Only three people remained standing in the hall.
Tendo Pain.
Konan.
And Naruto.
Pain had intended to intervene earlier—but he realized he couldn't even track Naruto's movements.
So he didn't move.
Looking at the Akatsuki members sprawled across the floor, both Pain and Konan felt their eyelids twitch.
Years.
It had taken them years to gather these powerful rogue ninjas.
They had believed that with such strength united, they could dominate the ninja world.
Yet one man had walked in—
And erased everything in minutes.
It was humiliating.
"Good. Now that it's quiet, we can finally talk properly."
Naruto glanced around, satisfied.
Pain's voice was cold. "Say what you came to say."
"I'm the president of the Red Sun Society. 'Red Sun' means dawn. 'Akatsuki' also means dawn. In a way, we're born from the same mother…"
Naruto smiled lightly.
"So how about this—bring the Akatsuki under the Red Sun Society."
He went straight to the point.
Pain and Konan stared at him as if he'd said something insane.
Because their names were similar…
He wanted Akatsuki to merge with Red Sun?
Was this man serious?
"Impossible." Pain's refusal was immediate. "Akatsuki will never join you."
This organization was Yahiko's dream.
It was the emotional core connecting Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato.
It wasn't something to discard casually.
Konan's eyes hardened as well.
Naruto just shook his head.
"Don't be so absolute."
Pain stared back, anger simmering beneath his calm exterior.
He could clearly feel the condescension in Naruto's tone.
As if their fate had already been decided.
As if Nagato—who saw himself as a god—was being mocked.
"I know your plan," Naruto continued casually. "Gather the Nine Tailed Beasts. Merge them into the Ten Tails. Use overwhelming power to force the ninja world into peace through fear."
He looked at Pain with open amusement.
Pain and Konan stiffened.
He knew.
Everything.
"Make the world feel pain?" Naruto laughed. "That's such a middle-school fantasy."
Nagato, hidden deep within the tower, flushed with fury.
"Shut up! What do you understand?"
Naruto's smile faded.
"You think you're the only one who's thought of that? Uchiha Madara tried the same idea decades ago. Absolute suppression. Forced peace."
"There's nothing new about it."
"You think your plan is noble? Unique? It's recycled."
Pain's jaw tightened.
Naruto pressed further.
"Fine. Let's say you succeed. You collect the Tailed Beasts. You become the Ten Tails. You suppress the ninja world."
"Then what?"
Silence.
Pain didn't answer.
"See?" Naruto's tone sharpened. "You never thought past that point."
"You'll rule? With who? These people?"
He gestured at the unconscious bodies.
"A religious fanatic. A money addict. A bomb maniac. Serial killers. Mercenaries. You're going to govern the world with them?"
"That's absurd."
Pain's fists clenched.
The words were cutting—but they weren't entirely wrong.
Naruto didn't stop.
"You want to force peace through terror. But what happens when you die, Nagato?"
Pain froze.
Konan's eyes widened.
"Your body's already failing. You know it."
"Let's say you live another five years. Ten Tails grants peace during that time."
"And after you die?"
"Ten Tails runs wild. The world collapses. War returns. Worse than before."
"You never thought about that either, did you?"
Nagato's mind trembled.
For the first time, doubt flickered.
Konan steadied Pain's body, glaring at Naruto.
"Even if we're naive," she said coldly, "what have you accomplished? Besides a television station? Can your Red Sun Society bring peace?"
Naruto sighed.
"You still don't understand what peace is. Or what influence means."
He spoke calmly now.
"You want the Ten Tails? I don't need it."
"If the Ten Tails stood in front of me right now, I could put it down with one hand."
He lifted his palm casually.
The confidence in his tone wasn't arrogance.
It was certainty.
Pain's expression darkened. "Big words."
Naruto smirked.
"You're clinging to your Rinnegan. That's all."
Then his voice dropped.
"Enough talk. Let's settle this properly."
He released chakra chains, binding the unconscious Akatsuki members and lifting them effortlessly behind him.
He turned and walked out.
Pain hesitated only a moment—then followed.
Konan stayed at his side.
"If he wants to fight," Pain said quietly, "then we fight."
"Words mean nothing in this world. Only strength."
The remaining Five Paths of Pain emerged.
Six figures stood together, radiating terrifying pressure.
Even the endless rain over the Hidden Rain Village seemed to tremble.
Naruto didn't look back.
He simply stopped at the center of the ruined square.
And waited.
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