Ten Days Later!

After falling into a coma, Lin Feng had a dream, a very, very long dream.

In the dream, he personally experienced everything of the latter from childhood onward through the personal perspective of Nagato, living peacefully with his parents in a village of the Rain Country, until the outbreak of the Second Shinobi World War, when the Rain Country became a battlefield for the major nations.

His parents were killed by Konoha shinobi, and he became a war orphan wandering around. Then, in the shattered Rain Country, he met two other war orphans, Konan and Yahiko, supporting each other and getting through a difficult yet warm childhood.

He encountered the Legendary Sannin, became Jiraiya's disciple, and began his training.

After parting ways with his beloved mentor, he gathered a group of like-minded companions and began Akatsuki's journey...

Finally, the dream froze at the moment beneath the cliff when Yahiko fell!

That was also the node where he transmigrated.

The scene shifted, and he arrived in an ethereal world of light and shadow, where he himself turned into a blurred light and shadow!

Meanwhile, Nagato's figure, wrapped in white light, was high above, looking down at him expressionlessly.

"Is this also a dream?"

"I refuse to accept this kind of reality. How could I possibly accept it." Nagato's gaze carried a ferocity that made his heart palpitate.

"Boom!" A violent wind rose, and Nagato attacked!

"Damn it!" Just like in a state of nightmare, Lin Feng was completely unable to move, having no idea what would happen next...

Nagato's life-claiming palm stopped half a step away.

At that exact moment, a deep purple vortex appeared behind him, emitting a suction force that Nagato could not resist. Even before being sucked in, Nagato was still muttering, "I will never accept this, something like this..."

"Boom!"

The vortex disappeared, and this illusory world of light and shadow burst with glass-like cracks. With a crack sound, it completely returned to dead silence!

"Ah!!!"

In the dim cave, Nagato let out a loud cry and woke up from his coma.

"Hoo, ha, hoo, ha..."

He clutched his forehead, which was wrapped in bandages, and breathed heavily.

"Nagato!!" Hearing the commotion, Konan hurried over. "You're finally awake. Do you feel uncomfortable?"

Lin Feng... No, the me of now, in the truest sense, has completely become Nagato!

Lin Feng... has already become a thing of the past in the true sense!

"I, I'm fine..." Nagato slowly lowered his hand and composed himself. "Konan, I... how long have I been unconscious?"

"A full ten days and ten nights," Konan said with heartache.

"What, only ten days and ten nights?" Nagato opened his eyes wide.

"Eh?" Konan looked at him in surprise. "Why do you say that?"

"No, it's nothing. I was just sleeping out of it..." Nagato hurriedly changed the subject.

So that was how it was. After fainting, he had an extremely condensed dream, spending ten days and ten nights personally experiencing Nagato's nearly twenty years of experiences...

The level of detail in those experiences was far beyond what comic books and animations could portray.

But what on earth was that final scene?

For a moment, he could not find a clue either.

Yet at least this dream filled in his blanks, allowing him in the true sense to inherit Nagato, including... up to the present, Nagato's attainments as a shinobi.

Otherwise, it would really be hard for him to explain things in front of Konan. Having six chakra nature transformations, mastering all mainstream ninjutsu at the age of ten, and being recognized as the Child of Prophecy by Teacher Jiraiya, why did he suddenly not know any ninjutsu?

Did getting hit in the head by a rock cause him to lose all his ninjutsu? Who would believe that ghost story.

This cave was dark and cramped. For ten days and ten nights, Konan stayed by his side without a moment of rest in the harsh environment, while also having to constantly be on guard against Hanzo's pursuit. One could imagine the pressure...

Looking at Konan's haggard face, a wave of heartache washed over him.

"Konan, you haven't closed your eyes for even a second these past few days. Look at you, you even have dark circles under your eyes."

"It's fine." Konan leaned against the wall, slowly sat down, hugged her legs wrapped in black stockings, and said softly, "I'll rest for a little while, and then we'll hit the road... Is that okay?"

"Konan, you go to sleep. I'm here."

"Thank you..." Konan didn't even have the strength to adjust her posture and lie down; she closed her eyes and fell asleep right against the wall.

Outside the cave, the drizzle fell densely.

Nagato looked at Konan's angelic face close at hand, and couldn't help but reach out, gently brushing her cheek with his fingertip.

Was a young girl's skin really this wonderful to the touch?

He wanted to protect the beauty before his eyes.

"Wait for me."

Coming outside the cave and observing the surrounding terrain, he took out blank paper charms and instantly crafted five restriction talismans, pasting them in five locations around the area.

He immediately formed hand seals.

--Five-Seal Barrier!

As the restriction talismans were activated, centered around the cave, it turned into a pentagonal sealed barrier, and the entrance of the cave was also sealed.

This would ensure Konan's safety.

Nagato leaped to the top of the mountain and gazed into the distance.

"In my memory, there are quite a few small villages destroyed by war in this area. I'll go there to find some food."

He sprinted swiftly through the rain, and as he passed the mountain where he had fought Hanzo, he caught sight of a white-haired figure standing there!

He stopped at a high vantage point and stared intently.

"Teacher Jiraiya... so he came here at this time..."

He must have heard the news of our deaths and specifically come to investigate, right?

In the ten days and ten nights of dreams, the memories of living day and night together also deepened Nagato's feelings for Jiraiya...

An impulse flashed through his mind.

"If I go over now and give everything to my teacher, will fate change from this moment on?"

However, after careful consideration, he still failed to take a step forward.

"The path I want to walk is different from the Nagato of the past, but it is also not what Teacher Jiraiya hoped for."

"This time, I am not going to make the world feel pain, but rather give the world a 'final answer'!"

"The only thing I will ensure is that my teacher will no longer sink into the deep, remote, and dead-silent sea like he did in the past."

Nagato flashed away and left.

"Hmm?" Jiraiya turned his head as if sensing something, and vaguely saw a flash of red. "Nagato...?"

Immediately, he shook his head and gave a bitter smile. "No, how could that be possible? That child has already..."

"The Rain Country is full of bad memories. I probably won't come back here again in my lifetime."

Jiraiya turned and left. In the rain, his retreating figure was desolate, as if crying.

Late at night, Konan woke up in the cave.

Nagato immediately handed over bread and a water pouch. "Konan, you're awake. Eat some food."

During these past few days, Konan didn't dare leave this cave for even a second, fearing a single slip-up would allow Hanzo's pursuing forces to take advantage of the void.

The water and military ration pills she carried with her had long since been consumed, and she hadn't eaten anything for several days.

"Have you eaten?"

"Don't worry, I have."

Konan took the bread and ate it along with the water.

"When I went out to find food, I saw Teacher Jiraiya."

Konan widened her eyes.

"He must have heard the bad news and came to check the situation. I... didn't tell him we are still alive."

"I see..." Konan lowered her gaze, chewing the bread absentmindedly.

Nagato said in a low voice, "The path we are going to take from now on is definitely not what the teacher hoped for. So... I think it's still better not to meet at this time."

"Nagato." Konan slowly raised her eyes and said firmly, "No matter what you do, I will support your decision. Even if it is not accepted by everyone, I will still stand firmly by your side."

"Thank you."

Konan possessed a self-sacrificing personality and spirit of dedication. In her heart, she guarded the bond and dreams of the three of them, following Nagato without a single complaint or regret, believing in his faith.

Her actions and faith had once depended on Yahiko, and now, they depended on Nagato.

Konan thought of the conversation ten days ago between Nagato and Madara.

At that time, she was immersed in the sorrow of Yahiko's death and had no time to think too much, but at this moment...

"Nagato, there is actually something I've been caring about."

"Ah, I know. Before that, I'll take care of a trouble first."

Nagato raised his palm, aiming at the dark corner of the cave.

"Whoosh!" The White Zetsu hiding there was yanked out from the wall and flew toward Nagato!

"Y-You can perceive me now!?" That White Zetsu was shocked out of its wits.

Nagato's palm gripped its head.

Driven by the will to survive, White Zetsu said in a panic, "Wait, we're on the same side, we're on the same side! I am—"

Nagato said coldly in his heart: Ah, of course I know. You were sent by Obito, and you've come at just the right time because I am worrying about where to find Orochimaru!

His Rinnegan was swirling with brilliant light.

--Human Path!