Nagato's Choice

Amegakure, a city where rain fell year-round.

Xingye walked alone through the rain, using his Byakugan to scan everything around him in 360 degrees.

According to the information Konan had provided, Nagato lived at Amegakure headquarters. The Six Paths of Pain were scattered throughout the village, keeping watch over the entire city.

"Nagato," Xingye murmured, "a poor man deceived by Obito."

"Today, I'll make you see the truth."

Just then, the system's notification sounded.

[System Notification: Target detected]

[Nagato, one kilometer ahead]

[Chakra signature: Rinnegan, weakened body]

A cold glint flashed in Xingye's eyes.

"Found you."

Xingye changed direction and headed toward the target.

One kilometer later

Xingye arrived at Amegakure headquarters and saw someone sitting in a wheelchair.

He had red hair, distinctive markings on his face, and Rinnegan eyes.

It was Nagato of the Akatsuki.

Konan stood behind Nagato. When she saw Xingye, a flicker of tension crossed her eyes.

Nagato's Rinnegan shifted slightly as he looked toward Xingye.

"Uchiha Xingye," Nagato said slowly. "You've finally come."

Xingye emerged from the rain and looked calmly at Nagato.

"Nagato, I know you've been waiting for this moment."

Nagato nodded. "Konan has already told me."

"She said you could help me achieve true peace."

Xingye said, "Nagato, the Eye of the Moon Plan isn't true peace."

"It's Obito's lie. His goal is to use you as a pawn to resurrect Kaguya."

Nagato fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Then tell me: what is true peace?"

Xingye replied, "True peace isn't a false peace created through genjutsu."

"It's understanding and trust built through everyone's shared efforts."

"The Eye of the Moon Plan will only plunge the entire Shinobi World into eternal enslavement. That isn't peace; it's a new hell."

Pain flashed in Nagato's eyes. "But this world is full of suffering."

"War, hatred, discrimination... How can we put an end to all that suffering?"

Xingye said, "Nagato, I know your pain."

"You, Yahiko, and Konan founded the Akatsuki with the original goal of achieving peace."

"But Obito deceived you, making you believe the Eye of the Moon Plan was the only way to bring peace."

"That simply isn't true."

Nagato fell silent.

Xingye continued, "You believed Obito because you longed for peace."

"But the Eye of the Moon Plan can't bring you peace."

"Instead, it will make you a sinner in the eyes of the entire Shinobi World."

A flicker of conflict crossed Nagato's eyes. "Then what should I do?"

Xingye said, "Nagato, I'll give you a choice."

"Let's spar."

"If you can defeat me, I'll let you kill me."

"But if I defeat you, you'll abandon the Eye of the Moon Plan and join me."

A glint of fighting spirit shone in Nagato's eyes. "Interesting."

"Then let me see just how strong the Uchiha prodigy is."

Nagato formed Hand Seals, and the Six Paths of Pain launched their attack.

The Deva Path, Asura Path, Human Path, Animal Path, Preta Path, and Naraka Path appeared before Xingye all at once.

"Uchiha Xingye," Nagato said, "the Six Paths of Pain aren't easy to deal with."

Xingye looked at the Six Paths and said calmly, "They're certainly powerful."

"But they have weaknesses, too."

Nagato sneered. "Weaknesses? You're saying the Six Paths of Pain have weaknesses?"

Xingye nodded. "That's right."

"Though the Six Paths of Pain are powerful, they all depend on Nagato's control."

"Defeat you, and the Six Paths of Pain will lose control."

Nagato roared, "Impossible! No one can defeat me that easily!"

Xingye replied coolly, "Then let me prove it."

His Mangekyō Sharingan slowly opened as his Byakugan scanned the chakra flow of the Six Paths in 360 degrees.

Through his Byakugan, the chakra connection points linking the Six Paths were clearly visible.

"Found them." A cold glint flashed in Xingye's eyes.

Lightning Release: Chidori!

Xingye vanished in an instant, reappearing in the middle of the Six Paths of Pain.

Chidori precisely severed every chakra connection before he charged straight toward Nagato.

Nagato's pupils shrank. He hadn't expected Xingye to sever the connections between the Six Paths so easily.

The Six Paths of Pain immediately lost control and slumped to the ground.

Xingye pointed his Chidori at Nagato but didn't thrust it forward.

"Nagato," Xingye said, "do you understand my strength now?"

"Continuing to resist will only make you suffer."

Nagato looked at Xingye, a complex mix of emotions in his eyes.

"Uchiha Xingye," Nagato said, "you really are strong."

"I admit I can't defeat you."

Xingye nodded. "Then are you willing to abandon the Eye of the Moon Plan and join me?"

Nagato pondered for a long time before answering, "I can abandon the Eye of the Moon Plan."

"But I have one condition."

Xingye asked, "What is it?"

Nagato said, "You have to help bring Yahiko back to life."

"Yahiko meant everything to Konan and me. I want to see him again."

Xingye was silent for a moment before saying, "Nagato, Yahiko is dead."

"The dead can't come back to life. That's the natural order."

"But I can help you fulfill Yahiko's dream."

Nagato asked, "What dream?"

Xingye said, "Yahiko dreamed of creating a world without war or suffering."

"I'll help you make that dream come true and turn Amegakure into a place of true peace."

Hope flickered in Nagato's eyes. "Really? You can help me fulfill Yahiko's dream?"

Xingye nodded. "Of course."

"Besides, I'll give you a new body."

"Your body is too weak to withstand the power of the Rinnegan."

"I'll use the Otsutsuki Bloodline's healing ability to repair it."

Nagato was shocked. "Repair my body? Is that possible?"

Xingye said, "It is."

"My Otsutsuki Bloodline has powerful healing abilities and can repair most bodily injuries."

"Nagato, though your body is weak, it isn't beyond healing."

"With my treatment, you can make a full recovery."

Tears glimmered in Nagato's eyes. "Xingye, if you can really heal me and help me fulfill Yahiko's dream, I'm willing to abandon the Eye of the Moon Plan and join you."

Xingye nodded. "All right. I promise."

Xingye walked over to Nagato and placed his palm against Nagato's back.

The healing power of the Otsutsuki Bloodline began to work, aided by the Mangekyō Sharingan.

His Byakugan scanned Nagato's body in 360 degrees, searching for the source of the damage.

Through his Byakugan, Xingye could see that Nagato's body had indeed suffered severe damage.

The side effects of Shinra Tensei were slowly destroying Nagato's body.

"Found it," Xingye murmured.

Xingye poured chakra into Nagato's body and began repairing the damaged tissue.

The Otsutsuki Bloodline's healing ability, combined with the Mangekyō Sharingan's Chakra Control, produced remarkable results.

Nagato felt warmth flowing through his body, and his pain gradually eased.

"Xingye," Nagato said in surprise, "I feel... much better."

Xingye said, "You're not fully healed yet. You'll need more treatment."

"Nagato, your body has suffered severe damage, but it can still be healed."

"As long as you cooperate with my treatment, you'll make a full recovery."

Nagato nodded. "Xingye, thank you."

"If it weren't for you, I might have kept letting Obito deceive me and become a pawn in Kaguya's resurrection."

Xingye replied, "You don't need to thank me."

"We're all victims—victims deceived by Black Zetsu."

"Now we need to join forces, expose Black Zetsu's conspiracy, and save the entire Shinobi World."

Konan stepped forward, gratitude shining in her eyes.

"Xingye, thank you so much."

"If it weren't for you, Nagato might never have seen the truth."

Xingye shook his head. "Konan, you don't need to thank me."

"Helping you is also helping myself."

"We're allies fighting Black Zetsu."

The system's notification sounded.

[System Notification: Nagato successfully recruited]

[Acquired traits: Recruit (Blue), Rinnegan (Red), Shinra Tensei (Red), Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique (Purple)]

[Traits taken from Nagato: Rinnegan Chakra (Blue), Perception (Green), Stealth (Green)]

Xingye was overjoyed. The Rinnegan and Shinra Tensei were Red-tier traits, worth a fortune.

"With the Rinnegan and Shinra Tensei," Xingye murmured, "my strength will increase dramatically once again."

Besides, the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique was an extremely rare jutsu that could bring the dead back to life.

Though Xingye couldn't use it yet, it would surely come in handy someday.

"Nagato," Xingye said, "there are three things I need you to do next."

Nagato said, "Go ahead."

Xingye said, "First, continue building peace in Amegakure."

"Yahiko's dream is the goal you and Konan most want to achieve."

"I'll give you my full support and help turn Amegakure into a place of true peace."

Nagato nodded. "All right."

Xingye continued, "Second, investigate Black Zetsu in secret."

"Black Zetsu is Kaguya Otsutsuki's son. He's been laying plans in secret, trying to resurrect his mother."

"We need to find his weakness and defeat him once and for all."

Nagato said, "Understood."

Xingye finished, "Third, I may ask you to step in when the time comes."

"If war in the Shinobi World becomes unavoidable, I'll form the Shinobi Allied Forces."

"When that happens, I'll need a powerful shinobi like you to join us."

Nagato nodded. "All right."

"I'll do everything I can to help you fight Black Zetsu."

Xingye smiled faintly. "Good, Nagato."

"Next, I'll continue treating you."

"Once you've fully recovered, you'll be even stronger."

Hope shone in Nagato's eyes. "Xingye, I'm really looking forward to it."

Xingye nodded. "Nagato, Konan, don't worry."

"I'll help you fulfill Yahiko's dream."

"Amegakure will become a place of true peace."

Tears glimmered in Konan's eyes. "Xingye, thank you so much."

"If it weren't for you, Nagato and I might never have been able to move on from our painful past."

Xingye shook his head. "Konan, you don't have to thank me."

"Helping you is also helping myself."

"We're all comrades fighting against Black Zetsu."

The system's notification sounded again.

[System Notification: Successfully recruited Nagato. Akatsuki Disintegration Plan progress: 80%]

[Reward obtained: Red Tenseigan, Red Six Paths Sage Technique]

Xingye was overjoyed. The Tenseigan and Six Paths Sage Technique were both red-tier traits, priceless treasures.

"With the Tenseigan and Six Paths Sage Technique," Xingye murmured, "my strength will reach the Six Paths level."

"Black Zetsu, your end is near."

Xingye stood at Amegakure headquarters, gazing out at the curtain of rain.

The rain in Amegakure continued to fall without pause.

But Xingye knew that spring was coming to Amegakure.

With Xingye's help, Nagato and Konan would fulfill Yahiko's dream.

Amegakure would become a true land of peace.