Feeling Like I Can Still Make a Play

Inside the Paper Tree, the consciousness of the original Nagato, after a final stubborn struggle, finally merged perfectly with the consciousness of Luo Xiao-Zuo.

Although the original Nagato was gone, the blood debt he owed in Konoha and the massive burden he dumped onto the new Nagato were things no one would ever forget.

The burden was so dark and polished that it filled our protagonist's heart with "gratification."

"Very good, I am very likely to become the protagonist who dies the fastest in history, and there is no one else..."

After summoning the temporarily powerless and sage-like Deva Path into Konoha, Nagato muttered to himself.

In fact, from his perspective, being able to transmigrate into a boss-level character like Nagato, possessing the Sage Body of the Uzumaki Clan and the only pair of Rinnegan in this world from the very beginning—these two golden fingers—was a high-spec transmigration no matter how you looked at it.

Even Obito admitted that Nagato was the third Sage of Six Paths after the Sage of Six Paths and Madara Uchiha. In terms of talent, Nagato truly feared no one.

However, no matter how high-spec the transmigration is, it has to be paired with the right timing, right?

The current timing could be described as terrible; it was equivalent to someone transmigrating into the world's richest person right before the apocalypse. And this world's richest person had just, quite impressively, slapped the protagonist who had just gained superpowers.

Is this the start of the days where I get slapped in the face after acting cool?

Nagato was silent, wanting to know what this feeling of weakness and powerlessness coming from his entire body was all about. What about this feeling lingering in his heart—that he was about to be eliminated as soon as he arrived? And what about the feeling of the original Nagato having his fun and leaving a pile of messes for him to clean up?

When the two people's consciousnesses finally merged perfectly, he also inherited the original Nagato's wishes.

Because their memories were completely shared at that moment, it was a true mutual understanding and acceptance.

"I didn't expect I would be such a failure." When the original Nagato finished casting Almighty Push and saw his future ending during the consciousness fusion, he sighed, "Can I trust you? I can let you replace me and take everything I have, but I hope you can inherit Yahiko's and my dream and complete our long-cherished wish!"

Luo Xiao-Zuo was silent for a moment before agreeing. He didn't dislike Nagato to begin with, and now that he had obtained everything Nagato had, inheriting his legacy could be considered human nature. Moreover, he knew exactly what Nagato wanted him to say:

"I will protect Amegakure and bring true peace to Amegakure."

"I will destroy the Five Great Nations system and bring true change to the ninja world."

"I will become a true god and seize supreme power."

"And at this time, in this place, with this soul as my vow, I will facilitate the unification of this world and usher in an unprecedented era."

At Luo Xiao-Zuo's promise, Nagato smiled slightly and completely gave up resistance. Luo Xiao-Zuo's consciousness began to merge perfectly with Nagato's body, devouring Nagato's soul and becoming the new Nagato.

When swearing by his soul, he was more decisive than anyone. But now, when truly facing the problem, the new Nagato was a bit confused. The first question was: what should he do now?

The dual-vision sensation continued. Nagato looked at the environment inside the Paper Tree, then at Konan, who was looking at him with some confusion. Through Pain, he heard the voice of Konan's paper clone:

"I will keep watching you from now on; the paper clone is only needed up to this point."

Outside Konoha, the six Pains had finished re-equipping, like the finest weapons, ready to execute any operation Nagato commanded.

This extremely convenient sense of operation, which could be carried out with just a thought, made one eager to act. It felt much better than playing games in his previous life.

Nagato felt the various abilities he had bestowed upon the Pains. He couldn't help but feel that he was very strong, that he could still operate, and that he could turn the tables.

Although he knew that the opponent was a cheater and he couldn't possibly kill him—and would likely be killed by the plot—he couldn't just run away like a coward, could he?

How could he face anyone if he were that timid? He still wanted to become a true god.

Thinking of this, Nagato spoke through the Deva Path, stopping Konan's paper clone: "Don't dispel the paper clone yet; I have another task for you."

"What task?"

Upon hearing this, the paper clone's surface, which had already begun to split into individual sheets of paper, covered itself back up, seamlessly combining into a whole.

"You will follow the Asura Path back to Konoha now and take Kakashi's Sharingan."

Although Konan's paper clone wasn't strong, she could fly. The Asura Path had high combat power, but facing Naruto's Sage Mode, it would shatter at the slightest touch.

Nagato decided to let these two team up to do some other work.

"Sharingan?"

Konan's paper clone blinked in confusion, as if asking what use such a thing had.

Well, forgive this woman who had been spoiled by him; after all, his former self had also looked down on the Sharingan. After killing Kakashi, he hadn't even bothered to gouge them out.

"That is a space-time Mangekyou eye; it might be useful in the future."

After explaining this, Nagato manipulated the Asura Path to launch the Animal Path into Konoha like a cannonball.

Although Konan liked to spend money recklessly on Explosive Tags, she was very obedient. Her paper clone followed the Asura Path very submissively to the place where Kakashi's corpse lay, responsible for gouging out Kakashi's eyeballs.

Come to think of it, Nagato also found it amazing. He had just smashed down with such a massive Almighty Push, nearly erasing Konoha, yet Kakashi's corpse remained unscathed? This had to be called a miracle.

"It's coming."

Not long after the Asura Path returned to Konoha with Konan's paper clone.

In the Deva Path's vision, that massive amount of Chakra that had been lingering in Konoha seemed to suddenly react, rushing toward his direction at an extremely high speed.

"Did he sense my location after using Sage Mode?"

Nagato guessed. Judging from the scale of the Chakra in front of him, it was undoubtedly his cute junior—Naruto Uzumaki.

The Rinnegan was originally a higher-level Sharingan; being able to see Chakra and the color of Chakra was perfectly normal.

At this moment, through the eyes of the Pains, Nagato saw that the color of the Chakra inside Naruto was completely different from that of an ordinary person. It was colorful, like a rainbow—as flashy as it could possibly be.

Each color inside represented a type of Chakra, which was practically a cheat code for Naruto. Within it were his own, Nine Tails's, his parents', his past life's, as well as those of Itachi Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha.

It was truly a bit too much; it was nothing short of a blatant cheat.

Wouldn't he feel a shred of guilt for carrying so many cheats?

The answer was definitely no, so Nagato couldn't be bothered to ask him.

"He's fast!"

With his cheats activated, Naruto charged forward rapidly. As the battle was about to begin, Nagato focused his consciousness onto the Pains.

The Deva Path's pupils constricted slightly as he watched Naruto rushing toward him, along with the two Sage Toads squatting on the scroll behind him, ready to show off their skills at any moment.

Naruto stomped on the ground, leaping over a dozen meters in a single bound. The moment he saw the four Pains standing outside the village, he let out a roar: "Pain! I'm going to settle this with you once and for all!"

Truly, when enemies meet, their eyes turn red with hatred; he looked exactly like someone ready to risk his life.

It was actually a bit frightening.

"Ah, ah..." The Deva Path nodded slightly with an expressionless face, greeting Naruto as if they were meeting for the first time. "So you are Naruto? You silly child, you've been bewitched by a demon! I am your senior brother!"

Naruto: ...

After a moment of stunned silence, a look of fury appeared on Naruto's face. His eyes widened, and without another word, he began to form a Rasengan.

He didn't want to hear a single word from the Deva Path right now; he only wanted to avenge Konoha and smash a Rasengan right into the Deva Path's face. However, just as the Rasengan was about to strike, he heard a loud "Poof!" sound beside his ear.

At the same time, the voice of the Animal Path rang out within Konoha: "Summoning Jutsu!" Then, Naruto was stunned to find that the four Pains in front of him had vanished in an instant.

"Stunned, aren't you? I know the Summoning Jutsu..."

Before leaving, the Deva Path threw this line at Naruto.

Naruto: ...

Trembling with rage, he stood rooted to the spot for several seconds. Naruto was so angry his lungs felt like they were about to explode. Gritting his teeth, he used his sensory abilities to relocate the Deva Path. Naruto then turned around in a flurry and chased after the Deva Path, heading back into Konoha.

"Pain! I'm going to settle this with you once and for all!"

With a small clap of the Animal Path's hands, all five Pains appeared together in Konoha, which had been transformed into "Konoha Square." No sooner had they appeared than that very roar echoed from not far away.

Tsunade Senju appeared before the Pains, consumed by uncontrollable rage, and shouted the exact same words in the exact same tone Naruto had just used.

This feeling really was the treatment of a villain whom everyone wants to beat up!