Chapter 258: The Weight of “Sorry”

Nagato knew the truth. He knew it better than anyone. If Sasuke hadn't arranged that meeting with Kakashi at such a critical moment, maybe these words would sound believable. If Sasuke hadn't severed his connection with Pakkun, maybe there'd be some credibility. If the Root hadn't silenced Tenten at the very end, maybe this really would be the truth. But none of those ifs had happened.

Sasuke pulled the black rod from Naruto's body. Nagato did not stop him. The boy who might one day become the Seventh Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto, stood up once more. After that long explanation, his face was filled with sorrow.

"Amegakure... I'm sorry. We didn't know he would do something like that." His expression was heavy with guilt, genuine guilt. "Kakashi-sensei... I misunderstood him." His voice was sincere.

Nagato laughed. Not a quiet laugh. A sharp, explosive one, something the Akatsuki had never heard before. Only Konan understood. Nagato was on the verge of collapse. She reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

"Nagato..." But he didn't respond.

"Sorry? Apologize? HAHAHAHA!!! That's hilarious!!! One hundred thousand citizens, Uzumaki Naruto! ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND!!! My village had thirteen thousand nine hundred and twenty two people, now only one hundred and nineteen remain! And you tell me 'sorry'? You tell me 'apologize'? You say it was Danzo's fault, that you're victims too?! What a joke! If I destroyed your village and told you 'sorry,' would you accept it?!"

Naruto looked devastated. Sympathy, pity, guilt, all tangled together. He truly felt pain for what had happened.

And yet Sakura felt something break inside her. It felt absurd. When did I become like this? After spending so long with Akatsuki, seeing Naruto's apologetic, sorrowful expression didn't comfort her. It angered her. She would rather see rage. Hatred. The kind of fury that came from helplessness. Not this pity. What right do you have to pity anyone? You caused this. And what right do you have to feel guilty? Is "I didn't know" enough to erase everything? Sakura no longer understood. Did they change, or did I?

Nagato stopped laughing. He couldn't anymore. His face softened. Calm. Gentle. Like a kind older brother from next door.

"Naruto, when I was a child, my homeland became a battlefield. After my parents were killed by a Leaf ninja who lost control, they apologized to me too. Just like you are now." Interesting, isn't it? No. It was a joke.

"A little later, I met my most important companions. I met Jiraiya-sensei. He told me not all Leaf ninja were like that. But later, my friend, my savior, my dream, Yahiko, was killed through a conspiracy between Konoha and Hanzo. And now my country has fallen, my village reduced to ruins." His voice sharpened. "These are the three greatest pains of my life."

"I've killed many people. I owe countless debts. But Konoha, Konoha owes me. It was your ninja who killed my parents. Your village that caused Yahiko's death. Your people who destroyed my country and my home!" His words struck like iron. "You think I'm here for revenge? I'm not. If I wanted revenge, Konoha would have been gone when Yahiko died! I'm here for justice. The people of Amegakure didn't know anything. Over ten thousand civilians, most of them weren't even ninja! You killed them. And now you think saying 'sorry' and blaming Danzo is enough?"

Naruto struggled to respond. Pain filled his face. "The Hyuga clan was innocent too! My friends were innocent! You attacked them first, you took their eyes! The Hyuga lost everything! People died one after another! That pain, it's unbearable! You were cruel! You went too far!"

Nagato's expression turned cold. "Cruel? Too far? You dare mention the Hyuga?" His voice rose again. "Have you seen Toneri? Do you even know what kind of person he is? He had no schemes. He didn't want power. His eyes weren't for domination, they were meant to see the world! And what did the Hyuga do? Eight sealing needles. Three silver spikes. And they took his eyes! He can't even return home now!"

Silence fell over the battlefield. Who was right? Who was wrong? No one could say anymore. If things had gone differently, if eyes were never taken, if choices were never made, would any of this have happened? If Obito had never been crushed by that boulder, if leadership had passed differently. But if was meaningless. This world had no room for it.

"I understand." Naruto spoke. His voice was strained. "You killed my friends for your friends. I killed your friends for mine. It's just a cycle of hurting each other. If this continues, it'll never end. I don't want to see this anymore. Not for Konoha, not for Amegakure. Let's stop. If we keep going, this world will become hell."

That was the difference between Naruto and Nagato. Naruto was always one step behind. Hatred was something Nagato had already wrestled with years ago. Now, Naruto was only just beginning.

"Hatred?" Nagato chuckled softly. "I told you before, if this were about revenge, you wouldn't exist anymore. We're here to make you understand war. To feel it. Only then will you truly desire peace."

Naruto's expression hardened. "I'm not some ignorant kid anymore! I know how cruel war is, I've felt it myself!"

Nagato shook his head. "No." He looked directly at Naruto. "What you've felt is the pity of a victor. Not the despair of the defeated."