Akatsuki submits; going into seclusion to master the Rinnegan

"Do you see the gap between us now, Nagato?"

"I do."

Deva Path Pain flew toward Nagato's body, while Naruto Uzumaki used Kamui to appear right beside him.

"The fight's over."

"I lost."

A defeated look crossed Nagato's face.

Even his final struggle had failed.

It seemed

he was not destined to be the protagonist of this shinobi world.

"Naruto, there's one last thing I want to ask you," Nagato said suddenly. "Don't worry. It's not about how you got your powers."

Naruto Uzumaki nodded. "Go ahead."

"Back there... were you fighting at full strength?"

Nagato's eyes held a glimmer of hope as he asked in a trembling voice.

But Naruto Uzumaki's answer shattered it.

"Sorry, but no."

"For me, that fight was only a warm-up."

His power was already on the verge of reaching the Six Paths level.

For certain reasons, he simply had not crossed that threshold yet.

But

he could easily crush any ninja below the Six Paths level.

Even a Super Kage Level ninja like Nagato was no exception.

Flying Thunder God Technique, Great Spiraling Ring, Wood Human Technique, Wood Dragon Technique, Advent of a World of Flowering Trees, Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands, Sage Art: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken...

Any one of them would be more than Nagato could handle.

At that, a relieved smile appeared on Nagato's face.

"Sorry I couldn't give you a proper fight."

Konan walked slowly to Naruto Uzumaki's side and faced Nagato with him.

"Nagato, what do you want to do now?"

The happy smile on Konan's face left Nagato momentarily dazed.

How long had it been since he had seen her smile, ever since Yahiko died?

She must have found her own happiness.

"Nagato?"

Konan's voice brought him back to his senses.

"Naruto has shown me overwhelming