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After Zabuza left, Mei summoned Ao again.
"Lady Mei, what is it?"
Ao entered and spoke respectfully.
Mei pondered before responding.
"Go and invite that young man for me."
"You mean…?"
"Uchiha Kagaya."
Walking through the nearly deserted Mist Village with Haku, Kagaya felt puzzled. Precisely because there were so few people around, any presence was easy to detect.
Kagaya sensed numerous Mist ninja suddenly appearing nearby, and their numbers were slowly increasing.
'Are they finally making a move against me? But…'
Kagaya assessed the hidden figures around him once more.
'Just some Anbu? Do they think that's enough to handle me?'
Kagaya ignored them completely, continuing to wander through the Mist Village.
However, his casual demeanor didn't last long. A man in dark teal clothing blocked his path.
"Uchiha Kagaya."
Kagaya recognized this man—Ao, the future Fifth Mizukage Mei's bodyguard.
"Do you need something? If not, could you step aside?"
Ao spoke expressionlessly.
"A certain lady wishes to see you. I hope you'll come with me."
Kagaya's brow furrowed deeply. This "come with me" tone—he'd heard it before. It was the same as when the Third Hokage's elite ninja came to capture him. Recalling his helplessness back then, Kagaya instinctively despised this commanding tone.
"And if I don't plan to go?"
Kagaya wasn't short-tempered, but only if you didn't touch his inner scars. Unfortunately, Ao had hit one right away.
Ao narrowed his eyes. He was just a wandering rogue ninja—how dare he refuse?
"That won't do. Uchiha Kagaya, you're coming with us."
As his words fell, the hidden Anbu emerged from all sides, surrounding Kagaya and Haku.
Haku covered his mouth, eyes wide, too scared to speak.
Ao's rudeness stemmed mainly from underestimating Kagaya's strength. They believed Kagaya was merely jonin-level. With so many of them, he couldn't possibly resist. Moreover, every village harbored an innate disdain for rogue ninja, regardless of origin—rogues were never good news. Thus, Ao's attitude was far from polite.
Kagaya's expression gradually darkened. He truly hated being forcibly taken like this.
"If you don't want to die, get out of my way right now."
Ao was the future Fifth Mizukage's bodyguard, so Kagaya was willing to give him a chance. Feuding with the Fifth Mizukage would bring no benefits.
"I'm sorry, but that's impossible!"
Ao clearly wasn't accepting Kagaya's "chance."
"Very well. Then I'm leaving."
Kagaya still suppressed his urge. In the Mist Village, with the Fourth Mizukage controlled by Tobi, it was best to avoid fighting.
"I said you must come with me today."
Ao refused to let Kagaya leave.
"Must?"
"Must!"
"You're sure?"
"Of course!"
"Very well!"
The darkness in Kagaya's eyes vanished. He glanced at Haku beside him.
"Stay right here. Don't move."
Kagaya truly, truly despised this commanding tone. He was no longer the powerless kid from before. No one would ever take him away against his will again. In this lifetime, no one would recreate that Leaf Village scene on him.
He was strong!
Kagaya casually turned his head and glanced at Ao.
That single glance gave Ao a split-second to react, allowing him to narrowly survive.
Whoosh!
In an instant, a diagonal wound appeared on Ao's body from Kagaya's kunai.
Kagaya's speed was so unexpected that even a Kage-level ninja couldn't react, let alone Ao, a mere Kage bodyguard.
"!!!"
"!!!"
Everyone was stunned—Ao and the surrounding Anbu alike. They hadn't even noticed when Kagaya had approached Ao or slashed him.
If Ao hadn't instinctively retreated after that glance, he'd be dead by now.
But that was as far as it went.
Another Kagaya appeared beside Ao, who was still mid-retreat. A kunai materialized in his hand and was hurled straight at Ao!
Ao's eyes widened. From Kagaya's glance to now, less than a second had passed. But he was certain—he was going to die! He couldn't dodge this kunai. There was too little time to form seals or evade.
What kind of monster was this?!
The last person with such speed Ao had faced…
Seeing the two Kagayas beside him, Ao suddenly recalled the ninja he could never hope to match—Uchiha Shisui.
Unlike Shisui, who could easily defeat Ao without killing him or causing severe injury, Kagaya went for the kill right from the start!
"Is this it?"
Ao closed his eyes.
Whoosh!
The kunai flew through the air, aimed straight at Ao's forehead!
Clang!
But the kunai was deflected.
"You okay?"
The newcomer wore white striped clothing, black-framed glasses, and had short gray-blue hair. He was short in stature and revealed jagged teeth when he spoke.
He wielded a massive, flat sword like a paddle, which he had just used to knock away Kagaya's kunai.
Kagaya and his instant clone retreated slightly. He recognized this person—Chojuro, Mei's other bodyguard. In pure strength, Chojuro would surpass Ao in the future, but for now, he was just a teenager in his mid-teens, far weaker than Ao or Kagaya.
Ao opened his eyes, breathing a sigh of relief upon seeing Chojuro.
"Good thing you're here. Otherwise, I'd be dead today."
Chojuro smiled shyly.
"Lord Ao, let's face him together!"
Ao nodded.
"Don't let your guard down. His speed is insane."
"Got it."
Kagaya raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Chojuro to show up just as he was about to kill Ao.
"Well, fine. I'll kill you both and save future trouble."
Killing Ao would mean feuding with Mei, making Chojuro an enemy too. Better to eliminate them now. Current Chojuro was no threat. Even facing both Ao and Chojuro, Kagaya was confident he could kill them!
Countless kunai scattered in all directions.
At the same time, Chojuro's eyes met Kagaya's. In Chojuro's vision, Kagaya's black pupils rapidly turned scarlet, forming the red three-tomoe Sharingan!
Then, Chojuro couldn't move.
Genjutsu!
"Sharingan?!"
Ao was shocked. Information on Kagaya was scarce. In the Leaf, Kagaya hadn't caused any major incidents, and the Leaf's propaganda only labeled him a "failed rebel." Such rogues were commonplace, so most paid him no attention. Even with the Uchiha name, not every Uchiha had the Sharingan.
Now, Ao and Chojuro would pay dearly for their oversight!
Instant Clone Technique!
Five Kagayas surrounded Chojuro and Ao.
The other Anbu tried to rush in and stop him, but Kagaya's thrown kunai briefly held them back. That brief delay was all Kagaya needed to kill the two before him!
Snake—Ram—Monkey—Boar—Horse—Tiger.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Five massive fireballs appeared around Chojuro and Ao, charging toward them.
With Chojuro trapped in genjutsu, Ao had to block all five alone!
A kunai silently appeared in Kagaya's hand. Even if Ao blocked the five Great Fireballs, Kagaya would strike during the moment his old force faded and new force hadn't risen, using his speed to kill Ao and Chojuro!
This was Kagaya's terror. Against tailed beasts with extreme defense, he was helpless. But against ordinary ninja, his blinding speed imposed horrifying pressure. The moment you let your guard down for half a second, a kunai might appear at your throat!