Naruto Uzumaki is the protagonist of the popular manga and anime series Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is a young ninja who dreams of becoming the Hokage, the leader of his village. He is also the host of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, a powerful creature that was sealed inside him when he was a baby.
Nagato, also known as Pain, is the main antagonist of the Pain Invasion Arc, one of the most climactic and tragic events in the series. He is the leader of the Akatsuki, a rogue ninja organization that seeks to capture all the tailed beasts, including Naruto’s. He is also the wielder of the Rinnegan, a rare and legendary eye power that grants him access to six different abilities.
But what is the connection between these two characters? How are they related? And what does their relationship mean for the story?
Contents
The Uzumaki Clan
The answer lies in their bloodline. Both Naruto and Nagato are descendants of the Uzumaki clan, a clan of shinobi that originated from Uzushiogakure, the Hidden Eddy Village. The Uzumaki clan was renowned for their longevity, vitality, and mastery of sealing techniques. They were also distant relatives of the Senju clan, another powerful clan that was allied with them.
The Uzumaki clan was feared and respected by other nations for their prowess and potential. However, this also made them targets of war and persecution. During the Second Shinobi World War, Uzushiogakure was destroyed by enemy forces who wanted to eliminate the threat of the Uzumaki. Many members of the clan were killed or scattered across the world.
The Orphans of War
Nagato was one of the survivors of this tragedy. He was born in Amegakure, the Hidden Rain Village, which was caught in the middle of the war between Konoha and Iwagakure. His parents were killed by Konoha shinobi when they mistook them for enemies. Nagato awakened his Rinnegan during this incident, which he inherited from his ancestor, Madara Uchiha.
Nagato was then found by two other war orphans, Yahiko and Konan. They formed a bond of friendship and survival, living on the streets and stealing food. They were eventually discovered by Jiraiya, one of Konoha’s legendary Sannin, who decided to train them as his students. Jiraiya taught them ninjutsu, as well as his philosophy of peace and justice.
Nagato admired Jiraiya and his ideals, and hoped to follow his footsteps as a hero who would end the cycle of war and hatred. He also learned that he was a descendant of the Uzumaki clan, and that his Rinnegan was a rare gift that could be used for good or evil.
The Birth of Pain
However, Nagato’s dreams were shattered when Yahiko was killed by Hanzo, the leader of Amegakure, who feared their growing influence and popularity among the people. Hanzo had allied with Danzo Shimura, a Konoha shinobi who led a covert organization called Root. They manipulated Nagato into killing Yahiko by threatening Konan’s life.
Nagato was devastated by Yahiko’s death, and blamed himself for being weak and naive. He renounced Jiraiya’s teachings, and decided to use his Rinnegan for a different purpose: to create a new world order through pain and fear. He believed that only by experiencing pain can people understand each other and avoid conflict.
He adopted the alias of Pain, and along with Konan, who remained loyal to him despite her doubts, he formed a new Akatsuki. He recruited other rogue ninja who had suffered from war and injustice, and gave them a common goal: to capture all the tailed beasts and use their combined power to create a massive weapon that would destroy everything in its path.
He also used his Rinnegan to create six different bodies that he controlled remotely through black rods embedded in their bodies. These bodies were known as the Six Paths of Pain, each with a different ability derived from his Rinnegan. He used these bodies as his agents and proxies, while he himself remained hidden in a secret location.
The Clash of Ideals
Naruto was unaware of his relation to Nagato until he faced him in battle. Naruto had grown up as an orphan in Konoha, shunned and hated by most people for being the host of the Nine-Tails. He had also trained under Jiraiya, who became his mentor and father figure.
Naruto had inherited Jiraiya’s will and vision of peace, as well as his determination and optimism. He had also made many friends and allies who supported him and acknowledged him. He had learned to control the Nine-Tails’ power, and to use it for good.
Naruto and Nagato met when the latter invaded Konoha, seeking to capture Naruto and the Nine-Tails. Nagato had killed many people in his attack, including Jiraiya, who had tried to stop him and learn his true identity. Naruto was enraged by Nagato’s actions, and vowed to avenge his master and his village.
The two fought in a fierce and epic battle, with Naruto using his Sage Mode and the Nine-Tails’ chakra, and Nagato using his Six Paths of Pain and the Gedo Statue. They exchanged blows and words, each trying to convince the other of their beliefs and ideals.
Naruto argued that Nagato’s methods were wrong and hypocritical, that he was only spreading more pain and hatred, and that he had betrayed Jiraiya’s legacy. He also claimed that he was the true successor of Jiraiya’s will, and that he would find a way to end the cycle of war without killing anyone.
Nagato countered that Naruto’s words were naive and unrealistic, that he had not experienced true pain and despair, and that he would eventually lose his friends and faith. He also claimed that he was the true heir of the Rinnegan’s power, and that he would create a new world order through pain.
The Resolution
The battle ended when Naruto managed to defeat all six bodies of Pain, and locate Nagato’s real body with the help of Hinata Hyuga, who had confessed her love for him. Naruto confronted Nagato face to face, and asked him one question: how would he bring peace to the world?
Nagato was surprised by Naruto’s persistence and courage, and decided to tell him his story. He explained how he became Pain, and what his plan was. He also revealed that he was a descendant of the Uzumaki clan, and that they were related.
Naruto listened to Nagato’s story, and understood his pain. He also realized that they had many things in common: they were both orphans, they both trained under Jiraiya, they both inherited a special power, and they both wanted peace.
However, Naruto still disagreed with Nagato’s methods, and told him that he would not give up on his own way of peace. He also told him that he would not kill him, but instead try to forgive him. He said that this was what Jiraiya would have wanted, and that this was his answer to his question.
Nagato was moved by Naruto’s words, and saw a glimpse of hope in his eyes. He remembered Jiraiya’s prophecy, that one day a student of his would appear who would bring a great change to the world. He realized that Naruto was that student, and that he had made a mistake.
He decided to put his faith in Naruto, and use his last remaining power to revive all the people he had killed in Konoha. He asked Naruto to fulfill his promise of finding peace, and then died with a smile on his face. Konan also decided to trust Naruto, and left Akatsuki with Nagato’s body.
Naruto honored Nagato’s sacrifice, and buried him in a secret location. He also vowed to keep his word, and work towards achieving peace in the world. He acknowledged Nagato as his relative, and as a fellow student of Jiraiya.
The Legacy
Naruto and Nagato’s relationship had a profound impact on the story. It showed the contrast between two different paths of peace: one based on pain and fear, and one based on love and forgiveness. It also showed the importance of understanding each other’s pain, and finding common ground.
Naruto learned from Nagato’s mistakes, and used them as motivation to pursue his own way of peace. He also gained more respect and recognition from his friends and enemies alike. He became closer to Hinata, who had risked her life for him. He also inherited Nagato’s Rinnegan, which he later used to save the world from Madara Uchiha.
Nagato’s death also marked the end of the original Akatsuki, which was later taken over by Obito Uchiha (who was actually Madara’s apprentice) under a different agenda. Obito continued Nagato’s plan of capturing all the tailed beasts, but for a different purpose: to create an illusionary world where everyone would be happy.
Obito also revealed that he was the one who manipulated Nagato into killing Yahiko, by using his own Rinnegan (which he had stolen from Madara). He did this to break Nagato’s spirit, and make him follow Madara’s plan. He also claimed that he was the real leader of Akatsuki, and that Nagato was just
