A Game of Peace

Inside the Tower in Amegakure, Pain Tendo fixed his signature Rinnegan on the Rinnegan in Sasuke Uchiha's eye on the Canopy Screen.

For the first time, clear doubt and uncertainty appeared on his cold face.

"Konan, his eye... Why does Sasuke Uchiha have a Rinnegan in the future, too?" Pain's voice remained emotionless, but the question betrayed his unease.

Beside him, Konan's paper fluttered faintly, betraying her own unrest.

She analyzed the situation calmly. "Pain, it seems the level of power in the future Shinobi World will develop far beyond anything we can imagine now."

"The Tailed Beast weapons we rely on may be no more than ordinary power in a future that changes so rapidly."

A trace of worry entered her voice. "Worse, if all the Five Great Nations gain power of that level or greater, small nations like Amegakure, with no such weapons, will be the ones crushed between them."

"The chain of hatred won't end. It will only spread further."

Pain fell silent.

The belief that had sustained him—that he could bring peace by making the world feel pain—seemed feeble in the face of this glimpse of the future.

Whether through a connection with people's hearts or the deterrence of overwhelming force, his approach seemed unequal to that more complex and powerful Shinobi World.

At last, Pain spoke slowly, a barely perceptible uncertainty in his voice.

"The Child of Prophecy? Konan, how do you think Naruto Uzumaki managed to keep the entire Shinobi World in check in the future? Was it truly just destiny?"

Konan looked out at the wind and rain. "I'm afraid only Teacher Jiraiya can give us any real clues to that answer."

Kumogakure, the Raikage's Office.

Fourth Raikage A was like a volcano on the verge of eruption, crackling blue Lightning Release Chakra