Inu and I have been on the road for two days now.

  The night we spent cuddled together in one of the numerous caves dotting the landscape and the days we spent on the road.

  Nothing could have prepared me for what it felt like to just walk and walk and walk endlessly across the bleak, utterly colorless expanse of the Rain for days on end.

  I knew that I was lucky to have chakra and some modicum of knowledge on how to use it.

  When I circulated my chakra, the cold did not seep into my body as deeply as I knew it should, and my muscles weren't burning as much as I was sure they could have.

  I even got used to the rain!

  I barely felt it anymore. It was like listening to a song on repeat for so long that it just faded into background noise.

  The feeling of rain hitting my skin provided me with a welcome distraction to the boredom consuming my thoughts.

  It was that unending boredom that turned out to be my greatest enemy.

  I had suspected that finding two orphan children would turn out to be difficult, but I really underestimated the enormity of the task ahead. When looking at a map, the Land of Rain appeared many times smaller than the likes of Fire and Earth.

  I thought that meant a few days of travel would be enough for me to have found some hint of Yahiko and Konan.

  It wasn’t.

  I always pictured the Elemental Nations as a lot smaller than Earth. And why wouldn’t I? It took Naruto barely a few days to travel from Konoha to Suna.

  As it turned out, that was only possible because they were traveling with superhuman speed. I had been walking for days, and the scenery had not changed at all.

  Hunger had set in long ago and still, no sight of neither Yahiko nor Konan.

  One would think my nascent sensing abilities would be of enormous help.

  They weren’t.

  Not only was I liable to hurting myself when I extended my radar farther than I could currently handle, but even within the safe boundary of a couple dozen meters, my use of the Mind's Eye was crude. I could focus on no more than a few things simultaneously, and I had to consciously be looking for them. At that point it would be easier to just look around with my Rinnegan.

  It was like suddenly learning how to walk with the legs of an elite athlete after a life spent in a wheelchair.

  If there was one thing that the last two days gave me, however, then it was time to think. And think, I did.

  That was when my brain finally clicked, and I realized what this sensing ability was. It was the Mind's Eye of the Kagura. It had to be. The Uzumaki exclusive sensing technique that could outperform even the likes of the Byakugan. I had no idea how I unlocked it, nor did I remember the original Nagato ever showing any signs of possessing the ability.

  Then again, I doubt that he had any need for it. The Rinnegan already provided him with all the intel-gathering capacity he would ever need.

  With luck that meant I might eventually find a way to utilize the Adamantine Sealing Chains of the Uzumaki as well. Sure, I could already absorb any and all forms of Chakra with the Rinnegan, but absorbing was different from sealing. There were many ways I could think of in which such an ability would end up useful.

  As it stood, however, I had no idea how to even begin unlocking them.

  I was lucky to somehow stumble upon the Mind's Eye. Using chakra to enhance my body simply came naturally to me, and the abilities of the Rinnegan came so instinctively it was almost like it wanted to be used. To be relied upon.

  No matter how much I wished for it, I was no Hiruzen yet. I would need proper instruction in the ways of Chakra Theory before I could start putting some of my more outlandish ideas into action.

  Anyways, one thing that improved with my continued tinkering with the Mind's Eye was my ability to pick up on vague impressions of feelings and intent in people's chakras. I only had experience with using Inu as a guinea pig, but still even now, it was an extremely disorienting feeling.

  If I remembered it right, roughly half of what humans understood of another person's mood and meaning was perceived through body language. Another up to forty percent came from the pitch and volume of their voice. Very little actually depended on the exact words spoken.

  The Mind's Eye added a new layer to that perception.

  Despite his intelligence, Inu was an altogether simple creature. He rarely felt more than one emotion at the same time. An emotion I could feel now. It was like his chakra took on a certain texture I instinctively understood the meaning of.

  That sense might end up becoming more reliable than even my extraordinary sight when it comes to deciphering the feelings of the people I interact with in the future. I knew that Karin, who I was now distantly related to, could tell whether people were lying to her or not by using the Mind's Eye.

  The feeling I was currently picking up from my small dog companion broke my heart.

  ?Woof“ I looked down at Inu walking on my right side. He started back up at me with a pitiful expression. He was so thin. I could practically see his ribs. "I know, boy, I will find us something to eat soon."

  I guess I have been fooling myself.

  I knew exactly how the original Nagato had spent his own days wandering the land. He was always just a single step away from starvation and, in his desperation, went from house to house, begging for scraps.

  He received nothing.

  I knew that eventually I would have to steal if I wanted to survive. That was not just a possibility. It was a fact. If not now, then at the latest when I finally found the two orphans I was looking for.

  I had absolutely no interest in being scolded for my perceived naivety by a ginger brat that couldn’t be any older than ten years old at this point in time.

  There was a reason for why I was hesitating. A good reason, in my opinion.

  That moment, when I looked down at the ruined corpse I had made of the Konoha shinobi and felt nothing but apathy at his demise…it left a deeper impact on me than I would like to admit.

  I learned something about myself that day, and I wasn’t sure whether I liked it.

  Killing was bad, and stealing was bad. That was what I was raised to believe. My parents might not have been the greatest, not even particularly good really, but the one thing they never held back on was teaching me right from wrong.

  If I abandoned those lessons now just because there’s nobody here to hold me accountable, where would it end?

  Who was it alright to steal from? Who was it alright to kill? What was right and what was wrong?

  Men and women many times wiser than me had spent thousands of years contemplating those very questions. Who was I to say I knew better? I was just a sixteen-year-old boy trapped in a child’s body with more power than I knew what to do with.

  I knew that eventually I would possess power on a level that few, if any, could match. If I willed it, nobody would be my equal. Nobody would be able to resist me. To keep me in line.

  That was the part most people usually didn’t stop to consider when thinking about a world where personal power was real and not just an illusion that only became real because people believed and wanted it to be so.

  I also did not use to think about it too hard before, but if there was one thing the last couple of days of wandering had given me, then it was time to think.

  In a monarchy the power is concentrated with the king. A dictator similarly has all the power. That was because they were in control of the military and, as such, had a monopoly on violence.

  And yet, at the end of the day, they were still only mortal. They could never rest easy. What if somebody put a knife in their hearts while they slept? What if the military betrayed them? They still existed within the delicate bounds of the social contract between themselves and the people. They only wielded as much power as they were allowed to.

  An existence like mine, the type of being I would have to become just to survive in this world, would have none of those worries.

  I would have all the power, not because the people gave it to me or because I controlled the military. I would have the power because my very existence would be power personified. I alone would make the very idea of a military obsolete.

  If I managed to live up to my full potential, every single being in this world would live and die at my pleasure.

  That thought scared me. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

  I wouldn’t call myself a particularly good person. I never cared too much about the suffering that people I did not know somewhere in another corner of the world were experiencing; after all, that was simply how the world worked. I was just a teenager trying to live his life. What did those people expect me to do?

  I know now why I thought that way.

  I thought so because I lacked power. It was the same for most people living in my old world.

  Individually, we were weak. In the best-case scenario, we only had enough power to protect ourselves and the people in our immediate surroundings. That was why we gathered together in communities and in countries and elected leaders so that they would solve and address problems that we as singular people were too weak to handle.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  That is not how things work in this world.

  In this world, there existed beings so mighty that they could fashion the world in their image the way no single country back on Earth had ever managed to. If I wished for it, I could become one of those beings.

  I could fix this broken world.

  That insidious thought wormed itself into my head without my permission, and I was briefly shocked at my own thought process.

  The sheer arrogance and selfishness of it.

  Still, I knew that I could not stop now. I knew that if I wanted to remain in control over not only my fate but also my very self, I would have to be very conscious of every decision I made. Even the small ones.

  I would not allow myself to end up like Obito and Madara. Like how Sasuke almost did. People so utterly consumed by their own sense of self-importance that they began to lose themselves, one bad decision after the other. Until in the end, they become unrecognizable from the person they were in their youth.

  Would I use my power to steal from the innocent? Would I kill those who angered me? Inadvertently, I had already done one of those. Sure, I was just a child, but that was not an excuse.

  When one individual could wield power even greater than the one the most powerful nations back on earth could bring to bear, no excuse was enough.

  In this moment, however, looking down at Inu's pathetic-looking body, I realized that I had been selfish.

  Those who trusted and followed me should not have to suffer for me to keep the moral high ground. Even though I knew it to be wrong, at the end of the day, the lives of the people close to me would always be more important than that of those I did not know.

  Despite all of my aspirations, I was still only human. If I started acting like I wasn't, I would eventually break.

  I crouched down and scratched Inu behind the ears. "I am sorry, Inu. I will get us some food real soon.“

  The smart dog looked at me with trusting eyes, and I wanted to punch myself for letting my first companion in this world suffer like this.

  I am going to spoil him rotten in the future.

  This dog would live better than all the Daimyo of this world combined.

  With determined steps, I approached the next village we came across. I had been avoiding them until now, knowing that they did not hold what I was looking for. That was no longer the case.

  Today, I am going to use the Eyes of God to rob a civilian.

  I would become Ninja Robin Hood. Except, instead of stealing from the rich, I would take from the poor, and instead of giving to the poor, I would give to the even poorer.

  Me and Inu, to be exact.

  The roads turned from rock and mud into actual, well-taken-care-of stone roads once I finally drew closer to one of the remote villages I had seen in the distance with my Rinnegan.

  I almost let out a moan in relief.

  Inu seemed to agree by the way he was wagging his tail. The poor guy's little paws were all dirty.

  Seeing that it was time to get ready for my heist, the first thing I did was make sure that my crimson fell over my face. I carefully arranged my hair in a way that would ensure that my eyes were fully covered.

  I was unsure why exactly the original Nagato had done so; after all, he did not know anything about the mythical status of his eyes, but I could recognize the value of keeping them hidden.

  Not always, of course. However, in this instance, I knew that discretion was the better part of valor. My eyes were simply too memorable, and I did not wish to leave any lasting impression on these people. My unique red hair would already leave too many clues.

  I closed my eyes for a moment in concentration. It is time to get to work.

  With my Rinnegan sealed shut, I opened my mind's eye and focused my sixth sense on analyzing the people living in the small village.

  I did not feel safe in broadening my range far enough that it would spread across the entirety of the village just yet, so I walked into the middle of it to get as much coverage as possible.

  I smiled wryly to myself when I saw any curious onlookers quickly closing their curtains when they saw me walk by.

  Suddenly I feel a lot less guilty about this.

  Finding a house that suited my needs at the edge of the village, I gestured to Inu to remain quiet and walked closer.

  I unhurriedly knocked at the door and waited.

  With one last bit of preparation, I once again checked if my Rinnegan was covered and put on my most innocent smile.

  It did not take long before the door opened halfway and a grumpy-looking older man showed his face. He looked down at me with impassive eyes.

  ?What do you want, kid?“

  With my smile remaining unchanged, I used chakra to enhance my speed and lashed out with my right hand, grabbing his face. Simultaneously, I tapped into the power of the Deva Path and sent a micro-scale repulsive force through my hand.

  The man's head snapped back violently.

  His body went limp as the shock of the sudden acceleration shut his consciousness down.

  I looked down at the unconscious man twice my size lying on the floor.

  Well, that just happened.

  I had approached this whole thing with concepts of a plan, but even I did not think that it would all work out so seamlessly. A plan never survived contact with the enemy after all. It appears that the world did not acknowledge this random civilian as my enemy, because that worked out perfectly!

  I wasn't a doctor, but I knew enough to guess that he would wake up with at least a light concussion. The pure gravitational energy I had shot out in a shockwave must have rattled his brain pretty badly.

  Still, I firmly believed that this was the safest way I could have gone about it. I had never knocked out anyone with a punch before and did not know the exact amount of strength such a feat would require. The abilities of the Rinnegan, on the other hand, came instinctively. I knew exactly how much force was required to fulfill my goal.

  I picked up my most recent victim up and beckoned Inu, who followed my command with a quiet bark, inside.

  The warmth that hit me the moment I entered the door was like balm to my soul. I let out a satisfied breath and dragged the knocked-out man behind me until we reached his couch. I carelessly put him on it and started looking around.

  ?This guy sure has good taste. I did not expect that from the grey stone building I saw outside.“

  Dragging my hand across the expensive-looking wooden table in the living room, I felt momentarily confused.

  How strange. I thought everyone was poor in this country?

  How could he afford furniture like this? That wood had to be imported straight from the land of Fire.

  Forcefully halting my idle thoughts, I followed the smell of food until I arrived in the kitchen. I quickly took out my empty bag and started filling it with the bread and meat I found in the cupboards.

  These damn people. Are they really letting children starve outside while they have storages like this? This type of behavior is why greed is a sin!

  Once my bag was full, I took a seat at the small kitchen table and tore the piece of bread laying on it in half. I took a bite out of one half and gave the other to the best boy in the land of Rain

  Contrary to what one would expect from a formerly stray dog, he had remained still and completely composed while watching me store the food. He did not attempt to steal some of it for himself even once!

  This is why dogs are superior. A cat would never.

  I relaxed for a couple of minutes and enjoyed the first few moments of genuine comfort I experienced since arriving in this world.

  "Come on, boy. It is time to leave; no need to push our luck."

  However, before we did that, there was something else I needed to take care of. In my distraught state, I left the place where I buried my parents without the single most important piece of clothing I could have taken with me. It was time to correct that now.

  I looked through the closet of the man whose home I had invaded until I found what I was looking for.

  A raincoat.

  It was adult-sized, so it reached well past my ankles. The sleeves were also too big. Luckily such concerns posed no problem for me. I simply tore at it until it was the length I needed it to be and left the excess fabric scattered across the floor.

  With the piece of clothing finally liberated from the strangely wealthy old man's clutches, I lost my last excuse to stay any further in the warm and comfortable house.

  With a deep sigh, I went downstairs and walked towards the couch. There was something else that needed doing before I could leave.

  How do I do this?

  I put my hand on the unconscious mans face and focused on the memory of our encounter. I knew that it was possible. Just like the Deva Path granted me complete control over the forces of gravity, so did the Human Path of the Rinnegan allow me dominion over the souls and minds of all living beings.

  I was still a mere amateur when it came to using my abilities, but even so, this was just a civilian, and I was an Uzumaki. The difference in our existence was enough for me to easily overcome any resistance he might have put up.

  I took hold of the memory I was looking for and tore it out of his head. I had no idea how it felt from his side, but I suddenly gained a few-second clip of opening the door and-

  I opened the door and saw a small boy looking up at me. I could not see his eyes, but his smile was pure, and I felt a hint of pity emerging from within me. Suddenly, there was a flicker of movement, and all went to black.

  I snapped back to reality just as the man opposite me let out a soft groan of pain.

  ?I guess you weren’t so bad after all, old man. My bad for robbing you, and you know…the concussion.”

  Feeling a bit guilty, I left the house with fully stocked-up supplies and hit the road again.

  Honestly, what are the chances that the house I decide to steal from contains the one guy in the entire Land of Rain who might actually have shown some charity?

  That was what I got for taking my knowledge from ?canon“ as gospel. I would have to do better in the future.

  ———————

  It took another day of walking until I found what I had been looking for.

  I sensed her before I saw her. At first I thought that I had to be mistaken. The bright, optimistic, and cheerful chakra I felt was nothing like God’s stoic angel, who always followed Pain around with an expression carved from ice.

  Once I saw the iconic head of blue hair in the distance, I could deny it no longer.

  That is Konan.

  One of the two orphans I had been looking for, and if Konan was here, Yahiko could not be far either.

  How am I going to do this?

  I had absolutely no problem interacting with strangers or people that I did not care for, but this was a person I wanted to have a good relationship with. That was a different matter entirely.

  I felt a bit weird. After all, I knew so much about her.

  I could tell her of a life she had not yet lived. A life in which she would watch the man she loved die and be used as a meat puppet for decades to come, while she was forced to witness her best friend wasting away. Powerless to stop any of it.

  In my mind, I knew all of this, and yet, the bright young child I felt walking in the distance was nothing like that jaded woman.

  No use hesitating any longer.

  Feeling inspired, I crouched down and looked at my dog companion with a serious look in my eyes.

  Inu seemed to have grown used to my numerous, sudden mood changes because he took my strange behavior completely in stride.

  ?Inu. My good boy. I need you to do me a solid, okay? “I pointed at the girl walking by in the distance. She was quite far away, but I could see her in crystal clarity with the Rinnegan.

  ?Do you see that girl over there? Go up to her and start acting cute.“

  Inu, that way-too-smart dog, looked at my expectant expression, then followed my hand to where I was pointing. He looked at my face again and then turned around and began running towards his target.

  What a good boy.

  I waited for a bit and observed how he lured the unsuspecting victim of his manipulative ways into petting him. That's how dogs get you. I couldn’t even fault her; Inu got me too.

  I approached the pair with nonchalant steps and addressed Konan with an apologetic tone of voice.

  ?I’m sorry about Inu. He gets a bit…excited when meeting new people. My name is Nagato, by the way. What is yours?“

  Konan looked up at me with less surprise than I had been expecting. She did a double take when she saw the eyes I had uncovered the moment I left the previously empty village behind.

  "Wow…your eyes are very pretty!“ She silently stared at me for a few more moments before quickly adding, ?Ah! My name is Konan. It is nice to meet you,“ she smiled at me cheerfully.

  I was immediately stunned at the utterly sincere feel of her chakra. What a nice girl. She really was different from the Konan that existed in my head.

  ?Are you also alone out here? Inu and I have been walking for days, and you are the first living person we’ve come across.”

  Konan didn’t seem surprised at that.

  “No, I-” She stopped and looked to be considering something seriously for a few moments. Her amber eyes closed in concentration. When she spoke up again, her tone was bright.

  ?Come with me. Let’s get out of the rain first.“

  She began walking towards one of the numerous caves without looking back, and I quickly went to follow her. We eventually ended up in yet another cave, though this one was more spacious and unique-looking than the ones I was used to.

  Once we were out of the rain. Konan opened her mouth again.

  "Are you also an orphan, Nagato? If so, you are only the second living one I have met since my parents died! Children like us…do not tend to live very long.“ I glanced at her in sympathy.

  No child deserves to experience something like this.

  ?Yes, but it has only been a few days for me.“ Konan looked at me with honest compassion shining in her eyes.

  Compassion that I did not feel I deserved.

  ?For me it has been two weeks. At first it was…very hard, but then I met Yahiko. And since then it has not been too bad!“

  She seemed to realize that I had no way of knowing who Yahiko was because she brightened up once more and extended her hand to me. ?I want to show you something. That is, if you want to come with me?"

  A genuine smile stretched across my lips, and I nodded as I took her offered hand. ?Of course. Please lead the way.“

  From there, it did not take much longer until I met the boy who would go on to become my best friend. A ginger-haired brat with a fierce look on his face. Unfortunately, our first meeting began exactly how I dreaded it would.

  "Ehh, Konan. Who have you brought here?” He stared at me closely with furrowed eyebrows. “And what’s with those weird-looking eyes?”