Chapter 76: The Unmasking (Patreon)

Clang!

The sharp, piercing sound of metal striking the ground erupted abruptly. The sudden noise made Konan, who had closed her eyes, flinch. She instinctively opened them to look. There, under the suddenly amplified gravitational pull from Nagato, the sickle blade flew from Hanzō's hand, landing with a clatter further away.

"Nagato, you..."

Hanzō couldn't help but frown. He felt no relief, only profound disappointment. If Nagato still chose to believe in Yahiko's fantasy that understanding could bring peace, then he was doomed to fail in leading Amegakure and bringing true peace to the Land of Rain.

"Do not misunderstand. I still hate you. I cannot forgive you. But..."

Nagato's voice cut off Hanzō's next words. His tone was almost unnaturally rational, chillingly calm. "...the current you is no longer an obstacle to me. Killing you is meaningless. It would be mere self-gratification."

"I do not need meaningless venting of hatred. For the Akatsuki, the optimal choice is to let you burn the last of your warmth and value."

At these words, both Hanzō and Konan's pupils trembled as they looked into Nagato's purple eyes. But within those orbs, they saw not a flicker of emotion.

Calm. Rational. Detached...

At this moment, he truly seemed like a "God" who had severed all human emotion and impulse.

Nagato's gaze rested calmly on the kneeling figure before him—the hero and legend of Amegakure, indeed of the entire Land of Rain. Though Hanzō bore no title of "Demigod," to many, his name was a legend, one of the shinobi who had reached the pinnacle in countless minds.

But in Nagato's view, this hero, after slaying the dragon, had become the new dragon. The former hero had aged. The hand that once held the sword had grown frail, losing its conviction. Fearful and timid from the clamor of the outside world, cowering in his tower—an ugly, cowardly, aged state. In the approaching Fourth Great Ninja War, if such a Hanzō continued to rule Amegakure, the Land of Rain would inevitably be plunged into catastrophe.

That was why, disregarding Zetsu's advice, he had gone to slay this dragon. Not solely for the hatred in his heart, but more because Hanzō stood in the way.

But now... it was different.

This Hanzō, willing to believe in him, even willing to die for that belief, was no longer an obstacle to him or the Akatsuki's future. Instead, he could become a vital asset. Nagato had not forgiven Hanzō's past wrongs. Resentment still coiled within his heart. He simply understood that a living Hanzō now held greater value for him. Killing him would be a childish, meaningless act of venting.

A "God" would not be ruled by the hatred in his heart, acting on impulse and recklessness. For the sake of the peace he desired, anyone, anything, could be sacrificed. Everything could be discarded.

Including his hatred. Including himself.

Hanzō was willing to die for a peaceful future. He, Nagato, could also suppress the hatred in his heart and let Hanzō live, for the sake of his own ideal of peace. This was Nagato's resolve.

"..."

Feeling a profound shock, Hanzō fell into a long silence. A faint smile finally appeared on his face. "Indeed... Entrusting the future to you was not a mistake."

The Nagato of now could go further than him, further than Yahiko, further than anyone.

'Of course, the prerequisite is that he is not misled by anyone and walks the correct path,' Hyūga Kumokawa thought to himself with an inward smile, still a silent observer.

Unaware of his thoughts, the others watched as Hanzō stood up, facing Nagato with a grave expression. "As long as your original intent remains unchanged... this life is still yours..."

"Wait a moment. I have an objection."

At that moment, the previously silent Hyūga Kumokawa suddenly raised his hand, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"While I hate to interrupt such a touching moment, I'm afraid I must correct one point."

Under the varied gazes of the three, his tone remained deferential as he spoke. "Half of Mr. Hanzō's life belongs to my Master. This is the price he must pay for his rebirth."

Hearing this, Hanzō and Nagato were taken aback. The former quickly recalled the changes in his body, while the latter instinctively thought of that terrifying presence.

"Hey," Hanzō reacted, his face darkening. "You didn't mention I'd have to pay that kind of price."

"My apologies, apologies. An oversight on my part. Still new to the business," Kumokawa offered an insincere apology, then smiled. "But I have another piece of information, which I'll offer as compensation."

Seeing that Hanzō and Nagato remained unmoved, he paused, then smiled meaningfully. "This information... can alter the fate of death awaiting Mr. Nagato and Miss Konan."

"Two lives, for half a life. That should be sufficient, don't you think?"

At these words, the pupils of all three individuals present constricted sharply, their expressions shifting.

"Do you understand what you're saying?" Nagato's voice was low.

Only now did he suddenly realize Hanzō knew far too much—even the Akatsuki's plan and goal of collecting the Tailed Beasts. And it seemed this "Kage" was the source. What about Hanzō's current physical state and power? Could that also be the work of this "Kage"? Just what was this man?

Hyūga Kumokawa paid no mind to Nagato's attitude. Instead, he looked toward the shadows in the corner of the cave, where the Spiral Zetsu—Tobi—utterly confused but still playing dead, was crouching.

"Before we discuss this matter," Kumokawa said abruptly, "might we first restrain that White Zetsu?"

As one, the gazes of Hanzō, Nagato, and Konan turned toward Tobi. Seeing this, Tobi, who had been eavesdropping all this while, immediately sensed danger. Without a second thought, it tried to use its Kagerō (Mayfly Technique) to sink into the earth and escape.

But in the next instant, its body suddenly froze, losing control. Unnoticed by all, Hyūga Kumokawa's shadow had already linked with Tobi's, snaking up from its feet to bind its form.

"Wh-what's happening? My chakra... What did you do?"

Tobi's tone was panicked. It seemed to remember something and shouted, "It's you! So it was you! You're the one who killed the White Zetsus monitoring Amegakure!"

Only this strange shadow technique that could seal chakra could have prevented those White Zetsus from even sending back intel!

"Lord Nagato! Save me, save me! Don't listen to his lies! Kill him! He's an enemy! He's the enemy!"

Nagato ignored Tobi's frantic cries, frowning as he looked at Hyūga Kumokawa.

"Those eyes do not belong to you."

Hyūga Kumokawa wasted no words, stating it plainly. "Their true owner... is Uchiha Madara."

...

What?

Nagato and Konan stood frozen in place. It was as if they had lost the ability to comprehend the meaning of the words.

"Oh, right." Seeing the dazed, vacant look in Nagato and Konan's eyes, Kumokawa paused before adding, "Not the 'Uchiha Madara' you know. The true Uchiha Madara, even in his old age, would not hide behind a mask. That masked individual is merely a pitiful pawn."

After uttering these words and meeting Nagato's gaze—which seemed to hold a shattered worldview—the sense of delight within Hyūga Kumokawa nearly overflowed.

'Sorry, Obito. Fellow competitors are rivals, after all. If not you, then who? If I don't kick you out, how can I steer the Akatsuki, how can I manipulate the war situation? Once I fully control the Akatsuki, I'll have more tools to do the dirty work for me. For example, they can seize the Box of Ultimate Bliss, hunt down Kekkei Genkai users...

So, Obito will have to suffer a bit. I'll take on the responsibility for the Akatsuki.'

"Mmmph! Mmmph!"

Tobi, its body and mouth bound, made muffled sounds. Even if the words were unclear, the sheer, overwhelming panic in its tone was unmistakable.

'How... how could this guy know?!'

"Impossible!" Nagato was jolted awake, snapping back from the massive shock. The words burst from him. "What you're saying is utter nonsense!"

Whether it was the Rinnegan not belonging to him, or that the "Madara" he had always been wary of was a fake... both ideas were utterly unbelievable and unacceptable. He knew "Madara" had other objectives, but he could never have imagined that he had been living a lie from the very beginning—a pawn in someone else's hand.

"Truth or lie..." Hyūga Kumokawa's voice carried a hint of amusement. "Just remove his mask, and you'll see for yourself, won't you?"

Hearing this, Nagato instinctively wanted to refuse. He couldn't afford to break openly with "Madara" yet. But the next second, the image of that figure seated upon the mountain of bones in a sea of blood flashed in his mind. The words spoken then seemed to echo in his ears.

"Do you presume to know who you are?"

"You are merely a lowly vessel, fashioned to carry those eyes."

"Without those eyes, which are not yours, you would be nothing but a weak, insignificant insect."

Lowly vessel... Weak insect...

A surge of inexplicable fury rose from Nagato's chest. His gaze sharpened as he stared at Hyūga Kumokawa, his voice cold. "Tell me. What do you propose to do?"