Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 213: Acquiring the Rinnegan

"Nagato!"

Konan's expression changed, and she wanted to say something.

Nagato shook his head, not giving Konan a chance to dissuade him. He forcefully pressed his hands against his eye sockets, and with a trail of blood, the two purple, swirling Rinnegan fell into his palms.

Without a second thought, Nagato threw the Rinnegan to Hagoromo Gengetsu.

After confirming their authenticity, Hagoromo Gengetsu nodded in satisfaction.

The Rinnegan had been successfully reclaimed.

Nagato, now deprived of the Rinnegan's power, grew even weaker. His breath became shallow and he began coughing violently.

Seeing the blood staining the bedspread, Konan hurriedly rushed to support him, pulling out precious life-saving medicine to administer to him.

Nagato raised his skeletal hand to stop her, shaking his head. "Don't waste it. My time is running out."

He was well aware of his condition.

During the ambush led by Hanzō, he had overexerted himself by summoning the Gedo Statue, pushing his body beyond its limits. If not for that, he would have perished on the spot.

Since then, his legs had been crippled by the explosive flames, and the constant drain from using the Gedo Statue had sapped too much of his life force and chakra. He had lost the ability to walk and had become increasingly frail, dependent on machines to stay alive.

The Rinnegan had sustained him all this time, but without it, he knew he wouldn't last long.

Turning to Konan, who was beside herself with grief, he smiled warmly for the first time in years, then faced Hagoromo Gengetsu with a serene expression.

"Will the world truly be as wonderful as you envision with Infinite Tsukuyomi?" he asked.

Hagoromo Gengetsu, after placing the Rinnegan into a specially prepared container, responded casually, "Who knows? We'll find out by trying."

"Trying? That's quite an aloof word," Nagato replied, self-deprecatingly.

Until recently, he had shared a similar mindset.

But now, having been awakened to the truth about the Eye of the Moon Plan and losing the Rinnegan, Nagato saw the world and himself with newfound clarity.

He remembered his teacher, Jiraiya, and the lessons he imparted.

"The world shouldn't and won't be deceived by you or someone like Uchiha Madara," Nagato said earnestly.

Hagoromo Gengetsu, slightly surprised, looked Nagato up and down. "Hearing such words from you is unexpected. Also, that man you mentioned is not Uchiha Madara."

Whether the man was Uchiha Madara or not was irrelevant to Nagato now.

He continued, "This world... It might be terrible. War, slaughter, pain, and despair are ever-present. But there will always be those who strive to change all that. Rather than live in a false world, blinded to reality, people will stand up against you, no matter how powerful you or the false Madara may be."

Hagoromo Gengetsu remained calm and expressed his gratitude, "Thank you for the reminder. But if you think words alone will convince me, save your breath. You'd be better off spending your remaining time looking at this world."

"Words alone?"

Nagato understood the term immediately and shook his head with a smile. "I have no such power. I've just come to terms with many things and wanted to express my thoughts. Lastly..."

Nagato patted Konan's hand, then turned to Hagoromo Gengetsu again.

"I want to make a deal with you."

"A deal?"

Hagoromo Gengetsu glanced at the blind, crippled Nagato and the severely weakened Konan. He couldn't imagine what they had left to offer.

Then Nagato mentioned, "The Gedo Statue."

Hagoromo Gengetsu's brow furrowed slightly.

The Gedo Statue?

He remembered that the Rinnegan could indeed control the Gedo Statue.

As if reading Hagoromo Gengetsu's thoughts, Nagato explained, "The Rinnegan can control the Gedo Statue, but it has been imprinted with my mark over the years."

"With your abilities and the Rinnegan, you could forcibly summon the Gedo Statue, but don't forget about the 'Uchiha Madara.' He knows its location and won't relinquish control of the Eye of the Moon Plan to you."

Hagoromo Gengetsu understood immediately.

The Gedo Statue, containing the power of the Tailed Beasts, was crucial. If Uchiha Obito intercepted it, it would be a major complication.

"What's the deal?" Hagoromo Gengetsu asked directly.

Nagato took a deep breath. "The Gedo Statue... in exchange for Konan's safety."

Konan's face changed. "Nagato, you..."

Nagato mustered his strength and grasped Konan's arm. "Konan, listen to me! I now understand that Yahiko, you, and the original Akatsuki were all manipulated by 'Uchiha Madara.' We've strayed far from our true selves. I can't make amends, but you can."

"Take Yahiko and me to a quiet place, away from all this, and live out your life peacefully. Just like in the little cabin when Jiraiya-sensei was with us. Those were the happiest moments of our lives."

At this moment, Nagato's face was full of nostalgia.

Konan's tears began to fall.

Hagoromo Gengetsu watched the scene unfold, feeling that if he interrupted or refused, he would be like the typical villains in movies.

But exchanging the Gedo Statue for Konan's safety was something he could agree to.

Konan was insignificant to him. Even if she sought revenge, she posed no real threat to him.

It was far more important to secure the Gedo Statue, which already housed the Four-Tails and Seven-Tails.

Hagoromo Gengetsu nodded. "Deal."

Seeing this, Nagato breathed a sigh of relief.

Knowing that someone like Hagoromo Gengetsu would not go back on his word, he clasped his hands together and forced a hand seal.

With a puff of smoke, a massive, dried-wood-colored humanoid statue with nine eyes, two of which were open, and another slightly ajar, appeared beside Nagato, wrapped in chains and seated.

It was the Gedo Statue.

Hagoromo Gengetsu nodded in satisfaction and, after a moment of inspection, asked in surprise, "The Gedo Statue has two open eyes corresponding to the Four-Tails and Seven-Tails. But why is another eye slightly open?"

"This aura... Nine-Tails?"