Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 84: Shigen’s Hidden Past

You guy's unfortunately didn't beat my pokemon fic in powerstones so no 10 Chapters. Though you will get 5 extra Chapters when the powerstone rankings reset at 11. Let's try climbing up the rankings.

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The massive door of the underground fortress slowly opened.

Sensing no danger inside, Zetsu stepped in first, guiding the group ahead.

Pain's Deva Path followed close behind. Konan hesitated briefly before pushing Nagato's wheelchair inside.

The corridor was dark.

Dim candlelight flickered on both sides of the hallway, casting faint shadows. Deep within, the hallway faded into thick darkness, obscuring whatever lay ahead. The unknown path instinctively made anyone want to turn back.

But...

They had already come this far.

There was no turning back now.

After slowly walking through the ominous corridor, they eventually reached the door of a lab tucked deep inside. From within came a cool, indifferent voice.

"Just come in."

"His sensory abilities are excellent."

As Black Zetsu pushed open the door, it whispered an introduction to Shigen:

"It seems he already sensed our arrival, though it looks like he's busy..."

When the group stepped inside, they instinctively froze in place.

There, hunched over a lab table, was a man deeply engrossed in writing on a scroll. He seemed utterly preoccupied.

"Apologies," he said without looking up.

"I'm busy today... Otherwise, I would have greeted my guests properly."

Without pausing, Shigen adjusted the controls on a lab instrument while continuing to jot notes on the scroll.

"This era's advancements in science and technology offer great help in the field of medicine... New things inevitably inspire curiosity."

"..."

Nagato and Konan's expressions subtly shifted.

In their minds, a man of Shigen's stature should have been waiting for them with cold arrogance, seated on some high, imposing throne, looking down at them in detached judgment.

Instead...

This man sat casually at his workbench, speaking as though making idle conversation. His tone was distant yet lacked malice—a quiet coldness, not a hostile one.

Nothing about him suggested he was the legendary figure from ancient times.

"This technology won't bring peace to the world."

Pain spoke first, his voice cold, his brow furrowing slightly in disapproval.

"No matter how advanced your medical skills are, even if you can cure every disease in the ninja world, such methods won't cure the greed of shinobi."

"Pain..."

Konan cast a worried glance at Pain, then at Nagato, who was controlling him, afraid they had already offended Shigen.

"Perhaps we simply hold different views," Shigen replied, his tone calm.

"I have always believed that easing the suffering of the sick is the true purpose of chakra."

Shigen's pen suddenly stopped. As he turned slightly, his eyes met Pain's.

Two pairs of identical, swirling rings.

The Rinnegan.

"!!!"

Pain's expression changed immediately.

"That's... the Rinnegan."

Nagato and Konan gasped in shock.

They had not expected it—Shigen also possessed the Rinnegan!

As a wielder of the Rinnegan, Nagato had always believed that his eyes were a divine gift, bestowed upon him by the heavens.

People who had seen his eyes called him special, unique... yet here, standing before him, was another man with the same legendary eyes.

But Shigen's Rinnegan was even more mysterious.

And terrifying.

Because Shigen wasn't just anyone—he was a figure from ancient times, far beyond Nagato's status.

"Lord Shigen's eyes are the true eyes of the Sage of Six Paths."

Black Zetsu's eerie voice cut through the silence, recounting an ancient tale:

"Those eyes... were taken from the corpse of the Sage of Six Paths."

"!!!"

Nagato and Konan exchanged stunned glances, their faces filled with disbelief.

Everyone knew that the Rinnegan was the Sage of Six Paths' eyes.

Nagato had believed his Rinnegan had naturally awakened, much like the Sage's. But compared to Shigen's origins, his own seemed insignificant.

Because Shigen's eyes...

Were the actual Rinnegan that had once belonged to the Sage of Six Paths.

"In ancient times...

The Sage of Six Paths created the ninja world's first religion, the Ninshu, and gifted humanity with chakra," Black Zetsu explained, its gravelly voice weaving through the room.

"At the time, Lord Shigen believed that chakra could alleviate human suffering, so he created the system of medical ninjutsu to heal the sick and injured."

"But when some of the Sage's disciples began using chakra for evil, Shigen realized that chakra could also become a weapon in humanity's struggle for power..."

"To prevent humanity from plunging into even bloodier wars, Lord Shigen destroyed the Sage's Ninshu and came within one step of bringing eternal peace to the world."

Yes.

Just one step.

Just one small step... if only Shigen hadn't hesitated.

"!!!"

Nagato and Konan could no longer contain their shock.

This was a secret that no one in the ninja world had ever heard.

Everyone knew Shigen as the creator of medical ninjutsu, a figure who had once been hailed as a savior.

But no one knew the dark, hidden past behind his legend.

If this truth were ever revealed, it would shake the ninja world to its core.

"Unfortunately...

Lord Shigen's compassion held him back," Black Zetsu sighed, casting a glance at Shigen's grim expression.

"Back then, he chose to entrust humanity's fate to their own decisions, believing they could learn to understand one another."

"In the end, Shigen used a hidden technique within the Rinnegan to resurrect the countless dead who had fallen during that war..."

"But after his departure, the ninja world quickly descended into the chaos of the Warring States Era."

"That technique..."

Konan's brow furrowed with discomfort.

"..."

Nagato instinctively touched his eyes, as though he could feel the weight of Shigen's past.

He already knew of the Rinne Rebirth—a hidden technique that could bring the dead back to life. But he hadn't known that someone had already used it.

"Some things... truly defy imagination," Nagato said quietly, drawing a deep breath. He thought back to the teachings of the medical ninja and the ideals they had upheld.

"I once believed we understood the greatness of Shigen... But it seems we never truly did."

Shigen had done far more for the world than they could ever have imagined.

He had killed the Sage's followers to prevent chakra from being misused.

He had sacrificed himself to resurrect those who had died in war.

Such actions required unimaginable resolve.

Since unlocking the Rinnegan's powers, Nagato had pondered what it meant to be a god. He had concluded that only a god could guide humanity to peace.

Yet Shigen had already taken that path long before him.

And his methods had been even more extreme.

If Shigen had destroyed Ninshu and severed humanity's access to chakra entirely, the world might never have fallen into its current state.

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"When Lord Shigen was first reincarnated, he realized the gravity of his mistake..." Black Zetsu continued, its voice somber.

"During the First Shinobi War, he resolved to bring peace once more... but also left behind a second path, to prevent future wars from escalating."

"Don't doubt Lord Shigen, Nagato."

Zetsu's voice turned mocking.

"Your vision may surpass most people in this world, but compared to Lord Shigen, you're still far too narrow-minded."

"..."

Nagato and Konan remained silent.

They could offer no rebuttal.

After all, the Akatsuki had always walked in Shigen's shadow.

The organization had initially tried to emulate Shigen by mediating between warring factions. But like Shigen, they had failed.

Now, they had embraced the darker path that Shigen had left behind—a path whose origins were far more complicated than they had imagined.

"Zetsu."

Shigen's voice cut through the room. He seemed displeased with Zetsu's condescending tone toward Nagato.

"Apologies," Black Zetsu muttered, retreating slightly.

"Zetsu can be abrasive... I hope you won't take his words to heart," Shigen said as he approached Nagato, extending a hand.

"There is one thing Zetsu was wrong about. My vision isn't broader than yours. I was simply born earlier. I've seen more people suffer and walked farther along this road than you have."

"..."

Nagato hesitated, feeling unworthy to take Shigen's hand.

But seeing Shigen's calm, expectant gaze, he finally extended his hand, grasping Shigen's in a tentative shake.

"The Akatsuki has always followed your will, Lord Shigen," he murmured. "Whether through Yahiko... or Pain."

"Yes, I know," Shigen replied, his voice sincere.

"I learned from Zetsu that others had chosen to walk the path I left behind... and I was deeply moved."

"This path requires extraordinary resolve. It demands that you endure the world's scorn and keep striving to change what seems unchangeable."

"It's a painful path... I never wanted anyone else to bear that burden. But I am grateful that you chose to walk it with me."

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