KONOHA HOSPITAL
The soft light of sunset filters through the tall hospital windows, bathing the room in a nostalgic glow. The Kazekage, Gaara, lies unconscious on a stretcher, wires connected to his body, monitoring his vital signs. His eyes are closed, his face serene — but pale, exhausted.
Around him, an unexpected gathering of forces: Tsunade, with a tense expression and clenched fists; Sakura, with medical gloves still stained; Baki, standing with military rigidity; Temari, fighting off anguish; Kakashi, silent with a focused gaze. In the background, Naruto, arms crossed, eyes fixed on his friend, breathing deeply.
Leaning against the wall, Jiraiya maintains a neutral expression, but his eyes reveal exhaustion. Next to him, standing like a black statue, is Jin-Woo — mute, expressionless, but eyes locked on Gaara.
Silence dominates the room. No one knows exactly how to break it.
NARUTO (thinking)
"Gaara… you were taken by the Akatsuki. Just like... just like what Jiraiya-sensei always said could happen. But...You're alive. They brought you back."
Naruto takes a step forward, turning to Jiraiya.
NARUTO
— So, Ero-sennin... how...?
Jiraiya looks at Tsunade. She crosses her arms, stares at Jin-Woo intently, then speaks.
TSUNADE
— You won't believe it... but this man... he's not from this world.
Everyone exchanges confused looks. Temari frowns. Kakashi becomes more serious.
TEMARI
— What do you mean by that?
JIRAIYA
— Literally. He appeared in Ame. Defeated two Akatsuki members alone.— And saved the Kazekage... while I could only watch.
BAKI
— That's... impossible.
KAKASHI
— Who are you?
Everyone looks at Jin-Woo.
He slowly raises his head. His deep, black eyes meet each one in the room. He speaks, dryly.
JIN-WOO
— My name... doesn't matter.
— Let's just say I'm a temporary ally.
Temari approaches Gaara, holds his hand. Sakura looks at her, visibly emotional.
SAKURA (thinking)
"He still has the Biju inside him... but he's weak.How is that possible?"
Tsunade takes a deep breath.
TSUNADE
— He saved the Kazekage's life with something... even I don't understand.
— But Gaara still needs rest. His recovery will take days.
NARUTO
— I saw this guy walking through the village. People... they acted strange around him.
— Like... he didn't belong here.
JIN-WOO (cold)
— I don't belong.
— I just need answers to find a way out and return to my world!
Everyone feels the weight of his words. Kakashi's eyes widen slightly.
KAKASHI (thinking)
"This man... has no chakra. And still, he defeated two Akatsuki members?He is... something beyond."
JIRAIYA
— I don't know what he is, but he's not from this world. Yet I saw what he can do.
— And if he wants to hunt the Akatsuki... maybe he's our trump card.
TSUNADE
— Or... our greatest risk.
More silence. Gaara shifts slightly in the bed. Temari sighs in relief.
JIN-WOO (thinking)
"This world has pain... has war... has masked monsters.But it also has love, loyalty... and a will to protect. Just like mine."
He steps slightly to the side, without taking his eyes off Gaara.
JIN-WOO (cont.)
— I just want answers.— And no one... will stop me from finding them.
Naruto stares at him.
NARUTO (thinking)
"He... reminds me of myself.But it's like the darkness swallowed everything... except what he wants to protect."
The scene ends with the sound of the machines monitoring Gaara, the Kazekage's slow, steady breathing... and everyone immersed in a heavy silence, where the fate of all seems to have changed forever.
AKATSUKI BASE – DARK UNDERGROUND ROOM – NIGHT
A vast hall wrapped in shadows. In the center, ethereal holograms of the Akatsuki members hover in their respective circles. The room is filled with a cold, almost suffocating aura. The projected figures vibrate with the energy of the seals. Konan is physically present, standing with her icy, impassive expression. The bluish light from the holograms reveals her serene, yet alert face.
Deidara and Sasori enter the space, their silhouettes emerging from the darkness like defeated specters. Deidara's Akatsuki cloak is torn, part of his hair singed. Sasori walks slowly, his Hiruko puppet visibly damaged. Both bear the marks of humiliation.
Konan watches them without a hint of sympathy.
DEIDARA (pacing, indignant):
— That bastard used Pain's bodies! As if they were his!
— They had no chakra, Konan. Nothing! They were like living statues. Dead... alive! Tsk!
SASORI (low, penetrating voice):
— He controlled all six bodies... in perfect sync.
— No chakra signature. No visible spiritual link.
— It's not Edo Tensei. It's something that surpasses our logic.
KONAN (cold, cutting):
— We already knew of his existence.
— Tobi has been monitoring his movements since he entered this world.
DEIDARA (turning sharply to her):
— You knew?! You knew and still sent us?!
— If he can turn corpses into weapons... and do that with Pain's bodies... what else can he do, huh?!
SASORI (eyes narrowed):
— He didn't feel pain.
— The movements... weren't natural. Like each action was already predicted.
— That man... doesn't fight like a shinobi. He's a force.
KONAN (staring at them):
— He's a threat. Yes.
— But Nagato is safe. The bodies you faced were discarded models. Substitutes from old battles.
— Losing them... doesn't compromise the plan.
DEIDARA (gritting teeth):
— He destroyed everything effortlessly.
— And still took the Jinchūriki with him!
SASORI (arms crossed):
— He's not just a new enemy.
— He's an imbalance. A flaw in the ninja world's equation.
The holograms begin to react. Some figures stir, but remain silent. The tension rises.
KONAN (grave tone):
— Tobi... knew everything.
— He's watching. Waiting.
— Said to let him act. That his power may also serve our purpose.
DEIDARA (snorts):
— Use that monster? Hn. Good luck with that. He bows to no one.
SASORI (firm):
— He's looking for Tobi, not the Akatsuki.
— But if he continues... he'll destroy us one by one.
KONAN (intense eyes):
— That's why... we'll act from the shadows.
— You'll return to your positions.
— The official version is: the mission was incomplete due to intervention by unknown forces.
DEIDARA:
— That's a lie!
KONAN (stepping closer, low and sharp):
— It's survival.
Silence falls. Only the sound of the seals vibrating on the walls is heard, like a distant drum.
KONAN (low voice, almost a whisper):
— He wants Tobi.
— So be it.
— Let's show how deep this rabbit hole goes...
She turns, and paper wings begin to unfold slowly from her back, wrapped in an elegant yet threatening motion.
KONAN (as she walks away):
— Prepare yourselves.
— The game... has just begun.
But something... moves in the shadows.
In the corner of the hall, where the seal's light doesn't reach, a shadow stretches subtly, sliding across the floor like living liquid. And it's not alone.
JIN-WOO, seeing through his shadows, (low):
— Keep following.
— She'll lead me to the masked one.
DARK BASE – REGENERATION CYLINDER ROOM – ABSOLUTE NIGHT
The room's only light comes from the spectral glow of the Rinnegan. There, Nagato floats, trapped inside the containment cylinder. His body, pale, on the verge of decomposition. Visible bones. Atrophied muscles. He looks like a corpse suspended by invisible strings.
Obito watches in silence. His eyes, behind the spiraled mask, carry tension and calculation.
OBITO (low, cold):
— His body can't take it anymore.
BUBBLES rise in the cylinder. The seals weaken. The preservation technique is at its limit.
BLACK ZETSU (whispering):
— If we keep going... he'll die.
Obito closes his eyes for a moment. Then speaks, resolute:
OBITO:
— Or be reborn.
He steps forward. From the shadows, a scroll emerges, covered in blood, sealed with forbidden runes. Inside, Hashirama cells, White Zetsu DNA, and a synthetic armor forged with secret alloys from the Land of Iron.
OBITO:
— Zetsu. Prepare the new vessel.
WHITE ZETSU (smiling):
— Dangerous mix...
— Hashirama and Madara.
OBITO (cold):
— He needs more than that.
— We're facing something that shouldn't exist in this world.
Zetsu begins the ritual. Black circles form on the floor. Konan watches from a distance, silent, tense.
OBITO (looking at her):
— Good thing you sent a clone.
— His shadows were tracking us.
— Now we know he's watching.
ZETSU:
— Let's begin.
Konan hesitates. Not from doubt... but from fear.
Fear of what Nagato would become.
HOURS LATER — THE ROOM FALLS SILENT
The seal breaks with a muffled sound. From the center, the new body emerges. Tall. Dense. Covered by living chakra armor. The Rinnegan eyes spin with force, now deeper... older.
Nagato opens his eyes.
His voice... deep. Cold. Solid.
NAGATO:
— He is not a ninja.— Not a summoning.
— Not a god.
(pause)
— He's a natural threat... that thinks.
Obito approaches. Speaks as if testing his old ally's mind.
OBITO:
— Will you face him?
NAGATO (rising):
— No. Not yet.
— First... I'll understand what he is.
— Then, I'll learn how to destroy him.
Konan takes a step, hesitant. Nagato's presence now presses the air.
KONAN (low):
— Are you still... Nagato?
He stares at her. The eyes are the same, but something inside has changed.
NAGATO:
— I am the same purpose.
— Different body.
— Different vision.
(cold)
— And this time... when I fall...
— There will be nothing left for the world to rebuild.
Obito smiles discreetly.
OBITO:
— Welcome back, Nagato.