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Tsunade was well aware that many would be dissatisfied with this decision. Yet, she proceeded despite the pressure, just as she had in the original story when she resisted all pressure to keep Sasuke off the rogue ninja list.
However, Tsunade's reason for removing Kagaya was different from her reason for Sasuke in the original story. Sasuke hadn't been listed primarily because of Naruto's persistent pleas on his behalf.
As for Kagaya, the main reason was that over the past few days, Tsunade had recalled something. When Kagaya mentioned the "Eternal Mangekyō" to her earlier, she hadn't known what it was. But after half a month, it suddenly came back to her. She remembered that as a child, during her grandfather's time, she had heard him say that the only person who could rival him possessed a pair of terrifying eyes called the "Eternal Mangekyō."
It was a childhood memory, and the playful young Tsunade hadn't paid it much mind, which is why she hadn't remembered it when facing Kagaya. But now, the recollection terrified her.
Who was Tsunade's grandfather? Hashirama Senju! A ninja hailed as the "God of Shinobi." In his era, no one could defeat him. In fact, only one person in the entire ninja world was even qualified to fight him. Yet, even that person couldn't overcome him. Hashirama Senju was the true embodiment of "invincible."
And who was the one who could rival Hashirama? Madara Uchiha! This ninja, who alongside Hashirama dominated an entire era. Although Madara ultimately lost to Hashirama, they shared one thing in common: in the entire ninja world, only one person was qualified to face Madara—Hashirama Senju.
Yes, at that time, Hashirama and Madara were each other's only true rival. Everyone else was utterly insignificant before them, unworthy of even engaging them in combat.
Even though Madara couldn't defeat Hashirama, it didn't mean Madara was weak. On the contrary, besides Hashirama, no one else was fit to face Madara!
Therefore, upon remembering this, Tsunade immediately revoked Kagaya's status as a rogue ninja. On the surface, Kagaya might still be considered a rogue ninja, but Konoha would no longer actively pursue him.
Tsunade hadn't personally witnessed Madara's strength. As a child born in early Konoha, she had seen him—a relatively tall man with an imposing aura, but seemingly nothing extraordinary beyond that.
But Tsunade understood how strong her grandfather had been. In truth, even now, going all out, Tsunade wouldn't dare claim to possess half her grandfather's power. And Madara Uchiha, the one who could face her grandfather... how could he be weak?
By the same logic, Kagaya, possessing the same eyes as Madara Uchiha, certainly wouldn't be weak either.
Ironically, although Kagaya's Eternal Mangekyō was almost ready, he hadn't even used it yet. Yet, supremely powerful individuals like Obito and Tsunade were already afraid. The previous possessor of the Eternal Mangekyō had, long ago, demonstrated its terror for Kagaya.
One might wonder if this counted as the fox borrowing the tiger's might?
Of course, only those at the pinnacle of the ninja world, like Tsunade and Obito, felt this fear. As for others, they didn't give Kagaya a second thought.
Obito and Tsunade feared because they knew too much. They understood the weight of the words "Eternal Mangekyō" and knew its last possessor was Madara.
But others? Eternal Mangekyō? What's that? Just add another word in front of Mangekyō and think you're hot stuff? I'll still crush you!
One person with such thoughts was Deidara. After returning to Akatsuki, Kakuzu had stitched his hands back on, and Deidara was back to his lively self. Upon learning from Pain that Kagaya had evolved the Eternal Mangekyō, Deidara's first reaction was—my last defeat was a fluke; I'm prepared now. Doesn't matter if it's 'Eternal' Mangekyō or 'Eternal Eternal' Mangekyō, I, Deidara, will blow him to bits!
However, contrasting Deidara's fearless attitude was Kakuzu's silence.
One must remember that Kakuzu had survived from Hashirama's era. Therefore, Kakuzu seemed to have a faint, hazy, slight impression of that Eternal Mangekyō.
After some careful recollection, Kakuzu was nearly scared to death. Having witnessed Hashirama's terror firsthand, Kakuzu clearly understood that individual's fearsomeness and the immense weight carried by the words "Eternal Mangekyō."
Regarding this matter, the more one knew, the closer one had been to those two legendary figures, the greater the fear towards Kagaya. Conversely, the less one knew, the less one cared.
Thus, when Pain announced the need to gather forces to deal with Kagaya, Kakuzu immediately refused without a second thought, using fund collection as an excuse. One must note that in previous pursuits of Kagaya, Kakuzu had been quite proactive.
His sudden change of attitude today was clear: I'm not doing it. Don't look at me. Whoever wants to can do it.
Meanwhile, at a certain shoreline.
Kagaya's group finally set foot on land. Stepping onto the not-so-long-missed ground, Kagaya couldn't help but smile.
"Just as I estimated."
With that, he reached up, pulled off the white cloth covering his eyes, and slowly opened them.
Within his eye sockets lay a pair of blood-red eyes with an incredibly intricate pattern—the Eternal Mangekyō. At this moment, for the first time since Madara Uchiha, they had appeared once more in the world!
Kagaya had felt back then that his eyes might finish adapting around the time they reached land. Of course, it could have been delayed or happened earlier. He had simply thought the probability of them adapting right as they landed was relatively high. Unexpectedly, he had guessed correctly.
The blood-red color faded, replaced by black pupils, full of vitality, not the nearly grey irises of half a month ago.
At a glance, the surrounding world was sharp and clear, with none of the previous extreme blurriness.
Moreover, the most important thing was that after evolving the Eternal Mangekyō, Kagaya felt his ocular power had increased dramatically. With Mangekyō abilities he could now use without restraint combined with such immense ocular power, the current Kagaya truly had nothing to fear.
Golden ribs materialized around Kagaya, enveloping and protecting him. Moments later, Kagaya dispersed them.
"Tch."
Kagaya clicked his tongue with a hint of regret.
After evolving into the Eternal Mangekyō, activating Susano'o no longer caused that terrifying pain or exerted comprehensive pressure on his mind and body. However, activating Susano'o still consumed chakra, and his body still bore some burden.
Given Kagaya's current physical condition, achieving the Complete Body Susano'o was almost impossible. To unlock it, Kagaya would either need to develop a "Sage Body" or wait for his body to mature gradually through natural growth.
But that was irrelevant. Even without the Complete Body Susano'o, with these Mangekyō as they were now—as long as Orochimaru didn't recklessly reincarnate some ancient, overpowered spirits—Kagaya was invincible in the current ninja world.