Naruto: Set a goal, conquer the universe.

“That’s Yahiko!” Nagato sighed as he looked at the expressionless Pain.

Yahiko is already dead, and this is the only way he can preserve Yahiko's body from decay.

“Okay, I’ll take you back with me.” Naruto put his hands on Nagato and Konan’s shoulders, while Nagato put his hand on Yahiko’s body.

The three people and the puppet vanished instantly, leaving behind only an empty secret room.

After a long time, a vortex suddenly appeared in the secret room, and Obito's figure appeared in the secret room.

"Nagato?" Looking at the empty machine, the figure on it had disappeared.

Obito cried out in surprise, but only his echo remained.

"Nagato? Konan?" Obito shouted again.

No one responded to him.

"Don't scare me! Say something!" Obito shouted loudly, still unwilling to give up.

Still no one responded to him.

Obito was left dumbfounded, wondering where Nagato had gone in the short time he had been gone.

What should be done with the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki in his time-space?

Chapter 62 The Certificate of Merit for the Most Reckless Sannin

Obito, of course, was unaware that Naruto had already completed his raid on Naruto's base.

They directly took away Nagato, who was currently in control of the Ten-Tails.

Naruto has now returned to Konoha with Nagato and Konan.

Sensing Jiraiya's presence, he's already in the hospital; Tsunade's presence is also present beside him.

"Jiraiya-sensei is at the hospital, let's go there first, and I'll also treat the Perverted Sage while I'm at it," Naruto said to Nagato and Konan.

Nagato nodded slightly.

When they arrived at the fruit stand in front of Konoha Hospital, Konan bought a basket of fruit.

"Kaoru, where is Granny Tsunade treating the Perverted Sage?" Naruto asked as soon as he saw Kaoru on duty.

Xiangling has officially started working at Konoha Hospital.

"Naruto?" Xiangling, who was reviewing patient information, looked up at Naruto and immediately showed a look of surprise. However, she quickly noticed Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko behind Naruto.

The three of them were wearing Akatsuki uniforms!

Xiangling looked as if she were facing a formidable enemy, "It's the Akatsuki!"

The Akatsuki organization has been designated as a terrorist organization in Konoha, and their characteristics have been listed, the simplest being that they wear black robes with red clouds.

"Don't worry, these three are all on our side," Naruto said, waving his hand.

"Well, alright." Xiangling glanced at Naruto, but still chose to trust him and lowered her guard.

"Lady Tsunade is in Intensive Care Unit Number One. Let me take you there," Xiangling said.

"This is troublesome," Naruto nodded and said.

"Hehe, you're welcome," Xiangling said with a smile.

"Is she also a member of the Uzumaki clan?" Nagato asked Naruto in a low voice.

After all, Xiangling's bright red hair was proof of her identity.

“Yes, I met her during the Chunin Exams. She was having a hard time in Kusagakure, so I left her in Konoha,” Naruto nodded and said.

"I see." Nagato looked at Xiangling's back with a hint of kindness in his eyes.

The group quickly arrived at the intensive care unit, opened the door, and went inside.

"What happened?" Shizune asked as she heard the door open. Tsunade was still treating Jiraiya.

Naruto used the Eight Directions Restoration technique to heal him, but it only brought him back from the brink of death. After all, he still had to deal with Pain and didn't have time to fully heal Jiraiya.

"Naruto-kun?" Shizune's eyes flashed with joy when she saw Naruto, but when she saw Nagato and the others behind him, her eyes immediately became wary.

"Akatsuki Organization!"

Jiraiya was so badly injured because he went to investigate Akatsuki's headquarters.

"Calm down, Shizune-nee, they're on our side now," Naruto said, waving his hand.

“ε=(?ο｀*))) Huh?” Shizune looked at Naruto, a little confused about the current situation.

"Ahem, the situation is a little complicated, but in short, Nagato and the others are no longer enemies," Naruto said.

"Okay, then." Shizune believed in Naruto.

"Is the Perverted Sage inside?" Naruto said.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade is treating the Perverted Sage," Shizune said.

"Is it cured?" Naruto asked.

"The injury has stabilized, but it will take some time to fully recover," Shizune said.

“Then let’s go in and see the perverted sage.” Naruto nodded.

"I'll take you inside." Shizune turned around and led Naruto and the others inside.

Xiangling returned to her work station and continued working.

As soon as everyone entered, they heard Tsunade's powerful, angry voice echoing in the ward:

"Jiraiya! Is your brain filled with nothing but sake lees?!"

Tsunade stood with her hands on her hips, glaring down at Jiraiya, who was lying on the hospital bed, his face pale, his chest heaving with anger.

Jiraiya looked guilty and helpless, wanting to explain but not daring to.

"Look at you! You're so old, you're practically on your deathbed!" Tsunade pointed at Jiraiya, her tone stern. "Do you still think you're a twenty-year-old? Just because you have some intelligence, you have to rush in without a care in the world?"

"I didn't mean to..." Jiraiya tried to speak.

"What are you?!" Tsunade abruptly interrupted him, her voice rising an octave higher, filled with overwhelming pressure. "Knowing full well that the Akatsuki's headquarters is a den of dragons and tigers, knowing full well that the intelligence is insufficient and it's extremely dangerous, knowing full well that the Rinnegan user is waiting there, you still stubbornly insisted on rushing in! Do you think you have multiple lives? Or do you think your skills are invincible?"

She grew angrier with each word, taking a step closer, her eyes sharp as a scalpel: "Who do you think you are? A lone hero? Do you think the intelligence will magically appear just because you're dead? Do you think your death will solve the problem? You're utterly naive and reckless! You white-haired bastard, the wrinkles on your face could trap flies, can't you even use your brain before taking action?!"

Jiraiya shrank back in response to the shout.

Tsunade took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, but the worry and blame in her words were even more obvious: "If Naruto hadn't arrived in time, if his Yang Release hadn't been powerful enough to pull you back from the brink of death..." She paused, glancing at Naruto, who was standing at the door with his arms crossed, listening with great interest.

Then he turned back to Jiraiya, "You're still lying here listening to me scold you? Your old bones are already dead! If you died there, no one would even be able to find your body! Should I award you the 'Most Reckless of the Three Ninja' award?"

"Lady Tsunade..." Shizune, standing nearby, tried to offer a weak word of advice.

"Shut up, Shizune! Let me finish!" Tsunade snapped at Shizune, then turned her attention to Jiraiya. "You lie here and reflect on your actions! You're not allowed to go anywhere until your injuries are fully healed! You're getting more and more of a worry as you get older! You've lived all these years for nothing! If there's a next time, I'll break your legs myself before the enemy even has a chance to make a move!"

After saying that, Tsunade let out a cold snort, seemingly releasing a little of the anger she had been holding in, but she was clearly still furious.

The only sounds in the ward were Tsunade's scolding and her angry, panting breaths.

"Exactly, exactly. That perverted sage is really too muddle-headed. I told you, summon me when there's danger." Naruto fanned the flames from the side, "I didn't mean you have to call me when you're about to die."

Upon hearing this, Tsunade's hand trembled, clearly indicating that she was about to start cursing Jiraiya again.

Jiraiya quickly changed the subject, "Naruto, you're back. Is the matter with Pain over yet?"

"Oh yeah, it's over. Perverted Sage, let me introduce you to two people you know." Naruto revealed a sly smile.

"Senior Brother Changmen, Senior Sister Xiaonan, please come in!"

Chapter 63: Paving the Way for This New Era

Jiraiya's expression froze, and Tsunade's expression went blank.

Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko, carrying fruit baskets, walked over slowly with slightly restrained expressions.

Especially Nagato, because of him, Jiraiya was seriously injured and lying in a hospital bed, where he was also scolded by Tsunade.

"Jiraiya-sensei, Tsunade-sama." Nagato and Konan nodded and greeted the two.

Jiraiya's expression froze, Tsunade frowned slightly, and she looked at Naruto.

"What's going on? Naruto?"

Her question was naturally why Nagato and Konan were here.

“Nagato and Konan are both peace-loving people. It’s just that their ideas were a bit off before, but now that I’ve corrected them, they’re on the same side as us!” Naruto said, patting his chest.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. Just another face in the crowd?

Are they preparing to follow Naruto and carry out his grand unification plan?

"I'm sorry, Jiraiya-sensei, I almost killed you earlier." Nagato's handsome face was full of apology. He was no longer immersed in grief and returned to his usual personality.

He bowed deeply to Jiraiya in apology.

Konan followed suit and bowed to Jiraiya in apology.

Yahiko stood there blankly.

Looking at the three people in front of him, Jiraiya had mixed feelings.

Jiraiya's gaze struggled to leave Yahiko's still puppet body, finally settling on Nagato's restored face.

When those clear Rinnegan eyes met his gaze, Jiraiya's chest tightened suddenly.

That was no longer the hollow "god" in the sewers of Amegakure, but the red-haired boy who trembled and grabbed his clothes in the ruins of war twenty years ago.

A suppressed sob rolled down his throat.

Nagato and Konan were bowing at a 90-degree angle, and the fresh scent of citrus fruits mixed with the smell of disinfectant from the fruit basket filled my nostrils.

The severed arm beneath the bandages twitched as if in phantom pain, all the grief and doubt swirling at the back of the tongue, finally turning into a deep sigh: "Get up."

Tsunade keenly noticed his trembling eyelids, a tremor deeper than anger.

It wasn't resentment over betrayal, but rather the dull pain mixed with the smell of soil that the sower felt when he saw the seedlings grow into thorns, and then watched the thorns being uprooted.

“Teacher.” Nagato straightened up, her eyes red. “I made Yahiko’s wish turn into the most twisted form.”

The paper flowers Xiao Nan clutched rustled as they fell from the basket, pale paper butterflies drifting down, much like the paper flowers that had been soaked by the rain when they said goodbye years ago.

Jiraiya suddenly twitched the corner of his mouth.

"Idiot." Jiraiya's hoarse voice broke the silence. In Nagato's suddenly contracting pupils, his bandaged hand pressed heavily on Shanks, the force almost shoving him into the hospital bed. "Apologies... should be offered by the teacher who failed to protect his disciple!"

Nagato and Konan's eyes welled up with tears. Even though the two had almost committed patricide against Jiraiya, he still did not blame them.

On the contrary, they were full of care and love for them.

“If you can, tell me what happened to you,” Jiraiya said, looking at Nagato.

"Yes." Nagato nodded slightly and repeated what he had told Naruto to Jiraiya.

After listening, Jiraiya remained silent for a long time and sighed, "I never imagined that so many things would happen to you after I left, and even Yahiko sacrificed himself because of it."

"I should have only taught you the skills to survive in chaotic times, instead of passing on my messy ideas to you."

"The ninja world has been filled with fighting and hatred since the Warring States period. Peace is something that is too difficult to pursue. If you try to achieve something that is empty, there will be sacrifices!"

"If it weren't for me, Yahiko might not have died, and you would all be living well somewhere."

Nagato shook his head slightly and said, "No, Jiraiya-sensei, the pursuit of peace is not only your idea, but also our wish. We have all experienced the pain of war since childhood and understand the harm and horror of war."

“I have the Rinnegan, the eye technique of the Sage of Six Paths. You place your hopes on me, hoping that I can change this ninja world. In fact, I think so too.”

"Perhaps it was because of my arrogance that, after experiencing pain, I, who possessed the Rinnegan, considered myself a 'god' and felt responsible and obligated to change this world. I wanted to make this world feel pain so that it could reach the world I desired."

“However,” Nagato paused, looked at Naruto, and continued, “after listening to Naruto explain his ideals…”

"I think my thinking was too naive. Pain and hatred will never disappear. Forcibly suppressing them will only create more intense pain and hatred!"

"Only through thorough reforms and the establishment of a comprehensive set of rules and regulations, operating within a social system that is institutionalized, humane, and governed by law, can we see hope for peace."

“Naruto’s path,” Nagato’s voice was slightly hoarse, yet exceptionally clear, “is not a simple fix to the theory of suffering.” He looked up, his Rinnegan reflecting Jiraiya’s severed arm beneath his bandages, and it was as if he were seeing himself, drained dry by the Gedo Mazo in the sewers of Amegakure.

“I once firmly believed that the pain that could tear the world apart could bury war. But this pain has become a breeding ground for even more vicious conspiracies.”

“Jiraiya-sensei, your teaching of ‘mutual understanding’ is not wrong. What is wrong is that we are trying to build castles on a broken house and a leaky boat! The five great nations standing side by side, the ninja villages divided, and the tailed beasts being hoarded. This fragmented situation is itself a wellspring for distrust.”