At that moment, Nagato truly considered believing Obito.
Not because of logic or evidence, but because Obito sounded so sincere.
Still, Nagato remembered Konan's warning. Her words lingered in his mind, steadying him when he nearly blurted out agreement. She had entrusted him with information retrieved from the battlefield, risking her life to get it. And in the end, she left a simple but urgent reminder: "Wait until I return before deciding."
Nagato fell silent again. His mind rapidly processed the contents of Konan's note and Obito's emotional speech. When he compared both sources, some inconsistencies stood out.
He looked at Obito coldly.
"Even if what you said is true… then why can't I close my Rinnegan?"
"As far as I know, my current symptoms are the same as someone who had a Sharingan forcibly transplanted."
"This Rinnegan is draining my chakra constantly. It's always active."
"It's clear... they're not my eyes."
Nagato's calm but sharp tone sliced through Obito's web of words.
Obito didn't appear surprised. In fact, this was exactly what he had anticipated. He didn't repeat Black Zetsu's explanation word for word. Instead, he spun the truth with care, using emotion to manipulate.
When Madara had been revived through Impure World Reincarnation, Obito had sensed something strange—an unnatural pull on his own heart. He suspected it was the hidden curse seal Madara placed long ago to control Nagato. That suspicion grew when he attempted to stab himself in the heart to test it—and physically couldn't. His hand froze, unable to press the kunai forward.
Just a pawn in Madara's grand scheme...
So now he gambled everything on this performance. If he could win Nagato over, he could pin the blame entirely on Madara and Black Zetsu. All that was left was to keep lying—just enough.
"I don't know," Obito said smoothly. "Maybe Madara implanted them in you when you were a child."
"Or maybe... it's a defect in your bloodline. Maybe your body can't handle the Rinnegan properly, just like how Uchiha who awaken the Mangekyō eventually go blind."
"Unless they take their sibling's eyes to awaken the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan… they lose their sight. Maybe it's the same thing."
"Your Rinnegan doesn't close. That might be the price. I can't say for sure."
His answer surprised Nagato with its ambiguity—but ironically, that made it feel more believable. He understood well that every power came with a cost. No strength came without sacrifice. Not even the legendary Rinnegan.
Even the weakest Genin had to bleed, sweat, and endure pain to grow stronger.
And this—this explanation—fit into his understanding of pain perfectly.
Only through pain could one gain power.
Obito noticed Nagato's wavering resolve and pressed harder.
"I can tell you one more thing—but this has to remain between us. Not even Konan can know."
Nagato paused, then nodded.
Obito lowered his voice. "Once… there was a child. He had two friends. But fate cruelly tore them away from him."
"When he wanted to take revenge, to walk a path no ordinary person dared tread… he couldn't do it."
"That's all I'll say. But I think... you understand what that pain feels like."
Obito's mournful eyes locked with Nagato's.
And Nagato, helplessly, remembered the moment Yahiko took his own life in front of Hanzo. That agony. That helpless rage. He could barely breathe from the weight of it.
If Konan and Yahiko had both died... I would've... I would've killed Hanzo... then myself...
Wait.
"I couldn't do it no matter what"…
Nagato's breath caught. His hand instinctively reached toward his heart.
Obito nodded wordlessly.
"...I understand," Nagato muttered. "I'll keep it from Konan."
Even if Obito hadn't asked, he would've lied to her. She could never know what Madara had done to his heart.
As for her claims—that Yahiko, the Daibutsu, and others were murdered by Obito... what did it matter now?
Obito was just another victim. Another pawn in Madara's scheme—like him.
And maybe... maybe he wasn't involved at all.
Nagato didn't realize it yet, but Obito's carefully crafted story had already broken through his defenses. Doubt had taken root, and trust—however tentative—had begun to form.
If Uchiha Hikaru were here... he'd be shouting, "What the fuck!? You're literally using Talk no Jutsu! That's Naruto's move, asshole!!"
But he wasn't.
And Nagato—haunted, weary, desperate—chose to believe.
He and Obito formed a silent alliance in that moment. A pact forged not through truth, but shared pain and manipulation.
Nagato promised himself: Once the Tailed Beasts were gathered, once the Ten Tails was summoned, he would force peace upon the ninja world by any means necessary. And he would help this broken man live in the dream he longed for.
Obito finally let out a breath of relief.
He hadn't technically lied. He just... left out the key parts.
Like how he never actually saw Madara implant the Rinnegan into Nagato—only heard it mentioned once.
Like how he really wanted to live in that dream... but also intended to drag the whole world into it.
He hadn't lied.
Just... omitted.
Afterwards, Obito turned and walked out of the tower, leaving Nagato alone with the silence.
Nagato sat in his chair, staring at the still figure of Tendo Pain—Yahiko's body.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Then, finally, he opened a drawer at the side of his chair and pulled out a small scroll.
He wrote a short message—concise, coded—and used chakra-based reverse telepathy to send it directly to Konan.
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Send Power Stones
Bonus Chapter at 150 Power Stone
Second Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
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