Nagato fell silent, turning his head, his gaze falling upon the copy of "The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi" in Konan's hands.
At this moment, he was suddenly curious about what kind of novel Jiraiya, who had spent his life searching for the so-called Child of Prophecy, had written.
Minato's words also made Nagato recall various past experiences. Yahiko's final words, which he had long buried in his heart, surged back into his mind at this time.
When a person becomes weak, their thoughts involuntarily multiply.
At this moment, Nagato was physically at his weakest, and his psychological defenses were at their most fragile. The biggest reason Jiraiya's "Talk-No-Jutsu" hadn't worked before was actually that Nagato's guard was still very strong then.
But facing Minato, who had actively returned Konan and whose demeanor was somewhat similar to Yahiko's, Nagato's wariness was not as intense as before.
With various factors stacked together, Nagato's psychological defense began to loosen.
However, relying solely on this to make Nagato completely turn toward Konoha and agree to cooperation was clearly impossible. The most crucial factor would be whether Minato, in his subsequent interaction with Nagato, could genuinely meet Nagato's expectations.
Nagato, recalling Yahiko's last words, also remembered the original intention of forming the Akatsuki with his friends.
In the beginning... Yahiko hoped to bring peace to the village through peaceful means. And, in fact, the Akatsuki did exactly that in the early stages, even achieving some success and earning widespread praise, which unfortunately also invited disaster.
They were ultimately too naive, believing that the then-leader, Hanzō the Salamander, would accept their emerging organization.
In reality, to prevent his authority from being shaken and to prevent the Village Hidden in the Rain from slipping out of his control, Hanzō decided to collaborate with Danzo of Konoha to wipe out the Akatsuk completely!
But times were different now. Jiraiya's student, Minato Namikaze, was the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, and Hanzō, the former leader of the Village Hidden in the Rain, had long since been killed by the Deva Path.
The people who shackled the Akatsuki essentially no longer existed.
Nagato still had a choice even now: should he continue to ally with the man claiming to be Madara Uchiha and proceed with the Eye of the Moon Plan, or should he pick up Yahiko's legacy again and lead the Akatsuki back onto the path it should have taken?
For a moment, Nagato fell into deep contemplation.
However, a few words from Minato Namikaze quickly helped him make a decision:
"Nagato, the reason we Konoha ninjas investigated the Akatsuki was not because we wanted to be enemies with the Village Hidden in the Rain."
"Peace is hard-won, and we cherish it greatly."
"However... our ninja discovered clues that your Akatsuki was harboring a rogue ninja named Obito Uchiha while investigating him."
"It was because of this that our ninja entered the Village Hidden in the Rain for investigation."
"If any misunderstandings occurred during this period, I apologize to the people of the Rain Village on behalf of Shinichi and the others."
As he spoke, Minato Namikaze, the Hokage of Konoha, actually bowed slightly toward Nagato and Konan. This low posture brought Nagato out of his thoughts, refocusing his attention on Minato. Konan, upon hearing this information, also frowned. Before Nagato could speak, she interjected:
"A Konoha rogue ninja? Obito Uchiha?"
"Fourth Hokage, no such member exists within our Akatsuki!"
Although their Akatsuki did recruit some rogue ninjas, Konan adhered to the principle of owning up to what they did and denying what they didn't. Minato's words sounded completely baseless and unjustly accusatory to her.
"None?"
"Hmm, that can't be right. Shinichi's investigation wouldn't be mistaken."
"And according to the report, he fought with Obito in the Village Hidden in the Rain not long ago."
"Emmm... he's a one-eyed man wearing an orange spiral mask, and he possesses excellent space-time ninjutsu."
Minato didn't believe Konan would lie to him under these circumstances. He could clearly sense that his sincerity had already caused both of them to lower some of their psychological guard. They had no reason to conceal this kind of information.
"!!!"
"???"
Hearing Minato's description, Konan and Nagato involuntarily looked at each other, both seeing shock in the other's eyes.
After a brief hesitation, Nagato's expression darkened, and he spoke in a low tone:
"The man you mentioned... is he called Obito Uchiha?!"
"Shouldn't he be called... Madara Uchiha?"
At this moment, anger was brewing in Nagato's chest. He vaguely sensed something was wrong. That man... had actually disguised his identity to deceive them?!
Obito Uchiha... Madara Uchiha...
Although both were from the Uchiha clan, the meanings represented by the two names were completely different.
More importantly, the fact that the guy concealed his identity to approach him meant he was untrustworthy. Although he didn't know the opponent's scheme yet, Nagato had already realized that he seemed to have been deceived and used as a pawn on the front lines.
No wonder... the man who was capable of fighting the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, dared not show his true face.
So that's it!
Considering the opponent concealed his identity to interact with him, Nagato now had reason to suspect the opponent was secretly doing something behind his back.
The Eye of the Moon Plan... could that also be...
Nagato stared intently at Minato, waiting for the answer from his mouth.
"Madara Uchiha?"
"It couldn't be Madara Uchiha. It's absolutely certain that the masked man is Obito Uchiha."
"There's also another person with him, a strange fellow, half black and half white body, seemingly with two personalities. He should be a member of your Akatsuki organization as well."
While Minato's description wasn't detailed, hearing his words, Nagato and Konan both thought of Zetsu. This person had appeared alongside the man who called himself Madara Uchiha.
Konan had always been wary of those two mysterious individuals. Now, realizing that "Madara Uchiha" was a fake, she immediately regarded the person as an enemy with malicious intentions.
"Nagato..."
Sensing the whiff of a conspiracy, Konan looked up at Nagato, her face etched with worry.
"Heh... hehehe..."
Nagato suddenly let out a low laugh, seeming to mock his own naivety and how easily he had been fooled.
However, just at that moment, a "ripple" suddenly appeared on the floor of the Gedo Mazo. Zetsu slowly emerged from within the statue's body, revealing his head:
"Hello~~~~"
"Did I interrupt you?"
Zetsu's sudden appearance surprised everyone. His emergence was silent. Minato couldn't help but narrow his pupils, swiftly grabbing a kunai and preparing for battle.
Nagato's eyes also widened. He seemed not to have expected that the opponent could appear inside the Gedo Mazo's body in such a way.
Although the statue's mouth was currently open, Zetsu's method of appearance was extraordinary.
The statue's body was connected to Nagato, and the statue was not a mere "stone figure" but the husk of some life form. In Nagato's limited understanding, the statue was virtually indestructible.
Zetsu could actually traverse inside the statue's body. This guy....
"Zetsu.... what exactly are you!"
Nagato's heart sank, and he asked in a deep tone. The fact that the opponent appeared here at this moment—did it mean he had been under the opponent's surveillance the entire time?!
Not even the Rinnegan detected the opponent's prying!
How was that possible?!
The more he thought about it, the more alarmed he became. Nagato was now deeply wary of Zetsu.
"Hmph hmph hmph..."
Zetsu did not answer, nor did he pay attention to Minato. He simply turned back, looking up at Nagato, who was suspended in mid-air, and suddenly asked:
"Nagato, did this guy talk you into it?"
"Are you planning... to betray me and Madara?"
Black Zetsu's voice was low, echoing inside the statue's oral cavity.
Minato Namikaze listened quietly. He had already recognized Zetsu as the person who assisted Obito Uchiha in attacking Konoha years ago. Listening to the conversation between Zetsu and Nagato now, he suddenly realized that these two seemed not to be entirely on the same side.
Black Zetsu seemed to be closer to Obito Uchiha and slightly distant from Nagato.
Although Zetsu still referred to Obito Uchiha as Madara, Minato felt that the opponent was either also deceived, or... was covering up Obito's identity!
"Betrayal?"
"Concealing your true identity from us, you never intended to cooperate sincerely with the Akatsuki from the start, did you?"
"I ask you... Is that person truly called Madara Uchiha?"
A divine light flashed in Nagato's eyes as he stared at Zetsu and asked.
However, Zetsu avoided Nagato's question, deflecting the topic and showing no intention of answering directly:
"Does it matter if he is truly Madara Uchiha?"
"As long as it doesn't affect our plan, isn't that enough?"
Zetsu shook his head, seeming to defend Obito, and also perhaps trying to win Nagato over.
"It doesn't matter?"
"Look behind you. Does it truly not matter?"
Nagato didn't say much more, only raising his chin to speak.
A shadow enveloped Zetsu. Minato Namikaze had, without a sound, appeared behind Zetsu. While Nagato was speaking, the kunai in Minato's hand was already descending toward Zetsu.
A sharp wind whistled from behind his head. Zetsu showed no intention of turning around, instead sinking directly into the Gedo Mazo's body and disappearing.
Minato's kunai missed, leaving a shallow mark on the ground. The Gedo Mazo's surface was even harder than steel!
Zetsu submerged into the ground and vanished. When his body reappeared, only half of him was visible.
White Zetsu slowly "ascended" from behind Konan.
Konan's chakra was already sealed by Hyuga Shinichi. Facing the suddenly appearing White Zetsu, Konan had no way to effectively resist.
"Snap!" White Zetsu's body tightly clung to Konan's back. A wooden stake that had appeared in his hand was pressed directly against Konan's neck.
While holding Konan hostage, White Zetsu shrieked:
"Nagato, give up resisting, or I'll kill this girl!"
White Zetsu's action stopped Nagato, and even Minato Namikaze frowned, clutching his kunai in readiness.
Although he and Konan had no emotional bond to speak of, judging by the current situation, his student Obito Uchiha seemed to be completely manipulating Jiraiya-sensei's two students!
And that person called Zetsu... had a secretive aura and acted bizarrely, making him difficult to deal with.
"Konan!!!"
Nagato, whose emotions had just stabilized due to Konan's return, cried out in concern when he saw the opponent choose to take Konan hostage.
But before Nagato could make a move, the wall above him suddenly shifted. Black Zetsu actually penetrated and emerged from within the Gedo Mazo's body. Following the black rod that transmitted chakra, he flowed quickly onto Nagato's body like a liquid.
Under Nagato's somewhat surprised gaze, Black Zetsu completely covered him, quickly enveloping one half of Nagato's body.
The moment his body was covered by Black Zetsu, Nagato clearly felt that his body was no longer under his control.
The Nagato covered by Black Zetsu suddenly raised a hand towards Minato, and a powerful suction force acted directly upon Minato's body.
Almighty Push (Banshō Ten'in)!
The moment the suction enveloped Minato, his entire body was lifted off the ground, flying straight towards Nagato's location.
Simultaneously, a sharp black rod condensed in Nagato's hand, stabbing directly towards the incoming Minato.
"Hiss—"
Everything happened too fast. The negotiation between Minato and Nagato had just gained traction when this anomaly occurred. Seeing the black rod in his hand pierce Minato's body, Nagato's mind blanked, and his gaze turned somewhat dull.
Although it was only his first meeting with Minato, this 'senior brother,' who bore some resemblance to Yahiko, had left a deep impression on Nagato. But...
Just as Nagato's sorrowful emotions surfaced, Minato's body suddenly vanished with a poof of white smoke.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu? When..."
Black Zetsu, covering Nagato, let out a low murmur at the sight of this, then looked around, searching for Minato Namikaze's whereabouts.
"Rasengan!"
Before any figure could be found, Minato's voice came from above.
Black Zetsu and Nagato looked up, only to find that Minato had appeared above them sometime earlier. With a Rasengan strike, the black rods connecting Nagato and the Gedo Mazo were completely severed.
Nagato and Black Zetsu fell to the ground with a dull thump.
Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists!
At the same time, a brilliant blue chakra glow flashed from the other side. Hyuga Shinichi had appeared behind Konan at some point, slamming a Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists heavily onto White Zetsu's body.
The strike looked powerful and heavy, but the emphasis was on sealing the White Zetsu's tenketsu (chakra points).
White Zetsu never expected someone to appear behind him. The speed of the Flying Thunder God far exceeded his anticipation.
The wooden stake pressing against Konan's neck was knocked away, and White Zetsu himself had several chakra points sealed by Shinichi, causing his body to go limp.
Compared to Black Zetsu, White Zetsu's flaws were very obvious.
Shinichi landed one blow on White Zetsu, while his other hand immediately grabbed Konan's shoulder, forcibly stripping White Zetsu from Konan's body.
He then tossed White Zetsu away. Shinichi's hand quickly condensed a small Tailed Beast Ball (Bijuudama) and immediately hurled it at White Zetsu.
...
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