satisfaction, both Karen and Nagato had noticed his injury. They watched, a hint of awe in their eyes, as the wound visibly knitted itself back together, returning to its flawless state.
Karen, understanding his unspoken message, made no further attempts to intervene. She remained with Nagato, her gaze lingering on Byakuya's retreating figure.
Memories flickered in their minds: Byakuya's daring attack on Kusagakure to rescue Karen, his frustration with Nagato's reluctance to train with the Rinnegan, and his resolute departure after their discussion. Now, these fragments clicked into place.
Suddenly, the pieces fit. If Byakuya, like them, was an orphan of the Uzumaki clan, everything made sense. His warmth towards them, his eagerness to hone their skills – it all stemmed from a shared lineage. He was determined to prevent another tragedy like Uzushiogakure's destruction.
A thoughtful silence descended upon them. Finally, Karen spoke.
"Nagato-senpai, Lord Byakuya's wound healed so quickly. That's the Uzumaki clan's trait, isn't it? Do you know of any other clans with similar abilities?"
Nagato shook his head, then paused, a flicker of recollection crossing his features.
"But wait, Byakuya's sensory perception rivals mine, yet he lacks our red hair..."
"Maybe he just didn't inherit that specific trait."
Karen, her brow furrowed, ventured,
Nagato offered a curt nod, seemingly accepting her explanation.
Still, a question lingered. Why would Byakuya conceal his Uzumaki heritage? Was there some unknown reason behind it?
Perhaps Byakuya himself wasn't aware of his Uzumaki lineage. Maybe his inexplicable connection to them stemmed from an unconscious kinship, a primal pull towards his shared bloodline.
===
BONUS CHAPTERS!
Let's aim for the ranking this time, and you will get bonus chapters:
1000 PS = 5 Bonus Chapters!
1500 PS = 10 Bonus Chapters!
Please get this book in ranking so I can translate more chapters in a batch.
Read advance chapters here:
www.patr eon.com/OberonLA
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