"We, Konan, Yahiko, and I became orphans because war broke out in the Rain Village during the Second Shinobi War."
Nagato's voice was steady, but beneath it lay old wounds that had never healed.
"It was during that chaos that we met the Three Legendary Sannin of the Leaf."
He spoke of how they encountered Jiraiya and the others, how Jiraiya chose to stay behind and teach them ninjutsu, giving three war orphans the means to survive in a broken world.
Nagato's tone grew more animated.
"Under Jiraiya-sensei's guidance, we decided to gather people who shared our ideals and change this war-torn world. We would begin with the Rain Village."
"We founded Akatsuki. The name meant bringing light to a dark world. As our ideals spread, more and more people joined us."
"Our influence grew. Even Hanzo of the Salamander, the man known as the demigod of the shinobi world, could no longer ignore us."
"Hanzo himself valued peace. He welcomed our efforts and chose to work with us."
"Being acknowledged by someone like him strengthened our resolve. It made us believe even more firmly that peace was within reach."
Here, Nagato's voice lowered.
Konan's expression darkened as well.
"What happened?" Naruto asked quietly.
"One person destroyed everything."
Nagato lifted his eyes to Naruto.
"That person was Danzo, elder of your village."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"He was involved too?"
"These conclusions came from Hanzo's memories after I killed him, and from my own analysis." Nagato replied.
"The great nations cannot tolerate small countries developing power that could threaten them."
"The Rain Village already had Hanzo. If Akatsuki continued to grow on top of that, our combined strength would have become unacceptable."
"So Konoha sent Danzo. He manipulated Hanzo, convinced him that our true goal was to overthrow him and seize control of the Rain Village."
"Hanzo was naturally suspicious. He believed Danzo. They broke their alliance with us and planned together to wipe Akatsuki out."
"Our members were hunted down one by one. Even Konan was captured and used as a hostage."
Nagato's voice trembled.
"Yahiko died. By my hand. I had to kill him to save Konan."
Silence filled the chamber. Konan's face had gone pale.
"After that, pain taught us to grow." Nagato continued.
"We learned that peace is not as simple as Jiraiya-sensei believed."
"Making people understand each other, talking things through, that will never bring true peace. That way of thinking is too naive."
His gaze locked onto Naruto.
"This is the conclusion we reached through suffering."
"Only when everyone experiences pain, only when everyone understands pain, will they avoid war."
"And to make that happen, overwhelming power is necessary."
"This is why I gather the tailed beasts. By uniting the power of all nine, I will create a forbidden weapon that can threaten the five great nations. When they fear war, peace will come."
Nagato finished and looked at Naruto.
"Now that you have heard our story, what do you think?"
Naruto was silent.
Nagato did not rush him.
Time passed.
Finally, Naruto spoke.
"Danzo is dead."
Nagato and Konan froze.
"He was killed by Sasuke and me. In the end, he died from the backlash of the First Hokage's power." Naruto said calmly.
"I see…" Nagato lowered his eyes.
Hanzo was dead. Danzo was dead.
Yahiko's enemies were gone.
"Peace achieved through understanding will never last." Naruto continued. His voice was firm.
Nagato studied him carefully.
Both were Jiraiya's students.
Both rejected their teacher's ideals.
"You agree with me?" Nagato asked, a hint of urgency in his voice.
For years, he had walked this path alone.
He wanted acknowledgement.
"No." Naruto shook his head.
"Ruling through fear with forbidden weapons is also naive."
Nagato and Konan both stiffened.
"Naive?" Nagato frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"This is a conclusion I reached through pain." His voice tightened.
Naruto's eyes sharpened.
"The chain of hatred cannot be cut with new violence. If you inflict pain, you create resentment. Resentment leads to resistance. Suppress that resistance, and you plant new seeds of hatred."
"The standoff between the five nations, the division of villages, even Akatsuki's actions. They are all different links in the same chain of hatred and suspicion."
He clenched his fist.
"The old system relies on terror-based balance. A fragile peace built on mutual destruction. That is not peace. That is fear."
"It traps every nation in endless arms races and paranoia."
"You want to use forbidden power to intimidate the world into peace, but that intimidation is itself the greatest source of violence. Other nations will only gather strength to oppose you. Hatred will never disappear."
Naruto's voice rose, filled with certainty.
"To truly end this endless cycle, to end this age of despair, there is only one way."
"End the divided shinobi system. Completely. Change the world itself."
Nagato's eyes widened.
"Change it… completely?"
Naruto met his gaze, unwavering.
"My goal is the unification of the shinobi world. A single united system that includes all nations, all villages, all people, under one shared vision."
"In this new order, shinobi will no longer be tools of individual countries, sent to kill for profit. They will become public protectors, guardians of stability, serving all people equally."
"The mission system will be replaced by transparent public service and security structures. The cycle of killing for money and national interest will end."
"There will be unified laws, shared defense, and a common economic framework. The artificial barriers between villages and nations will be removed."
"The tailed beasts will no longer belong to individual countries. They will be collectively managed as strategic guardians of balance, under strict global supervision."
"No one will be allowed to seize them for personal power. No one will be allowed to use them for aggression."
Nagato stared at him.
For the first time, something inside his chest shook.
This was not naive idealism.
This was domination with purpose.
Vision backed by absolute resolve.
And it terrified him.