"War is inevitable."
"People will always find a reason—religion, ideology, resources, land, revenge, love, or even something as trivial as a whim. Any excuse is enough to spark conflict."
"Humanity is a species drawn to its own destruction."
"So don't turn away from war."
"Face it head-on."
"Come with me to Iwagakure, and together, we will bring true peace!"
Mufasa stood tall, exuding confidence and determination.
Across from him, Pain and Konan regarded him with impassive expressions.
(￢_￢)
(￢_￢)
He speaks as if he's some kind of savior.
But isn't he the one who started this war in the first place?
Konan couldn't hold back anymore.
"Enough with the nonsense."
"This war happened because of you."
Mufasa remained unfazed. "Of course. I started this war because the stubborn Onoki refused to accept change. But my goal isn't destruction
—it's to build a future where every village thrives, where every nation prospers. That includes your village and the Land of Rain. This is a war for peace. And that's why you should join me."
Pain scoffed.
"Peace? Justice? Words like that sound righteous, but in the end, they're just a veil for your ambition."
"Don't be so arrogant! This is your last warning—from a god!"
Mufasa chuckled softly. "So you're not ready to cooperate, then?"
Pain's gaze hardened. "You could never understand true pain. You're just another ruler looking down at us. We've lived through suffering you could never imagine."
"Our pain is greater than yours."
"Our desire for peace is deeper than yours."
Mufasa met his glare without flinching. "If you truly want peace, then walk the same path as me.
Let's build a world where prosperity replaces suffering. When people have everything they need, the power of peace will surpass the power of war."
Pain's puppet body remained still, but there was a flicker of hesitation in his Rinnegan.
'Why does he link peace to prosperity?'
Mufasa continued. "A stable society is built on a strong foundation. Pain and joy may not be shared equally among people, but money always connects them.
If every village is economically linked, war becomes unthinkable. No one will risk their wealth, their livelihoods, just for conflict. Who would want war when it means losing everything they've built?"
Pain and Konan remained silent.
(?,?)
(?,?)
We're here trying to gather tailed beasts, revive the Ten-Tails, and cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi…
And this guy wants us to start an economic revolution?
Pain sneered. "Enough talk. If you won't submit, then I'll make you."
"Kazekage, don't underestimate Amegakure!"
Pain raised his right hand, palm open.
A swirling force began to form in its center.
"Banshō Ten'in!"
The gravity-altering technique pulled Mufasa toward him.
Mufasa smirked. "Oh? You think I can't counter this?"
He extended his own palm.
Electromagnetic Release: Magnetic Control!
Zzt! Zzt!
Electricity crackled around his hand as an invisible magnetic field pulsed outward.
Pain's eyes widened slightly as he felt the force of his own jutsu reversing—rather than pulling Mufasa in, he was being drawn toward Mufasa instead.
Konan's eyes flickered with concern. "Pain!"
Without hesitation, she unfolded her paper wings and launched razor-sharp paper missiles at Mufasa.
Katon: Endan!
Jiraiya intervened, spewing a powerful fireball from his mouth.
The flames consumed the paper missiles before they could reach their target.
Jiraiya's voice rang out. "Konan! Yahiko!"
"Is it really you? Nagato?!"
Pain and Konan turned toward Jiraiya.
There was no warmth in their eyes.
"Jiraiya-sensei, Yahiko and Konan—the ones you knew—are gone."
"Nagato is dead."
Jiraiya's face fell. His heart ached at their words.
Mufasa placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. Your students… they're not beyond saving."
"Right now, they're just a little lost, playing the roles of a villain and his right-hand woman."
"One day, they'll see the right path."
Pain's eyes narrowed. "Don't be so arrogant, Kazekage."
Mufasa laughed. "Arrogant? You're the ones being naive."
"The world is vast, its people complicated. Do you really think peace can be achieved with force alone?"
"Fear may keep people in line for a while, but it also fuels the creation of the next great weapon."
Pain and Konan froze.
Did he understand their plan?
Mufasa's voice grew firm. "I know you don't understand now. But it doesn't matter. What matters is what happens next."
"When I unleash my full power, you'll have no choice but to stand with me."
"Otherwise—prepare for annihilation!"
Pain and Konan returned to Amegakure, their minds weighed down with endless doubts.
From a distance, Tobi, ever the enigma, remained perched in a nearby tree, watching in silence.
Inside Nagato's chamber, Konan stood by, awaiting his decision.
Nagato exhaled slowly, his gaze distant.
Mufasa was not an opponent to be taken lightly.
Even with the power of the Six Paths, defeating him wouldn't be easy.
Bringing out all six bodies now would draw too much attention.
Iwagakure's forces were nearby—revealing his full strength at this moment would be reckless.
"Our plan to capture the Tailed Beasts has only just begun," he muttered.
"We can't afford chaos in Amegakure. For now, we wait. If Mufasa truly possesses the overwhelming power he claims, we will act when the time is right."
The chamber remained eerily silent, save for Nagato's voice echoing off the walls.
Even a god could feel frustration when facing a persistent foe.
Mufasa watched as Pain and Konan departed, a small smirk playing at his lips.
There was a certain satisfaction in outmaneuvering an opponent who couldn't move freely.
Seriously, Nagato…
You're a master of ninjutsu, yet you can't design a decent wheelchair for yourself?
If it were me, I'd turn the Gedo Statue into a fully automated wheelchair.
Fly around like some divine overlord—never letting anyone push me around.
Mufasa chuckled to himself.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya stood in silent sorrow.
Nagato, Yahiko, Konan…
His former students.
Once, he had placed his faith in them, believing they would bring change to the world.
When he heard of their deaths, he had mourned deeply.
Yet now, standing before them again, seeing their cold indifference, it cut deeper than he ever imagined.
"I was wrong…"
"I should never have left them."
Men don't cry easily.
But sometimes, grief is too heavy to hold back.
Tears slipped past the red lines beneath his eyes.
Mufasa glanced at him. "If you never had something, you wouldn't fear losing it."
People who have never known warmth don't fear the cold.
Jiraiya had given them warmth—something that had no place in their bleak world.
And when he left, taking that warmth away, they were left more lost than before.
Yahiko's death had only deepened their fear.
They realized their ideals were fragile, that their power was too insignificant.
And they hated it.
They resented the world for its cruelty.
They despised those who lived in peace while they suffered.
Thus, the Akatsuki's purpose shifted.
They abandoned their dreams of inspiring belief in peace.
Instead, they chose to spread fear—because only by making the entire ninja world suffer could they make it understand.
"Let the world feel our pain."
Jiraiya turned away, his heart heavy.
He could not—would not—enter Amegakure again.
He no longer knew how to face them.
His long hair draped over his face as he walked away, weighed down by sorrow.
Perhaps, right now, in his mind…
The loss of his disciple Nagato hurt more than the loss of the prophesied savior he had believed in.
Maybe he would need to peek into a hundred bathhouses before he could feel like himself again.
After parting ways with Jiraiya, Mufasa returned to camp.