Naruto: From Konoha to One Piece

When Jiraiya, Nagato, and Konan looked at Shin's current form, they were visibly shocked.

"Wait… are you planning to disguise yourself as Nagato?" Jiraiya was the first to react, his voice filled with surprise.

Shin nodded and blinked, his eyes turning a vivid purple. Six distinct rings appeared—he had activated the Rinnegan.

Nagato's expression shifted. As the former wielder of the Rinnegan, he could feel the immense power radiating from Shin's eyes, far surpassing what he once possessed.

Nagato had previously sensed that the Rinnegan had more potential to be unleashed, but he could hardly tap into it then. The Rinnegan drained his chakra and life force, making it an overwhelming burden.

Yet, Shin's use of the Rinnegan was flawless. He wielded its power as though it was a natural extension of himself, a flawless control Nagato had never experienced. For Nagato, activating and maintaining the Rinnegan was a struggle, but Shin seemed at ease as if the eyes were his own.

What Nagato didn't realize was that these eyes had initially belonged to Madara Uchiha, which had always created a slight incompatibility for him. The Rinnegan would have drained him entirely long ago if not for his Uzumaki heritage.

However, Shin's unique ability to absorb and reshape the Rinnegan's power made the eyes function as if they were genuinely his. Even if Madara were to reclaim these eyes now, they wouldn't match his original Rinnegan's chakra.

Shin then summoned a massive figure from the dark mist behind him—a replica of the Gedo Statue. Everything about it, from its overwhelming aura to the feeling of chakra, mirrored the authentic Gedo Statue.

This accuracy wasn't surprising, as the replica was actually created using the original Gedo Statue. Although the chakra rods in Shin's body were mere props, his mastery of the Rinnegan allowed him to control the statue just as effectively as Nagato had.

While Nagato and Konan looked on, puzzled by Shin's intent, Jiraiya quickly realized what was happening. Shin wasn't simply impersonating Nagato; he planned to take over the Akatsuki organization entirely. By assuming Nagato's identity, he could wait for Uchiha Obito and Black Zetsu to gather the Akatsuki's members. When the time came, he would eliminate them and seize control of the organization for himself.

Having been told the original events, Jiraiya understood that while the Akatsuki members weren't saints, they were highly skilled and could be invaluable assets in the right hands.

Though Shin's personal strength was substantial, he lacked a foothold in the ninja world. If he could control Akatsuki and Amegakure, he would have a real chance at reshaping the world's power dynamics.

Nagato, however, remained confused. "Why would you want to impersonate me? Are you after Amegakure? You wouldn't need to impersonate me for that."

Shin shook his head. "My goal isn't just Amegakure but the entire Akatsuki organization. Although the Akatsuki seems insignificant now, with Black Zetsu's manipulation, it has the potential to become a powerful force."

Indeed, it was likely Black Zetsu—and his army of White Zetsu clones—who helped recruit so many S-rank missing-nin. Their extensive intelligence-gathering abilities pinpointed each missing-nin's location and habits, facilitating Akatsuki's recruitment efforts.

Without that intelligence network, it would have been nearly impossible for Nagato to locate and recruit these elusive shinobi. Even Konoha, the most prominent ninja village, had limited knowledge of these individuals until the Akatsuki emerged.

Nagato looked skeptical. "You really believe in Akatsuki's potential that much? Or do you just trust those two mysterious figures so completely?"

Shin glanced at Jiraiya. "I don't intend to repeat myself. Perhaps Jiraiya can explain."

Scratching his head, Jiraiya began to recount the truth of Akatsuki's manipulation to Nagato. Soon, Nagato's face darkened as he grasped the extent of the deception.

"So… it was all a lie. I was just a pawn, and these weren't even my eyes? Yahiko died because of their schemes!" Nagato's voice was tinged with anguish as he processed the revelations.

Shin looked at him and remarked, "You've handled this much better than Jiraiya did. Initially, he thought I was trying to deceive him."

Nagato exhaled, regaining his composure. "There's no reason for you to lie to me. We're at your mercy, after all."

"And it's something that can be verified soon enough. If your claims are false, I'll know within a few years."

Nagato took a deep breath. "Still… in your presumed future, I assume, you're not supposed to be here?"

Shin nodded. "Most likely. Under normal circumstances, I would have died in the Third Shinobi War. But I encountered a fortuitous event that changed my fate."

In his youth, Shin had been a mere soldier with low chances of survival.

Jiraiya, Nagato, and Konan glanced at Shin, surprised.

In the ninja world, late bloomers were rare. Almost every shinobi who reached the Kage level had shown promise from a young age. Even those with unremarkable reputations, like Naruto and Obito, had latent potential that experienced shinobi could detect.

Actual cannon fodder rarely had the chance to defy their fates and rise to greatness.

Shin's claim to have been a mere grunt before a miraculous encounter set him on this new path was a revelation that piqued the trio's curiosity.

*******************************

For each power stones milestone—25, 50, 100, 150, and beyond—I will release a bonus chapter.

If you would like to gain early access, you can join me at www.patre on.com/bookbattalion