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Because this world was false, the people in this world were naturally also false.
How could false people be considered human?
Nagato didn't know Obito's thoughts, but he knew this "Uchiha Madara" before him sought peace. From that perspective, avoiding conflict with Kagaya seemed somewhat justifiable.
Their ultimate goal was to gather the Tailed Beasts, deter the shinobi world, and forcibly stop wars—not to pick fights.
"Alright. Since you're confident, then as you wish."
*****
"Uchiha Kagaya!"
Just as Kagaya and his group's figures were about to completely disappear, Tsunade's loud shout from behind stopped him.
Kagaya halted his steps, slightly turning his head, his eyes looking back at the distant Tsunade.
"Are you not leaving?"
At this moment, Tsunade was extremely weak. Leaving quickly was the best course of action.
Yet, with unbelievable willpower, Tsunade forced herself to stand, looking at Kagaya's blood-red eyes with their complex patterns.
"You succeeded."
"Yes."
"Why did you intervene?"
"I happened to be passing by."
"I don't believe that."
"Then, if I said I have some entanglement with the Akatsuki, so I intervened to disrupt their affairs, would you believe that?"
"I would believe it. But that likely isn't the sole reason for your intervention."
Kagaya fell silent for a moment, saying nothing.
Tsunade continued, "You were saving me."
Not a question, but a statement.
Kagaya looked calmly at Tsunade, not denying it.
Thus, Tsunade asked, "Why?"
"Is it important?"
"You don't wish to say?"
Kagaya chuckled softly and spoke, "These eyes of mine also owe something to you, don't they? Consider this intervention an act of goodwill on my part."
Tsunade was stunned. "Just because of that?"
Originally, Tsunade thought if Kagaya intervened now, he might not only act against the Akatsuki but also against Konoha's people. But in the end, Kagaya never attacked Konoha's people. Unable to understand, Tsunade asked. And Kagaya's answer greatly surprised her—he intervened to save her because she helped transplant his eyes?
Tsunade didn't know Kagaya's character well. Most of the information she gathered about Kagaya was negative. So Kagaya's somewhat "grateful" action truly surprised her.
Kagaya raised a finger. "Don't overthink it. This active intervention to save you is the first and last time. Also, the promise I gave you when you helped transplant my eyes still stands. Between us, only that one request remains."
Tsunade immediately spoke, "Good. Then I request that you never invade Konoha!"
Kagaya sneered coldly. "What I promised was to do one thing for you. Your request exceeds that scope."
Tsunade argued, "Not invading Konoha can also count as one thing!"
Kagaya frowned. He didn't want to argue with Tsunade on this. He simply stated, "Then I simply won't agree."
"You promised to do one thing!"
"Your request is something I cannot agree to."
"Then, does your refusal mean you will invade Konoha in the future?"
A sense of annoyance rose in Kagaya's heart. With some anger, he spoke bluntly, "Why do you always think I want to invade Konoha? Moreover, the current situation is I'm strong, you're weak. You trying to force me to agree to your request—do you think that's appropriate? Furthermore, even if I invaded Konoha now, what could you do?"
The atmosphere instantly turned chilly. Tsunade clenched her fists, saying nothing.
Seeing Tsunade remain silent, Kagaya lost interest in staying. He turned and left with Karin and Haku, disappearing from Tsunade's sight.
The moment Kagaya left, Tsunade's entire body went limp, falling backward.
Jiraiya reacted swiftly, catching Tsunade.
Tsunade gave a somewhat bitter smile. "I'm sorry. Every time I think of his eyes, I can't help but feel afraid. I'm still too afraid of him—afraid he'll invade Konoha, afraid he'll destroy the product of my grandfather's wish."
Jiraiya asked, "What exactly happened, Tsunade?"
Tsunade replied, "Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. The previous possessor was named Uchiha Madara."
A short sentence, yet it conveyed the terror of those eyes. Even Jiraiya couldn't help but change expression drastically.
The term "Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan," Jiraiya wasn't too clear about. But the name "Uchiha Madara"—Jiraiya knew a bit. And that bit was enough to make his expression change.
The legendary shinobi...
******
"Kagaya, are we going to Orochimaru's place next?" Haku looked at Kagaya and asked.
Kagaya nodded. "Since Pain escaped, I can't be bothered to chase him endlessly. Let's ignore him for now and head to Otogakure first."
If Kagaya guessed correctly, Nagato was likely taken away by Obito. If so, there was no need to pursue. With Kamui, as long as Obito was careful, he was basically impossible to catch or kill.
This was also why Kagaya wasn't in a hurry to find Obito. Even if found, Obito probably wouldn't dare directly fight Kagaya, who possessed the Eternal Mangekyo. Thus, Kagaya essentially couldn't kill Obito.
However, events often defy expectations. While Kagaya wasn't in a hurry to find Obito, Obito actively sought Kagaya out.
The northernmost part of the Land of Fire. Not far from here, beyond the Fire Country's border, was the country containing Otogakure. In other words, this was Kagaya's inevitable path. In such a place, a man with a spiral mask and an emaciated man encased in a massive machine waited quietly, waiting for Kagaya's arrival.
"You've got nerve."
These were Kagaya's first words upon meeting Obito.
Before Kagaya's eyes evolved, Obito hunted Kagaya. After Kagaya's eyes evolved, the roles reversed—Kagaya hunted Obito!
Obito, however, gave an unrelated answer. "You actually know Nagato and Pain's secret. That surprises me."
Kagaya's eyes moved slightly, glancing at the emaciated man in the massive machine beside Obito. Honestly, although he had seen it in the anime, facing Nagato directly now, Kagaya still felt somewhat taken aback. The man before him exuded far too heavy an aura of decline. If someone said he'd die the next second, Kagaya would believe it!
Indeed, using a Rinnegan not one's own came at a significant cost. If Nagato weren't an Uzumaki, someone else using the Rinnegan would likely have grass growing over their grave by now.
Pushing these extraneous thoughts aside, Kagaya looked back at Obito and replied, "You waited here just to tell me that?"
Obito chuckled softly. "No. I wanted to say I think you know a great deal."
"And then?"
"And then, I want to ask you: do you know of Rinne Rebirth?"
Kagaya narrowed his eyes. "I do."
Kagaya admitted it openly. Although he suspected Obito might have some ulterior motive, Kagaya didn't deny it. When Kagaya was weak, there were things he naturally didn't dare admit, lest some powerful figure come to sanction him. But now was different. Kagaya's current strength allowed him to know everything. Before, he knew but didn't dare say he knew. Now, he dared to say how much he knew.
Hearing Kagaya's words, though prepared, Obito couldn't help but show surprise. "Uchiha Kagaya, you... are truly not simple."
The blood-red light in Kagaya's eyes began to glow. "I can stand here listening to you quietly because I know killing you would be very difficult. But if you continue to spout nonsense, I don't mind making an effort to see if I can slaughter you."
The Sharingan beneath Obito's mask also flashed with a red light, accompanied by a barely perceptible trace of fear. "Then I'll be direct. I can help you resurrect your parents and Uchiha Shisui."