For days, Nagato moved tirelessly, his determination burning brighter than ever. His legs ached, his breath grew ragged, but he didn't slow down. Not until the vast desert gave way to a hidden oasis—the Land of Loran.
What greeted him was not the rich city of legend. The Loran of today was a shadow of its former self. The streets were cracked, the buildings worn. The people wore tired faces, their eyes hollow with hardship. It was even poorer than Sunagakure, something Nagato hadn't thought possible.
He understood now why Mukade had risen to power so easily here. With no ninja to defend it and a queen whose strength was more in heart than force, Loran had been vulnerable. It had taken only a few years for the missing-nin to seize control.
Nagato stood at the outskirts, his cloak billowing in the desert wind. He pondered his next move.
Should I do as Mukade did? End Queen Sēramu's reign and take over?
The thought weighed heavily on him. But no. That wasn't who he was. He wasn't one of those heartless protagonists who could kill without remorse for the sake of treasure or ambition. Even after living in this world for months, his soul resisted such cruelty.
Negotiation. That would be his first step. And if it failed? Well, Kakuzu could handle things more... directly. That way, at least, it wouldn't be Nagato's hands that spilled blood. But he hoped it wouldn't come to that.
That night, under the cool glow of the moon, Nagato watched the palace from afar. Its walls, though grand in design, showed signs of age. The queen's chambers were lit faintly, and Nagato could sense the warmth of family within.
Inside, Queen Sēramu was gently coaxing her daughter, Sera, to sleep. She sang softly, brushing the child's hair back from her face, whispering promises of safety. When Sera finally drifted into slumber, Sēramu left the room quietly, heading toward her study.
She did not expect to find a stranger waiting in the shadows.
Her eyes widened, but her voice stayed steady. "Who are you?"
Nagato stepped into the light, his tone calm and reassuring. "Please, there's no need for alarm, Your Majesty. I apologize for the intrusion. My name is Nagato, leader of Akatsuki. I come from the Land of Rain."
The Land of Rain? Sēramu's mind raced. The last she knew, Hanzō the Demigod ruled there. Could this man be part of some plot?
"What is it you want?"
Nagato's gaze was steady, almost kind. "The Dragon Vein. You know how dangerous it is. In the wrong hands, it could bring disaster upon the world. You don't have the means to protect it. But I do. Let Loran come under Akatsuki's protection. Together, we can keep it safe."
Sēramu's shock turned to anger. "You're mad! Do you expect me to hand over my country just like that?"
Her voice echoed, but no guards came. Nagato had already sealed the room with a barrier.
"I'm not mad, Your Majesty. Think about it. The Dragon Vein's power... if someone like me knows of it, do you think others don't? What if someone tries to create a new Hashirama? A ninja god?"
His words hit their mark. Sēramu clenched her fists, torn between pride and the truth she could no longer ignore.
"I'm strong enough to protect it," Nagato continued, his voice still soft, though the air around him pulsed with energy. "And I have allies—Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang; Tsunade of the Senju; Pakura of the Scorch Style. We can shield your people."
He let his aura flare. The walls trembled, cracks spidering across the stone. A section of wall crumbled—but before the queen could be harmed, Nagato's chakra shielded her.
"Think carefully. I'll give you time."
And in the blink of an eye, he was gone, leaving only dust and the weight of his words behind.
Sēramu, heart pounding, gathered herself. At dawn, she sent messengers to gather intelligence on these names Nagato had mentioned. If she was to make a decision, she needed to know the truth.
By midday, the reports returned. Pakura and Sakumo had indeed vanished from their villages. No one knew where they were now. Tsunade had left Konoha months ago; she'd been spotted gambling in a distant casino, but had fled the city soon after, disappearing without a trace.
Sēramu stared at the reports, conflicted. Could I really trust him? Half of her heart said yes. After all, Nagato had the strength to kill her and take what he wanted, yet he chose to talk first. That had to mean something. And if other villages discovered the secret of the Dragon Vein? She doubted they'd come with offers of peace.
As the sun dipped low, Nagato wandered Loran's streets in thought. He envisioned the city reborn—not as a fortress, but as Akatsuki's trade hub. The Dragon Vein's energy could be used to enrich the soil, to grow rice, wheat, fruits in abundance. If people have food, cheap and plenty, who would bother with war? That was his dream. Peace, built on full bellies and open markets.
He considered even grander plans: creating stable portals, like the time-space gates of the Ōtsutsuki. A network of altars linked across nations—like teleportation in a game. It was ambitious, perhaps impossible for now. But a start could be made. For now, clones could ferry goods. And Kakuzu could build the merchant guild he envisioned.
When night came again, Nagato returned to the palace. This time, Sēramu was waiting.
"I need to know," she said quietly, "how you'll treat my people."
Nagato smiled gently. "I promise you, I'm not here as a conqueror. I want Loran as a home for Akatsuki's merchants. The Dragon Vein's power will be used to grow food, not weapons. If food is cheap and plentiful, people won't want to fight. That's our aim: a peaceful world."
His honesty startled her. Could this really be? A ninja who didn't want war, but wanted to feed the world?
"I'll submit," she said at last, "but not publicly. My people can't know. Not yet. And I ask one thing: treat them fairly."
Nagato nodded, unsurprised. Sēramu wasn't like the greedy daimyōs he'd read about. She was a true guardian, someone who put her people and duty before pride.
"Of course. It's wiser this way. The fewer who know, the fewer enemies we make. And as for your people—they'll be treated well. As long as they're willing to work, they'll live easier lives than they've ever known. And they'll have Akatsuki's protection."
Relief flickered in Sēramu's eyes. I hope i made the right choice .