Nagato sat on a rock, breathing hard. A mass of Black Rods still jutted from his back, their pain constantly needling his nerves.
But Yahiko's death hurt far more. Only the pain in his body could ease the pain in his heart, if only a little.
Konan laid Yahiko's body on the ground, then leaned against the rock wall to rest. The Cliff Face sheltered them both from the rain.
A figure approached in the distance. It was Guangtai, wearing White Zetsu.
Nagato lifted his head wearily and looked at him. "Have you come to mock us?"
Guangtai shook his head. "I expected you to fail. The people who hold power in this world care only about themselves.
"Yahiko's ideals were good, but you ran into a treacherous man like Hanzō. And you didn't have the strength to stand against him.
"My offer still stands. Work with us. Once you master the power of the Rinnegan, killing Hanzō and avenging Yahiko will be easy.
"And the Rinnegan's Six Paths Technique can let Yahiko live on in another form, here with you."
"What would I have to give in return?"
"Nothing. Just join us. You can remain the leader of your organization and begin collecting Tailed Beasts when the time is right," Guangtai said.
"Collecting Tailed Beasts?" Nagato asked, puzzled.
Guangtai sat down across from Nagato. "That's right. The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path you summoned can only be summoned by someone with the Rinnegan.
"Driving the statue takes an enormous amount of power. You must have felt that yourself. With your body as it is, using it twice more in succession would probably kill you.
"Tailed Beasts are made of pure Chakra. Only after the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path absorbs all Nine Tailed Beasts can it truly