Izumi's journey brought her to the distant territory of the Kaguya Clan.
Her Byakugan had evolved slowly, merging with her Ōtsutsuki bloodline to form what she called the Reincarnation Eye—a power developing at a sluggish pace. Seeking to accelerate this evolution, Izumi turned her attention to another Ōtsutsuki bloodline famed for its unique abilities: the Kaguya Clan.
The Kaguya were known for their Shikotsumyaku, the "Dead Bone Pulse," a bloodline that granted them extraordinary control over their bones. Unlike the Uchiha, whose strength was rooted in their ocular powers and fire techniques, the Kaguya were warriors of brutal physicality. They were almost all warmongers, reveling in combat and bloodshed. Their nature made them formidable during times of war, but during peace, their aggressive and violent tendencies became a source of turmoil within the Hidden Mist Village.
Because of their unruly disposition, the Kaguya had long been feared and despised by other clans. They were considered too wild, too reckless—even more so than the Uchiha, whose tragic fate was well known. Eventually, the Hidden Mist expelled the Kaguya, forcing them to live on the fringes outside the village. Discontent simmered, and rumors whispered that the Kaguya were planning a rebellion.
The Land of Water was enveloped in thick, unyielding fog, its proximity to the ocean isolating it from the main continent. This natural barrier made it an ideal refuge for outcasts and near-extinct clans seeking sanctuary during the Sengoku era. The Kaguya had taken this place as their stronghold.
Izumi stood at the edge of the mist-shrouded territory, her eyes lingering on the dense fog and the unique architecture that characterized the Land of Water. The ancient, jagged buildings rose like dark silhouettes in the gloom, and Izumi found herself momentarily captivated by the haunting beauty of the scene.
With a final glance, she activated Kamui, the space-time technique, and stepped boldly into the dungeon that lay beneath the land.
Inside, Kimimaro was confined—a young orphan whose bloodline limit was said to be unparalleled in power. Because of this, he was imprisoned and treated as a weapon, locked away in a cell, isolated from all others.
Izumi's eyes found him immediately. Kimimaro sat by the bars, repeatedly stabbing at the wall with a bone, his vacant eyes staring into nothingness. His loneliness was palpable.
Suddenly, a sharp scream shattered the silence.
Nearby, a clan member writhed on the floor, dozens of black tentacles twisting and burrowing into his body. His agonized cries echoed through the dungeon until, finally, his flesh vanished entirely—leaving nothing behind but a crumpled set of clothes.
Izumi's attention returned to Kimimaro. The dark tentacles retracted, and she let out a soft sigh.
"Little kid," she said gently. "What are you doing?"
Kimimaro looked up, confused but curious. "I'm recording everyone who comes to see me. Big sister, who are you?"
Izumi smiled softly. "Who am I? Hmm... that doesn't matter. What matters is that I can get you out of here. Do you want to come with me?"
Kimimaro's eyes widened. He rushed over to the bars and asked eagerly, "Can you really take me away?"
Izumi nodded, her eyes narrowing in a mischievous smile. "That's right. So, do you want to leave? Big sister will take you to see the world beyond this place."
He nodded fervently. "Yes! Please take me!"
Suddenly, a shadow of doubt crossed his face. "But... what about my clan?"
Izumi pondered. "Are they good to you?"
Kimimaro shook his head slowly. "What does 'good' mean?"
Izumi tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Ah, this complicates things. I'm not Orochimaru—I can't brainwash or control people. But I'll be honest with you."
She held out her hand. "You have two choices now: come with me, or stay here."
Kimimaro hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached out and took her hand.
Izumi smiled warmly. "Good. You're a brave child."
Rather than using Flying Thunder God, Izumi simply strode confidently out of the dungeon, Kimimaro following closely behind.
Their departure did not go unnoticed.
A Kaguya Clan guard spotted them immediately, bone spikes erupting from his body as he charged toward Izumi with terrifying speed.
Izumi turned calmly to Kimimaro. "Stay back and watch how I handle this."
Kimimaro obeyed, sprinting to a safe distance.
Izumi's lips curved into a faint smile. "Good kid. So obedient. That makes this easy."
The guard closed the gap in an instant, but Izumi was ready.
Black chakra burst from her body like an erupting storm. It coalesced into a massive, skeletal giant — the half-formed manifestation of Susanoo.
The Kaguya guard froze, terror washing over him. "What is this?!"
The towering skeletal arm shot out and gripped him tightly in its palm.
"How—how can such a huge thing move so fast?!" he cried, panic rising.
The Susanoo's grip tightened relentlessly. The guard tried desperately to defend himself with bone spikes, but the crushing force made his bones creak and snap.
"Crack... crack... crack... crunch..." the sound of breaking bones echoed.
"Stop! Please, stop! Ahhh! Damn it!" the guard begged, pain wracking his body.
Izumi watched with a cruel smile as the Susanoo's hand continued to crush.
"Kill me... don't torture me anymore," the guard pleaded through gritted teeth.
Then, suddenly, the Susanoo's palms closed entirely, blood splattering everywhere.
---
Hearing the commotion, more Kaguya warriors poured into the area, their bodies bristling with lethal bone spikes. They attacked en masse, attempting to overwhelm Izumi.
But Izumi was ready.
Black lines appeared along the bones of her Susanoo—thick, pulsating streaks covered with intricate, otherworldly runes. These were no ordinary markings but Divine Ink talismans she had painstakingly crafted to enhance her powers. They twisted and wrapped around the Susanoo's skeleton like sinewy muscles, giving the giant form a terrifying, lifelike strength.
The skeletal giant expanded and transformed. Now it was a half-body, two-headed, four-armed female Susanoo, cloaked in swirling black cloth strips adorned with glowing runes. The cloth flared and rippled in the air, radiating immense power.
The Susanoo's face was covered by an emotionless mask, gazing at the Kaguya invaders with cold, majestic disdain.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The bone spikes bounced harmlessly off the massive armor.
"What is this?!" the Kaguya warriors shouted in alarm, stepping back in disbelief. Their attacks had no effect.
Izumi laughed loudly, her voice ringing out like thunder. "Die."
Suddenly, runes on the Susanoo's floating cloth strips ignited, releasing a storm of giant senbon needles that shot forth with deadly precision.
Simultaneously, other runes unleashed torrents of roaring flames.
The combination was devastating. The blazing needles incinerated the attackers instantly.
Kimimaro watched from afar, awestruck. Izumi, as powerful as a goddess, moved with lethal grace, her strength shaking his very soul.
More Kaguya Clan members rushed to join the battle, but Izumi was not finished.
With a sneer, one of the Susanoo's cloth strips coiled tightly into a long spear.
She raised the spear high and shouted, "Sweep the Six Directions!"
With a thunderous crash, the spear struck the ground, shattering the earth and sending shockwaves outward.
The Kaguya warriors scattered in panic, but many were caught by the blow and thrown violently aside.
The spear struck again and again, carving destruction through the terrain.
None dared approach Izumi anymore. The sheer power of her Susanoo was a terrifying sight, enough to break even the most reckless of warriors