Konoha Hospital.
Yahiko, Konan, and Jiraiya waited outside the operating room together.
When the doctor came out and told them the surgery was over, the three of them entered the operating room one after another.
Nagato sat on the hospital bed, his eyes swollen and red. After being nourished by Medical Ninjutsu, he could see clearly again, but his former pair of purple Rinnegan had become ordinary black eyes.
"Nagato..." Konan said worriedly.
"I'm fine." Nagato let out a long breath.
The Rinnegan had been taken away, yet he did not feel much loss. Instead, he felt a sense of relief.
In Amegakure, because of the Rinnegan, many people had regarded him as a savior. But all along, he had felt that he lacked the talent for it. The expectations others forced onto him had left him struggling to breathe.
Compared to those eyes, the safety of the people before him was what mattered most.
Nagato looked at Yahiko and asked, "Yahiko, can we go home now?"
Yahiko's heart stirred. He grabbed Konan and Jiraiya's wrists on either side and nodded vigorously.
"Home! We're going home!"
A smile appeared on Nagato's face, as pure as it had once been.
The three of them had depended on one another since childhood, supporting each other all the way to this day. They were companions, but more than that, they were family.
In that instant, Yahiko felt that he had let go. Saving the world was far too difficult. It was better for everyone to simply stay together safely.
After leaving Konoha Hospital, Jiraiya suddenly said he wanted to see one last friend and told Yahiko's group to wait for him at Konoha's main gate.
He arrived at Tsunade's doorstep.
Shizune answered the door and was extremely surprised to see Jiraiya.
"Ji... Jiraiya-sama,