Shinobi World No. 1.
Winter, Year 46 of Konoha.
The Side Hall of the Jashin Cult Headquarters, Land of Rain.
Dark red light slowly swirled through the Side Hall. Nagato sat cross-legged on a stone platform, holding a dark purple Soul Yin Stone. His Mangekyō Sharingan was already active, the spiral pattern in his left eye slowly turning while the Triangular Blade Pattern in his right flickered faintly. His consciousness extended along an extremely obscure "thread"-the shadow mark he had left on Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Ever since his last clash with Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tobirama Senju at the northern camp, he had left a mark on Hiruzen. Not a chakra mark, not a Runes mark—a shadow mark. It was a derivative application of his Mangekyō dōjutsu, Shadow Devouring Extraction. He attached an exceedingly faint trace of shadow power to his target, neither harming nor disturbing them, nor even allowing itself to be sensed. But it let Nagato "hear" the sounds around his target—whenever he wished.
Right now, he was "listening."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tobirama Senju, and Jiraiya. Every word of their conversation reached his consciousness.
"It all comes down to one thing."
Nagato opened his eyes, his Mangekyō Sharingan slowly turning in the dim light.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi sucks."
Yahiko turned from the window.
"Sucks?"
"Yes. Sucks." Nagato nodded. "His strength sucks, his methods suck, his vision sucks. He sucks beyond saving."
Konan set down the paper crane in her hands and looked at Nagato.
"What did you hear?"
"Hiruzen Sarutobi said chakra cultivation depends more on bloodline. Jiraiya's Senju bloodline came from those who concealed their surname and merged into the common people. Tobirama Senju poisoned the Uchiha, stole their secret techniques, and engineered Kagami Uchiha's betrayal."
Nagato's voice was calm, yet every word was perfectly clear.
Yahiko's pupils contracted slightly.
"And