Nagato was visibly shocked that someone had penetrated his remote-control network; his Rinnegan, those terrible, piercing eyes, fixed on Renjiro with an expression that was part shock, part recognition. Blood ran from his nose, and his breathing was laboured, each breath a struggle. The contrast was stark; Renjiro was exhausted but standing, blood at his eye, chakra still dangerous. Nagato was skeletal, restrained to the mechanical apparatus, breathing heavily, blood running from his nose. Renjiro immediately understood that Nagato was far weaker physically than the monster he had been fighting through the Six Paths.
Nagato activated several receiver rods connected to his mechanical rig, attempting to summon and redirect the remaining Paths remotely. Renjiro sensed the chakra transmission occurring through the rods and realized something important; Nagato's greatest strength was distance. Now that Renjiro was standing directly in front of him, that advantage had disappeared. He slowly raised his Fūton-coated chakra blade toward Nagato, his voice carrying the weight of his intent.
"The remote control is over."
Nagato warned him that killing him would not necessarily stop Pain, his voice thin and strained.
"You kill me, and another will rise. Pain is not a person; it is an idea."
Before Renjiro could respond, paper began filling the sanctuary. Konan immediately emerged between Renjiro and Nagato, her form composed of countless paper shards that coalesced into a human shape. She recognised Renjiro as the shinobi who had dismantled the Six Paths; she attacked without hesitation. Thousands of paper shuriken and hardened paper spears flooded the room, their edges sharp enough to cut through flesh and stone.
Renjiro's Perfected Kinetic Vision activated; the world slowed from his perspective, and he effortlessly stepped through the gaps between the attacks rather than destroying them. His movements were fluid, precise, almost contemptuous in their ease. Konan realised his reaction speed was absurd even while exhausted.
Renjiro activated his right Mangekyō; the green Flame Phantom materialised beside him, its ethereal form flickering with hungry light. Konan initially assumed it was another offensive construct, but the Phantom passed directly through her paper weapons, its form intangible. He explained internally that physical attacks could not meaningfully interact with the Phantom; it targeted the chakra-sustaining techniques instead.
The Chakra Devourer activated, proving to be the ultimate counter to Konan. The Phantom tore through her active paper techniques, consuming their chakra. Her paper weapons began collapsing mid-flight, and the stolen chakra flowed back into Renjiro. His reserves visibly stabilised slightly, and Konan realised he was not merely destroying her techniques; he was feeding on them.
She attempted to transform her body into paper and surround Renjiro from multiple directions, but he used Hiraishin to appear behind her. The Flame Phantom intercepted the chakra maintaining her transformation, and her technique collapsed. Renjiro caught her before she hit the ground, his grip firm, his eyes cold. She attempted another attack, but her chakra pathways were already depleted. He threw her aside rather than killing her; his attention returned immediately to Nagato.
Renjiro's chakra blade stopped millimetres from Nagato's throat. His voice became extremely cold as he repeated the question from the battlefield.
"Why did Pain attack Konoha? Was it connected to the Chūnin Exams? Were the Suna infiltrators planned by you? Was Konoha specifically targeted?"
Nagato refused to give him a straightforward answer. He began talking about the cycle of hatred and the suffering of nations, his voice carrying the weight of his conviction.
"You speak of Konoha as if it is innocent," Nagato said. "The cycle of hatred continues because people refuse to see beyond their own pain."
Renjiro cut him off, his voice sharp with irritation.
"Just answer the question, you bastard."
Nagato's expression changed; several black receiver rods rose from the mechanical structure, and massive Rinnegan chakra began gathering. Renjiro immediately sensed the chakra concentration, and Nagato implied he could initiate another gravitational technique from the sanctuary itself. The surrounding paper-tree structure began trembling, and stones and debris outside began lifting. Nagato made the choice clear; back away, or both of them die beneath the destruction.
Renjiro stared at Nagato for several seconds. Then he started laughing; not hysterically, but quietly and mockingly. Nagato was confused by the reaction, his Rinnegan narrowing.
"What is so amusing?"
Renjiro pointed out the obvious; he had Hiraishin, and Nagato knew this. He could leave instantly, while Nagato could not teleport himself away from the consequences of his own technique. He further pointed out their location; they were deep inside the Land of Lightning, and destroying the sanctuary risked devastating the surrounding mountains. Konoha was not anywhere near them. He had already accomplished his primary objective of protecting the delegation.
"The only person actually trapped here is you," Renjiro concluded.
Nagato realised Renjiro had effectively called his bluff. Konan began recovering nearby, and Renjiro noticed her. His EMS studied her chakra network, and he immediately recognized a critical difference; Nagato possessed the Rinnegan, but Konan did not. He considered visual genjutsu; unlike against Nagato, there was no reason to gamble.
His left eye began spinning as he deliberately made eye contact with Konan. She sensed something wrong and attempted to break away, but Renjiro didn't attack physically. He established the required three-second visual tether, and the scene became unnervingly quiet. Konan realised too late that she had been caught.
Rakuin no Kagami — Mirror of the Branded.
An invisible sigil imprinted itself onto Konan, and she froze. Her eyes widened as she suddenly saw Yahiko's death; the illusion wasn't simply replaying an event, but forcing her to experience the emotional weight of it again. Yahiko dying, Nagato screaming, the moment their lives changed forever. She attempted to resist, but the brand began siphoning her chakra. Every attempt to break the illusion only strengthened the seal.
Konan dropped to her knees, her paper scattering uncontrollably. Her chakra reserves rapidly fell, and Nagato immediately reacted. For the first time, his composure genuinely broke. He called Konan's name, his voice carrying the weight of his desperation.
"Konan!"
Renjiro looked toward him. This was the confirmation he needed; Konan was Nagato's emotional weakness.
Renjiro walked over to Konan and grabbed her by the hair, pulling her upright. His chakra blade returned to her throat, and the six-fold mark remained active beneath her skin. Nagato prepared to retaliate, but Renjiro's EMS immediately locked onto every receiver and chakra movement. He warned Nagato not to move, his voice cold and deliberate.
"Don't."
He calmly reminded Nagato about his supposed Chibaku Tensei threat. He could destroy the entire mountain if he wanted, but Renjiro would simply teleport away. Nagato had one problem; Konan could not escape. He revealed the true purpose of Rakuin no Kagami; the mark was not merely an illusion. He could control the seal's chakra flow, and if he commanded it, he could stop Konan's heart.
"Move against me, and Konan dies. Attack me, and Konan dies. Attempt Chibaku Tensei or whatever that attack was called, and Konan dies. Continue hiding behind philosophy, and I will start dismantling everything you have built."
The implication was brutal; Pain had finally been forced into a situation where overwhelming power could not solve the problem.
Nagato's Rinnegan widened. His chakra abruptly stopped surging, and the black receiver rod lowered slightly. Konan remained paralysed in Renjiro's grasp, and Renjiro's EMS spun silently. For the first time since the battle began, Nagato was genuinely afraid of what happened next.
Renjiro's voice was cold, absolute.
"Now… you're going to answer my question."
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