Chapter 713: Not Yours…

Chapter 713: Not Yours...

Check out early access chapters on my Patréon, currently 7 chapters /AlienWarlord????

——————

As the rain continued to fall, drenching the battlefield with a steady downpour, Peter's words seemed to hang in the air, their weight settling over Nagato and his comrades like a thick fog.

"I want your eyes."

For a moment, Nagato simply stood there, his body rigid with disbelief. His hands instinctively moved to his face, fingers brushing over his Rinnegan, as if trying to confirm that his eyes were still there. He stared at Peter, searching for any hint of deception in his expression. Could he possibly be serious?

Yahiko and Konan were quick to react, both stepping forward to shield Nagato. Yahiko positioned himself directly in front of his friend, his posture defensive, while Konan's sharp eyes darted between Peter and Madara. Their bodies were tense, ready to spring into action at any moment.

Yahiko was the first to speak, his voice wary and filled with suspicion. "What do you mean, you want his eyes?" he asked, his tone hardening. "You saved us, but now you're asking for something like that? Why?"

Peter remained calm, holding his hands up in a non-threatening manner, his voice steady and reassuring. "Relax," he said smoothly, his tone casual as though this was a simple conversation between friends. "I don't mean I'm going to take them out of his head or anything. Well... I might, but I'd rather not do things that way."

Yahiko's eyes narrowed further at Peter's words, his suspicion deepening. "That's not exactly comforting."

Konan, her face a mask of controlled worry, stood just behind Yahiko, her gaze locked onto Peter. She, too, didn't know what to make of this man anymore. First, he saved her, healed her injuries, and now he was making outrageous claims about Nagato's Rinnegan.

Nagato, for his part, remained frozen in place, his mind racing as he tried to process what was happening. Why did this stranger want his Rinnegan? What was the real reason behind this sudden demand?

Peter, sensing their rising tension, took a deep breath and decided it was time to explain. "Look," he began, his voice measured and calm. "Nagato's Rinnegan... it doesn't actually belong to him."

The three of them stared at Peter as though he had just sprouted a second head. The disbelief was palpable, and it was clear that none of them bought his explanation. Nagato's grip on his own face tightened, his mind rejecting the idea immediately. "What are you talking about?" Nagato demanded, his voice tinged with frustration. "These are my eyes! They've always been mine!"

Yahiko nodded in agreement, his eyes flashing with defiance. "You expect us to believe that nonsense? That the Rinnegan isn't his? Come on!"

Peter remained unflinching, his calm demeanor never faltering. "It's true," he insisted, though he knew they wouldn't believe him at face value. "But you don't have to take my word for it."

At that moment, Madara, who had been standing quietly off to the side, stepped forward, his presence commanding and imposing. His gaze locked onto Nagato, his crimson Sharingan spinning lazily as he spoke.

"You can't use those eyes, can you?" Madara asked, his voice cold and cutting.

Nagato flinched visibly, the question striking him like a physical blow. His Rinnegan eyes—though they glowed with power—had always felt distant, foreign even. He had never fully been able to access their true potential, no matter how hard he tried.

Yahiko and Konan turned toward him, their eyes wide with alarm.

"Wait—Nagato—" Yahiko began, his voice filled with concern, but Nagato cut him off, shaking his head.

"Think about it, Yahiko," Nagato said, his voice tinged with a mix of exhaustion and acceptance. "We can't fight him. You saw what he did to Hanzo... He could kill us all if he wanted to." He turned to Peter, his eyes resolute. "If this is the only way to protect our dream, then so be it."

Both Yahiko and Konan looked at Nagato with disbelief, their hearts sinking as they realized where this was headed. Konan stepped forward, her hand reaching out to Nagato. "You don't have to do this, Nagato. We'll protect you."

But Nagato shook his head again, more firmly this time. "No," he said softly, his voice steady. "This is the only way."

Yahiko and Konan remained silent, though the unease in their eyes was clear. Their mission—their goal of bringing peace to Amegakure—was everything to them. It was why they had formed the Akatsuki in the first place. The Rinnegan, while a powerful weapon, wasn't what they had fought for. It wasn't what truly mattered.

Nagato turned his gaze back to Peter, his decision made. "As citizens of Amegakure, we've suffered through countless wars. We were orphaned by the Second Shinobi World War. Yahiko, Konan, and I created the Akatsuki to bring peace to our home—to stop Amegakure from constantly being caught in the crossfire of the Great Shinobi Countries."

His words were filled with a quiet determination as he looked Peter directly in the eyes. "If you can bring peace to my country... if you can fulfill the dream that we've spent our entire lives fighting for, then I won't need the Rinnegan anymore. My goal will be accomplished, and I can live a normal, happy life with my friends—without the burden of war or violence hanging over us."

Yahiko and Konan were touched by Nagato's words, their expressions softening as they realized what he was willing to sacrifice for their dream. Though it pained them, they couldn't deny the sincerity in his voice.

Peter smiled as he heard Nagato's request. It wasn't about power or greed—Nagato's wish was simple, and it aligned with Peter's own ideals in a way. "You know what? I like you," Peter said with a grin. "You've got a good heart."

He nodded, his smile widening as he looked at Nagato with approval. "Alright. I'll do it. I'll bring peace to Amegakure. You have my word."

Nagato exhaled a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, his heart lightening slightly as he heard Peter's agreement. Yahiko and Konan, though still wary, exchanged a look of quiet, skeptical hope.

For the first time in a long while, there was a glimmer of hope for their future—a future without war. As long as Peter held up his end of the bargain, of course.

But either way, the deal was made.

A/N: 1800 words :)

????GIVE????STONES????????????

????DONT FORGET TO VOTE!????