At the Akatsuki base in the Land of Rain, the organization's latest joint operation had secured the Eight-Tails' chakra, but had also cost them two newly recruited members. With the Nine Dragons Sealing Technique no longer possible, Nagato had withdrawn after taking only four of the Eight-Tails' tails. That had been his main reason for retreating.
After sealing the Eight-Tails' chakra into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Nagato left alone. Konan and Yahiko exchanged a glance, then Yahiko slowly followed him.
On the top floor of the base, Yahiko saw Nagato standing at the window. He walked over and asked with a smile, "What's wrong? Feeling lost?"
"No," Nagato replied. "Well... yes. I'm having a little trouble seeing the road ahead."
Yahiko sat on the windowsill and gazed out at the relentless rain. "You know, before I met you and Konan, I hated this country. I always wanted to escape it."
Nagato froze for a moment. In his eyes, Yahiko had always loved their country more than anyone. Now Yahiko was telling him he had actually hated it, leaving Nagato bewildered.
Seeing Nagato's incredulous expression, Yahiko smiled. "What, surprised? You really shouldn't be. Before I met you two, all this country meant to me was pain. Endless pain, endless war, endless deaths. Family, friends... one after another, the war took them all. Back then, I often wondered whether, if I'd lived somewhere powerful like Konoha instead of here, so many terrible things might not have happened to me. Pretty childish, wasn't it? Heh..."
Nagato said nothing, merely watching him in silence. After his chuckle, Yahiko continued, "But I soon gave up on that idea. Reality was reality. The endless wars went on, people kept dying, and the rain kept falling. It was as though the rain itself was