"I have a premonition that my death is approaching within the next few days…"
"Obito, Zetsu, I'm entrusting you with helping Nagato collect the Tailed Beasts and pushing him to use the Rinne Rebirth Jutsu to revive me."
"Once I'm revived, I will absorb the Ten-Tails, become its Jinchuriki, and ascend as the second Sage of Six Paths."
"When that time comes, reviving Rin will be effortless, and with the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan realized, this world will finally obtain eternal peace."
Madara's voice was slow and thin, like an old man whispering from the edge of death.
Obito and Zetsu remained silent. They simply nodded.
The scene shifted.
It was still the cavern, but Obito was absent. Only Black Zetsu and White Zetsu stood there while Madara sat upon the stone throne. He was still aged, yet clearly younger than in the earlier memory. His lone visible eye had already become a Rinnegan.
Madara was instructing Black Zetsu and White Zetsu on the plan targeting Obito.
The scene shifted again.
Black and White Zetsu arrived at young Nagato's home. While his parents were away, they knocked the child unconscious, transplanted the two Rinnegans into him, and erased all traces.
Another shift followed, Yahiko's death.
What appeared in the world's eyes as a tragedy orchestrated solely by Hanzo and Danzo was, in truth, pushed forward by Obito and Black and White Zetsu.
All of these scenes were memories Uchiha Gen had extracted from Obito and White Zetsu, recorded with his Sharingan, then projected as a flowing genjutsu film.
When the final image faded, Nagato and Konan emerged from the genjutsu.
Watching everything from a third-person view, they had been powerless to interfere.
The moment they returned to reality, with Yahiko's death closing the vision, Konan, Tendo Pain, and Nagato's true body were all overflowing with grief and fury.
Konan and Nagato were crying. Yahiko, nothing more than a corpse turned puppet, no longer possessed the ability.
Nagato felt a suffocating guilt. In his heart, Yahiko's death always led back to him. If Yahiko had never followed him… he would still be alive. Yahiko had even chosen to die for them.
He no longer supported Yahiko's old philosophy, but that didn't change their bond. That bond had been carved into him long before their ideals diverged.
Hidden away in the chamber atop the Rain Village tower, Nagato's frail chest rose and fell rapidly. His ribs showed through his thin frame as tears spilled uncontrollably.
Seeing Nagato and Konan break down, the others exchanged uncertain glances.
Even if it turned out the Rinnegan wasn't his natural power, was this reaction really necessary?
They didn't dare ask. They simply watched.
It was worth remembering that Nagato hadn't revived Yahiko because reality had proven to him that Yahiko's and Jiraiya's methods were impossible. Yahiko's death crushed more than brotherhood, it shattered an entire worldview.
In the ninja world, ideals, political ideals, stand above everything. To pursue them, anything can be sacrificed.
That was why Jiraiya and Nagato fought to the death. Why Hashirama "killed" Madara. Why Itachi gave up everything for what he believed was the greater good.
Itachi's case was unique, of course, he was a piece used by others.
Since the old path had been destroyed before his eyes, Nagato would not trade his life to revive Yahiko. Even if Yahiko returned, small nations would still be oppressed by the great powers, and peace would still remain out of reach.
Reviving Yahiko changed nothing. Nagato needed to keep living in order to chase a new path, one built on overwhelming force, a "nuclear peace" forged from universal terror.
In the original story, Nagato's shift had been abrupt, making it look like he was swayed by a child's words alone. If the author had shown him wavering day-to-day, torn between old and new ideals, his final overturn would've felt more natural.
Instead of talk-no-jutsu alone, it would have been a return to something deeper: rediscovering the original intention.
…
Eventually, Konan and Nagato calmed down—at least outwardly.
Konan spoke with an icy tone. "Your Uchiha Clan has truly made a great 'contribution' to the ninja world…"
Gen didn't mind the sarcasm. He smiled lightly. "That's why I'm here to fix things."
"Fixing things?" Her expression twisted in anger. "And what about everyone who died?"
Gen rested a finger against his chin. "Hmm… How about I bring Madara's corpse over so you can grind his bones to ash? Might help with the anger."
Konan glared at him. Desecrating a corpse wouldn't solve anything.
Through controlling Black and White Zetsu, Gen already knew where Madara had been buried.
Gen shrugged innocently. "Every wrong has a culprit, but it wasn't me, was it?"
Konan was about to retort, but Tendo Pain spoke first.
"That's enough, Konan. He spared us earlier and revealed some of the truth. Mr. Gen has shown enough sincerity."
Konan fell silent and returned to her cool expression.
Tendo Pain turned to Gen. "Mr. Gen, what exactly is the Ten-Tails? And what is the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan?"
"The Ten-Tails is the combination of the nine Tailed Beasts and the Outer Path Demonic Statue. The statue is the Ten-Tails' husk."
"As for the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan… it can't be realized anymore. There's no point discussing something already impossible."
Tendo Pain nodded slightly. "Then for what purpose have you come? It can't be just about the Rinnegan."
Gen's smile was subtle. "Of course not."
"Are you expecting us to hand over the Rinnegan willingly?" Tendo Pain asked with a strained smile. "If I refuse… could I even keep it?"
"If we resist, none of us survive, right?"
"My ideal is everything to me, but I refuse to lose another companion. Sasori and Deidara are my last loyal subordinates—I won't lead them to their deaths."
"To be honest, if I had even a one percent chance of victory, I'd fight to the death without hesitation. But I see no chance at all."
"So sacrificing ourselves accomplishes nothing."
His words moved Konan, Sasori, and Deidara.
"I will reclaim the Rinnegan," Gen said calmly. "It's the Uchiha Clan's legacy—even if Madara himself left the clan."
"But not now. You'll keep it a while longer. I'll take it back when I need it."
"In return, I'll perform eye surgery for you and heal your legs."
"What happened to you is partly Danzo's responsibility. Consider that Konoha's compensation."
Tendo Pain's eyes narrowed. "How do you know about my legs?"
"My dōjutsu surpasses your imagination," Gen replied. "What do you think?"
Konan, afraid Nagato might hesitate, urged him quickly, "Nagato, agree."
Losing the Rinnegan meant losing the power to pursue his ideals, but this was still a blessing compared to annihilation. With someone like Gen standing with Konoha, and the Akatsuki collapsing, the Tailed Beast weapon plan was already impossible.
Tendo Pain met Konan's eyes, then said steadily, "Very well. I agree."
He paused, then asked, "But aren't you worried I might go back on my word and run away afterward?"