Chapter 34: God and Mortal
One day later, Uchiha Akira and his team crossed the border into the Land of Rain.
"So, it was Konoha's Anbu all along!" The voice, thick with rage and pain, echoed inside a cavernous, rain-swept tower.
Deep within the structure, Nagato was hunched in his mechanical frame, emaciated like withered grass. Black rods protruded from his back. His pair of violet Rinnegan burned with a cold, inhuman light.
At his feet lay the body of a ninja wearing a cat-faced mask and the distinctive uniform of a Konoha Anbu operative. The man was already dead.
"It was Konoha, working with Hanzo, who attacked us!" Konan's beautiful face was frozen in an expression of pure cold fury. A killing intent she could scarcely contain churned within her.
"Konoha!" The name was a curse on Nagato's lips, his mind filled with the final image of Yahiko sacrificing himself. The murderous intent in his eyes was palpable.
"Nagato," Konan asked, forcing her voice to remain steady, "did the Human Path extract any other intelligence?"
"Konoha is making another move," Nagato stated, a cold, mirthless smile twisting his features. "The Third Hokage has dispatched an elite team into our country. Their objective is to assist Hanzo in eradicating Akatsuki."
"Konoha plans to help Hanzo destroy us?" Konan's voice dropped to a deadly whisper, her face darkening like the storm clouds outside.
"Who are they sending?" she pressed.
"The leader is from the Uchiha clan. Uchiha Akira. The others are inconsequential," Nagato replied, his tone dismissive.
"Uchiha Akira?" Konan nodded slowly, her mind accessing the relevant dossier. "I recall the reports. He made a significant impact on the Konoha-Kiri front. He single-handedly eliminated four of Kirigakure's infamous Seven Ninja Swordsmen. His strength is not to be underestimated."
Nagato confirmed this. "His power is indeed substantial. According to 'Madara,' the Six-Tails Jinchuriki of Kirigakure was also defeated by him, which led to the beast breaking free and ultimately falling into Madara's hands."
"Nagato, what is our course of action?" Konan asked, her expression serious as she looked at his frail form. "In your current condition, can you handle him?"
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached from the tower's entrance.
Uchiha Obito, disguised as Madara and wrapped within the amorphous white form of Spiral Zetsu, appeared. Beside him was the pitcher plant-like figure of Black Zetsu, and leading the way was the stoic, orange-haired form of the Deva Path—Pain.
The Deva Path spoke, its voice devoid of emotion. "Konan, the Konoha team's arrival is timely. Madara has just finished instructing me in the Six Paths Technique. Uchiha Akira will serve as an excellent test subject for its capabilities."
"Are you certain it's safe?" Konan's worry was evident. "I was told the Six Paths of Pain requires all six bodies to be complete. Currently, we only have the Deva Path, Animal Path, and Naraka Path. Isn't it too risky? Can they truly contend with a ninja who defeated a tailed beast?"
"Konan." Nagato lifted his head, his expression resolute. "Do not worry. I now wield the full power of the legendary Sage of Six Paths' eyes. I have transcended humanity. I have become a god. How can a mere mortal hope to challenge a deity?"
"Nagato, a word of caution," Uchiha Obito interjected, his voice altered to sound older and rougher. "Uchiha Akira is likely no ordinary clansman. There is a high probability he has awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"The Mangekyo Sharingan?" Nagato's Rinnegan shifted to regard the masked figure. "Are they the same as your eyes, Lord Madara?"
"Heh." Obito let out a disdainful chuckle. "Of course not. These are the Uchiha clan's ultimate ocular technique—the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. They are far superior to the standard Mangekyo."
"So even the Sharingan has different tiers," Konan murmured, filing the information away.
"Naturally," Obito confirmed. "While the Mangekyo is inferior to the Eternal Mangekyo, its power is still immense. It should not be underestimated. A wielder's strength is easily on par with a Kage."
His visible, crimson Sharingan fixed on Nagato. "Upon awakening the Mangekyo, the user gains two supremely powerful ocular techniques. Only the wielder knows their exact nature. Nagato, do not let overconfidence blind you."
"Lord Madara, you may set your mind at ease," Nagato responded, his voice calm and assured. "No matter what ocular power he possesses, it is insignificant before the might of the Rinnegan."
"Then we shall await your results." With that, Uchiha Obito's form twisted and vanished from the chamber.
As Obito left, Black Zetsu spoke up, its voice raspy. "Nagato, I shall handle the scouting and intelligence for this engagement." Without waiting for a reply, it sank slowly into the stone floor and disappeared.
Konan stared at the spot where the two had been for a long moment before turning back to Nagato. "Nagato, I still find it difficult to trust this so-called 'Uchiha Madara.' The historical Madara was the Ghost of the Uchiha, the Shinobi World's Asura. He does not strike me as the type to skulk in the shadows, hiding his face."
"It is of no consequence, Konan," Nagato shook his head. "Ours is a relationship of mutual convenience. We both understand this. Once the tailed beasts are secured, the time for masks will be over."
He met her gaze. "There is no doubt this masked 'Madara' seeks the tailed beasts. He requires our strength to capture them. In turn, I require his knowledge of Yin-Yang Release, the Six Paths techniques, and his intelligence network. It is a transaction."
Konan was silent for a beat. "Nagato, while we cooperate, I implore you to maintain caution. Do not take everything he says at face value."
"Of course," Nagato's voice softened slightly. "From the moment Yahiko died, the only person in this world I trust absolutely is you, Konan."
At the mention of Yahiko, a wave of sorrow passed over Konan's face. His death was a wound that would never fully heal.
Seeing her grief, Nagato's expression hardened with renewed conviction.
"Konan, we will realize Yahiko's dream. The reason people cannot understand one another is because they lack shared experience. They have not felt the same pain; they cannot empathize."
His Rinnegan glowed with a fanatical light. "Once we revive the Ten-Tails, we will make the Five Great Nations experience true, world-ending agony. Then they will understand. Then they will comprehend the suffering of the minor nations like ours. Only through shared pain can true peace be born."
"Nagato..." Konan whispered, a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. Since Yahiko's death, Nagato's temperament had shifted dramatically. Jiraiya's philosophy of peace through mutual understanding had mutated in his mind, evolving into this darker, more brutal doctrine.
After experiencing reality, Konan thought with an internal sigh, I have come to understand how naive Teacher Jiraiya's ideals were. Understanding does not make conflicting needs vanish. It does not stop swords from being drawn, hatred from being born, or vengeance from being sought.
She pushed her personal doubts aside, focusing on the immediate threat. "Nagato, you cannot move easily in your current state. I will accompany the Paths on this mission."
Nagato did not refuse. His physical condition was dire. The forced summoning of the Gedo Statue and the use of the Chakra Dragon had drained most of his vitality, and recovery was slow. Furthermore, his legs, crippled by Hanzo's Explosive Flame Formation, rendered him immobile without external support.
He gave a curt nod. "Let us go, Konan. According to the latest intelligence, the team led by Uchiha Akira has already entered the Land of Rain."
(End of Chapter)
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