"Mr. Danzo... conspired with Hanzo to ambush Akatsuki?"
Minato looked up in shock.
"Yes, it happened half a year ago." Nagato spoke calmly, draining the cooled boiled water in his cup in one gulp. "Your other junior brother, Yahiko, died an unnatural death then."
"This..." Minato's azure eyes trembled violently as he clenched his cup.
Nagato looked up. "What? You don't believe me?"
Minato slowly took a sip of water. By the time he set down his cup, his gaze had returned to calm.
"No. It's just that what you described sounds far too much like Mr. Danzo's style, so I hesitated for a moment. I wondered whether you were deliberately pinning the blame on him."
"Oh?" Nagato's expression shifted slightly. "You hesitated? So you believe me now?"
Minato nodded heavily. "Jiraiya-sensei told me about the bond between the three of you. I thought that no matter what, as my junior brother, you wouldn't make such an obviously unfunny joke about the death of your closest friend... and your fellow disciple."
His gaze lowered.
"But if that's the case... then a lot of things make sense now."
"During your attack on Konoha, why Danzo behaved so abnormally. And when we held a meeting to analyze intelligence on you, when the Third mentioned 'Hanzo,' Danzo's evasive reaction."
"All the signs indicate that you're telling the truth... but what truly chills me to the bone is this."
He clenched his hand.
"Danzo knew from the beginning that Pain's true identity was you! Hiding it was one thing, but he also deliberately—or perhaps unconsciously—steered suspicion toward the Uchiha Clan. That shows both his prejudice against the Uchiha and his schemes..."
Thud. Nagato set down his teacup, his face darkening. "Senior Brother Minato, let me emphasize this once again: I was not the one