Jiraiya dropped his playful grin, his gaze turning utterly grave.
"It looks like the Sky Screen is planting clues little by little."
"In the end, everything will converge on Naruto alone."
Within the Sky Screen.
In the Land of Rain, the unending drizzle continued to fall, shrouding the entire country in damp, chilly mist year-round.
Konan hid Yahiko's and Nagato's bodies.
Then she set her plan in motion.
For today, Amegakure's perpetual rain briefly ceased.
Konan stood silently on the water, all softness gone from her pale face.
She had just bid Nagato farewell and entrusted every last hope to Naruto.
Someone would finally carry on the Akatsuki's original purpose, Yahiko's ideals, and the conviction Nagato had clung to his entire life.
And her final remaining mission-
To slay the darkness manipulating everything from behind the scenes: the Masked Man.
A black robe fluttered as a shadow approached across the water.
His face concealed beneath an orange Spiral Mask, the Masked Man slowly came into view.
"Nagato bet everything on that brat from Konoha and abandoned the plan."
The Masked Man's muffled, icy voice emerged through his mask without a trace of emotion. "Konan, hand over the Rinnegan."
Konan raised her eyes, nothing remaining in them but bone-chilling cold and resolve.
She had long since seen through this man's hypocrisy and darkness.
His so-called peace and salvation were nothing but a deception, a means to toy with the world and manipulate its suffering.
"I won't give it to you."
Her voice was quiet but firm, every word ringing with conviction. "Nagato has come to his senses. You defiled Yahiko's ideals long ago. You're nothing but a madman wallowing in darkness."
The Masked Man fell silent for a moment, then gave a low laugh filled with mockery and indifference:
"Come to