The cave was thick with the stench of blood and medicine.
Nagato lay on a specially made machine, so emaciated that he was little more than skin and bones, his ribs clearly visible. Countless chakra tubes connected his body to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, like umbilical cords, like chains.
Konan stood guard at his side, her paper wings trembling faintly. She looked toward the cave entrance, at the blond youth walking in step by step.
Naruto was in Sage Mode, still bearing wounds, but his eyes were resolute.
"Nagato," Naruto said.
It was not an accusation, nor was it anger. He simply called his name calmly.
Nagato opened his eyes. Naruto's figure was reflected in his Rinnegan. He looked at him for a long time, then smiled—a weary, relieved smile streaked with blood.
"You came, child of prophecy."
"I'm not some child of prophecy." Naruto walked up to him and sat cross-legged. "I'm just Uzumaki Naruto, Jiraiya's student, and a ninja of Konoha."
"Jiraiya..." Nagato closed his eyes. "He died. I killed him."
"I know."
"Don't you want revenge?"
"I do," Naruto admitted honestly. "I want to kill you, tear you apart, and drag your corpse before Pervy Sage to beg forgiveness. But... Pervy Sage wouldn't want me to do that. Kakashi-sensei wouldn't either. Sakura wouldn't. None of the people who died in Konoha would."
Nagato opened his eyes. "Why?"
"Because they believed killing and hatred can't solve anything." Naruto stared into Nagato's Rinnegan. "They believed that even in a world full of war and pain, people could still understand one another. They believed... believed that even an idiot like me could find the answer."
"The answer?" Nagato's voice was hoarse. "I searched for twenty years and found nothing but pain. Only by making the world feel