Land of Grass. Konan carried Nagato on her back and slipped into a mountain cave.
She immediately used paper ninjutsu—Shikigami no Mai (Dance of the Shikigami)—to seal the cave mouth, and only then let out a long, hard breath.
Then she drew a basin, a towel, and water from a scroll with Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Technique), quickly wet the towel, and carefully wiped the bloodstains at the corner of Nagato's eyes.
Nagato's eyelids were shut, the sockets beneath sunken, clearly empty of eyes.
"Konan…"
Nagato's voice was weak. "I might not… be able to hold on for you much longer."
Konan burst into tears at once and shook her head over and over. "No, you'll get better! Even though the Rinnegan is gone, the Gedo Mazo (Demonic Statue of the Outer Path) isn't draining your chakra anymore. You'll recover soon!"
But Nagato slowly shook his head. He knew his own condition.
In truth, he had long since overdrawn his life. Now that he had lost the Rinnegan, it was as if he had lost the belief that had kept him going. He wouldn't last long.
Images flashed through his mind:
Obito had brought back good news, saying Kabuto had captured the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki. He and Konan had both been pleased. It was then that Obito drew closer—and suddenly attacked.
Konan reacted half a beat too late. Obito's hand was already at Nagato's eyes. He instantly unleashed Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push), but Obito had already turned intangible with Kamui, and Shinra Tensei failed to blast him away. Obito dropped the intangibility for a heartbeat and gouged out the Rinnegan with ease.
Thankfully Konan snapped to, rescued him in time, and detonated the vast stockpile of Kibaku Fuda (Explosive Tags) she'd kept hidden, halting Obito's pursuit. Konan then formed wings with Shikigami no Mai (Dance of the Shikigami) and carried him far away.
Still, he understood—it was probably that Obito couldn't be bothered to chase. Without the Rinnegan, Nagato was no longer a threat.
Thinking of this, Nagato couldn't help a bitter smile.
Only now did he understand that the Rinnegan he had always thought so mighty… wasn't invincible.
Obito's intangibility through Kamui countered Shinra Tensei too well. All he had to do was wait for the opening, and he could pluck the Rinnegan away.
He hadn't acted before not because he couldn't, but because the time wasn't right. Now that his puppet risked slipping the leash, it was time for the Rinnegan to change hands.
He recalled his earlier conceit—thinking he could keep Obito suppressed; that even if there were issues with collecting the Bijū (Tailed Beasts), it didn't matter.
Looking back, it was far too naïve. He deserved being made into someone else's tool!
"Konan, Konan, I think I hear… Nagato talking to me."
"Nagato, rest well. Whatever you have to say, say it after you're better." Konan had a bad feeling.
"No. I'm afraid I won't get the chance. I have to speak!"
Nagato's tone carried remorse. "We always believed that if we seized absolute power and made the world fear and suffer, we could guide it to peace. But we overlooked a point—whether we can truly hold that power. Just as the Rinnegan can be snatched away, even if the Bijū weapon is completed, it can still be stolen one day. If such absolute power falls into evil hands, the world will face cataclysm; peace will be a fantasy. And we would be accomplices to that cataclysm."
Konan wept in silence, utterly at a loss.
When Yahiko had lived, she followed him, wanting to help him realize his ideals.
After Yahiko died, Nagato was her only family. She wanted to help Nagato carry on Yahiko's dream.
But now, perhaps all their efforts had been in vain—years wasted, ending in nothing. Nagato would likely pass away in grief, and she would be left with no family at all.
Where… should she go from here?
Nagato continued, "We don't know what Obito truly intends. He says he'll create a world with Rin in it, but we don't know the details. I have a feeling it won't be anything good, but I'm powerless now. So, Konan, after I die, go to Jiraiya-sensei. Help Jiraiya-sensei stop Obito, to atone for our mistakes!"
"Nagato… uuu…"
"Please, Konan! Only you can do this now. Our sins must be repaid!"
"Nagato, I promise you, I will definitely… Nagato!!! Ah!!!"
In the Land of Grass, the rain—rare for this country—fell.
Konan had been used to the rains of the Land of Rain. But now she hated rainy days, because she wanted Nagato to bask in the sun properly—even if it was only his gravestone basking.
She stood before the gravestone. With paper technique—Shikigami no Mai (Dance of the Shikigami)—she folded a bouquet and placed it beneath the stone.
She simply gazed at the marker in silence until her tears were almost spent, saying not a single word…
She understood what Nagato meant. Having her atone was only part of it. The more important purpose was to make her live on.
So, with his dying breath, Nagato gave her a mission. She was to complete it, not die with him. He told her to find Jiraiya-sensei, because if they still had any family left in this world, it was only Jiraiya-sensei.
"Nagato, don't worry. I understand. I will do my best."
She would strive to atone. She would strive to live on, carrying both Nagato's and Yahiko's share—to live well.
Perhaps, one day, she could witness true peace.
Land of Iron. Obito walked on in silence, lost in thought.
He raised his hand and touched his left eye. The Rinnegan was powerful—key to his plan. Yet it was also not powerful enough, for there are those who can defeat the Rinnegan.
Natsuki—this man was an anomaly!
He could defeat the Deva Path of Pain head-on, even break Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push) by sheer force!
Against such a strong enemy, Obito had no confidence of victory. But to create a world with Rin in it, he would defy the entire shinobi world. Why fear a single Natsuki?
Besides, there were others who could keep Natsuki in check. If Natsuki was so strong, let Madara handle him.
"Right now the Gedo Mazo (Demonic Statue of the Outer Path) has absorbed the Two-Tails, Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and Six-Tails—only four Bijū. The One, Three, Seven, and Nine are all in Konoha's hands, and the Eight…"
…Huh? Kabuto, that idiot. I actually believed he'd captured the Eight-Tails. Turns out it was just a severed tail. I got swindled on that deal!"
Obito ground his teeth.
Earlier, he'd taken the Rinnegan to trade with Kabuto. He had nearly lost control and killed Kabuto on the spot, but he worried the man, much like Orochimaru, wouldn't stay dead.
The transaction itself had gone smoothly. Kabuto handed over the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki and a roster of Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation) resurrectees that included Madara. But when Obito returned and fed the "Eight-Tails" to the Gedo Mazo, he discovered it was only a tail. He'd been furious—but he hadn't dared to go settle accounts with Kabuto.
Kabuto and Orochimaru were both lunatics.
Kabuto had seized on Obito's weakness. So even if the bargaining chips were wrong, Obito had no way to make Kabuto hand the Rinnegan back.
(End of Chapter)
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