It was a night of bright stars and a shining moon. Gentle moonlight spilled over the deep forest, draping it in a hazy, beautiful veil.
Deep within that veil, a river of paper wound its way through the forest.
Konan and Nagato sat on the paper river in silence. After a long while, the ring on Nagato's hand suddenly gave off a strange pulse.
"Looks like Kisame and the others have reached the hideout safely," Konan said calmly, sensing the pulse.
Nagato gently touched the ring, his Dojutsu Power flowing. In the next instant, Kisame Hoshigaki's Mental Image Body appeared above the paper river.
"Pain, we—"
Kisame had barely begun speaking when he noticed something was off. "Wait, who are you?!"
Kisame stared intently at the red-haired man sitting on the paper river. His hair was dry, his face haggard, and he was so gaunt he looked close to death. And he was sitting with Konan...
Could this be the true leader of Akatsuki, the mastermind behind Pain?
"Kisame."
Konan calmly explained, "Pain is just a Puppet we keep in plain sight. This is the real leader of Akatsuki. His name is Nagato."
"Nagato? Heh. You've been hiding in the shadows all this time."
Kisame gave a cold laugh. But for a ninja, this was par for the course. He soon got back to business. "We've delivered the Three-Tails Jinchuriki to the designated hideout with Zetsu. Nagato, when should we begin the sealing?"
Zetsu?
Nagato narrowed his eyes, as if thinking something over. After a while, he replied, "We'll begin sealing in half an hour."
"Understood." Kisame smiled and nodded.
"Nagato?" Konan asked with concern.
After all, he had just fought a major battle, and the strain of using the Rinnegan's power was a heavy burden for him.
Besides, Zetsu