To be honest, compared to original Naruto's utopian ideals and Uchiha Madara's false moon-bound peace, Naruto actually sympathizes most with Nagato's violent pragmatism. One philosopher idealistic, one escapist illusionist—and the only realistic approach is Nagato's.
Original-canon Naruto's peace was based on emotionally moving people with love, tolerance, and understanding. That vision wasn't bad, but utterly idealistic—humans are driven by desire, and as long as desire exists, war repeats forever, a never-ending cycle.
Uchiha Madara's Eye of the Moon Plan was even more absurd—using the Rinnegan to cast Infinite Tsukuyomi over the entire world, trapping everyone in a dreamworld of "peace." Even if it worked, reality wouldn't matter. It might as well be bombing the planet—it'd just be nuclear-level peace.
Nagato's peace philosophy, by contrast, is pragmatic: let the world suffer through hate and war, so people understand pain, then enforce peace through overwhelming force. It's harsh—his own death wouldn't prevent future conflict—but it buys time, and at least it's stronger than utopian or artificial peace.
Pain found himself at a loss for words. Naruto's power—on par with his own Rinnegan—even before insight—had already convinced him seventy percent. Then there was Naruto's poignant historical recap, a nostalgic tone that brought him close to full conviction.
> "Only an ancient survivor could match a new god like me," he thought.
Having defeated a demi-god like Hanzō, Nagato considered himself divine. No ordinary shinobi even mattered. Then suddenly he encountered someone as powerful, claiming to share his ancestry—it felt possible to accept.
Naruto seized the moment: instead of waiting for Pain to recruit him, Naruto asked him if he would take up the Sage's will. With the line, "As long as war persists, true peace cannot exist," Pain felt the words strike deep.
—-
"Don't feel pressure to reply immediately, young one," Naruto waved off the gravity. "I've waited long enough. If your resolve comes, just focus your full chakra—I'll sense your flow and come."
These repeated uses of "you" unnerved one who believed himself a god-day avatar.
Pain silently acknowledged—Naruto had seen through the Deva Path's true self. He nodded, his resolve hardening.
"How should I address you, elder?" Pain asked.
"Me? I'm merely a relic lingering from an older era," Naruto replied lightly. "A name is just a label—you may call me Uzumaki."
Pain glanced toward Karin—her red Uzumaki hair, the bite marks on her skin—and the truth clicked:
> "The Uzumaki from the lost Whirlwind Country—almost all wiped out. That girl was seized by Kusagakure… no wonder that village had to be destroyed."
Logic fell neatly into place for Pain: Naruto must have acted.
Pain mused, seeing Naruto likely living centuries due to his Uzumaki heritage—No wonder he spoke of life's cost.
When Pain questioned Naruto's motive for helping him, Naruto answered simply: "Because you're of my clan." He clarified: their blood tied them. Though few Uzumaki remained alive, both he and Pain belonged to the same lineage.
Pain's stoic heart began to stir. Compared to the dubious Madara persona, this ancient Uzumaki elder was far more credible.
Naruto's last words chimed: "Nine-tails Jinchūriki joining Akatsuki? That makes perfect sense. Kidnapping tailed-beasts is part of their real purpose: to use them as deterrence—not necessarily summon the Ten-Tails. That goal is Madara and Tobi's ambition, not ours."
As Naruto's figure vanished into the sky, Pain and Kakuzu exchanged heavy looks.
Pain spoke softly:
"Whatever you do, don't leak this."
Kakuzu replied in his usual pragmatic tone:
"My mouth's sealed," hinting at the price for such silence.