----
When Nagato was younger, his legs had been crippled by Hanzō of the Salamander using explosive tags. This left him unable to move freely, forcing him to rely on a half-body-sized mechanical walker.
The mechanical legs, resembling a crab's, usually allowed him to move at a decent speed. However, with his chakra nearly depleted, they had become more of a burden than an aid.
As Nagato and Konan struggled forward, the ground ahead suddenly stirred. Konan immediately flung dozens of explosive tags, ready to detonate at a moment's notice.
A massive flytrap-like plant emerged, its leaves peeling apart to reveal Black and White Zetsu inside.
Konan lowered her guard slightly.
Zetsu raised both hands. "Whoa, whoa, no need for such enthusiasm!"
"What is it?" Konan asked, retracting the explosive tags.
"Kisame's been taken out. Deidara too." Black Zetsu deliberately omitted any mention of Tobi.
Konan narrowed her eyes. "We already suspected as much. How's your backup plan?"
Zetsu grinned. "Almost ready. We just need a little more time. For now, let's retreat."
Nagato was about to nod when he suddenly stiffened. He felt several gazes locking onto him.
"…We've been found."
Konan tensed. "What happened?"
"They must have tracked me through the receivers embedded in the Paths of Pain." Though he was too weak to fight, he could still see through Tendo Pain's eyes. It seemed they were about to be sealed.
Zetsu estimated, "They're about twenty kilometres away, but we can't rule out the possibility of Flying Raijin markers nearby. We should leave quickly."
Konan glanced at Nagato's cumbersome machine and made a decision. "Nagato, let me carry you."
"…Alright." Nagato nodded weakly and tried to climb out of the machine.
Zetsu then offered, "Let me take a little of your chakra. White Zetsu can mimic your appearance just enough to mislead them."
Nagato and Konan knew of White Zetsu's unique transformation ability. It wouldn't fool their pursuers for long, but even a minor delay could be useful.
So, they agreed.
White Zetsu reached out to absorb a small amount of Nagato's chakra.
But then…
Black Zetsu suddenly grinned wickedly.
And in a flash, his hand shot forward, ripping both of Nagato's Rinnegan from his sockets!
"AHHH!"
The already weakened Nagato screamed in agony, clutching his empty eye sockets. Blood poured down his face, coating his trembling hands.
"Nagato!" Konan gasped, immediately wrapping her arms around him.
At the same time, a storm of paper bombs swirled around Black Zetsu, covering his entire body like a mummy. One wrong move, and he'd be blown to bits.
Konan's voice trembled with fury. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! GIVE NAGATO'S EYES BACK!"
But Black Zetsu only laughed.
"I'm merely reclaiming what never belonged to him."
"This…" Konan's expression darkened. "…Was this your goal from the beginning?!"
Black Zetsu smirked. "Didn't you ask about the backup plan? This is the backup plan."
Konan's breath hitched. "So your true target was always Nagato's Rinnegan?"
"Tsk tsk… I told you those weren't his eyes to begin with. They were just temporarily placed in his possession." Black Zetsu's tone was calm, almost mocking.
"My true mission has always been to complete the Moon's Eye Plan. And now, neither of you is useful to me anymore."
Konan's grip on Nagato tightened. "Give them back, or I'll—"
"Don't look at me like that." Black Zetsu chuckled. "If you detonate those paper bombs now, Nagato will die for sure."
Nagato, still shaking, finally spoke.
"My eyes… What do you mean?"
He had never questioned where his Rinnegan came from. He had simply accepted them. But now that he thought about it…
Something wasn't right.
Black Zetsu's grin widened. "Who knows? You were just a pawn just like Yahiko. Whether it was forming Akatsuki or dying for the cause… It was all part of the plan."
Nagato's breath hitched.
"…Fake… It was all fake?"
Everything.
His suffering. His patience. His sacrifices. His dreams.
It was all just manipulation.
A deep, hollow laughter bubbled from his throat.
"Ha… Haha… Hahahahaha…"
Blinded, physically and emotionally broken, Nagato laughed bitterly.
He had lost everything.
His sight. His dreams. Yahiko's dying wish.
All of it. Gone.
"Nagato!" Konan cried, desperately trying to reach him but her words felt useless.
---
Meanwhile…
Naruto and his team had tracked Nagato to a nearby forest.
"We should be close," Naruto said. "Hinata, do you see any traps?"
Hinata activated her Byakugan. "Some of the trees and rocks seem suspicious… And I see them. Two people. One of them looks… badly injured."
Black Zetsu had been right to be cautious Naruto had placed Flying Raijin markers all over. It was a good habit that saved time in situations like this.
After locking onto Nagato's position, Naruto teleported in bringing Minato, Kushina, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Hinata along.
The rest of the team, exhausted from battle, had been sent back to Konoha with Tenten to recover.
Minato had decided it was best to let Sakura handle their treatment.
---
"Alright, I'll start defusing the bombs."
Naruto created over ten shadow clones.
Hinata quickly pointed out the threats. "Here. Here. And here…"
The clones rushed off, each targeting a different explosive.
Within a minute…
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A series of explosions erupted across the forest.
Kushina narrowed her eyes at her son.
"…You call that defusing?"
Naruto scratched his head sheepishly.
"…I mean… I defused them by making them explode first."
----
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