Just as Kawasaki expected, the system's compensatory abilities were a match for his physical condition. This was true for both activating the curse mark and now, for the One's Own Life Reincarnation.
Because Kawasaki possessed the Uzumaki Clan's constitution, a vast surge of life force poured directly into Nagato's body the moment he used the jutsu.
Nagato's body, like parched earth receiving a long-awaited rain, greedily absorbed this life force.
An unprecedented sense of relief spread through him, and he couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
"What a miraculous secret jutsu," Nagato remarked with emotion.
"This technique was originally created by Granny Chiyo of the Sand Village, Sasori of the Red Sand's grandmother," Kawasaki explained, slowly channeling his life force.
"Her original intent was to resurrect her son and daughter-in-law, who were killed in the war."
"But it can only revive those who have recently died. Otherwise, I would have brought Yahiko back long ago."
Nagato sighed. Another creation born from the pain of war.
Kawasaki steadily transferred his life force, carefully observing Nagato's tolerance before gradually increasing the flow.
The first change was in Nagato's mental state, which began to improve bit by bit. He had always appeared exhausted, but the infusion of life force was slowly restoring his vitality.
The color of his dull red hair deepened. The wrinkles on his face lessened, and his hollow cheeks began to fill out.
Nagato's bare upper body grew fuller as the muscles beneath his skin started to reappear, obscuring the once-prominent outline of his sternum. The muscles in his calves also twitched and regenerated.
Nagato said softly, "Konan, you can let go."
Konan, who had been supporting him, slowly released her grip. To her surprise, Nagato stood steady on his own.
All the while, Kawasaki's hand remained pressed against Nagato's body, continuously channeling life force.
"Kawasaki, your life force is incredible," Nagato said. "It's almost like that of our Uzumaki Clan."
Kawasaki smiled to himself. Of course it is, he thought. I do have the Uzumaki Clan's constitution.
After his moment of awe, Nagato added, "My body has recovered about eighty percent. Reviving Yahiko now shouldn't be a problem."
Hearing this, Kawasaki estimated how much life force he had left to give.
"I still have plenty to spare. Konan, get ready to remove the black rods from Nagato's back."
Konan was startled. Those rods were embedded deep within Nagato's body, and Kawasaki hadn't mentioned this part of the plan.
She looked at Nagato and asked, "Nagato, can you handle it?"
Nagato considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Let's try. One at a time."
Until now, Kawasaki had been carefully controlling the speed of the transfer.
After all, Nagato was not a reanimated corpse that could crudely absorb the Eight-Tails' chakra.
His condition just moments ago had been extremely poor; too much at once and he wouldn't have been able to withstand it.
But now that he was better, the black rods had to be removed.
Kawasaki decided to increase the intensity.
"Watch out, I'm going to gradually speed up the transfer. Konan, get ready to pull."
Konan no longer needed to support Nagato and was now standing behind him.
As Kawasaki accelerated the flow of life force, Nagato gave her a nod.
Konan yanked hard on one of the rods.
Spurt!
Cough!
Nagato immediately coughed up a spray of blood.
Konan tossed the rod aside. "Nagato, how are you?"
Nagato caught his breath. Aided by the steady stream of Kawasaki's life force, he stabilized within seconds.
"Kawasaki, can you keep going?" Nagato asked, worried that Kawasaki might not have enough life force left.
Kawasaki shook his head. "Don't worry about me. I'll let you know if I'm running low."
"Konan, keep pulling."
Konan wasn't one to hesitate. Seeing that Kawasaki still had strength to spare, she pulled out another rod.
Nagato grunted in pain, but the wound healed rapidly under the effects of the One's Own Life Reincarnation.
Konan proceeded to pull out the rods one after another.
As Konan continued to remove the rods from Nagato's body, far away, deep beneath the Mountain's Graveyard...
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, seated on its massive lotus platform, let out an inscrutable roar.
"Groooan..."
Land of Whirlpools. Inside a seaside cavern.
"Cough..."
As another rod was extracted, Nagato coughed up more blood.
But his expression wasn't one of pain; it was one of shock.
The hand Kawasaki had pressed against him was still channeling a powerful, unwavering stream of life force.
Just how much more can he give!?
"How many are left?" Nagato asked, his voice deep as he felt the strength returning to his body.
"Only two!" Konan answered from behind him.
Kawasaki, sensing Nagato's recovery, proposed, "Pull them both out at once. Get ready to cast the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique immediately!"
"Right!"
Previously, Konan had been filled with trepidation while removing the rods, but seeing how Kawasaki had everything under control, her courage surged.
Konan grasped the final two rods and pulled with all her might!
Spurt... Blood gushed from the holes in Nagato's back.
However, the wounds began to heal at a visible rate.
Kawasaki estimated he had only thirty percent of the jutsu's life force remaining.
"Nagato, now! I can still give you the last thirty percent."
"Good!" Nagato agreed, amazed that Kawasaki still had power to spare. It was far beyond his expectations.
Now fully restored, Nagato could use the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique without it costing him his own life.
Nagato brought his hands together, forming the Serpent seal.
"Outer Path—Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique!"
His voice was youthful and resonant.
As he spoke, his Rinnegan blazed with light. A powerful ocular energy emanated from him, targeting Yahiko's body nearby.
The many holes that had been pierced by black rods began to slowly mend under the jutsu's power.
Thump-thump...
A heart that had been still for years began to beat once more.
Blood started to circulate, and color gradually returned to Yahiko's skin.
As Nagato performed the jutsu, Kawasaki felt as if his friend had become a massive void, frantically drawing in life force.
Kawasaki pushed the transfer to its absolute limit.
In a matter of seconds, the entirety of the life force granted by the system's One's Own Life Reincarnation was poured into Nagato.
But it wasn't over. The Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique continued to drain him.
Nagato's newly restored, healthy physique began to waste away again.
Fortunately, the jutsu's drain finally ceased when he had returned to a merely slender state.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for drastically changing Yahiko's life trajectory.]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu x1 (Can be exchanged for a jutsu of the same series.)]
Kawasaki briefly checked the reward and, without hesitation, swapped the Water Dragon Jutsu for Tate Eboshi.
Among the Water Style techniques, this Hozuki Clan secret jutsu offered the best value.
Meanwhile, Yahiko's eyelids fluttered. Under Konan's excited and hopeful gaze, he slowly opened his eyes.
"Ugh... Konan... Nagato..."
Yahiko mumbled, dazedly sitting up.
"Wasn't I... already dead?..."
Yahiko examined himself but found no wounds.
He looked up at Konan, whose eyes were brimming with tears.
"Yahiko..."
Konan and Nagato had waited fifteen long years for this moment.
At that moment, Kawasaki walked over and patted Nagato on the shoulder.
A smile blossomed on Nagato's face, and for the first time in the fifteen years since Yahiko's death, he laughed with pure joy.