CHAPTER 208

Nagato and Yahiko (End)

After a while, Nagato walked out of the hideout of the rogue ninja stronghold, holding the lifeless body of one of its members. His expression was grim.

According to the rogue ninja's confession, Yahiko's assassination was not only orchestrated by Amegakure's high-ranking officials but also involved Kumogakure's intervention.

The leadership of Amegakure had grown increasingly wary of Akatsuki's rising influence, fearing that its ideals threatened Hanzō the Salamander's rule over the Land of Rain and could serve as a catalyst for a military coup.

Meanwhile, Kumogakure, always seeking an advantage in the ongoing conflicts, sought to provoke unrest in the Land of Rain, hoping to draw it into the Third Shinobi World War and alleviate the pressure on their western front.

Reflecting on his earlier encounter with Suna shinobi, Nagato realized that Akatsuki had faced resistance from both internal and external forces since its inception. It was no surprise that Hanzō and Danzō Shimura would later join forces to destroy the organization.

With a heavy sigh, Nagato turned and locked eyes with Yahiko, who had just arrived.

"Yahiko, you're here…"

Yahiko studied Nagato in silence before finally nodding.

"It's raining outside. Let's talk back at the base. You'll catch a cold if we stay out here too long."

As they made their way from the rogue ninja's hideout to Akatsuki's nearest base, Yahiko and Nagato walked side by side, laughing and talking as usual. However, the other Akatsuki members sensed a strange tension between them. Yahiko, normally outspoken, was unusually reserved, while the typically withdrawn Nagato exuded an unfamiliar confidence.

Upon arriving at the Akatsuki hideout, Yahiko dismissed the others, then turned to Nagato with narrowed eyes.

"You're not the Nagato I know. Who are you?"

Nagato, realizing he had been exposed, replied calmly, "I am Nagato."

Yahiko's expression darkened.

"I know what you did to those Suna shinobi. The Nagato I remember wasn't this ruthless. He may have been timid and hesitant at times, but he always had a kind heart."

His voice grew colder.

"Most importantly, Konan sent me a message. She's still with Nagato."

Nagato sighed. "I am Nagato… but from ten years in the future. I arrived in this era by accident."

Yahiko scoffed, skepticism written all over his face. "You expect me to believe that? Time travel isn't possible."

Unfazed, Nagato recounted personal stories from their childhood—things no one else could have known. As Yahiko listened, his wary gaze gradually softened.

"Are you really the Nagato of the future? What happened to you? What turned you so cold?" Yahiko hesitated before asking, "What about Akatsuki? How did we respond to the future?"

After confirming Nagato's origins, Yahiko bombarded him with questions about the future.

Nagato answered selectively but avoided revealing too much. When Yahiko pressed about how he had traveled through time, Nagato replied, "I came here in pursuit of revenge. But the enemy I seek might also have followed me."

Yahiko fell silent, then spoke softly.

"Nagato… are you trying to avenge me?"

Nagato averted his gaze.

"Can you tell me how I die?"

Yahiko shook his head before Nagato could answer. "It doesn't matter. What's important is our dream. Has Akatsuki's philosophy gained more supporters?"

Nagato hesitated.

The truth was that Akatsuki had long since abandoned its original ideals. In pursuit of peace through power, he had turned the organization into a feared mercenary group, manipulating small wars to further his goals. Akatsuki had even annexed Kusagakure, a move unthinkable in Yahiko's time.

Seeing Nagato's hesitation, Yahiko placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It sounds like you and Konan suffered a lot after my death." His voice softened. "But at least Konan survived, right?"

Nagato nodded. "Yes. She's still with me, helping me govern Amegakure. We've maintained peace for the last five or six years."

Yahiko's face brightened. "That's good. I always feared Akatsuki would crumble after my death. But you… you became the leader of Amegakure? Our dream actually came true?"

Nagato shook his head. "No… we didn't achieve our dream."

For the first time in years, he spoke not as the ruthless Pain, but as the idealistic boy who once followed Yahiko.

"Konan and I did bring peace to Amegakure, but not through understanding. I used my Rinnegan to eliminate anyone who opposed me. I even intimidated the Land of Rain's daimyō. I became even more brutal than Hanzō ever was."

Yahiko listened quietly as Nagato continued.

"Then, I joined forces with Uchiha Madara. We turned Akatsuki into a rogue organization, gathering the Tailed Beasts to create a weapon of mass destruction. Our goal was to use overwhelming power to enforce peace."

Yahiko considered this for a moment before speaking.

"Nagato… your plan isn't necessarily wrong. But isn't it just as difficult to implement as my original vision?"

Nagato looked at him in disbelief. "You're not angry? I abandoned everything you stood for. I turned to violence."

Yahiko smiled faintly.

"If I died, it meant my philosophy wasn't enough to sustain Akatsuki. If I stubbornly clung to an outdated ideal, Akatsuki would have collapsed entirely. Maybe not even Amegakure would have survived."

Nagato's voice wavered. "I thought you'd hate me for betraying your ideals."

Yahiko shook his head. "Nagato, we founded Akatsuki when we were just eleven. We're barely fourteen now. Do you really think we had a perfect plan to change the world? Ideals evolve. As long as you're still trying to create a better world, I support you."

After a pause, Yahiko asked, "So? How's your 'deterrence' plan going?"

Nagato's expression darkened. His earlier nostalgia faded.

"Before I could carry it out, I encountered Konoha's Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails. He left Konoha and founded Uzushio Village."

Yahiko raised an eyebrow. "Uzushio Village?"

Nagato nodded. "More importantly, he led the Land of Waves and the remnants of the Land of Whirlpools into prosperity—achieving the peace the Land of Rain always dreamed of."

He sighed. "Even Jiraiya-sensei was so inspired that he accepted the position of Fifth Hokage."

Yahiko chuckled. "Sounds like the world got more interesting after I died."

He then added wistfully, "I wish I could have met that Jinchūriki. But it seems the war has long since ended, and the great nations have learned restraint."

Nagato hesitated before speaking. "Yahiko, maybe you don't have to die. I know who betrays you. We can change everything."

Yahiko's expression grew serious. "Nagato, knowing you and Konan survived—and that Amegakure found peace—is enough for me."

Nagato clenched his fists. "But this tragedy is preventable."

Yahiko smiled faintly. "Nagato, you're the leader of Amegakure now. Focus on your era, not mine."

Realizing Yahiko wouldn't waver, Nagato left the stronghold, donning the persona of Pain. If he couldn't change the past as Nagato, he would seek answers in the shadows.

Before vanishing, he sensed the presence of the Gedo Statue—and a man with the Sharingan.

Just as he moved to investigate, his body began to fade.

With one final effort, Nagato used the Rinnegan to transmit everything he had learned to his younger self.

Even if he couldn't alter the past, he could at least prepare for the future.

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