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Back with Sasori, both Third Kazekages began to coalesce their Iron Sand.
Sasori's Third Kazekage puppet formed a cylindrical mass of Iron Sand above its head, while Orochimaru's Third Kazekage shaped a triangular mass of Iron Sand overhead.
The two massive Iron Sand constructs stood opposed, poised to attack each other.
Orochimaru smiled triumphantly; he wasn't worried about the outcome of this clash in the slightest. Even if the Third Kazekage didn't win, he could continuously revive. Moreover, the body formed by the Impure World Reincarnation possessed unlimited chakra. If it came to a battle of attrition, Sasori stood no chance of outlasting the Third Kazekage.
"Become my eternal pawn!" Orochimaru declared confidently.
However, what Orochimaru didn't know was that his declaration had angered someone he shouldn't have provoked—the Third Kazekage himself.
As a Kage, how could he lack the pride of one? Orochimaru's Impure World Reincarnation technique was not yet perfected and couldn't completely erase the Third Kazekage's personality. Thus, provoked and enraged, the Third Kazekage uttered these words:
"What nonsense is this?! I am the Third Kazekage!"
With great difficulty, the Third Kazekage struggled to turn his head and look back at Orochimaru behind him.
"I am not a pawn!"
Having said that, the triangular mass of Iron Sand he had gathered in the air began to fall apart and dissipate. His own body also started to crumble into dust and slowly fade away.
The Third Kazekage, relying on his own willpower, had broken free from Orochimaru's control, liberating his soul.
Orochimaru was stunned. This was a scenario he had never anticipated. A look of vexation crossed his face as he spoke.
"Ara, so the technique still has flaws."
Sasori, however, had no intention of letting this perfect opportunity slip. With a sweep of his hands,
"Take this!"
The previously formed cylindrical mass of Iron Sand slammed directly towards Orochimaru.
"Boom!"
The massive Iron Sand struck down, kicking up a huge cloud of dust.
However, as the dust settled, what Sasori saw was Orochimaru, his legs transformed into snake-like appendages, slithering rapidly across the ground to escape.
Clearly, the attack had missed its mark.
"Don't run!"
Deidara jumped down from his white bird and shouted.
Immediately after, countless white clay birds flew into Orochimaru's hideout.
"Katsu!"
"Boom, boom, boom, boom!!"
A series of relentless explosions sounded. In just a short while, the massive rock formation was reduced to rubble.
"Art is an explosion!"
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Kagaya's lips. He walked over to Sasori and the others.
"I'll continue the pursuit of Orochimaru."
Deidara looked at Kagaya strangely.
"Hey, you guy, didn't you see that huge explosion? That guy called Orochimaru must be dead for sure."
Kagaya looked at Sasori.
"If Orochimaru were that easy to kill, the organization wouldn't have sent both me and Sasori."
Sasori snorted coldly. "It's you who insisted on taking my mission."
Kagaya shrugged. "That's not important. Anyway, I'm going to continue pursuing Orochimaru."
Having said that, Kagaya used the Body Flicker Technique and vanished from the spot with Haku.
Sasori stared stared darkly at the spot where Kagaya disappeared. An uneasy feeling gnawed at him. This didn't feel like a simple pursuit.
"That bastard..."
Deidara, meanwhile, turned to Sasori and asked,
"Old man, do you think that Orochimaru guy really isn't dead?"
Sasori walked towards the rubble ahead. He knew they couldn't keep up with Kagaya now, so he had no intention of giving chase. It was routine to just check the ruins for any sign of whether Orochimaru was there or not.
"If a little explosion like that could kill that stinking snake, he would have died by my hand long ago and wouldn't have lived to see this day. Enough talk, come search this rubble and see if Orochimaru is hiding here or not."
*****
Elsewhere, Kagaya, with Haku, caught up with Orochimaru not far away.
Kagaya looked at Orochimaru in surprise.
"You were waiting here for me on purpose?"
Orochimaru smiled slightly.
"I thought Kagaya-kun must have something to discuss with me."
"Indeed, I have business with you. After all, I'm currently your pursuer, tasked with killing you."
"Kagaya-kun, you can't fool me. The desire that flashes in your eyes from time to time... honestly, it's the first time I've seen such strong desire in Kagaya-kun's gaze. I suspect whatever Kagaya-kun wants from me must be very important, correct?"
Kagaya didn't deny it. The thought of the Impure World Reincarnation, the thought of those people—he truly had been unable to suppress the excitement in his heart several times. He had to obtain the Impure World Reincarnation technique!
"I want the technique you just used."
Orochimaru smiled thoughtfully.
"The Impure World Reincarnation? Let me see... In that case, Kagaya-kun probably wants to revive the 'Fleeting Body'—"
Kagaya's eyes turned cold.
"Orochimaru! Making presumptions about others' thoughts is not a good habit."
Orochimaru smiled apologetically.
"My apologies, my apologies, that was rude of me, Kagaya-kun. So, Kagaya-kun wishes to obtain the Impure World Reincarnation technique from me. I am willing to make this transaction. However, the prerequisite is that Kagaya-kun must offer something of equivalent value."
Kagaya raised an eyebrow.
"What do you want? My eyes? Or my body?"
Orochimaru grinned.
"I certainly desire those, but I imagine Kagaya-kun wouldn't give them to me, would you?"
Kagaya remained silent. His eyes and body were the foundation of his strength; he couldn't possibly trade them to Orochimaru. Without that strength as support, Orochimaru could easily renege on their deal.
However, if it truly came down to it...
Orochimaru continued.
"Let's do this. If Kagaya-kun agrees to three conditions for me, I will hand over the Impure World Reincarnation to you."
"Name them."
"First, in the future, when I make a move against Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke, Kagaya-kun must not interfere with my actions."
Kagaya pondered for a moment. Thinking carefully, in the original story, Orochimaru never truly posed any major, critical threat to Itachi or Sasuke. Towards Sasuke, he even provided some help. In that case, whether he intervened or not was irrelevant.
"Agreed."
Orochimaru smiled with satisfaction.
"Good. Then, the second condition: In the future, when my life is in danger, I hope Kagaya-kun will extend a helping hand to me once."
Kagaya stared at Orochimaru.
"Could there really be someone who threatens your life? Moreover, with all due respect, if someone is capable of killing you, then chances are I wouldn't be a match for them either."
Frankly, at his current level, without desperately unleashing the power of his Mangekyō, Kagaya's strength was just barely at the standard of a combat member in the Akatsuki. If someone could kill Orochimaru, they would most likely be able to kill Kagaya as well.
Orochimaru's smile didn't fade.
"Kagaya-kun, as I said, it's for the future. I have high hopes for Kagaya-kun's future, you see."
Kagaya thought it over carefully. Saving Orochimaru's life once wouldn't really have any impact. Besides, in the original story, this guy managed to survive all the way to the end on his own. The promise to save his life might never even need to be fulfilled.
"Agreed."
Orochimaru's smile grew even more satisfied.
"Then, thirdly, I hope Kagaya-kun will leave the Akatsuki organization and cooperate with me."
"You!"
Kagaya's eyes turned cold. Leave the Akatsuki? What was Orochimaru planning?!
*****
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