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"What is that?!"
Naruto, hidden in the shadows, was deeply shocked when he saw the giant "monster" concealed within this secret location.
It was a colossal humanoid entity with nine eyes on its head. Its body resembled withered wood, and ten pillar-like protrusions extended from its back, giving it the appearance of a demonic statue.
Naruto didn't sense any "living" aura from it—it felt like nothing more than a sculpture.
However, he did sense chakra.
And not just any chakra—it was extremely familiar.
Although faint, its essence felt more powerful than any chakra Naruto had ever encountered.
"That's the Ten-Tails… that thing!"
The Nine-Tails, seeing through Naruto's vision, reacted immediately.
"That guy not only obtained the Sage's eyes—he even brought this thing out!"
"Big Fox, you know it?"
Naruto asked quickly, "What is it? Why does its chakra feel familiar?"
"That's the Ten-Tails' shell!"
The Nine-Tails replied in a deep voice.
"Even though it's empty now, it was once the source of all chakra. That's why it feels familiar to you."
"The Ten-Tails? The source of all chakra?"
Naruto grew even more confused.
"Can you explain properly? What exactly is the Ten-Tails? And why is it just a shell now?"
"Didn't I just tell you?!"
The Nine-Tails sounded irritated.
"It's the Ten-Tails—also called the God Tree. It's the origin of all creation… and the form that brings about destruction!"
Naruto inwardly sighed.
That explanation somehow made things more confusing.
Still, sensing the Nine-Tails' unstable emotions, he chose not to press further.
Instead, he focused on the creature's hands.
On one massive palm sat a thin, red-haired young man, cross-legged. Beside him stood a blue-haired woman.
Below them were six figures, led by Pain—Deva Path.
Even more shocking—
All six of them possessed the Rinnegan.
And not just them.
Even the red-haired young man sitting above them had Rinnegan beneath his hair.
"What's going on?"
Naruto frowned.
"Isn't the Rinnegan supposed to be the Sage of Six Paths' eye? Why does everyone here have it?"
Out of the eight people present, only the blue-haired woman lacked it.
This so-called "Sage's Eye" seemed far too common.
"They're puppets."
Minato Namikaze suddenly spoke.
After observing carefully, he said in a serious tone:
"The six below are puppets. The red-haired one above is the real wielder of the Rinnegan."
"Puppets? All six?!"
Naruto immediately activated his sensory ability.
As expected—
None of them had the aura of living beings.
They were more like perfectly preserved corpses.
He had noticed something similar when he first encountered Pain—Deva Path, but had dismissed it at the time.
Now, it all made sense.
"So what you're saying is…"
Naruto thought it through.
"The red-haired one is the true wielder of the Rinnegan, and the others are puppets controlled through it?"
"That's my guess," Minato replied.
"But I don't fully understand the Rinnegan, so I can't be certain."
He then looked at the Nine-Tails.
"What do you think?"
"I don't know."
The Nine-Tails finally looked away from the Ten-Tails.
"I've never seen the Hokage use an ability like this."
"Then maybe…"
Minato continued thoughtfully,
"It's not that the Sage couldn't use it—just that he didn't need to."
The Nine-Tails paused, then nodded.
"That's possible."
The Rinnegan was known as the eye that controlled life and death—the ultimate ocular power.
It wouldn't be strange if it had such an ability.
"So what exactly can the Rinnegan do?"
Naruto pressed again.
"And what is the Ten-Tails, really?"
"The Rinnegan grants mastery over all ninjutsu."
The Nine-Tails explained.
"At least, that's how it was for the Hokage."
"As for the Ten-Tails…"
He paused briefly.
"It is the source of all chakra—and the origin of all Tailed Beasts."
"The origin?"
Naruto's interest spiked.
"So that's why it's called the Ten-Tails."
Then he grinned slightly.
"Wait… does that make it your 'mother'? Are you all its children?"
"…No."
The Nine-Tails looked mildly exasperated.
"Before the Ten-Tails, there was no concept of 'Tailed Beasts.'"
He continued:
"After the Sage of Six Paths subdued the Ten-Tails, he sealed it inside himself, becoming the first Jinchūriki."
"Later, before his death, he feared no one could contain its power."
"So he extracted its chakra, divided it into nine parts… and created us."
Naruto blinked.
"I see…"
That explanation made things clear.
At the same time, it deepened his awe of the Sage of Six Paths.
To divide such immense power and create life—
That was beyond comprehension.
"Naruto—be careful."
The Nine-Tails suddenly spoke in a serious tone.
"I don't know how that man obtained the Rinnegan… or how he brought the Ten-Tails' shell down from the moon…"
"But I can guess what he's planning—"
"Wait."
Naruto abruptly interrupted.
"…Did you just say that thing came from the moon?"
"That's right."
The Nine-Tails confirmed.
"After extracting its chakra, the Hokage sealed the Ten-Tails' shell on the moon."
"And now…"
"That man has brought it back."
"…So he wants to revive it."
"…Revive it?!"
Naruto's shock deepened.
"But why? What would he gain from that?"
"To become its Jinchūriki."
The Nine-Tails' voice turned heavy.
"If he succeeds, he'll gain power close to the Sage of Six Paths himself."
"And with the Rinnegan…"
"He could become the next Sage of Six Paths."
Naruto looked toward the red-haired man.
Yet strangely—
He didn't feel that kind of ambition from him.
"Naruto."
Kushina suddenly spoke.
"That red-haired man… he may be from my clan."
"…What?"
Naruto blinked.
"…Please don't tell me he's some long-lost uncle."
"Not necessarily."
Kushina replied calmly.
"But he is very likely an Uzumaki."
Red hair. Vast chakra.
Those traits were unmistakable.
"I see…"
Naruto relaxed slightly.
At least it wasn't confirmed.
Still—
If they were related, things might become easier.
"Nagato… are you sure about advancing the plan?"
On the Ten-Tails' palm, the blue-haired woman spoke softly.
She looked concerned.
"With your condition… can your body handle activating the Gedo Statue early?"
"Don't worry, Konan."
Nagato smiled gently.
"The activation is already complete."
"We only delayed because we lacked enough people for the sealing technique."
"And…"
He added,
"This will also force that 'Uchiha Madara' hiding in the shadows to reveal himself."
"But your body—"
"It's fine."
Nagato reassured her.
"Once the Tailed Beasts are gathered, the Gedo Statue will restore my chakra."
"My body will recover."
Everything he knew came from the Rinnegan itself.
According to it—
Once complete, he would transcend into something greater.
A true "Sage."
A god.
"…That's good."
Konan sighed in relief.
"Then what about the remaining two members?"
"We only have eight."
"I've already found candidates."
Nagato began—
—but suddenly stopped.
His gaze snapped toward Naruto's hiding place.
"Who's there?"
"Come out!"
"…I've been found."
Naruto stepped out calmly.
The Six Paths had already taken battle stances.
He looked directly at Nagato.
"So… you're the real leader?"
Inside his armor, Tsunade spoke apologetically.
"I'm sorry—I exposed you."
Naruto replied calmly:
"It's fine. I was going to reveal myself anyway."
Then he added,
"Tell Granny Tsunade I'll meet her soon."
Cutting off the connection, he focused fully.
This opponent—was not someone he could take lightly.
"It's you…Law."
Nagato stared coldly.
"You came with Pain—Deva Path… yet I didn't even notice."
His voice hardened.
"Explain yourself."
"…Or this will be your final day."