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Afterwards, Kagaya still provided some help to the boy—a temporarily sealed scroll.
Within the scroll was a shadow clone of Kagaya. But don't underestimate this clone. This was a clone possessing the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
Such a clone could even hold its own in a fight against an Akatsuki member. If it encountered someone like Hidan, who had no defense against genjutsu, it could even achieve victory.
As for Susano'o? Sorry, a mother clone shouldn't even think about that. This was just a regular shadow clone, not the wood clones from the original story used by Madara. Even with wood clones, Kagaya's current chakra reserves were insufficient for a clone to activate Susano'o. So, clones using Susano'o? Just wishful thinking.
Nevertheless, this assistance was immensely precious to the boy before him, even if he might not realize just how valuable it was.
Later, Kagaya and Araki Mumei parted ways, not knowing if they would ever meet again.
But this encounter with Mumei made Kagaya understand two things. First, the wanderers of this world held a deeply ingrained fear of shinobi, clearly a result of shinobi constantly "carrying out missions."
Second, he learned of the presence of Tsunade and her group.
Stretching lazily, Kagaya muttered to himself, "Shinobi, huh..."
Once again, he understood the darker side of this profession.
If he hadn't been born in Konoha, hadn't been born into the Uchiha clan, but instead in a small country, perhaps Kagaya too would have become one of those wanderers.
Karin looked at Kagaya. "Kagaya, how should we proceed next?"
Now that they knew Tsunade and the others were ahead, naturally, Karin needed to know Kagaya's decision.
"Detour around them. Let's not get in their way."
Also, on this very day, Sasuke completely escaped Konoha's pursuit, dragging his exhausted body towards Orochimaru's base.
Kimimaro had also taken action in this battle and died during the pursuit. Of course, Kimimaro wasn't killed; he died of his illness. To kill Kimimaro, even a Kimimaro on the verge of death from illness, would require at least a Jonin-level opponent.
The Kaguya bloodline was no joke.
However, what Kagaya didn't know was that, unlike in the original story where Orochimaru, due to his severely damaged body and the agony of losing his arms, was forced to perform the reincarnation ritual early, this time, Orochimaru hadn't experienced the epic three-way Sannin battle from the original. Therefore, his body could still hold on, not reaching a point where he absolutely had to perform the ritual.
If no other force intervened, Orochimaru would likely successfully obtain Sasuke's body before long!
Originally, Kagaya should have timed his arrival at Orochimaru's place to stop him. But what Kagaya was currently unaware of was that the Six Paths of Pain, along with Kakuzu and Sasori, were heading towards Tsunade's location. And Tsunade and her group were quietly waiting for their targets to arrive.
Kagaya wanted to avoid Tsunade's group, but if Pain and the others arrived and engaged them in battle, Kagaya would inevitably be drawn into the vortex.
Furthermore, on the distant border of the Land of Lightning, Itachi's gaze was flickering. Over here, he too had already begun to act.
After careful thought, Itachi ultimately decided not to warn the Hokage. In his view, if the Hokage didn't even possess the ability to escape from Pain and the others, then that would be too great a failure.
In the original story, the reason Jiraiya didn't escape was that he never intended to flee from the start. It was only later, after being injured, that he couldn't escape. If Tsunade was cautious enough, she could escape from Pain. Of course, that was assuming Pain didn't use Chibaku Tensei (Planetary Devastation).
That was a technique even Itachi knew nothing about.
Itachi disregarded the situation with the Hokage and focused entirely on Sasuke's situation.
Although Itachi had asked Kagaya, he also understood that Kagaya currently seemed to have some conflict with the Akatsuki, making it easy for unexpected delays to occur. Therefore, to prevent Kagaya from dropping the ball, Itachi naturally had to prepare other contingencies.
Their location was the westernmost border of the Land of Lightning. This place wasn't far from Otogakure (the Hidden Sound Village). In the coming period, Itachi and Kisame would gradually move towards Otogakure. So, if Orochimaru truly dared to attempt taking Sasuke's body, Itachi would naturally intervene.
But whether he could actually prevent it, no one could say for sure.
***
Several days later.
Kagaya and his group had already overtaken Tsunade's party. Tsunade's group was moving somewhat slowly, as if waiting for someone, which Kagaya found a bit strange.
However, it wasn't Kagaya's concern. Whoever Tsunade was waiting for, Kagaya didn't want to get involved.
Leaping continuously from branch to branch, Kagaya looked somewhat boredly at Karin and teased, "Karin, returning to Otogakure this time, do you feel any sense of nostalgia?"
After all, Karin was originally from Otogakure before Kagaya "abducted" her. Since then, she hadn't returned, making this her first time going back.
Karin rolled her eyes adorably. "Not at all."
But the next second, Karin's expression suddenly changed. She spoke loudly to Kagaya, "Kagaya, be careful! There are several chakra signatures ahead, approaching us rapidly. They're very powerful!"
Under normal circumstances, Karin wouldn't maintain large-scale sensory perception. But if they got too close, she would still detect them.
Hearing this, Kagaya didn't stop. He continued rushing forward. "Can you sense who they are?"
Karin had met many powerful individuals with Kagaya. If she could identify them, that would be best. Even if not, Kagaya could use a process of elimination to figure out who was ahead.
Karin swallowed. "I can recognize one... the hunchbacked old man from the three Akatsuki members who surrounded us before."
Kagaya narrowed his eyes. The hunchbacked old man in the Akatsuki should be Sasori!
Although Sasori himself wasn't a hunchbacked old man, he always hid inside Hiruko (his puppet shell). Most people who saw him would assume he was one.
But what was Sasori doing here? Pursuing him? Or had he another purpose?
There was no time to think. Because both sides were moving rapidly towards each other, they soon drew near.
"Whoosh!"
Neither side stopped. It seemed they weren't targeting each other. They passed by each other.
At the moment they passed, Kagaya turned his head. Closest to him was a very familiar person, his face pierced with black rods—Pain, the Deva Path!
Kagaya's eyes widened slightly as he stared at Pain. Pain also showed some surprise; he hadn't expected to meet Kagaya here.
The next moment, they passed each other.
Kagaya looked back. All Six Paths of Pain were present, along with Kakuzu and Sasori. But seeing him, they hadn't stopped. Clearly, they weren't here for him.
However...
All Six Paths of Pain deployed? Seriously? Was there someone worthy of Nagato mobilizing all his Paths? And the target wasn't him, so then...
Wait! Kagaya remembered. Who was behind them? Tsunade's forces. If Pain wasn't here for him, then he must be here for Tsunade!
Thinking about it, it made sense. Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, a peer of Nagato's master (Jiraiya), was worthy of Nagato deploying all Six Paths!
The reason they didn't attack him was probably to avoid adding another opponent at a critical moment.
From Pain and the others' perspective, Kagaya was practically a mortal enemy of Konoha. As long as they didn't actively provoke him, he wouldn't help Tsunade.