The rain washed everything away.
Blood.
Footprints.
Even the smell of death faded into the damp air.
But not what they felt.
They walked in silence.
No one spoke.
Not after what happened.
Yahiko's fists were clenched tightly at his sides. His steps were uneven—not from exhaustion, but from something deeper.
Conflict.
Konan walked beside him, quieter than usual. Her eyes were lowered, lost in thought.
Nagato led them.
Calm.
Steady.
Unbothered on the surface.
But his mind was moving.
Always.
"They're shaken."
"Good."
"Now they'll listen."
He stopped walking.
Yahiko almost bumped into him.
"…Why?" Yahiko asked.
Nagato didn't turn.
"Why did you kill them?"
The question came out quieter this time.
But heavier.
Rain tapped steadily against the metal structures around them.
Nagato exhaled slowly.
"Because they would have killed you."
"That's not enough," Yahiko replied.
Nagato turned slightly.
"Then what is?"
Yahiko stepped forward.
"You didn't just stop them… you ended them."
Nagato met his gaze.
"Yes."
"…Why does it feel like that was easy for you?" Yahiko asked.
Silence.
Nagato looked at him for a long moment.
"Because I decided."
Yahiko frowned.
"…Decided what?"
Nagato's eyes sharpened slightly.
"That hesitation kills."
The words landed heavily.
Konan looked up.
Nagato continued.
"You hesitated."
Yahiko flinched.
"You tried to talk."
"You tried to reason."
Nagato stepped closer.
"They tried to kill you."
Yahiko clenched his fists.
"That doesn't mean they had to die!"
Nagato's expression didn't change.
"Then what should have happened?"
Silence.
Yahiko opened his mouth—
Then stopped.
Because he didn't know.
Nagato turned away slightly.
"That's the problem."
Rain fell harder.
"You think in moments," Nagato said.
"I think in systems."
Konan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Explain."
Nagato glanced at her.
"People don't attack for no reason."
He pointed toward the direction the shinobi had come from.
"They weren't evil."
Yahiko looked up.
"…Then why—"
"They were hungry."
Silence.
Konan's gaze lowered.
Nagato continued.
"Hungry. Desperate. Surviving."
He looked at his hand briefly.
"…Just like you were."
Yahiko's expression shifted.
"…Then that makes it worse," he said.
Nagato shook his head.
"No."
"It makes it predictable."
Konan looked at him.
"…Predictable?"
Nagato nodded.
"If people lack food…"
"They steal."
"If they lack safety…"
"They fight."
"If they lack purpose…"
"They destroy."
His voice remained calm.
Measured.
"War isn't random."
"It's a result."
The rain seemed quieter now.
Yahiko's voice softened slightly.
"…A result of what?"
Nagato looked straight at him.
"Need."
Silence.
Konan's eyes widened slightly.
Nagato continued.
"People go to war because they need something."
"Land. Food. Power. Security."
He paused.
"Remove the need…"
His gaze sharpened.
"…and war becomes unnecessary."
The words lingered.
Yahiko stared at him.
"…That's impossible."
Nagato didn't react.
"Is it?"
Yahiko stepped forward.
"You can't control everything!"
Nagato met his gaze.
"No."
"…But I can control enough."
Konan spoke softly.
"…How?"
Nagato turned slightly.
"Structure."
They both listened now.
"Food distribution."
"Safe zones."
"Controlled movement."
"Information."
He raised a finger slightly.
"If people can eat…"
Another.
"If they can live without fear…"
Another.
"If they can learn and grow…"
His voice lowered.
"…they won't choose war."
Yahiko shook his head.
"They'll still fight."
Nagato nodded.
"Yes."
"But not like this."
He gestured around them.
"Not out of desperation."
Silence.
Konan looked at the ground.
"…You want to build a system."
Nagato nodded.
"A controlled one."
Yahiko frowned.
"That sounds like forcing people."
Nagato didn't deny it.
"It is."
Yahiko's eyes widened.
"That's wrong!"
Nagato stepped closer.
"Is it worse than this?"
He pointed toward the empty, rain-soaked streets.
"Starving children."
"Endless war."
"People killing each other over scraps."
His voice hardened slightly.
"This is freedom."
Silence.
Yahiko looked away.
Konan's voice was quiet.
"…Then your control…"
"…would give people a chance to live."
Nagato looked at her.
"Yes."
"Eat."
"Yes."
"Learn."
"Yes."
"Adapt."
Nagato's expression softened just slightly.
"That's the goal."
Yahiko clenched his fists.
"…But what about choice?"
Nagato paused.
Then answered honestly.
"Limited."
Yahiko shook his head.
"I don't like that."
Nagato nodded.
"I know."
Konan looked between them.
"…But if people survive…"
She hesitated.
"…isn't that worth something?"
Silence.
Yahiko didn't answer.
Because he couldn't ignore it.
Nagato turned away.
"I'm not trying to be right."
They both looked at him.
"I'm trying to make it work."
Rain fell steadily.
"For people like us…"
He glanced at them.
"…this world failed."
Yahiko's expression softened slightly.
Nagato continued walking.
"So I'll build one that doesn't."
Silence.
Yahiko stood still for a moment.
Then—
"…I still want a world where people choose peace."
Nagato didn't stop.
"…Then build it."
Yahiko blinked.
Nagato looked over his shoulder.
"And when it fails…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…you'll understand mine."
Konan followed quietly.
Yahiko hesitated—
Then ran after them.
Three paths.
Walking together.
For now.
But not forever.
Because their goals…
Were already beginning—
To diverge.
And somewhere deep inside—
Nagato knew.
"Peace isn't given."
"…It's engineered."