Rewinding to ten days ago.
In the rocky mountain area of the Land of Rain, heavy dark clouds and a white rain curtain made the barren mountains emit a cold and oppressive aura.
During wartime, except for the safest western area, it was difficult to see a commoner in the rocky mountain area outside Amegakure.
Capable people either bypassed the battle lines of the Land of Earth and Land of Fire and fled to the neighboring Land of Grass.
Or they crossed mountains and ridges, moving from the eastern, southern, and northern areas to the western area, or fleeing the Land of Rain from the western area to enter the neighboring Land of Birds.
Those without the capability either stayed in inhabited villages and towns with a fluke mentality or hid in rare deep forests or common caves in the Land of Rain.
Nagato's family was one of those hiding.
Even so, they couldn't escape disaster.
The Land of Rain, having not experienced the First Great Ninja War and storing so many supplies, only lasted less than two years.
Konoha's border battle line, marching into the Land of Rain to fight a war of attrition and tug-of-war, certainly couldn't allow everyone to return for supplies.
A Ninja World War was a war between nations. Neither ninjas nor commoners could stay out of it.
The only difference was that ninjas possessed powerful strength, while commoners were powerless.
In peaceful times, the latter might be the former's patrons.
In wartime, they were lambs waiting to be slaughtered.
Konoha ninjas, unable to breach Amegakure and unable to return to their own camp for supplies, could only loot.
Their priority was villages and towns, where large amounts of supplies were stored.
If they encountered a solitary family, they would decide based on their situation and conscience.
Nagato's family's hiding place was coincidentally discovered by Konoha ninjas avoiding an assassination squad at night. While looting for supplies, they "accidentally" killed Nagato's parents, causing Nagato to activate the Rinnegan's power and instantly kill the Konoha ninjas before fainting.
After waking up, his home was gone.
One second he had both parents, the next he became a war orphan, leaving Nagato in a daze.
After burying his parents' bodies, he wandered aimlessly in the rocky mountain area, not knowing where to go.
After wandering for an unknown amount of time, extreme hunger and climbing mountains drained all his strength. Even the rain felt as heavy as stones. Nagato finally collapsed on a slope, unable to bear it anymore.
Seeing this scene, Tobi, arranged by Uchiha Madara to protect Nagato, couldn't help but want to go out and check his condition.
But he was scolded by White Zetsu: "Tobi, you idiot, did you forget Madara-sama's warning again? We cannot interfere with Nagato's growth."
"But... will he die like this?" Tobi scratched his head.
"He's an existence awakened with Senju and Uzumaki bloodlines. How could he die from this little hardship?"
"So we just leave him be?"
"Leave him be for now. Unless he really can't hold on, we'll find other ways to help him. We absolutely cannot expose our tracks."
"Alright."
Tobi and White Zetsu continued to watch.
After an unknown amount of time, Nagato, who had fainted from hunger, slowly woke up.
With a little recovered strength, Nagato struggled to get up and continued to stagger up the mountain, wanting to cross the mountains to find an inhabited place.
But before walking far, he accidentally kicked a protruding stone and fell flat on the ground.
Struggling to get up again, Nagato continued walking like a zombie.
Soon, he fell flat again. This time nothing tripped him; he simply had no strength left to walk.
In his groggy consciousness, Nagato seemed to see a pair of feet appear in front of him in his hazy vision.
Then the rain hitting his body like stones suddenly disappeared.
Nagato raised his eyes with difficulty and saw a purple-haired girl who looked a year or two older than him, squatting sideways, holding a paper umbrella in one hand and a vegetable basket in the other. Squinting her amber eyes, she smiled at him like an angel.
"...Want some?"
Konan took out a long loaf of bread from the basket and handed it to Nagato.
This scene would be forever etched in the red-haired boy's heart.
He didn't speak but raised his hand tremblingly, took the bread, and stuffed it into his mouth.
Swallowing the first bite with difficulty, then as if awakening something, he suddenly found strength from somewhere and began to devour it.
Konan watched this scene with a smile.
But in her heart, she was incredulous.
This peer who was about to starve to death actually possessed eyes like the Sage of Six Paths in myths. Truly incredible.
With Gojo Yoru's reminders and teachings, although Konan sighed in her heart, her expression remained unchanged.
Even if someone could sense emotions, they would only sense pity from the girl.
This was the kindness of an angel.
Just like Haku to Momochi Zabuza, as long as it didn't involve Gojo Yoru, Konan wouldn't have any stress reaction.
Looking at Nagato devouring the food and choking several times, Konan took out an apple and a bottle of milk from the basket and placed them in front of him, smiling: "Eat slowly, no one will snatch it from you."
"Th... thank you."
Recovering some strength, Nagato, changing from lying prone to kneeling, finally thanked her with a blurred voice.
Unfortunately, his bangs covered the Rinnegan, and his lowered head prevented anyone from seeing his eyes.
When he finished the whole loaf of bread and held the milk and apple reluctantly, Konan seemed to guess something. The pity in her eyes deepened, but she asked knowingly: "Are you lost and can't find your way home?"
"I... I have no home... Dad and Mom are dead..."
Nagato finally raised his head, revealing the Rinnegan under his bangs. Unclear if it was rain or tears sliding down the corner of his eyes.
His choked voice carried sadness and confusion.
This scene made Konan's expression somewhat trance-like, as if returning to the first half of last year.
In Nagato, she saw her own reflection.
If she hadn't met Yoru-sama back then, the current Nagato might be her future.
In fact, she might be even worse off than Nagato, at least not having someone watching over her to help.
Thus, Konan murmured softly: "Me too..."
Nagato, who happened to hear it, was stunned, then looked at Konan blankly, as if finding a kindred spirit.
Recovering her senses, Konan revealed an angelic smile again, pointed behind Nagato, and reminded softly: "If you are looking for an inhabited place, you are going the wrong way. You should keep going that way."
Taking out another loaf of bread and stuffing it into Nagato's arms, Konan stood up and encouraged: "Live well. When you get through this, you will find the world completely different."
After speaking, Konan walked uphill.
Nagato stared blankly at Konan's back holding the umbrella, then inexplicably got up and followed her.
Konan soon noticed a follower behind her. She stopped, turned around, and said helplessly: "I can only give you this much. I also have to live."
"N... no... I don't want food..."
Realizing Konan misunderstood him, Nagato shook his head hurriedly to explain, his tone appearing very flustered.
That thin body, sub-healthy skin, and red hair covering his eyes, in front of Konan who was well-nourished for nearly two years, had fair skin, developed differently from ordinary people, and was more than half a head taller than Nagato despite being the same age, didn't look like a boy at all, but rather like a red-haired little sister.
Konan asked with feigned confusion: "Not wanting food, then why are you following me?"
"C... can I follow you?"
Nagato stated his thought, and worried about being rejected by Konan, hurriedly added: "I... I can do anything!"
Konan didn't agree immediately but asked: "You are also from the Land of Rain. Besides your parents, don't you have any other acquaintances? Aren't you going to find them?"
Nagato shook his head with dim eyes: "My home was in a very remote place. I don't know anyone anymore."
"Is that so?"
Konan pretended to ponder, then examined Nagato carefully, suddenly smiling brightly: "Alright, I can give you a chance."
"Really?"
Nagato looked at Konan excitedly.
"Just a chance." Konan wagged her finger. "If you don't have that aptitude, I can only send you to an inhabited place because I have more important things to do."
"Mhm mhm..."
Although he didn't know what aptitude Konan was talking about, Nagato nodded repeatedly.
"Follow me." Konan beckoned, then led Nagato to climb the slope.
When the two disappeared on the slope, the faces of Tobi and White Zetsu emerged from the ground.
"As expected of the lucky one awakened with rare Senju and Uzumaki bloodlines and chosen by Madara-sama. What good luck." White Zetsu sighed slightly. "Meeting a kindred spirit with Chakra in such a remote place. It seems we don't need to find a way to help him embark on the path of a ninja."
Tobi crossed his arms underground and nodded in agreement.
Konan led Nagato over mountains and ridges, from this mountain to another.
It wasn't until they reached halfway up the mountain that Konan stopped, then looked for something on the mountain wall.
Finally, her gaze fixed on a petal pattern carved on the wall.
Handing the basket to Nagato beside her, under his puzzled gaze, Konan pressed her small hand on the petal pattern.
Then an incredible scene entered Nagato's eyes.
Black lines appeared on the mountain wall, forming vertical rectangular grids.
The rock-like color faded, and explosive tags with the character "Explode" flew out of the wall, pasted onto Konan's body, and disappeared.
As a camouflage cloth fell, the original mountain wall had turned into the entrance of a cave.
Konan picked up the camouflage cloth essential for the Hiding Technique and smiled at the dumbfounded Nagato: "Come in."
Following Konan into the cave, looking at Konan lighting an oil lamp and rearranging the entrance, Nagato asked with a hint of nervousness and awe: "Are... are you a ninja-sama?"
"Ninja-sama? Not really..."
Konan pinched her chin and thought for a few seconds, then smiled sweetly: "According to the information left by that senior, only ninjas born in a ninja village, graduated from the Ninja Academy, and obtained a forehead protector and ninja registration number are considered true ninjas. Someone like me who accidentally embarked on the path of a ninja, without joining a ninja village, can only be called a rogue ninja."
"Gulp..."
Nagato couldn't understand at all. After confirming Konan was a ninja, he was already at a loss.
Konan comforted: "Don't be so nervous. If you have that aptitude, maybe you can become a rogue ninja like me."
"What?"
Nagato was stunned, suspecting something was wrong with his ears.
Then he asked uncertainly: "The... the aptitude you mentioned just now is the aptitude to become a 'ninja-sama'?"
"Correct."
Konan said seriously: "I have important things to do and no time to take in and care for ordinary people. If you want to follow me, you have to become a ninja like me. If you don't have the aptitude to become a ninja, you are destined not to be able to help me at all, and I can only send you to an inhabited place."
"I... I will work hard."
Afraid of being abandoned by Konan, Nagato shouted hurriedly: "I will definitely become someone who can help you!"
"I look forward to it."
Konan smiled and introduced herself: "Let's get to know each other. My name is Konan, seven years old this year, born in Amegakure. Because of the Land of Earth's raid, I became a war orphan and am currently wandering around."
"You... you are only seven?" Nagato's tone was full of disbelief.
Looking at Konan, who was more than half a head taller than him, he thought she was two or three years older than him. Unexpectedly, she was a peer.
Hehe... that's because you haven't seen Yoru-sama.
The corner of Konan's lips rose in a smug arc, happy to have something in common with Gojo Yoru.
In Nagato, she saw her own reflection again.
Last year, when she learned that Yoru-sama was only eleven, she must have had the same expression.
On the surface, Konan smiled: "When you become a ninja and have the ability to earn money, you will soon be like me."
"Now it's your turn. Introduce yourself."
"...Yes."
Nagato recovered his senses and hurriedly said: "My name is Nagato, born in the southern part of the Land of Rain. I forgot where I lived before. My previous home was in a remote place. Now... now I am also a war orphan."
Speaking of this, Nagato suddenly lowered his head.
Both seven years old, he and Konan were not on the same level at all.
Konan walked over and patted Nagato's shoulder.
Looking at Nagato looking up at her, Konan revealed a brilliant smile, but full of mischievous taste: "From now on, you are my little brother, a temporary subordinate. If you want to become a regular, work hard."
Approaching the possessor of the Sage's Eye, Konan was originally very nervous.
Especially knowing that there were invisible and undetectable creatures monitoring this Sage's Eye possessor nearby, Konan was even more worried about revealing flaws.
Before Gojo Yoru sent her back to the Land of Rain, Konan didn't know how many times she simulated the "first meeting" in her heart.
Now finally in contact with Nagato, Konan's nervousness and uneasiness all dissipated.
Just like Nagato seemed to find a kindred spirit.
Konan felt the same.
Accurately speaking, Nagato's current appearance was the male version of herself before meeting Yoru-sama.
And her current self was a super-weakened version of Yoru-sama.
Konan already knew how to cultivate Nagato and was fully confident in turning this male version of herself into a subordinate of Yoru-sama's subordinate.
"...Yes."
Naturally, Nagato didn't know Konan's thoughts.
Regarding Konan taking him as a little brother, he had no rejection at all, only the joy of finding a new reliance.
The two descendants of the Uzumaki in this generation seemed to like attaching themselves to others.
Uzumaki Kushina was like this, and so was Nagato.
Looking at Nagato who didn't know how to hide his emotions at all, Konan saw her own reflection again.
That childish mischievousness grew even stronger.
So, she put her hands on her hips and said with feigned majesty: "Call me 'Konan-sama' from now on."
"Yes, Konan-sama!"
Nagato stood at attention as if in military training.
Looking at the two little ones playing house, White Zetsu hiding in the mountain wall looked speechless for once.
Tobi clapped and exclaimed: "So cool!"
Unfortunately, Tobi had no eyes; otherwise, they would definitely be shining.
Seeing Tobi looking like he wanted to join in, White Zetsu couldn't help but complain: "Truly three children."
Immediately, he shared the scenes he saw and the information collected with other White Zetsu clones.
Uchiha Madara soon learned of Konan's existence.
The corner of his mouth rose slightly: "Found a new bond so quickly? What a lucky brat."
"Madara-sama, should we check that girl?" A White Zetsu clone asked.
"You don't have Yin-Yang Release and can't read others' memories. No need." Uchiha Madara closed his eyes again, not caring at all. "Just a war orphan who was lucky enough to become a ninja. If she has any malice towards Nagato and makes a move, Nagato will automatically activate the Rinnegan's power. Plus, with Tobi protecting him in the dark, she can't stir up any waves."
"Before this kid Nagato grows up, let him have a wonderful childhood. That girl might become our pawn in the future."
As if thinking of something, Uchiha Madara suddenly opened his eyes, staring at the White Zetsu clone and asking: "Compared to this, I'm more curious about that Konoha brat who mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique. Did you find out what he did during the time he disappeared? Why is there such a huge change after returning this time?"
"Didn't find out. We can only confirm that during the time he disappeared, he wasn't in Konoha at all." The White Zetsu clone looked helpless. "The Flying Thunder God formula is too small and can be attached to people and animals. The formula might be moving at any time. During the time he disappeared, he might not even be on the Ninja Continent."
Uchiha Madara's gaze was deep: "A ninja's Chakra won't skyrocket for no reason. Either he encountered external influence, or he experienced something that caused the energy in his body to skyrocket."
The reason Uchiha Madara was so certain was that he had both.
When an Uchiha clan member awakened the Sharingan, the brain would secrete Yin Release Chakra, which would also affect the Chakra capacity in the body.
And after he implanted Hashirama cells, he not only obtained the Yang attribute, but his Yang Release Chakra and Yin Release Chakra also skyrocketed crazily.
Finally, his blind eyes not only recovered but also turned into the Rinnegan.
Gojo Yoru didn't become a Jinchuriki, nor did he use Heal Bite to absorb Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Chakra, yet his own Chakra amount skyrocketed permanently.
This was very unusual.
Especially returning this time, he also displayed powerful Black Lightning secret techniques, growing in many aspects.
Saying he was reborn was not an exaggeration.
Developing secret techniques couldn't bring such a huge improvement; he must have experienced something.
Uchiha Madara couldn't help but recall the photo White Zetsu gave him last year.
Those Flying Thunder God formulas all over the ground might really be hiding some secret of his.
This secret was the reason he could instantly kill fifty-five Sand ninjas and caused such huge changes after disappearing for less than a month.
Uchiha Madara didn't fear exposed super methods; any technique had weaknesses and flaws.
Just like his Perfect Susanoo, possessing divine power to rewrite maps, but facing Hashirama's Wood Release, his Chakra would be crazily absorbed, making him weaker as he fought while the opponent grew stronger.
The Rinnegan was also not unsolvable; otherwise, he wouldn't have transplanted the Rinnegan to Nagato without fear of losing control.
What Uchiha Madara feared were unknown means.
As a ninja from the Warring States period, no one knew the importance of intelligence better than Uchiha Madara.
Gojo Yoru's Flying Thunder God Technique was at most a bit troublesome, hard to keep him.
If the Flying Thunder God Technique was paired with that unknown means, it might affect his resurrection plan.
Before dying, Uchiha Madara must figure out Gojo Yoru's secret, determine if it could threaten Nagato, and then prepare countermeasures so he could go to the Pure Land with peace of mind.
The White Zetsu clone seemed to see through Uchiha Madara's thoughts and couldn't help but ask: "Madara-sama, should we act against him?"
"No rush. Continue monitoring the Uchiha Clan and find a suitable pawn first." Uchiha Madara shook his head and refused, his eyes flashing with a cold scarlet light. "If no one can find out the secret of his sudden strengthening in this campaign, I will act personally after finding the 'spokesperson' I want."
Black Zetsu hiding in the Gedo Statue was very satisfied with Uchiha Madara's caution.
Unfortunately, he hadn't appeared as the incarnation of will yet; otherwise, he would definitely tell Uchiha Madara his discovery.
The reason that brat suddenly became stronger was highly likely synthesizing a Kekkei Genkai.
That wasn't Black Lightning secret technique, but Storm Release: Black Lightning.
Because of the Kekkei Genkai, that brat's Chakra amount skyrocketed, and the characteristics of Black Lightning were different from the Black Lightning developed by the Third Raikage.
Synthesizing a Kekkei Genkai at twelve, developing powerful Lightning Release, mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique, and becoming an ace combatant of the Five Great Ninja Villages was certainly very dazzling.
But in this thousand years, Black Zetsu didn't know how many such super geniuses he had seen.
The fate of these super geniuses was ultimately the same.
That was to be brilliant for a moment, then become stepping stones for the reincarnations of Asura and Indra.
Bloodline limited their peak.
They couldn't even surpass the reincarnations of Asura and Indra, let alone Uchiha Madara who completed the unification of the two poles.
Even Nagato, who only transplanted Uchiha Madara's Rinnegan and simultaneously awakened Senju and Uzumaki bloodlines, wasn't someone such goods could compare to.
Not to mention anything else, just a basic Preta Path could make these Ninjutsu geniuses despair.
Your limit is just the lower limit of the ultimate Dojutsu. This is the gap between man and god!
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