"Absolute nonsense!!!"
Crushed by the overwhelming truth, Nagato's face twisted into a near-grotesque mask of fury. He refused to accept this cruel reality—that he was a 'pawn'!
"Sasuke Uchiha, everything you've said is nothing but baseless conjecture! A mere brat, daring to spout such drivel before a god?! How utterly audacious!!!"
Crack!
A panel on Nagato's mechanical chariot slid open. A massive black rod shot out, piercing straight into Sasuke's abdomen!
Bzzzt!
Nagato's powerful chakra flooded into him!
"Gh…" Sasuke's frame hunched slightly. The next instant, the pattern of the Yin Seal spread from his forehead around his eyes. Zzt! The light of the Mangekyō Sharingan blazed in his pupils.
A dark-purple aura erupted from his body!
Watching through his crystal ball, Orochimaru's slit pupils dilated sharply. "This… this is…!!!"
In Nagato's mind, an image of a Susanoo suddenly surged—a massive hand clenching him tight!
It wasn't a genjutsu… It was reverse interference via chakra!
"Ugh… aah…!"
Seeing Nagato's wavering body as a purple aura seeped from the black rods in his back, Konan's eyes trembled in shock. "He… he can resist Nagato's chakra at such close range?!"
Orochimaru chuckled in admiration. "Hmm… Truly unexpected, Sasuke-kun. To use the Yin Seal to achieve this… If you truly complete this technique, its power may well rival that of the Cursed Seal of Heaven!"
"Nagato, it's fine if you don't believe me now. When you get the chance, ask the masked man yourself. If you still don't trust him, I can have Orochimaru use the Impure World Reincarnation on Madara. Confront him directly. The truth will be laid bare."
Sasuke spoke in a low voice, reaching down to grip the black rod in his gut. He pulled it out with force and tossed it aside.
Clang!
The metallic echo faded. Nagato gasped for breath, his gaze shaking. "You…"
At this point, he couldn't possibly be completely unmoved.
Could it be… everything he said… was true?
If it was true… where was his resentment and hatred supposed to go?
Zzt! The pattern of the Yin Seal receded. Sasuke spoke gravely. "Nagato, I understand exactly how you feel. That's what it means to be used. I've been used before. If no one had pulled me back, I probably would have remained in error until the very end. But looking back… it wasn't all bad. At the very least, it let me see myself more clearly. See the world more clearly. So I wouldn't make the same mistake twice."
"Nagato, it's not too late to turn back. With your power, you can absolutely atone for the sins you've committed."
Nagato laughed bitterly, offering his final rebuttal. "Sins? Setting aside whether I was truly used… do you also believe my ideal for peace is wrong?"
Sasuke met Nagato's gaze squarely, drawing on the understanding from his past life. "To test whether an ideal is correct, see if it aligns with natural law and human compassion. You tried to suppress war with war, but you yourself became the chief instigator of war. Trying to shoulder everything alone is, in itself, a form of escape. A worthless escape, relying on nothing but force, winning no hearts."
Nagato desperately sought an answer. "Then what about you? Do you also believe so-called 'love' can change the world?"
Sasuke contemplated briefly, then uttered words that would shock the world.
—"Those who blindly advocate for either 'love' or 'power' will ultimately bring about misfortune! Taking the Middle Way between the two is the proper path! Transcending the division between 'love' and 'power,' transcending all binary oppositions—that is the true road to peace!"
Orochimaru smiled, feeling a resonance. "Indeed. The seeds of strife sown since the era of the Sage of Six Paths—Asura and Indra, the Senju and the Uchiha—the contest between love and power has lasted a thousand years. Now, Sasuke no longer clings to either side. He has leaped out of the narrow, either-or choice, embraced both, yet transcended both, finding a new path for the world. After accomplishing the great task of defying the heavens, he will also complete the grand work that even Naruto failed to finish back then."
"Not siding with love or power, but taking the Middle Way between them… Indeed, I never considered such a possibility."
Nagato recalled the moments spent with Yahiko, the latter's earnest teachings, and finally remembered Yahiko's original purpose for founding the Akatsuki.
—To end the chaotic wars in the Hidden Rain Village, to bring light and peace to the village and its people!
And so, Nagato made his choice once more.
"Sasuke Uchiha… I will tentatively believe your words. From this day forward, I will draw a clear line with the 'past'!"
Shwoop!
At that moment, a pitch-black vortex swirled into existence without warning.
—"Nagato, having a change of heart isn't a good thing, you know."
A dark voice spoke. Obito's hand landed on Nagato's shoulder, his right eye unleashing a vortex!!!
Nagato: "You…!!!"
Swish—!!!
Sasuke burst forward—but he was a step too late. Nagato was sucked into the vortex!
Simultaneously… a flash of lightning passed through Obito's torso!
Obito's gaze swept coldly to the side. He drew his blade and thrust towards Konan, whose face was frozen in shock!!!
Skritch!
The sword tip stopped just before Konan's face!
Following the shimmering arc of lightning that flared on the trembling blade, Obito looked back at Sasuke's hand.
"Magnet Style…"
By then, Konan had snapped back to her senses. Her eyes turned icy. Her body exploded into paper!
Rustle, rustle, rustle…!
Obito looked at the explosive tags on the fluttering paper.
"Going with this move, huh…"
BOOOOOOM—!!!
The top floor of the tower was consumed in the explosion!
Swish! Swish! Swish! Three figures landed in the rain outside the tower.
Konan demanded coldly, "Obito Uchiha! What do you intend to do with Nagato?!"
Being addressed by his true name didn't faze Obito in the slightest.
He slowly sheathed his sword and stated bluntly, "Do? Isn't it obvious? Imprison him in a time-space dimension until he starves to death, then take back the Rinnegan that belongs to me. That's the fitting punishment for a traitor, don't you think?"
Konan's fists clenched tightly. "So it was you who used him! You deceived Nagato! You deceived us!!!"
Obito adjusted his collar casually. "Say whatever you like. This world is nothing but deception. Only the Infinite Tsukuyomi is the path to salvation. As for you… heh, don't worry. I'll reunite the three of you in the Infinite Tsukuyomi. After all, that was the vow I made at the scene of Ya-hi-ko's-dea-th!"
Crack!!!
Konan's eyes nearly burst with rage. "You… UNFORGIVABLE!!!"
She sharply raised her hand—but another hand grabbed her wrist at that moment.
Sasuke looked directly into Konan's eyes from close range and said in a low, firm voice, "Once was more than enough. How can you let it happen again?"
"You…" Konan's gaze wavered. Her raised hand slowly lowered.
Obito spoke with icy detachment. "Konan, from today, you and Nagato are expelled from the Akatsuki. And Sasuke… at this point, I don't know what you're trying to do, nor do I care to know. You seem aware of my identity and goals. But you can change nothing. The Eight-Tails will soon be ours. The Nine-Tails will be no exception. In the not-too-distant future… let's meet again in the world of the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
Shwoop! With those final words, he vanished into a dark vortex.
Rumble…!
Amidst the thunder, the downpour intensified.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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