After listening to Kyo's exposition,
A brand new worldview suddenly seemed to open up.
Nagato's parched heart actually began to reignite with a glimmer of hope!
That's right...
If the entire Shinobi World, due to some crisis, united together... and then used a power transcending this alliance to maintain it all...
Then,
Stable peace would be achieved!
The people of the Shinobi World would not without reason oppose the commanding organization, because they knew that outside, there was another powerful villainous organization deterring everything.
Once they lost their commander, they would face the danger of doomsday.
And within the Shinobi World, large-scale internal wars would be basically impossible, because the righteous organization, as the supreme commander, could perfectly maintain everything...
Almost the most stable method!
Nagato's gaze suddenly turned to Kyo, burning with a hint of expectation.
"..."
"Your method... is indeed feasible!"
"However, I wonder... in your plan, what role does Akatsuki play...?"
Nagato asked with a grim expression.
He knew without a doubt that now was the crossroads for Akatsuki.
One wrong step,
Would lead to every step wrong.
So,
He needed Kyo to give direction.
And at this moment, hearing Nagato's words, Kyo's gaze flickered slightly. He merely raised an eyebrow and said flatly with a smile:
"You shouldn't ask me this question."
"You should ask yourself."
"Nagato,"
"In this game of righteousness and villainy, which side do you want to be on?"
"Will you be the commander saving the Shinobi World, or the villainous deterrent bearing sin?"
Kyo squinted slightly, gazing at Nagato with an enigmatic smile.
"!!!"
And hearing this,
Not only Nagato, but even Konan beside him was momentarily stunned.
Eh...?
He actually gave the right to choose... to Nagato?
Konan's expression was somewhat complicated.
In fact,
Although Nagato had not yet answered, she could already guess the answer.
This guy, all along harboring the ultimate dream of peace, had long sacrificed everything for that goal.
If he really had to choose, I'm afraid the kind-hearted him would choose to be the one bearing the darkness...
But in doing so,
He would be unable to witness the peaceful world with his own eyes...
Just as Konan lowered her gaze, her heart complicated,
At this moment,
Nagato's gaze slowly lifted, the hesitation and complexity in his eyes all gone.
What emerged instead was a resolute firmness.
He gazed at Kyo, speaking seriously and deeply:
"If the sin and hatred of this world need to be borne by one person..."
"Then... leave it to me."
As Nagato's words fell, Konan's gaze jumped, freezing.
Then, a helpless smile appeared in her heart.
Sure enough...
Nagato would choose to do this...
And at this moment,
Hearing this answer, Kyo couldn't help but be slightly moved.
To be honest,
Before conceiving this Deterrence and Balance plan,
Kyo had already had a complete plan in his heart.
The so-called righteous and villainous sides,
Kyo had long determined the roles.
He had even already thought of how to guide the world towards that situation.
And asking Nagato at this moment,
Was just to see how he would choose.
But,
Kyo never imagined,
This guy would choose to be the villain without any hesitation.
Isn't he deliberately trying to steal my protagonist's spotlight...
Kyo helplessly shook his head with a wry smile inwardly.
Sure enough,
No matter how dark the Shinobi World,
There are always people shining with the brilliance of humanity...
After a moment of silence,
Kyo slightly raised his eyes, looked at Nagato, and said with a light smile:
"Can you tell me your reason?"
"...?"
Hearing this, Nagato repeated softly.
Then,
He lowered his gaze again, was silent for a moment, and then spoke slowly in a tone filled with emotion:
"You've probably already noticed, right... Kyo-san."
"Currently, my life is actually like a flickering candle in the wind."
"Because I fell into Hanzo the Salamander's trap back then, my legs are completely crippled. Now I can only rely on these Chakra-sensing instruments to control the Six Paths of Pain to fight..."
"Due to the immense consumption of the Rinnegan, my energy is also declining day by day."
"That is to say..."
"I'm afraid I won't last much longer before I die."
"Rather than dying for no reason, I would rather... change this Shinobi World before I die."
As he spoke, Nagato looked up at Kyo and said seriously:
"Your peace plan has high feasibility, so I am willing to entrust my life to you."
"From today on, follow your plan and guide the world towards final peace."
"Even if it means becoming a hateful sinner...
"So be it."
Nagato spoke without hesitation, actually carrying a sense of righteousness like "no one lives forever".
Not to mention Konan beside him,
Even Kyo couldn't help but be somewhat moved after listening.
Sure enough…
This guy was born to be the protagonist.
Thinking this, Kyo couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle lightly.
"???"
Seeing this,
Nagato and Konan were naturally stunned.
Huh?
Why did he suddenly laugh...?
Was what I just said wrong...
However,
Just as the two were puzzled,
Kyo suddenly smiled and raised his hand,
Then, a small, transparent green cube item suddenly appeared in his palm.
The next moment,
Kyo directly tossed the item in his hand to Nagato.
"?!"
Nagato's heart was startled, but he still quickly raised his hand to catch it.
The moment the green item entered his hand,
Nagato immediately felt a slight coolness seeping into his body.
And at this moment,
Kyo looked at Nagato, slightly curling his lips, and said with a smile:
"Since you want to join my plan,"
"..."
"Let's talk after you live a while longer."
As the words fell,
Whoosh!
Kyo's figure directly turned into an afterimage, flashed across the night sky, and disappeared.
Inside the room,
Instantly, only Nagato and Konan remained.
"---?"
Seeing this strange scene,
Nagato and Konan exchanged glances, naturally very puzzled.
However,
Just as they were confused,
Suddenly,
A sudden change occurred!
The small green cube item in Nagato's hand suddenly burst forth with countless brilliant green lights, directly enveloping Nagato's entire body!!
The next moment, all the light condensed into solid form, transforming into beams of green light, directly rushing into Nagato's body!!
And the next moment,
On Nagato's legs, the skin and muscles that had long withered and dried up began to... be rejuvenated with new life!!!
His legs... were actually beginning to regenerate!!
"!!?"
Seeing this,
In an instant,
Nagato and Konan simultaneously widened their eyes, completely frozen!!
The green light emanating from the item still shone,
And upon Nagato's body, the bones, muscles, blood, and even nerves injected by the green light beams were recovering at superspeed, inch by inch!
No pain, no discomfort, everything was as natural as water flowing into a channel!
In just a moment, all of Nagato's withered skin and atrophied muscles throughout his body were restored to a completely intact state!
Even his legs, which had been crippled for over ten years, were... restored to their original state!!
"!!!"
The green light quickly dissipated, and the small green cube item in Nagato's hand immediately floated up, then burst into countless streams of light, disappearing into the air.
Nagato's pupils constricted tightly as he looked down at his legs in disbelief.
And Konan also looked at Nagato with the same horrified gaze.
The two were almost blank-minded, completely dumbfounded!
At this moment,
The shock in their hearts even outweighed the joy!
What's going on?!
What... kind of item is this?!
Why does it have... an effect almost like bringing the dead back to life?!!
You have to understand, Nagato's legs, although not completely necrotic after being blown up by Hanzo back then, were basically done for...
And his body, due to the long-term consumption of the Rinnegan and the Outer Path Statue, had become very withered and shriveled, but now...
They seemed to be reinjected with vitality!
Completely new creations!
Nagato tried to lift his leg in disbelief, and the result... was easily accomplished!
And when he clenched his fist, an unprecedented feeling of power instantly filled his entire body!
...!?
Nagato's heart was stunned, completely frozen!
A long-lost feeling surged into his heart!
This was the feeling of being alive!
At this moment,
He finally understood...
What Kyo meant by those words before he left——
Nagato slowly lowered his gaze, and he finally understood.
Kyo specifically gave him this item, purely... to restore his lost vitality and grant him a new life.
Realizing this,
A reluctant smile actually appeared on his thin face for the first time...
Then, as if talking to himself, he murmured to Konan:
"Sure enough..."
"Just as you said, Konan."
"Kyo is indeed different from others..."
"Not only his overwhelming strength, but even his noble character... is impossible to catch up to..."