With only the Deva Path remaining of the Six Paths of Pain, Nagato realized that Richard's strength far exceeded his expectations.
Moreover, he confirmed another crucial fact—Richard possessed a special energy more powerful than chakra.
Though he couldn't identify this mysterious power, Nagato understood it was this energy that gave Richard's sword techniques such devastating force.
"You have only the Deva Path left," Richard said, positioning himself about ten meters from the Deva Path, which had already used Almighty Push and Universal Pull multiple times. "Would you prefer to appear after I destroy it, or will you meet me now?"
Though the Deva Path stood before him, Richard wasn't addressing it, but rather Nagato, who controlled it from afar.
After hearing these words, Nagato didn't immediately respond through the Deva Path.
After contemplating for more than ten seconds, Nagato had the Deva Path speak: "Will you release Konan first?"
"Certainly," Richard replied without hesitation.
Compared to ordinary Jonin, Konan's abilities were indeed formidable.
If she employed her Paper Person of God technique with the 600 billion explosive tags she had prepared over who knows how long, she could even challenge Kage-level opponents.
Whether she could kill such foes remained questionable.
But no Kage would take 600 billion explosive tags lightly.
Richard flew toward the massive ice block containing Konan.
Then, he channeled his magical power and cast Blizzaga.
In the blink of an eye, the ice block encasing Konan reverted to pure magical energy and completely dissipated into the air.
As the ice vanished, the previously frozen Konan regained consciousness and mobility.
Konan didn't hesitate, immediately preparing to attack Richard.
However, at that moment, the Deva Path approached her and said: "Return now."
Konan looked at the Deva Path with surprise.
Though present during the confrontation, she didn't know what had transpired.
The moment she was frozen, she had lost all consciousness.
Konan didn't immediately comply with Nagato's directive, instead glancing around.
Then she saw the other five Paths, reduced to fragments by Richard's blade.
This...
Witnessing this scene, Konan's eyes widened.
Though the Six Paths of Pain weren't invincible, this marked the first time she had seen five Paths simultaneously destroyed.
More significantly, after the five Paths fell, Nagato hadn't continued attacking Richard, but instead ordered her withdrawal.
Konan looked between Richard and the Deva Path in confusion.
After a few seconds of silence, she nodded.
Under the watchful eyes of Richard and the Deva Path, she flapped her white paper wings and departed.
"Follow me," Nagato directed through the Deva Path once Konan had left.
"Very well," Richard nodded.
After navigating maze-like underground passages for more than ten minutes behind the Deva Path, Richard finally confronted Nagato himself.
Just as he remembered, the emaciated Nagato had numerous black receivers protruding from his body, supported by a strange mechanical apparatus.
"What did you wish to discuss?" Nagato asked Richard.
"Nothing complicated. I merely wanted to speak with you about collecting the Tailed Beasts and destroying Konoha," Richard replied calmly.
Though he planned to resurrect Kaguya Otsutsuki prematurely, he had no intention of collecting the Tailed Beasts personally.
Hearing Richard's words, Nagato regarded him with gravity.
Just as he prepared to respond, Richard continued: "If you wish to collect the Tailed Beasts, I won't interfere—provided you leave the Three-Tails alone."
"The Three-Tails is now my summoning beast, and I dislike others taking what belongs to me."
"As for destroying Konoha, I currently reside there quite contentedly, so you can abandon that plan entirely."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't hesitate to remove you from this world permanently."
Richard saw no need for lengthy explanations to Nagato and simply stated his demands.
After dispatching the other five Paths, he had temporarily abandoned the idea of taking Nagato's life.
Given the current circumstances, a living Nagato would prove more useful.
"What are your true intentions?" Nagato questioned.
"My intentions needn't concern you," Richard replied. "Incidentally, beyond the requests I've just mentioned, I have one additional demand."
"Give me your right eye."
"Even with only one Rinnegan remaining, your abilities won't be severely compromised."
Richard spoke dispassionately.
Though he had relinquished the idea of killing Nagato immediately, he didn't intend to leave empty-handed.
"Why would you assume I'd willingly surrender my right eye?" Nagato frowned.
"Because you allowed the Deva Path to bring me here," Richard answered.
"Let's not waste time. You can clearly see it would be trivial for me to kill you, eliminate Konan, or slaughter the entire population of Amegakure."
"If you truly wish to witness such an outcome, I wouldn't mind accommodating you."
Though Nagato showed no signs of surrender, he evidently preferred avoiding further conflict.
Otherwise, even if the Yahiko-based Deva Path were destroyed, Nagato would have fought to the last rather than allowing the Deva Path to lead Richard to his sanctum.
Nagato didn't deliberate long before responding.
"Since you desire it, I'll relinquish it."
With that, Nagato directed the Deva Path to approach him.
Under Richard's watchful gaze, he controlled the Deva Path to extract his right eye.
Throughout the process, Nagato remained silent, as if the eye being removed belonged to someone else.
Then, the Deva Path approached Richard with Nagato's eye.
Observing the Rinnegan in the Deva Path's hand, Richard didn't immediately accept it. Instead, he retrieved a specimen jar from his system space containing a special solution designed to preserve the Rinnegan's vitality.
He had acquired this container from Orochimaru during his visit to Otogakure.
After depositing the Rinnegan in the specimen jar, Richard examined it with satisfaction before addressing Nagato: "Given your cooperation, I'll trouble you no further. Perhaps we'll meet again someday."
"Though you likely hope otherwise."
With that, Richard stored the jar containing the Rinnegan in his system space and departed without a backward glance.
Nagato watched Richard leave his sanctum, making no attempt to hinder him.
Soon, Richard departed Amegakure and flew toward Otogakure.
His request for one of Nagato's Rinnegan eyes wasn't a spontaneous decision, but something he had contemplated while in Konoha.
His motivation was straightforward—he sought to acquire the Rinnegan's abilities without actually transplanting the eye.
Superficially, this seemed impossible.
But for Richard, it wasn't entirely unfeasible.
By transplanting the Rinnegan into another person and then killing them, he could employ his plundering ability to steal their Rinnegan capabilities.
Though he hadn't conducted experiments in this area, the principle remained sound.
Nagato's Rinnegan had been transplanted to him by Madara Uchiha—it wasn't originally his.
Amegakure wasn't far from Otogakure.
At least for Richard, who could fly at superhuman speeds, the distance between the villages seemed negligible.
Without much effort, he arrived above Otogakure.
He didn't immediately descend, instead using his enhanced vision to determine whether Orochimaru remained in the village.
He wasn't certain whether Orochimaru had returned directly to Otogakure after leaving Konoha.
But fortune favored him—in the underground facility within the forest surrounding Otogakure, he spotted Orochimaru working in his laboratory.
After locating Orochimaru, Richard landed at the entrance to the underground base without hesitation.
Then, he calmly entered.
A few minutes later, in the reception area of the underground facility:
"Why have you come to see me?" Orochimaru asked directly, dispensing with pleasantries.
"I need a small favor," Richard answered, extracting the specimen jar containing the Rinnegan from his system space and tossing it to Orochimaru.
The Rinnegan!
Orochimaru instantly recognized the eye in the jar, looking at Richard with astonishment.
"Did you kill Pain?" he inquired.
As a former Akatsuki member, he had seen the Rinnegan in Pain's Deva Path.
"He lives. I merely requested one of his eyes," Richard replied evenly.
Though his expression remained calm, Orochimaru was anything but composed.
As the Naruto world's notorious research fanatic, he was well-acquainted with the Rinnegan.
Indeed, any knowledgeable shinobi would recognize its significance.
Though few had witnessed the Rinnegan firsthand, its reputation remained formidable.
As one of the three great dōjutsu, the Rinnegan was known as the eyes that governed life and death—a kekkei genkai surpassing both the Byakugan and Sharingan.
"What would you have me do?" Orochimaru asked, shifting his gaze from the Rinnegan to Richard.
"It's quite simple. I want you to transplant the Rinnegan into someone and then deliver that person to me," Richard explained calmly.
"Transplant it into someone else?" Orochimaru regarded Richard with confusion.
When he first saw the Rinnegan, he had assumed Richard wanted it implanted in himself.
Instead, Richard wanted it transplanted into another person entirely.
What is he planning?
Orochimaru found Richard increasingly inscrutable.
"Don't concern yourself with my intentions. Simply follow my instructions," Richard said.
"Naturally, I won't expect you to work without compensation."
"Didn't you previously express interest in unrefined vibranium? I'll provide five kilograms as payment."
Though Richard and Orochimaru had known each other for some time and maintained a cordial relationship, Richard wouldn't ask for favors without compensation.
More precisely, he didn't wish to owe Orochimaru any debts.
There was no need to leverage personal obligations for matters resolvable through straightforward transactions.
"Agreed," Orochimaru replied without hesitation.
Transplanting the Rinnegan represented a simple procedure for him.
Indeed, almost any medical ninja could accomplish it with ease.
Even as a genin, Rin Nohara had successfully transplanted Obito's Sharingan into Kakashi.
If Rin could manage eye transplantation, Orochimaru certainly could.
Within minutes, Orochimaru successfully transplanted the Rinnegan into a captured Kumogakure jonin.
"It's done," Orochimaru announced, glancing at the Cloud Village jonin, who remained unconscious though with stable vital signs.
"How long before he adapts to the Rinnegan?" Richard inquired.
"Physical adaptation will be immediate," Orochimaru explained.
"But utilizing the Rinnegan's abilities? That timeline remains uncertain, dependent on his innate talent."
"This Kumogakure jonin possesses reasonable potential—he should manifest the Rinnegan's power relatively soon."
"However, reaching Pain's proficiency would require substantial time."
"More importantly, I doubt his potential matches Pain's."
After hearing this assessment, Richard extracted five kilograms of vibranium from his system space, handed it to Orochimaru, and said: "I'll remain in Otogakure briefly, in my previous quarters."
"Train this ninja for several days, then inform me when he can utilize the Rinnegan's powers."
With that, Richard left the laboratory.
He harbored no concerns about Orochimaru absconding with the Rinnegan.
Even if Orochimaru attempted such betrayal, Richard remained confident in his ability to recapture him.
However, given Orochimaru's intelligence, such treachery seemed unlikely.
Though the Rinnegan represented a powerful kekkei genkai, life itself held greater value.
Time passed swiftly.
Before he realized it, Richard had resided in Otogakure for a week.
Orochimaru's assessment proved accurate.
Possessing the Rinnegan didn't guarantee easy mastery of its abilities.
The Kumogakure jonin who received the transplant, even under Orochimaru's direct tutelage, required a full week to barely master Almighty Push and Universal Pull.
This slow progress stemmed partly from the jonin's limited potential, and partly from his ordinary lineage.
Nagato, an Uzumaki clan member, naturally possessed greater vitality than most, with enhanced longevity and chakra reserves.
Even so, Nagato hadn't demonstrated exceptional strength in his childhood.
That this Kumogakure jonin could master Almighty Push and Universal Pull within a week represented considerable achievement.
When Orochimaru informed him that the Cloud Village jonin could now employ these techniques, Richard didn't hesitate. He immediately departed Otogakure with the ninja.
Then, with Masamune, he severed the jonin's head and activated his plundering ability.
[Acquiring new abilities: Rinnegan, Shinobi Cells, Shinobi Physique]
[Acquiring same-type abilities, ability fusion!]
[Shinobi Cells and Shinobi Physique strengthened!]
Reviewing the system information before him, Richard displayed a satisfied smile.
Then, he knelt down, extracted the Rinnegan that had been transplanted into the Kumogakure jonin, and preserved it in a specimen jar.