The rain over Amegakure never seemed to stop.
Cold droplets slid down the rusted steel towers and pipes that crisscrossed the city like veins. High above the streets, hidden within a dark observation tower, Obito stood silently.
His single visible eye stared into the distance.
Behind him, Black Zetsu slowly emerged from the floor.
"We've confirmed it."
Obito did not turn around.
"Speak."
"Nagato and Konan are in Konoha."
The atmosphere instantly became colder.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Obito let out a long breath.
"So it really happened."
The worst possibility had become reality.
Nagato had betrayed them.
No.
More accurately, Nagato had escaped his control.
The Rinnegan was the core of the Eye of the Moon Plan. Without Nagato, years of preparation had suddenly become uncertain.
Black Zetsu's expression darkened.
Naruto.
Once again, everything traced back to that boy.
Ever since Naruto began interfering, events had started drifting further and further from the path they had carefully arranged.
The capture of the Tailed Beasts had stalled.
Several Akatsuki members had disappeared.
Now even Nagato had defected.
Everything was becoming increasingly troublesome.
"We need to retrieve the Rinnegan."
Black Zetsu's voice was unusually firm.
Obito remained silent.
Of course he knew that.
The problem was how.
If Nagato was in Konoha, then Naruto was undoubtedly protecting him.
Attempting to seize the Rinnegan there would be incredibly dangerous.
Even Obito had to admit that Naruto's growth had become alarming.
The battle reports alone were enough to make anyone uneasy.
Sage Mode.
The Nine-Tails.
Flying Thunder God.
Terrifying healing abilities.
And now, according to their latest intelligence, Naruto had somehow healed Nagato's ruined body completely.
It was almost absurd.
"Perhaps," White Zetsu suddenly said, "we should test him."
Obito finally turned.
"Test him?"
"Naruto has become the biggest variable. If we continue acting blindly, we'll only lose more pieces."
White Zetsu grinned.
"Why not see exactly how strong he is now?"
Obito narrowed his eye.
"What are you suggesting?"
"A small operation."
Meanwhile, in Konoha.
The training ground echoed with thunderous impacts.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The earth trembled repeatedly as Naruto and Nagato exchanged blows.
Their clash had long surpassed the level of ordinary shinobi.
Golden chakra collided against the power of the Rinnegan.
The shockwaves alone forced Sasuke, Hinata, and Konan to retreat dozens of meters.
Nagato's six armored arms hammered forward relentlessly.
Naruto met every strike head-on.
His golden chakra arms moved like lightning.
Fists collided.
Palms intercepted.
Elbows crashed together.
Neither side gave an inch.
Then suddenly—
Nagato's eyes flashed.
"Shinra Tensei!"
A massive repulsive force erupted.
The surrounding ground exploded outward.
Trees snapped apart.
Boulders were launched into the air.
Naruto's figure shot backward like a cannonball.
Yet before he could travel ten meters—
A Flying Thunder God mark activated.
Flash!
Naruto vanished.
The next instant he appeared directly behind Nagato.
"Got you!"
A Rasengan materialized in his hand.
Nagato reacted immediately.
The Preta Path activated.
The spinning sphere rapidly lost shape as its chakra was absorbed.
Naruto grinned.
"As expected."
He released the Rasengan before it completely disappeared.
Then he threw a punch.
Nagato blocked.
Boom!
The impact sent both of them sliding backward.
For a moment, silence filled the battlefield.
Then both men burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"Looks like you're really back to your peak, Nagato-senpai."
Naruto rubbed his wrist.
Nagato smiled.
"It's thanks to you."
His gaze lowered toward his own hands.
Only recently had he fully understood what Naruto had restored.
For years, pain had been his constant companion.
Every movement hurt.
Every breath reminded him of his failing body.
Now those burdens were gone.
For the first time since Yahiko's death, he felt alive.
Truly alive.
Nearby, Konan quietly watched the exchange.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
This was the Nagato she remembered.
Not a god burdened by hatred.
Not a broken man trapped by despair.
Just Nagato.
Her friend.
Naruto suddenly looked toward the forest.
His expression changed slightly.
"Hm?"
Sasuke immediately noticed.
"What is it?"
Naruto's smile disappeared.
"I sensed something."
Nagato's eyes sharpened.
"An enemy?"
Naruto nodded.
The cheerful atmosphere instantly vanished.
A faint but strange chakra signature had appeared at the edge of his sensory range.
It was weak.
Extremely weak.
Almost as if someone was deliberately hiding.
But Naruto's perception had already surpassed that of most sensory shinobi.
Nothing escaped him easily.
A moment later, his eyes narrowed.
"Interesting."
"What did you find?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto looked toward the distant trees.
"They found us first."
Far away, hidden beneath the shadows of the forest canopy, a white figure slowly sank into the ground.
White Zetsu's smile widened.
"So he noticed."
His body disappeared completely.
Back at the training field, Naruto's expression became thoughtful.
The enemy had finally started moving again.
And if Zetsu was scouting personally...
Then the real storm was probably not far behind.
The calm before the war was ending.
-----------------------------------------
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