Interlude 6: Nagato

He was beginning to think that, perhaps, he shouldn't have made an enemy of a being he couldn't kill.

Nagato, through the body of one of his Paths, stared down at the Gedō Mazō.

The Gedō Mazō that was distinctly lacking the Bijuu he had sealed within it not even half an hour ago.

In terms of worst case scenarios, this one surpassed even the worst case scenario he'd planned for.

"What are we going to do?" Konan, standing next to him -the real him, not his Paths-, asked.

He didn't respond.

He himself wasn't sure of the answer.

Fighting an enemy capable of keeping track of the Bijuu no matter where they were?

Act before they could interfere with the sealing. Simple.

Fighting an enemy capable of teleportation on top of that?

Kill them. Simple.

Fighting an enemy that also couldn't die?

Seal them. The entirety of the Elemental Nations did exactly that against the Bijuu. Simple.

Have to use one of the few remaining artefacts of the Sage of Six Paths to do it?

Not simple. But possible.

Fighting an enemy that could release the Bijuu from the Gedō Mazō, was tireless, seemingly immortal, always knew exactly where the Bijuu were, and you lost the capability of sealing away?

Not. Simple.

"I do not know." He eventually responded. "Our plans are now no longer workable."

Konan looked away. "Were they ever?"

"Yes." It wouldn't have been easy, but it would have been possible. "But no longer."

Konan looked back at him. Her expression was set in worry, a far cry from her usual closed-off steel. "Perhaps... we were wrong?"

"We were not wrong-"

"We have an enemy that is perfectly suited to ruining the plan, Nagato!" She interrupted him.

Two uncommon things in as many seconds.

"Perfectly!" She stated again. "I don't believe in fate, Nagato, but that thing? We can't kill it. We failed to seal it. It knows exactly where the Bijuu are, at all times. It can unseal the Bijuu with more ease than you have in sealing them in the first place! That is far too much to just be a mere coincidence."

"We are not wrong, Konan." Nagato affirmed. "Our path is the path of peace. How could we be wrong?"

"Our path is the path of peace through bloodshed." She stated. "How could we be right?"

Nagato stared at her.

"Even the Sage of Six Paths himself couldn't achieve peace, Nagato." She continued, slowly. She looked away. "If the most powerful being in history couldn't achieve peace... what hope do we have?"

"None at all if we give up!" He rebuked. "If we do not pursue our dreams, then they will never come into existence. Action is the only way that we shall ever achieve peace."

Konan looked at him.

Nagato sighed. "We'll find a way, Konan. We will achieve peace, one way or another."

He looked up.

For Yahiko.

He almost stumbled when Konan suddenly stepped closer, pressing herself in him, her arms wrapping around his body.

He sighed, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer.

"We will do it. This world will see peace." He stated. Just as much to reassure himself as it was to reassure Konan.

"Perhaps we are going about it the wrong way." Her voice was muffled by his cloak.

"Perhaps." He nodded. "But this is the path we have chosen. Until we find a better way, this is the path we shall walk."

Konan nodded.

A moment later, she let go of him, stepping back. Her face was expressionless.

How long had it been since the last time he'd seen her smile?

He wasn't sure.

He turned away, looking at wall.

Behind him, Konan spared one last glance before exiting, leaving him alone in the room.

A minor pinprick of Chakra had him turning around, facing the corner of the room, where Zetsu was emerging from the floor.

"Leader-sama."

"Zetsu." He greeted. "What is it?"

"We have the information you requested, Leader-sama." The strange, bi-coloured plant man responded.

"And?"

"All of the Bijuu, excepting the Sanbi and Ichibi, have been located." Zetsu placed a scroll down on his desk, nodded.

"I see. Thank you."

Zetsu nodded.

A moment later, he sank into the ground, heading away again.

Nagato watched him go.

When he was gone, and alone again, he sighed.

"What am I going to do?"

"I think I might have an idea."