Jiraiya stared directly at Uzumaki Nagato. Ever since their last conversation, this question had lingered heavily in his mind.
He hadn't expected the exam space to raise it so soon.
From Nagato's shaken demeanor, it was clear—even he hadn't truly considered the answer.
Jiraiya's expression shifted slightly. He ran through a dozen possible answers in his mind but dismissed them all.
He didn't know, and that made him anxious. Still, part of him wanted to know—perhaps needed to.
But he wasn't the only one in the exam space deeply disturbed by this question.
There was someone else who feared the answer more than anyone else.
Konan.
She needed the answer even more than Jiraiya did.
In the last video playback, Nagato had died from using the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique—the jutsu capable of resurrection.
But…
He had used it to revive everyone in Konoha. So why hadn't he used it to bring back Yahiko?
That was the question that had taken root in her heart and refused to let go.
She had never doubted Nagato—just as Nagato had never doubted her—but her thoughts betrayed her.
She had asked Nagato once before. According to him, the Outer Path required chakra, not the caster's life. His death in the video came from complete chakra depletion, not the cost of the jutsu itself.
Now, however, things were different.
Nagato's body had been fully restored in the answering space. He had even received a 10% chakra bonus from the space's rewards. At this point, his chakra reserves rivaled that of a tailed beast.
So why hadn't Yahiko been resurrected?
She didn't know.
She couldn't know.
---
Elsewhere in the space...
"The boss can use a resurrection jutsu. If you asked, I'm sure he'd bring back your little thing," Kakuzu said to Hidan, his tone dry as always.
Hidan froze.
He knew who Kakuzu was referring to—and that Kakuzu was being serious, in his own way.
He fell into deep thought, unusually quiet for once.
Then, slowly, he shook his head. Kakuzu's expectant stare lingered.
"No. I don't want to resurrect her."
"…What?"
Even Kakuzu's normally monotonous voice sharpened with tension.
"If you're worried the leader won't agree, I can help intercede," Kakuzu narrowed his eyes.
"I said no," Hidan replied firmly.
"The wicked haven't been eliminated yet. Until they're all dead—until Lord Jashin's judgment has swept the world—I won't resurrect Janna."
He stood firm, his voice cold and unwavering. "When the day comes, when I've offered every sinner to Jashin, I'll go to the leader."
Kakuzu blinked.
This lunatic…
Yet strangely, he now saw a pattern.
He looked from Hidan to Nagato.
The realization hit him.
Nagato had always been willing to give his life for peace. But peace couldn't be achieved overnight.
Even if he used his life to bring Yahiko back, Yahiko lacked the overwhelming power Nagato held through the Rinnegan. Without that power, there would be no peace. The war would rage on.
So Nagato waited.
He chose not to revive Yahiko immediately, perhaps with the plan to do so once peace was secured.
Now that his body was restored—thanks to the angel's reward—Nagato hadn't resurrected Yahiko.
That could only mean one thing.
"Hey! What are you spacing out for?"
Hidan waved a hand in front of Kakuzu's face, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Kakuzu turned to him with wide eyes.
"I… I know the answer to the question."
---
"Brown Team, please begin answering."
In the answering space, Nagato had calmed himself.
His heart was pounding.
This question—it was his alone to answer.
He never thought anyone else could guess it—not even Konan.
It was the ultimate unsolvable question.
According to the rules, if all seven groups answered incorrectly, the question would be discarded.
"Me? Answer this?"
Deidara's voice was already hoarse. He was losing it. Completely.
He didn't care anymore.
His brain was cooked from the previous questions.
No matter what the next question was—his answer would be Uchiha Sasuke!
He refused to believe he could be wrong again!
He was going crazy.
He was really going crazy.
He started to believe he might have some cursed bloodline trait—was the exam space targeting him?
"My answer is—"
"SHUT UP!"
A sharp voice cut him off.
Then—SMACK!
A soft but firm hand covered his mouth.
Black Zetsu? No... Black soil.
Yes, it was Kurotsuchi—Black Earth—who leapt into action.
She didn't just cover his mouth—she stuffed her entire fist into it, if that's what it took to stop him.
"Deidara, you are done answering questions!"
"Wuuuh—ffnngh—I want to answer! Let me answer!" Deidara thrashed like a madman, blood vessels bulging in his eyes.
Onoki exhaled deeply, wiping the sweat from his brow. His old bones trembled.
Thank Kami… Kurotsuchi was quick enough.
If Deidara had answered again…
Well.
It would've been chaos.
---
Three correct answers. That was fine.
Four?
Absolutely not.
Akatsuki was already everyone's enemy. Nagato gathering people like this only served to weaken the Five Great Nations.
Deidara answering twice was already suspicious.
Three times could be ignored.
But four?
That would not be tolerated.
Just look at Raikage and Mizukage—both looked like they'd swallowed raw poison.
Their faces were so purple, they could blend in with the Purple Team's colors.
If Deidara answered again, someone might actually kill him right there in the space.
Onoki saw the madness in the young man's eyes and turned to Nagato quickly.
"We pass! We pass! Brown Team passes on this question!"
"Just play the video! Play the second analysis, the one with Uchiha Sasuke killing Danzō!"
He didn't wait for approval. He rushed over to help Kurotsuchi hold Deidara down, forcing his mouth shut with all his might.
"Deidara… don't blame Kurotsuchi," Onoki said calmly. "The ninja world's water is far too deep for you. You're still too young…"
---
Nagato turned his eyes back to the screen.
The system had not flagged the brown team's behavior, so he let it go.
"Brown Team has forfeited the fourth question. This round is complete."
"Brown Team answered three questions correctly and earned one video analysis reward."
"Now playing analysis of the second question."
The screen lit up.
All eyes turned forward.
But many hearts… were still lost in that unanswered question.