Chapter 134: Dying Wish

"Pain has been defeated," Uchiha Itachi said, his tone wavering.

The masked Uchiha remained silent, but his exposed eye was filled with shock and heaviness.

The vessel of the "Rinnegan" had been killed.

By a boy of only fifteen or sixteen.

When their plan was being devised, this boy hadn't even been born.

"His techniques and abilities are unlike anything I've ever seen in all these years," the masked Uchiha finally said after a while. "It's almost as if these techniques don't belong to the ninja world."

He wanted to make a definitive judgment.

But...

Even though he knew a great deal about "Uchiha Madara," he was not that man and did not have his vast knowledge and experience.

"We should reconsider our plans," the masked Uchiha said, leaving it at that.

In his eye, chakra swirled, forming a space-time vortex that consumed his body.

Uchiha Itachi also retreated decisively.

His body dispersed, transforming into a flock of crows that flew away.

On the battlefield outside the Land of Rain, Naruto dropped the corpse from his blade, retracted his aura, and reverted from "Nine-Tails Mode" to "Ashura Mode." He clapped his hands, and chains flew out, dragging Pain's body to him.

It had been completely destroyed, with only a faint trace of chakra remaining.

Naruto reached out, pulled out a black rod from Pain's face, and held it in his hand.

Tracing the source, he sensed the direction of the chakra's origin.

The chains continued to search.

From among the rubble, they pulled out a large, barbed sword.

"Is that the shark-faced guy's sword?" the Yang Nine-Tails asked eagerly, rubbing its hands together.

The Yin Nine-Tails peered out: "Where's the body? Did that technique crush him into mush?"

Naruto raised his hand: "Remember the technique he used at the beginning?"

"The one where he merged with this sword."

"At that time, his physical body was in control."

The Yang Nine-Tails realized something: "Is that guy hiding inside the sword?"

"Come out," Naruto commanded, reaching out to grab it.

Samehada obediently opened its mouth wide.

Naruto's golden hand reached inside its body and forcefully pulled out Kisame.

"How did you find me?" Kisame's face was grim, his tone fearful. "My chakra is identical to Samehada's..."

Naruto spoke as chains whistled through the air, flying up from behind him and crashing down towards Kisame.

"It has nothing to do with chakra."

"It's your soul."

"Your soul reeks like a dead fish."

As he finished speaking, the chains pierced through Kisame's head and chest with a few "thuds."

The Sage of Six Paths beneath the earth showed no mercy, pulling Kisame's soul and making it vanish in an instant.

"Sage of Six Paths, won't you come out and meet me?" Naruto's spiritual pressure pursued that force.

But...

With those words, the Sage of Six Paths' aura suddenly vanished.

Naruto frowned.

Even though he had displayed abilities that were practically "alien" to this world, the Sage still refused to meet him?

Or perhaps he couldn't?

He made a note of this suspicion and used Shunpo to head toward Rain Village.

With the "black rod" as a chakra receiver, he quickly found the room where Nagato was.

He pushed the door open and entered.

The room was dark, but as Naruto stepped in, the golden spiritual pressure surrounding him illuminated the entire space.

"You're here," Nagato said calmly, the power of the Rinnegan gathering in his eyes.

Naruto looked him over, his gaze lingering on Nagato's head, noting the faded, dull red hair: "A member of the Uzumaki clan, huh?"

"No wonder the real body didn't show up."

"It's degraded to this extent."

He glanced at Jiraiya.

The chains moved, pulling out the black rods embedded in Jiraiya's body.

"Where is Uchiha Madara?" Naruto asked, not waiting for Nagato to speak.

Jiraiya got up from the ground, shaking his head: "Since I infiltrated this place, I haven't encountered Uchiha Madara, only some ordinary Rain Village ninja."

"That's something I want to know as well," Nagato answered after a moment of silence.

Naruto nodded: "I see..."

"Do you know where he might be?"

Nagato remained silent.

"So you don't know," Naruto said, raising his blade. "Then this is the end."

"Wait!" Jiraiya raised his hand.

Naruto turned his head to look at him.

"Naruto, are you going to kill Nagato?" Jiraiya asked.

Naruto nodded.

Jiraiya's expression became pleading: "Can you not kill Nagato?"

"I think he's just lost his way. Give him another chance. He was once a kind child."

"Please, Naruto!"

He bowed in supplication.

Naruto's voice remained emotionless and decisive: "I refuse."

Jiraiya lifted his head.

"They attacked me with the intent to kill," Naruto said calmly. "You want me to show mercy to someone who wants to kill me?"

He turned his head, locking eyes with Jiraiya.

"I'm already being merciful by merely taking their lives as living beings."

"If you intend to kill someone."

"You must be prepared to be killed by them."

Jiraiya opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.

He already owed Naruto a lot.

His earlier plea had used up all the energy and goodwill he had left.

He simply didn't have the face or the strength to ask again.

Naruto flicked his wrist, sheathing his sword.

"But out of respect for you, Jiraiya-sensei,"

"I'll give him a chance to say his final words to you."

Naruto made a hand sign, creating shadow clones that dispersed to search for those who had fled without hesitation.

Naruto and Nagato locked eyes.

"These will be the last words you can say as a living being."

Jiraiya clenched his fists. "Thank you, Naruto."

Naruto waved his hand and sat down in a corner.

"Uzumaki Naruto," Nagato said weakly, "you're really going to allow me to say my last words?"

"Nagato, you weren't like this before. Why did you change so much?" Jiraiya asked. "And how did Yahiko die?"

Nagato was silent for a long time, as if organizing his thoughts. After a while, he slowly began to speak: "After you left, Jiraiya-sensei,"

"We formed an organization called 'Akatsuki,' with Yahiko as the leader."

"Our belief in creating peace without relying on power or violence was widely supported."

"Before long, our organization became famous and gained many members."

"Until one day..."

He clenched his fists, and the power of the Rinnegan unintentionally surged, causing Jiraiya to endure a great burden, yet he stood resolutely in front of Nagato.

Naruto remained unmoved.

Nagato calmed himself before continuing: "The leader of Rain Village, a man named 'Hanzo,' approached us. He wanted to use 'Akatsuki' as the core to negotiate peace with the three great nations that were at war at the time."

"However, this was the beginning of all our troubles."

Jiraiya shook his head in disbelief: "I've never heard of such a thing, a peace negotiation..."

"Of course, Jiraiya-sensei wouldn't have heard of it," Nagato said with a bitter smile. "Because it was a trap."

"At the place where the negotiation with the three great nations was supposed to take place, only Konoha's Anbu and Hanzo's men showed up."

"He had allied with a man from Konoha named 'Danzo.'"

"Danzo collaborated with Hanzo to seize the position of Hokage."

"Hanzo, in turn, sought to solidify his power by cooperating with Danzo."

"Yahiko died because of it."

Jiraiya's pupils dilated in shock and disbelief.

He couldn't imagine that Konoha had played such a role in this tragedy, and that it was orchestrated by none other than Danzo.

Naruto's ears perked up.

Danzo...

This was the first time he had heard that name.

A old figure in Konoha.

This unscrupulous behavior reminded him of the ninjas who had tried to forcibly take him back after he left Konoha the first time.

Was it him?

Nagato's voice was filled with anger: "The moment Yahiko died, pain and emptiness consumed me."

"Trying to achieve peace without power or violence would only lead to that kind of end."

"So I decided..."

"To become a god and change the world!"

"To turn the Nine Tailed Beasts into weapons, to use absolute power to dominate the five great nations, and to bring peace to the world."

He took a deep breath: "Jiraiya-sensei, do you remember what you once told us?"

"You said that to grow up is to learn to think for yourself."

"To feel the pain, and to find your own answers."

"This is my answer."

Jiraiya lifted his head: "But this answer is wrong."

"It's completely different from the answer you once believed in."

Nagato said quietly, "People change, Jiraiya-sensei, especially after experiencing pain."

He looked up at Naruto.

"Uzumaki Naruto, what is your answer?"

Naruto tilted his head slightly, looking at him.

A shadow clone arrived in an instant, bringing Karin along.

The sight of her red hair made Nagato freeze.

"I actually agree with your idea," Naruto said.

Jiraiya was shocked and turned to look at Naruto in disbelief.

"If this world doesn't understand peace, then someone who does and who has enough power should appear to teach them what peace is," Naruto continued. "Just like the Sage of Six Paths and the First Hokage did."

Nagato was stunned, finding this answer unbelievable.

They were opponents, mortal enemies.

Yet in the end...

His idea was recognized by the one who was going to kill him?

"What I don't understand," Naruto continued, "is why, despite having the Rinnegan and the ability to do this yourself..."

"Do you still need to collect the tailed beasts?"

Nagato lowered his head, his tone softening: "Naruto, you're very interested in Uchiha Madara, aren't you?"

"I can tell you everything I know about him."

"But..."

"I have a request. Will you grant it?"

"Go ahead," Naruto said, waving his hand.

Nagato raised his hands: "The power of the Rinnegan..."

"Allowed me to create the Six Paths puppets, but there is one ability that I couldn't give them."

"That is the seventh path, the Outer Path."

"A dojutsu that controls life and death, capable of resurrecting the dead."

"But the cost will be my life."

He paused and looked Naruto in the eye, his gaze and tone unusually sincere, humbly pleading: "After I tell you everything about Uchiha Madara, I want to use this technique to bring Konan back to life."

"I want her to live on."

"She's not like me; she doesn't have grand ambitions or desires."

"Please, spare her life."

This wasn't a negotiation; it was the dying wish of a man at death's door.

~~~

I'm sorry! Here you go!

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