Naruto: Kurotsuchi Mayuri

"Nara Kagetsu?"

Kakuzu stared at the very-much-alive Nara Kagetsu standing before him, momentarily stunned. He realized that ever since meeting this person, Kagetsu's actions had constantly surprised him.

"Surprised to see me here?" Kagetsu glanced at Kakuzu, whose eyes were wide with shock, then shifted his gaze to Nagato and Konan, who were equally dumbfounded. He shrugged slightly.

"Space-Time Ninjutsu?"

Kakuzu quickly came to a logical conclusion regarding Kagetsu's sudden appearance. However, his expression darkened right after.

As a "living fossil" of the shinobi world, Kakuzu had, of course, heard of Space-Time Ninjutsu—an incredibly rare and immensely powerful technique.

At the very least, he was familiar with the infamous Flying Thunder God Jutsu, perfected and widely renowned by Namikaze Minato of Konoha.

Although Kagetsu's technique didn't fully align with what Kakuzu had heard about the Fourth Hokage's abilities, Kakuzu couldn't think of any other plausible explanation besides Space-Time Ninjutsu for how Kagetsu had traveled so quickly from Konoha to the Land of Rain.

What unsettled Kakuzu the most, however, was how Kagetsu had appeared right beside him without any hesitation. Was this an implicit threat? Or had Kagetsu done something to him in secret?

Every technique had its requirements. What did it take to successfully use Space-Time Ninjutsu?

"Your guess is pretty accurate, Kakuzu-san," Kagetsu tilted his head slightly and responded with a faint smile.

"You tampered with me, didn't you?" Kakuzu's expression was grim, his tone laced with frustration. He was almost certain now.

"Are you referring to my ability to pinpoint your exact location using space-time ninjutsu?" Kagetsu immediately understood Kakuzu's irritated suspicion.

"Isn't that the case?" Kakuzu grumbled unhappily. He had always known Kagetsu was a cunning schemer.

"Did you forget about someone?" Kagetsu spoke casually as he squatted down, spreading his right palm open toward the ground.

Under the watchful eyes of Kakuzu and Nagato, a small white snake slithered joyfully out from beneath Kakuzu's cloak. Moving in a smooth S-pattern, it flicked its tongue as it made its way to Kagetsu's outstretched hand, coiling itself neatly in his palm. The snake stared unwaveringly into Kagetsu's eyes.

"Your marker… is that snake?" Kakuzu felt a bit awkward, though he still suspected Kagetsu was hiding something. Everything so far seemed like his own deductions, pieced together by observing the situation.

"I came here right after receiving your message. I made a few simple preparations and rushed over as quickly as I could," Kagetsu replied. He avoided directly addressing Kakuzu's question, sidestepping even the vaguest hint of confirmation or denial.

"You care so much about Nagato and the others?" Kakuzu found it hard to believe. Based on previous encounters, it was clear that Kagetsu wasn't the type to be overwhelmed by compassion.

"I'm merely fulfilling a request. While Jiraiya isn't my teacher, he helped me a great deal, much like Lady Tsunade," Kagetsu explained as he walked toward Nagato and Konan.

"Jiraiya-sensei?" Upon hearing Jiraiya's name, the tension in Konan and Nagato's bodies eased slightly.

"Uh!"

In that brief moment of relaxation, without warning, Kagetsu jabbed a syringe directly into Nagato's neck.

The next second, a flurry of paper-made shuriken sliced through the air, propelled by Konan's outstretched hand as they hurtled toward Kagetsu.

Konan's reaction was lightning-quick, but Kagetsu was faster. As though he had anticipated the attack, a pitch-black shadow shot up from the ground beneath him like a towering wave, swallowing the paper shuriken whole before crashing back down.

"Stand down, Konan!"

Painfully, Nagato pressed his hand to his neck and collapsed. His voice was a little complicated as he stopped Konan from forming the hand seals.

"Nagato?"

Konan, still cautiously watching Kagetsu who had raised his hand and stepped back, squatted down and helped the collapsed Nagato to the stone bed.

"I'm fine! He's treating me." Nagato shook his head at the worried Konan.

"Treating you?" Konan looked at Kagetsu in surprise, then turned back to Nagato. She noticed that, despite his pale, thin body, there was now a slight healthy color returning to his face.

"My injuries are healing!"

When Nagato was attacked, he was caught off guard. His injuries had weakened him, and the momentary control Kagetsu's shadow had over him stopped him from reacting in time. He didn't have the chance to dodge or use any of his Rinnegan abilities.

But once the injection was administered, he felt something unusual! It wasn't some poison damaging his body, but rather a force that was quickly nourishing and healing his battered body.

In just a few breaths, he felt his once heavy and painful body improving significantly under this power.

"Looks like you didn't trust me enough. I thought we had built at least some trust by now." Kagetsu lowered his hand, teasing Konan with a slight smile.

"I'm sorry." Konan apologized awkwardly.

"After everything you've been through, betrayal and all, being sensitive is understandable." Kagetsu wasn't upset. He didn't want to waste time on this.

"I've heard from Jiraiya-sensei and Kakuzu-san that you're very skilled in medical ninjutsu, Kagetsu?" Konan's eyes sparkled as she shyly looked at him.

"Do you want me to treat Nagato and Yahiko?" Kagetsu's gaze shifted to the two on the stone bed.

"I know it's a bit unreasonable to ask this, but please! If you can save Yahiko and Nagato, we'll agree to more of your conditions!" Konan bowed deeply.

"As long as you can save Yahiko, I'll accept whatever conditions you have!" Nagato stood up from the stone bed and added his own plea.

"Can I also have the Rinnegan?"

Kagetsu's sudden words made Konan, Nagato, and even the outsider, Kakuzu, widen their eyes in surprise.

"Do you want these eyes?" Nagato paused for a moment, and without thinking, his right hand instinctively lifted to touch the pair of eyes hidden under his bangs. He glanced at Yahiko lying on the stone bed, then nodded towards Kagetsu, "If you can heal Yahiko, you can take these eyes."

"I disagree! Cough, cough!" Yahiko's hoarse voice sounded out. "If that's the case, I'd rather not receive any treatment."

"I see. You came rushing over because of the Rinnegan?" Kakuzu thought to himself, a bit of realization dawning on him.

Kakuzu had also suspected that Kagetsu was paying too much attention to these three young people. If it weren't for his previous battle with Hanzo, he wouldn't have expected Nagato to possess the legendary Rinnegan.

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