Naruto: Rebirth Of The Child Of Prophecy

Nagato sat in his mechanical throne, his frail form framed by cold steel and shadow. Despite his weakened state, his Rinnegan eyes gleamed with an otherworldly intensity as they fixed on Naruto. "If we cannot stop him," Nagato said softly, "then let us see what he has to say."

A rare curiosity stirred in his chest; after all, the boy before him was no ordinary adversary. He was both a fellow apprentice of their late master, Jiraiya, and someone who bore the mark of destiny.

Naruto stepped forward confidently, his golden hair catching the dim light. "Brother Nagato," he began without preamble, "I, Naruto Uzumaki, have no intention of wasting your time. I've come here to talk to you about...recruiting the Akatsuki."

The room fell into stunned silence.

Nagato's brow furrowed, his lips curling faintly in disdain. He stared at Naruto, certain he must have misheard. Konan stepped forward, her sharp gaze burning into Naruto. "Naruto, have you lost your mind?" she demanded. "Do you even realize the absurdity of what you're saying?"

Naruto raised a hand to forestall further protests. "I understand your skepticism," he said. "It's not something you'll accept easily. To be honest, Konoha now considers me a rogue ninja, though I do not see myself that way."

Konan's expression flickered with surprise. "You defected from Konoha?"

Naruto nodded.

Nagato leaned forward slightly, his voice colder than steel. "Then, if what you say is true, shouldn't you be begging for sanctuary instead of making outrageous claims? You dare insult God with such arrogance?"

Naruto smiled faintly, unfazed. "Brother, let's not mince words. I could have come here to challenge you, but instead, I've come to speak the truth. What you've built—the Pain you've created—is merely a shadow of what true power looks like. You believe yourself to be playing the hand of God, but you are only a puppet, dancing to the tune of someone else's schemes."

Nagato's eyes narrowed dangerously.

Naruto pressed on. "If you were truly in control, your vision might have held merit: gathering the Nine-Tails and the other beasts to wield power over war and peace. That, at least, would be a god's purpose. In this respect, you surpass the Kage of the Five Nations. But even so, you are not free."

Nagato's expression shifted, uncertain. His silence betrayed an interest he would not voice.

"Do you understand what I mean?" Naruto continued. "Your philosophy is rooted in pain, and I acknowledge its value. Pain is a profound teacher, one that reveals the fragility of peace. But the power you wield—this Pain you call divine—is flawed. It is nothing compared to the true gods I've glimpsed."

At this, Nagato leaned back, his voice thick with sarcasm. "And you, Naruto? Are you claiming to have seen true gods?"

Naruto's lips curled into a knowing smile. He opened a scroll and released a crow, its dark feathers shimmering like midnight. "Indeed, I have. The true gods are beings far beyond us, members of the Otsutsuki clan. To them, we are less than insects, mere tools in their grand designs. If you wish to stand against such beings, you must cast aside this false godhood and grasp true power."

The crow cawed three times, its voice sharp and commanding. Then, as its Sharingan eye glinted, Shisui's ultimate genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami, activated.

Nagato and Konan froze, their minds caught in the illusion's invisible web.

Naruto's voice dropped to a commanding tone. "Obey my orders. Follow my vision. Together, we will forge a path to true divinity."

A moment of silence passed, and then Nagato murmured, "Brother...what you say makes sense. From now on, I shall follow you."

Konan, her features softening, smiled faintly. "If it's you, Naruto, I'll trust your leadership."

Naruto's grin widened, triumphant. He folded his arms as the crow vanished in a puff of smoke. The genjutsu had taken root as planned, its power too subtle and irresistible for Nagato to counter.

"Excellent," Naruto said. "With you two at my side, the Akatsuki will rise to heights undreamed of."

Nagato summoned his Six Paths of Pain, their eerie forms aligning behind him. "What do we do next, Brother?" he asked.

Naruto stepped forward, his dark robes rippling like shadows. "The Akatsuki is no more," he declared. "From this day forward, we are reborn as Celestials."

"Celestials?" Konan repeated, tilting her head.

Nagato's Rinnegan glowed faintly. "The will of heaven?"

Naruto nodded. "Yes. 'Celestials'—heaven itself. Each of us is a fragment of divine will, and together, we embody the rules and order of this world. We will bring both wrath and salvation, shielding the weak while bringing justice to the wicked."

Konan and Nagato's eyes burned with renewed conviction.

Naruto threw his robes around him, his voice quiet yet commanding. "The time has come. Our first mission begins now."

With that, he strode toward the exit, the dark aura of his presence marking the dawn of a new era.

***

A/N: I know some of you might be confused with the name 'Celestial'. However, in the raw it is written "天" or 'Tian' which means 'Heaven', that sounds lame hence, I decided to improvise and instead made it 'Celestial' instead of keeping it as 'Tian'.