After spending so much time together, this was the first time Kai had ever seen Kimimaro go to war. But that didn't mean he knew nothing about the hereditary illness that plagued the Kaguya Clan.
On the contrary—because Kimimaro was known as a prodigy among his people, Bai had looked into the matter with special care.
Unfortunately, what he found was deeply troubling.
Unlike other bloodline clans, where the genetic condition was rare and sometimes treatable, the Kaguya clan was cursed. The moment a clan member awakened the Shikotsumyaku—the Dead Bone Pulse—it marked the start of a countdown. Death wasn't a possibility. It was an inevitability. The only question was how long they had left.
Because of this, whether in Kirigakure or in the Land of Iron, the Kaguya were notorious for their fearlessness. Reckless and wild, they rarely died of old age—most perished on the battlefield.
So when Kai heard from a black-robed stranger that there might be a way to cure Kimimaro's condition, he was overjoyed.
He wasn't naïve—Kai was sharp enough to know that since the man had come for him, there was no real hope of escape. But if surrendering himself meant saving Kimimaro, then so be it. He would do it without regret.
His questioning had not come from doubt, but from sheer surprise.
"I have no reason to lie to you," the man said.
As he spoke, he stepped forward—and in a blink, crossed more than ten meters.
Before either of them could react, the man reached out and gripped Kimimaro by the neck. A flash of light passed through his eyes, and in that instant, he stripped Kimimaro of control over his own body.
"You—!" Kai's chakra surged reflexively, snow fluttering around him—but under the man's gaze, he held himself back.
From the man's arm, strange black patterns flowed into Kimimaro's body, spreading rapidly. Within moments, they vanished, absorbed completely.
Then the man released him.
Kimimaro collapsed, weak and unconscious.
"I've fulfilled my promise," the man said. "Now come with me."
A rift opened behind him, warping space itself.
Kai checked Kimimaro's body. Seeing that he was unharmed and merely weakened, he said nothing more. Without looking back, he followed the man through the portal.
"Kai…" Kimimaro's voice was faint. He reached out weakly—but grasped only air.
"Don't waste your life. Don't act foolishly," the man said coldly, glancing back at Kimimaro as he stepped through the gate. His voice was flat, but his eyes gleamed strangely.
He had cured Kimimaro—but not permanently. What Kai didn't know was that the man had only sealed away the decaying ash toxin that was killing Kimimaro from the inside.
So long as Kimimaro continued using his bone techniques, the toxin would keep building. Eventually, it would overwhelm even the seal.
Yes, the man could have removed the disease completely. But there was no benefit in that—not for him. Instead, the sealed toxin would allow him to study the effects of decay and collect trace samples of the rare "AllKilling Ash."
Though Kimimaro lacked Kai's potential, his body held a strong genetic throwback—possibly even remnants of Kaguya's ancient strength.
"A pity," the man thought. "He's not strong enough to be a sacrifice for the Ten Tails…"
The spatial gate sealed shut behind them, leaving the alley in eerie silence.
---
Some time later, Kimimaro recovered enough to move. He immediately rushed back to the clan compound.
There, he was told the two clan leaders were hosting a guest in the council chamber. He didn't hesitate—he burst in without warning.
All eyes turned to him.
Kaguya Goron, the clan head, scowled at the interruption. He was a broad-faced, heavy-browed man, and his glare carried real weight.
"Kimimaro," he barked, "what do you think you're doing? Can't you see we're entertaining a guest?"
But Kimimaro didn't flinch.
His eyes were cold. "Kai has been taken," he said. "By a powerful stranger."
At that, Akira Yuki—head of the Yuki clan and currently visiting—froze.
"What did you say?"
Kimimaro recounted everything that had happened in the alley. The room fell into tense silence.
After a while, Akira muttered, "Could it have been a genjutsu?"
It seemed more likely than running into a being on the level of the Akatsuki's leader, especially by chance.
Kaguya Goron stood and examined Kimimaro closely, checking his chakra and body condition. His expression turned grim.
"…Every bone in your body has been sealed by someone. Not a trace of your kekkei genkai remains active."
This wasn't something any ordinary ninja could pull off. And knowing Kimimaro's strength, Goron doubted he'd simply fallen to an illusion.
"This is troublesome…"
Akira sighed, then quickly gave up any idea of rescue. There was no point in provoking a force they couldn't possibly defeat. Even the Kaguya, for all their bloodlust, would not throw themselves at such a threat.
He turned to the guest and said, "My apologies, Kuyue."
"The world is unpredictable," Kuyue said with a shake of his head. "But this isn't something we can handle. Didn't Kirigakure just lose both a Mizukage and a Jinchūriki in an 'accident'?"
"Indeed," Akira replied. "The Land of Iron may be small, but another clan like the Ghost Lanterns is welcome to join."
"Other clans, however… may not be as welcome."
The conversation shifted, and the incident with Kai was quietly swept aside—as if it had never happened.
---
Kimimaro saw this.
His expression turned to ice as he left the room.
He had hoped—just faintly—that the clan would stand up for Kai. But deep down, he had always known they wouldn't. Still, he hadn't expected them to be this indifferent. They would seal the matter entirely. They wouldn't even report it to the Akatsuki.
They'd pretend it never happened.
Kimimaro felt something go cold inside him.
He could no longer rely on his clan. If Kai was to be saved, he'd have to do it himself.
As Kimimaro disappeared down the hall, Kuyue paused mid-conversation and asked, "You're not going to stop him?"
Akira gave a small, indifferent shrug.
"It's normal for young men to get emotional. He's smart. He'll calm down. Eventually… he'll understand."
He looked toward the door Kimimaro had exited and said softly,
"There are some things in this world… that simply can't be done."
_____________________
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