Shinigami in the Ninja World

Jiraiya's eyes were filled with hope.

Naruto spoke softly, "Resurrection, huh?"

"If she really is as you say she is..."

"Then, out of respect for Jiraiya-sensei and the information you've provided, it's not impossible."

He was more interested in the concept of "resurrection."

In the Soul Society, there was no such thing as the ability to "resurrect."

But here...

What form would it take?

"Thank you," Nagato lowered his head, saving some strength.

"He's a very mysterious person."

"Although he claims to be Madara and possesses the Sharingan, even the advanced Mangekyō Sharingan..."

"Yahiko once suspected that he wasn't actually Uchiha Madara, but just another Uchiha who had taken on the name."

Naruto interrupted him, "Let's confirm something first."

"The person you're talking about—does he wear a spiral-shaped mask?"

Nagato nodded, "Yes."

That matched the person Naruto knew. He gestured for Nagato to continue.

"When I first met him," Nagato's expression turned nostalgic, "it was not long after Akatsuki had been established."

"He suddenly appeared, claiming to be Uchiha Madara."

"He said that I was the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths' will, and that the Rinnegan was proof of that."

"At that time, we didn't accept him."

"But after Yahiko's death..."

"I accepted him as a member of Akatsuki, and it was his idea to collect the Tailed Beasts."

At this point, he paused, his tone becoming dazed: "Looking back now, Yahiko was right. He was just using me."

If it had been unclear before, it was now obvious after witnessing him watch from the sidelines and then immediately flee when the situation turned unfavorable.

"However, collecting the Tailed Beasts wasn't just about harnessing their power," Nagato continued, now holding nothing back. "It was also to complete another Rinnegan technique."

"That thing is very powerful."

"It's a vessel called the 'Gedo Statue,' and it needs the power of the nine tailed beasts to be completed."

Naruto thought of something: "The Ten-Tails?"

"You know about it?" Nagato was surprised. His gaze shifted to the two foxes. "Did the Nine-Tails tell you?"

"At that time, I was so consumed by the power of the Rinnegan that I didn't realize his true intentions."

"I was a fool."

"If it had been Yahiko, he would have seen through it immediately."

Naruto didn't respond, deep in thought about this information.

That man who claimed to be "Uchiha Madara"—was his goal to awaken the "Ten-Tails"?

Did he want to control the source of chakra?

"His Sharingan has a very peculiar dojutsu," Nagato shook his head. "It's a technique called 'Kamui,' which allows him to become intangible."

"You can see him..."

"But no attack can touch him."

"However, this technique has a flaw; he can only remain intangible for five minutes. After that, he must revert to a physical form."

"That's all I know about him."

A space-time ninjutsu that allows one to become intangible.

"That's not Uchiha Madara," the Yang Nine-Tails spoke, its tone very certain. "I've seen Madara's Mangekyō Sharingan, and it didn't have this 'intangibility' ability."

Naruto looked at it, "You've fought Uchiha Madara?"

Both Nine-Tails lowered their heads, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Karin nodded thoughtfully, "So you got beaten?"

"Shut up!" The Yin Nine-Tails bared its teeth.

Karin smiled, reaching out to pinch its ear.

"So, he's not Uchiha Madara?" Nagato laughed bitterly. "I guess I've been deceived by that guy all this time."

"Is there anything else you want to know?"

"If not, I'll..."

He extended his hands, pressing them together in front of his chest.

"What was that summoning beast that could revive the other puppets?" Naruto asked. "It seemed to have once been a god of this land?"

Nagato shook his head: "I don't know; it's one of the abilities of the Rinnegan."

"In the Rinnegan, it's called the King of Hell."

Even the Rinnegan's user didn't know its true nature?

"What's the story behind your eyes?" Naruto asked, pointing at them.

Nagato froze, frowning in confusion: "Are you asking about the full capabilities of the Rinnegan? Once you obtain it, you'll..."

Naruto shook his head. "I'm asking how you got them."

"I'm also from the Uzumaki clan, and while searching for some things before, I learned a bit about our clan's history."

"While it's true that our ancestors can be traced back to the Sage of Six Paths..."

"The Uzumaki clan's ancestors were descended from Ashura, and he didn't inherit the Sage's dojutsu."

"The most crucial point is..."

"True power doesn't have such side effects when used."

"You've been tortured by the Rinnegan, suffering worse than death."

Nagato pondered this: "It might have something to do with my Kekkei Genkai?"

"I'm not of pure Uzumaki lineage; part of my bloodline is related to the Senju clan."

"When I was young, my eyes were just like any ordinary person's."

"But one day, Konoha ninjas broke into my home and killed my parents over some food. From that moment, I awakened the power of the Rinnegan."

The Yin Nine-Tails shook its head: "No one in the Senju clan has ever possessed a dojutsu."

Nagato pondered for a moment before shaking his head: "Is that so?"

"Then let Naruto investigate it."

"However, I must warn you that using the Rinnegan places a tremendous burden on the body and shortens one's lifespan."

"Even for me, using certain powerful dojutsu consumes my life."

"If you intend to acquire this power, Naruto, be prepared..."

Naruto decisively refused: "I would never transplant those eyes."

"They're not power—they're a burden and a curse."

Nagato looked at Naruto, somewhat lost in thought.

"You're very much like Yahiko." He smiled, placing his hands together. "To be able to resist the temptation of such overwhelming power and make a firm decision."

"Perhaps..."

"That's the difference between you and me."

"Is there anything else you want to know?"

Naruto shook his head.

"Thank you," Nagato said softly.

He formed a hand seal, and the power of the Rinnegan began greedily consuming his life force.

"Outer Path—Rinne Rebirth."

Naruto turned around.

A surge of chakra emanated from outside Rain Village.

He used Shunpo to move outside, standing on a rooftop.

The "King of Hell" was summoned through a summoning technique.

It opened its mouth, releasing a soul.

Among the rubble...

A body with blue-purple hair was enveloped in a faint green light, the soul merging into the green glow, life returning, and breath awakening.

Naruto frowned.

He couldn't quite understand how this world defined "life" and "death."

In the other world...

A human's soul and body are connected by a chain called the "Chain of Fate."

The soul leaving the body doesn't necessarily mean death.

Death occurs when the "Chain of Fate" is severed.

Once the chain is broken, the soul can never return to the body.

But in this world...

Can a person be revived just by putting the soul back into the body?

Does that mean if he could insert a soul into a fresh body before the "Sage of Six Paths" acts, he could revive someone?

The boundaries and rules of "life and death" are far too ambiguous.

On the wasteland.

Konan opened her eyes in confusion. The pain in her chest and the weakness of her body stimulated her nerves.

She had left the Pure Land and returned to the world of the living.

"Nagato," she whispered, softly uttering the name.

As someone who had spent so much time with him, she knew exactly why she had come back to life.

And she knew all too well what the cost of her revival would be.

But...

She no longer had the strength to feel any emotions.

Naruto returned to the room.

After performing the "Rinne Rebirth," Nagato also severed the life support tubes connected to him. He was eager to leave this world.

Jiraiya watched from the side.

Naruto walked over and removed the pair of Rinnegan from Nagato, sealing them away for safekeeping.

Three days later.

The incessant rain that had shrouded Rain Village for years finally stopped, and the long-awaited sun shone down on the land.

Nagato and Pain's funeral was simple.

The only attendees were Naruto, Karin, Jiraiya, and Konan.

"What will you do next?" Jiraiya asked, looking between Naruto and Konan.

"Akatsuki is finished," Konan said, staring at Naruto with a calm, somewhat numb tone. "I don't want to go anywhere. I just want to stay here."

"Rain Village is our home, and this village... it needs someone to lead it now."

"And besides, I want to stay with them."

Naruto didn't respond.

Konan paused, lowering her head as she glanced at her robe. "Can I still wear this?"

"It's never the clothing that defines a person," Naruto smiled slightly. "It just marks the passage of time left on you."

Konan whispered, "Thank you."

She didn't bring up the Rinnegan.

Even though it was the most symbolic relic of Nagato, such powerful eyes would inevitably draw unwanted attention, and neither she nor this small, fragile village had the strength to protect them.

"Naruto, what are you going to do next?" Jiraiya asked.

Before he could finish his sentence, Naruto took out a scroll and handed it to him: "Jiraiya-sensei, please help spread this information to all the nations."

"The contents of this scroll will remain valid until the task is completed."

Jiraiya nodded in agreement.

Naruto left with Karin, without any hesitation.

In the Land of Earth, Rock Village.

The Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, frowned as he read the intelligence reports from the Anbu: "This is terrifying..."

"We were previously cooperating with such an organization."

The report indicated that the man called "Pain" had destroyed a forest the size of a small village.

"What's even more frightening is that such an organization was taken down by a single person." A short-haired female ninja beside him spoke up, holding up a scroll and placing it before Ōnoki. "This is the latest intelligence from Konoha."

She paused.

"It was sent by Jiraiya."

"It's likely the opinion of that individual."

Ōnoki immediately perked up, carefully picking up the scroll.

~~~

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