Chapter 212: The World is Too Noisy, It Needs to Quiet Down


    Chapter 212: The World is Too Noisy, It Needs to Quiet Down


    When he realized that he was merely a pawn in someone else''s eyes, that everything he did was for others, and that the ideals he held dear meant nothing to others—


    Even though he knew the truth, he no longer had the power to change any of it.


    Nagato, who once prided himself as a "god," now found himself unable to muster feelings of anger, pain, or resentment. He merely felt like a joke.


    God?


    Heh.


    Beside him, Konan had calmed down significantly.


    If "Uchiha Madara" weren''t present, she would have liked to give him a deadly gift of a billion exploding tags.


    Hagoromo Gengetsu watched for a while, feeling that the drama had played out enough. He then spoke up:


    "I''ve told you the truth. Now, will you hand over the Rinnegan voluntarily, or should I take it myself?"


    Nagato didn''t react.


    Konan, having snapped out of her daze, stood in front of Nagato and coldly looked at Hagoromo Gengetsu. "Knowing the truth, you still want to pursue the Eye of the Moon Plan, don''t you?"


    Hagoromo Gengetsu nodded. "Otherwise, why would I seek you out? The Rinnegan is the key to the Eye of the Moon Plan."


    "To put the entire world under genjutsu, this false peace—is that something a person like you would accept?"


    Konan couldn''t understand, finding it absurd.


    False is false!


    Peace in a world of genjutsu was never the true peace she desired.


    It was merely self-deception, deception of others, and deception of the entire world.


    By comparison, Nagato''s plan involving the Tailed Beast weapons was more reliable.


    At least everyone in the ninja world would live in the real world, not a world where everything—people, things, experiences—was fake.


    Upon hearing this, Hagoromo Gengetsu merely said calmly, "The world is too noisy; it needs to quiet down."


    Indeed, it needs to quiet down.


    Just for a moment.


    Then it can return to being lively.


    Hagoromo Gengetsu thought to himself.


    Although he intended to cast Infinite Tsukuyomi, he never actually planned to carry out the Eye of the Moon Plan or destroy the world.


    All he wanted was to take a little something from everyone.


    Clients pay for just under an hour of pleasure.


    He intended to let everyone in the world have a long, pleasant dream in the genjutsu world, realizing their ideals and enjoying themselves, without being forever lost in it.


    The price he asked was merely the chakra within them, which could be replenished.


    It seemed like a great kindness.


    The ground beneath Hagoromo Gengetsu''s feet revealed numerous explosive tags.


    Zzzzz~~~


    All the explosive tags ignited instantly.


    The camouflage effect of the Dance of the Shikigami was such that even the Mangekyo? Sharingan couldn''t see through it.


    Konan developed this technique not only to protect Nagato''s body but also with the idea of targeting the time-space abilities of "Uchiha Madara."


    For this, she had long calculated the limit of "Uchiha Madara''s" intangibility and had been stockpiling explosive tags over the years.


    Unfortunately, she hadn''t accounted for Izanagi.


    Boom!


    A massive explosion resounded, accompanied by a mushroom cloud.


    Although Konan didn''t carry six hundred billion explosive tags with her, she still had thousands upon thousands.


    Just now, while Nagato and Hagoromo Gengetsu were conversing, she had secretly planted explosive tags, ready to use them at this moment.


    Such power was impossible to defend against with ninjutsu or physical strength.


    Konan was about to breathe a sigh of relief.


    Squelch!


    A hand pierced through her chest from behind.


    "Your Paper Release is quite impressive." Hagoromo Gengetsu appeared behind Konan, genuinely praising her.


    Paper Release was not a Kekkei Genkai. Even though she had only been trained by Jiraiya for three years, Konan had developed Paper Release from nothing to its current level, showcasing a talent that surpassed many people''s imaginations.


    Like now, Hagoromo Gengetsu''s imitation of Black Zetsu''s move would have killed even Madara.


    Though Konan''s chest had a large hole, it was evident that her insides were made entirely of paper.


    The Dance of the Shikigami allowed her to transform her body into countless paper fragments, making her immune to physical attacks.


    Even Hagoromo Gengetsu had to admit it was an impressive technique.


    Of course, it wasn''t without weaknesses.


    Hagoromo Gengetsu''s right hand, which was inside Konan''s body, opened up, and his palm began absorbing all the surrounding chakra like a black hole.


    Although Konan had turned into paper, the chakra sustaining the technique remained, all of which now poured into Hagoromo Gengetsu''s palm.


    With her chakra rapidly depleting, Konan couldn''t maintain the Dance of the Shikigami and was about to revert to her true form, making the hole in her chest real.


    Finally, Nagato moved.


    "Universal Pull!"


    He extended his hand, and the remaining paper fragments of Konan instantly flew to his side.


    After a moment of reassembly, Konan, though returned to her true form, looked very weak.


    Nagato didn''t attack again.


    He looked at Hagoromo Gengetsu and, accepting his fate, said calmly:


    "No need to fight, you can have the Rinnegan."