While Nagato was still away, Orochimaru quickly resealed the Four-Tails, then immediately went beneath the "ancient tree" to study the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
"Truly magnificent."
Orochimaru circled the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path once, then pulled out a Kusanagi Sword and hacked off pieces from its edges and corners. He packed them up, intending to take them back for research.
"Obito, since the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path is the Ten-Tails' husk, can it be sealed too?" Orochimaru suddenly realized an important point.
"Of course. But I wouldn't bother trying. Even if you sealed it, Nagato could summon it back whenever he wanted, thanks to his Rinnegan," Tobi said with a laugh.
"From the way you put it, there seems to be a close connection between the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and the Rinnegan." Orochimaru had keenly picked up on that.
"Is there?" Tobi didn't know anything about that.
Orochimaru sneered and didn't press him. He silently climbed up and down the "ancient tree," going in and out of it. No one knew what he was studying.
About half a day later, a mighty river of paper came surging into the underground.
They were here!
Orochimaru flickered to the Four-Tails Jinchuriki's side and looked up. The river of paper wound its way toward them, twisting as it filled most of the Underground Space.
Two people rode atop the paper river: Konan, flapping her Paper Wings, and Nagato, seated in a wheelchair.
The instant Nagato appeared, Orochimaru activated his Three Tomoe Sharingan and fixed his gaze on him.
Dull, lifeless red hair, cheeks reduced to skin and bone, a gaunt frame.
The only thing on Nagato that radiated any luster was his pair of Rinnegan.
At first glance, it seemed as though Nagato was