Prologue

A Steadfast Will

This boy, Nagato thought to himself as he digested the words that had just been spoken to him. He was at war with himself thanks to this boy, his brother disciple. But he knew deep down what his answer would be. Every fiber of his being pulled him towards believing in him and for a moment he was ready to do just that, but two things stopped him. Fear of Naruto's failure to bring peace and his own memories and regrets.

Nagato looked at Naruto with what could be considered a look of regret, before saying "I'm sorry, but your words have not moved me. You're too young, too naive and too inexperienced. You may have experienced pain and hardship but you haven't truly had time to reflect on that nor have you seen what the world is truly like. I cannot place my faith in you, not after all the sacrifices that have been made and especially not when you don't even have a plan on making true peace possible"

Naruto couldn't believe what he was hearing. Even after defeating him and all his efforts to get through to him Nagato still wouldn't be swayed. "Please, you have to trust me, I may not have a plan yet but that doesn't mean I can't do it. You said the same thing about me beating you and look what happened. Just...just at least let me try." Even though he had won Naruto didn't want Nagato as an enemy, not after hearing his story and he didn't want to kill him either. Not like this.

"I wish I could...but the world doesn't work like that. I can't give you my blessings when you plan to merely wing it. Improvisation and luck only go so far. The same could be said about our fight. Your victory was equal parts power and luck. Had I been trying to kill you rather than capture or had your friend not interfered you would not be standing here right now. Also...I can't give up, not after coming this far...not after all the sacrifices that have made for the sake of peace."

Naruto stood in silence at his response before clenching his fists and saying, "All the sacrifices huh? What about Ero-sennin, what about Konoha!? Were they for the sake of peace too? Tell me how their deaths were for peace!"

Nagato closed his eyes and said "Jiraiya sensei's death was regrettable but it was necessary. I will be honest with you though, Konoha's destruction wasn't for peace's sake, it was for mine. After all the things Konoha has done to me I couldn't just let that go. I'm not like you, not anymore."

Naruto didn't have a response to that. He knew what Konoha had done to him, though he also knew what Ero-sennin had done for him but he knew saying that wouldn't change his mind. "Fine, what happens now?" he says, defeated.

"That's up to you. I'm not in a position to stop you from doing anything." said Nagato causing Konan to shift from her until then silent vigil. "Nagato-" she starts.

"No Konan, I lost this battle. Whatever happens, don't interfere." says Nagato. He didn't want Konan to fight Naruto. He may have gotten lucky but he was still strong enough to beat his paths. He didn't want to lose Konan either, losing Yahiko was enough and he'd rather die than lose her too.

"What are you gonna do when you get out here?" asks Naruto.

Nagato knew the smart thing to do was to reassure Naruto that he'd stop his machinations but he felt he at least owed it to him to be honest about his intentions. "I'm going to continue working towards peace. Like I said before, I've already come too far to give up."

He was afraid of that answer, after all the damage that Nagato had done he couldn't just let him go. He was simply too powerful for that. As much as Naruto hated to admit it, he DID get lucky in this fight and he wasn't sure he could do it again. He figured that given enough time he could refine sage mode and his other techniques but he didn't know how much time he'd get. He had no idea how long it would take before Nagato recovered his fighting strength and attacked again. Konoha was already in ruins and he knew if Nagato attacked again it'd be finished if it wasn't already.

"I can't just let you go y'know? Not if you're gonna come back." Naruto said softly.

"Then do what you have to do. Because I will never give up, a sentiment I'm sure you know well." said Nagato with an edge of steel to his tone.

Naruto looked at Nagato with no small amount of hesitation. He was unsure of what to do. He didn't want to kill Nagato but the Rinnegan was just too powerful and he couldn't let him destroy what was left of Konoha. That's it! He thought to himself, having thought of the solution to this. What he was about to do almost made him sick but it was better than just killing him and with a look of determination he began to walk towards him.

Seeing this Konan began to move as well but Nagato shook his head and she gritted her teeth and stepped back, worry clearly shown on her face.

When Naruto finally closed the distance he said to Nagato "I'm sorry" and that's when he acted.
With a single swift slash he ran his kunai across Nagato's face, destroying the only pair of Rinnegan currently in existence.

Nagato was prepared for death. He had been prepared for it the moment Naruto defeated Deva path. What he was not prepared for was this. So shocked that he was he couldn't contain his shout of pain and confusion. Gone were his divine and blessed eyes and replaced with pain and darkness. This is his solution? It would have been kinder to kill me. He thought to himself.

Seeing the blood pouring from the remains of Nagato's eyes was horrifying but he couldn't look away. He couldn't believe he had actually done that and felt disgusted with himself. Then he remembered what Konoha had looked like when he arrived, he remembered Hinata's face and confession...before Pain killed her, he remembered the time he had spent with Jiraiya and he didn't want to lose anything else to this man. "I didn't want things to end like this but I am a Konoha shinobi and I'll do what's best for it...I hope the next time we see each other you'll have changed your views. Goodbye."

Naruto begins to leave, wanting to leave this behind him but Konan materializes in front of him in a flurry of origami paper. "Do you really think I'll just let you leave after doing that!?" she says in an icily yet evidently angry voice.

Naruto sighs and prepares himself for the battle that is to come. He really didn't want things to end like this. Before either of them makes a move Nagato speaks up and says "Konan, let him go. It's over."

She gives Naruto an icy glare but reluctantly steps aside letting him pass. As Naruto begins his trek back to the remains of Konoha, there's only one thing going through his mind. What the hell are we going to do now?


This is a very short chapter but that is because it's a prologue. I can promise you that all subsequent ones will be longer. As my first written fanfic any feedback is welcome. Either positive or negative.