Pain's Deva, Nagato's body, sat silently on a cold stone throne. Behind him, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path radiated an ominous aura.
A swirling ripple appeared in the air, and White Zetsu emerged from it, reporting everything said at the Five Kage Summit to Nagato without omitting a single word.
"...That's how things stand. Apart from Kumogakure, the other four Kage rejected the proposal to attack Amegakure. Although they struck some kind of deal, they won't be able to form a true Allied Shinobi Forces anytime soon."
After hearing the report, Nagato's pale purple Rinnegan remained utterly calm.
"Good." His voice was hollow yet commanding. "As long as the Five Great Nations cannot unite, they will be no match for us. Kage fighting separately are nothing but scattered sand."
In his plan, as long as the Five Great Shinobi Villages did not join forces, the power of the Rinnegan made him invincible. As for the Mysterious Man interfering with his plans, Nagato paid him little mind. To him, the man was merely a clown coveting the power of the tailed beasts, insignificant beside the true peace he sought.
"Keep watching them, especially Toru Kujyo," Nagato gave his final order. "Until our plan is complete, I want no more unforeseen complications."
On the road back to Konoha, the cold wind howled.
The three traveled in silence, the atmosphere somewhat heavy.
"I never imagined things would turn out this way." Tsunade was the first to break the silence, a note of wonder in her voice. "Iwagakure, Sunagakure, Kirigakure... To think they'd willingly bow to Konoha. That would have been unthinkable before."
"They're not bowing to Konoha so much as to absolute power," Kakashi pointed out bluntly. "What they fear is the Mysterious Man who can destroy a village with