Amegakure, the top floor of the Tower.
Deva Path Pain stood before the window, his Rinnegan gazing into the distance through the curtain of rain, as though he could see through a thousand miles to everything happening in Konoha.
Konan stood behind him, holding an intelligence scroll that had just arrived.
"Nagato, the news from Konoha has been confirmed."
"Uchiha Fugaku has become the Fifth Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi has stepped down, and the Uchiha Clan has taken full control of power in Konoha."
Deva Path Pain did not turn around, merely asking calmly:
"How did it happen?"
"There were clear fluctuations of Mangekyō ocular power on the battlefield. It was probably Shisui Uchiha's ability."
Konan unrolled the scroll and replied, "Our informants couldn't approach the central area, but judging from their observations on the outskirts, Hiruzen Sarutobi's change in attitude was far too sudden. His will was very likely controlled by some kind of genjutsu."
"An ocular technique that alters the will..."
Deva Path Pain slowly turned, a flicker passing through his Rinnegan. "The Mangekyō Sharingan. As expected, none of its abilities can be underestimated."
Konan put away the scroll and walked to his side.
"Should we intervene? The Uchiha taking control of Konoha could affect the plan to collect the tailed beasts."
"No."
Deva Path Pain's answer was decisive. "Whatever changes Konoha undergoes have nothing to do with us."
"Our goal is the tailed beasts, to create true peace. As for who rules Konoha... that doesn't matter."
Konan frowned.
"But the Uchiha Clan's strength can't be underestimated. If they consolidate Konoha's forces, when we capture the Nine-Tails in the future..."
"Madara Uchiha will be more anxious than we are."
A trace of mockery flashed through Deva Path Pain's Rinnegan. "His wariness of his own clan goes far beyond what