"Naruto, let's go back."
After Killer Bee and the Raikage finished their conversation, they walked over to Naruto, who was standing beside a fallen Itachi. Killer Bee squatted down, eyeing Itachi with interest.
"So, you're the Itachi who wiped out the Uchiha Clan, huh? Been hearing about you for years!"
Itachi had black chakra-receiving rods stabbed through all four of his limbs, rendering him immobile. When he spotted the Samehada on Killer Bee's back, his pupils shook.
"Where did you get that sword—Samehada?"
Killer Bee glanced over his shoulder at the living blade, then back at Itachi. "Snatched it from the shark man!"
Itachi's gaze lowered slightly. So… Kisame Hoshigaki was dead.
But then, Naruto stepped forward and picked Itachi up. "It's okay. Kisame is still with me. Once I gain full control over you, he'll keep his promise to me."
Itachi blinked. He looked genuinely surprised. Kisame… is alive?
Naruto turned toward Killer Bee. "Where's the Raikage? Isn't he going to come say goodbye?"
Killer Bee looked up at the towering Raikage's office, then sighed. "Big Bro can't bring himself to say it. He's gotta go check on C and Darui."
"Oh, and he told me to tell you this about the Allied Shinobi Forces—don't worry. He'll fully support it from now on!"
Naruto smiled slightly, placing a hand on Killer Bee's shoulder. "Take one last look at the village. Then let's head back."
Killer Bee grinned. "No need. We'll have plenty of chances to see it again."
Naruto nodded. With a flash of the Flying Thunder God Technique, they vanished.
Amegakure
Back in the Rain Village, Naruto returned with Killer Bee and Itachi in tow. Nagato was the first to sense their arrival and immediately leapt from the tower to welcome them.
"Junior Brother, how did it go—huh? Who's that?"
Seeing Naruto carrying a man in Akatsuki robes, Nagato was intrigued. Could it be Obito?
Naruto smiled. "Haha, I brought an old friend for you to see." He straightened Itachi's body.
Nagato craned his neck and his eyes widened. "Itachi?!"
Itachi, stunned, looked at Nagato. "Nagato?"
He had only met Nagato a few times before. Back then, Nagato had the Rinnegan, was gaunt, pale, and confined to a mechanical rig. But now—he looked vibrant, healthy.
Nagato stared at Naruto. "This is Edo Tensei, right? The black rods are for control?"
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. Kabuto used the Reanimation Jutsu to bring back the dead Akatsuki members. I happened to run into Itachi and captured him."
Nagato nodded in understanding. "So you have a plan?"
Naruto chuckled. "Naturally."
Killer Bee looked at Naruto. "Naruto, if everything's good, I'll go back and work on training those brats."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah, Uncle Bee, go ahead. Push them hard. The faster they grow, the better."
Killer Bee grinned. "Thought you'd say that!"
With that, he turned and left.
Naruto brought Itachi and Nagato to Orochimaru's laboratory.
"Uncle Snake! Look who I brought to see you!"
Orochimaru, who was in the middle of an experiment, turned around. When he saw who it was, he broke into a delighted smile. "Well, well… If it isn't Itachi-kun!"
Itachi was genuinely shocked. "Orochimaru? You're alive?! I sealed you with the Totsuka Blade!"
Naruto laughed. "Itachi, Uncle Snake isn't that easy to kill."
Then he turned serious. "Uncle Snake, get the lab ready. We're starting the experiment."
Orochimaru's eyes twitched. "Naruto, you're planning to start with Itachi?"
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. If we're defying fate, might as well do it sooner than later."
He then turned to Nagato. "Senior Brother, watch over things here for me. Pay special attention to the movements around Yugakure."
Nagato nodded, but then asked, "Can I ask what exactly you're planning to do?"
Naruto looked him in the eye. "I'm going to use the Rinne Rebirth Jutsu… to bring Itachi back to life."
Nagato's eyes widened. "No! That's too dangerous, Naruto! Others may not know, but I do. The Rinne Rebirth Technique drains all the chakra and life force of the user. If the reincarnation is successful, the caster dies!"
Naruto waved him off. "It's okay. Uncle Snake and I found a workaround. Gaara gave me Granny Chiyo's Reanimation Jutsu. We'll use White Zetsu clones as life force donors."
Orochimaru chimed in. "Theoretically, it should work."
Nagato frowned. "Theoretically? So… you've never tested this before and want to try it now?"
Itachi cut in. "Naruto, I told you before—don't resurrect me. Just use Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan. Use Kotoamatsukami to alter my will. Layer that over the Edo Tensei. I'll regain free will and retain my immortal body. I'll be more mobile than ever."
Nagato agreed. "Naruto, I'm not against you using the Rinne Rebirth Jutsu, but doing it without prior testing is reckless. If something goes wrong, what happens to the future of the shinobi world?"
Naruto fell silent.
They were right. If something happened to him, the entire alliance would be leaderless. The world would fall apart again.
But… if the Rinne Rebirth Technique wasn't used now, would it ever be tested? This wasn't something that could be delayed forever.
Nagato saw Naruto's hesitation. He stepped forward.
"Then let me do it, Junior Brother."
Naruto looked at him, stunned.
Nagato smiled. "Transplant the Rinnegan back into me. I'll use the Rinne Rebirth Technique to revive Itachi. Afterward, you can use Granny Chiyo's jutsu to bring me back—with a White Zetsu clone supplying the life force."
Orochimaru thought for a moment. "That could actually work."
Naruto clenched his fists. He had been ready to shoulder the risk himself. But Nagato's calm, selfless suggestion made him waver.
Nagato, sensing his doubt, said firmly, "Those who achieve great things don't cling to minor risks. As long as you're alive, the shinobi world has hope. Even if I die, you'll bring me back. I believe in that—just like Orochimaru has come back again and again."
Orochimaru, unexpectedly flattered, turned slightly red.
Naruto took a deep breath. "Thank you… senior brother."
Nagato smiled, seeing Naruto had accepted. He felt a strange sense of relief. Perhaps… a part of him longed to bring someone else back too.
Naruto turned to Orochimaru. "Uncle Snake—prepare the lab."
Then he stepped out of the lab to find Konan.
"Konan-senpai, I need you to cover for Nagato and monitor the movements around Amegakure."
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