Beneath Sunagakure, in the Core Laboratory.
Nagato sat cross-legged in a corner of the laboratory, his dark red hair gleaming purplish-black under the dim yellow light. His Mangekyō Sharingan had faded, but deep within his violet eyes, an indescribable thirst for the truth still burned.
"Teacher."
He spoke in a steady voice.
"I've always had a question."
"Go ahead."
Toyotomi Yinglang leaned back in his stone chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest.
"What is the Child of Prophecy?"
Nagato's voice was soft, yet every word was perfectly clear.
"Master Jiraiya said the Child of Prophecy is someone who can change the fate of the Shinobi World. Someone who can bring peace. Someone... chosen."
"Chosen by whom?"
Toyotomi Yinglang countered.
Nagato froze for a moment.
"By... fate?"
"Fate?"
Toyotomi Yinglang smiled, but there was no warmth in it.
"What is fate? Who defines it?"
He rose and walked to the center of the laboratory.
"The Child of Prophecy is Asura's reincarnation."
"Asura?"
Nagato's brow furrowed slightly.
"The Sage of Six Paths' younger son?"
"Correct."
Toyotomi Yinglang nodded.
"Indra and Asura were the Sage of Six Paths' two sons. Indra inherited his ocular powers, while Asura inherited his constitution. Indra believed in power, while Asura believed in bonds. Indra was passed over, and Asura was chosen as the successor. From then on, the brothers turned against each other, their chakra reincarnating again and again as their conflict continued for a thousand years."
"And the Child of Prophecy-"
He paused.
"Is the reincarnation of Asura's chakra."
Nagato's pupils contracted slightly.
"So... without Asura chakra, you can't be the Child of Prophecy?"
"To be precise-"
Toyotomi Yinglang shook his head.
"Without the Sage of Six Paths backing you, you can't be the Child of Prophecy."
Nagato did not understand, and confusion appeared