Nagato, Frail as the Wind

Akatsuki Organization base.

All the members had arrived.

Just as expected, they were far faster than the Five Great Ninja Villages. Having more people was not always a good thing; sometimes, having fewer made it easier to act.

Everyone's face brimmed with excitement. Today was the day the Akatsuki Organization's name would resound throughout the Ninja World. Deidara could barely stop himself from jumping up and down. He had waited for this day for far too long.

Old man Ōnoki, watch carefully. Who is the truly capable one here?

Completely ignoring the fact that the Akatsuki Organization's current target was Stone Village. How utterly filial of him—filial enough to kill someone.

Everything was ready, yet their leader had still not appeared after all this time.

At that moment, Nagato was struggling with a difficult decision. He could indeed continue concealing it, but that would inevitably cause some inconvenience. Besides, Uchiha Qingfeng had already seen his "Six Paths of Pain." Though Qingfeng had said nothing, he must have become suspicious.

For some reason, after Uchiha Qingfeng had persuaded him, he had simply watched Jiraiya escape from Leaf Village without any intention of stopping him. Perhaps, deep down, he believed Uchiha Qingfeng was right.

After all, Jiraiya had once been his teacher.

"It is time for this body of mine to meet everyone."

Unfortunately, neither Konan nor Reanimated Yahiko was by his side at that moment. Otherwise, he surely would have received plenty of concern.

Though he did not know why, ever since Konan had gone to Konoha, she had spent far more time beside Uchiha Qingfeng than beside him. That was why there was not even a single person at his side now.

Having made up his mind, the Asura Path stepped out and slowly pushed Nagato's wheelchair forward.

Deva Path