The rain hadn't stopped for three days.
By now, most people had adapted to it.
They moved with it.
Worked around it.
Lived inside it.
Nagato stood under a rusted overhang, watching the street below.
Yahiko leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
Konan sat quietly beside them, folding a small strip of paper absentmindedly.
"…You've been staring for hours," Yahiko said.
Nagato didn't look at him.
"I'm studying."
"Studying what?" Yahiko asked.
Nagato pointed downward.
"A system."
Yahiko frowned.
"…Looks like a bunch of starving people to me."
Nagato nodded.
"Exactly."
Konan looked up.
"…Explain."
Nagato shifted slightly.
"Every morning," he said, "that vendor opens at the same time."
He pointed toward a small food stall.
"Supplies are limited."
"Demand is high."
Yahiko shrugged.
"Yeah… so?"
Nagato continued.
"He raises prices by midday."
"People argue."
"Some leave."
"Some steal."
Konan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I've seen that."
Nagato nodded.
"Now look closer."
They watched.
A man approached the stall.
Argued.
Left.
Ten minutes later—
He returned with two others.
"…He brought backup," Yahiko said.
Nagato shook his head.
"No."
"They're going to rob him."
Yahiko blinked.
"What—how do you—"
Before he could finish—
It happened.
The men lunged.
Grabbed supplies.
Ran.
The vendor shouted.
Too late.
Yahiko stared.
"…You predicted that."
Nagato didn't react.
"It was inevitable."
Konan looked at him carefully.
"…Because of scarcity."
Nagato glanced at her.
"Yes."
Yahiko frowned.
"…So what? People steal. That's normal here."
Nagato turned toward him.
"That's the problem."
Silence.
Nagato stepped forward slightly.
"You think this is normal."
He pointed toward the chaos below.
"It's not."
His voice sharpened.
"It's failure."
Konan stood slowly.
"…Failure of what?"
Nagato looked at both of them.
"Structure."
The rain hit harder.
Nagato continued.
"Food isn't distributed properly."
"Security is inconsistent."
"People act individually."
He paused.
"That creates chaos."
Yahiko crossed his arms.
"So what's your solution?"
Nagato's eyes darkened slightly.
"…Control the variables."
Yahiko blinked.
"…What?"
Nagato turned back toward the street.
"Watch."
He stepped forward.
Without hesitation—
He walked down.
Yahiko and Konan followed quickly.
Nagato approached the vendor.
The man tensed instantly.
"We're not buying," he snapped.
Nagato ignored the tone.
"You lost supplies."
The man frowned.
"…So?"
"You'll raise prices."
"…Of course."
Nagato shook his head.
"Don't."
The vendor scoffed.
"And why should I listen to a kid?"
Nagato's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Because if you do…"
He leaned in just enough—
"…you'll lose everything by tonight."
Silence.
The man hesitated.
"…What are you saying?"
Nagato straightened.
"Lower prices."
"Limit per person."
"Sell fast."
Yahiko whispered.
"…What are you doing?"
Nagato didn't answer.
Instead—
He turned away.
"Come back here!" the vendor shouted.
Nagato stopped.
"…Or don't."
Then he walked.
Hours later—
They returned.
The stall was empty.
No fights.
No chaos.
The vendor stood there, stunned.
"…It worked," Yahiko said.
Konan observed carefully.
"…People didn't fight."
Nagato nodded slightly.
"They got what they needed."
Yahiko looked confused.
"…That's it?"
Nagato looked at him.
"That's the beginning."
Silence.
Konan stepped closer.
"…You changed the outcome… without force."
Nagato's lips curved faintly.
"Force is inefficient."
Yahiko frowned.
"But you used fear earlier."
Nagato didn't deny it.
"Different situations."
He turned back toward the street.
"Violence solves immediate threats."
Then—
He looked at the empty stall.
"Control solves future ones."
Silence.
Yahiko scratched his head.
"…So you're saying…"
"…you can stop fights before they happen?"
Nagato nodded.
"If I understand the system."
Konan's voice was soft.
"…And if you control it."
Nagato met her gaze.
"Yes."
That night—
They sat under shelter again.
But the mood had changed.
Yahiko stared at the ground.
"…That was different."
Nagato said nothing.
Konan spoke quietly.
"You didn't fight."
Nagato leaned back.
"I didn't need to."
Silence.
Yahiko looked up.
"…Can you do that everywhere?"
Nagato closed his eyes briefly.
"…Eventually."
Konan studied him.
"…That's your plan, isn't it?"
Nagato opened his eyes.
"To remove the cause…"
"…so the effect disappears."
Yahiko exhaled slowly.
"…That's… actually amazing."
Nagato didn't react.
Because he was already thinking ahead.
"Small scale works."
"Next step… expansion."
Konan spoke again.
"But people won't always listen."
Nagato nodded.
"I know."
Yahiko tilted his head.
"Then what?"
Nagato's expression darkened slightly.
"Then I make them."
Silence.
The rain filled the space again.
Konan didn't look away.
"…That's the part I don't like."
Nagato met her gaze.
"…That's the part that works."
Yahiko looked between them.
Conflicted.
"…There has to be a balance."
Nagato tilted his head slightly.
"…Maybe."
But his eyes said otherwise.
Because deep down—
He already knew.
Balance…
…was just another unstable system.
And Nagato—
Wasn't building something unstable.
He was building something that couldn't fail.
Something controlled.
Something absolute.
And this—
Was only the beginning.