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Kabuto opened his mouth wide. Then, a second Kabuto directly emerged from his mouth.
Shedding skin!
The original Kabuto, whom Kagaya's Susanoo had been gripping, was discarded like a snake's shed skin.
The post-shedding Kabuto retreated several steps, distancing himself from Kagaya. Then—
"Sage Art: Inorganic Reanimation."
This was the very technique Kagaya had once studied painstakingly but failed to learn. In Kabuto's hands, it was cast with ease.
The spikes above the cavern came alive, rapidly extending and stabbing toward Kagaya.
Impact sounds rang out ceaselessly. Those animated spikes were all blocked by the Susanoo.
Kagaya sneered. "Are you at a loss for what to do? Did you think Inorganic Reanimation could break through the Susanoo? You should have used this move when the White Rage Technique was preventing me from maintaining my Susanoo."
Kabuto ignored Kagaya's mockery. Within his abdomen, a humanoid form rapidly took shape.
"Kimimaro!"
It was the appearance of a white-haired youth—the former Kimimaro of Orochimaru's forces. Kabuto had transplanted his cells, allowing him to form Kimimaro's appearance and use his Kekkei Genkai.
"Dance of the Seedling Fern!"
Countless bone spikes rose ceaselessly from the ground, spreading toward Kagaya's location.
"You transplanted so many cells... Tell me, are you still you?" Kagaya spoke while retreating.
This was a question Kagaya had wanted to ask back when he first watched Naruto. Kabuto's current state was strong—but the reason for that strength was that Kabuto had transplanted many people's cells. His abdomen could produce the appearances of several people. How should he put it... Kagaya always felt it wasn't quite worth it. Even if he became stronger, was Kabuto still Kabuto? The one controlling that body—was it Kabuto, or Orochimaru? Or someone else? Or perhaps the collective subconscious of all of them?
The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it seemed.
Kabuto simply replied. "That's none of your concern! Worry about yourself first! I've researched it—a Susanoo with only the upper body can't defend against attacks from the ground. In other words, you can't use the Susanoo to block the Dance of the Seedling Fern!"
Kagaya said nothing and continued retreating. Kabuto was right—part of the reason Kagaya was retreating was that the upper-body Susanoo couldn't defend against the ground.
But the main reason wasn't that. It was that Kagaya was getting used to his Rinnegan.
While alive, Kagaya had awakened the Rinnegan but died before he could use it. And after the Impure World Reincarnation, this was the first time Kagaya had activated the Rinnegan. So he wanted to try out the Rinnegan's abilities.
After fumbling around a bit, Kagaya stopped.
Just as the bone spikes on the ground were about to reach Kagaya—
"Almighty Push!"
BOOM!
Kimimaro's bone spikes were indeed very hard. But before a Six Paths-level ninjutsu like Almighty Push, they were somewhat lacking.
The moment those bone spikes touched the repulsive force of Almighty Push, they shattered one after another.
After the bone spikes vanished, Kagaya also released the Almighty Push.
With a thought, Kagaya raised his hand and fired another one into the air.
"Almighty Push!"
The air distorted. The powerful repulsive force appeared once more.
However, this attack of Kagaya's didn't hit anyone—it was completely fired into empty air.
But Kagaya's goal wasn't to hit anyone either.
Kagaya looked at his hand and spoke with a touch of delight.
"Aha. It seems using my own Rinnegan doesn't have the five-second limit."
In Kagaya's memory, Pain's use of Almighty Push had a five-second interval restriction. Later, when it came to Madara and Sasuke, they rarely used Almighty Push, so it was impossible to tell whether they still had the five-second limit.
Now that Kagaya had awakened his own Rinnegan, he naturally wanted to test whether his own Rinnegan still had that five-second interval restriction. The result was no.
Kagaya was pleased on his end because he had gotten a good result. But Kabuto's expression had completely darkened.
"You bastard! You're actually testing ninjutsu in the middle of a fight with me?!!"
After becoming what he currently was, Kabuto had one particular personality trait—he believed he was perfect, without flaws.
This personality trait didn't require deep analysis. One only needed to listen carefully to what Kabuto usually said.
Things like "surpassing Orochimaru and the Second Hokage's Impure World Reincarnation," "shedding the snake's skin to become immortal," "flawless ninjutsu"—far too many.
And such a perfect person found it very hard to accept defilement. Earlier, Madara's repeated "insidious fellow" had already angered Kabuto somewhat. But for the sake of the bigger picture, Kabuto had endured it. And now, Kagaya was openly testing ninjutsu in the middle of fighting Kabuto. If Kagaya weren't right in front of Kabuto, that would be one thing. But the problem was, Kagaya was right there. How could Kabuto possibly tolerate such face-to-face humiliation?
Massive amounts of Senjutsu chakra erupted from Kabuto's body, filling the entire cavern. He spoke with a face full of fury.
"Uchiha Kagaya! Even if you are my trump card—a trump card on the same level as Uchiha Madara—even so! You are still just my card! Nothing more than a card in my hand! Don't get so arrogant!"
The sudden eruption of Senjutsu chakra forced Kagaya back a step. He spoke with a smile full of meaning.
"Oh my. It seems a snake has been thoroughly enraged by my unintentional actions."
Behind him, Itachi and Sasuke held their hands up in front, blocking the continuously erupting Senjutsu chakra.
"Brother, who is that newcomer?"
Sasuke looked at Kagaya's back, wanting to act, but a constant sense of danger held him back.
Itachi immediately noticed Sasuke's urge to fight and calmly advised.
"Don't be impulsive, Sasuke. That person, though an Impure World Reincarnation subject and normally our enemy, may also have had something happen to him that we don't know about. He doesn't seem to be controlled by Kabuto—he's actually fighting Kabuto."
"Is it the same situation as you, brother?"
"No, the result should be the same, but the process must be different. I escaped because of Kotoamatsukami. And Kotoamatsukami can't be activated again in a short time without First Hokage cells."
"Is that so?"
"In any case, Sasuke, since this mysterious man is dealing with Kabuto, he's our ally. Before the Impure World Reincarnation is released, don't fight him."
"I understand, brother."
A bone flute appeared in Kimimaro's hand. Then, Kimimaro's appearance began to change, quickly transforming into a red-haired girl.
Tayuya!
Kabuto placed his hand on Tayuya's head and spoke.
"Demon Flute: Phantom Sound Chains!"
Tayuya raised the bone flute in her hand and began to play the demonic melody.
Kagaya raised an eyebrow. He remembered this seemed to be a genjutsu that worked through sound. If it were a genjutsu that worked through the eyes, Kagaya with his Rinnegan wouldn't fear it at all. But through sound... Kagaya didn't seem to have a good counter.
In the original story, even Itachi, who was proficient in genjutsu, had been trapped by this technique. So Kagaya didn't intend to endure it head-on.
"Universal Pull!"
A powerful gravitational force appeared, pulling Kabuto charging toward Kagaya.
Because of this sudden gravitational force, Tayuya's performance was directly interrupted, and the sound vanished completely.
Kabuto's entire body was pulled into midair, hurtling rapidly toward Kagaya.
Kagaya's left hand used Universal Pull to draw Kabuto in, while his right hand opened. From his palm appeared a black rod.
These black rods could greatly suppress chakra, essentially carrying a sealing effect. They were products of Yin Release and Yang Release.
Before awakening the Rinnegan, Kagaya only had Yin-nature chakra, not Yang-nature, so he couldn't create black rods.
But after awakening the Rinnegan, the one who awakens the Rinnegan gains all chakra natures. So Kagaya was currently an all-nature shinobi. With the Rinnegan, he could create these black rods.
"Like shedding skin, do you?"
Kagaya smiled faintly. Once this black rod pierced Kabuto, he wouldn't be able to shed skin anymore. The black rod directly suppressed chakra. So no matter what Kabuto had, before this black rod, it would all be rendered useless.
Not good!
Kabuto also recognized this black rod and inwardly cried out in alarm. He knew that once the black rod in Kagaya's hand pierced his body, the fight would be over.
Opening his mouth wide, Kabuto began shedding his skin directly in midair.
"Hmph!"
Kagaya gave a cold snort and directly interrupted the Universal Pull. At extreme speed, he instantly appeared before the Kabuto who had just emerged from his own mouth.
Kagaya gripped the black rod, about to strike.
Originally, Kagaya had intended to spare Kabuto's life, so the black rod was aimed at Kabuto's arm. But halfway through the thrust, Kagaya sensed something was wrong.
"This is—"
Changing direction, the black rod directly pierced through Kabuto's head.
"A fake body?"
Blood sprayed, but it wasn't Kabuto's blood. The Kabuto before Kagaya transformed into several white snakes that scattered in all directions.
Spreading his senses outward, Kagaya discovered that the entire cavern was filled with the chakra of white snakes. For a moment, he couldn't distinguish where Kabuto's true body was.
Kagaya mocked. "Weren't you furious just now? Why are you hiding? Don't tell me you're afraid of me? It's fine—I bear you no grudge. Just return what's mine, and I'll turn around and leave immediately. How about it?"
"Impossible!"
Kabuto's voice came from all directions.
What was Kabuto's purpose in joining this war? It was Sasuke! Kabuto wanted to research Sasuke. However, even if he thoroughly researched Sasuke, he would at most gain the secrets of a Sharingan or Mangekyo.
But Kabuto had a pair of Rinnegan in his hands. These were far more precious than Sasuke!
Even if it meant abandoning this war, Kabuto didn't want to lose those Rinnegan.
When he had negotiated with Kagaya earlier and said he would "consider it," he was actually just placating Kagaya. From beginning to end, Kabuto had never intended to return the Rinnegan to Kagaya.
"The Rinnegan—I found them. They're mine now! You're a dead man. Even if you get the Rinnegan, what can you do?"
Kagaya's expression darkened. He sensed from Kabuto's tone that Kabuto had likely never considered returning his Rinnegan.
"A dead man? No... I don't think so. Can't you see? Right now, I'm standing right in front of you! You stinking snake!"
"This is all thanks to me. You should be thanking me. Without me, who knows how much longer you would have slept beneath that desert." Kabuto continued.
"Oh? Then by that logic, should I also thank you for stealing my things?"
Kabuto was silent for a moment, then spoke.
"I made a wrong decision. I should have just taken the Rinnegan and not resurrected you. I thought you would be a trump card, but I never expected you to bite the hand that fed you."
Kagaya kept searching for Kabuto's true body. "Bite the hand that fed me? Are you misunderstanding something? Do you think you qualify as my master? You're just a snake. I hope you have some self-awareness. Also, my patience is limited. I'll give you three more minutes. If you still don't hand over what's mine, then don't blame me when you die."
"Threatening me like this... Let me think. You also have the Rinnegan. You're not thinking of using Madara's move—dropping meteorites directly on this place, are you? Heh heh... hahahaha. That really is... that really is..." Kabuto laughed maniacally.
Kagaya found a rock and sat down.
"I don't know Madara's move. But you can keep laughing. I guarantee that in three minutes, you absolutely won't survive. A word of warning—so-called skin-shedding won't save you!"
Kabuto's laughter stopped.
"I know. Of course I know. Although I'm already perfect now, I'm still clear-headed enough to know that against a Rinnegan going all out, my chances of victory are close to zero. If you were alive, if you had the true Rinnegan, I would never make an enemy of you!"
In the original story, Obito had merely transplanted a single Rinnegan and intimidated Kabuto.
Kagaya countered. "So you think that because I'm currently in an Impure World Reincarnation body, because I currently have the fake eyes of the Impure World Reincarnation, I can't kill you?"
Kabuto immediately answered. "No, no, no! From our exchange just now, I've already understood—you possess the Senjutsu of Ryuchi Cave and the Rinnegan. The probability of me defeating you doesn't exist. Even the probability of me successfully escaping is very small. This, I must admit!"
Hearing this, Kagaya's tone softened slightly.
"Then return what's mine. I said before—I bear you no grudge. Just return what's mine, and I'll leave immediately."
However, in the very next second, Kabuto laughed with extreme shrillness.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Do you know why? Do you know why, even though I know you're strong, even though I know I'm no match for you, I can still laugh?"
Kagaya's expression darkened once more. He asked coldly.
"Why?"
This time, Kabuto's voice reached its absolute peak. He spoke with a tone of utmost pride.
"Because I am perfect! I am not a snake! I am a perfect being! My ninjutsu is also perfect! The Impure World Reincarnation has no risks whatsoever!! So what if you're strong? I said it—you're just my card! Just my card! No matter how strong a trump card is, it's still just a card! What do you rely on to exist? You rely on the power I gave you—the Impure World Reincarnation—to exist! Your current existence is entirely thanks to me! And now, I will pull out the very foundation of your existence! This war—I, Yakushi Kabuto—even if I withdraw, will absolutely never hand over the Rinnegan! Uchiha Kagaya, I must correct one of your earlier statements. It's not that I can't survive—it's that you can't survive! Impure World Reincarnation: Release!"
A white light emerged from Kagaya's and Itachi's bodies. Their bodies began to crumble.
Kabuto had released all the Impure World Reincarnation subjects in this war.
Kagaya extended his hand and looked at it. He could clearly see his own hand crumbling.
His perspective slowly rose higher. Kagaya's soul began to leave his body.
At this moment, Kabuto finally revealed his true form. He stood before Kagaya and smiled faintly.
"Farewell, Uchiha Kagaya. Go back to where you belong. Your Rinnegan—I will study them well. Heh heh heh... hahaha. I... am perfect!"
Kagaya's gaze rested on Kabuto, without the slightest fluctuation.
"Perfect? Aren't you overestimating yourself? You are not perfect—neither you nor your techniques. One final warning: forbidden techniques are not toys for you to play with as you please."
Serpent—Ram—Boar—Dog—Tiger!
Impure World Reincarnation: Release!
His body rapidly recovered. Kagaya's soul returned to his body.
This time, Kagaya gave Kabuto no opportunity whatsoever. He instantly moved beside Kabuto. The black rod pierced into Kabuto's abdomen. Then, he continued creating black rods—left hand, right hand, both feet—all pinned down!
Kagaya gripped Kabuto's neck and smiled faintly.
"Alright, you damn snake. Laugh once more with that laughter from just now."
Dead silence.