Three months had passed since Tsunade, Sakumo, and Kakashi officially joined the Akatsuki. The organization's power was growing rapidly—and with it, Nagato's ambitions expanded.
He had successfully transplanted Naori's Mangekyo Sharingan. But something unexpected happened. When combined with the chakra of both Hashirama and Madara, the Sharingan didn't remain just Mangekyo—it evolved into the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. And due to the Void Tome ability, Nagato could now switch between different Mangekyo patterns at will. The only drawback: after changing it, he had to wait a full day before using it again.
Because the eye was sealed under a special jutsu, a tattoo appeared on his forehead. Unlike Hashirama's heart implant, which could be concealed, this tattoo couldn't be hidden. Fortunately, it was just a mark—not an eye—unlike the Six Paths form after consuming the chakra fruit.
Surprisingly, Nagato could also use Kotoamatsukami. Perhaps it was due to his possession of both Senju and Uchiha chakra—or maybe a side effect of the Rinnegan. But his version allowed him to use Kotoamatsukami three times per year. A strange limitation—not once every four months, but exactly three times in one year. Even that was an incredible advantage. After all, Shisui could only use it once per year, and Danzo only once every ten. But nagato cant use uchiha dinamic vision.
Nagato's next destination was Kumogakure.
He had learned from discussions back in the modern world that part of Kurama's chakra remained there—inside the legendary Gold and Silver Brothers, Ginkaku and Kinkaku. Now, standing at the edge of the Village Hidden in the Clouds, he gazed across a quiet, misty hillside, rumored to be their resting place. His intent was simple: use Edo Tensei to resurrect them, extract the chakra they once absorbed from the Nine Tails, and grow even stronger.
But then came the unexpected.
To his surprise, the brothers weren't dead.
He had always believed, like most, that Tobirama Senju had killed them during that legendary encounter—a life for two lives. It was recorded in history. But reality didn't align with the stories.
They were alive. Very much so.
Nagato froze in place, silently weighing the implications.
"So… what now? Do I kill them and take what I need? Or… is there a better way?"
Recruiting them had never crossed his mind before. Ginkaku and Kinkaku were infamous—brutal, unpredictable, traitorous. They'd once led a coup against the Raikage himself. But knowing now that they still carried Kurama's chakra… their value skyrocketed.
They had eaten the Nine Tails' flesh. A monstrous act no one else had survived. If Nagato could control them using Kotoamatsukami, they would be more than allies—they would become calamities under his control.
Even if the plan failed, extracting some of Kurama's chakra would be a victory.
And it wasn't only about power.
Kurama's chakra was unique. Once obtained, it could be redistributed remotely—no need for second physical contact. It could also act as a medium for long-distance teleportation, similar to the Flying Thunder God Technique. It created a mental link, allowing instant transmission of memories and thoughts. It amplified healing, increased stamina, and sped up regeneration.
For someone like Nagato—with Uzumaki and Senju blood—this chakra would make him near unstoppable. Shared with his trusted Akatsuki members, they wouldn't just be strong—they'd become untouchable.
But great power draws attention.
Nagato was well aware of Hanzo the Salamander, who had begun noticing the Akatsuki's rapid transformation. No longer a fringe group, the Akatsuki had become a home for legends—Sakumo Hatake, Tsunade Senju, Pakura, and now Kakashi. Each of them elite in their own right. Together, they could crush Hanzo.
Nagato, empowered by the Rinnegan and the combined power of Hashirama and Madara, had no doubt he could defeat Hanzo himself. But it wasn't time yet.
Revealing their strength now would only invite chaos. Instead, Nagato gave Konan a new task.
"Educate the children," he told her. "Our problem isn't firepower. It's talent. Not in combat, but in areas like building, farming, politics, and business. When the time comes, we'll conquer—but to truly take over, we need a team that can develop the conquered land."
Then came another thought.
"We need spies. Intelligence is our weakest link."
Kabuto was still a child. Nono was tied to Konoha. He needed someone seasoned—someone with connections in the underworld.
Suddenly, he smiled.
Kakuzu.
The rogue ninja from Takigakure. A man known for trying to assassinate the First Hokage. Insane? Maybe. But to Nagato, that meant resolve. While other Kage bowed before Hashirama, Kakuzu raised a fist.
"He values money above all," Nagato said aloud. "Which makes him easy to understand—and easy to buy."
Money wasn't an issue. Konan's paper techniques could mass-produce explosive tags. Sold at 1,000 ryo each, it was a goldmine. Or they could grow rice with Wood Style and sell it to the Wind Country, where food was always scarce. Ninjutsu wasn't only a tool for fighting. As Yamato once said, "It's easier to build a community with ninjutsu than to win a war."
Just as he finished planning, two imposing figures walked past him—headed for the forest.
Ginkaku. Kinkaku.
No doubt. It was them.
Nagato slipped into the shadows, quietly tailing them. His Rinnegan flickered.
The brothers suddenly stopped.
"Come out!" Ginkaku growled. "Who dares trail us?!"
Nagato stepped forward calmly from the mist.
"A kid?" Kinkaku laughed. "You've got guts. But do you even know who you're messing with?"
Ginkaku lunged forward, swinging a hammer-like punch.
BOOM!
The ground exploded. Trees trembled. Dust rose.
Nagato didn't move an inch. His gaze remained steady.
Ginkaku narrowed his eyes. "You're not just some brat. What's your name?"
"Nagato. From the Akatsuki," he replied. "I've come for your Nine Tails chakra."
The air grew thick.
Kinkaku vanished in a blur, reappearing behind Nagato with his blade aimed at the neck.
Nagato twisted, narrowly avoiding it. His Rinnegan pulsed.
"You're fast," Kinkaku admitted.
"You're not escaping!" Ginkaku roared, revealing the Bashōsen and Benihisago—Treasured Tools of the Sage of Six Paths.
Nagato's eyes narrowed.
"So they still have them…"
This wouldn't be easy. But if he could pierce them with his black rods and use Outer Path control, they would be invaluable.
Ginkaku raised the Bashōsen and swung it. A storm of elemental chakra—flames, winds, lightning—raged outward.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Nagato repelled the attack in a shockwave of gravity, blasting the forest apart.
Kinkaku lifted the Benihisago, the sealing gourd glowing with deadly chakra.
But Nagato smirked.
"You're strong. But wild. Unfocused. The battle hasn't just begun—it's already over."
His Mangekyo Sharingan opened—in his forehead.
"Tsukuyomi."