"No... Impossible! Absolutely impossible! A god cannot be defeated."
Pain was nothing more than a corpse, so his face showed no expression as he spoke. Even so, the shock and disappointment of the one controlling him—Nagato—were unmistakable in his voice.
Makoto said, "That only proves one thing: you're not a god."
"So you're saying you're the true god of the shinobi world?"
"I never said that. There are no true gods in this world—only powerful lifeforms. You're one, and so am I."
"I see. Regardless, I won't stop moving forward. Since your great shinobi villages refuse to surrender, then prepare yourselves for an even more brutal war."
"We've been ready for a long time. So do your best."
"..."
After a brief silence, Nagato said, "Higashino Makoto, with your strength, you should be able to trace the chakra link and find my real body. Why don't you come kill me and stop this war before it begins?"
Looking down at the shinobi forces scattered across the land like ants, Makoto replied, "Because I need you to keep carrying out your plan."
"So Konohagakure intends to use me... to use the Akatsuki to achieve its own goals?"
Makoto admitted it without hesitation.
"That's right. If everyone else can use you, why can't I?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean the Rinnegan may not have awakened in you because heaven entrusted you with some grand mission. It might just be a trap someone dug for you."
To Makoto's surprise, Nagato didn't argue.
After a moment of thought, he suddenly said, "Would you do me a favor and keep the Deva Path's body safe for me?"
Makoto replied, "Since it's been a long time since anyone gave me a fight I could actually enjoy, I'll agree."
"Thank you."
With that, Nagato disconnected. Yahiko's corpse closed its eyes, and Makoto stored it away.
As the wielder of the Outer Path and all its abilities, Nagato should have been able to use the Summoning Technique to retrieve his friend's body. But perhaps because Makoto had annihilated most of the black receivers, he didn't.
On the ground, the elite vanguard units from the Five Great Shinobi Villages had all arrived, and the atmosphere instantly became tense. Fortunately, the Five Kage kept their subordinates under control, preventing a fight from breaking out.
At the quiet urging of those with influence, every village tacitly began cleaning up the battlefield.
Without needing to discuss it, they all reached the same understanding. Aside from the summon corpses, each village took one of the Five Paths of Pain's bodies. A perfectly fair distribution, and Konohagakure made no attempt to stop them.
Because Minato knew those corpses were meaningless. The Rinnegan they possessed were fake, so taking them back would accomplish nothing.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Makoto slowly descended.
The shinobi from Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure were all immensely relieved that the summit negotiations had succeeded.
At least they wouldn't have to fight a monster like this.
Just look at the battlefield before them.
Yamato's Wood Release alone had already been enough to give anyone a headache. Add the gigantic chakra avatar that had appeared earlier, and then Higashino Makoto himself...
How were they supposed to fight a war like that?
They couldn't.
They simply weren't capable of it.
Terumī Mei asked, "Sir, has the leader of the Akatsuki been dealt with?"
Makoto shook his head.
"Of course not. I already told you—they're just puppets. The one controlling the Rinnegan is still alive, and the Akatsuki hasn't suffered any real losses."
"On top of that, they now possess eight Tailed Beasts, and they have no intention of abandoning their plan."
"So everyone... reorganize your forces and prepare for war."
Before long, after a brief meeting, the Five Kage decided to establish the Shinobi Allied Forces and use the opportunity to wipe out the Akatsuki once and for all.
...
The Hidden Sound Village in the Land of Rice Fields was one of the newest shinobi villages established in recent years.
On the surface, it appeared to be a rising power led by the Fūma Clan and even participated in the joint Chūnin Exams hosted annually by the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Although they were eliminated early every time, winning was never the point.
Gathering intelligence came first.
The exams were merely an opportunity to investigate the younger generation of shinobi from the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
The Fūma Clan only appeared to be in charge. In reality, the Hidden Sound Village was one of Orochimaru's experimental bases.
Since Orochimaru had remained a member of the Akatsuki in this world, the village naturally became one of the organization's outer strongholds.
Much like the isolated Hidden Rain Village.
The Akatsuki's goal was to dominate the shinobi world.
Top-tier fighters could win battles—but what happened after the war?
They would still need countless ordinary shinobi to govern and carry out their orders.
Nagato understood something that simple.
The Hidden Rain Village and the Hidden Sound Village were the foundations from which the Akatsuki intended to take control of the shinobi world once their plan succeeded.
The Akatsuki's base in the Land of Rice Fields wasn't located inside the Hidden Sound Village, but in an underground facility outside it.
Other than the organization's core members, no one in the Hidden Sound Village knew it existed.
Inside one of the rooms, Nagato sat slumped in a chair, drenched in sweat.
His gaunt face was deathly pale as he gasped for air.
Seeing that nearly half his hair had turned white, Konan asked worriedly, "Nagato... how are you?"
After recovering slightly from his weakness, Nagato said, "I'm fine. But the surprise attack failed."
"I see... So even the enhanced Six Paths of Pain weren't a match for the Five Kage?"
"No. Konohagakure is simply too strong. Especially Higashino Makoto. He's already attained power equal to mine."
Konan wasn't particularly concerned about that.
"What about Yahiko's body?"
Unable to meet his friend's eyes, Nagato simply replied, "I'm sorry, Konan. The chakra link was severed, so I couldn't summon it back."
"It's in Konoha's hands now. But Higashino Makoto promised me he'd keep it safe. Don't worry. Once our plan succeeds, I'll bring Yahiko back myself."
What else could Konan say?
Even the enhanced Six Paths of Pain had been defeated. There was nothing she could do.
Deep down, because of Jiraiya, she and Nagato both found themselves willing to trust a promise made by someone from Konoha's upper ranks like Higashino Makoto.
"In that case... are we still going ahead with the plan?"
Nagato rose to his feet, his resolve unwavering.
"Of course. This time, I'll act personally. The great nations must experience true pain. I will make sure Yahiko's dream becomes reality."
Konan nodded.
"All right. I'll stay by your side and see it through."
After recalling what Makoto had told him, Nagato shook his head.
"No, Konan. You won't be coming this time."
"If I fail... take my body and disappear."
"Most importantly, don't let these Rinnegan fall into anyone's hands... But that's still too dangerous. Instead, go to Konohagakure."
"Only Higashino Makoto can protect you in this world. And only he won't come after you because of the Rinnegan."
"When the time comes, bury me and Yahiko together, then live the rest of your life peacefully in Konoha."
"The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, is also one of Jiraiya-sensei's disciples. With that connection, Konoha won't make things difficult for you."
Konan stared at him in astonishment.
"Nagato... what happened? Why would you make a decision like this?"
Nagato answered sternly, "Don't ask questions. Just do as I say."
It was the first time Konan had ever seen her friend speak to her like that.
All she could do was nod.
"I understand."
Seeing that she had agreed, Nagato said nothing more and strode out of the room.
His crippled legs hadn't been restored because of the Ten-Tails' chakra.
The credit belonged to Orochimaru.
The snake had secretly approached Nagato and struck a deal with him.
If he could transplant an arm onto Danzō, restoring a pair of legs was hardly difficult.
Even so, Nagato had long since grown accustomed to acting through the identity of the Six Paths of Pain.
Because, in his heart, Yahiko had always been the true leader of the Akatsuki.
...
In one of the base's corridors, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu suddenly emerged from the ground, blocking Nagato's path.
"So your surprise attack failed, Leader."
Nagato had never trusted Obito or Zetsu to begin with, and now he was even more suspicious of them.
In truth, aside from Konan, Nagato trusted no one.
"It was only a minor setback. It doesn't affect the organization's overall plan."
"So, what are you going to do now?"
"Simple. I'll go personally. While the Five Great Shinobi Villages are gathering their forces, I'll wipe them all out."
Black Zetsu immediately tried to stop him.
"I suggest you suspend your plans for now and wait until Madara returns."
Feeling the faint connection between himself and Madara, and recalling Makoto's earlier words, Nagato began to suspect something.
Fixing Zetsu with a cold stare, he asked, "Where did Madara-san go?"
"He and Tobi (Obito) went to Konohagakure. After all, the Ten-Tails is still incomplete. Without the Nine-Tails' power, it's quite unruly. Even you have trouble controlling it, don't you?"
Nagato turned and walked away.
"Then there's no need to wait for them. I'll settle everything with the power of a god."
Black Zetsu didn't stop him.
He couldn't.
His own power could only be used at the decisive moment.
If Nagato wanted to throw himself into a life-and-death battle against the Five Great Shinobi Villages, then so be it.
Black Zetsu only needed to stay in the shadows and make sure the Rinnegan wasn't lost.
After all, Nagato could never become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki.
That had been part of the design from the very beginning.
Nagato's goal differed from Obito's and Madara's.
He only wanted to conquer the shinobi world.
If he were allowed to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki, there was a real risk that the Eye of the Moon Plan would spiral out of control.
The reason Black Zetsu tried to stop Nagato wasn't because he wanted to save lives.
It wasn't out of kindness or pity for the shinobi.
Those people were all nourishment for Mother's resurrection.
Their chakra already belonged to Mother.
If too many of them died, it would simply be a waste.
Now, all Black Zetsu wanted was for Madara to return as quickly as possible.
Whether they obtained the complete Nine-Tails or not wasn't especially important.
The Tailed Beast chakra they already possessed was enough for Madara to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki and cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Black Zetsu believed that once Mother returned, everything would fall into place.
Konohagakure?
Higashino Makoto?
Wouldn't they all be dealt with in a single slap?