This person was none other than Madara.
But he wasn't sitting on his usual wooden chair, sustained by the power of the Divine Tree to keep himself alive.
Though his body was withered, he still stood firmly on the ground using his own strength, stepping up before Nagato.
He opened his mouth and spoke to Nagato: "If you're calling for that blue-haired girl, she's sleeping in the room inside. I haven't done anything to her."
Nagato opened his mouth, unsure of what to say for a moment.
He saw Madara's revealed Sharingan, and instantly his expression tensed, gathering chakra at once, preparing to unleash some ninja technique.
The Sharingan was a Kekkeigenkai unique to the Uchiha Clan of Konoha.
"I advise you not to act rashly. Your body is in terrible shape, and regular medical ninjutsu can't heal you. Besides, I am not your enemy. Like you, I too am a pitiful soul in search of peace in vain."
Madara's voice was not loud, but it carried a kind of captivating magic.
Nagato fell silent. After a while, he asked, "Who are you?"
"A ghost of the Uchiha... Uchiha Madara."
Hearing these words, Nagato's eyes went wide with shock.
Madara... Uchiha Madara?
What is this man talking about?
Wasn't Madara a legendary ninja who died decades ago?
And died at the hands of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
"Are you messing with me?"
Anger crossed Nagato's face.
With a weak candle glimmering in his hand, Madara replied unhurriedly, "I am not messing with you. Back then, I did lose to Hashirama, but that was all part of my carefully planned scheme. To obtain greater power, I did what had to be done."
"Greater power?"
Nagato blurted out subconsciously.
"Your Rinnegan."
Madara's tone was indifferent as he spoke.
"..." Nagato, sitting there stunned, his mouth hung wide open for a long moment before finally closing, then he sighed in pain and said, "What good does it do you to deceive someone like me? Or do you really think I won't kill you?"
Cold murderous intent emanated from Nagato's Rinnegan.
Madara ignored Nagato's killing intent, still answering at his leisure: "If you truly were the original owner of the Rinnegan, then why do you experience so many forms of discomfort when using it? For example, the Gedo Statue."
"You!"
Nagato's expression shifted slightly.
What Madara said was true. Even though he wielded the Rinnegan, controlling it wasn't nearly as easy as he'd imagined.
Every time he used the Rinnegan's pupil techniques, he had to expend chakra far beyond what the jutsu itself should have required.
But to use this to claim the Rinnegan wasn't really his was a bit too far-fetched.
Even so, if what Madara said was true, doubt arose in Nagato's heart.
"If the Rinnegan is yours, why would you implant such precious eyes in me?"
"Don't you see my condition? Compared to your young body, the Rinnegan would have been an even heavier burden for me. You're of the Uzumaki Clan—your constitution can, to some degree, withstand the side effects of the Rinnegan's power."
Madara replied.
His explanation still failed to convince Nagato entirely.
"And it wasn't for free. I hope you'll accomplish something for me. That's my price."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Infinite Tsukuyomi."
Madara uttered those four words in a calm voice.
"Infinite Tsukuyomi? What's that?"
"I already told you—I am just like you, a pitiful soul endlessly seeking peace and never finding it."
As Madara spoke, a rare look of gloom passed over his face, as if he was sighing for something long past.
"And what does that have to do with this Infinite Tsukuyomi?"
"It's the ultimate illusion technique—one that can cast the whole world into illusion. In that world, you can create whatever reality you desire. It is the only way to achieve everlasting peace."
Madara spoke persuasively, step by step.
Even Nagato couldn't help but picture such a world.
If you could drag every person into a shared illusion, creating your own scene, then peace was within reach.
Yahiko and all of Akatsuki, even fine folks from the Land of Rain, the whole wide world—everyone could find happiness there, live carefree days of joy.
Seeing Nagato already wavering, Madara continued, "But before that, you need to gather the nine Tailed Beasts scattered across the world and seal those brats inside the Gedo Statue. Only then can you awaken the power to reshape history."
"That's no simple task."
Waking from his beautiful dream, Nagato exhaled and looked intently at Madara.
"I know it's not easy. The power of the Five Great Nations isn't something you can take on right now. After all you've experienced, you must have seen the world's true face by now. Whether it's you, me, or those people outside—we're all living in an inescapable hell. Only Infinite Tsukuyomi can change everything."
Nagato clenched his fists, a sudden chill rising in his heart as he locked eyes with context-laden intent onto Madara's Sharingan, asking each word with intensity:
"Let me ask you a question."
"What is it?"
"If this Rinnegan is yours… then was my presence here part of syllabus your design as well?"
"You want revenge on me? Give it up. I'm already a dying man. Even if you kill me now, you'll gain nothing and only lose your chance to grow stronger."
In a veiled way, Madara admitted that he had, to some extent, manipulated the history of the Land of Rain.