Parallel World 7, Konoha Year 83.
That is, 15 years after the Fourth Great Ninja War ended.
Above the ruins of Amegakure, two figures suddenly appeared.
Clearly, Lux had brought the revived Nagato from Parallel World 5 to the normal future world 16 years later.
"This... where... is this...?"
Nagato looked at the ruined city in front, the excitement of time travel instantly shattered.
"This is Amegakure 16 years later. Why, don't you recognize it?"
Lux smiled faintly, explaining casually.
Nagato froze on the spot, looking far ahead.
He certainly recognized this familiar village, even though it was in ruins, he still remembered it clearly.
The rainy tea house where they drank tea, Mrs. Pig's steamed bun shop, the authentic dango skewer stall, and the special service shop with a unique atmosphere...
One by one, building after building, was etched in Nagato's heart.
This was the village where he grew up, and the city he rebuilt step by step after defeating Hanzo the Salamander.
The place tens of thousands of Rain Country residents depended on for life.
How could Nagato not recognize it?
Even the tall tower in the city center was his and Konan's residence, the former Akatsuki meeting headquarters!
Even though it was rusted and dilapidated, Nagato would not easily forget it.
It was precisely because it was familiar that it now felt so foreign!
So foreign that Nagato couldn't believe this was his future Amegakure!
"How could it be like this...?"
Seeing the current miserable state of Amegakure, even the determined Nagato almost lost his spirit.
Although he already knew this outcome and had mentally prepared himself, the impact of seeing it firsthand could not be erased by any expectations!
If this was truly the future, in just over a decade, how could this not-so-grand but fairly complete city become more ruined than after the Third Great Ninja War?
This shouldn't be!
This was impossible!
Wasn't it said that this era was peaceful? Wasn't Naruto already the Hokage?
Why was Amegakure worse off?
Nagato sensed in a flash that in this vast ruined city, there were only dozens of people still alive...
Compared to the tens of thousands before, it wasn't even a tenth!
He couldn't accept such a future!
Luckily Konan didn't come; she loved Amegakure even more than Nagato. If she saw this, she would definitely be even sadder!
"The peace of the great nations has never belonged to the small nations; you should understand that."
"I know, it's just me..."
Nagato wanted to say more, but it only turned into a sigh of resignation.
In front of the naked reality of the ruins, all dreams shattered.
"Sir once said there was an organization called Kara conducting human experiments here? Were they the ones who made the village like this?"
"Yes and no."
The decline and destruction of Amegakure certainly had the Kara organization's involvement.
This was one of their outer bases, managed by the core member Victor, who secretly kidnapped orphaned children in the ruins of Amegakure for forbidden research.
But fundamentally, Kara only targeted Amegakure after the Fourth Great Ninja War.
After the war, the world was indeed peaceful on the surface, but silent struggles and profit-seeking still continued.
As a border region of three great nations, Amegakure's position was very special. Plus, without self-defense capabilities, it slowly became a battleground for criminals and foreign forces.
Even if the five great nations didn't interfere, there were still dozens of small villages and organizations!
Today they plunder, tomorrow they clash, the day after they kidnap people to sell...
Who could endure that?
Once the spiral of chaos began, Amegakure slowly crumbled...
If Nagato were still alive, Amegakure would remain intact and have strength; most criminals wouldn't dare; the Kara organization also wouldn't gnaw at it.
Just as Kara didn't dare to deal with the five great villages.
In short, without the strength to defend itself, placing hopes of survival on the mercy of the great nations ultimately led to this destruction.
This was both a coincidence and an inevitability.
Like other small countries and villages that had already perished.
"So that's how it is... it turned out to be just as Yahiko said back then? No one will save Amegakure; only we ourselves can!"
Nagato's thoughts drifted further, recalling Yahiko's dream.
Back then, Yahiko also had the chance to leave Amegakure.
But he chose to stay!
Not relying on Master Jiraiya, not hoping for others, but establishing Akatsuki, trying to save Amegakure, to revive this country!
And now, he who claimed to inherit Yahiko's will.
Instead, he messed everything up...
Betrayed Yahiko's dream...
'Yahiko, it seems I was really wrong!'
The heavy rain grew even heavier, as if weeping for the ruined Amegakure, also mourning Nagato's sorrow.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Nagato didn't resist the rain, letting it soak his body, as if hoping the cold water would sober him up.
'There was never any child of prophecy; Amegakure's happiness can only be created by ourselves!'
A long time later, Nagato stood up again, his eyes losing their confusion, filled with determination and firmness.
"Sir, finally, can this future be changed?"
"The reality here cannot be changed; but the future of Amegakure in your world can be rewritten."
"Thank you, Sir. I know what I have to do! Please return me!"
Nagato nodded gratefully, his words filled with determination again.
"Before you leave, do you want to meet the future Naruto here?" Lux asked casually.
Honestly, he wanted to see it.
What kind of expression would Naruto show now, seeing Nagato from the past, knowing the state of Amegakure?
Back then, 'The Hokage is my ninja way!'
But in the end, he was defeated by reality!
"No need, there's nothing to talk about."
Nagato shook his head sadly; he was in no mood, nor was it necessary.
What was the point of meeting the future Naruto?
Asking why he didn't protect Amegakure? Why he didn't keep his promise?
What was the use?
Could he restore the ruined Amegakure? Revive the tens of thousands of residents?
Impossible!
So, instead of wasting time arguing with Naruto, it was better to think about how to change the future!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
At the same time.
*BOOM!*
A violent explosion and collapse sounded from underground in the center of Amegakure.
It was Kara's explosives planted underground, trying to bury all the investigators!
Instantly, a giant ink painting bird flew out of the underground base, rising into the city's sky.
The one-armed Sasuke and Sai, who were investigating Kara, sat on the bird.
"Almost got buried alive. They are indeed unusual."
"This place has been abandoned; maybe Shin was also used by them," Sasuke responded coldly.
"But Shin said Kara was hope..."
"Maybe he was so desperate that he had to consider them hope? Desperate people will grasp at anything, even if it's an illusion," Sasuke understood very well.
"By the way, that underground equipment just now?"
"Looks like special human experimentation tools..."
"Human experiments? How evil!"
"Let's go, we need to return..."
While responding, Sasuke scanned his surroundings, looking for other enemies.
Suddenly, he seemed to see two figures standing on a tall building kilometers away; the silhouette of one of them instantly triggered his memories.
"That?!"
"What's wrong? What do you see?"
Sasuke blinked, looking more closely, but the place was empty, as if no one was there.
"No... maybe my eyes were wrong. He couldn't possibly still be alive..."
"Typical Uchiha Sharingan nearsightedness?"
"Since when did you learn dry jokes?"
"Just trying to lighten the mood."
"Let's go! Hurry back. This news must be reported to Naruto immediately!"