Naruto: Naraku Grows Stronger as a Beautiful, Tragic Side Character

Chapter 265: Chapter 265: The Hongmen Banquet*

In the latter half of this episode, Yahiko and Nagato returned to the base and talked for a long time on a terrace.

Nagato was confused by the responsibilities and missions that Naraku spoke of, so Yahiko encouraged him not to be bound by them, but to find his own path.

Just as Nagato decided to continue following Yahiko, he heard the other person say that he wanted to hand over the leadership to him.

Yahiko admitted that his resolve to take the lives of enemies was not strong enough, and he was not fit to be a leader.

Moreover, for many years, his companions had been toiling tirelessly without seeing any hope, and now they were exhausted and unable to carry on.

Perhaps, the Akatsuki needed to change.

The Rinnegan was the best belief, and Nagato, who possessed these eyes, would surely lead everyone to a new ideal.

[The path of predecessors may not be suitable for the present; Nagato might need a different way to protect the world than the Six Paths Sage.]

[Speaking of which, Naraku only told Nagato to learn from the Six Paths Sage, but didn’t clearly explain how the Sage maintained peace or the specific operations involved?]

[Who reveals everything on the first meeting? He probably wanted to see Nagato’s attitude before considering whether to reveal the details.]

[Yahiko: It’s decided, I’m abdicating immediately!]

[Nagato: Your Majesty, your humble servant is ready to fight to the death... Huh? I’ve ascended to the throne?]

[Naraku: Ah? I’m not the Crown Prince anymore?]

[Two people sharing one big pie, hahahahahahaha]

[Yahiko is too soft-hearted; he’s indeed not suitable to continue leading the Akatsuki Organization.]

Nagato was at a loss for how to respond when he heard Kyusuke’s panicked shouts from afar.

Hanzou had actually sent an envoy, which was unprecedented for the Akatsuki. Yahiko immediately gathered the existing personnel at the base to give them a solemn reception.

After introductions, the envoy handed Yahiko a personal letter from Hanzou, in which Hanzou expressed his desire to meet with the Akatsuki Organization leader to discuss important matters.

According to the envoy, Hanzou not only acknowledged the legitimacy of the Akatsuki but also intended to entrust the Akatsuki with the future peace negotiations with the three great nations.

The entire Akatsuki Organization became a sea of joy, with everyone embracing each other and crying tears of happiness.

Yahiko was also influenced by the atmosphere and, at Nagato’s persuasion, temporarily abandoned the idea of him succeeding as leader.

[No good deed goes unpunished; there’s something fishy going on!]

[A weasel paying respects to a chicken — no good intentions here.]

[Isn’t this a trap?!]

[marararara]

[A whole group of people, not a single one with a good head on their shoulders.]

[These kids are suffering from a lack of education. If they had studied with us for a few years, they wouldn’t be this foolish.]

[Still laughing! Hanzou is coming to kill you!]

Amidst the pessimistic and exasperated complaints from the bullet screen, this episode came to an end.

In the next episode, at the break of dawn, Yahiko and Nagato set off to meet Hanzou, leaving their companions, who had celebrated all night, to rest at the base.

The camera shifted to a certain gorge, where a boot sole crushed gravel at the edge of the road, and two dew-kissed figures gradually appeared in the frame, walking together against the wind.

Next was a long, empty shot.

A small black beetle crawled from the grass roots onto a leaf, gnawing at the tender edges of the grass, but a ” विशाल ” blurry shadow gradually approached from behind, revealing a pair of sharp forelegs.

The mountain wind gently swept across the rugged cliffs, and a muffled wailing sound made one’s scalp tingle, as if it were the constant lament of wronged souls, or a warning from fate in the unseen depths.

The camera returned to the two, and it could be seen that from the moment they entered the gorge, Nagato had become noticeably more tense, with anxiety and unease clouding his brow.

His Ninja intuition repeatedly warned him — he should not go deeper; the terrain ahead was treacherous and not suitable for a negotiation site.

From an angle Nagato couldn’t see, Yahiko’s expression also wavered for a moment, as if he suspected Hanzou’s intentions were impure, but once he stepped into the heart of the gorge, his gaze became resolute and determined again.

All hesitation transformed into resolve, and his vibrant orange hair fluttered in the wind, like a flame fueled by courage, its heat even scorching through the chill of the mountains.

— Clearly, he was gambling on the success of this meeting.

After all, this was probably the only chance for the Akatsuki and Hanzou to repair their relationship, and as long as there was a glimmer of possibility, he had to seize it.

[So naive, the leader goes alone, and they’re still drinking and singing all night long.]

[The Akatsuki Organization has dozens of members, not a single smart one among them.]

[Even the Uchiha Clan might not be this reckless.]

[Run, you silly children!]

[Oh, I’m so frustrated, can’t you just turn around and leave?!]

[Yahiko seems to have noticed something is wrong?]

[As an idealist, he would never run away... Running away would mean he didn’t trust Hanzou and betrayed his original ideals.]

[He won’t give up until he hits a brick wall.]

As expected, when they arrived at the meeting point, Hanzou was already fully prepared, with nearly a hundred Anbu Ninjas occupying the high ground, surrounding the two.

Immediately, the small gorge was filled with killing intent, and even the distant dark clouds took the opportunity to spread, bringing with them gusts of cold air.

Nagato tensed up, quickly assessing which direction to escape from.

Yahiko, however, looked desolate.

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