The New Akatsuki

Summary
Yahiko and Nagato talk, Yanko revealing he wants to step down as the leader of the Akatsuki and have Nagato replace him. The talk is interrupted by Kyūsuke who reveals that a representative from Hanzō's group has arrived and the group meet Kanzō (in reality a disguised Danzō Shimura) who informs them that Hanzo wishes to meet with them to discuss an offering of peace. The group is overjoyed by the news, Yahiko remarking that so many gave their lives for them to reach this point as Nagato tells him he doesn't need to leave as his words reached Hanzō. When Kyūsuke suggests they go as backup, Yahiko talks them out of it, stating it would be meaningless. He then announces that the group should suspend their duties and celebrate, the group cheering. Meanwhile, at Hanzō's office, Hanzō and Danzō talk, the two noting that the Akatsuki members are unaware that the entire "meeting" is a trap while Konan who's out on patrol ends up being knocked out by gas and captured by two of Hanzō's men.

Early the next day, Nagato meets Obito who wants Nagato to join him but Nagato refuses. Once Obito has left, Yahiko arrives in and tells Nagato they should leave or they'll be late to the arranged meeting with Hanzō. A few hours later, Kyūsuke receives a message and reveals to the others that Konoha's Root division are attempting an assassination of the Akatsuki leaders. Their paths are blocked by Obito and Zetsu, Obito revealing he wants Nagato to know what true pain really is. Kyūsuke and the other members fight, Kyusuke sacrificing himself in a failed attempt to kill Obito. The rest of the group are then defeated and subsequently killed via Obito's Wood Release: Cutting Technique as Obito and Zetsu leave, arriving in time to witness Hanzō threatening Yahiko, claiming that as the leader of Akatsuki, Yahiko must die and that if he refuses, Konan will die. Despite Konan's pleading for her teammates to leave, they refuse, Hanzō throwing a kunai to Nagato and telling him that he must kill Yahiko and that in doing so, they'll be allowed to live. Not wanting Nagato to suffer, Yahiko impales himself on the kunai Nagato's holding and expresses his hope Nagato will change the world before he dies.

With Yahiko dead, Hanzo orders his men and the Root shinobi to kill Konan and Nagato as well. This has Nagato using his Rinnegan to stop the approaching kunai and as Nagato saves Konan, Hanzo uses Fire Release: Exploding Flame Formation to damage Nagato's legs. Despite that, Nagato refuses to give up, summoning the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path which kills the Konoha and Ame shinobi as Hanzō escapes from their wrath via the Body Flicker Technique. The Statue then disappears, revealing Nagato has become frail due to the fact that he has black receivers in his back. Sometime later, Nagato is finally driven by Obito Uchiha's Eye of the Moon Plan and along with Konan, agrees to join Obito, Nagato repeating the words Madara told Obito including the fact that hatred is born from wanting to protect love. Then as Obito and Zetsu leave, Nagato states that Yahiko, whose body is now the Deva Path of his Six Paths of Pain, will always be the true leader of the Akatsuki.

Credits
新生・暁