A Private Talk with Pain

"Wondering whether the chakra connection has been severed?"

Feng Yao spoke teasingly.

Deva Path Pain showed no sign of anything unusual.

But Nagato, far away somewhere, was profoundly shaken!

Chakra threads?!

How did this guy know?!

He recalled how the ability this guy had used earlier was extremely similar to "Madara's"...

Could it be...

Feng Yao watched Deva Path Pain with amusement.

Although Deva Path Pain remained expressionless.

Feng Yao knew that Nagato would definitely have his reservations.

Because his Kamui Dimension could block chakra threads.

The Six Paths of Pain were essentially puppets, and chakra threads were what connected the puppets to their user.

Nagato's chakra threads were simply more advanced than Sasori's!

Feng Yao had not manipulated the Kamui Dimension to sever the chakra threads.

After fusing them into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Feng Yao's use and control of Double Kamui had also grown increasingly powerful.

"You're... 'Madara'?"

Deva Path Pain spoke expressionlessly.

Those purple Rinnegan stared fixedly at Feng Yao, as though trying to see right through him.

The pattern in those eyes seemed different, too...

Nagato remembered that "Madara's" Mangekyo pattern seemed to be a three-bladed boomerang...

But the Mangekyo pattern of the guy before him was a complex straight-wheeled spiral pattern...

"Madara?"

Feng Yao scoffed.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Uchiha Fengyao, the current head of the Uchiha Clan. And as far as I know, Madara would disdain hiding behind a mask..."

Nagato immediately realized that this guy was not the one who called himself "Madara."

Because his voice and behavior were both different.

And he seemed to know the guy who called himself "Madara."

But that meant this Uchiha Fengyao also seemed to know that the Six Paths of Pain were merely puppets.

If he even knew where he was hiding, that would be trouble...

This made Nagato extremely wary of Feng Yao.

That was why Nagato had not initiated an attack even now.

"It seems you also know the guy who calls himself Madara. What's your relationship with him?"

"Our relationship? We're from the same clan, and we're also enemies..."

Feng Yao gave an amused smile.

"Besides, hasn't that guy stopped acting so arrogant in front of you lately?"

Nagato naturally knew whom Feng Yao meant, and he frowned.

That guy really had not been showing off in front of him lately. Nagato did not understand what Feng Yao meant by this.

But his intuition told him that something he did not know about must have happened.

"What do you mean?"

"Heh, that guy's name is Obito Uchiha..."

Pain remained expressionless.

Nagato had never believed that the guy calling himself "Madara" was actually Madara.

Now that Feng Yao had said it.

He thought to himself, Just as I suspected.

But that merely confirmed it.

"And I've already taken his pair of Mangekyo..."

Feng Yao smiled faintly.

"Do you understand now?"

"You mean the guy who calls himself Madara no longer has that ability to come and go as he pleases?"

Nagato felt both joy and worry.

What pleased him was that the thing he feared most was that guy's ability to come and go at will.

Now that the guy had lost that ability, Nagato was naturally happy.

What worried him was that this ability was now in someone else's hands...

If this Feng Yao could join the Akatsuki, the help he would provide for his plan would undoubtedly be immense.

At this thought, Nagato felt it necessary to win Feng Yao over and immediately spoke.

"Uchiha Fengyao, do you know why our Akatsuki attacked your Uchiha tonight?"

"Let's hear it..."

Feng Yao smiled, asking despite already knowing the answer.

"Because Konoha High Command paid a huge sum for our Akatsuki to take your head!"

Feng Yao said nothing, his expression calm.

But to Nagato, this was Feng Yao maintaining his composure.

"You see? Even Konoha, the place hailed as the foremost ninja village in the shinobi world, is still filled with darkness!"

"Isn't this just another extension of war?"

"People scheme against each other in their struggles for power and profit, while the purpose of the Akatsuki I lead is to end war in the shinobi world!"

"Do you see these eyes of mine?"

"The Rinnegan..."

"The eyes of a god, the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths!"

"Uchiha Fengyao, join the Akatsuki. Let us bring peace to the shinobi world together!"

Deva Path Pain solemnly invited Feng Yao.

"Pain, to tell you the truth, I have indeed considered joining the Akatsuki. Or rather, joining Amegakure..."

Feng Yao smiled faintly. He had not expected Nagato to be the first to ask him to join the Akatsuki!

Pain frowned.

Nagato was not surprised that Feng Yao knew about the Akatsuki and Amegakure.

Or rather, Nagato had long since prepared himself for it.

"Joining Amegakure... It seems you know a great deal..."

Deva Path Pain's voice was a little cold.

"That's right. I do know a great deal, because my eyes can see the future..."

Feng Yao spoke calmly.

Yes, Feng Yao had decided to use his Mangekyo's ability to demonstrate foresight.

As for Kamui, he could say it was the copying ability of his other eye.

Otherwise, many of Feng Yao's actions would not stand up to scrutiny.

The system and his identity as a transmigrator were his greatest secrets. He would not tell anyone.

"The future?"

Deva Path Pain sneered.

"That's right. Not only can I see the future, I can also see the past..."

Feng Yao gave an amused smile.

Deva Path Pain fell silent.

He stared fixedly into Feng Yao's eyes, trying to find even the slightest trace of a lie.

But Feng Yao maintained an air of complete confidence.

"Nagato, do you still not believe me..."

"Yahiko. Do you still remember that name? Deva Path Pain was made from Yahiko's corpse, wasn't he..."

Far away in Amegakure, Nagato's heart trembled at the name Yahiko.

This time, Pain still remained silent.

But his eyes continued to stare fixedly at Feng Yao.

"Yahiko's dream... Was it realized in the future..."

Feng Yao shook his head.

"Realized? Nagato, there's far more to this shinobi world than meets the eye. Achieving peace isn't that simple..."

"Take your Rinnegan, for example. You weren't born with them at all!"

Pain remained silent, watching Feng Yao with icy eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"Madara Uchiha. Your Rinnegan evolved from Madara Uchiha's eyes. Obito and Black Zetsu are contingencies he left behind..."

Deva Path Pain did not move at all.

But far away in Amegakure, Nagato, his entire body skeletal, laughed wildly.

His voice was filled with sorrow.

"So that's how it is! So that's how it is!"

That explained it.

Nagato was not stupid. He had long harbored suspicions about the Rinnegan.

He had simply never had any leads before. His only lead had been the Masked Man named Obito.

But how could that man possibly tell him?

Now, after hearing what Feng Yao said, he had already pieced together some of the truth.