The soul returning from the Pure Land slowly revived.
Nagato's tightly shut eyes gradually opened. The first thing that entered his sight was the smooth stone ceiling Ye Zi had formed using Inorganic Reincarnation. After opening his eyes, he made no move to struggle, not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't.
After reviving Nagato with Edo Tensei, Ye Zi stood coldly to the side. Even in this state, Nagato's eyes were still the Rinnegan.
According to Madara, those eyes were transplanted into Nagato by him. Which meant the Rinnegan had not originally been Nagato's. By logic, after being revived through Edo Tensei, Nagato should have had his natural eyes, ordinary ones from before the transplant. Yet here he was, still bearing the Rinnegan.
Ye Zi wasn't too surprised. Since Edo Nagato retained the Rinnegan, he decided to test whether someone in Edo form could use the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique.
As Nagato's summoner and controller, Ye Zi could clearly sense the fury and unwillingness roiling in Nagato's heart. From the moment he awoke, his body unmovable, eyes fixed on the ceiling, Nagato still knew the one standing beside him was Ye Zi.
Yet under Edo control, his face remained blank, his eyes hollow, no trace of his inner emotions visible.
Ignoring Nagato's inner rage, Ye Zi summoned a coffin. From it stepped a Konoha jōnin. With a thought, he forced Nagato to perform the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique on this Edo body.
Nagato formed the seals with both hands. Yet nothing happened.
"Edo bodies are immortal, with limitless chakra. If the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique could be used by them, then no one in this world would remain dead. That it fails here… isn't surprising."
So thought Ye Zi. He had half-expected this outcome when he saw Edo Nagato still had the Rinnegan. His test confirmed his suspicions.
Returning the jōnin to the coffin and sending it back to the summoning space, Ye Zi made Nagato rise and face him.
Now Nagato looked directly at him, expressionless, but surely wishing in his heart to rip Ye Zi to shreds.
Ye Zi had even stripped Nagato of the right to speak, so he remained silent.
Coldly, Ye Zi watched him. He commanded Nagato to extend a hand toward a nearby table and use Banshō Ten'in.
Whoosh!
The table, as though grasped by an invisible hand, shot toward Nagato's palm. Just before it touched, Ye Zi had him activate Shinra Tensei at minimal force, shattering the table into pieces.
"He can use the Rinnegan's powers," Ye Zi murmured coldly.
So, Shinra Tensei and Banshō Ten'in worked, but not the Samsara of Heavenly Life. Likely the Edo state itself prevented it.
With the test complete, Ye Zi abandoned the thought. Still, Nagato retaining the Rinnegan in Edo form was an unexpected boon. This made him a formidable high-tier fighter under Ye Zi's command.
An immortal body wielding Rinnegan, used well, it was the ultimate weapon.
"I know you're furious and unwilling. But as a failure, all you can do is accept it." Ye Zi gazed at him and released his speech seal.
Nagato realized he could now speak. But he said nothing. Were he free, his expression would surely twist with hatred, his eyes like blades boring into Ye Zi, his teeth grinding. Inside, commands to kill Ye Zi raged but his body made no response. He was completely bound.
When Nagato stayed silent, Ye Zi did not press further. He formed seals. The ground trembled, a plain coffin rose, and he sealed Edo Nagato back inside, sending him to the summoning space.
"It's time to visit Amegakure," Ye Zi said coldly, staring at the spot where the coffin vanished.
He knew Konan still waited there for news of Nagato. Ye Zi intended to kill her.
As one of the few who knew the truth, and offering no aid, there was no reason to let her live. Once he dealt with her, he could return and replenish Tenjin's genjutsu energy.
After making some simple preparations, Ye Zi told no one, and set out alone toward the Land of Rain.
...
Konoha.
When the Ino–Shika–Chō trio returned, they could hardly believe their eyes.
Three-fifths of the village had become barren wasteland. Another fifth was reduced to rubble. What on earth had happened?
They rushed to Minato, who was directing reconstruction.
Seeing them return, Minato sighed, handed off his work to subordinates, and led them to Hiruzen, lightly wounded, at the village outskirts.
There, in a small grove spared from Shinra Tensei's devastation, they gathered to discuss urgent matters.
Sitting on crude chairs, the trio recounted everything they had experienced, with Nara Shikaku presenting it in clear, logical order.
After hearing it all, Minato and Hiruzen exchanged a glance, both eyes bright with relief.
The alliance had succeeded. At such a time, this was very good news indeed.
"The village was attacked by Akatsuki. They came for Kushina. In all likelihood, that man was Akatsuki's leader. Only…" Minato explained calmly, clearing their doubts.
As he spoke, Shikaku's face grew grave.
Recently, Akatsuki had struck Kirigakure and Kumogakure, seizing their Tailed Beasts. At least here they had failed. Even though Konoha was in ruins, the Nine-Tails was safe, that at least was a blessing amid disaster.
"Lord Hokage, you left a Flying Thunder God mark on that puppet, didn't you?" Shikaku suddenly asked.
From Minato's account, he pieced together all the details, arranging them in sequence, replaying the battle like a film in his mind:
A woman with paper wings in a black cloak with red clouds. A puppet carried away, wrapped in paper. That puppet bearing Minato's teleportation mark.
From these, Shikaku conceived a possible way to gather intel.
Minato nodded at his question.
"Right now, we must unite the other villages for a summit. Regardless of Akatsuki's goal in collecting the Tailed Beasts, we lack intelligence. We don't even know why Ye Zi turned on their leader.
"So before the summit, we need far more detailed information."
All eyes turned to Shikaku, who in turn looked at Minato.
"This will carry great risk. But only you, Lord Hokage, can do it," Shikaku said gravely.
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Currently on Chapter 605 - The Quiet Steps of Madara