Nagato flicked his sleeve, leaped down from above, and strode toward Hiruzen.
Enma's death had made Hiruzen realize that his chances of surviving today were slim. The only thing he could not let go of was the safety of his disciples.
"Nagato, I only want to know one thing now. Is Tsunade still alive?"
Nagato stopped before Hiruzen and said, "She is. She is doing very well, and... her hemophobia has been cured."
"I see..." Hiruzen closed his eyes, his feelings tangled. He understood that Nagato had no reason to deceive him now.
He had attacked Konoha, yet had not slaughtered innocents. He could clearly have kept Jiraiya and Tsunade, yet had spared them. He had even reached some kind of understanding with Minato...
Nagato, what kind of person are you?
Hiruzen opened his eyes, and his gaze became calm.
"Can you at least let me die knowing why? Why did you go to such lengths to lure me here? Was it simply because of Danzo, taking your anger out on me, or was there another reason..."
Nagato said, "Every debt has its debtor. Sooner or later, I will make Danzo repay the sins he committed. I am not taking it out on you because of that. I lured you here today entirely because you possess something I need..."
Hiruzen met Nagato's eyes. "Something... you need?"
Nagato did not answer. He merely... raised his palm, his gaze slowly shifting somewhere above.
Amegakure, underground research base!
The look Nagato sent through the crystal ball made Orochimaru's vertical pupils tremble.
He knew... Nagato was telling him that the time had come to make a choice!
The words from that long conversation in the rain echoed in his mind.
"People are creatures with limitations. Unless they are personally placed in the situation,