Naruto: Transmigrated As Nagato Uzumaki

Darkness. Endless and suffocating.

Nagato opened his eyes in the void of a dream that wasn't entirely his own. Memories surged through him like a raging storm—moments of peace, anguish, and battle intertwined in a torrent.

He stood there, a silent observer, as his life replayed before him. His parents, kind and gentle, were torn away during the Second Ninja World War. His helpless cries echoed in the empty space as Konoha shinobi cut them down, leaving him a war orphan.

The image shifted. He saw himself meeting Yahiko and Konan amidst the wreckage of their homeland, three children clinging to one another for survival in a world that seemed determined to destroy them. Their laughter, though rare, became a refuge. Together, they found a teacher—Jiraiya—who gave them hope, teaching them the ways of the ninja and the value of peace.

But the dream darkened. Yahiko's lifeless body lay at the base of a cliff, his blood pooling in the rain-soaked earth. Pain, raw and unrelenting, consumed him. The same pain that forged him into the leader of the Akatsuki and awakened the power of the Rinnegan.

A sudden jolt shattered the illusion, and Nagato was no longer a spectator. He was himself, standing in a fragmented world of light and shadow. Before him, a luminous figure emerged—his own visage, yet distant and cold, wrapped in white light.

"Who are you?" Nagato demanded, his voice echoing in the empty void.

The figure's eyes, identical to his own Rinnegan, bore into him. "I am the Nagato you abandoned. The one who carried the weight of Yahiko's dream and brought pain to the world for the sake of peace."

"No," Nagato countered, his voice trembling. "I refuse to walk that path again. I won't accept it."

The figure lunged, and Nagato froze, unable to move. Yet before the attack landed, a dark purple vortex swirled behind the figure, pulling it away with an irresistible force. The dream world began to collapse, fracturing like glass.

Nagato awoke with a gasp, his body drenched in sweat.

---

The dim cave he found himself in was damp and cramped, a testament to their desperate flight from Hanzo's forces. His breath came in ragged bursts as he pressed a trembling hand to his bandaged forehead.

"Nagato!" Konan's voice broke through his haze as she rushed to his side, her face pale and weary. "You're awake! How are you feeling? Are you hurt?"

Nagato, still disoriented, managed a weak smile. "I'm... fine."

Konan's concern deepened. "You were unconscious for ten days and ten nights. I was starting to worry you wouldn't wake up."

"Only ten days?" Nagato echoed, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

"Only?" Konan frowned.

He quickly shook his head. "Never mind. I must have been disoriented from the dream..."

The memories from the dream lingered vividly in his mind. It wasn't just a dream—it was as if he had lived Nagato's life all over again. Every emotion, every decision, every mistake felt like his own.

Konan sighed, leaning against the cave wall. Her haggard appearance spoke volumes about the toll the past days had taken on her. "Nagato, you should rest more. You've been through so much."

Nagato's gaze softened as he noticed the dark circles under her eyes. "Konan, you haven't slept either, have you? You need rest."

"I'm fine," she insisted, though her voice betrayed her exhaustion.

He gently guided her to sit down. "No, you're not. Sleep now. I'll stand guard."

Konan hesitated but eventually relented, closing her eyes as she leaned against the cave wall. Within moments, she was asleep, her breathing even and steady.

Nagato watched her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. His fingertips brushed against her cheek lightly, almost reverently.

"I promise I'll protect you, Konan," he whispered. "This time, I'll do it right."

---

Stepping outside the cave, Nagato surveyed the dreary, rain-drenched landscape. The Land of Rain lived up to its name—a constant storm that mirrored the turmoil in his heart.

He moved swiftly, planting seals around the cave's perimeter. Each tag glowed faintly as he activated the Five-Seal Barrier, ensuring Konan's safety.

"I need supplies," he muttered, glancing at the distant ruins of a village. "And answers."

As he traversed the rugged terrain, he felt an unsettling presence. Reaching the ridge where his battle with Hanzo had taken place, he paused, his Rinnegan locking onto a white-haired figure in the distance.

"Jiraiya-sensei..."

The sight of his former teacher stirred a deep ache within him. He knew why Jiraiya was here—to confirm the rumors of their deaths.

Nagato clenched his fists. A part of him longed to run to Jiraiya, to tell him the truth and seek his guidance. But he stayed rooted.

"No," he murmured. "This path isn't what you would want for me, Sensei. But it's the one I must walk."

Turning away, he vanished into the shadows, leaving Jiraiya staring at the rain, a look of sorrow etched on his face.

---

That night, back in the cave, Nagato handed Konan a piece of bread and a water pouch as she stirred awake.

"You found food," she said, her voice a mixture of relief and gratitude.

Nagato nodded. "Eat. You need your strength."

Konan hesitated. "What about you?"

"I've already eaten," he lied, urging her to take it.

As she ate, Nagato broke the silence. "I saw Jiraiya-sensei today."

Konan froze mid-bite. "You did?"

"He came to confirm what happened to us. But I didn't let him know we're alive."

Konan lowered her gaze. "I understand. Our path now... it's not one he would approve of."

Nagato's voice hardened with resolve. "We'll create a world where his ideals can thrive, but we'll do it our way. No more suffering. No more endless cycles of war. This time, I'll find the answer."

Konan met his gaze, her eyes unwavering. "Whatever you decide, Nagato, I'll stand by you. Always."

A faint smile tugged at Nagato's lips. "Thank you."

---

Suddenly, his Rinnegan flared as he turned to the shadows of the cave. With a flick of his wrist, he pulled a figure from the wall—a grotesque, plant-like man.

"White Zetsu," Nagato said coldly. "I've been expecting you."

The creature squirmed in his grasp. "Wait! I'm not your enemy! I was sent by—"

Nagato cut him off, his voice icy. "You'll take me to Orochimaru. Now."

As his Rinnegan glowed with power, Nagato prepared to extract every answer he needed.

This time, there would be no mistakes.

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