Aoba had a strong feeling that Yahiko might cause trouble in the future. After all, Yahiko was different from the other mbers of the Akatsuki—he was the true founder and the organization's early spiritual leader.
It was Yahiko's death that eventually led to Nagato taking over as the leader of the Akatsuki.
In other words…
Yahiko was a person with trendous personal charisma!
However, at this point, Yahiko had been temporarily suppressed due to Nagato's new identity as a mber of the Otsutsuki clan.
If Yahiko were allowed to leave the scene so easily, he could return later and establish a new Akatsuki, where he would still be the leader.
In Aoba's eyes, Nagato was not particularly terrifying because he had already seen the full extent of Nagato's power.
Nagato's brute strength, fueled by the Rinnegan, didn't frighten Aoba.
After all, Aoba had also seen Nagato at his peak, and ultimately, Nagato's strength relied on Rinnegan's power.
And Aoba himself possessed the Rinnegan.
In terms of strength, Aoba feared no one.
But Yahiko, with his ability to gather like-minded people through his spirit and ideals, posed a different threat.
Aoba felt an indescribable concern about Yahiko, sensing that his survival introduced too much uncertainty—similar to Aoba's arrival in the ninja world. This uncertainty could eventually beco a hidden dagger aid at Konoha.
Of course, Aoba didn't feel particularly fearful or worried about Yahiko, just that his presence might cause so future complications. Based on this vague concern, he wasn't planning any preemptive strike against Yahiko.
There was no need for that.
This was rely a fleeting thought that crossed Aoba's mind as he observed the situation.
He believed Yahiko could beco dangerous in the future, but right now, Yahiko posed no threat.
At this mont, Aoba wasn't concerned about him.
Each mber of the Akatsuki trio displayed different expressions, and their relationships started to drift apart as the situation developed.
"Minato Namikaze has no intention of taking us in," Nagato said in a low voice, filled with sorrow and indifference.
"Do you want to kneel and beg him?" Nagato's voice remained calm but carried a sharp edge of sarcasm and contempt. It was clear that he was deeply displeased with Minato's refusal.
As Nagato spoke, Konan's expression shifted slightly. At the sa ti, Yahiko showed no visible reaction except for a faint, almost imperceptible smirk at the corner of his mouth, suggesting a hint of amusent.
Through this exchange, Aoba could see that Nagato now possessed an air of superiority over Konan and Yahiko.
Even though the three of them were once a united team, Nagato's newfound pride, rooted in his Otsutsuki identity, began to show in his deanor.
This arrogance was evident in his expressions and in his ntion of kneeling.
No one had asked Nagato to kneel.
But the fact that he brought it up reflected his belief that everyone around him was beneath him, re ants who should be the ones kneeling and begging.
Even Nagato himself wasn't fully aware of how much he had changed.
In Nagato's mind, going to Konoha and reaching out to Minato Namikaze, a fellow Jiraiya disciple, was already granting Minato a great honor. He believed Minato should feel privileged to connect with soone of his Otsutsuki lineage, thanks to Jiraiya.
From Nagato's perspective, Minato should have imdiately celebrated this connection and welcod them into Konoha with open arms.
Not only that…
Given the vast difference in their statuses, Nagato expected that Minato might even kneel before him in deference.
This was how Nagato's mind worked.
However, things didn't unfold the way he had imagined.
Reality didn't follow his expectations.
But…
Through the gatekeeper ninja's mories, Aoba could see Nagato's inner thoughts and understand his mindset.
For a mont, Aoba's feelings were complex. He hadn't expected that the title of Otsutsuki, without any real power, could inflate Nagato's ego to such an extent.
Thankfully, it was all fabricated…
If it had been real…
Aoba could only imagine how much more arrogant Nagato would beco if he truly possessed the full power of the Otsutsuki.
After all, just possessing the Rinnegan was enough for Nagato to consider himself the only god in this world!
"We might have other ways…" Konan said after hearing Nagato's words, refusing to give up and trying to find an alternative.
"So far, we've only made a single attempt with Minato Namikaze!"
"And…"
"We haven't even delved deeply into the matter with Minato…"
"Even if we choose not to pursue Minato's path, we still have other thods to stay in Konoha."
Konan spoke slowly, trying to change their view of Konoha. She wanted to persuade Nagato and Yahiko to stay with her in the village.
As Konan said this, neither Yahiko nor Nagato showed any reaction. Clearly, neither of them was interested in staying in Konoha anymore.
However…
Aoba felt so appreciation for Konan's words.
After all, he was the one who had guided them to Konoha in the first place.
He also suggested the connection through Jiraiya.
Aoba wasn't surprised they hadn't secured a connection with Minato through Jiraiya. After all, Jiraiya had only trained them for two years before leaving.
That wasn't enough ti to form a strong bond.
However…
Aoba could see Konan genuinely tried to follow his instructions and make things work.
Because of this…
Aoba developed a deeper respect for Konan.
Not everyone could maintain such faith under these circumstances. Her persistence was beyond his expectations.
Thinking this, Aoba's impression of Konan shifted further. He realized that she sincerely wanted to stay in Konoha, and perhaps she could be helped sohow.
That was the purpose of Aoba reading the gatekeeper's mories.
Without this mory, Aoba wouldn't have been able to discern Konan's true intentions.
Now that Aoba had seen the mory and heard Konan's conversation with Yahiko and Nagato, he understood that Konan truly wished to stay in Konoha.
With this understanding, Aoba now had more options to consider. After all, the three had no reason to act in front of the gatekeeper ninja. They weren't pretending; they expressed their genuine thoughts and feelings.
Aoba could see the urgency and tension on Konan's face. He could sense that she was genuinely trying to find a way for them to stay in Konoha together.
"Hahahahaha…" Nagato suddenly burst into laughter after Konan finished speaking. His laughter was filled with mockery as if everything Konan had said was absurd and impossible.
"You're so naive!"
Nagato stopped laughing and stared at Konan with a strange look.
His gaze made it clear that the dynamic between him and Konan had changed.
"Minato Namikaze has made up his mind not to accept us. He's about to beco Hokage. Do you really think we can still find another way to enter Konoha under these circumstances?"
"I'm not going to try with Minato anymore, and I don't want to enter Konoha either. If you really want to stay, go ahead yourself…"
With that, Nagato turned his back, not looking back as he walked away.
This scene, witnessed through the gatekeeper's mories, shook Aoba deeply. With such complex emotions at play, he hadn't expected things between them to reach this level.
Nagato left decisively, showing no sign of hesitation.
Even couples breaking up weren't usually this resolute.
It was as if, in a single mont of disagreent, they would never see each other again.
Gone was the Nagato who once said he wanted to protect Yahiko and Konan.
Now, Nagato was leaving Yahiko and Konan behind, not caring what happened to them.
In Nagato's eyes, he was now a mber of the great Otsutsuki clan, while Yahiko and Konan were nothing more than ants. He felt he had been generous enough to let them stay by his side, pretending they were still friends. But if they went against him, he had no patience for them.
Nagato now considered himself the leader of the Akatsuki—or rather, the god that Yahiko and Konan should worship.
In Nagato's mind, Yahiko and Konan should treat him like they treated Otsutsuki Sheren. If he said sothing, they should never question it. If he walked left, they shouldn't walk right.
This was the outco Nagato wanted.
But now…
He had noticed a problem.
Konan wasn't on his side when it ca to sothing as simple as leaving Konoha.
That wasn't the way to treat a god.
If it had only been Konan, Nagato might have tried to reason with her. After all, he knew her well and understood her personality.
But even Yahiko was standing apart, with no intention of siding with him.
These two…
Were blaspheming against a god!
This was Nagato's thought as he turned and walked away, unwilling to engage with the two further. He believed that both of them had failed to understand their proper place.
Nagato thought that by staying friends with them, he had been generous. They should have been grateful for his favor and not questioned his decisions. Now, this behavior was completely outside his expectations.
This left Nagato feeling dissatisfied and frustrated.
So, he walked away with determination, not because he truly wanted to leave them, but to test Yahiko and Konan.
It was like a child's ga. He believed that they wouldn't be able to live without him once he left, and they would follow him.
By then, he would have won.
His strategy was not to argue but to lead by example. As the most important mber of the Akatsuki trio, he believed that Yahiko and Konan would naturally follow wherever he went.
That was Nagato's genuine belief.
But he had yet to learn that neither Yahiko nor Konan intended to follow him after he left.
This realization deepened Nagato's internal pain, and he grew angry.
How could they dare to ignore him? How could they act as if his departure ant nothing? It was outrageous!
The more Nagato thought about it, the angrier he beca. He quickened his pace, telling himself that he wouldn't give them another chance to be his friends if they didn't co after him.
Nagato's actions played out in Aoba's mind through the gatekeeper's mories. Aoba could see Nagato's steps quicken, and his walking intensity increased, like a child throwing a tantrum. Except, in this case, it was Nagato.
Aoba found the sight both amusing and exasperating.
It was as if Nagato's body language was saying, "Co and comfort ."
"If you co and soothe my feelings now, there's still ti."
"But if you don't co now…"
"Then I won't soothe you in the future!"
As Aoba watched Nagato's behavior, he saw the resemblance to a child's temper.
This left Aoba feeling conflicted.
Nagato, who presented himself as godlike, was now showing childish emotions and a sense of divine arrogance.
The combination of these two opposing traits created a strange and striking contrast. Yet, both emanated from the sa person.
At that mont…
Aoba's perception of Nagato suddenly shifted.
From then on, Nagato was no longer part of Akatsuki. He had gone solo.
The trio had officially split apart.
And…
Aoba quickly concluded.
Could Nagato's departure be the flutter of a butterfly's wings, leading to other unforeseen developnts? After all, Nagato's resentnt toward Konoha had only grown stronger.
This was no longer just about avenging the death of his parents…
It had beco a deep-seated hatred fueled by the belief that his divinity had been cursed!
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