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"He's lying to you."
Naruto ignored Nagato's warning and instead looked at Konan beside him, speaking earnestly.
"He was just lying to you. His body is already reaching its limit. If this continues, he'll die within a few years."
"What?!"
Konan's face instantly paled upon hearing Naruto's words. She immediately turned to look at Nagato, her eyes filled with concern and questioning.
"Don't worry, Konan, I—"
Nagato tried to reassure her, wanting to say that Naruto was lying and that his body was fine.
But under Konan's gaze, he couldn't bring himself to say it.
In the end, he could only give her an apologetic look before turning toward Naruto, his expression turning cold.
"What exactly do you want?!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Six Paths of Pain moved, surrounding Naruto.
"I want to help you."
Naruto ignored the encirclement and replied calmly,
"And I also want to ask for your help."
"You? Help me?"
Nagato stared at Naruto for a moment before asking,
"What can you help me with? And what do you want from me?"
"I can solve your body's problems and allow you to live a healthy life."
Naruto spoke earnestly, meeting his gaze.
"In return, I want you to use the power of those eyes to help me."
"Let me live a healthy life?"
Nagato pondered briefly, then let out a low scoff.
"What a joke. Do you even understand my condition? How dare you say something like that?"
"Nagato."
Konan gently grabbed his hand.
"Let's hear him out first. Maybe he really does have a way to restore your health."
"Impossible, Konan."
Nagato shook his head.
He knew his condition better than anyone.
His crippled legs didn't affect his lifespan.
The real burden came from overusing the Rinnegan.
And this was their first meeting—there was no way Naruto could understand his condition at a glance.
…And yet, a faint hope lingered in his heart.
That was the only reason he hadn't attacked yet.
"Of course it's possible."
Naruto spoke with certainty.
He raised his hand and pointed at Nagato's eyes.
"I can see your condition at a glance. Your current state is entirely caused by those eyes."
"They don't belong to you—your body simply cannot handle their power."
Naruto had already confirmed this with the Nine-Tails.
The conditions to awaken the Rinnegan were extremely strict, and Nagato clearly didn't meet them.
Which meant—
Those eyes were not his.
Moreover, the Nine-Tails was certain of one thing:
Those eyes were connected to the Sage of Six Paths.
"Eyes that don't belong to me? Heh… what a joke."
Nagato laughed coldly.
"If that's all you have to say, then this conversation ends here."
Pain—Deva Path immediately raised his arm, palm aimed at Naruto.
Nagato knew his body was strained from using the Rinnegan.
But he would never accept that these eyes weren't his.
Because they were the last thing he could take pride in.
As for the burden—
He had already concluded it was simply because the Rinnegan's power was too great for him to fully control.
Naruto, however, ignored the threat completely.
"The Rinnegan is a dōjutsu passed down from the Sage of Six Paths."
"It requires a 'Sage Body' to wield."
"Even the physique of the Uzumaki Clan cannot fully bear its burden."
"…The Uzumaki Clan?"
Nagato's pupils shrank slightly.
He stared at Naruto.
"Who are you? And how do you know about the Uzumaki Clan?"
"As for that…"
Naruto smiled faintly.
"I also carry the bloodline of the Uzumaki Clan."
With a thought, the armor covering his head retracted, revealing his face.
Looking at both of them, he said clearly:
"Let me reintroduce myself."
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto."
"Uzumaki… Naruto?"
Nagato frowned, his gaze lingering on Naruto's blond hair.
Naruto immediately understood.
"My mother was from the Uzumaki Clan. My hair comes from my father."
"I see."
Nagato nodded slightly.
Then he narrowed his eyes.
"That name… sounds familiar."
"It should."
Konan spoke from the side, her gaze sharp with vigilance.
"That's the name of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
She looked directly at Naruto.
"Nagato, he's lying. Intelligence says the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is only eight years old. It's impossible for him to be this person."
Nagato's eyes flickered.
The next moment—
"Universal Pull!"
Pain—Deva Path attacked.
A powerful gravitational force surged toward Naruto.
Naruto instantly transformed into a bolt of lightning and vanished.
When he reappeared, he was already beside Nagato and Konan.
Scratching his head slightly, he said awkwardly,
"Sorry—this is a disguise. I look older than I actually am. Give me a moment."
As he spoke, the armor on his body retracted.
At the same time, he dispelled his Lion King ability.
His body rapidly shrank—from a tall 1.8 meters to roughly 1.2 or 1.3 meters.
"This—"
Nagato and Konan were visibly startled.
The vigilance in their eyes lessened.
Though Naruto still looked slightly older than eight, it was clear he was a child.
"You… are you really Uzumaki Naruto?"
Konan asked uncertainly.
"The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki of Konoha?"
"The genuine article."
Naruto nodded.
"For certain reasons, my body develops faster than normal."
As he spoke, his eyes sharpened.
An orange chakra cloak surged around him—
forming nine tails.
At that moment, Nagato and Konan fully believed him.
Though they didn't completely lower their guard, they were now willing to talk.
Even if negotiating with an eight-year-old felt strange.
"Uzumaki Naruto."
Konan spoke first.
"You said you can restore Nagato's health. Is that true?"
"Of course."
Naruto nodded confidently.
"Not only can I restore his health, but I can also reduce—or even eliminate—the strain of using the Rinnegan."
He hesitated slightly.
"There's just… a small side effect."
He raised his hand, pinching his fingers together to indicate something tiny.
"A very small one."
Nagato's eyes flickered.
"What kind of side effect?"
Naruto organized his thoughts.
"I have a secret technique that will transform your body."
"It grants near-infinite lifespan… and an almost immortal body."
"However—after the transformation, you will develop a craving for human flesh and blood."
"A strong urge to consume people."
"It can be controlled… but it requires immense willpower."
"If you fail to control it—"
"Enough!"
Konan's expression changed drastically.
"No, Nagato will not accept something like that!"
"Konan… let me try."
Nagato made a different decision.
He gently pulled her back and looked at Naruto.
"What happens if I fail to control it?"
Naruto was silent for a moment.
Then he answered:
"You'll become a man-eating demon."
"…A man-eating demon, huh?"
Nagato smiled faintly.
"I accept your terms."
If he could regain a healthy body—
He could finally realize Yahiko's dream.
As for the side effects—
He didn't care.
He had already experienced hell.
If becoming a demon was the price—
So be it.
"Nagato…"
Konan understood immediately.
She didn't try to stop him again.
Instead, she silently made her own decision—
If he fell into hell, she would follow.
Nagato gently squeezed her hand.
Then he looked back at Naruto.
"So—your request?"
"What do you want me to do with the Rinnegan?"
"I want you to revive two people."
Naruto answered without hesitation.
Nagato's pupils flickered.
"You really do know…"
He stared at Naruto.
"Who?"
"My parents."
Naruto's voice grew firm.
"I want you to use the Rinnegan to bring my parents back."
"I know it normally costs your life."
"But if my technique removes that limitation…"
"…then you won't have to pay that price."
The Nine-Tails had told him long ago—
Reviving the dead required the user's life.
But if Nagato became effectively immortal—
Would that cost still matter?
Naruto didn't think so.
And even if Nagato lost control—
Naruto was confident he could stop him.
"Not have to pay the price…"
Nagato murmured.
If true—
Then not only Naruto…
He, too, had someone he wanted to bring back.
But before that—
There was something he needed to know.
"Uzumaki Naruto."
Nagato raised his hand and pointed at his own eyes.
"You said these eyes don't belong to me."
"I want to know why."
"And how much you truly understand about the Rinnegan."
His gaze sharpened.
"Answer me."
"Then… I'll agree to your deal."
Because now—
For the first time—
Nagato was no longer certain those eyes were truly his.
And he needed the truth.