The rainy forest was filled with the smell of burning flames, and the ground was turned into a pitch-black scorched earth due to the previous bombardment.
Countless wooden fragments remained in place, which was the trace left after the wooden man was attacked.
Kakashi was present here, carefully picking up some of these unusual wood chips. He could feel that these wood chips were different from ordinary trees and had extraordinary vitality.
He meticulously placed these wood fragments in a transparent bag, collecting them as battlefield evidence.
"What's the purpose of gathering these?" Pakkun asked, puzzled, as he approached Kakashi.
Kakashi glanced at Pakkun and replied, "It's just to create a trail of evidence, to make it appear as if I acted against orders but didn't return empty-handed. This will help me minimize my presence in this incident when I hand them over to the Third Hokage."
At that time, Konoha would definitely focus on these residues of Wood Release.
"But your punishment can't be avoided, right?" Pakkun was skeptical.
After all, Kakashi's operation this time, like Obito, he acted without the order of his superiors.If there was no corresponding punishment in the village, it would a bit unreasonable.
Kakashi sighed softly and explained, "That's exactly what I want. My father abandoned a mission to save his comrades and in the end he committed suicide. This is the unanimous opinion among the high-ranking officials. Now, I'm making the same choice to show that I have changed successfully under Minato-sensei's guidance. This will allow them to use this incident as leverage to control me more effectively. They'll feel more secure having me in their hands."
Hence, a few minor punishments won't matter. This was all part of the illusion he was crafting to manipulate Konoha's senior leadership.
"...You're quite scary, Kakashi."
"If I have no shortcomings, keeping a certain distance from everyone is the biggest flaw. Acting out unexpected and performing reasonable deeds will help reduce their doubts. The key is to give them the impression that they have complete control over me and that I am a perfect weapon in their hands. This is the most basic lesson for a spy."
"So, does that mean you're using Obito and Rin as well?" Pakkun asked, staring into Kakashi's eyes.
Kakashi avoided Pakkun's gaze. After a moment of silence, he whispered, "Attachments are the most absurd thing. Everything I do is just a facade. Naive fools like them can only serve as tools for my use. Their sole purpose is to serve this role. My father's path is different from what I'm currently following."
With that, Kakashi turned and left, his slim form disappearing into the wind and rain.
Pakkun let out a faint sigh. Kakashi hadn't changed at all, he still wasn't honest.
Ultimately, true emotions couldn't be concealed, and any pretense would eventually reveal itself. Sometimes, it was best to let nature take its course.
Camouflage and a low profile were fine if the aim was to remain inconspicuous.
However, to access Konoha's core, one needed to embrace the so-called attachments and express genuine feelings.
Therefore, Pakkun considered Kakashi as a terrible person.
Whether as a ninja or as a spy, he poured his emotions and energy entirely into his work, expertly distinguishing between the two and making the best decision.
If a day came when he faced Konoha, he could inflict harm upon his comrades with genuine feelings and without any ill intent.
Pakkun moved his limbs, catching up with Kakashi's footsteps and disappearing alongside him.
....
Pain coursed through him, particularly in his back. It felt like an unending fire was burning within him.
In this pain, Nagato woke up from his unconscious state. The environment appeared strange, with dim light surrounding him.
The world seemed to be in a state of darkness. Nagato tried to recollect what had occurred before his fall into unconsciousness.
Everyone in Akatsuki had died, Yahiko included. They all lay as silent, lifeless corpses. The assailant had hailed from Konoha, the same village as his once beloved sensei, Jiraiya.
To protect Konan, Nagato had suffered extensive injuries from exploding tags that left his back in constant pain. The burning sensation he now felt was likely the reason of these injuries.
He had summoned that Gedo Statue and devoured the soul of the Konoha ninjas responsible for Akatsuki's destruction, he left no alive.
Finally, a dark figure had emerged from the ground and appeared before him. Because of his serious injuries, he couldn't hold on, he passed out losing consciousness.
Recalling these memories, Nagato's breathing grew heavy as a gloomy and ominous aura enveloped him. Gradually, he managed to calm himself.
Footsteps echoed in the darkness as someone approached.Nagato lifted his head and, gasping, and asked in a low voice.
"Is that you, Konan?"
However, there was no response.
The approaching steps drew nearer, causing Nagato to tense up with a vigilant expression. The footsteps and sounds indicated that it was not Konan.
A slightly hunched figure emerged from the darkness, holding a candle. Hi long pale hair cascaded from his head, and muddy red Sharingan eyes fixed upon Nagato.
This person was Madara.
However, he didn't sit on his usual wooden chair, powered from the Divine tree to sustain his life force. Despite his weak state, he stood on his own and approached Nagato.
"If you're searching for the girl with blue hair, she's asleep in the inner room, and I haven't done anything to her."
Nagato was left momentarily speechless, his eyes locking onto Madara's Sharingan. He tensed and began gathering chakra, preparing to release potential ninjutsu.
The Sharingan, a Kekkei Genkai unique to Konoha's Uchiha clan, carried a sense of danger.
"I would advise you not to move. Your health is bad currently, and ordinary medical ninjutsu won't heal you. Besides, I'm not your enemy. I'm just like you. A sad old man striving for peace."
Madara's voice possessed a subtle, captivating charm.
Nagato remained silent for a while before asking, "Who are you?"
"I'm the ghost of Uchiha... Uchiha Madara."
Nagato's eyes widened in shock upon hearing Madara's declaration.
Madara... Uchiha Madara? 'What was this old man talking about? Wasn't Madara a legendary ninja who had died decades ago. He was said to have been defeated by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama?'
"Are you joking?" Nagato's tone brimmed with anger.
Holding a candle with dim light, Madara responded, "I'm not playing games with you. My defeat by Senju Hashirama was a carefully calculated plan on my part. It was a last-ditch effort to attain greater power."
"A trump card?" Nagato inquired instinctively.
"It's your Rinnegan." Madara affirmed, in his usual monotone.
Nagato sitting was stunned, his mouth agape, it took a long time to close, then he sighed with a headache and said, "Is there any good in lying to someone like me? Or, do you think I really wouldn't kill you?"
The Rinnegan released a cold murderous aura.
Madara ignored Nagato's aura, and still replied slowly: "If you were the original owner of the Rinnegan, then why do you have various discomforts when using the the eyes. For instance, summoning the Gedo Statue."
"You...!"
Nagato's expression changed slightly.
Madara was speaking the truth. While he possessed the Rinnegan, controlling these eyes wasn't as easy as it appeared. Each use of the Rinnegan's pupil jutsu needed a huge amount of chakra expenditure, causing it to consume more energy than the jutsu themselves.
Although this didn't definitively prove the Rinnegan didn't belong to him, Madara's words raised doubts in Nagato's mind.
"If the Rinnegan indeed belongs to you, why did you use these precious eyes on me?"
"Can't you see my old body? You see..... compared to your young body, the Rinnegan places a more significant strain on me. Your Uzumaki lineage enables you to withstand the side effects of the Rinnegan's power's to some extent."
Madara's explanation remained unconvincing to Nagato.
"And it's not for free, I hope for you to achieve one thing for me, that is my reward to you."
"What do you want from me?"
"Infinite Tsukuyomi." Madara replied calmly.
"Infinite Tsukuyomi? What's that?"
"I mentioned it before. I am like you... a sad soul in search of peace." Madara said with a touch of sadness in his voice, as if lamenting something.
"What does that have to do with the Infinite Tsukuyomi you mentioned?"
"It's the ultimate genjutsu. It can plunge the entire world into a genjutsu where you can shape the world according to your desires. This is the only way to bring eternal peace to our world." Madara elaborated with his voice persuasive and alluring
Madara's words enticed Nagato, who began to fantasize about the possibilities. Plunging the entire world into an eternal genjutsu and creating the ideal world seemed like a dream come true.
Everybody in the Akatsuki... Yahiko and , as well as those in the Land of Rain and around the world, could experience happiness and lead carefree, joyous lives.
Seeing Nagato's interest, Madara continued, "Before we get there, you'll need to collect the nine tailed beasts scattered across the world and seal them within the Gedo Statue. This will enable you to awaken the power to reshape world."
"This won't be easy."
Nagato woke up from the beautiful fantasy, took a long breath, and looked at Madara seriously.
"I'm aware it won't be easy. The power of the five major nations is something you can't contend with at the moment. After everything you've experienced, you've witnessed the grim reality of this world. Be it you, me, or the others outside, we all reside in a hopeless hell. The Infinite Tsukuyomi is the only way to change it all."
Nagato clenched his fists, a chill spreading through him. He stared at Madara's Sharingan and asked, "May I ask a question?"
"Go on."
"If my pair of Rinnegan actually belongs to you then..... did you plan my appearance here?"
"Do you want to take revenge on me? Don't bother seeking revenge. I'm already waiting for my death. Even if you kill me now, you'll gain nothing, but you will lose the opportunity to grow even stronger."
Madara confessed, albeit indirectly, that he had manipulated the history of the Land of Rain to some extent.
"I'd really like to see if I can kill you."
Nagato grasped the doorknob and directed it toward Madara's body. He held the power to end the old man's life at his discretion.
Despite this, Madara met Nagato's intentions with indifference. He calmly proceeded to take a candle, positioned it on the ground, and then stood upright, his gaze fixed on Nagato, his expression unwavering.
Nagato, too, locked eyes with Madara, though a trickle of nervous sweat betrayed his anxiety. He felt like a frog under the scrutinizing gaze of a snake, knowing that a single move against Madara would result in instant death.
The pressure of impending death had never been so palpable. Although he had gathered his ninjutsu and steeled his resolve to attack Madara, it inexplicably failed to materialize. This wasn't Madara's control, but rather the gap in power between them. His own instincts were holding him back, signaling the futility of the endeavor.
Nagato questioned himself, doubting his judgment. Was he foolish to even attempt such an action? He couldn't fathom the true extent of Madara's strength.
"Killing me serves no purpose. Your survival and your protection of the Akatsuki depend on the strength I've provided you. In a way, you're also a lucky one."
"Don't talk nonsense in front of me. I won't be a puppet to your will!"
Nagato retorted fiercely, his words leaving him breathless,
"This is the reality. You are in a mess, calm down. I'm nothing more than an old man with no means to resist."
"No means to resist?"
Nagato questioned, feeling the breath of death looming over him. He couldn't underestimate the seemingly harmless old man who had the power to snuff out his life at any moment.
Nagato had started to believe that the Rinnegan was truly Madara's possession.
"What are you trying to accomplish?"
Nagato tried his best to calm down his heart.
"I've said it before. I want you to fully understand the harshness and cruelty of the real world. The longer you live, the more evident this truth becomes. In this world, love will eventually be stripped away, leaving only numbness, pain, frustration, regret, and loneliness..... No matter who you are, you can't escape this fate."
The flickering candle's flame cast its light on Nagato's pensive face.
Madara continued, "For years, you and your companions have created the Akatsuki, aiming to end wars through peace talks and bring peace to the Land of Rain. However, reality showed you the most cruelest sword. Suna's oppression and Konoha's betrayal demonstrated that your path to peace through diplomacy was fundamentally flawed."
Nagato remained silent, though it was evident that he was attentively listening. Every word Madara spoke represented an undeniable reality.
"In this ninja world, there's no solution that seeks fairness and justice. The winner claims all, and the losers forfeit everything. This is the unvarnished truth of the ninja world."
"So, you faked your death and escaped from Senju Hashirama's handd decades ago, just to plan your so-called Infinite Tsukuyomi and to completely end the suffering of this world?"
Taking a deep breath, Nagato fully understanding Madara's intentions. The longer he lived, the more he saw and understood.
Madara, too, had likely been a person filled with love in the past, but the passage of time eroded his love, leaving only numbness and pain in his heart.
Escaping reality meant finding solace in the illusionary world of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
"That's correct. I want to reshape this turbid world and cut off the inevitable cause and effect between winners and losers. The Infinite Tsukuyomi offers the best solution. I will create a world of peace where there are no losers, where everyone thrives in happiness."
Madara's voice wasn't loud, yet his words carried unwavering determination. His presence exuded an undeniable authority, compelling belief in his words.
So, Madara extended an invitation to Nagato, with sincere feelings in his tone.
"Nagato, I hope you can assist me and act according to my will. My body is failing, and you're the only one who can inherit my will and become the savior of this ninja world."
Nagato hesitated for a moment before responding from the depths of his heart, resisting Madara's will, "Even though your words are good, I refuse."
Nagato's answer didn't make Madara feel angry, but looked at Nagato with interest.. "Can you explain why you refuse?"
He expected Nagato to yield due to what had happened, but Nagato's resistance was unforeseen. Despite the urgency of their situation, there was time for a brief conversation.
"Yahiko and the others are already dead. Even if they were resurrected in the genjutsy world, it wouldn't change the fact of their deaths. The Infinite Tsukuyomi you speak of denies their existence. I may no longer agree with Akatsuki's past actions, but it doesn't mean I will blaspheme their will."
Nagato's face regained some composure. Madara's Infinite Tsukuyomi world might seem like a beautiful world, where everything conformed to one's desires, but it remained a dreamlike fantasy.
Nagato's dream had ended, starting with Hanzo's sacrifice, the destruction of Yahiko and Akatsuki, and the realization of the hypocrisy of the belief that mutual understanding among people could bring peace.
He awoke from his dream, resolved to stop dreaming, no matter how enchanting, joyful, or beautiful it might be; that was not his desire now.
His goal was to change the harsh reality he lived in. Instead of following in the footsteps of Yahiko, Hanzo, and the Land of Rain, he wanted to forge a new, sustainable path towards peace using his own methods, without relying on the dream world of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Failing to do so would equate to a denial of his past, the existence of humanity, and history itself. Even his actions seemed futile and absurd, but this was Nagato's unwavering determination.
Madara also recognized Nagato's unwavering determination. There was no doubt that Nagato had rejected his will, as their wills were fundamentally incompatible.
"So, even if this ninja world inflicts pain upon you, you insist on enduring it? Do you cling to this boring reality with extravagant hopes?"
Madara's face remained void of emotion.
"Yes. Without it, everything would be meaningless."
."If you persist down this path, you will encounter even more suffering."
"If suffering is an inevitable part of my life, then it, too, must have meaning. Madara, you should not underestimate the strength of humanity!"
Nagato's resolute words prompted a sigh from Madara, who questioned, "Do you truly believe that?"
Madara took a deep look at Nagato, as if he wanted to see through Nagato's true thoughts.
"....yes.. I do."
Nagato didn't shy away from Madara's gaze.
"Your chances of failing is high.."
"Even if I fail one day in the future, it's the same. Don't try to use your will to control me. Those who escape from reality have no place here."
Nagato believed that true humans can truly grow up when they experience pain. No matter how painful it became, they had to persevere, stand tall, and forge ahead despite the burdens of grief. Taking pain was a tool to sharpen oneself, to become stronger, and ultimately, to emerge undefeated in the face of any reality.
This was Nagato's choice and the will of Akatsuki.
Madara burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Even though his aged face contorted into an unsightly expression during his fit of laughter, Madara couldn't restrain himself. His laughter lasted for an extended period before slowly stopping.
"What's so funny?"
Nagato thought that there was something wrong with Madara.
"No, no, no, you really went beyond my expectations, Nagato. There's something about you that I find interesting. I never expected you to reject my ideals. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens when you fail. It will most certainly be a pleasing moment."
"If you want to kill me, you better do it now. or I'll definitely kill you if you don't. You won't see me fail."
Nagato looked at Madara nervously.
Nagato was so concerned about Madara's dangerous thoughts that he considered eliminating the threat. Allowing such a person to exist posed a catastrophe to himself and the entire ninja world.
"Why would I kill you? Just because you've rejected me? There's no necessary casual connection between those two."
He observed Nagato with a smile, which only deepened Nagato's confusion.
"What I said is true, Nagato. Before your arrival, Nagato, I never expected you to reject my plan. In my view, the Infinite Tsukuyomi was the perfect solution for someone who had suffered greatly in the real world. But now that you have different ideas, I'll consider it a whim. I'm eager to see how far you can go in the end." Madara smiled.
"What are you talking about?"
"You mentioned that pain in this world holds meaning. From now on, the Rinnegan truly belongs to you."
"My own?" Nagato covered his eyes and muttering to himself.
"That's right... Before you fail.... I won't interfere with your actions. But..if you fail, I will use my way to cut off the cause and effect of the world."
Madara's smile vanished entirely as he locked eyes with Nagato's eyes, his sunken eyes and cracked lips lending his words a profound weight. He then turned his gaze to the ground.
"Black Zetsu."
Black zetsu's figure emerged from the ground, with a respectful attitude and a hoarse voice: "Madara-sama."
Madara then turned to Nagato and said, "Black zetsu here is equivalent to my half body. From today, he will remain by your side and follow your commands. Time is running out, and he will explain to you the remaining doubts."
Pointing to Black Zetsu, Madara instructed Nagato.
After speaking, Madara turned and walked into the darkness.
"Where are you going?"
"Off to deal with the three mice who have found this place."
Madara's calm words sounded, and his body completely merged into the darkness as he disappeared.
After Madara left, Black zetsu looked at Nagato, and said respectfully: "Nagato-sama, from now on, I will exist as your subordinate. Moreover, I will not betray you until you fail. My power will be used by you."
"I can understand that if I fail, you will take action?"
"It is Madara-sama's will. Please follow me. I will help you transplant the cells of the First Hokage's, further increasing your strength. I will also tell you knowledge about the Rinnegan and the tailed beasts. Regardless of your future choices, power is essential. Only the will of the strong can illuminate the entire world."
The candle flames extinguished naturally, and darkness enveloped Nagato and Black Zetsu.
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