"Pain has been defeated."
Uchiha Itachi spoke, his tone wavering slightly.
Masked Uchiha said nothing. On his face, the only part exposed—his eye—was filled with weight and astonishment.
The vessel for the Rinnegan had been killed.
Killed by a mere boy of fifteen or sixteen.
Back when the plan was devised, this child hadn't even been born.
"His techniques and powers… are unlike anything I've seen in all these years," the masked Uchiha finally spoke after a long silence. "You could almost say they're jutsu that don't exist in the ninja world."
He wanted to make a firm judgment.
But—
Even though he knew a lot about "Uchiha Madara,"
He wasn't that man. He didn't have his insight or experience.
"We'll plan carefully," he said at last, before space twisted around him, chakra spiraling into a vortex that swallowed his body.
Uchiha Itachi also left decisively.
His body dispersed into a flock of crows, flying away.
On the battlefield outside the Land of Rain—
Naruto tossed aside the corpse on his blade, withdrew his presence, and reverted from "Nine-Tails Mode" to "Asura Mode." With a clap of his hands, chains flew out, capturing Pain's body.
It had been completely destroyed, its chakra barely lingering.
Naruto reached out and pulled a black receiver from Pain's face, gripping it tightly in his palm.
Tracing it back, he sensed the chakra's source.
The chains continued searching.
From the rubble, they retrieved a large sword covered in barbs.
"Isn't this that shark-face guy's sword?" Yang Kurama was excited, ready for action.
Yin Kurama peeked out: "Where's the corpse? Did that technique grind it into paste?"
Naruto raised his hand. "Remember the jutsu he used in the beginning?"
"He merged with the sword."
"At that time, his body was in control."
Yang Kurama realized something. "That guy's hiding inside the sword?"
"Come out," Naruto commanded, grabbing forward.
Samehada obediently opened its maw wide.
Allowing a golden hand to reach inside and forcibly pull out Kisame.
"How could you have found me?" Kisame's expression darkened, his voice trembling. "My chakra should be exactly like Samehada's…"
Naruto spoke.
As he talked, chains roared from behind, crashing down like meteors onto Kisame.
"It has nothing to do with chakra."
"It's your soul."
"Your soul stinks like a dead fish."
With that—
Thunk, thunk! The chains pierced Kisame's head and chest.
The six paths' aura underground showed no mercy, yanking Kisame's soul away, vanishing in an instant.
"Sage of Six Paths," Naruto murmured, tracking that power. "Won't you come out and meet me?"
But—
At his words, the Sage of Six Paths' presence suddenly vanished.
Naruto frowned.
Even though he had displayed powers so out of place in this world, the Sage still wouldn't meet him?
Or maybe—couldn't?
He took note of this doubt and flashed toward the Hidden Rain Village.
With the black receiver still acting as a chakra beacon, he quickly located the room where Nagato was hidden.
He pushed open the door.
The room was pitch dark, but Naruto's golden aura lit up everything as he stepped inside.
"You've come," Nagato said calmly, Rinnegan glowing with power.
Naruto examined him, eyes settling on his dull, faded red hair. "A member of the Uzumaki clan, huh."
"No wonder the original body didn't appear."
"You've decayed this far."
He glanced at Jiraiya.
Chains lashed out, pulling out the black rods from Jiraiya's body.
"Where's Uchiha Madara?" Naruto asked again before Nagato could speak.
Jiraiya rose from the ground and shook his head. "I infiltrated this place, but didn't see Uchiha Madara—only some ordinary Rain ninja."
"That's what I want to know too," Nagato replied after a pause.
Naruto nodded. "I see…"
"Do you know where he might go?"
Nagato remained silent.
"You don't either, huh…" Naruto raised his blade. "Then this is it—"
"Wait!" Jiraiya raised a hand.
Naruto tilted his head toward him.
"Naruto, are you going to kill Nagato?" Jiraiya asked.
Naruto nodded.
Jiraiya pleaded, "Can you… spare him?"
"I believe he was just led astray. Please give him a second chance. He was once a kind boy."
"I'm begging you, Naruto!"
He bowed in supplication.
Naruto's tone didn't waver. He was firm: "I refuse."
Jiraiya looked up.
"They came at me with killing intent," Naruto said calmly. "You want me to show mercy to someone who tried to kill me?"
He turned his head to meet Jiraiya's eyes.
"I'm already being merciful by merely taking their life as a living being."
"If you want to kill someone…"
"You must be prepared to be killed in return."
Jiraiya opened his mouth, but couldn't find the words.
He had already owed Naruto too much.
That request had used up all his energy and dignity.
He couldn't repeat it.
Naruto flipped his wrist, sheathing his sword.
"But for your sake, Jiraiya-sensei—"
"I'll give him a chance to say his last words."
He formed a hand sign, creating shadow clones that scattered in pursuit of the remaining escapees.
Naruto sat down in a corner, facing Nagato.
"This will be the last few words you can say as a living man."
Jiraiya clenched his fists. "Thank you, Naruto."
Naruto waved a hand.
Nagato spoke weakly, "Uzumaki Naruto… you'll allow me to speak before I die?"
"Why did you change, Nagato?" Jiraiya asked. "You weren't like this before. And what happened to Yahiko?"
Nagato stayed silent for a while, as if organizing his words. Finally, he slowly began:
"After you left, Jiraiya-sensei…"
"We formed an organization called 'Akatsuki,' with Yahiko as our leader."
"Our belief in creating peace without relying on power or violence gained much support."
"Soon, our group became widely known and attracted many companions."
"Until one day…"
He clenched his fists. The power of the Rinnegan flared uncontrollably, putting Jiraiya's body under immense pressure. But he stood firm.
Naruto was unmoved.
Nagato calmed himself and continued:
"The leader of Amegakure, a man named Hanzo, came to us."
"He said he wanted to use Akatsuki as a core to negotiate peace with the three major nations at war."
"But that was the beginning of the disaster."
Jiraiya's eyes widened. "I never heard of such negotiations…"
"Of course you didn't," Nagato sneered. "Because it was a trap."
"Instead of the three great nations, only Konoha's Anbu and Hanzo's men showed up."
"He had colluded with a man named Danzo from Konoha."
"Danzo wanted to become Hokage and allied with Hanzo."
"Hanzo, for his own power, cooperated with Danzo."
"Yahiko died because of that."
Jiraiya's pupils contracted in disbelief.
He couldn't imagine Konoha playing such a role in this—and that it was Danzo involved.
Naruto's ears twitched.
Danzo.
This was the first time he'd heard that name.
Konoha's high-ranking official.
Such underhanded behavior reminded him of the ninja who tried to forcibly stop him when he first left the village.
Was it him?
Nagato's voice was full of hatred: "When Yahiko died, my body was consumed by pain and emptiness."
"Relying on peace without power or violence—leads only to that kind of end."
"So I will—"
"Become a god and change the world!"
"Use the nine tailed beasts as weapons, stand above the Five Great Nations, and force the world into peace."
He took a deep breath. "Jiraiya-sensei, do you remember what you once told us?"
"That growing up means learning to decide what to do for yourself."
"To feel pain and find the answer."
"This… is my answer."
Jiraiya lifted his head. "But this answer is wrong."
"It's completely different from the one you used to give."
Nagato said softly, "People change, Jiraiya-sensei. Especially after experiencing pain."
He raised his head and looked at Naruto.
"Uzumaki Naruto… what is your answer?"
Naruto turned to him.
A shadow clone arrived, bringing Karin.
Her red hair entered Nagato's view, and he was stunned.
"I actually agree with your thinking," Naruto said.
Jiraiya was shocked. He turned to Naruto, disbelief on his face.
"If this world doesn't understand peace, then a powerful figure must emerge—one who understands peace—to show them what it means," Naruto continued. "Like the Sage of Six Paths, or the First Hokage."
Nagato was taken aback by that answer.
His enemy. The man who was about to kill him—
Actually agreed with his ideals?
"But what I don't understand," Naruto continued, "is that you already possess the Rinnegan and the power to do all that. So why…"
"Why did you need the tailed beasts?"
Nagato lowered his head. His tone softened. "Naruto… you wanted to know about Uchiha Madara, right?"
"I can tell you everything I know about him."
"But—"
"I have one request. Please agree, okay?"
"Go ahead," Naruto waved a hand.
Nagato raised his arms. "The Rinnegan's ability…"
"It allows me to create the Six Paths of Pain, but there's one ability I cannot transfer to them."
"That's the Seventh Path—the Outer Path."
"A power that governs life and death. It can revive the dead."
"But the cost is my life."
He paused and looked into Naruto's eyes, his gaze and voice sincere, pleading:
"After I tell you everything about Uchiha Madara… I want to use this jutsu to bring Konan back."
"I want her to live."
"She's not like me. She doesn't have ambition or desire."
"Please, let her live."
This wasn't a deal—it was a dying man's final request.
(End of Chapter)