allendalepharm Chapter 369 Each with their own ulterior motives
Chapter 369 Each with their own ulterior motives
Nagato had always harbored suspicions about the masked man who called himself Uchiha Madara. Despite the astonishing strength and methods the man had displayed, Nagato always felt something was amiss. And now, that suspicion intensified. As a seasoned warrior who had experienced countless battles, Nagato knew Uchiha Madara's reputation and character intimately. That legendary figure was renowned for his ruthless and decisive nature, a veritable Asura of the ninja world. He would never back down an inch in the face of any powerful enemy, much less hide away like a coward.
Thinking of this, Nagato felt a surge of anger. He clenched his fists, secretly vowing to uncover the masked man's true face and see what his true nature was. Regardless of what the other party was plotting, Nagato was fully prepared to meet the challenge.
Seeing Nagato and Konan's expressions, the masked man knew that his continued presence in the shadows had greatly displeased them and exposed the fact that he was very likely not Madara Uchiha. However, the masked man was not surprised. The intruders' strength was simply too terrifying; even if he were to show himself, he would only be suppressed, and it would likely further expose his incompatibility with Madara Uchiha.
However, at this moment, although the situation seemed somewhat delicate, he had not yet fully revealed his true identity. The enigmatic Nagato and the meticulous Konan, even if they harbored doubts about his identity, would never easily expose him, much less rashly attack him. They knew that the power hidden behind this person was unfathomable, and the slightest misstep could lead to unpredictable consequences.
He firmly believed that even though Madara Uchiha had disappeared for many years, his once-renowned and powerful reputation in the ninja world was still enough to instill fear in everyone. Even strong figures like Nagato and Konan had to maintain a sense of awe and refrain from any rash actions when facing anyone associated with Madara. After all, no one wanted to be the unfortunate one who angered Madara and suffer unimaginable and terrifying retribution. Therefore, by cleverly utilizing this, he could temporarily stabilize the situation and ensure his own safety.
The most crucial question now is: what exactly are the intentions of this uninvited guest? It's puzzling that, having already successfully defeated Pain, why didn't he finish him off in one fell swoop? Instead, he chose to engage in dialogue with Nagato Uzumaki. What secrets lie behind this? Is it out of respect for his opponent, or is there another hidden agenda? Perhaps behind this seemingly simple confrontation lies a complex web of interests and unfathomable scheming. Is this mysterious intruder the mastermind behind this conspiracy? Or is he merely a pawn being used? These questions, like a fog, shroud the mind, compelling one to delve deeper into the truth.
The most crucial and striking aspect was Nagato's current state, a stark contrast to his previous appearance! He had clearly recovered significantly, even the life force drained by the Rinnegan had been greatly replenished. It's important to understand that he was acutely aware of Nagato's previous condition—he had been on the verge of collapse, his life force seemingly extinguished, each moment a potential death. Furthermore, Nagato had engaged in a breathtaking and fierce battle with the aggressive intruder, which should have logically expended even more energy and stamina. Yet, incredibly, Nagato now appeared radiant and full of energy, showing no signs of faltering or on the verge of collapse whatsoever.
The masked man was somewhat unaware of what had happened, as he dared not approach Nagato's location while Nagato was still there. He knew perfectly well that Nagato had discovered him hiding in the shadows, and if he had rashly approached, he might very well have been killed on the spot.
Keep in mind that he was using his Space-Time Mangekyou Sharingan at the time, hiding in his own private space to spy, yet he was still discovered. Moreover, the opponent's ice-sealing ninjutsu was far too powerful; even though he was still quite far from the battlefield, he could feel the danger of being frozen. If he had rashly approached, he might very well have had his private space frozen directly, leaving him completely encased in ice.
The masked man knew nothing of what had happened after the other man met Nagato. He now stared at Nagato with curiosity, unable to penetrate the fog and uncover the hidden truth. However, Nagato's current state seemed completely different from what everyone had feared. Far from being in danger, he appeared to have gained something, as if he had received some unexpected blessing or opportunity. This transformation surprised and confused the masked man, who wondered what kind of power had enabled Nagato to escape danger so easily and benefit so much. Perhaps only time would reveal the mystery, leaving him unable to truly understand what astonishing secrets and treasures lay hidden behind the seemingly perilous vortex.
The masked man knew that to ensure the smooth execution of his meticulously planned scheme, he needed to obtain crucial information about "that person" from Nagato Uzumaki. However, the current situation worried him, as it seemed that it would be difficult to extract any more valuable information from Nagato.
The masked man frowned, his gaze fixed on Nagato's expressionless face, trying to find the slightest flaw. But Nagato remained silent, her lips tightly pressed together, like an impregnable fortress, keeping all her secrets hidden deep within her heart.
The masked man pondered to himself: Could it be that Nagato Uzumaki has already sensed my intentions? Or is he protected by some special power, making it impossible for me to easily break through his defenses? In any case, I cannot give up like this! I must find a way to break this stalemate, otherwise all my years of effort and planning will be in vain.
Unable to suppress the overwhelming anxiety surging within him, the masked man clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes, hidden behind the mask, gleaming with anxiety and unease. Finally, unable to endure the torment any longer, his lips trembled slightly as he spoke to Nagato in a hoarse voice, "Regarding that sudden uninvited guest—that mysterious intruder—what level of information have you obtained? And why did that person intrude into our isolated Amegakure? What is their true purpose?"
Nagato merely stared intently at the masked man, ignoring him completely, and manipulated Six Paths of Pain to cover his escape from the affected area, heading towards other secret bases. Only Deva Path Pain remained, standing with Konan to clean up the mess caused by the battle.
Nagato Uzumaki silently pondered, determined not to expose his true form to the masked man. Although his life force had been greatly replenished, the damage caused by the Rinnegan's relentless draining of his energy over the years hadn't fully healed. Moreover, his current disability made him even more vulnerable and powerless in the face of an enemy. Therefore, he had to remain constantly vigilant, never giving the masked man any opportunity to seize a chance and launch a surprise attack.
In fact, from the very beginning, Nagato Uzumaki had absolutely no trust in this mysterious, masked man. The man's secretive behavior and unfathomable strength instilled in Nagato a sense of inexplicable threat and unease. Over the years, their relationship had always been fraught with suspicion and defensiveness. And now, this distrust had snowballed, becoming an inescapable shadow over Nagato's heart.
As Nagato was about to turn and leave, the masked man showed no intention of stopping him. He knew perfectly well that Nagato had never given him complete trust since they met. Moreover, expecting Nagato to keep his true form in front of him for an extended period, placing him in potential danger, was simply a pipe dream. If he were to intervene now, Nagato would undoubtedly engage in a fierce confrontation without hesitation. The masked man understood the stakes and wouldn't let a momentary impulse ruin his carefully crafted plan. After all, giving up so easily over such a trivial matter would be a huge loss. Nagato's decision to leave Pain behind meant that he also didn't want a direct conflict with him at this moment; at most, he was simply maintaining a high level of vigilance.
Konan remained silent, slowly turning around and walking with firm steps towards the gathering of the Rain Village crowd. At this moment, she understood that calming the people of Rain Village was the most urgent task; only in this way could the village be restored to its former peace and stability. After all, the earth-shattering, breathtaking battle that had just taken place must have left the people of Rain Village terrified and anxious. They were undoubtedly eagerly awaiting her appearance to offer comfort and reassurance.
At this moment, only Pain and the masked man remained, standing motionless like two statues. The masked man quietly awaited Pain to reveal some information so he could gain a deeper understanding of this uninvited guest—Itachi. However, Pain was lost in deep thought, racking his brains to figure out how to deal with the masked man before him. He knew he had no intention of revealing any information about the intruder, but at the same time, he didn't want to completely sever ties with the masked man and cause a breakdown in their relationship.