From the Clock Tower, Orochimaru had sensed Nagato's presence while he was still far away. Only when Nagato drew closer did Orochimaru see Yahiko in his arms.
Orochimaru's brow furrowed sharply. After spending so long in Amegakure, he knew exactly what kind of person Yahiko was.
Seeing him like this was a terrible shame.
But faced with Nagato, who seemed half-mad, Orochimaru could find no words of comfort. In the end, he managed only, "I'm sorry for your loss."
Nagato did not answer. "I need to use your laboratory."
Without waiting for Orochimaru to agree, he walked straight in.
Orochimaru watched him go, then followed him inside.
He glanced at the girl who had come with Nagato and said softly, "Sit here. You shouldn't go inside."
The girl obediently sat outside the Clock Tower. She made no attempt to wash off the mud and blood covering her; she was filthy from head to toe.
Once inside Orochimaru's laboratory, Nagato laid Yahiko on the dissection table.
His movements were so gentle, as though Yahiko were still alive.
Only then did Orochimaru have a chance to study Nagato's eyes. His Rinnegan was now fully revealed.
His eyes were filled with hatred and a thirst for slaughter, though he kept both carefully buried for the moment.
Nagato found a clean cloth and painstakingly wiped the blood from Yahiko's body. Every movement was gentle and deliberate.
Chapter 567: The Resolve to Transform
Orochimaru worked with corpses every day, but seeing Nagato like this still sent a chill through him.
Orochimaru handled the dead purely for research. Every movement Nagato made, however, was full of feeling, as if Yahiko had not died at all.
Though the sight unsettled him, Orochimaru said nothing. He crouched to one side and pretended not to notice.
In less than