This Danzo Is Weird!

As Nagato unleashed all his rage and chakra, the towering and terrifying Gedo Statue finally came to a halt, dissolving into thick smoke.

Exhausted both physically and mentally, Nagato collapsed unconscious.

"What a terrifying power…"

Accompanied by a sigh, the air at the edge of the battlefield began to twist and whirl rapidly. Suddenly, a figure clad in a black cloak and wearing a tiger-striped mask appeared out of thin air.

Beside him, a man-sized green Venus flytrap sprouted rapidly from the ground. As its jagged leaves opened, a humanoid figure with a jet-black body emerged.

"So this is the Rinnegan. Honestly, the power it displayed when it was with Lord Madara far surpassed what this kid can manage."

The speaker was Black Zetsu, who was dutifully playing the role of Madara Uchiha's servant.

As for the masked figure, it was none other than Uchiha Obito, who had disappeared from the battlefield in the Land of Earth and now reappeared under the guise of Madara Uchiha.

Their purpose in coming here was to guide Nagato, the bearer of the Rinnegan, onto the path Madara had carefully planned.

"Though there were some complications, the results are acceptable," Obito remarked calmly beneath his mask.

After Rin's death, his worldview had become severely twisted. Now, he was wholly devoted to creating the world Madara had described—a world where Rin could exist.

Black Zetsu nodded slightly but added, "We should still be cautious of Shimura Danzō to avoid any unforeseen mishaps."

Hearing this, Obito let out a scornful laugh.

"Shimura Danzō? He's just another sewer rat, no different from Hanzō—a coward conquered by fate."

His tone dripped with disdain for both Hanzō and Danzō.

Black Zetsu gave Obito a complicated look, its mouth moving as if to speak but ultimately holding back.

Perhaps sensing Black Zetsu's unease, Obito added, "Relax. Danzō is one of Konoha's hardliners. Even if he influences Nagato and his companions, it will only make them more radical."

"In fact, we could even use Danzō as a bridge to infiltrate Konoha itself."

Obito's words were brimming with ambition.

Believing himself to have "awakened," he had unshakable confidence in his abilities and in the righteousness of his chosen path.

At that moment, a white humanoid figure, a stark contrast to Black Zetsu, emerged from the ground and chirped cheerfully, "Hey there! Danzō and his Root operatives are heading this way!"

"Should we just kill him now and eliminate the problem entirely?" Black Zetsu suggested after a moment of thought.

But Obito immediately dismissed the idea.

"Black Zetsu, now is not the best time for us to reveal ourselves."

He shot a displeased look at Black Zetsu before tilting his head slightly, exuding confidence. "Don't worry. Everything is under my control."

Black Zetsu sighed inwardly but refrained from arguing further. It simply said, "I hope so."

By the time Danzō arrived with Ryoma and other Root members, Obito and Black Zetsu, along with White Zetsu, had already disappeared without a trace.

Having knowledge of the original timeline, Danzō quickly deduced that Obito and Black Zetsu had likely been watching and guiding Nagato's growth from the shadows.

However, he also knew that Obito would never dare to reveal himself at this point.

After all, Konoha was far from the weakened state it had in the original storyline.

The Third Great Ninja War had not yet ended, and the renowned Yellow Flash's name still struck fear into the hearts of enemies. The Three Legendary Sannin remained in the village, along with Hiruzen Sarutobi, who, despite his age, still retained considerable strength.

If something were to happen to Danzō, a Konoha advisor, in the Land of Rain, Obito would undoubtedly face relentless investigation and pursuit.

　　Although he could likely escape unscathed using Kamui, the intense investigation that would follow would severely disrupt his plans.

With a group of elite Root operatives by his side and his own steadily improving strength, Danzō was confident he could ensure his safety.

By the time Danzō arrived, the only person left at the scene was Nagato, unconscious on the ground.

---

Nagato woke up two days later.

The moment he opened his eyes, he was met with a calm and composed face. The man's chiseled jawline, scarred features, and weathered wrinkles all spoke of a life lived with steadiness and resilience.

"You're awake?"

Danzō's expression shifted slightly, revealing a trace of joy.

If he was a towering and reliable mountain before, now his smile was like the warm sunlight of winter, bringing a sense of comfort.

"Rest assured, your companions are safe. Konan is fine, and Yahiko is receiving treatment. His life is not in danger."

Danzō seemed to read his thoughts, directly addressing the worries that weighed heaviest on Nagato's heart.

Relieved, Nagato felt a lingering trace of doubt. "May I ask who you are?"

"My name is Shimura Danzō."

"You're... Lord Danzō?"

For the first time, Nagato's tone revealed a ripple of emotion. However, the memory of the Root operatives who had died before his eyes that day quickly brought his mood crashing back down.

"I'm so sorry, Lord Danzō. If it weren't for our stubbornness..."

He lowered his head like a child admitting to a mistake.

"It's all right."

Danzō gently patted his shoulder and comforted him. "Maru was a dedicated ninja who held firmly to his ideals. He saw a future in you all, which is why he chose to make the ultimate sacrifice. I'm sure he wouldn't blame you."

"...I understand."

Nagato, now calmer, nodded slowly.

Danzō didn't continue to console him further.

He knew Nagato's turmoil wasn't simply due to the loss of a single Root operative. More than that, it stemmed from the shattering of his worldview.

Nagato once believed that he could change the world through kindness and compassion.

But now he realized that blindly pursuing goodness would only drag the people he cared about—Yahiko and Konan—into endless despair.

Before leaving, Danzō said one final thing:

"Nagato, go out and see more of this world. Meet more people, experience more things, and keep thinking deeply. Only then can you truly find…"

"The true path to redemption."

His words seemed to strike a chord within Nagato.

"The true... path to redemption?"

After leaving the room, Danzō glanced at his system interface, a faint smile curling on his lips.

"Nagato's gratitude detected. Golden skill point +1. Skill pack acquired: Six Paths – Preta Path."

Blinded momentarily by the golden glow, Danzō suppressed the urge to burst into laughter, muttering to himself:

"The path to redemption truly lies within!"