Nagato snapped awake, gasping for air.
"Nagato? What happened?" Konan asked.
"The final Pain... has been defeated."
Standing over the fallen Deva Path, Naruto reached down with a look of grim determination and pulled out a single, blood-stained black receiver.
"Pain used these to receive chakra and move, right?" Naruto asked the Katsuyu perched on his shoulder.
He proceeded to pull every black receiver out of the Deva Path's body.
"If I pull them all out, he shouldn't be able to move anymore..."
This battle had finally taught Naruto much. He understood now the true agony that hatred could bring. He thought back to everything he had said to Kanon and Sasuke in the past.
Naruto gritted his teeth. What on earth was I saying to Kanon back then?!
Before, he truly understood nothing. He had treated Kanon and Sasuke with the same hollow attitude. As he recalled Kanon's treatment of him and her expression after every lecture he'd given her, Naruto spiraled into a pit of regret. Even after enduring such pain and dealing with his ignorance, Kanon still hadn't killed him.
"She was... truly too kind back then."
"The things I said to Sasuke at the Valley..."
"The things I said to Kanon at the Akatsuki hideout..."
"They were nothing but empty words."
Naruto stabbed a black receiver into his own palm, forcing himself to feel the residue of the pain he had experienced in this fight. His master, his teacher, his comrades, and the girl who had once cared for him most.
Pain's words surfaced in his mind once more:
"The cycle of hatred has begun. That is history."
"Humans are creatures that can never truly understand one another."
"That is the only truth one can realize..."
"The shinobi world is ruled by hatred."
Naruto looked at Pain one last time before pulling the receiver out. This time, he understood. He understood what pain was, and what peace required.
"Are you going?" Katsuyu asked.
"Yeah."
"Then I'll call for backup—"
"No. I'm going alone!"
…
Amidst the ruins of Konoha.
Might Guy had returned from his mission and was standing with Sakura, looking somberly at Hinata.
Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, and Tenten, the three members of Team Guy, had all perished. Even Kakashi was gone. He knew only that Pain and Kanon were responsible for everything.
Under Sakura's emergency medical treatment, Hinata finally regained consciousness.
"Thank you, everyone..."
"Thank you, Sakura..." Hinata whispered.
"Thank goodness! You were so reckless," Sakura said, embracing Hinata through her tears.
Katsuyu received a telepathic update and spoke excitedly to the group: "Everyone! Naruto has defeated the sixth Pain!"
The crowd was stunned.
"What's Naruto's condition? Is he hurt?"
"He's exhausted, but he's okay."
Hearing this, tears streamed down Hinata's face. "Thank God... Naruto, thank God!"
"Where is he now?" Guy asked.
"He's heading to the location of the real Pain by himself."
Shock rippled through the group. Guy immediately prepared to move out to provide backup.
"Wait! Naruto specifically requested that no one follow him."
"Wh-What?!" Guy froze.
…
Elsewhere, Inoichi Yamanaka, Shikaku Nara, and members of the Hyuga clan intercepted Naruto.
Sensing their presence, Naruto came to a halt.
"Naruto? You being here... does that mean the sixth Pain is down?"
"Winning or losing doesn't matter much right now..." Shikaku looked at the expression on Naruto's face and asked quietly, "What happened?"
"I can't explain it clearly."
The three veteran shinobi immediately considered the possibility of Naruto defecting. They all went still. After all, the entire village knew the depth of the bond between Naruto and Kanon.
It was entirely possible Naruto would betray Konoha for her sake. If that happened, the three of them weren't sure they could win against Naruto in Sage Mode.
"What do you mean you 'can't explain'?" Inoichi demanded.
"Regardless, I'm going to where the real Pain is."
"Don't follow me. I'm going alone."
The group was taken aback. "Naruto, do you even know where the real body is?"
"Yeah. I found him using Sage Mode."
"I sensed his chakra through the black receivers I pulled out of the Pains," Naruto answered flatly.
"I see. But why do you want to go alone?" Inoichi pressed.
"I have something I need to confirm..."
"Confirm? Confirm what?"
"I want to talk to the real Pain!"
Inoichi was outraged. "What?! Don't be ridiculous!"
"We're grateful you defeated Pain, but this isn't a problem that can be solved by 'talking'!"
Naruto's temper flared. "Then what? If we defeat this person, his subordinates, and their village, will that solve everything?!"
"And what will talking to him achieve?" Inoichi shouted back. "That man and Kanon Uchiha are enemies who destroyed Konoha!"
"They can never be forgiven!"
"I know!" Naruto roared.
"Pain and Kanon, the ones who did this to the village and everyone in it, I can't forgive them either!"
"Then—!" Inoichi started, but Shikaku stepped in to stop him.
"Inoichi, let's do as Naruto says. Let him go alone."
"Shikaku... you!"
"Naruto is the one who stopped Pain. He has earned the right to talk to him. And in this village, Naruto is likely the only one left who can stand against Kanon Uchiha."
"Besides, he clearly has his own reasons."
"Fine. Let him go."
Naruto nodded toward Shikaku. "Thanks, Shikaku-san!"
As Naruto's silhouette disappeared into the distance, Inoichi remained skeptical. "Shikaku, why let him go alone?"
"Because of my son."
"Your son?"
"Shikamaru rarely praises anyone, but he said there's something special about Naruto. I'm choosing to believe in that. Let's leave this in Naruto's hands."
…
Naruto entered the giant tree made of paper, a disguise created by the Paper technique.
Konan immediately stepped forward, shielding Nagato.
"Konan, step back."
"Nagato!"
"It's alright..."
Konan retreated to the side, watching Naruto as he walked toward them.
"So you're the real Pain?" Naruto looked at the emaciated Nagato, his voice cold.
"So, peace has shamelessly arrived..."
Nagato looked at the fury in Naruto's eyes and let out a faint, mocking smirk.
"Do you hate me? Your enemy is right before you."
"Do you want your revenge?"
Naruto's jaw tightened as he struggled to suppress his rage. Konan spoke up:
"Killing Nagato here to satisfy your revenge won't change the world. It's nothing more than self-gratification."
Nagato nodded slightly. "You, who can provide no answers, can achieve nothing."
"Your purpose is to be a sacrifice for the peace I create. That is the only correct answer."
With a flick of his wrist, a black receiver shot out from the mechanical seat beneath Nagato, piercing Naruto's abdomen.
"At this range, my chakra can control your movements at will."
"Don't worry, I missed your vitals. You are a precious Jinchuriki, after all."
Suddenly, the Nine-Tails' chakra surged, turning Naruto's eyes into the golden cross of the Sage-Jinchuriki state. A wave of terrifying hatred crashed against Nagato, making him recoil.
"What's wrong, Nagato?" Konan asked quickly.
"This kid... he took that hit on purpose."
"I came here to talk to you," Naruto said.
"But I also had something else to confirm."
"Confirm what?" Nagato frowned.
"I wanted to see what I would do when my enemy was right in front of me. I didn't even know myself."
"And?"
Naruto ripped the black receiver out of his body.
"As I thought... I can't forgive you! I want to kill you so badly I can't stop shaking!"
Naruto lunged toward Nagato, his fist cocked back. But as he prepared to strike through Konan to get to him, a memory of Jiraiya flashed through his mind.
He stopped. He lowered his fist.
"Pervy Sage said that an era where people truly understand one another will come. He believed in it with all his heart!"
"When he told me that... I..."
"It went in one ear and out the other. I didn't think about it at all."
"He said he was entrusting the answer to finding that path to me, but I just thought he was finally acknowledging me as his student."
"I was just happy to be praised."
"Thinking about it now, I finally understand that what Pervy Sage meant wasn't something so simple."
Listening to Naruto's monologue, Nagato spoke softly. "But you still can't forgive me, can you?"
"Human emotions aren't so cheap that a few pretty words can wash away a grudge."
"Yeah. You're right."
"What Jiraiya-sensei said might just be outdated idealism. In the face of this cruel reality, it sounds like nonsense."
"You said you'd defeat me and bring peace to the shinobi world..."
"But even if you defeat me, what about Kanon? She is more dangerous than I am now. How will you swallow that hatred?"
"Even if those are just empty words, even if it's revenge for self-gratification, if that is your justice, then so be it."
"You are no god. You see the reality before you. Can you truly still believe in Jiraiya-sensei's fairy tales?"
Gazing into Nagato's Rinnegan, Naruto didn't offer a lengthy rebuttal. He looked him straight in the eye and spoke with conviction:
"When I found out you were Pervy Sage's student, there was one thing I had to ask you."
"You were his students, how did you end up like this?!"
"And why did Kanon join you? You aren't like the other members of the Akatsuki who just kill for fun. I know that much. But I know nothing else about you."
"So, I want to hear your story first. Then, I'll find my answer!"
"Fine," Nagato said. "Then I will tell you everything."