Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 211: The Ridiculous Truth Behind the Rinnegan

"Cough, cough... Sorry, Konan."

The recent battle had taken a heavy toll on Nagato, and his old illness had flared up again. He wanted to help but could do little now.

Seeing that the Sage Art: Cutting Rain continued to weaken their chakra and with Hagoromo Gengetsu drawing nearer, Nagato sighed deeply. At this point, it was too late to get Konan out safely.

Konan, however, was undeterred. She continued to hold up the paper umbrella, determined to escape with Nagato.

But soon, she noticed someone standing quietly ahead, and she fell silent.

Nagato, also seeing this, coughed several times and said calmly, "Konan, let me down."

Konan agreed this time.

Hagoromo Gengetsu stopped in front of the injured pair, observing them. The wealthy Konan, who had billions of explosive tags, and Nagato, who appeared gaunt and frail, were both in dire states. The backstabbing orchestrated by Danzo had left long-lasting effects on Nagato.

Hagoromo Gengetsu commented, "If you were in good health, you might have been more troublesome."

The Six Paths of Pain were impressive and could handle five Kage-level opponents. However, they paled compared to Hagoromo Gengetsu. When all the power of the Rinnegan was concentrated in one person, they were not a match for him. Splitting the power among six bodies was just asking for a faster defeat.

Unlike Uchiha Madara, who never used the Six Paths of Pain's tricks, Nagato's abilities were diminished due to his weakened state.

Hagoromo Gengetsu turned his attention to Nagato's unique Rinnegan, the genuine Rinnegan of the ninja world.

As paper fluttered around, Konan blocked Hagoromo Gengetsu's scrutinizing gaze, ready to act.

Hagoromo Gengetsu glanced at her but did not speak.

Nagato then addressed Konan, "Konan, let me handle this."

Reluctantly, Konan stepped aside, allowing Nagato to speak directly to Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Nagato, lying on the bed, faced Hagoromo Gengetsu and calmly asked, "Now, can you tell me what the Infinite Tsukuyomi and Moon's Eye Plan are?"

Hagoromo Gengetsu raised an eyebrow. He had promised to reveal the truth in front of Nagato's true self. With the situation settled, he wasn't worried about being overly verbose. He proceeded to explain.

"The plan involves collecting all nine Tailed Beasts to fully resurrect the Ten Tails and become its Jinchuriki. Then, the Moon's Eye Plan will be activated. This plan is necessary for the success of the Moon's Eye."

As Hagoromo Gengetsu explained the process of collecting Tailed Beasts and reviving the Ten Tails, Nagato and Konan's expressions changed.

Their understanding of the Tailed Beast Plan was different. They had thought that gathering all Tailed Beasts to create the Ten Tails—a weapon capable of destroying a nation and guiding the world toward peace through suffering—was the goal. But now they learned about becoming the Ten Tails' Jinchuriki and activating the Moon's Eye, a new step they had never heard of.

This new revelation conflicted with their understanding of the plan proposed by Uchiha Madara. If Madara had been hiding the true objectives...

Nagato's face darkened, but he controlled his emotions and continued listening.

Hagoromo Gengetsu went on, "The Infinite Tsukuyomi is a genjutsu cast via the Moon's Eye, projecting a powerful illusion that envelops everyone in the ninja world, putting them into a dream-like state. The Moon's Eye Plan aims to control all people by placing them into this dream, creating a world of peace within the illusion, and eradicating conflict and war."

"This is the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and this is the Moon's Eye Plan. Do you understand now?"

Silence.

A long silence followed. Nagato and Konan had never imagined that the truth behind the Rinnegan would be this. The Infinite Tsukuyomi that envelops the entire world in illusion was hidden beneath the Tailed Beast Plan—this was the real Moon's Eye Plan.

If this was the case, their ideals seemed ridiculous.

Nagato's Rinnegan contracted sharply, and he gripped the bed sheets tightly.

He had one more question he needed answered.

"How did you learn about the Moon's Eye Plan?" Nagato fixed his gaze on Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Hagoromo Gengetsu was intrigued by their reactions. Even in the original story, they had never learned the true purpose behind gathering the Tailed Beasts.

To see their faces change upon revelation was quite dramatic.

He answered, "There is a stone tablet left by the Sage of Six Paths beneath the Uchiha clan's shrine. It records the truth of the Moon's Eye Plan."

"Uchiha Stone Tablet..." Nagato's head drooped slowly.

Everything aligned.

Uchiha Madara must have seen the Uchiha Stone Tablet and learned about the Moon's Eye Plan.

Hagoromo Gengetsu had also discovered the contents of the tablet during his battle with the Uchiha clan at the shrine, which led to the current confrontation.

"Uchiha Madara has been deceiving us! Everything he did was to steal our results at the last moment!"

Nagato's ideals, which he had steadfastly adhered to, were now trampled upon. Konan, who had always been cold and detached, was now filled with fury.

Seeing the truth about Uchiha Madara, Konan's initial distrust was confirmed. To her, they had been mere disposable tools, unaware of the true purpose behind their actions.

Unlike Konan, Nagato had both respect and wariness towards Uchiha Madara. Madara had been his mentor, his guide.

The Tailed Beast Plan, the development and use of the Rinnegan, secret techniques, and various hidden knowledge had all been taught to him by Madara.

But looking back now...

Nagato looked up at the still overcast sky, and with a self-deprecating smile, said:

"Yahiko, Konan, Akatsuki..."

"Everything... is truly ridiculous!"