The True Chibaku Tensei Heaven Star transformed the original Akatsuki base into a massive sphere. Nagato and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path were trapped within it. Only when Nagato's chakra was nearly depleted did the sphere slowly disintegrate into a pile of rubble.
"Damn it, Kabuto, come find Nagato with me."
"No, find the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Nagato must be with it."
Muren Uchiha had already retrieved Kabuto. The puppet boy had suffered a tremendous blow this time. The light had gone out of his eyes. Hearing Muren Uchiha's words, he showed no reaction whatsoever.
Originally, he hadn't endured such a crushing defeat. The main reason was that the entire island had vanished, taking all his puppets with it. The Third Kazekage was gone. The Performance of a Hundred Puppets was gone. A puppeteer without puppets was nothing but a useless shell. Now, Kabuto felt his entire life had turned bleak.
Those puppets were precious—they were his inheritance from 'Sasori of the Red Sand'. How could they just vanish like that?
"Hey, kid, your puppets are gone. That's that."
"I'll personally capture people for you to turn into puppets, won't that do?"
"Pull yourself together!"
Muren Uchiha watched Kabuto's spirit completely crushed, utterly speechless inside. This kid can't handle a little setback?
"You mean it?"
"I mean it!"
"But Kakuzu is gone too. Where are we supposed to get the money?"
"....."
Damn it, I knew this brat wasn't as fragile as I imagined. So it's money he's fretting about, huh. Good for him!
Once the prototype island formed by Chibaku Tensei shattered completely, Muren Uchiha stood atop the debris with Kabuto, beginning their search for Nagato's whereabouts.
"No need to look."
"Follow me."
At that very moment, the long-absent Zetsu finally appeared. And assumed the role of guide.
Muren Uchiha frowned and immediately retorted, "Zetsu, this is a bit much."
"You vanished during the fight, only to show up after it ended?"
"Hmph!"
Facing Muren Uchiha's displeasure, Zetsu remained silent. After all, given the circumstances, even if he had helped, it wouldn't have made much difference. His techniques were limited in effect and not well-suited for direct combat.
"Enough. Follow me. Nagato's situation isn't looking good."
Hearing Zetsu's words, Muren Uchiha's frown deepened. Nagato's situation wasn't good? With the Rinnegan and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, even if he was defeated, it shouldn't be life-threatening, right? But Zetsu's tone didn't sound like he was joking.
Instantly, Muren Uchiha felt his own tension rise. The island lay utterly devastated, now nothing but a wasteland before them.
Winding through the ruins, the trio finally spotted Nagato in a ravine, guided by Zetsu. Nagato's condition was exactly as Zetsu had described—extremely dire.
"You're here..."
Nagato's weak voice echoed slowly. Behind him, a cluster of black rods protruded from his back. Blood still dripped from his abdomen, and his face was deathly pale.
"What happened to you?"
"Even unleashing a technique like that level of Chibaku Tensei shouldn't have left you like this."
"The wound in your abdomen?"
Muren Uchiha's gaze fixed on the still-oozing wound in Nagato's stomach. The latter forced himself to speak through the pain:
"That bastard Kazuyama Gekkō shattered the crystal blade, driving its shards deep into my body."
"Even channeling the power of the Preta Path couldn't fully neutralize them."
"And after unleashing the True Chibaku Tensei, my chakra was nearly depleted..."
His words caused a flicker of discomfort to cross the faces of those present. Especially Muren Uchiha, who blurted out a curse:
"Damn bastard! His tactics are utterly despicable!"
"No, that bastard has always been despicable!"
Then he turned his gaze to Zetsu, his last hope now resting solely on him. After all, Zetsu was, in a sense, his strategist.
"Don't look at me. I can't do anything about this either."
"This goes beyond mere injury."
Even if Black Zetsu wanted to save Nagato's life, it was impossible now. Nagato's body was riddled with wounds beyond repair. Even if Tsunade, the world's greatest healer, were here, she'd likely be helpless.
"What about the Outer Path: Demonic Statue of the Outer Path?"
"Impossible. Its vitality was severely depleted during the battle."
Black Zetsu glanced at the Ten-Tails' shell. Even if it remained intact, it required vitality to function. The recent battle had drastically depleted both the vitality and chakra contained within the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
"Then what do we do now?"
Muren Uchiha was deeply frustrated. Nothing worked, and he was utterly at a loss. He had painstakingly built the Akatsuki organization, only for it to be reduced to this by Kazuyama Gekkō. Worst of all, Kazuyama Gekkō was a Jinchūriki. This meant he too was now a target for capture.
"Cough... cough..."
Nagato coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood. His vitality was severely depleted—no, it was nearly exhausted.
"Madara, Itachi, take these eyes."
"While not everyone can wield them, with these Rinnegan, we can forge an entirely new army."
"Just as I did with my clones."
Nagato uttered his thoughts with a trembling voice. The hatred burning in his eyes made him willing to sacrifice everything he had. He wanted Kazuyama Gekkō dead...
"Cough cough cough..."
Another mouthful of blood gushed forth, signaling the end of Nagato's vitality. Just as Kazuyama Gekkō had said, only one path awaited him: death...
"Nagato, we will carry out your dying wish and kill Kazuyama Gekkō."
Black Zetsu's grim words became the last sound Nagato ever heard.
Nagato died within Akatsuki's base—or rather, its former base.
"Damn it, Zetsu. Retrieve his eyes."
"The Rinnegan must not be lost."
Muren Uchiha gazed at the lifeless Nagato, a flicker of resentment in his eyes. Yet he suppressed his rage, allowing Zetsu to perform the extraction.
"What now?"
"With half our members gone, is this organization even worth preserving?"
Kabuto sat on a nearby rock, surveying the scattered remains. The thought of leaving had already taken root in his mind. After all, staying here offered nothing.
"Akatsuki won't crumble from a single failure."
"Zetsu, find a new base. I'll handle transporting the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. As for manpower..."
"Skip Kirigakure. Recruit from other villages."
"After what happened, the Kirigakure defenses are practically decimated."