After being away for two months, Nagato finally returned to Amegakure.
The village was as gloomy as ever. Gray skies hung low, and the cold rain splashed against his calves. Yet strangely, Nagato didn't feel cold—instead, he felt… at ease.
No matter how beautiful the outside world was, it belonged to someone else.
Only here… was home.
Just like how he had abandoned the Uzumaki name—he was no longer an Uzumaki.
He was simply Nagato of the Land of Rain.
A while later, Konan found him and asked with concern,
"Nagato, you went out and fought the leader of Uzushiogakure this time. How is your health?"
Nagato smiled faintly. Seeing Konan's concern—not as a subordinate, but as a friend—warmed his heart.
"Don't worry. Mianma and I were just exchanging moves. Neither of us went all out… though, getting checked like that still stings a bit."
Konan blinked, clearly confused.
"Nagato… what kind of person is your clansman? What exactly happened between you two?"
Nagato waved it off casually, dropping a bombshell like it was nothing.
"Just some minor friction. But our Tailed Beast collection plan… might be delayed indefinitely."
Then, without waiting for her reaction, he continued in a nostalgic tone:
"As for Mianma… he reminds me of Yahiko… and also carries a bit of Payne's shadow."
"I learned quite a lot from him. Unfortunately… we're destined to be enemies. That's the real pity."
Konan's expression turned serious.
The person Nagato respected most was Yahiko. For him to compare someone to Yahiko—and even himself as Payne—meant this "Mianma" wasn't just strong… he was dangerous.
And judging from the rumors, his strength was on par with Nagato.
That was insane.
Even the so-called "demigods" of the past had never truly threatened Nagato. The only things he ever feared were entire ninja villages.
Which meant…
Mianma was basically a one-man village-level threat.
After a moment, Konan frowned.
"Then why would Uzumaki Mianma stop the Akatsuki's Tailed Beast plan? Wouldn't weakening the Five Great Nations benefit him?"
Nagato gave a bitter smile.
"Because… he's the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
Konan froze.
"…So that's why."
"Can't Akatsuki deal with him?" she asked.
Nagato shook his head.
"If we all attack together, killing him is possible… but capturing him alive? That's a different story."
"And once the other Jinchūriki become alert, the entire plan collapses."
"Unless something unexpected happens… the Tailed Beast Project is basically finished."
Konan nodded slowly.
"Then what do you plan to do next?"
Truthfully, she didn't care much about the Tailed Beasts. She only cared about Nagato—and she would support whatever decision he made.
Nagato thought for a moment, then asked,
"How is the recruitment going?"
Konan replied,
"Kakuzu and I went to the Land of Hot Water and recruited a cultist named Hidan. He's not very strong, but his curse technique is… troublesome."
"Also, Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki recruited Deidara—Ōnoki's student."
Nagato raised an eyebrow.
"Ōnoki's apprentice? Why did he defect?"
Konan shrugged.
"Apparently he escaped after being imprisoned. But his Explosion Release is extremely powerful."
Nagato nodded.
"Good. That kind of talent is useful."
Konan glanced at him suspiciously, and Nagato quickly clarified:
"Since the Tailed Beast plan is stalled, we'll shift focus. We'll start influencing nearby small nations… and prepare to expand trade."
Konan looked shocked.
"You're not planning to imitate Hanzō, are you?"
Nagato shook his head.
"I won't be as reckless as that salamander."
"I'll follow Ōnoki's approach—slowly erode influence over time."
"After visiting the Land of Waves, I realized something…"
"Even if our plan succeeds, the people of small countries will still suffer."
"We need to take care of our own people first."
"Otherwise, if we fail… Amegakure will be finished."
"And if even our own people don't believe in us… how can the entire ninja world?"
Konan fell silent for a long time.
Finally, she said softly,
"Nagato… you've changed."
Nagato nodded, a hint of loneliness in his voice.
"Yeah… I have."
"After fighting Mianma, I realized… I'm not the only 'god.'"
"…Maybe I'm not even a god at all."
For Konan, that was both comforting… and unsettling.
After a pause, she asked,
"What about the Akatsuki?"
Nagato frowned.
The masked man.
A variable he couldn't ignore.
The original Akatsuki had been founded by Yahiko, Konan, and himself. But the current Akatsuki… also belonged to that mysterious man.
And that man would never give up on the Tailed Beast plan.
After thinking it over, Nagato said,
"For now, Akatsuki will continue operating as a mercenary group."
"As for Uzumaki Mianma… the masked man will have to deal with that headache himself."
"He killed the previous Nine-Tails Jinchūriki once… he can try again."
"But I'll warn him—he's not allowed to act in Akatsuki's name."
...
Somewhere else in the ninja world—
Black Zetsu found Obito Uchiha, who was currently carrying out a bounty mission—assassinating nobles and stirring chaos like it was a hobby.
Ironically, when he played the goofy persona "Tobi," he'd even help old people cross the street.
Yeah… the guy had issues.
After sensing Black Zetsu, Obito's tone instantly turned cold.
"What is it?"
"It's about the Land of Waves… and Uzumaki Mianma."
Obito waved it off.
"I already know. Nagato's exposure is troublesome—we'll need to adjust our plans and speed up Tailed Beast collection."
He sat casually on a tree branch, crossing one leg.
Black Zetsu narrowed his eyes.
"Then you probably don't know Mianma's true identity…"
"He's Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
Obito didn't even flinch.
"I know."
"If he wasn't the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, he wouldn't be that strong."
Black Zetsu paused.
"…You already knew?"
Now that was unexpected.
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