"Nagato, how is your body?"
The main tone of this place was quiet and dark. Konan's charming, feminine voice echoed.
In the darkness, a slender figure sat up from the bed. He propped himself up with one hand and covered his eyes with the other.
"I feel... that this new pair of eyes has given me a brand-new ability."
Nagato's previously gaunt appearance had changed dramatically. His pale hair had regained its vibrant red color, a symbol of vigorous life force.
"New eyes?" Konan was puzzled. After his Rinnegan had been taken, it was already incredible that Obito had been able to save him. The pair of Byakugan, which Obito had dug up from somewhere, had also been given to Nagato, but they were just an ordinary pair of Byakugan. No matter how pure, they were of little use.
"Are you saying these eyes have mutated, or perhaps... evolved?" Konan asked tentatively.
Nagato nodded thoughtfully. "I feel as if this power can influence the fluctuations of time."
His tone was a mix of doubt and certainty. This self-contradictory emotion was evident in him.
"No matter what, the most important thing is to recover first." Konan no longer cared about these things; she only wanted Nagato to be safe.
"Don't worry, I'm fine now."
"By the way, what has that guy Obito been up to lately?"
At the mention of Obito, Nagato's expression instantly darkened. Regardless of whether Obito had saved him or granted him a favor, the two of them were destined to be enemies. As the saying goes, those with different paths cannot walk together. Their roads were opposite; they could never meet.
"Speaking of Obito," Konan sneered, "that guy overestimated himself. He went to Konoha alone to provoke that guy and got beaten so badly he fled with his tail between his legs. I saw him last time; he was severely injured."
"The person you're talking about... is it him?" Nagato's tone tightened.
"Yes."
"..."
"It seems that boy's swordsmanship has improved again. He's even more terrifying than when we faced him."
Instantly, the two of them fell silent.
"In that case," Nagato began, "our strength is not enough to be his enemy. We'll find another chance to get the Rinnegan back. For now, we'll lay low and recruit more members." He laughed at himself, a self-proclaimed god who had fallen to such a state.
Unexpectedly, Konan shook her head. "I'm afraid there's no chance for that. Obito has already started the Tailed Beast capture plan. The Three-Tails, Five-Tails, and Six-Tails have all fallen into his hands."
"Obito's intrusion into Konoha was also to force out information about the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails."
"What?"
"Is he insane to do that?" Nagato was incredulous. As a self-proclaimed god, he knew very well that all his power came from that pair of Rinnegan. With the Rinnegan, he was a god who could judge the world and create a weapon powerful enough to shake the entire ninja world. The Tailed Beast capture plan also required the help of the Rinnegan to safely and smoothly seal them into the Gedo Statue.
"Obito doesn't have the Rinnegan, what gives him the right to do this? How did he handle those Tailed Beasts?" Nagato desperately wanted to know everything that had happened while he was unconscious.
Konan shook her head. "I'm not sure about the specifics. He and Zetsu are guarding against me like I'm a thief. My paper clones can't get within a hundred meters of them."
"That's to be expected. Time waits for no one!" Nagato sighed deeply.
With Konan's help, he walked outside. Without the power of the Rinnegan, the effects of his Rain Tiger at Will Technique were greatly diminished.
Today, the sun made a rare appearance. The air was still damp and cold, but the sunlight on the back of his hand offered a hint of warmth.
Nagato muttered to himself: Sunlight, sun, hope, Yahiko...
Land of Wind, Sunagakure.
"What do you think Konoha's intentions are? Why would they arrange for the Chunin Exams to be held in our village?" Kankuro and Temari were directing the ninja below while snatching a moment to chat secretly.
Temari had matured a lot over the years, becoming a tall and graceful young woman with a certain charm.
"How should I know? Ten to one, it was that kid's idea," Kankuro grumbled, shivering. It was as if the name was taboo.
Hatake Kusuo was the nightmare of the entire Land of Wind. He loomed over everyone's hearts. Single-handedly, he had massacred almost the entire village. To Konoha, this was a heroic feat; to them, he was a demon!
"We can't worry about that now. The future of the village is in your hands and mine. Gaara is still in their hands. As long as we can get Shukaku back safely, a little humiliation is nothing," Temari said, well aware of how circumstances can change people. She understood that this was not the time to fight Konoha head-on.
"Alright..."
The venue for the Chunin Exams was set in the new Kazekage building. It was a mushroom-shaped earthen mound structure, with a surprisingly vast interior. The entire structure was reinforced with a secret jutsu, making it firm and unbreakable.
The exam was also divided into three parts.
The first part: a written test.
The second part: a ninjutsu test.
The third part: a combat test.
These three tests were also suggestions later given by Hatake Kusuo. The written test naturally revealed whether a ninja's foundational knowledge was solid. It determined whether the ninja could become a pillar of the village in the future. That guy Naruto had nothing but brute force; if not for his Talk-no-Jutsu, he wouldn't have known how he died.
The ninjutsu test was to see a person's talent. Whether a person was gifted could be seen by having them perform a few ninjutsu.
As for the third part, the combat test, there was no need for further explanation. Those who understood, understood.
-------
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