Chapter Twenty-Eight: Nagato’s Panic

Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan shared an extraordinary bond. For reasons unknown, Nagato and Konan had never resurrected Yahiko. Konan remained Yahiko’s companion. But now, with Yahiko’s return to life, Nagato’s heart was thrown into turmoil, and Konan, far away in the Hidden Rain Village tending to matters, felt a sudden, inexplicable unease.

Yahiko’s resurrection was enough to bring upheaval to the Akatsuki as it now stood.

...

Orochimaru walked step by step toward the heart of the Death Realm, spreading his consciousness to sense its power. The system of energy here was at once familiar and strange to him. Familiar, because it contained power derived from the same source as the Immortal Force; strange, because it was mingled with other energies.

Orochimaru analyzed the unfamiliar energy carefully and ultimately traced it to the Rinnegan.

The entire Death Realm was a bizarre world forged from the combined forces of the Rinnegan and the Immortal Force.

Orochimaru recalled the words of the White Snake Sage in the Ryuchi Cave: [The Rasengate is the source of a secret realm’s power; only when the secret realm collapses is the source withdrawn.]

That meant the one who once destroyed the secret realm might have been the Sage of Six Paths.

And the source power he took from that secret realm was used to create the Death Realm.

Yet, even before the Sage of Six Paths, life, aging, illness, and death existed. Where then did the souls of the dead go? Was the Death Realm already in existence prior, and the Sage merely perfected it?

Moreover, if the Sage of Six Paths took the source power, why leave behind nine Rasengates?

Orochimaru could see that his own nine Rasengates were only a fraction of the secret realm’s original power; part of it remained within this Death Realm.

Too many mysteries awaited unraveling.

Suddenly, Orochimaru sat cross-legged. The flow of energy in this place and moment brought him sudden insight.

He conceived a new way to harness the Immortal Force.

He was, in effect, developing a new ninjutsu.

Ever since obtaining the Immortal Force in Hell Valley, Orochimaru’s research had been limited to granting immortality—such as bestowing undying bodies, like he did with Might Guy, or creating the soon-to-be “Eight Gates Battalion.”

Now, though, he had a new idea.

Orochimaru’s foundation in ninjutsu was unparalleled; throughout his life, he had devoted himself to learning every ninjutsu in the world.

To develop new jutsu was never difficult for him.

He never created new jutsu lightly, but when he did, it was always a forbidden technique that astonished the world.

...

In the Hidden Sound Village, five battered Pains had restored themselves, returning to peak condition.

It was almost despair-inducing.

Tsunade and Jiraiya exchanged a glance; perhaps it was time to unleash their ultimate techniques.

They were ninjas famed from the Third Great Ninja War, forged by years of training—when pushing themselves to the limit, their strength could shock the world.

In an era where Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha no longer appeared, they were the strongest.

But the five restored Pains ignored Tsunade and Jiraiya completely, paying no heed to the paralyzed Kakashi and Guy lying on the ground, heading straight in one direction—the place where Deva Path Pain was located.

With Yahiko revived, Nagato had lost control over Deva Path Pain; yet the black rods still pierced Yahiko’s body, leaving him surely immobilized.

Nagato could not communicate with Yahiko through the rods, so he had to send the other Pains to support him.

He feared someone might seize the moment to kill Yahiko.

Yahiko, stuck with the black rods, was utterly vulnerable.

Nagato was torn. When Yahiko was alive, he never wanted him to die; after Yahiko’s death, he didn’t resurrect him. Now that Yahiko was back, Nagato again couldn’t bear the thought of losing him. He no longer understood his own feelings.

...

Pain’s assault on the Hidden Sound Village, though not concluded, had settled into an eerie calm.

A ceasefire.

Jiraiya and Tsunade helped Kakashi and Might Guy to their feet; both were unscathed, especially Might Guy, who was still absorbing the fruits of Orochimaru’s experiments. In the near future, he would be able to open all Eight Gates without dying!

Then, he could emerge as their trump card.

For now, he still needed more time.

Naruto was still in training, seemingly unable to contribute, but during this truce, he dared not relax—who knew if fighting would resume at any moment?

Training was an absolute necessity.

Tsunade treated Kakashi and Guy, then turned to Jiraiya, asking, “What happened? Why did Pain leave?”

Everyone had been fighting desperately, the Pains held the advantage, Tsunade was ready to join forces with Jiraiya for their ultimate moves, yet the Pains retreated—an inexplicable turn.

Jiraiya replied, “Perhaps because of Orochimaru.”

In truth, just after leaving the tavern, he was closest to Deva Path Pain, and it was his intention to stop him.

But upon seeing Orochimaru confront Deva Path Pain, he changed direction to seek out the other Pains, eventually ending up at Tsunade’s side.

There were six Pains in all, five with them, one with Orochimaru; if anything had happened, it must have involved Orochimaru.

...

Kabuto was urgently issuing orders in the Snake Cave, striving to preserve as much of the Sound Village’s fighting force as possible.

Orochimaru might not care, but Kabuto did—every life saved meant fewer unnecessary troubles.

Yet, just as the battle outside raged, a sudden ceasefire was declared.

His subordinates reported that the Pains had stopped fighting and gathered at one spot, where—so they claimed—Orochimaru’s corpse lay!

“Get out!” Kabuto’s glasses flashed with light, revealing furious eyes beneath. To claim Lord Orochimaru was dead—such fools must be courting death.

Kabuto never doubted Orochimaru’s survival; someone like him could never die.

“No wonder Lord Orochimaru didn’t tell me how to handle the Sound Village—because there’s no need! Even the Akatsuki’s leader can’t destroy the Sound Village!”

Kabuto smiled, his admiration for Orochimaru surging like a tidal wave, fierce and unending.

For the present situation was surely within Orochimaru’s calculations.

Indeed, it was. Orochimaru knew Pain could not destroy the Sound Village. From the moment he resurrected Yahiko, Nagato was defeated.

Since his rebirth, Orochimaru had shattered all previous limits of understanding, climbing ever higher.

No one in the Sound Village could keep pace with him.

Orochimaru had become a lone wolf on the path to “seek truth and transform the world.”

Some refused to believe in Orochimaru’s death; others were convinced of it—such as Guren and the Sound Four.

Their obedience was partly born of desire, but more so from fear of Orochimaru’s ruthlessness.

As long as Orochimaru existed, none dared rebel; to do so was to accept the price of death.

But now, Orochimaru seemed dead.

They were uncertain, and needed confirmation. So they acted on their own, determined to see Orochimaru’s corpse.

Kabuto was no exception; he too sought to dispel the rumor.

When they arrived at Deva Path Pain—now Yahiko—they all stared in shock.

They saw five Pains surrounding Yahiko, who had pulled out the black rods and was sitting weakly on the ground.

Beside Yahiko lay a body sprawled on the earth, its features unmistakably those of Orochimaru.