Game of Shadows by Adrian King1

Chapter 136

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor The Gamer. I own nothing, really.

Cover Art: Kissuli.

Chapter 136

[Nagato]

"And what is it that you'd like to talk about?" he asked the boy that had made his dream possible and completely ruined all his plans at the same time. The boy had made him and his group of S ranked ninja look like amateurs. Sometimes the world they lived in was really strange, Nagato had long since realized, but life loved to remind him of that.

"Everyone still wants your head, Nagato, don't know if you'd realized," the boy commented, turning to gaze towards the horizon. And yes, he had, in fact, realized that was the case. However, there wasn't much he could do about it then, was there? "So, I'm here to have a chat about how you are gonna become a productive member of society again instead of a terrorist."

That gave Nagato pause. Fortunately, it wasn't him being weird, apparently, because Konan looked downright shocked. How did the boy expect to pull that off, he had to wonder. Sure, he had a lot of pull with the Nations but still...

"If you want to not have to hide for the rest of your life or be thrown in a prison or be outright killed, then I have a plan for you," Satou told him, the lazy smile on his face at odds with the seriousness of what he was saying. "The choice is yours," he added, his lips tugging up in what Nagato could only assume was some kind of inside joke of his. "I can't push the decision off forever though, the Kages will be on my ass to do something about you eventually, and you do have two of the Tailed Beasts hostage somewhere."

"And I'm guessing whatever plan you have involves giving those back?" Nagato asked, but it was literally a given that he would have to. No, he wasn't really wondering about that, he was just talking for talking's sake. He needed time to consider whatever options he had. What did he want for his future? What did he want for Konan's future?

"I'm not even gonna answer that," Satou answered with a chuckle. "If you need time, then sure. I can wait for a bit. I'm in no rush to get out of here. I like this country."

There was a moment of silence then, as the boy looked at nothing off into the distance and Konan and Nagato stared at him. Could there really be a good option for them now? Was there any way for them to enjoy the peace the world had finally reached, however momentarily? He hadn't thought it was possible before, even when he thought his plans might stand a chance. Now though...

"What is it you have in mind?" Nagato asked, drawing a hum from Satou.

"Well, first of all, you will return the Tailed Beasts to the Villages you took them from," the Weaver told him, picking up a rock from next to him and bringing it up to look at it. "From there... Well, I have an idea that I think you might like," he started, and if he didn't already have Nagato's full attention, he did then. "How would you like to contribute to peace?"

"I'm listening," the man replied instantly, drawing a chuckle from the boy.

"The Land of Rain has been so devastated by war times for a reason," Satou told them, as if they didn't already know that. "It's in the middle of three big Nations, Wind, Rock and Fire. Hell, it's in a very convenient – or inconvenient, depending – place for Lightning or Water to get around."

"You are not telling us anything new, Weaver," Nagato replied bitterly, but his tone didn't affect the boy in any way. "Is there a point to all of this?"

"Yes, actually, there is," Satoy told him with a sad, understanding smile. "If it's in the best spot to get around from one big Nation to the other... Then it means it's in the best spot to reach all the big Nations itself."