Itachi Uchiha began to speak, his voice wavering.
The Masked Uchiha remained silent. On his entirely concealed face, only his exposed eye was filled with heavy shock and surprise.
'The container of the Rinnegan has been killed,' he said, 'by a boy no older than fifteen or sixteen. He wasn't even born when the plans were laid.'
'His skills and abilities... I've never seen anything like them in all these years,' the Masked Uchiha finally spoke after a long pause, 'almost beyond what exists in the ninja world.'
He tried to make a definitive judgment.
But.
Even with his understanding of 'Madara Uchiha', he was not that person, lacking his insights and experience.
'We must consider things at length,' the Masked Uchiha concluded, his eye swirling with churning chakra, forming a spatial vortex that swallowed his body.
Itachi Uchiha was equally decisive in his escape.
In a scatter of crows, he vanished, flying far into the distance.
On the Rain's battlefield.
Naruto set aside the body on his blade, suppressing his aura, withdrawing from the 'Nine Tails Mode' back into 'Asura Mode'. With a swift clap of his hands, chains flew out, pulling in Pain's body.
It had been completely destroyed, leaving barely a whisper of chakra.
Naruto reached out, plucking the black rod from Pain's face, gripping it in his palm.
Tracing the thread of chakra back to its source.
The chains continued searching.
From the rubble, they unearthed a large, barbed sword.
'Is this that shark-faced guy's sword?' Yang Nine-Tails was eager, his excitement barely contained.
Yin Nine-Tails peered over: 'And the body? Was it crushed into pulp by that technique?'
Naruto raised his hand: 'Remember the technique he used at the start.'
'He could merge with this sword.'
'That time, it was his flesh in command.'
Yang Nine-Tails realized something: 'Is that person hiding inside this sword?' 'Come out.' Naruto ordered, his extended hand reaching forth.
Samehada cooperated fully, opening its mouth wide.
Allowing the golden hand to reach inside and yank out Kisame awkwardly.
'How could you possibly notice me?' Kisame's face was grim, his tone apprehensive, 'My chakra is exactly like Samehada's.'
Naruto spoke.
As he spoke, chains whistled through the air, soaring from behind him like shooting stars, hurtling toward Kisame.
"It's not about chakra."
"It's the soul."
"Your soul reeks like dead fish." As his words fell.
With a few sharp sounds, the chains pierced through Kisame's brain and chest.
The six paths' aura below was relentless, pulling at Kisame's soul, disappearing in a blink.
"Sage of Six Paths, won't you come out and meet me?" Naruto's spiritual pressure pursued that power.
But.
Because of this statement, the Sage of Six Paths' aura suddenly vanished.
Naruto frowned.
Even though he had already displayed abilities almost incompatible with this world, he still didn't want to see him?
Or, was he unable to?
He noted this doubt, and in an instant, he stepped towards the Hidden Rain Village.
With the presence of the "Black Rod" chakra receiver, he quickly found the room where Nagato was.
He pushed the door open.
The room was dark and dim, but as Naruto entered, the golden spiritual pressure around him illuminated the entire room.
"You're here." Nagato's tone was calm, the power in his Rinnegan gathered.
Naruto examined him, his gaze pausing on the faded, dull red hair on his head: "A member of the Uzumaki clan, huh."
"No wonder the main body didn't show up."
"So it has declined to this extent."
He glanced at Jiraiya.
Chains danced, pulling out the black rods from him.
"Where is Uchiha Madara?" Naruto asked again before Nagato could speak.
Jiraiya got up from the ground and shook his head: "I didn't encounter Uchiha Madara after sneaking in, just some ordinary Rain Village ninjas."
"That's what I want to know too." Nagato replied after a moment of silence.
Naruto nodded: "I see."
"Do you know where he might go?"
Nagato remained silent.
"No idea, huh." Naruto raised his blade, "Then let's end this."
"Hold on!" Jiraiya raised his hand.
Naruto turned his head to look at him.
"Naruto, are you really going to kill Nagato?" Jiraiya asked.
Naruto nodded.
Jiraiya pleaded, "Can't you spare his life?"
"I believe he's simply lost his way, and he deserves another chance. He was once a kind child."
"Please, Naruto!"
He bowed in earnest appeal.
Naruto's voice betrayed no emotion as he decisively said, "I refuse."
Jiraiya lifted his head.
"They attacked me with the intent to kill," Naruto continued calmly, "You expect me to show mercy to those who want me dead?"
He turned slightly, locking eyes with Jiraiya.
"Just taking their life is already merciful."
"If you're set on killing someone,"
"you must be prepared to be killed by them."
Jiraiya opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but words failed him.
His earlier plea had consumed all his energy and self-respect.
He had neither the face nor the strength to repeat himself.
Naruto flipped his wrist, sheathing his sword.
"But for the sake of Jiraiya-sensei,"
"I'll give him a chance to say his final words."
He performed a hand sign, creating shadow clones that scattered to hunt down those who fled without hesitation.
Naruto locked eyes with Nagato.
"These will be your last words as a living being."
Jiraiya clenched his fists, "Thank you, Naruto."
Naruto waved it off, taking a seat in the corner.
"Uzumaki Naruto," Nagato's voice was faint and weak, "Will you truly let me speak my last words?"
"Nagato, you weren't always like this. What changed you?" Jiraiya asked, "And how did Yahiko die?"
Nagato was silent for a long while, as if organizing his thoughts, before he slowly spoke, "After Jiraiya-sensei left us."
"We formed an organization called 'Akatsuki,' with Yahiko as our leader."
"Our belief in creating peace without relying on power and violence was widely embraced."
"It wasn't long before our organization gained fame and new companions joined us."
"Until one day."
He clenched his fist, the power of the Rinnegan spilling uncontrolled, exerting immense strain on Jiraiya, yet he stood tenaciously before Nagato.
Naruto remained unmoved.
Nagato calmed himself and continued, "The leader of the Rain, a man named 'Hanzo', approached us. He wanted to use 'Akatsuki' as the core to negotiate with the three great nations at war."
"However, that marked the beginning of all calamities."
Jiraiya widened his eyes, shaking his head, "I've never heard of such a thing, some peace negotiation."
"Of course, Jiraiya-sensei wouldn't have," Nagato sneered, "because it was a trap."
"At the location where the three nations were supposed to negotiate, only Konoha's ANBU and Hanzo's men showed up."
"He had collaborated with a Konoha man named 'Danzo'."
"Danzo joined forces with Hanzo to seize the position of Hokage."
"Hanzo colluded with Danzo for his own power."
"Yahiko died because of it."
Jiraiya's pupils dilated in disbelief.
He couldn't fathom that Konoha had played such a role in this, let alone that it involved that 'Danzo' character.
Naruto's ears perked up.
Danzo.
It was the first time he had heard the name.
Konoha's upper echelon.
This ruthless approach reminded him of those who blocked his path and tried to forcibly bring him back when he first left Konoha.
Could it be him?
Nagato's voice was filled with resentment, "When Yahiko died, pain and emptiness filled my body."
"Relying on neither power nor strength would only lead to such an end."
"Thus, I must."
"Become a god and change the world!"
"By turning the nine tailed beasts into weapons, with absolute power to surpass the five great nations, compelling the world to peace."
He took a deep breath, "Jiraiya-sensei, do you remember what you told us before?"
"Growth means learning to decide what to do on your own."
"Perceive the pain and find the answer."
"This is my answer."
Jiraiya lifted his head, "But that answer is wrong."
"This is completely different from the answers you gave before."
Nagato said in a low voice, "People change, Jiraiya-sensei, especially after experiencing pain." He lifted his head to look at Naruto.
"Uzumaki Naruto, what is your answer?"
Naruto tilted his head as he looked back at him.
A shadow clone swiftly approached, bringing Karin with it. The sight of the red-haired girl took Nagato by surprise.
"I actually agree with your perspective." Naruto began, startling Jiraiya as he turned his head in disbelief.
"If this world doesn't understand peace, then someone strong enough should appear to show them what peace means." He continued, "Just like the Sage of Six Paths or the First Hokage did in the past."
Nagato was taken aback, finding Naruto's answer incomprehensible.
They were clearly adversaries, mortal enemies. Yet in the end, his own ideas were acknowledged by the very person who was supposed to kill him?
"What I don't understand," Naruto continued, "is that you possess the Rinnegan. You have the individual power to achieve this step, so why."
"Why collect the tailed beasts?"
Nagato bowed his head, his tone softening, "Naruto, aren't you curious about Uchiha Madara?"
"I can tell you everything I know about him."
"But,"
"I have one request, which I hope you'll agree to, okay?"
"Go ahead." Naruto gestured.
Nagato raised his hands, "The power of the Rinnegan."
"It allows me to create six paths puppets, but there is one ability I cannot pass on to them."
"And that is the seventh path, the Outer Path."
"The eye technique that governs life and death, capable of resurrecting the deceased."
"Though the cost would be my life."
He paused, meeting Naruto's gaze, his eyes and tone extremely sincere, a respectful plea, "After telling you about Uchiha Madara, I wish to use this technique to bring Konan back to life."
"I wish for her to continue living."
"She's different from me, without grand ambitions or schemes."
"Can you spare her life?"
This was not a transaction, just a dying person's request.
(End of Chapter)