Before her eyes, a handsome young man with a full head of black hair that hung down naturally made Konan feel a chill run down her spine as soon as he opened his mouth.
"What do you mean by that? Do you think you can kill Nagato so easily?"
"Why not? Because of those Rinnegan that are not suitable for his body? Even when he summons a spirit to control the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, he has to use all his chakra."
"Even with the physique of the Uzumaki Clan, beings with tenacious vitality, without the God Tree Cells, it is ultimately difficult to control the terrifying chakra of the Rinnegan."
His unreserved soliloquy naturally aroused Konan's suspicions. The boy in front of her seemed to know a lot about the Rinnegan and also had some knowledge of Nagato's background.
Thinking back to his mysterious actions, Konan's heart sank. Forgetting her shyness and wariness, she quickly pressed him for an answer.
" The Uzumaki Clan? Is Nagato a member of the Uzumaki Clan? The survivor of the destroyed Land of Whirlpools?"
"Ah, that's right. That full head of Red-Haired Shanks and that powerful vitality are proof of the Uzumaki Clan. That bright Red-Haired Shanks is really eye-catching, and you can tell his origin at a glance."
" The Uzumaki Clan is a distant relative of the Senju Clan Konoha. The most outstanding representative of the God Tree Cells among them, the First Hokage Senju Hashirama, is proof of inheriting the Sage Body."
At this moment, Konan realized that she seemed to have come across a very important secret, and her light orange eyes were filled with amazement.
" Sage Body? Could it refer to the legendary Sage of Six Paths?"
"Of course, Nagato didn't have the Sage of Sage of Six Paths ' powerful regenerative abilities. His physique was even Senju Hashirama's. But even so, he was still able to barely get that guy to entrust the Rinnegan to Nagato."
In an instant, Konan flew into a rage, unaware that a hint of doubt had already crept into her heart.
"Nonsense! Nagato's Rinnegan is a treasure bestowed upon him by the heavens. He is destined to lead the world towards peace, and you..."
Before he could finish speaking, the crimson in the darkness quietly transformed into a deep purple.
"Don't underestimate the power of the Uchiha's eyes, little girl. The so-called Uchiha Clan is the representative of the Sage Eye. Does possessing the Rinnegan mean you will lead the world to peace? What a joke!"
Trembling all over, Konan herself didn't know what kind of expression she had, because the scene before her left her speechless.
"The so-called legends all have their own factual basis. The Uchiha and Senju are the inheritors of the Sage of Six Paths' bloodline. The elder brother inherited the Sage's eyes, and the younger brother inherited the Sage's physique."
"However, I do find this chaotic Ninja World quite boring. Am I interested in witnessing how an immortal god is born?"
Shock and confusion swirled in her mind, and after barely managing to sort out her thoughts, Konan spoke again.
"What exactly did you mean by what you said earlier? Nagato's eyes weren't his own? Those eyes belonged to another Uchiha?"
" Uchiha Madara, everyone believed he died in the battle against Senju Hashirama, but in reality, he didn't die. Instead, he obtained what he wanted most: the Rinnegan..."
"If we were to tell the story in words, it would be quite long. It's simpler to use Genjutsu."
With a glimmer in her eyes, Konan recalled Black Zetsu's instructions to Obito after Uchiha Madara's death.
"That's how it is. The Sage of Sage of Six Paths' eyes can't be explained simply as a gift from heaven."
"Your companions, Yahiko and Nagato, who aspired to bring peace to the world, were innocent pawns who were manipulated by others and paid the price with their lives."
"Perhaps their hearts are genuine, but what can you, blinded by your ambiguous understanding, do when faced with inescapable conspiracies and schemes, and a plan meticulously crafted over decades?"
The atmosphere fell into a cold, deathly silence. Konan remained silent, as if she was still immersed in shock and unable to extricate herself.
Time passed, and after the Salamander Toxin in her body were completely eliminated, Huayue extracted the toxins from the Culture Vessel and opened the glass made of special materials.
" The Dance of the Shikigami!"
Countless pieces of paper flew out, instantly passing through the figure hidden in the darkness. Konan, whose entire body had turned into pieces of paper, shouted angrily.
"Even if it costs me my life, I will not allow you to lay a hand on Yahiko and Nagato, absolutely not!"
"That depends on you..."
As the scenery changed, time seemed to reverse dramatically. The figure who should have been pierced by the Paper Shuriken was now sitting on a stone throne, looking down.
" Yahiko, an Orphanage worker in Konoha, Land of Fire, has forgotten his ninjutsu and his ninja skills, and will no longer have to face the threat of death, allowing him to live a peaceful life."
"Are you satisfied with the life I've arranged for him? As for his ideal—to become a god of this world and bring peace to it—I will fulfill that dream, using my unique Sage's Eye. What do you say?"
Anticipating that his every move was being seen through, the being before him was like an insurmountable mountain, its depths unfathomable at a glance.
"Why? Why are you so fixated on me?"
"Why? Probably because they've lost interest, or you could say it's just a personal hobby. So-called humans are nothing more than apes in the cloak of civilization."
Becoming a god is a career, while pursuing women is a hobby. The two may sometimes be mixed up, but it's important to keep them distinct when necessary.
"You're too dangerous. In your eyes, humans are just ape-like animals? Then what exactly is humanity in your eyes?"
"Gods, or rather, those who wear the cloak of gods, are in their essence cold and ruthless humans who have broken free from the control of emotions and hormones."
Are you satisfied with this answer?
The surrounding area was silent, save for the dense array of experimental instruments and the occasional sounds emanating from the Culture Vessel.
" Nagato, you really won't lay a hand on Nagato...?"
"I can only guarantee that I won't kill him completely. It's unlikely I can save his eyes; they weren't originally his. The rest depends on your attitude..."
Her thin lips were pressed tightly together, and a complex and decisive look flashed in her light orange eyes. Her already fair and delicate face turned bloodless.
"I hope you will keep your promise."
Several months passed after that day. As night fell, in a corner outside Konoha, the vertical pupil in his eyes flickered, and the steady, mechanical movements in his hands continued unabated.
Outside the door, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi his eyes, and two Anbu beside him suddenly smashed the door open.
His cloudy old eyes scanned his surroundings, and when they landed on the special specimens placed in bottles and jars, a look of horror flashed across his eyes.
" Orochimaru, the recent disappearances of village ninjas are your doing!"