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Kagaya stared fixedly at Kakashi. Upon hearing Kakashi's words, he couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Of course. Any sentiment between us has long since vanished. In my current state, what right do I have to bargain with him?
"Cough! Cough! Cough! Ugh..."
His face was deathly pale. Kagaya tried to force his Mangekyō to activate.
But the attempt only resulted in him vomiting more blood. In his current state, he couldn't even muster the power to open his Mangekyō!
Clap!
Nevertheless, Kagaya brought his trembling hands together, preparing to form hand seals.
Kakashi watched in shock.
This guy, injured to this extent... can he still form seals?
Kagaya's injuries were of the type where a single glance revealed their terrifying severity. In Kakashi's estimation, simply remaining conscious required tremendous willpower. How could he possibly perform hand seals under such conditions?
This time, Kagaya's seals were painfully slow—nearly two seconds per seal. His hands trembled uncontrollably, blood smearing across his fingers.
For some reason, Kakashi, holding his Raikiri at the ready, didn't move in immediately. He simply stood ahead, watching Kagaya form the seals.
Tiger.
The first seal.
His eyelids grew heavier, his body screaming at him to rest. But he couldn't rest yet.
Dog.
The second seal.
It felt as if his hands were weighed down by leaden anchors. Every movement required him to summon every last ounce of strength.
Rat.
The third seal.
It was completed. These were the seals for Shisui's Body Flicker Technique. However, after Kagaya finished, no flickering clone appeared.
Clearly, the hand seals had failed.
A mistake that only a student at the Ninja Academy should make was now happening to Kagaya.
"Haha..."
A soft, pained laugh escaped Kagaya as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
His injuries were simply too severe. While Karin had healed much of the physical damage, his mental and spiritual exhaustion remained untouched.
Looking towards Kakashi, Kagaya could no longer see his former teacher's form, nor even tell where he was standing. He could only rely on his fading senses to know the person before him was likely Kakashi.
"Well... at least... Danzo is dead. At the very least... I can go see my parents and Shisui."
With those final words, Kagaya's eyes closed completely, and he fell into total unconsciousness. Finally, he had reached his absolute limit; he could hold on no longer.
Time seemed to freeze. Everyone present stared at Kagaya, no one speaking.
After a long while...
Guy looked at Kakashi. "Kakashi... you're not going to hold back, are you?"
Kakashi raised his hand, the Chidori crackling menacingly. "Of course not. I will not hold back."
Guy stared into Kakashi's eyes, seeming to discern something. He gave a light chuckle. "If you're not holding back, then act."
In the next instant, Kakashi charged forward, Raikiri aimed straight for Kagaya.
Haku's eyes widened.
"Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"
Haku desperately tried to block Kakashi's Chidori, but the piercing lightning easily shattered his ice!
Kuro, the crow perched on Kagaya's shoulder, its Mangekyō flaring brilliantly, prepared to unleash Kotoamatsukami!
But at the last possible second, Kuro abruptly stopped, settling back quietly on Kagaya's shoulder.
Like a flash of lightning, Kakashi appeared behind Kagaya.
The Chidori in his hand slowly dissipated. Kakashi stood up, pulling down his forehead protector to cover his left eye once more.
He turned his head slightly, casting one last glance at Kagaya behind him. If struck by the Chidori in his current state, Kagaya would undoubtedly die.
Kakashi turned back, stretched lazily, and spoke to Guy. "Alright, Guy. Let's continue searching for Uchiha Kagaya."
Guy was taken aback, then looked at Kakashi. "Kakashi... are you sure?"
Kakashi offered a faint smile beneath his mask. "Absolutely sure. Because, look... haven't we failed to find Kagaya and the others so far?"
Guy fell silent for a moment before speaking. "A ninja who disobeys a mission is a failure, you know."
Kakashi lifted his head to look at the sky. Beneath his mask, his mouth formed a wry smile.
"Someone once said that to me. Though... he added something else afterwards. Ah, forget it. Just consider me a failure."
Guy sighed heavily. "If I'd known it would be like this, I wouldn't have come out with you."
Kakashi walked over, slinging an arm around Guy's shoulders. "Let's go."
Guy looked back at Kagaya. "What if he invades Konoha again?"
Kakashi's tone turned grave. "Then... I will kill him with my own hands."
With that, Kakashi led Guy away.
In the end, he simply couldn't bring himself to kill Kagaya. The shadow of Rin still haunted Kakashi for a lifetime. He couldn't bear to add Kagaya's to that burden.
It was true that being hit by the Chidori in his current state would mean certain death for Kagaya. But first, the Chidori had to actually hit him.
On Kagaya's side, Karin watched Haku anxiously.
"Haku! Are you alright?"
Haku was still in a state of disbelief. That flash of lightning should have pierced through his ice and struck him. Yet... he seemed completely unharmed?
Haku quickly turned to check on Kagaya. After a brief inspection, he found no new injuries on Kagaya either.
"He... dodged."
Karin looked confused. "Dodged? Dodged what?"
Haku explained. "That man... at the last possible moment, he moved around both me and Kagaya. He didn't injure us."
Karin frowned. "Huh? Why?"
Haku shook his head. "I don't know. But for now, let's get Kagaya away from here."
"Right!"
As for why Kakashi had dodged at the end, Haku had some inkling. He recalled that during the battle with the Konoha Jonin after stealing the Scroll of Seals, it had been mentioned that Kakashi was Kagaya's former teacher, hadn't it?
Haku couldn't remember clearly, but it seemed likely. Otherwise, that man had no reason to show mercy.
Zabuza, having sustained significant injuries during his fight with Sasori, had found a place to tend to his wounds after Sasori fled. He hadn't gone to aid Kagaya, not because he was unwilling, but because he believed someone like Kagaya didn't need his help.
That guy could slash Sasori—who was overpowering me—from such an insane distance, forcing him to flee. He's ridiculously strong. Does someone like that need my help?
At the very least, Zabuza thought not. His debt was repaid anyway, so he saw no need to seek Kagaya out again and simply focused on treating his wounds elsewhere.
In another location, Itachi stood silently in the shadows, watching Kagaya from a distance.
After Kagaya released his Susano'o, Itachi had sent Kisame to wait further away while he concealed himself and secretly followed Kagaya's group. He couldn't rest easy. He knew all too well the state one's body was left in after using Susano'o.
With Itachi's skills, deliberately hiding his presence, it was difficult for Karin to sense him.
He had also witnessed Kakashi's encounter with Kagaya. When Kakashi charged with his Raikiri, Itachi had nearly intervened. Fortunately, Kakashi ultimately dodged around Haku and Kagaya. Otherwise, Itachi would have been forced to reveal himself and stop Kakashi.
Though the immediate danger had passed, Itachi continued to follow them until Kagaya's group found a boat and set out to sea. Only then did he stop, not following further.
'Where will he go from here? I don't know. But I still hope... he can be well.'
Thus, the final ripples following the invasion of Konoha came to an end.
In Kirigakure, Mei Terumī still awaited Kagaya's response. In Konoha, Jiraiya awaited the return of Kakashi and Guy. In the Akatsuki, Pain awaited news from Konan and Sasori.
And a small boat, under the watchful gaze of a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan eyes, had already sailed into the vast ocean, disappearing from sight.