"Hey, hey, brat, you must give me a vacation this time!" Jiraiya exclaimed.
"I haven't had a break to collect materials for my novel for a long time!"
Ryan was engrossed in his work, not having seen anyone yet. However, he could already hear Jiraiya's loud complaints echoing through the office. Ryan put down the pen in his hand, wearing a helpless expression. Minato, standing beside him, couldn't help but burst into laughter at the sight.
Despite Jiraiya's constant complaints, Ryan deeply appreciated him. Having been both Jiraiya's apprentice and friend, their relationship was a unique blend of teacher-student and companionship. Soon, Jiraiya opened the office door and led Yahiko and the others inside.
"You are a Sannin. You should be an example of Hard work for others," Ryan greeted them, "and vacation might take a while!"
Hearing Ryan's words, Jiraiya wanted to say something more but Minato shook his head seriously. Jiraiya immediately stood aside helpless and deflated as if he had lost his spirit.
At that moment, Ryan's gaze fell upon Yahiko and the others standing behind Jiraiya. Now that Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato had established the Akatsuki organization, there were only a few members left.
They had followed Jiraiya to Konoha, and it was easy to see why Yahiko and Konan had come. They were both passionate youths and devoted followers. As for Nagato, Ryan activated his eyes, then slowly raised his head and looked directly at Nagato.
"!!! Ryan, your eyes?!" Jiraiya exclaimed in surprise. "What's this situation?!?"
Upon seeing Ryan's eyes, Jiraiya and Minato's eyes widened instantly. Especially Jiraiya, who hurriedly approached Ryan and examined his eyes closely.
"This, this, how is this possible?" Jiraiya asked in disbelief. "Twp pair of such mysterious eyes appearing at the same time?"
After confirming that Ryan indeed possessed the Rinnegan, Jiraiya was left stunned. The Rinnegan was only briefly mentioned in historical records, and Jiraiya had always believed it to be a mere legend until he encountered Nagato.
And now, unexpectedly, Ryan, with whom he had spent so much time, also possessed the Rinnegan. Even Minato was filled with doubts. Despite having been with Ryan since childhood, he had never seen him possess the Rinnegan.
Facing the sceptical gazes of Jiraiya and Minato, Ryan smiled and explained, "I don't know why, but a few days ago, I suddenly acquired these eyes. My chakra has also improved significantly."
Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato couldn't help but feel envious upon hearing this, but they didn't question it further. Meanwhile, Yahiko and the others were filled with curiosity.
"Look, Hokage-sama's eyes are the same as Nagato's!"
"Yes!"
"They are truly identical!"
Observing Ryan's Rinnegan, Nagato was also surprised. While he felt a sense of joy, Nagato pondered for a moment before turning to Ryan and asking, "Master Hokage, I want to know what you asked Jiraiya to convey—how can we achieve true peace?"
Ryan was prepared to answer Nagato's question. After all, in Ryan's eyes, the ninja world was merely a battleground between various villages. With his knowledge spanning thousands of years of Chinese history, he understood that there was only one path to achieving true peace.
"Do you know why the ninja world keeps fighting?" Ryan asked rhetorically.
Nagato thought for a moment and replied, "For benefits! Resources!"
Ryan shook his head at this response and slowly began to explain, capturing everyone's attention.
"That's because the entire ninja world consists of too many large and small nations. With so many divided countries, conflicts over resources and territory naturally arise, leading to wars. But what if..." Ryan paused for effect. "It starts with me! It starts with this Hokage! If we can unify all nations, will there still be war?"
As Ryan spoke, everyone in the office started to imagine the possibilities, their eyes filled with unprecedented hope. Even Jiraiya couldn't contain his excitement. The idea of unifying the ninja world gave them a newfound sense of purpose and vision.
However, just as everyone was getting carried away with their imaginations, Nagato interjected, pouring cold water on their enthusiasm. "But if Konoha starts a war, won't many people still die?" he questioned.
Ryan smiled and shook his head in response. "You're only seeing the potential casualties of war if it starts, but have you considered what will happen if we continue as we are? In ten or twenty years, there will inevitably be another ninja war. Will fewer people die then? No! But if Konoha unifies the ninja world, there will be no more wars in the future. If anyone has to take on the role of a villain, let it be me!"
Ryan's words caused Nagato to fall into deep thought. The confusion in his Rinnegan eyes slowly faded away, and a new understanding began to emerge. Witnessing this, Ryan knew that his point had resonated.
Just as Ryan was about to invite Yahiko and the others to join Konoha, Jiraiya approached him with an excited expression.
"Brat!" Jiraiya exclaimed, "So, you are the Son of Prophecy! You are the one destined to save the ninja world!"
Looking at the overly excited Jiraiya, Ryan couldn't help but sigh inwardly. It seemed that Nagato wasn't the only one prone to getting carried away with grand ideas.
Setting Jiraiya aside for a moment, Minato, who had received his task from Ryan the previous day, now had complete faith in him. After contemplating the matter, all his doubts had vanished. Ryan's vision was surprisingly far-reaching, and to achieve his ideals, Minato was determined to give his all.
Observing his enthusiastic master and apprentice, Ryan couldn't contain his amusement. However, he also knew that even in a unified ninja world, there might still be challenges.
Enemies could evolve from internal conflicts, such as disparities in wealth leading to wars between the rich and poor, or cultural differences escalating into clashes between different societies.
And with the looming threat of the Otsutsuki clan, a unified world might face external adversaries as well. Ryan realized that there was no need to worry about the changes a unified world might bring; instead, the focus should be on preparing for potential threats and ensuring unity against common enemies.
Turning his attention back to Yahiko and the others, Ryan asked, "So, Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, are you willing to join Konoha for the sake of peace in the ninja world?"
READ UP TO CHAPTER 81 ON PATREON.COM/MARIONI.