Nagato felt the overwhelming chakra presence, his expression bitter.
"There's no mistake… This is the same power that wiped out 100,000 White Zetsu… and left me in this condition."
At his words, Konan's expression changed.
"That chakra… It's them?"
Nagato lay still, nodding slightly before closing his eyes.
"Their power is enough to destroy Amegakure in a single blow. There's no point in resisting. Let's surrender."
He exhaled slowly before adding, "Take me with you."
Konan took a deep breath, her eyes glistening, but her voice was unwavering.
"I… will handle everything."
"I'll get you out of here."
Nagato didn't argue. He simply let out a soft "Mhm…" and kept his eyes closed.
Konan stepped forward, carefully lifting Nagato from the bed, preparing to leave.
At that moment, a panicked Ame-nin burst into the room, his breath ragged.
"Lady Angel! Lord Pain! It's bad—The Allied Shinobi Forces are here!"
He swallowed hard before continuing.
"They said… If you don't surrender, they'll destroy Amegakure! They mentioned something about an 'Apostle Beacon'… That devastating attack from before… Lady Angel, they said you would understand!"
Konan fixed him with a steady gaze before turning away. Her voice was cold and composed.
"I understand. Go and hide."
As she spoke, countless paper fragments swirled around her, folding and shifting—forming two enormous wings on her back.
With Nagato secured in her arms, Konan spread her wings, gave them a single, powerful beat—
And soared into the sky.
The ninja coalition stood waiting in the rain, their ranks tense but patient.
Sakiya stood at the front, striking different poses with an intense expression.
Despite her small frame, an overwhelming chakra pressure radiated from her.
Circles of intricate seals pulsed around her, forming and shifting in mesmerizing patterns.
She looked powerful. She looked commanding.
She also looked… kind of cute.
Some of the waiting ninjas, bored from the standoff, watched Sakiya's dramatic display like a performance while waiting for their enemy to arrive.
Then—
A figure descended from the sky, wings of white paper unfurling as she landed.
Immediately, the entire ninja coalition tensed, shifting into battle stances.
Konan's gaze swept over the vast army before her. The sheer number was overwhelming.
A fleeting thought crossed her mind.
(Would 600 billion paper bombs be enough to change this outcome? What if… I let them detonate here…?)
But it was just a thought. She hadn't made the preparations.
Descending gracefully, Konan landed before the assembled forces, supporting Nagato as he stood beside her.
She locked eyes with Gaara and Sakiya, her expression cold.
Nagato coughed weakly, struggling to stay on his feet. Still, he forced himself to speak.
"We surrender… Amegakure surrenders. I ask that you spare the village."
His voice was hoarse, drained of strength.
Gaara studied him carefully.
Nagato looked frail—his face pale, his body unsteady, as if a strong wind could topple him.
But despite his weakness, there was something unyielding in his eyes. A steel-like will beneath the sorrow.
Gaara frowned.
"Are you the leader of Akatsuki?"
Nagato gave a slight nod.
"Where are the remaining members?"
That was Gaara's biggest concern.
Nagato barely shook his head. He had already exhausted himself just by standing. His body was at its limit.
Seeing this, Konan tightened her grip on him, pulling him into her arms.
"Enough. I'll speak."
She turned to Gaara, her voice steady and sharp.
"Most of Akatsuki's members are gone. Nagato is the leader, and I have always stood by his side. The rest, as you know, were rogue shinobi—S-rank criminals."
"Where are they now?" Gaara pressed.
"We don't know," Konan admitted. "The organization has failed. There is no reason for them to stay."
Gaara's brow furrowed.
"So… you're saying they ran? Kisame, Kakuzu, and that half-black, half-white thing—gone?"
Konan nodded. "Only we returned to Amegakure."
Gaara narrowed his eyes. "I hope you're telling the truth. But even if you're lying, it won't matter. They'll be hunted by the Five Great Nations. They won't escape forever."
Konan didn't respond. She knew the truth didn't matter anymore.
At that moment, the overwhelming chakra presence surrounding Sakiya vanished.
Her intense aura disappeared, and she suddenly looked like nothing more than an ordinary girl.
With a bright, innocent expression, she took a few slow steps forward, stopping just a meter from Konan and Nagato.
Gaara, Konan, and Nagato watched her cautiously, uncertain of what she intended.
Sakiya tilted her head, blinking as she studied them.
Then, with sudden realization, she clapped a small fist into her open palm.
"Ohhh—"
Her eyes lit up in recognition.
"So you're the little gods of this world!"
She sounded… genuinely excited.
Nagato's expression darkened instantly.
Gaara, who had extended his hand in preparation to say something, hesitated.
Meanwhile, Sakiya continued speaking, her curiosity evident.
"So, this is your real body? You must've survived because of my 'death sentence.' Not bad."
She gave a thumbs-up, her tone oddly approving.
"I recognize your strength! These low-level eyes may not belong to you, but it's impressive that you've been able to wield their power so effectively."
Her words hit Nagato like a shockwave. His tired, frail body tensed as he stared at her in disbelief.
"What do you mean—? The Rinnegan isn't mine!? How is that possible!?"
Sakiya responded as if stating the obvious.
"The Rinnegan is simply an advanced form of another eye—the Eye of Judgment. But you mortals call it the Sharingan."
She tilted her head slightly, watching his reaction.
"You've probably noticed it yourself. If it were truly your own power, it wouldn't be draining your life away."
Nagato was stunned. The words unsettled him. A part of him wanted to dismiss them outright, but deep down, something about them made sense.
Still, before he could demand more answers, Sakiya simply turned around. As she walked away, she casually left him with one final remark.
"Your will is strong, but in the end… you're just a pawn. A mortal deceived and used."
Gaara quietly observed her retreating figure.
Something about her demeanor… something beneath the surface…
(So this is who she really is…? No, it's more than that. This isn't a disguise—it's simply the way she chooses to live.)
Lost in thought, he watched her interact with the world in her own way, unaffected by judgment or expectations.
(Maybe… we're the ones wearing masks, forcing ourselves to live by rules we've chosen to believe in.)
His thoughts were interrupted by Sakiya's playful voice.
"Hey! Guardian of the tanuki! It's your turn to speak!"
Gaara blinked, snapping back to the present. Looking at the impatient girl next to him, he couldn't help but smile faintly.
"I understand, Sakiya."
Then, with steady resolve, he gave the order.
"Let this war end."
A moment of silence—
Then, the Ninja Alliance erupted in cheers.
_____________________
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