Traveling through Nagato, from conquering Konan to dominating the ninja world

A landform called 'Arakawa' near the junction of the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth.

As the name suggests, it is a barren land surrounded by mountains.

It is said that during the Six Paths Ninja Sect period, Arakawa was once a Feng Shui treasure land, and even contained dragon veins, but an unprecedented war caused the land here to lose its vitality forever.

Today, Arakawa is full of vigorous big trees with intertwined roots, like gourd vines covering the steep cliffs!

Because this is the place where Uchiha Obito practiced.

Even though tonight marks the one-year anniversary between him and Nagato, Obito still tirelessly shuttles through the colorful shadows of the trees...!!!

His body and mind were focused to the extreme!

The 'air' that he was sweeping with his fists and feet was actually his imaginary enemy 'Nagato'! !

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"

Every time fists and feet collided with the ground, hideous wooden nails would burst out from the ground...

He has mastered the combination of Taijutsu and Wood Release to perfection.

Hei Bai Jue was the witness of his practice.

White Zetsu said: "It seems that Obito is very clear that two months is not enough to fully develop the power of Hashirama Senju, so he did not choose Hashirama's grand Wood Release style, but combined his own fighting style. After the Flower Tree World, he took a different approach and formed his own style. This is not simple, although what he did, Hashirama could easily do it if he wanted."

Black Zetsu said: "In the past, he was able to use the limited Hashirama cells to perform the Insertion Technique and Hell's Chaos, an attack method that combines efficiency and lethality. This shows his talent in this area, which is also the reason why he was chosen by Madara."

White Zetsu said: "It's not good. If Nagato is really killed by him, then Madara's plan will be ruined. Why don't we go and persuade Obito again, beat Nagato into a cripple and teach him a lesson..."

Hei Zetsu laughed and said, "Haha, just let him be. A child who is in his rebellious period won't know how to turn back until he hits a wall..."

White Zetsu said, "Oh! Are you talking about Nagato? In another month, he will be twenty years old. For these ninjas, twenty years old seems to be a watershed, the watershed from a child to an adult. The so-called three prohibitions of ninjas are limited to twenty years old."

"So, Nagato, you shouldn't be considered to be in your rebellious phase right now? If we strictly define it... you should be."

White Zetsu pulled the aloe vera head that he and Black Zetsu shared and tilted it to the left.

"Estrous period?"

“Hehehe…” Hei Jue smiled sinisterly: “Maybe.”

……

In the newly built open-air bath in the Hidden Rain Village.

Nagato soaked his whole body in the warm spring water.

His practice ended yesterday, and after a good night's sleep, he ate, drank, and had fun to relax.

Not affected at all by the pressure of meeting Obito tonight.

There is a barrier, so rain water won't get into the bath.

A light mist floated in the air, and Konan was right in front of Nagato, washing her body defenselessly.

Nagato didn't know where to put his eyes...

There had been times like this in the past, when I had taken a hot spring bath with Nagato instead of Perrin... but that was through rocks.

It's not like now, where we are seeing each other honestly, separated by a layer of fog thinner than a veil.

Xiaonan, you have become more and more presumptuous and bold towards me recently...

Although there is a custom of mixed bathing in Yamato culture.

But... the world of Naruto is obviously much more conservative.

This is no longer the realm of friends, right?

Could it be that she has slowly transferred her feelings for Yahiko to me?

It's not that Nagato is slow in emotions, but because he cares too much, he can't help but be cautious... Even if some things are obvious, he doesn't dare to think too deeply about them, for fear of desecrating the friendship between him and Konan.

But right now...

He blushed and glanced away.

The rippling water in front of Xiaonan was almost transparent. He could even see some details that he shouldn't have seen...

Really, time flies and people are easily left behind...

Xiaonan lowered his eyelids, his eyes were rippling.

"Nagato, seriously, let's not be so cautious this time..."

"Just do it in one go."

"Gather the existing forces, attack together, and kill Uchiha Obito completely..."

Whether to kill Obito.

This question... Nagato had been thinking about it all the time during the two months of intensive training.

To be honest, if we gather all our forces as Konan said, it wouldn't be difficult to keep Obito...

But if Obito left at this moment, the actions of one person would become completely unpredictable.

That is... Black Zetsu.

If Obito died, who knows what Black Zetsu, such a filial son, would do to resurrect Kaguya?

As the will of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, and a body of Yin-Yang Release, Nagato cannot get rid of it with his current means.

Moreover... the core of Nagato's growth plan, the second 'Maple', is still a hungry baby at this moment. The basic foundation of the ninja world is not suitable for major changes yet.

Even if they had to kill Obito, they should have waited until Kaede grew up, at least until she had smoothly transitioned to the stage of 'Mastery of Senjutsu' and 'Eternal Mangekyō' Sharingan, right?

Nagato said calmly: "Konan, tonight I will fight Obito alone..."

"Alone? You mean, you and Pain Six Paths..."

"No, I don't plan to use the Six Paths of Pain. I want Uchiha Obito to lose sincerely, relying on my own strength..."

"Why? I don't understand, really..." Xiaonan's eyes flashed.

Nagato said earnestly: "Konan, although we now have a stable home in Yugakure, don't you want Akatsuki to reappear?"

"Eh?" Nagato stood up in front of Konan.

"If we want to be truly invincible, we will have to hunt the tailed beasts sooner or later. But this will sooner or later make the Rain Village we lead the public enemy of the five major nations."

“We are not afraid, but there is no need to be.”

"So... you want to?"

"To rebuild Akatsuki, we support a pseudo-leader, and that person is... Uchiha Obito!"

Obito...Once upon a time, you lived in seclusion behind the scenes of Akatsuki, commanding everything and letting me work hard for you in front of the stage!

But this time, our stance and status have to change!

I am the one who sits firmly in the fishing boat, but you are the one who puts the bid and sells your head!!!

Just based on this duel tonight!!! I will force you to accept this unequal treaty...!!!

Xiaonan's eyes trembled: "Nagato, you have actually seen such a far place..."

At night, we arrived at the promised temple in the Land of Rain.

"Swoosh!" The mysterious vortex stirred time and space, and a dark figure appeared in front of Nagato.

"Mr. Madara, how are you?"