Nagi looked at Nagato's hair and spoke calmly.
"Nagato, your mother was a member of the Uzumaki Clan. The most obvious proof is the distinctive red hair shared by both of you. You inherited not only her hair, but her constitution—the powerful life force of the Uzumaki Clan.
"Your chakra reserves and vitality far exceed those of ordinary shinobi. That is precisely why you were the perfect vessel to nurture the Rinnegan.
"When you were still a child, Madara Uchiha transplanted his Rinnegan into you. That is why you never sensed anything unusual. To ensure the eyes' safety, he had White Zetsu monitor your life from the shadows—including your encounters with Yahiko, Konan, Jiraiya, and even the founding of the Akatsuki."
Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko were stunned into silence.
Nagato being of the Uzumaki Clan was secondary.
The truly horrifying revelation was that he had been monitored his entire life.
Suddenly, Nagato realized something.
"Sir… Madara's objective couldn't have been only to have me nurture the Rinnegan and collect the Tailed Beasts, could it?"
Nagi nodded.
"You already know the answer."
"…The Outer Path — Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique."
Nagato let out a bitter laugh.
"So in the end, I was nothing more than a tool for his resurrection. How pathetic."
Only now did he fully grasp how deeply Madara had manipulated his life—from childhood onward. The weight of it pressed heavily on his heart.
Konan and Yahiko gently patted his back. With their encouragement, Nagato steadied himself.
The Rinnegan are gone. I'm no longer bound to walk the path Madara laid out for me…
Strangely, that realization brought comfort.
"Please continue, sir."
Nagi nodded.
"As expected of you, Nagato.
"Madara monitored you until his death. Afterward, his successor continued the task—the man in your Akatsuki who claims to be Madara Uchiha.
"He once attempted to recruit you directly. But at the time, Yahiko was still alive. As long as your spiritual pillar remained, it would have been nearly impossible for him to succeed.
"Then came Hanzō of the Salamander and Danzō Shimura's scheme against your Akatsuki. Coincidentally—or perhaps not—your reinforcements, including Daibutsu and Kyūsuke, were eliminated. Your organization collapsed soon after.
"Yahiko, you were Nagato's anchor. The impact of your death needs no elaboration. Even if you had survived that day, the man calling himself Madara would have eventually killed you.
"That is why Nagato hardened his heart and killed Jiraiya. He wasn't merely killing his former teacher—he was killing the naïve version of himself."
Yahiko fell silent.
He had never realized just how deeply his death had shaped Nagato's path.
He bowed once more to Nagi .
"Thank you for clearing my doubts, sir… and for revealing the truth we've been blind to for so many years."
Then he turned to Nagato and Konan.
"Nagato, Konan… I'm sorry. It was my naivety that led you down this road."
"Yahiko, no!" Konan protested. "It was my fault. If Hanzō hadn't captured me, you and Nagato wouldn't have—"
"No," Nagato interrupted. "It was my weakness. If I had been stronger… if I had been more decisive… I could have protected both of you."
"No, it was my—"
"It was mine—"
"…."
Watching the three desperately try to shoulder the blame so the others would suffer less, Nagi sighed softly.
"How pure… how beautiful. A flower of friendship blooming in this hellish world."
After a while, the argument subsided.
All three turned toward Nagi . He met their gaze steadily.
"Yahiko, I intend to recruit them. Can you offer me some advice?"
Yahiko was momentarily bewildered, but quickly composed himself.
"Sir, please tell us your reasons for recruiting them—and what you expect them to do. Without that, I cannot feel at ease. I ask this of you."
Nagi pulled out a chair and sat down, gesturing for them to do the same.
"As for my reasons… that will take some explaining.
"But first—Yahiko, Nagato, Konan—you're wary of me because I come from one of the Great Nations, aren't you?"
The three exchanged glances, startled.
Of course he knew. After laying bare Nagato's entire life, how could something so obvious escape him?
Nagi continued calmly.
"Then let us speak of the conflict between Great Nations and Small Nations—and the root of this hellish world."
Senju Tobirama narrowed his eyes.
The screen had not gone dark this time.
He immediately understood.
This confinement wasn't to censor Nagi .
It was to expose his ideology.
[Tobirama Senju]: "Listen carefully. No matter what you hear next, remain calm. If anyone harbors thoughts of harming my disciple, I won't hesitate to have my brother pay you a 'visit.'"
[Hashirama Senju]: "Hahaha! I wouldn't mind seeing how things have changed over the years."
[Madara Uchiha]: "Interesting. Judging by your reaction, Tobirama, the boy is about to say something earth-shattering. So he does know the source of this world's darkness… I'll hear his answer."
[Ōnoki]: "Is it that serious? Rest assured, whatever we hear, we won't entertain harming Nagi ."
[A (Fourth Raikage)]: "That's right. Anyone who does won't go unpunished."
[Rasa]: "Agreed."
[Tobirama Senju]: "We shall see whether you have the courage. And… I may not be warning you alone."
Nara Shikaku felt an ominous chill.
A storm was coming.
One that could sweep across the entire Shinobi World.
[Nagato]: "So this is the main event."
[Deidara]: "Huh? Leader, you sound like you're ready to accept his recruitment."
[Nagato]: "Because when Yahiko appeared, my heart began to waver. And a wavering heart cannot withstand Nagi 's words."
Nagi 's voice resumed.
"You three grew up amidst war. You understand better than anyone how severely Small Nations are oppressed by the Great Nations.
"In every Great Ninja War, it is not the major powers alone who suffer—but the smaller nations and villages dragged into their conflicts.
"To the Great Nations, smaller countries are nothing more than strategic terrain. Supply routes. Buffer zones. The lives of their civilians rarely matter."
The three nodded.
Nagato agreed deeply.
His home had been destroyed by invading Konoha shinobi. Whether it was intentional or not, what did it change? His parents had died at their hands.
Could a single apology undo that?
Nagi turned to Nagato.
"Those born in Great Nations rarely understand the suffering of smaller ones. Yet they believe they do. Only when they truly understand pain… can they cherish hard-earned peace.
"Isn't that right, Nagato?"
Nagato's eyes widened.
"…Yes. One must feel pain. Contemplate pain. Accept pain. Those who do not understand true pain can never understand true peace."
The familiar cadence of his ideology echoed faintly in his mind
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