"Treat him?" Konan's eyes flickered with both hope and doubt.
"We have already asked medical ninjas to treat Nagato before, but it barely helped at all," she said softly.
No medical ninjutsu could restore legs that had been completely destroyed.
However, Nagato had personally witnessed Naruto bring Jiraiya back from the brink of death. He knew better than anyone how terrifying Naruto's healing ability truly was.
"There is no need," Nagato shook his head. "I almost killed Jiraiya-sensei. That mistake cannot be undone. This broken body of mine may simply be my punishment."
"Jiraiya-sensei came to the Rain Village because he was worried about you," Naruto said.
Nagato and Konan both looked at him.
Jiraiya had said something similar back then, but they had not believed him.
"The Three-Tails Jinchuriki and the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, were both controlled by genjutsu. It was done by the masked man," Naruto continued.
"He knew that the masked man was manipulating the Akatsuki from behind the scenes. He was afraid you were also being controlled, so he rushed to the Rain Village to confirm your safety."
"I see…" Konan murmured.
Noticing Nagato looking at her, she explained, "When Jiraiya-sensei restrained me with his hair, he pulled me close and tested my chakra flow. He was checking whether I was under genjutsu."
"So that was why…" Nagato whispered. A warmth quietly rose in his eyes.
Even in this cruel world, aside from Konan, there were still people who cared about them.
"So, Nagato, you have to personally apologize to the perverted sage," Naruto said with a grin.
"But I almost killed him…" Nagato replied heavily.
"That old man is not petty," Naruto laughed. "At worst, you let him punch you a few times and I will heal you right after."
"Pfft!" Konan could not help but laugh.
"You brat…" Even Nagato's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Senjutsu. Yang Release. Return of Vitality in All Directions."
Naruto placed his hand on Nagato's shoulder.
A vast surge of golden Yang chakra poured into Nagato's body.
His withered frame was like cracked earth meeting rain after a long drought.
Muscle and flesh regenerated at visible speed. His sunken torso filled out, becoming solid and strong once more. Years of depletion and overuse were swept away by pure life force.
Even his internal organs, which had been severely damaged by summoning the Demonic Statue, were carefully repaired and reinforced under the gentle yet overwhelming vitality.
One by one, the black receiver rods embedded in his back were forced out by the chakra.
The bloodline of the Uzumaki clan awakened again. His life force surged with terrifying strength.
Under Naruto's precise chakra control, Yang chakra flowed into Nagato's legs, restoring nerves that had withered for years.
Sensation returned. Warmth spread. The numbness faded. Control returned to his limbs.
Nagato's once-dull red hair regained its vivid crimson shine, burning like new flame. His pale skin flushed with health. The hollows in his face filled in. The handsome features of his youth returned.
Konan's eyes trembled. Tears welled up as she saw the boy from her memories standing before her again.
Nagato himself was overwhelmed.
The purity, density, and vitality of Naruto's Yang chakra far surpassed anything he had ever wielded.
This power did not just heal the body. It carried warmth, resolve, and quiet compassion.
It melted the ice that had frozen his heart for years.
For the first time in a long while, hope took root.
A tear slid down his restored face.
When Naruto sensed that Nagato's body had been fully repaired, he slowly withdrew his hand. The golden light faded.
Nagato stared at his strong arms and felt the ground beneath his feet.
He stood up.
Not as a puppet.
Not as a broken man.
But as himself.
Whole.
Alive.
"Nagato, are you from the Uzumaki clan?" Naruto asked instinctively, noticing his red hair.
Nagato nodded. "Yes. My parents were Uzumaki. After the destruction of Uzushiogakure, they fled to the Rain Country and settled there."
"Then the Five-Seal Barrier and the Mirror Technique talismans I saw in the Land of Rivers were yours," Naruto realized.
"Yes. Those were clan techniques my parents taught me. They only managed to teach me those two before they died in the war," Nagato sighed.
Damn war.
"The perverted sage was taken back to Konoha by Elder Fukasaku for treatment. Do you want to come with me?" Naruto asked.
Nagato nodded. "Yes. I owe him an apology."
"But wait a moment."
He formed hand seals.
"Summoning Jutsu."
Smoke burst forth, revealing a body with only its lower half intact.
"King of Hell," Nagato called.
The great face appeared behind him and pulled the body into its mouth.
A few seconds later, a complete figure stepped out.
Naruto frowned. "This is?"
"That is Yahiko," Nagato said quietly.
He was already dead. This was the only way Nagato could preserve his body.
"I will take you all back," Naruto said, placing his hand on Nagato and Konan's shoulders. Nagato rested his hand on Yahiko's body.
In an instant, the three of them and the puppet vanished.
The chamber fell silent.
Long after, a spiral of space twisted open.
Obito stepped out.
"Nagato?"
He stared at the empty machine.
Gone.
"Nagato? Konan?" he shouted.
No answer.
"Do not scare me. Say something!" he yelled again.
Silence.
Obito stood there, stunned.
He could not understand it.
In the short time he was gone, where had Nagato disappeared to?
And the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki in his space-time dimension…
What was he supposed to do with him now?