The rain felt different that night.
Heavier.
Colder.
Like something was about to happen.
Nagato stopped walking.
Behind him, Yahiko nearly bumped into his back.
"Hey—why'd you—"
"Quiet."
The word cut through the rain like a blade.
Yahiko froze.
Konan's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…What is it?" she whispered.
Nagato didn't answer immediately.
He closed his eyes.
Focused.
Chakra signatures.
Three.
No—
Four.
Spread out.
Watching.
Waiting.
"…We're surrounded," Nagato said calmly.
Yahiko stiffened.
"What?!"
Konan didn't react outwardly—but her fingers tightened slightly.
Nagato opened his eyes.
"They've been following us for a while."
"Why didn't you say anything earlier?" Yahiko snapped.
Nagato glanced at him.
"To confirm."
"…Confirm what?"
"That they're enemies."
Silence.
A slow clap echoed from the shadows.
"Well, well…"
A figure stepped forward.
Then another.
And another.
Four rogue shinobi emerged, forming a loose circle around them.
Their movements were relaxed—but their eyes were sharp.
Predators.
"Sharp kid," one of them said, smirking.
"Most wouldn't notice us."
Nagato didn't respond.
He was observing.
Weapons.
Posture.
Breathing.
"Chunin-level," he thought.
"Maybe one closer to Jonin."
Not impossible.
But dangerous.
"Hand over your supplies," another said.
"And we might let you live."
Yahiko stepped forward instantly.
"No."
Nagato didn't stop him.
The shinobi chuckled.
"Bold."
Konan moved slightly to the side.
Positioning.
Good.
Nagato's lips curved faintly.
"They're learning."
The air grew tense.
"Last chance," the leader said.
Nagato stepped forward.
"No."
Simple.
Flat.
Final.
The leader sighed.
"…Then die."
Everything exploded into motion.
One shinobi rushed Yahiko.
Fast.
Too fast.
Yahiko reacted late.
Blocked—but barely.
The impact sent him sliding back.
Konan threw paper tags.
Sharp.
Precise.
The attacker dodged easily.
"Amateurs," he muttered.
Nagato didn't move.
Not yet.
He watched.
Yahiko charged again.
Reckless.
Predictable.
"Left side open," Nagato thought.
The enemy saw it too.
A blade swung toward Yahiko's ribs—
Nagato moved.
In an instant.
He appeared beside them.
GRAB.
He caught the attacker's wrist mid-swing.
CRACK.
The bone snapped instantly.
The shinobi screamed.
Nagato didn't even look at him.
"Too slow."
He twisted—
—and slammed him into the ground.
THUD.
Unconscious.
Or dead.
Didn't matter.
Silence lasted half a second.
Then—
Three more attacked.
Simultaneously.
"Better," Nagato muttered.
One came from behind.
Two from the front.
Nagato stepped forward instead of back.
Calculated.
The first attacker thrust a kunai.
Nagato tilted his head slightly.
The blade missed by inches.
He grabbed the man's arm—
Used his momentum—
—and threw him into the second attacker.
They crashed together.
The third came from above.
Nagato didn't look up.
"…Predictable."
His eyes flickered.
Rinnegan.
For a split second.
The air warped.
BOOM.
An invisible force slammed the attacker into the ground mid-air.
The impact cracked the wet earth beneath him.
Yahiko froze.
"…What… was that…?"
Konan stared silently.
Her eyes wide.
Nagato exhaled slowly.
"Two left."
The remaining shinobi hesitated.
Fear.
Good.
"Monster…" one whispered.
Nagato stepped forward.
"You attacked first."
They turned—
And ran.
Nagato didn't chase immediately.
"…Konan."
She understood instantly.
Paper scattered from her sleeve—
Sharp.
Fast.
They sliced through the air—
Cutting off escape paths.
One shinobi stumbled.
Nagato appeared in front of him.
Too fast.
The man's eyes widened.
"W-Wait—"
Nagato grabbed his throat.
Lifted him slightly.
Cold eyes met terrified ones.
"Who sent you?"
"N-No one! We just—"
Nagato tightened his grip.
"Wrong answer."
The man panicked.
"We—we heard you had supplies! That's all!"
Nagato studied him.
Heartbeat.
Breathing.
Eyes.
"…Truth."
He released him.
The man collapsed—
Then scrambled back—
And ran.
Nagato didn't stop him.
Silence returned.
Rain filled the space again.
Yahiko stared at him.
Shaking.
"You… you killed them…"
Nagato turned.
"…Yes."
His tone was calm.
Too calm.
"That was… nothing to you…" Yahiko whispered.
Nagato walked past him.
"It was necessary."
Konan spoke quietly.
"…Was it?"
Nagato stopped.
Then looked back at them.
"If I didn't act," he said, "you'd be dead."
Silence.
Yahiko clenched his fists.
"…I could've fought—"
"No," Nagato cut him off.
The word hit harder than any punch.
"You would've died."
Yahiko froze.
Konan looked down.
Nagato stepped closer.
"You're weak."
Blunt.
Cold.
True.
Yahiko's expression tightened.
"But…" Nagato continued, "…you're not useless."
That stopped him.
"You reacted," Nagato said.
"You didn't freeze."
He looked at Konan.
"You adapted."
Her eyes lifted slightly.
Nagato turned away.
"But it's not enough."
Rain poured harder.
"If you want to survive in this world…"
He paused.
"…you need to be ready to kill."
Silence.
Yahiko's voice trembled slightly.
"…I don't want that."
Nagato looked up at the sky.
"…Then the world will decide for you."
Konan closed her eyes briefly.
"…There has to be another way."
Nagato didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"…Maybe."
They both looked at him.
"But until you find it…"
His gaze sharpened.
"…you follow my way."
The air grew heavy again.
Authority.
Control.
Dominance.
Yahiko swallowed.
Konan nodded slowly.
"…Understood."
Nagato turned and started walking.
"Good."
They followed.
Quieter now.
Heavier.
Behind them—
Bodies lay still in the rain.
First blood had been spilled.
Not just by Nagato.
But for them.
And something had changed.
The illusion of innocence—
Was gone.
As they walked into the darkness—
Nagato's thoughts moved ahead.
"Too slow."
"Too reckless."
"Too naive."
"…But useful."
A faint, cold smile formed on his face.
"I'll shape them."
"Into something stronger."
Because in this world—
Power wasn't given.
It was taken.
And Nagato—
Had already begun.