Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 367 Retreat

Sunlight streamed through the clouds, as if draping the entire world in a golden veil. Hyuga Kanan stood on this vast land, eyes closed, fully focused on his understanding of the rules of life. His body trembled slightly, and the surrounding air seemed to pulse with his breath.

He knew that the battle had inflicted immense damage on Nagato, leaving him physically exhausted and his once-powerful life force gradually fading. However, Kanan Hyuga didn't want Nagato to lose their dream because of him, and he resolved to use his remaining energy to save this idealist.

He concentrated his mind, gathering that faint but invaluable power in his palm, and then carefully guided it into Nagato's body. This energy, like a clear spring, slowly flowed into Nagato's meridians, nourishing every cell and repairing damaged tissues and organs.

As time passed, Nagato's complexion gradually regained its rosy hue, and his previously dull eyes regained their sparkle. He felt the life force continuously flowing into his body, and his heart was filled with gratitude. This feeling was like rain after a long drought, rekindling the life force in his nearly withered heart.

Hyuga Kanan silently observed all of this, a glint in his eyes. He knew this might be the last thing he could do for this idealist, but it was also the most important. In this cruel world, he admired those who pursued their dreams, fought together, and never gave up despite facing difficulties.

As the last bit of energy was exhausted, Hyuga Kanan finally breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at Nagato, who had recovered to a certain extent, and smiled. At this moment, no words were needed; he trusted the other to understand his feelings. This was his final act of respect for this idealist.

"This is merely a symptom; the problem hasn't been fundamentally solved. If you continue to stubbornly rely on these eyes, your ultimate fate will still be a swift descent into the abyss of death!" Hyuga Kanan slowly withdrew his hand, his tone calm as still water, yet the warning within weighed heavily on the other's heart. He paused briefly, seemingly considering how to phrase his words so the other would fully understand their deeper meaning, before continuing, "You must seriously reflect on whether this so-called 'plan' you've formulated is truly suitable for you, or if it's nothing more than wishful thinking. I sincerely hope you can recognize reality, pursue your true ideals and ambitions with your feet on the ground, and make them a reality through tireless effort!"

After speaking, Hyuga Kanan gave the other person another deep look and continued to remind him, "If you want to achieve your dream, you need to find truly like-minded partners. Treating those rogue ninja from Akatsuki as partners will only make other ninja villages hate you more. If those rogue ninja were your true partners, there wouldn't be a problem, but I think you know very well that most of them are only subservient to your power and absolutely do not agree with your ideals. If you just want to use great power to achieve your ideals, then you must ensure that you are so powerful that no one can resist you."

After speaking, Hyuga Kanan walked away into the distance, preparing to leave Amegakure. The purpose of her intelligence-gathering trip had been largely achieved. Although she hadn't truly uncovered the Sage of Six Paths' specific information, she had at least learned about one aspect of his plans. She had also learned that the masked man was his supervisor in the ninja world.

Just as he was about to leave, Hyuga Kanan seemed to remember something and said without turning around, "Be wary of that masked man hiding in the shadows. He's not as simple as you think. It's best to stay as far away from him as possible; that will increase your chances of success!" After saying that, he strode away.

Nagato stood quietly in place, his eyes closed, completely immersed in the wondrous and unique experience. He could clearly feel every cell in his body being filled with a warm and powerful force, an unprecedented sensation that involuntarily brought out an expression of intoxication and enjoyment in him.

However, at that moment, the words spoken by the mysterious intruder as they turned to leave struck Nagato's heart like a heavy hammer, instantly pulling him abruptly back to reality from that blissful, euphoric state.

When Nagato came to his senses, he abruptly opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on the figure that was about to disappear. Countless questions surged through his mind, an urgent need for answers. Without thinking, he immediately shouted, "Who are you? What is your true purpose? And why did you choose to heal my injuries? What secrets lie hidden behind all of this?" At this moment, Nagato's eyes were filled with doubt and wariness, but also a hint of yearning for the unknown truth.

However, unexpectedly, Hyuga Kanan seemed to completely ignore the other's existence, as if he were invisible. His figure sped away like lightning, without the slightest hesitation or delay. The speed was astonishing! In the blink of an eye, he vanished without a trace from Nagato and Konan's sight like a gust of wind.

In that instant, the entire scene fell into a deathly silence. Nagato and Konan stared blankly in the direction Hyuga Kanan had gone, their hearts filled with shock and confusion. They never imagined that Hyuga Kanan would be so resolute, refusing to leave even a single word. This sudden turn of events caught them off guard, leaving them momentarily at a loss for how to react.

Hyuga Kanan is like a mystery shrouded in mist. His unfathomable figure and elusive behavior fill those around him with endless confusion and doubt. This sense of mystery acts as an invisible barrier, separating him from others and making it difficult for anyone to glimpse his true thoughts and intentions.

It was precisely this mysterious aura emanating from Hyuga Kanan that made the situation following their battle increasingly unpredictable. What should have been a clear and straightforward battle was now shrouded in layers of mist, every decision and every action seemingly concealing some unknown meaning. Fortunately, Uzumaki Nagato didn't stubbornly continue fighting, otherwise he might have inadvertently fallen into an abyss of no return. The entire battle scene resembled a meticulously crafted drama, but neither of them could comprehend its plot development.

What's truly baffling is that, despite his opponent's victory and successful identification of Nagato Uzumaki, the mastermind behind everything, Nagato unexpectedly refrained from killing him. Instead, Nagato offered him aid, meticulously healing his injuries and even generously replenishing the precious life force he had lost in the battle. Faced with this bizarre and unpredictable situation, Nagato was deeply perplexed and confused. He racked his brains but could not fathom the true intentions and motives behind his opponent's actions.

However, the warning Hyuga Kanan gave before leaving resonated deeply with Nagato Uzumaki. In fact, long ago, he had harbored suspicions about the mysterious masked man who had inexplicably appeared before him. This man's origins were unknown, and his behavior was filled with strangeness and mystery. More importantly, the Akatsuki's subsequent series of actions were almost entirely based on the suggestions made by this masked man.

If it weren't for the fact that the opponent claimed to be Uchiha Madara, and hadn't displayed the formidable Mangekyou Sharingan with its powerful spatial abilities—a rare asset in realizing his ideals—and that the opponent's strength left Nagato Uzumaki with no confidence in his ability to defeat him, he probably would have already succumbed to his impulse and launched an attack. After all, facing such an unknown and potentially threatening figure would make anyone feel uneasy and uneasy.

After his brief exchange with the mysterious intruder, Nagato Uzumaki's suspicions about the masked man's true identity grew stronger. He had a strong intuition that he had been meticulously planned and manipulated by this masked man from the very beginning, like a pawn. He recalled how the Akatsuki, a peace-loving organization, had been brutally destroyed by the combined forces of Hanzo of the Salamander and Danzo Shimura, with even their most core member, Yahiko, perishing in that devastating event. He himself had only managed to escape death and survive to this day thanks to the awakening of the extremely rare and powerful Rinnegan.

Just as he was lost in utter confusion and bewilderment, this enigmatic masked man appeared before him like a ghost. Not only did he offer to help him rebuild the once-mighty Akatsuki organization as a partner, but he also asked for nothing in return, willingly concealing himself and lurking silently in the shadows. These unusual actions were truly baffling, forcing Nagato to deeply question and be wary of the man's motives and intentions.

I've probably underestimated the masked man, my collaborator.