"Nagato... no matter what, you have to survive. Live on with Konan. You're the savior of this world. If it's you, then maybe... just maybe..."
The orange-haired boy leaned weakly against Nagato's shoulder, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth.
His words, though incomplete, were full of hope for the future hope that would never be realized. He collapsed before he could finish.
"..."
Nagato stood frozen in place.
He didn't know what to do. His limbs wouldn't move, his mind blank. It was as if time itself had stopped.
"Yahiko!!"
Tears streamed down Konan's face as she let out a heart-wrenching scream, her voice filled with anguish.
Beside her, Hanzō's masked face twisted into a sinister smile. He raised his arm and barked an order, "Kill them all!"
Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!
Countless kunai shot through the air toward Nagato.
But Nagato raised his hand and all of them were deflected with ease.
Then, with a powerful spring of his legs, he leapt onto the rocky platform where Konan was being held captive.
Just as he was about to reach her
Hanzō, who had already retreated several meters, slammed his hand to the ground. "You think you can save someone in front of me, the Demigod?! Naive brat!"
"Fire Style: Explosive Flame Formation!"
Dozens of explosive tags suddenly appeared, rapidly wrapping around Nagato's legs.
BOOM!!
Flames and smoke erupted, engulfing him in the blast.
As the fire died down, Nagato's legs were revealed bloodied and mangled.
The injuries were severe. His flesh was torn, blood gushing, bones exposed.
He had survived, but only barely.
Hanzō narrowed his eyes, a rare glimmer of admiration in his tone. "You've got some skill, brat. You actually lived through my Fire Style jutsu."
"..."
Nagato remained silent.
Then suddenly, he raised his head his left eye, the legendary Rinnegan, radiating pure murderous intent.
Hanzō's eyes widened in disbelief. "That eye... You're not an ordinary kid. That's...!"
He didn't get to finish.
The Konoha ANBU under Hanzō's command, already eager for battle, leapt into action and launched themselves at the red-haired boy.
But Nagato didn't flinch. He didn't even move until they were almost upon him.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu-"
"Gedo Statue!!"
Nagato slammed his palm to the ground, his killing intent surging skyward.
Boom!!
A colossal hand emerged from the earth, crushing the attacking ANBU on impact.
Then, an enormous humanoid statue tall and terrifying rose from the ground, towering over all.
ROAR!!
The Gedo Statue bellowed toward the sky, its roar echoing Nagato's boundless rage.
Dozens of massive black rods burst from the statue's back and impaled themselves into Nagato, absorbing his chakra.
His face grew visibly gaunt.
Then, from the Gedo Statue's mouth, a massive chakra dragon shot out, sweeping across the battlefield.
In an instant,
Every enemy's soul was devoured.
The chakra dragon hovered, its blood-red eyes locking onto Hanzō.
But Hanzō showed no fear. He chuckled, "So you're the true leader of the Akatsuki... The Rinnegan, the stuff of legends. I must say, I'm impressed."
"Die, Hanzō!"
Nagato snarled, his face twisted in fury.
The chakra dragon lunged forward, its head crashing down toward Hanzō with overwhelming force.
BOOM!!
The impact shook the ground. Rocks were pulverized to dust.
But Hanzō had already vanished, using the Body Flicker Technique to escape.
Nagato's chakra was nearly depleted.
Poof!
The Gedo Statue dissolved into smoke.
Nagato fell to one knee, drained and battered, grief clouding his eyes.
"Nagato!!"
Konan rushed to his side, worry etched across her face. "Are you alright? Did Hanzō get away?!"
She knew the cost of summoning the Gedo Statue.
It didn't just consume chakra. It took his life force.
Every time he used it, his lifespan shortened. But she couldn't stop him how could she?
"I'm okay. That old bastard probably ran-"
Before Nagato could finish, his expression changed drastically.
"Konan, run! He's still here!!"
"Well, well... What a surprise."
"That red-haired brat actually possesses the Rinnegan? That attack just now... even I had to be careful. But in the end, it's still my victory."
Hanzō hadn't escaped.
As the so-called "Demigod" of the shinobi world, the peak of ninja power, he would never flee from a mere fifteen-year-old.
This entire operation had been meticulously planned with Danzō from Konoha.
To ensure the Akatsuki never became a threat to his rule over Amegakure, he had to crush it now, while it was still in its infancy.
"The Rinnegan... I'll be taking it."
His voice was calm, almost mocking.
With a flicker, Hanzō appeared behind Nagato.
"Kenjutsu: Issen!!"
He raised his chained scythe, chakra flaring.
He was about to cut Nagato in two.
Nearby, a masked figure with a swirling pattern watched in silence.
It was Tobi Uchiha Obito.
He muttered to himself, "Looks like it's time. Nagato's almost there... Just a bit more guidance and everything can begin."
His crimson Sharingan gleamed.
Space twisted around him as he began to phase into another dimension.
But at that moment
Something unimaginable happened.
Whoosh!
A blinding streak of light tore through the sky.
It hit the ground between Nagato and Hanzō like a meteorite.
The resulting shockwave forced them both to retreat.
Hanzō was stunned. "What was that?!"
Tobi froze. "A meteor? Seriously?!"
The impact had been massive, but thanks to Konan's quick reaction, Nagato was unharmed.
As the dust settled, everyone turned to look.
In the center of a fifty-meter-wide crater stood a pitch-black cube, faintly glowing with purple light.
It wasn't large barely two meters tall.
Crack. Crack.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the surface of the cube.
Seconds later, it shattered.
From within stepped a pale-skinned, black-haired boy. His hair was messy and short, his body draped in a flowing white robe resembling a shrine outfit. His expression carried a soft melancholy.
His eyes were a striking dark green, and beneath them were two faint, green tear-mark lines that traced down his cheeks.
A half-mask sat on the left side of his head, bone-white and horned.
At his waist hung a plain-looking longsword.
"It's been ten whole years... and I've finally arrived!"
The boy Uha smiled with relief. Inside, he muttered to himself, "I wonder what world the system picked this time. Please let it be a healing slice-of-life or a romance. I seriously hate all this fighting..."
"Who are you?! What was that black cube? Which nation are you from River Country? Tea Country? Vegetable Country?!"
Hanzō demanded, on high alert.
He had no choice.
Despite his title as a demigod, he never underestimated his opponents.
And this boy his appearance, his entrance everything about him was beyond strange.
Young, no more than sixteen, yet calm, unreadable.
Was he connected to Nagato?
Or perhaps... a hidden member of the Akatsuki?
Hearing the barrage of questions, Uha turned toward the speaker.
A man in a bizarre mask, wielding a chained scythe.
"Why does this outfit look so familiar...?"
Uha furrowed his brow. A moment later, his face paled.
"You're Hanzō the Salamander?! The leader of Amegakure?! The one they call a demigod?!"
"Indeed, I am."
Seeing the boy's recognition, Hanzō relaxed a little.
"Since you know my name, why not walk away? No need to get involved. That red-haired brat has nothing to do with you, does he?"
"..."
Uha turned around.
Red hair. Swirling purple eyes.
Beside him, a young girl with a pale paper flower in her hair. Her bright orange eyes and the purple eyeshadow framed her youthful beauty.
"Nagato? Konan?!"
Uha's face turned to despair.
"This world... this world is Naruto?!"
"And this is the moment when Hanzō and Danzō betray and destroy the original Akatsuki?!"
"I'm completely screwed!!"