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Kagaya had already been back for some time. However, to recover from the injuries caused by the system's teleportation, he had to rest and recuperate for several days before setting out to find Haku and Karin.
Fortunately, Kagaya had now successfully trained in Sage Mode. In Sage Mode, Kagaya's sensory abilities, which were originally not particularly strong, had received a massive enhancement. Although still not comparable to Karin's, it was now enough to help Kagaya search for Haku and Karin with greater speed.
However, during his search, Kagaya inevitably came to learn some information—Haku and Karin were being relentlessly hunted down without end.
This news... how should he put it? Kagaya's very first reaction upon hearing it was disbelief. Someone had put a bounty on Haku and Karin? On what grounds? What was the objective? What was the reason? He had absolutely no clue!
Thus, Kagaya's initial feeling upon hearing it was disbelief.
But very quickly, a constant, unceasing stream of information reached Kagaya's ears, forcing him to accept the fact that Haku and Karin were currently being hunted.
So, from that very moment, Kagaya made a decision. He would make every single underground organization, for decades to come, tremble with terror at the memory of this event!
By the time Kagaya finally found Haku and Karin, what he witnessed was the scene of Samui confronting Jiraiya. Kagaya listened in for only a brief moment before completely losing his patience. Moving at a speed utterly undetectable to everyone present, he charged directly forward. First, he casually dealt with that nameless shinobi hunting Haku and Karin, disposing of him(Chiba) with a single, effortless blow. Then, using the man's severed head like a soccer ball, he kicked it directly into Samui's abdomen!
Originally, Kagaya could have killed Samui outright. However, there were still some questions he wanted to ask her, so he held back ever so slightly. Otherwise, with Kagaya's current level of strength, killing someone like Samui was truly, ridiculously simple.
"Allow me to ask you: can you represent the Raikage? Right now, I'd like to ask the Raikage—if I were to slaughter the three of you, how would he feel?"
Kagaya uttered these words laced with fury. However, he didn't immediately receive an answer.
Buzz!
A flash of blade light glinted. Kagaya released his grip on Samui's throat and shifted his body, evading the attack.
Omoi gripped the sword in his hand, staring coldly at Kagaya.
"Where did you come from, you bastard? Let me give you a warning first: sneak attacks are often a sign of a guilty conscience. Since you chose to launch a sneak attack, you should be well aware that you're no match for us, right? I suggest you surrender quietly. Perhaps you can keep your pathetic little life."
Kagaya had appeared far too swiftly. Omoi hadn't seen Kagaya's Sharingan at all. Even until this very moment, Omoi had all his attention focused on Kagaya's hands and feet, guarding against Kagaya's movements. Consequently, he still hadn't noticed Kagaya's Sharingan. Otherwise, Omoi might have been able to deduce Kagaya's identity. After all, the true purpose of their mission here was precisely to observe Kagaya.
Listening to Omoi's words, if it had been an ordinary time, Kagaya might have laughed and then shot back a mocking retort. But now, Kagaya's expression was so utterly placid, it was terrifying in its calmness.
"Oh? Is that so?"
As his words fell, Kagaya's right hand began to move.
An invisible, oppressive pressure surged into Omoi's heart. He didn't know why, but even though Omoi had clearly never crossed hands with the person before him, at this moment, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was facing the Fourth Raikage. No... more than that. This feeling... was even more terrifying than facing the Fourth Raikage!
His eyes flew wide open. Omoi stared fixedly at Kagaya's right hand as it began to move. In Omoi's field of vision, Kagaya's right hand seemed to be reaching out to grasp something, lifting as it drew closer to him.
The immense pressure caused cold sweat to unconsciously stream down Omoi's back. Yet, in Omoi's eyes, the threat level of Kagaya's right hand simply couldn't match that overwhelming pressure. It was too slow!
Yes. Although Kagaya's right hand was reaching toward Omoi to grab him, it was, in the truest sense, moving "slowly."
Believe in yourself, Omoi! I'm faster than him!
Omoi took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the fear that was welling up involuntarily from within his heart. He gripped his sword tightly with both hands.
"I may be the cautious type... but I'm no coward!"
In that instant, the sword held in both hands swung out with explosive force!
The speed was astonishingly fast. For a fleeting moment, it seemed as if the entire world had been reduced to nothing but that single arc of white blade light.
However, accompanying that flash of white light... there was also a flash of gold!
In the very next second, a crisp, clear sound of severance rang out. Half of the blade went flying far into the distance.
Omoi's sword... had been broken!
"Cough! Blegh!"
Fresh blood spilled from Omoi's mouth. He lowered his head and stared at the massive golden hand that was now gripping him tightly. In that split second just now, this golden hand had materialized out of nowhere, instantly snapping his sword in two, and then seized his entire body within its grasp. The powerful, crushing grip exerted its force upon Omoi, nearly causing him to black out from the sheer agony.
And at this very moment, Kagaya's right hand was still slowly lifting, its speed as unhurried and deliberate as ever. His expression remained frozen in that same unchanging, dead calm.
A few seconds later, Kagaya's right hand was finally raised completely, aligned directly with Omoi's throat. It was as if this golden, skeletal hand was merely an enlarged extension of Kagaya's own right hand, holding Omoi firmly and securely in its grasp.
"It seems you've misunderstood. I wasn't speaking to you just now. What was the meaning of you charging forward?"
As Kagaya spoke, the skeletal arm of his Susanoo increased its pressure ever so slightly.
Crack... crack...
Two faint, muffled sounds rang out. At that moment, both of Omoi's arms were crushed and fractured by Kagaya's grip!
Omoi clenched his bloodstained teeth tightly, refusing to let out a scream despite this sudden, excruciating agony.
One instant! In just one single instant! Omoi had been utterly defeated by the man before him, left severely wounded, his very life and death held within his opponent's grasp.
An overwhelming sense of suffocation engulfed Omoi. To be defeated in a single instant... did monsters like this truly exist in this world?
A weak, feeble voice emerged from Omoi's blood-filled mouth.
"Karui... don't attack. Seeing me like this... you should understand. You're absolutely no match for him. Don't throw your life away."
Omoi stopped Karui, who was not far away and had already drawn her sword.
Karui's hand, gripping her sword, trembled ever so slightly. The invisible, oppressive pressure that Kagaya exerted upon her was simply far too immense. In terms of strength, Omoi was essentially the strongest member of their squad. Yet, this man who had suddenly appeared... had actually defeated Omoi in an instant?!
Unbelievable!
Karui heeded Omoi's words and did not attack. It wasn't out of fear, but because Karui understood all too clearly—if she recklessly made a move, her fate would absolutely be no different from Omoi's.
At this moment, Omoi finally noticed Kagaya's crimson pupils.
"Those eyes... although the patterns within them are very complex, and I've never heard of eyes with such patterns before... still, they must be the Sharingan, right? If it's the Sharingan, and someone who would appear here with such immense power... Mm... you're Uchiha Kagaya, aren't you?"
Kagaya completely ignored Omoi. After crippling Omoi's arms, the Susanoo vanished. Kagaya casually tossed Omoi onto the ground and walked back toward Samui—the one Omoi had just saved and who lay behind him.
"Kagaya!"
But just as Kagaya took his first step, Naruto, who was not far away, spoke with a hint of nervousness.
Kagaya turned his head to look at Naruto.
"Naruto, stay put for now!"
His words carried an unmistakable tone that brooked no argument.
Then, Kagaya walked over to where Samui lay, crouched down, and looked at her sprawled on the ground.
"Don't you intend to answer the question I just asked?"
Because Samui was lying on the ground, the entire lower half of her face was now drenched in the blood she had coughed up from her mouth. Her fair, white facial skin had become stained crimson. Even her golden hair had inevitably been tinged with traces of blood.
"Shinobi prepare themselves for death before undertaking any mission. What's there to ask?"
Kagaya nodded.
"I see."
With that, a kunai appeared in Kagaya's hand, aimed directly at Samui's forehead.
"In that case... allow me to send you on your way."
No superfluous words. In his state of fury, Kagaya couldn't be bothered to waste any extra breath. You're seeking death? Fine! Then go and die!
However, Kagaya's kunai thrust... struck empty air!
Haku had rescued Samui!
Kagaya furrowed his brow.
"Haku, don't act so suddenly. Just now, if you had been an enemy, I would have already struck you half to death."
In that split second just now, Kagaya had indeed reflexively moved to strike down and send flying whoever had interfered. But the moment he immediately perceived that it was Haku, he had retracted his chakra. Otherwise, absolutely no one could have snatched Samui away from Kagaya's grasp. Even if Jiraiya himself had stepped in, it would have been impossible!
The kunai silently vanished from Kagaya's hand, as if it had never existed at all.
"Give me a reason, Haku."
Haku's small face was exceptionally pale, as though all color had drained from it completely. He was deeply uneasy about this action of his, which somewhat went against Kagaya's will. He was terrified that this matter would cause Kagaya to dislike him. Yet, considering another aspect, Haku felt he had no choice but to step in and save Samui.
"Kagaya... I'm very happy that you're back. But... I don't want you to provoke a great nation for our sake. That would be... somewhat not worth it. Th-that... I... I suppose that's more or less what I mean."
The further he spoke, the more Haku's confidence faltered. He harbored immense resistance toward anything that opposed Kagaya. Yet, he truly didn't want Kagaya to make a powerful enemy because of him.
Kagaya spoke flatly. "The Land of Lightning. The Hidden Cloud Village. I don't take them seriously at all, Haku."
This was a statement of fact. At his current level, if Kagaya truly went all out, the worst-case scenario would be paying the price of being bedridden for a month or two. He could activate his fully formed Susanoo and single-handedly devastate the Hidden Cloud Village. It was absolutely doable.
Haku still shook his head.
"But, Kagaya... those three never actually laid a hand on me or Karin. Their very first appearance was just now, this time. They only said some words about planning to kill us, that's all. There's no need to provoke the Hidden Cloud over a few words. I... Karin and I truly don't mind."
Kagaya raised an eyebrow. This was the first time his expression had shown a noticeable change. Everything Haku had said prior, Kagaya could disregard. But there was one point: Samui and her group had never actually made a move against Haku or Karin. This point significantly diminished Kagaya's killing intent toward the three of them.
"They never laid a hand on you? That is indeed a valid point. However... I clearly heard her say she was going to kill you."
A deeply impressionable childhood would often leave a person with certain unique sensitivities. Take Kagaya, for instance. The continuous loss of his loved ones during his childhood had made him extremely sensitive in this regard.
If Samui had stood right in front of Kagaya and declared she would hack him into eight pieces, Kagaya might not even have gotten angry. But if someone stood before him and declared they would kill Haku or Karin... that would completely and utterly strike his sorest spot. This was absolutely intolerable!
In Uchiha Kagaya's life, having one Danzo was enough. He would absolutely never permit the emergence of a second Danzo!
"There's no need, Kagaya..."
Yet Haku's attitude was very resolute. He was utterly unwilling for Kagaya to antagonize the vast, powerful Hidden Cloud Village for his sake.
Kagaya fell silent. Although he deeply, furiously detested Samui's earlier words about killing Haku, at the same time, Kagaya also highly respected Haku's wishes. Generally speaking, Kagaya was unwilling to do things that went against Haku's will.
"Fine. As you wish."
In the end, Kagaya still compromised.
Because, in Kagaya's view, now that he himself had returned, Samui was truly beneath notice. The only purpose her death could possibly serve was to make Kagaya feel slightly better.
As for so-called retaliation? With Kagaya's current strength, unless the Hidden Cloud allied with two other great nations, and all three great nations jointly declared war on Kagaya, there might be a possibility of wearing him down to death. Otherwise, forget about doing anything to Kagaya. On the contrary, it was the Hidden Cloud who needed to seriously consider how to reconcile with Kagaya.
Having spared Samui, Kagaya also paid no further attention to Omoi or Karui. These two weren't worth Kagaya's notice. But this matter wasn't finished. When he had the time later, Kagaya would personally pay a visit to the Hidden Cloud Village and have a talk with that Fourth Raikage.
In the original story, the Fourth Raikage had fought Sasuke, who possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, and lost an arm. This time, facing Kagaya, who possessed the Eternal Mangekyo... what would he need to lose? An arm? A leg? Or... his head?
"Kagaya! This time... you absolutely must come back to the Leaf Village with me!"
Seeing that Kagaya's business over there had concluded, Naruto couldn't wait any longer and spoke up urgently.
As his fury gradually subsided, a smile appeared on Kagaya's face for the first time.
"Naruto... over a year, and not seeing you... you're still as naive as ever."
Chakra began surging around Naruto's body.
"This time... I've already become stronger! If you won't come back with me willingly, then... even if I have to tie you up, I'll drag you back!"
Kagaya carefully see Naruto.
"Not bad. I can tell... you've grown much stronger. But... go back and train for a few more years. As you are now, you're still far too green."
"No! I've already become far, far stronger! Now... I'm going to bring you back!"
"Naruto... wait a few more years. As you are now... you still not enough." Kagaya spoke softly. After finishing, he ignored Naruto and looked toward Haku.
"Haku, where's Karin? Let's get ready to leave."
Haku opened his mouth, about to answer.
But another voice cut in before Haku could speak.
"Don't even think about it!"
A shadow clone appeared beside Naruto and began forming a Rasengan in Naruto's hand.
"Kagaya! This time... no matter what... I'm going to bring you back to the Leaf Village!"
Saying this, Rasengan formed in hand, Naruto charged swiftly toward Kagaya.
A skeletal, golden hand materialized. Before Naruto's utterly disbelieving eyes, it directly, solidly caught his Rasengan. It even pushed back, shoving Naruto away in return.
This was the first time Naruto had ever encountered an ability that could so completely disregard the Rasengan!
Because of its continuously rotating nature, the Rasengan possessed incredibly high destructive power upon hitting its target. Practically no one dared to take this technique head-on.
But today... Naruto witnessed it!
His Rasengan hadn't even managed to leave the faintest trace, the tiniest scratch, on that golden hand!
Kagaya spoke calmly. "If I had been willing, you would have already been struck down and severely injured by me just now. Naruto... I told you, as you are now, it's still far too early. Go back and continue your training."