"... and in the last part, it mentions that the Sage split the Tree of Demons into Nine Branches, each sealed inside a Temple, eternally guarded by Nine Beasts to protect us from its wrath and prevent its resurrection."
Nagato was... angry? Disappointed? Maybe regretful?
He stared down at the stone floor, memories flashing through his mind of Konan and Yahiko and himself playing together, under the watchful eyes of Jiraya-sensei.
His hands clenched tightly as he recalled everything that had happened since then, all the effort and planning he put into his goal.
"It isn't a confirmation," Konan spoke up carefully. "But it is another point in favor of this... theory."
"We should not fool ourselves, Konan." Nagato said tiredly. "This is the sixth source mentioning something being split in 9 parts, and the fourth mentioning that said thing would resurrect if all 9 parts were reunited, all from different lands, all written centuries ago."
Konan looked away from him, unsure how to respond to that.
"How much was I manipulated into?" Nagato asked quietly. "A tool to gather as many Tailed Beasts as possible until these eyes killed me."
His voice rose as he continued speaking. "If we had looked before all the evidence had been washed away by time, how many manipulations would we have uncovered?"
"If I died, how long would it have taken Madara to find someone else to use these eyes?!"
"MY DREAM A LIE, BUILT ON NOTHING BUT MY ARROGANCE AND THE LIES OF ANOTHER!" He roared out in fury, Chakra cracking the floor below him.
Konan flinched back at his outburst, this was the first time in years she had seen Nagato like this, uncontrolled and emotional.
"Nagato..." She started, but stopped herself from continuing. What could she say? Everything they worked for...
"I have to know for sure." He suddenly said after calming down slightly. "Bring me the Jinchūriki."
Konan hesitated briefly before nodding and disappearing.
Nagato waited silently, his mind racing with all the different revelations.
After a few minutes of waiting, Konan returned with Utakata, bound in seals and asleep.
"Bring him closer." Nagato commanded as he ripped his hand out of his medical puppet.
Konan wordlessly floated the unconscious man closer.
He sluggishly raised his hand, fighting against the pain of moving his body until his palm landed on Utakata's stomach.
"Almighty Push."
The rods piercing his body shot out from his back, stabbing into the wall behind him as he slumped forward.
But he forced himself to stay awake, there was one more thing to do.
"Preta Path."
He grasped the small amount of Tailed Beast Chakra inside Utakata and began drawing it out.
This would kill the Rokubi, meaning if this all was for nothing, he would to wait a few years until it reformed, but he did not care.
It slowly started seeping out from Utakata's stomach, burning through his clothes and skin as it emerged. Slowly, but surely, it flowed into Nagato.
Minutes passed, his body slowly rejuvenating itself, the holes in his back sealing up.
Eventually, every last drop of Chakra had been absorbed. Nagato opened his eyes and pushed himself out of his seat.
He stumbled for a moment, legs numb from disuse, but soon he was standing steadily.
Utakata still floated in front of him, pale and shivering and with a massive burn on his stomach.
Nagato stared at him with dull eyes, before sighing quietly.
He raised his hand once again.
Purple energy started gathering on the ground behind Utakata, a massive head emerging from the ground, mouth opening wide, a tongue with a hand at the end shot out from it.
It grabbed Utakata tightly before pulling him inside its gullet, the man disappearing.
The King of Hell started chewing, the sound of bones breaking and flesh tearing echoing in the otherwise silent room.
Eventually, he finished, spitting out a fully healed Utakata onto the floor, even his clothes had been restored.
"Dump him somewhere outside the Amegakure," Nagato ordered. "Make sure it's somewhere without Shinobi."
Konan silently obeyed, grabbing Utakata and walking away.
"Konan." Nagato stopped her for a second. "...If I don't come back, please... No, if I don't come back, live freely, you've always followed me on my selfish journey."
"...Don't belittle me like this, Nagato." Konan replied softly. "All the things I did, I did because I too believed in your dream."
She looked over her shoulder to make eye contact with him.
"And even if it was just a fantasy, a lie... I have no regrets."
With those words, she walked out of the room, Utakata in tow.
Nagato watched her go with a bitter smile. First, he would go to the Land of Waves, and no matter if he received answers there or not, afterwards, he was going to confront 'Madara'.
He would not hide away like a coward.
***
2 DAYS LATER
Nagato had arrived at the massive bridge without issue, he had used the Transformation Jutsu to hide his Rinnegan from everyone's eyes while traveling, and wore a simple black cloak.
As he made his way across the bridge, he noted with interest that it was quite busy, a constant stream of Wagon's rolling both in and out of Wave.
Eventually, he reached the checkpoint at the start of Wave.
There were almost two dozen masked men and women stationed there, some inspecting each wagon that passed through, others handling the three lines of people who wanted to enter.
Nagato simply walked into one of those lines, patiently waiting for it to move. He didn't have to wait long, as soon they reached the front, where two masked men stood waiting.
"Name and reason for entry?" One asked as he pulled out a notepad.
"Nagato, I am looking for someone, a man I met some time ago." Nagato answered simply.
"Any association with a Shinobi Village or a Shinobi Organization?"
"Yes, once upon a time, I was part of Amegakure."
"...Huh..." The guard muttered confused. "That's rare... Normally, lone Shinobi aren't that honest... Well, then you will have to wait a little bit, we need authorization to let any Shinobi inside our borders, standard procedure."
"I understand," Nagato said calmly.
He was directed towards a small area next to the checkpoint where several chairs were placed, most empty besides two, occupied by a man in red Samurai armor and a rotund man with graying hair and a beard.
Nagato didn't bother initiating conversation with them, simply sitting down and waiting silently.
The minutes passed, he watched the people entering Wave go by, ignoring the other two people chatting.
Eventually, the guard approached him.
"You're clear to enter, I have been told you should head towards Sawasawa village, a map is available for purchase in the stalls next to the bridge or freely available temporarily at any Shrine." He stated politely. "Please be warned that any combat against anyone that hasn't attacked you first is forbidden, even if they are Shinobi from a different village."
Nagato raised an eyebrow at the first part of what he said, it was confirmation that the being he met was connected to this land.
"I understand, thank you." Nagato replied, standing up.
The man nodded and escorted him past the checkpoint, giving a short wave goodbye before returning to his post.
Nagato began walking towards Wave. His body was already regressing, he could feel some aches and pains that were familiar to him.
But he had enough time before the Rinnegan drained all of his borrowed vitality. It would be enough to confront the burned man, and it would be enough to confront Madara.