"Why is there someone here?" Orochimaru frowned, his eyes filled with displeasure.
The process of working on research materials was incredibly engrossing. Therefore, before beginning his research, Orochimaru would ensure that all matters at hand were completed so that no one would disturb him.
Unless it was truly an emergency, signaled by the bell.
Opening the door, he saw several people walking in wearing lab coats.
It was Konan and Haku.
"Hm? Rare guests." Orochimaru paused for a moment, then extended his tongue to lick his lips, revealing a perverse smile.
"The experimental subject's partner has come too. Do they intend to use Konan to stimulate Nagato?"
The Sharingan could produce different fluctuations through emotional stimulation, potentially even evolving.
Perhaps the Rinnegan also had the potential for further improvement.
In just that split second, Orochimaru had already conceived thousands of scenarios for torturing Konan to cause Nagato to have a mental breakdown.
"Orochimaru, I hope you don't mind if I take up a little of your time." Haku nodded at Orochimaru.
"No problem, but make it quick. I'm already getting a bit impatient." Orochimaru gave a refined, polite smile and stood aside.
"Nagato." Konan went to Nagato's side, her face full of worry.
"Konan, why are you here?" Nagato looked astonished, followed immediately by concern.
He knew that with Konan's abilities, she couldn't possibly have entered the Seireitei unless she had made some kind of deal.
"Nagato, rest assured. Everything will be over soon." Konan grabbed Nagato's hand, tears glistening in her eyes.
"What did you say to them? Konan!" Nagato's gaze became sharp.
Konan's eyes dodged his. Seeing this, Nagato became even more convinced of his guess and looked furious. "Don't trust them!"
"But... they said they would resurrect Yahiko."
Konan's words plunged Nagato into disbelief.
"Resurrect Yahiko???" A brilliant light erupted in Nagato's eyes.
Yahiko was the undisputed leader in his heart, and also a wonderful big brother.
But Yahiko had died in a struggle for power. The leader of the Hidden Rain Village, fearing the rising Akatsuki, had killed Yahiko.
From that moment on, Nagato had achieved a great, terrible enlightenment: the peace Yahiko spoke of was impossible to achieve.
All ninja villages and humans were selfish. Only by making everyone feel pain could they appreciate the value of peace and yearn for it.
Although this philosophy was extreme, it actually coincided with Naruto's philosophy to some extent.
"Nagato, let's give up. When Yahiko is resurrected, the three of us will retire to the mountains and live the lives of ordinary people, okay?" Konan held Nagato's hand, tears streaming down her face.
"Resurrection... to make everything go back to how it was? Can we really go back?" Nagato's eyes dimmed, and he gave a miserable smile.
The three of them had lost their homes in the past, wandering constantly, living days of hunger. Precisely because they had experienced the chaos of war, they yearned for peace.
Even after gaining power, they tried to use their own strength to change the world, but the reality of failure cast them into the abyss.
Nagato felt immense regret in his heart for not protecting Yahiko.
This guilt turned into anger and motivation to make this sick world feel true pain.
Even if the dead could truly be resurrected, the price would surely be incredibly heavy.
"Kakashi and Senior White Fang were both people who had died," Haku suddenly spoke up at this moment.
"Even I died once. For Lord Naruto, resurrection is not a difficult task."
Orochimaru added from the side, "I believe you all know that the Shinigami of the Seireitei are actually transformed from souls. Theoretically speaking, we can find Yahiko's soul in the Pure Land and subject him to Shinigamification. That way, he will not only retain his memories but also possess decent strength."
Hearing this, Nagato's eyes shook.
"What do I need to pay?" After a long silence, Nagato asked.
"Hand over the Rinnegan and join the Seireitei," Haku said.
Nagato hesitated.
It wasn't that his feelings for Yahiko weren't deep enough, but he had worked hard for his philosophy for over a decade. To give it up directly in such a short time was extremely difficult.
Seeing Nagato's hesitation, Haku's tone gradually turned a bit cold. "You need to think clearly. The Seireitei is offering you a proposal where everyone is happy. The Seireitei is essentially invincible in the ninja world now; a few Kage-level fighters won't change the outcome. Rather than calling this an invitation to join, it's better to call it the Seireitei's mercy."
"What is your philosophy?" Nagato hesitated for a moment before asking.
"To overthrow the rule of all great nations and ninja villages, rewrite the rules of the ninja world, and become the rule-makers. Of course, to achieve this goal, we will make the ninja world feel pain and despair."
At this moment, Naruto walked in from outside the main door, clutching a creature in his hand that looked like neither human nor ghost.
"Hm? What is this?" The science maniac Orochimaru was immediately interested.
"A little guy who was constantly peeping." Naruto casually threw the creature in front of Orochimaru.
With a body that was half pale white and half black, the humanoid shape was barely discernible.
"This little thing can simulate anyone's appearance." Naruto's words piqued Orochimaru's interest. He carefully examined Zetsu, who was controlled by Reiatsu, making clicking sounds of intrigue. "This little guy is very cunning. He likes to hide in the ground. I couldn't catch him before. I didn't expect him to be restricted by the Meta-Sphere this time and get caught. If I'm not mistaken, his goal was the Rinnegan, right?" Orochimaru glanced at Nagato.
Nagato looked bewildered.
He didn't recognize Zetsu at all.
"Read his memories," Naruto said, looking at Nagato. "For the Rinnegan, this shouldn't be a difficult task, right?"
The sharp-witted Naruto had immediately sensed that Zetsu might be related to Nagato's Rinnegan. He spoke indifferently.
"This little guy has been spying on everything since Obito came to the Seireitei. He also followed along during this Great Ninja War. He definitely knows many secrets."
Orochimaru released Nagato's restraints. Under everyone's gaze, Nagato dared not make any offensive moves. He could only approach Zetsu and activate the Rinnegan.
In his heart, he still held prejudice against the Seireitei.
But as he read the memories, his expression gradually became bizarre.
He never imagined that his Rinnegan was truly transplanted. And the purpose of all this was to resurrect Madara Uchiha. Once Madara was resurrected, his body would be used as a medium to unseal his mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki.
Kaguya Otsutsuki was the mother of the Sage of Six Paths, sealed by the Sage and his brother working together. Since then, Zetsu had been looking for a way to help unseal Kaguya.
He could transform into anyone's appearance, and his stealth abilities were maxed out.
Ordinary ninja couldn't discover Zetsu's tracks at all.
Only Shinigami, who were particularly sensitive to aura, could detect him.
Zetsu had never dared to enter the Seireitei before, but after Nagato was captured, he was forced to enter, hoping to snatch the Rinnegan away.
To Zetsu, Nagato was merely a tool.
Whether it was Yahiko's death or the subsequent events in the Land of Rain, everything had been orchestrated by him and Madara Uchiha.
After understanding all this, Nagato's expression went blank. The complexity of his inner emotions was something no one could understand.
There was sadness, anger, humiliation, and even a trace of regret.
It turned out that such a powerful Kekkei Genkai as the Rinnegan had nothing to do with him. He had prided himself as a god, unaware that in the eyes of others, he was just a completely calculated pawn.
His tragic life had been entirely planned out.
For a person, the most painful thing is to discover that, in the end, the clown was actually oneself.
He was like an actor completely directed by others, performing a clumsy show on a stage meant for him alone.
Even in the end, he would become a tool for someone else's resurrection.
So much for making the world feel pain.
So much for understanding pain, fearing pain.
It was simply... pathetic.
Nagato sat paralyzed on the ground, soul-lost. His eyes were empty, and the corners of his mouth held a self-mocking arc.
"Nagato." Konan hugged Nagato with heartache, softly comforting him. "No matter what the truth is, I will always be by your side."
Seeing Nagato's reaction, Naruto grabbed Zetsu's head. A flood of memories belonging to Zetsu poured into his mind. A moment later, he released his hand, his eyes thoughtful.
The truth wasn't much different from what he had guessed. Both Nagato and Obito were Zetsu's pawns.
But what surprised Naruto was Zetsu's ultimate goal.
Unsealing Kaguya Otsutsuki.
Kaguya was a bona fide Six Paths-level powerhouse, one who required the combined efforts of the Sage of Six Paths and his brother to seal.
Seen this way, there were too many mysterious strongmen in the ninja world.
The Seireitei needed more substantial development.
Thinking of this, Naruto looked at Nagato, who was still immersed in his breakdown.
Naruto walked up to Nagato. Seeing Naruto's snow-white boots, Nagato raised his head vacantly.
In his vision, that shock of blonde hair was so dazzling. Naruto's gentle smile was as warm as sunshine, and his voice was full of magnetism.
"We live our entire lives in a fake world. Whether it's the so-called ninja villages, great nations, or other worlds, hypocrisy and conspiracy exist. However, your beliefs, your thoughts, and your partners are real."
"I also understand and agree with your philosophy. Only by understanding pain, feeling pain, and even fearing pain can one truly yearn for peace in the truest sense."
"The hypocritical world needs to be broken, and the concept of peace needs to be implemented. Even if the road ahead is full of difficulties, even if we get lost, as long as we walk firmly, we can move toward success."
"We in the Seireitei yearn for peace more than anyone, yet we have to pick up the swords in our hands. We are different from the ninja villages fighting for power. We fight for peace; we fight for our beliefs!"
Hearing this, Nagato was deeply touched.
He finally understood why so many people followed Naruto.
Because he possessed a kind of charisma.
He could convince everyone and let everyone see hope!
Naruto extended his hand toward Nagato and smiled. "I once heard a saying: If I lay down my sword, I cannot protect the one I love. But if I grip my sword, I cannot embrace the one I love."
"For the sake of peace, we have all chosen to pick up the sword. Both the Ninja World and the Summoning Realm have Six Paths-level existences. They are all obstacles that will interfere with establishing new rules in the ninja world. Are you willing to join the Seireitei and fight for peace? Nagato."
Nagato wanted to blurt out "I am willing" directly, but he held back.
He turned his head, daring not to look at Naruto anymore, for fear that he would agree to Naruto in the next second.
He saw tears in Konan's eyes as she looked at Naruto with a gaze full of trust.
"Fight to protect? Fight for peace?" Nagato chewed on these words repeatedly. His eyes flickered, and after a long time, he raised his head, looked directly into Naruto's eyes, and asked, "Can you resurrect Yahiko?"
"Naturally," Naruto nodded with a smile.
"I am willing to join... no, we are willing to join the Seireitei together." Nagato and Konan exchanged a look and spoke in unison.
"Welcome to the Seireitei!" Naruto revealed a gentle smile.
"Ahem, well then," Orochimaru's unwilling voice rang out. "So, are we still digging out these eyes or not?"