Main World.
Spring, Konoha Year 26.
The Heavenly Court.
A pale golden curtain of light slowly flowed overhead, enveloping the entire space in a warm, sacred glow. There was no sky, no earth, only endless emptiness and the lush Devil Fruit Tree standing at its center.
Nagato stood beneath the tree, his dark red hair gleaming purplish-black in the curtain of light. His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan was already active, its scarlet pupils reflecting the fruits of various colors on the branches-the mysteries of Paramecia, the fury of Logia, the wildness of Zoan. Each represented an independent rule. Each was a fragment of divine authority.
Yahiko stood beside him, his short orange hair particularly striking in the light. Dust from the battle on Ocean Planet still clung to his dark blue navy uniform. He raised his head and gazed at the tree, taller than any building he had ever seen, remaining silent for a long time.
"Teacher, can we... go to the Heavenly Court and take one Devil Fruit each?" Nagato's voice was calm, but something surged in his eyes-not greed, but I need to become stronger.
Before Ōtsutsuki Fūshū's Time Reversal, his Color of Observation's Future Sight had been "corrected." Before Fengshou's Heavenly Falling Windstorm, his Shadow Servants had been "cleared out." Before Fengshou's Yomi: Wind Crossing, his Shadow Instantaneous Movement had been "predicted." He had lost-not disastrously, but he had lost. Had his teacher not intervened, he might already have died.
He needed to become stronger.
Toyotomi Yinglang stood beneath the tree with his hands behind his back, his moon-white Kariginu glowing softly in the pale golden curtain of light. His gaze settled on Nagato, and he was silent for a moment.
"You may." His voice was calm. "But only one. One each. Any more, and you won't be