Nagato froze after learning the truth.
He had never imagined that all the suffering in his life had been orchestrated by someone else. From beginning to end, he had called himself a god, but... even that godhood... had been bestowed upon him by others.
The thought left Nagato in despair.
At the same time... his resistance weakened, finally allowing Black Zetsu to take complete control of his body.
Just as Black Zetsu prepared to gouge out the Rinnegan with an evil grin, a golden figure abruptly appeared, his kunai slashing across Nagato's eyes without hesitation.
Nagato's eyes were sliced open, destroying the Rinnegan on the spot.
The sight left Black Zetsu utterly dumbfounded...
But when he saw the face of the man responsible, he was so terrified that he immediately detached himself from Nagato.
The newcomer was none other than Minato Namikaze.
"Damn you, Minato Namikaze... I'll be back!"
As he spoke, Black Zetsu possessed the White Zetsu who had just used Wood Release, then slipped underground and fled.
It wasn't that Minato Namikaze couldn't stop him. After all... techniques like Space Seal were quite effective against Black Zetsu.
Moreover... Minato Namikaze powered his Space Sealing with nen aura rather than chakra.
Even as a being created through Yin-Yang Release, Black Zetsu couldn't have escaped.
Minato Namikaze had only let him go because he wanted to see what trump cards Black Zetsu still had.
Just then, Konan, who had been impaled by Wood Release, mustered all her strength to look at Nagato and weakly asked, "Nagato... are... are you all right?"
"I'm all right... Konan, what about you?"
Konan gave a bitter chuckle at his question. She felt she was probably about to die...
Although the Wood Release had only pierced her abdomen, the wooden spikes that sprouted instantly