"Konan, my wood clone's chakra is running low and can no longer control the Six Paths of Pain."
In the sky, Tendo Pain looked down at the battlefield below and lied to Konan beside him in a calm tone: "The battle on the main body's side will take a little longer. Take Yahiko's body away first and wait for the main body's signal to reconnect to Tendo Pain."
"Okay."
Konan didn't question him. She used the Shikigami Dance to create a flurry of paper, wrapped up Tendo Pain, and flew out of the Hidden Rain Village with him.
After a full day and night of fighting, besides Konan who was still present, everyone else in the Akatsuki organization had already left the battlefield.
Even Hoshigaki Kisame, the tailless beast, couldn't last an entire day and night with his chakra reserves.
Moreover, the Lightning Chakra Mode and the Flying Thunder God Technique of the human puppet army restrained Kisame's Water Style and chakra absorption abilities.
In this war between the human puppet army and the Impure World Reincarnation army, the living were at a clear disadvantage.
Killing the human puppets meant little to Otsutsuki Toneri—at most, a loss of some materials.
As for the corpses? They could be "purchased" again from the five great ninja villages at any time.
On the other hand, any injuries or deaths among the Akatsuki members would be irreversible.
The human puppets also had no blood, and their Lightning Chakra Mode countered Deidara's explosive clay. Even the reckless ones like Hidan and Deidara were unwilling to go all-out, let alone the others.
Nagato didn't care about their retreat; he had even tacitly approved of it.
Fighting to the death in this kind of war was too unreasonable.
It was enough for them to help reduce the number of human puppets.
In this final battle that lasted an entire day and night, the human puppet army's advantage had been reversed.
Although half of the Nine-Tails' chakra was stronger than the full Eight-Tails, it wasn't truly infinite. Meanwhile, the Impure World Reincarnation army not only had infinite chakra, but immortal bodies.
If one couldn't seal the human puppets using the Book of Seals during the few seconds they froze when being repaired by Impure World Reincarnation, then all attacks were wasted chakra.
At the beginning, Izayoi's and Nagato's wood clones had no time to tend to every puppet or reincarnated corpse.
But as more puppets and reincarnated dead were destroyed, the number each wood clone had to manage decreased.
At that point, the battle shifted from individual duels to tacit cooperation.
When human puppets were severely damaged, Izayoi's wood clone wouldn't let the reincarnated dead smash them completely, instead teleporting them away with Flying Thunder God Technique or having other puppets use the Heaven's Sending Technique to evacuate them.
Likewise, when a reincarnated corpse was blown up, other corpses would act to prevent the puppets from sealing it.
In this way, only the puppet army suffered losses—and the balance of advantage shifted.
Without being sealed, reincarnated corpses couldn't reveal entries, and Izayoi's point system stopped increasing.
Nagato's wood clone appeared to be in an advantageous position, but that was far from the truth.
Controlling just the reincarnated corpses didn't consume much chakra—but a full day and night of battle drained the clones completely, and they started turning into small trees.
The wood clone controlling the Six Paths of Pain had exhausted its chakra.
With the Akatsuki members all off the battlefield and no chakra replenishment, when Nagato's wood clones vanished, the resurrected corpses would lose the will of super-shadow-level commanders.
If Nagato didn't restore their consciousness, they would become mindless puppets driven only by instinct.
Then, the chakra-weakened human puppet army would regain the upper hand.
"...I'm sorry, Konan..."
As Konan flew off, Nagato's wood clone used the Animal Path to activate the Reverse Summoning Technique, leaving a simple suicide note to her, and then disconnected the Six Paths of Pain's signal, whispering:
"I'm afraid I can't realize Yahiko's dream. I hope you don't follow me in death. Live on for both me and Yahiko."
"Leader, we haven't lost yet."
Just as Nagato's wood clone was preparing to recall other clones, drain the last of his strength, and die with the original body, a hoarse voice reached his ears.
The upper body of Black Zetsu emerged from the ground and addressed Nagato.
"Zetsu, you haven't left?" Nagato said in surprise.
Uchiha Obito had already fled, and Nagato assumed Black Zetsu had followed him.
Weren't they supposed to be allies?
"Leader, we still have one trump card."
Black Zetsu took out a scroll and said, "As long as we use this final Impure World Reincarnation, we can still turn the tide."
Nagato didn't look happy. Instead, he spoke with meaning, "If you had this trump card, why didn't you bring it out earlier?"
"Because Obito wouldn't allow it," Black Zetsu directly sold out Uchiha Obito. "He said if you obtained this trump card, you might no longer need him."
Nagato fell silent, but became more certain of one thing:
Uchiha Obito might not actually be on the same side as Black Zetsu.
What that guy told him in Kamui space was a lie.
All that nonsense about the Uchiha clan being destined to guide the Rinnegan's wielder—it was all fabricated.
His Rinnegan wasn't naturally awakened—it was transplanted when he was very young.
He and Obito were both pawns of the true mastermind.
Black Zetsu was likely the one sent to monitor them.
That's why Obito was so guarded against him, and why Afei had chosen Nagato over Obito without hesitation.
This scroll's contents might reveal the true puppet master.
Nagato already had a guess, but he wanted confirmation.
So he said, "Show me this trump card."
"Yes."
Unaware that Nagato had already guessed it, Black Zetsu opened the scroll and pulled out its contents.
Boom—smoke filled the air.
A body modified with Hashirama cells, White Zetsu tissue, and the Outer Path Demon Statue appeared. Unlike the withered, old corpse of his death, this one looked to be in its prime.
Seeing the body, Nagato's eyes flashed with understanding as he murmured, "Uchiha... Madara."
"The soul of the First Hokage was sealed by the Reaper, but the body of the Ninja World's Asura is in our hands," said Black Zetsu. "With a White Zetsu clone as a sacrifice, Madara's strength will be near his prime. With your power, you can control him easily. This will give us a decisive combat force."
"Just Impure World Reincarnation?" Nagato said with a faint smile. "Not the Samsara Rebirth?"
White Zetsu's expression froze.
Black Zetsu was momentarily stunned, then smiled strangely. "There's no other choice. Leader, you've changed too much. This is our only option now."
The next moment, Nagato's expression froze.
Black Zetsu had left White Zetsu's body and emerged from underground, latching onto Nagato.
"Does Afei have this ability too?" Nagato asked calmly.
"Afei is just a simple child. His only job was to stop you from destroying the Rinnegan."
Controlling Nagato's body, Black Zetsu sighed as he formed seals: "Originally, we only wanted to help restore your prime so you could fight Toneri. But you've become too powerful, just like a different person. You are indeed the perfect vessel chosen by Madara, possessing both Uzumaki and Senju bloodlines... ideal for the Rinnegan transplant!"
As a White Zetsu clone emerged from the ground, Black Zetsu and Nagato's wood clone shouted in unison:
"Ninjutsu: Impure World Reincarnation!"
As the spell markings spread out, screams echoed.
Soon after, an immense chakra flared up from the darkness of the underground base.
A domineering voice sounded with a hint of admiration:
"At last... the day has come. Nagato has finally grown up."
Looking at the man in front of them, clad in tight black battlewear, red layered armor, with long black hair and a body full of cracks, Black and White Zetsu smiled:
"Welcome back, Lord Madara."
"Thank you for your hard work, Black Zetsu, White Zetsu, and Nagato—hmm?"
Just as Madara was about to commend their efforts, he looked down at his glowing white hands, frowning.
"No self-awareness... this collapsing sensation... Is this Impure World Reincarnation, not the Samsara Rebirth?"
"Apologies, Lord Madara. There was an unforeseen incident. This was the only way to bring you back," Black Zetsu replied.
Madara said nothing, quickly formed hand seals, then pressed his palm to the ground.
The white glow vanished from his body, and control over Nagato was released.
"What just happened?"
Madara, who had regained autonomy, asked.
Black Zetsu silently detached from Nagato's clone and attached to Madara.
In an instant, a torrent of information surged into Madara's mind.
"Moon dwellers, Toneri, the Rinnegan, the Outer Path Statue, Izayoi..."
Digesting the intel, Madara revealed a smile of interest. "How fascinating... the ninja world still holds such secrets. No wonder you revived me like this. You've done well."
"This era may be even more thrilling than yours and Hashirama's," said White Zetsu playfully.
"Hmph. Still not enough."
Madara crossed his arms and sneered. "Though young, they're impressive. But their Wood Style and ocular power are still far from Hashirama and me."
Meteor showers, giant star-level attacks, wooden giants—none of it fazed him.
Compared to Hashirama's Sage Wood Style, the Wooden Man Arhat was just a pendant on the Buddha statue's head.
If fully revived with the Rinnegan, Madara would control the Outer Path Statue absolutely and unlock the exclusive technique: Limbo: Border Jail.
If the Rinnegan only had these abilities, it wasn't worth mentioning.
"The Rinnegan really does belong to you," came Nagato's voice.
Seeing Nagato regain control of his body with no fear or resistance, Madara admired him: "Facing those two brats and still standing—you're truly the one I chose. Revive me, Nagato. That is your mission."
"Was Uchiha Obito your pawn?" Nagato asked.
"Yes, my agent," Madara nodded.
"Your goal: gather the tailed beasts, revive the Outer Path Statue, become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, and use your chakra to plunge the world into a dream?"
"You know this? Did Obito tell you?" Madara asked, surprised but candid. "Yes. My goal is the same as yours: peace. But unlike your deterrence, I seek to sever cause and effect, to create eternal peace."
"You'll bring about human extinction," Nagato said.
"Humanity won't die."
Madara smiled. "As the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, I'll be the second Sage of Six Paths—invincible. Most people will live in blissful dreams. A few will be released to reproduce, then re-enter the dream. On and on."
"What if you die?" Nagato asked.
"I won't."
Madara opened his arms with confidence. "Just like now—I stand before you."
Nagato fell silent.
After a long pause, he finally said, "Don't you think that's just running away?"
"Yes. It is."
Unlike Obito, Madara acknowledged it. His eyes were full of world-weariness: "In this endless war, with death, darkness, and despair, everyone wants to escape."
"They need a savior. And I... am that savior."
"But you're stealing people's happiness," Nagato retorted.
"There are always sacrifices in war. The Moon Eye Plan is no exception," Madara said firmly. "I'll take away real happiness from a few to let everyone enjoy eternal happiness. If peace ends, war returns. If success ends, failure returns. If health ends, sickness returns... Is it worth it?"
Looking at Madara—pure and sincere, like Yahiko and himself—Nagato could only sigh.
"This isn't the peace Yahiko and I wanted."
"That's what I admire about you, Nagato," Madara said. "Your vision of peace resembles Hashirama's. You're a true descendant of the Uzumaki and Senju clans. But the current ninja world is the result of your and Hashirama's ideals. So why not join me in building a different peace?"
"If it fails, I'll release everyone."
Madara stretched out his hand. "Join me, Nagato. Sever the world's cause and effect."
Nagato's eyes wavered, but quickly regained clarity.
He shook his head. "This still isn't the peace Yahiko and I dreamed of. But I will resurrect you, return the Rinnegan to you, and witness your path as a bystander."
"Don't worry," Madara said with firm resolve. "The world will become better than it is now. It definitely will."
Black Zetsu, already separated from Madara, stood silently, barely containing his laughter as he remembered the thousand-year pain that led to this moment.