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Naruto's voice trembled."He said he was entrusting me with finding the answer to this path!"
"But I thought it only meant… he accepted me as his student."
"I was too busy being happy about it!"
"Now that I think back… I finally understand what Pervy Sage really meant."
"It wasn't something that simple."
Pain spoke slowly."And yet… you still can't forgive me, can you?"
"Forgiveness doesn't come from a few pretty words. Human feelings aren't that cheap."
"Maybe what Jiraiya-sensei said was nothing more than some outdated idealism."
"Reality is far harsher than that."
"You said you would defeat me, bring peace to the ninja world."
"Even if those were just words to steel yourself—even if it was just for the sake of vengeance—that could be your justice."
"But you're not a god. After seeing what the world is truly like, can you really still cling to Jiraiya-sensei's naïve dreams?"
Naruto let the Nine-Tails' power fade, dropping out of Sage Mode."When I found out you were Pervy Sage's students… there's one thing I just had to ask."
"What is it?"
"You were once his disciples. So why did you end up like this? You're not like the other Akatsuki members who only cared about killing for fun—that much I can tell. But I know nothing about you. That's why… I want to hear your story, and maybe find the answer."
Nagato lowered his eyes."Very well. I'll tell you of my pain."
"My greatest pain comes from two things. The first… was losing my parents. The second… was losing Yahiko."
He told Naruto everything. How his parents were killed, how he met Yahiko and Konan, how Yahiko later died, and how Nagato took up his mantle as the leader of Akatsuki.
When Nagato finished, Naruto slowly pulled a small book from his jacket."I understand you now. But… even so, I still can't forgive you."
"I still hate you."
"Then make your choice," Pain said flatly.
Naruto looked down at the book."But Pervy Sage believed in me. He entrusted me with everything. So I'll try believing in what he once believed in, too."
"That's my answer."
"I won't kill you."
Pain's Rinnegan widened."You… believe in Jiraiya-sensei's faith?"
"I see… So you expect us to believe in you, that you'll bring peace to this world? That's why you spared us?"
"Don't be ridiculous!"
"Even now, you still believe Jiraiya's words? Do you really think true peace exists?"
"As long as we're trapped in this cursed world, such a thing is impossible!"
Naruto raised his head, eyes blazing."Then I'll break that curse. If peace does exist, I'll hold on to it with everything I've got. I'll never let go."
Nagato stared, stunned."You… those words…"
Naruto nodded."Yeah. They're from this book. The very first one Pervy Sage ever wrote."
"And at the end, he wrote down the name of the disciple who inspired him to write it."
"That name… was yours, Nagato."
Memories struck Nagato like a blow. The words Naruto had spoken were the very same he had once told Jiraiya himself, long ago, when he'd declared his dream of finding peace.
"But how can you be sure?" Nagato whispered.
"How can you guarantee that no matter how much pain you suffer, you'll never change? Can you really believe in yourself that deeply?"
Naruto's voice was firm."I've got my own pain, too. But if I gave up on myself… if I changed the hero of this story… then it'd become a completely different tale."
"My master's legacy would become someone else's book. And that wouldn't be Naruto anymore."
"I can't write books like Pervy Sage did. So my sequel is my life itself. No matter how much it hurts, I'll keep walking forward. Because that's who I am."
Nagato's pupils shook violently."If you change the hero, the story changes too…"
"I'm your senior, your brother disciple. I once said we should be able to understand each other. Back then, I thought it was a joke. But you… you really are something else."
"You remind me of who I used to be."
"I couldn't believe in Jiraiya. No… I couldn't even believe in myself. But now… I sense that the path you walk will lead to a different future than mine ever could."
"So I'll believe in you, Uzumaki Naruto!"
Nagato's hands moved into a final sequence of seals.
"Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique!"
Naruto's eyes widened."What jutsu is that?"
Konan whispered, voice trembling."Those who possess the Rinnegan can control the Six Paths of Pain… but legend says they can also transcend the cycle of life and death itself. Nagato's power is a jutsu that manipulates life and death."
"The seventh Pain…"
"But using it now, with his remaining chakra… Nagato will…"
She looked at him, tears in her eyes."You'd go this far… just for that boy?"
"This unbelievable child… has changed Nagato."
At the center of Konoha, a massive spectral beast appeared. Its mouth opened, and countless souls poured out into the village.
Every single person who had died in the battle… was brought back to life.
And just like that, the battle was over.
The screen faded to black, replaced by lines of text:
"Life is filled with suffering.""As long as we hold on to our dreams…""Seize the turning points of fate, never give up…""We can become masters of our own destiny.""Naruto never gives up, never complains.""So why shouldn't we do the same?!"
…
The screen dimmed away completely. Across countless worlds, people were stunned. Naruto had defeated Akatsuki's leader—not with brute force, but with words. Was this truly the power of conviction?
In the original Naruto world
Sakura clenched her fists tight."So Naruto… went through all that pain since he was little. And still, he stayed so cheerful. In the end, he became the hero of Konoha."
She looked across at Naruto, her eyes warm, and gave him a firm thumbs-up.
In the world of One Punch Man
Saitama blinked at the screen."That guy's conviction is terrifying. He actually changed someone's entire heart just by talking…"
"Talk-no-Jutsu really is scary."
In the world of Dragon Ball
Goku scratched his head, baffled."I didn't really get what that Naruto guy was saying… but looks like he saved their whole world!"
"I'm not much for words, but I'll protect Earth with my strength, no matter what."
Frieza laughed coldly."Typical Saiyan dreamer. The truth is, you can't protect anything. Once I kill you, I'll destroy your planet too. Then you'll know true despair. Against my power, everything crumbles into dust!"
…
Inside Chu Ge's mind, the system's voice chimed again:
"Congratulations, host. You've completed the broadcast of Episode 6. You have gained 80,000 awe points from powerhouses across the anime worlds. You have earned 80,000 credits!"
"Please continue editing the next video. Work hard, complete your mission, and the final reward shall be yours."
The mention of a "final reward" made Chu Ge's eyes light up. Not only could he exchange credits for items in the system shop… there was a grand prize waiting at the very end.
Stretching, he walked back toward the system's editing console, excitement burning in his chest. Time to begin the next legendary anime highlight reel.
After a day and a half of effort, the fifth video was finally complete—its sleek, eye-catching cover now glowing on the screen for all to see.
"..."
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