The rain continued to fall, the fine drizzle weaving a hazy net in the gray sky, shrouding the towering steel buildings.
The village streets were sparsely populated, with only a few people hurrying by, their footsteps swallowed by the sound of rain.
The air was filled with a damp, metallic scent.
The occasional low hum of machinery in the distance added a touch of oppressive vitality to this cold city.
Hoshino stood in front of the tallest tower in Amegakure, looking up at the window blurred by the rain.
The six pairs of mechanical wings had already been folded up, transforming into a backplate that adhered to its back. Rainwater slid down the metal surface, splashing up tiny droplets.
Pain, I'm here.
He muttered to himself, then stepped into the tower.
The light inside the tower was even dimmer than outside, with only a few pale blue lamps embedded in the walls, casting a cold glow.
The spiral staircase wound its way up, and Hoshino's footsteps echoed in the empty tower.
He didn't need guidance; the scanning function of his mechanical eye had already locked onto Pain's Chakra reaction—that cold and immense energy, like a giant beast lurking in the darkness.
Pushing open the door to the top floor, Hoshino saw Pain standing by the window.
His short orange hair stood out starkly in the dim light, and the ripples of his Rinnegan shimmered faintly in the shadows.
Konan stood quietly to one side, the paper slips swirling between her fingertips, as if ready to transform into a deadly weapon at any moment.
" Hoshino." Pain didn't turn around, his voice as calm as the rain outside the window, "You came faster than I expected."
"Where 'Hidan?" Hoshino walked to the center of the room, raindrops dripping from the hem of his clothes and forming a small puddle on the floor.
Pain turned around, his Rinnegan directly at Hoshino, his gaze pressing down on him as if it were a tangible force.
Before answering, I'd like to know, what do you want him to do?
The air in the room seemed to freeze for a moment.
Hoshino raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, clearly having anticipated the question, but Pain's directness still slightly surprised him.
"Research," Hoshino said without hiding anything, " Hidan's immortality and the Jashin Cult's rituals might help me solve a technical problem."
"What's the problem?" Pain's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"I'm interested in the Jashin behind Hidan."
Hoshino's mechanical prosthetic eye flickered slightly, and after a moment's consideration, he gave a half-true, half-false answer.
The sound of rain became exceptionally clear at that moment, and water droplets slid down the metal exterior of the tower, accumulating into small puddles on the windowsill.
Pain's gaze shifted slightly.
In this era where Ninjutsu and technology intertwine, much of the long-forgotten history has been rediscovered.
For example, the existence of the Ninshu, the legend of the Rabbit Goddess, fragments of ancient records, the secrets of the Three Great Sage Lands, lost ancient civilizations, and so on.
But the reality of the deities remains a mystery.
"Interesting! Even in the Shinobi World today, ordinary people still worship powerful ninjas as gods. What makes you think that the ' Jashin ' behind Hidan really exists?"
Hoshino smiled and said, "Because Hidan's immortality cannot be explained by existing Ninjutsu theories, just like your Rinnegan that appeared Rinnegan."
Pain's Rinnegan contracted slightly.
Hoshino's words were like a fine needle, precisely piercing his long-held doubts.
"Those eyes..."
"It's a gift from heaven, isn't it?" Hoshino continued, "Just like you believe you are a chosen one, destined to change the world."
Pain did not answer immediately.
The sound of rain outside the window filled the silence; water droplets meandered down the glass, blurring the outside world.
Konan's piece of paper trembled slightly as she looked at Pain, seemingly waiting for his reaction.
Hoshino wasn't in a hurry.
He knew how strong Pain's faith was, but he also knew that even the strongest faith could not withstand the erosion of the truth.
"You seem to know a lot." Pain finally spoke, his voice still steady, but his round eyes were fixed on Hoshino.
"For example, the origin of the Rinnegan."
Hoshino smiled. "I'm just a researcher. I'm interested in everything unknown, including the existence of gods, the secrets of the Rinnegan, and... the fate of certain people."
Pain's fingertips tightened almost imperceptibly for a moment.
destiny.
This word was too heavy for him.
He once firmly believed that he was the chosen one, a 'god' destined to bring peace.
But as time went on, he gradually discovered that many things happened so coincidentally that they seemed almost deliberate.
For example, the death of his parents, the awakening of the Rinnegan, his encounter with Konan and Yahiko, the establishment of the Akatsuki, Yahiko's suicide, the reorganization of the Akatsuki, and the appearance of Madara.
It's as if an invisible hand is secretly driving everything.
Now, Hoshino's words were like a key, gently prying open a corner of his heart.
What exactly are you trying to say?
Hoshino countered, " Pain, have you ever considered that if the Rinnegan is truly a gift from heaven, then why you of all people? Why not someone else?"
Pain remained silent, for this was also his deepest, most secret question.
Why him?!
Hoshino continued, " Hidan's immortality, your Rinnegan, even certain ancient legends... perhaps none of this is a coincidence."
"You mean someone is manipulating all of this?" Pain frowned slightly.
"So, you want Hidan? Is that what you want to test?" Konan suddenly spoke, breaking the brief silence.
This conversation involved Nagato and the Rinnegan, as well as the Akatsuki's past, making it impossible for her to remain indifferent.
Hoshino looked at her calmly and said, "I want to know if the immortality technique of the Jashin Cult, like the Rinnegan, is a fragment of some ancient power."
Pain's breathing paused almost imperceptibly for a moment.
An even more ancient power...
If that's the case, then his Rinnegan, his mission, and even his life might just be an elaborate deception.
"You want Hidan? Fine," Pain's voice returned to its usual icy tone, "But I have one condition."
What are the conditions?
"I want to know everything you've discovered! Whatever you've figured out from Hidan, whatever truth you've uncovered... I want to know it all."
Hoshino laughed, "I thought you were going to kill me. After all, not everyone can accept the cruelty of the truth."
"If you dare to lie to me, I will." Pain's voice remained completely unchanged.
"Deal!" Hoshino stared at him for a moment, then extended his hand and nodded.
" Hidan is in the secret room on the lower level. Konan will take you there." Pain didn't shake his hand, but turned to look at the rain outside the window.
Hoshino withdrew his hand, unconcerned by Pain's indifference, and turned to walk towards the door, with Konan silently following behind.
The moment the door closed, the sound of the rain was shut out again, leaving Pain standing alone by the window, the gray sky reflected in his Rinnegan.