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After Hanzō escaped, Nagato collapsed, his chakra completely depleted from summoning the Gedō Statue. The summoning had even drained some of his life force. He was emaciated, looking frail and weak.
“That thing’s strong, but it’s not worth it to be reduced to this state,” Mei Terumī whispered, looking at Nagato.
The Gedō Statue had killed hundreds of ninja with a single attack, but the cost to Nagato had been immense.
“If you were driven to desperation, you’d understand,” Shin said.
Although, Shin privately thought Nagato’s action unnecessary this time. If revenge was Nagato’s goal, he didn’t need to summon the Gedō Statue.
A Shinra Tensei would have been enough to deal with them. Nagato was fortunate to be an Uzumaki; anyone else would have been sucked dry.
“Seems like it’s our turn to step in.” Shin said, looking at Obito.
“Will this make Nagato suspicious?” Obito hesitated.
“Suspicious? Of what? Even if he is, I’ll dispel his doubts.”
Shin walked out of their hiding spot. Konan and Mei Terumī followed him.
Obito had no choice but to follow.
“Let’s go too,” White Zetsu said, then followed them without waiting for Black Zetsu’s response.
——
Nagato, sensing a presence behind him, instinctively threw a kunai in their direction—assuming it was Hanzō returning.
“The last person who dared throw something at me is already dead and buried,” Shin remarked with a casual air.
“Uzumaki Shin!”
Nagato turned and glared at Shin, his grip tightening around another kunai. He hadn’t expected it to be Shin.
“You… Were you here the whole time?” Nagato asked with barely suppressed rage. Shin’s sudden appearance right after Yahiko’s death felt too convenient.
He wasn’t wrong. Hanzō was the one who killed Yahiko, but Obito was the one who manipulated Hanzō, and Shin was the one who came up with the plan.
But even if Shin hadn’t come up with the plan, Yahiko would still have died, according to the original story.
“Yes, I was here before Yahiko died.” Shin didn’t deny it.
Obito, who had just emerged from the shadows, was startled. Why would Shin admit it? Nagato was already suspicious; this would only make things worse.
“Did you have something to do with Yahiko’s death?” Nagato snarled, murder flickering in his eyes as the Gedō Statue behind him trembled slightly.
“Excuse me?”
Shin suddenly appeared before Nagato, gripping him by the throat and lifting him off the ground effortlessly.
“…..” Obito’s lips twitched under his mask. This scene was familiar.
“It’s like watching Obito being punished by Shin-sama,” White Zetsu muttered.
Obito glared at White Zetsu with his Mangekyō Sharingan.
White Zetsu immediately shut up. He was scared of Obito’s Mangekyō Sharingan.
Nagato’s face turned red as he struggled to breathe. He’d already been weakened from summoning the Gedō Statue; Shin’s grip was choking him.
Black Zetsu was worried Shin might accidentally kill him.
Seeing Nagato’s eyes roll back, Shin realized he was about to die, so he dropped him.
“Almost crushed you by accident,” Shin said insincerely.
“If I wanted you dead, would I have needed to team up with someone like Hanzō?” Shin scoffed, unleashing his chakra slightly.
The overwhelming pressure almost made Nagato faint again.
Even the towering Gedō Statue seemed to tremble in resonance with Shin’s chakra. Although it seemed like an inanimate object, it was actually alive.
Shin had fused the Chakra of the nine Tailed Beasts into the Ten-Tails’ Chakra and then fused it with his own Chakra. So his Chakra could resonate with the Gedō Statue.
Nagato was finally able to breathe after Shin withdrew his Chakra. Obito and Zetsu also sighed in relief.
Konan and Mei Terumī weren’t affected. Shin had deliberately protected them.
Nagato looked at Shin, now believing him. With Shin’s power, there was no need for him to collude with Hanzō. But he was still furious. Why hadn’t Shin saved Yahiko? With his strength, it should have been easy.
“Are you blaming me for not saving Yahiko?”
Shin could read Nagato’s thoughts just from his expression.
“You had the power to save him, Why didn’t you?” Nagato’s voice trembled, heavy with bitterness.
“And why should I? What’s my relationship with any of you?” Shin replied indifferently.
Shin then looked at Obito. It was Obito’s turn now. He had set the stage. Now it was up to Obito to brainwash Nagato.
Nagato was currently filled with anger and hatred. It shouldn’t be difficult for Obito to manipulate him.
Obito knew it was time for him to step up.
He had already prepared his speech!
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