The room was covered in layers of arcane runes. Symbols glowed across the floor as mud and leaves began materializing, wrapping around the body of the White Zetsu like a cocoon.
This technique required a sacrifice—the more compatible the body, the stronger the effect.
And White Zetsu, with cells derived from Hashirama Senju, was one of the most ideal sacrifices possible.
"Tiger – Snake – Dog – Dragon!"
Naruto quickly weaved the hand signs, pressing his hands together, and then slammed one palm against the floor.
"Summoning Jutsu: Impure World Reincarnation!"
The Impure World Reincarnation, one of Orochimaru's trump cards, was a technique that could resurrect the dead and bind them to the caster's will. Naruto had acquired it under the alias "Danzo" from Orochimaru. Since it didn't rely on the five elemental chakra types, Naruto had learned it quickly.
And by now, he'd basically mastered it.
As White Zetsu's body began to sink, a wooden coffin slowly rose from the earth.
"That technique…!"
Nagato's eyes widened.
He could sense the powerful chakra emanating from within the coffin.
It slowly creaked open.
A hand extended out—followed by a torso, legs, and finally the full form of a man.
A dark-skinned, rugged-looking middle-aged man, wearing a high-collared coat, with gold war paint across his nose, and his hair tied into a topknot.
"The Second Raikage!"
---
To use the Impure World Reincarnation, three requirements had to be met:
1. A piece of the deceased's body—without which the soul could not be summoned.
2. A living body to act as a vessel for the soul.
3. The soul must still exist in the Pure Land—if sealed or destroyed, it cannot be called.
With White Zetsu as the vessel, the latter two conditions were easily met.
As for the remains—Naruto had dug up the Cloud Village's ancestral tombs and barely managed to scrape together enough tissue to summon the Second Raikage just once.
The bones had been picked clean, and it was a miracle he'd found enough.
Luckily, unless dispelled, the reincarnated body could persist indefinitely.
---
"This jutsu is called the Impure World Reincarnation," Naruto explained to Nagato and Konan.
"It was created by Tobirama Senju of the Hidden Leaf. A technique that allows one to summon the dead."
Nagato had seen Orochimaru use this jutsu before.
But he didn't particularly like it—it toyed with the dead, and that never sat well with him.
Still… he didn't understand.
Why summon the Second Raikage? What was Naruto planning?
---
Nagato's main issue was the tremendous drain placed on his body by both the Gedo Statue and the Rinnegan. The amount of chakra needed to control the Gedo Statue was monstrous—far beyond what his body could naturally produce.
That's why he was constantly burning through his life force.
To save him, what he needed was a chakra supply.
The best option would've been to become a Jinchuriki. The tailed beasts' chakra could have sustained him.
But Nagato had refused.
So that route was out.
The next possible solution would be the Three Great Sage Clans, but Naruto couldn't sense the locations of Mount Myoboku, Ryuchi Cave, or Shikkotsu Forest.
So that was out too.
Which left… the Impure World Reincarnation. Or rather, the cheat-like feature that came with it:
Unlimited chakra.
Seal a Tailed Beast inside someone, they become a Jinchuriki.
Seal a Reanimated body inside someone?
Same result.
Unlimited chakra.
Naruto's idea was to seal the reincarnated Second Raikage into Nagato's body, using his infinite chakra supply to power the Gedo Statue, preventing further health deterioration.
No need to sacrifice the Rinnegan.
No need to consume tailed beasts.
A simple way to put it:
An Edo Tensei Battery Pack.
---
"Elder… you're saying you want to seal him into my body?"
Nagato stared at the dull-eyed Second Raikage, clearly unsettled.
Sealing a whole person inside himself just felt… weird.
But this reincarnated version had no consciousness—Naruto had wiped it clean, leaving only a puppet-like shell.
"It's the best option," Naruto nodded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Unless you're willing to reconsider those two options I mentioned earlier."
Nagato looked conflicted… but he couldn't say no.
After everything the Elder had done to help him, how could he reject this now?
---
Naruto formed the Eight Trigrams Seal—a seal created by layering two Four Symbols Seals, and the very same seal used to bind Kurama inside Naruto.
With Minato as his teacher for several years, Naruto had picked up a wide variety of skills—sealing techniques, barrier arts, summoning contracts—you name it. Aside from the five elemental jutsu, Naruto was a jack-of-all-trades.
Maybe not a full-blown master of all things…
But at the very least, he could say:
"I know enough to be dangerous."
---
"Eight Trigrams Seal."
As the jutsu activated, black runes resembling tadpoles crawled across the Second Raikage's body, causing it to shrink and distort.
Moments later, a black spiral seal appeared on Nagato's stomach.
---
"How do you feel, Nagato?"
Konan immediately stepped forward.
"Any discomfort?"
Nagato touched his abdomen and frowned.
"Feels… weird. A bit like I overate. Kinda nauseous."
"But…"
"That constant feeling of chakra slipping away—it's gone."
He clenched his fists.
For the first time in ages, his body felt whole.
An endless stream of chakra flowed from the sealed Raikage, surging through his body.
No more hollowed-out feeling.
---
"It's all thanks to the Elder…"
"Thank you," Konan said sincerely.
---
At this point, there was no one else in the ninja world who could stand against Nagato.
Not unless someone from the Pure Land came back.
Even Obito couldn't do it—unless he regained his other Mangekyo Sharingan.
---
A Tailed Beast sealed inside Naruto makes him a Jinchuriki.
So what does that make Nagato now?
"Edo-Tensei-churiki?"
---
"So, Nagato—" Naruto suddenly asked,
"I heard you started an organization?"
Nagato responded obediently, tone filled with respect.
"Yes, Elder. It's called Akatsuki."
They say an old man in the house is a treasure.
Naruto, their 'ancestor,' truly lived up to the name. Nearly a thousand years old and good at everything.
"I gathered S-rank rogue ninja from all over the world. The man you saw before, Kakuzu from Takigakure, is one of them. Right now, we're in the early stages—mostly focused on raising funds."
Nagato laid everything out clearly.
"Make arrangements for me to join. As an apprentice."
Naruto revealed his true purpose.
"Let me see just how far you can take this."
The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki joining Akatsuki?
Just the idea was thrilling.
"I won't let you down, Elder." Nagato bowed deeply.
"Let me handle the arrangements," Konan volunteered.
She was the one who recruited Sasori of the Red Sand, after all.
---
"No need to rush," Naruto said wearily.
"I'll need some time to rest."
His voice carried an obvious fatigue, which only deepened the guilt in both Nagato and Konan's hearts.
"Let's set it for a month from now."
In about two months, the Chunin Exams would begin.
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