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Kagaya absorbed the chakra from the Hashirama cells. However, he didn't feel anything particularly special, which left him somewhat disappointed. In Kagaya's impression, Hashirama's cells were almost omnipotent, and by extension, he had held high expectations for Hashirama's chakra. But now it seemed Hashirama's chakra wasn't fundamentally different from ordinary chakra; at most, it was just more abundant. Simply absorbing chakra wouldn't increase one's strength. To experience the benefits of Hashirama's cells, one would need to transplant them.
Of course, Kagaya hadn't been aiming for the advantages of Hashirama's cells in the first place. What he wanted was the Izanagi technique recorded on the Scroll of Seals, which stated that possessing the powers of both the Senju and the Uchiha allowed one to perform this jutsu. Now that Kagaya possessed power from both sides, he presumed he could use Izanagi as a life-saving measure, adding another means of survival.
[The Senju and the Uchiha, the two most illustrious clans of the Warring States Era. In that era, the Senju produced Hashirama, and the Uchiha produced Madara. These two individuals elevated their respective clans to the peak of their glory. Even the equally powerful Hyūga clan, after the emergence of Hashirama and Madara, was caught between the two, treading carefully, not daring to contend. It was an era belonging to those two men, and also an era belonging to those two clans. It was the most chaotic era, and also the most glorious era since the time of the Sage of Six Paths.]
Suddenly, a voice rang out, startling Kagaya. This voice was undoubtedly the System's.
[Now that you possess the powers of both the Senju and the Uchiha, prepare yourself to cross time and witness that glorious era with your own eyes.]
[In three months, forced transmission to the Warring States Era.]
With those words, the voice ceased.
After hearing these words from the System, Kagaya's first reaction was:
"Damn it, you cursed System, I hope you meet a horrible end..."
Two months later.
Konohagakure.
The main gate.
"Pervy Sage."
Naruto gently called out to Jiraiya beside him.
Jiraiya looked back at Konoha behind them.
"What's wrong? Don't want to leave?"
Naruto shook his head.
"No, Pervy Sage. If I train hard this time, when I come back... will I be able to defeat Sasuke?"
Jiraiya smiled wryly.
"Sasuke, huh? I haven't had much contact with him. But since he's gone to Orochimaru, he probably won't be too weak. Whether you can defeat Sasuke depends on how hard you train."
Hearing this, Naruto's eyes instantly grew resolute. He clenched his fist.
"I will! I definitely will! Pervy Sage, I will definitely defeat Sasuke and bring him back to Konoha! And Kagaya too! It's the same for him!"
Hearing the name "Kagaya," Jiraiya instinctively opened his mouth to refute Naruto. But in the end, he held back the words he wanted to say and instead replied,
"Yeah, then you better give it your all."
Seeing Jiraiya affirm his words, Naruto couldn't help but be overjoyed. He jumped up and shouted loudly.
"Yeah!!"
Jiraiya smiled faintly, saying nothing. Defeating Sasuke was certainly possible. But Kagaya... that guy, even Jiraiya himself couldn't claim to defeat him. How could Naruto possibly do it?
Yes, no matter how he thought about it, Naruto couldn't defeat Kagaya. He might not even have the qualification to exchange blows with him.
But...
The reason Jiraiya didn't voice this opinion wasn't just because he didn't want to discourage Naruto. There was another reason.
Looking at the excited boy beside him, basking in the sunlight, his blond hair seemed even more dazzling at this moment. This boy with six black whisker-like marks on his face, resembling a fox, always gave Jiraiya a strange, inexplicable feeling.
As if someone was whispering in Jiraiya's ear:
To defeat Kagaya, Tsunade couldn't do it, he couldn't do it, Sasuke certainly couldn't, and no one in the current world could. Except for one person—this very blond boy standing before him, whose current strength was merely genin-level and seemingly insignificant.
This thought even made Jiraiya chuckle at himself. He even began to wonder if he was becoming senile. Yet, whenever he looked at this blond boy, the thought would inexplicably grow firmer.
Could Naruto really...?
What was wrong with him? He must be getting old.
Shaking his head with a light laugh, Jiraiya took a step forward, heading into the distance.
"Hey, Naruto, let's go."
Naruto grinned and immediately followed.
"Coming, coming! Wait for me, Pervy Sage!"
"Hahaha, if you can't even keep up with me, you won't be able to train, you know, Naruto."
"Damn it! Pervy Sage, just you wait! I'll surpass you in no time!"
"Hahaha, I'll be waiting."
"You're so annoying!"
At Konoha's main gate, Tsunade watched the two figures gradually disappear into the distance. She had initially felt somewhat melancholic, but seeing this scene, she couldn't help but smile.
Reaching out, Tsunade touched the smooth skin of her neck. A green necklace had once hung there, but it was gone now.
"Naruto, huh..."
Unlike Jiraiya's inexplicable confidence in Naruto, Tsunade did have faith in him, but not to the same extent. In Tsunade's mind, if Naruto could achieve chūnin-level strength after this training journey, it would already be quite impressive. After all, Naruto was only around thirteen years old.
Those who remained genin their entire lives weren't many, but they existed. If Naruto, at fifteen or sixteen in the next couple of years, became a chūnin, that would truly be excellent. After all, not everyone could be compared to Uchiha Kagaya.
That guy was a monster.
The thought of Uchiha Kagaya made Tsunade's head ache again.
To be honest, Tsunade was genuinely a bit confused about Kagaya's current stance toward Konoha. On one hand, Kagaya absolutely refused to promise never to act against Konoha in the future. On the other hand, he had intervened earlier and saved Konoha's people. This had reduced Tsunade's wariness toward him somewhat, yet it made Kagaya's attitude increasingly perplexing.
"And then there's Akatsuki..."
Tsunade sighed, turned around, and walked back into Konoha. Compared to the original story, Konoha had begun taking the Akatsuki organization seriously two years earlier. The terrifying strength displayed by the Paths of Pain had thoroughly frightened Tsunade and Jiraiya, forcing them to pay serious attention to Akatsuki.
In the coming period, Konoha needed to focus on recovering its strength, staying vigilant against other nations, and gathering information on this Akatsuki organization. In short, for the next year or two, Tsunade would definitely not have a moment of leisure.
Orochimaru's Hideout.
"Orochimaru, as per our agreement, you should tell me why Itachi slaughtered the clan, and why Kagaya stood by and did nothing!"
In a dimly lit room, Sasuke spoke earnestly. His reason for seeking out Orochimaru wasn't solely to gain power for revenge; he also wanted to learn the truth about Itachi and Kagaya. This had been part of the agreement he made with Orochimaru.
However...
"I don't know."
Orochimaru answered Sasuke directly and without hesitation.
Regarding the inside story of the Uchiha clan massacre, Orochimaru truly wasn't very clear. Back then, the reason he included this condition in the agreement with Sasuke was purely to lure Sasuke into seeking him out. After all, Sasuke was not Kagaya. Even if Orochimaru deceived him, what could Sasuke do? Beyond helpless rage, Sasuke had no recourse.
"You...!"
Sure enough, Sasuke immediately glared at Orochimaru with anger, instinctively clenching his fists, yet he didn't attack.
Orochimaru smiled faintly. In the shinobi world, strength was everything. As long as Orochimaru was strong enough, what did it matter if he broke an agreement? Just like with Kagaya—he broke the agreement by delaying Sasuke's arrival. Even after Orochimaru found out, didn't he still have to welcome Kagaya with a smile?