"Kimimaro… how is this possible?"
Guren's eyes widened in disbelief. Just moments ago, Kimimaro had looked deathly pale, barely able to stand. Now, his body pulsed with vigor and strength.
What had he done to himself? Was this some hidden Kaguya clan technique? Or a forbidden jutsu from Orochimaru?
With a sharp wave of her arm, Guren unleashed a barrage of crystal shuriken—
"Crystal Release: Jade Crystal Blade Dance!"
The crystalline projectiles shimmered as they tore through the air toward Kimimaro.
But with an effortless swing of his arm, Kimimaro's whip-like bone tendrils lashed out—
"Dance of the Clematis: Vine."
The hardened bone whip deflected each shuriken with precision.
"He's stronger than before," Guren muttered. "And… he didn't activate the Cursed Seal?"
Indeed, Kimimaro hadn't used the cursed seal of Earth at all.
At that moment, he was also quietly gauging his body's changes.
[Status Panel: Kimimaro]
Bloodline: Kekkei Genkai – Shikotsumyaku
(Stabilized. Latent traits inherited from Taketori bloodline detected.)
Note: Overuse still risks systemic stress. Recommend further conditioning.
Thanks to the fusion serum he had acquired—a result of forbidden experimentation combining remnants of Kaguya and Taketori genetic material—his body had undergone a profound change. The Taketori clan, a distant branch of the Kaguya known for a defensive ossification technique, had left behind valuable genetic potential.
Unlike before, when using his Shikotsumyaku had rapidly worsened his illness, Kimimaro now felt... whole.
The bone constructs he generated were denser, harder, and sharper. His former limitations—his deteriorating organs, his collapsing bones—were gone.
He lunged toward Guren, his movement swift and graceful. Bone flowers bloomed along his forearm as he launched into close-quarters combat.
This time, he could wield the Dance of the Larch and Dance of the Clematis freely, without the cursed seal. His base strength now rivaled a Jonin, far surpassing the frailty of his past.
"Guren," he said coolly, blocking her blade of crystal with a sharpened bone protrusion, "you are no longer my equal. If I activate my Cursed Seal… I will kill you."
"Tch. Then stop talking and try to kill me!"
Despite her words, Guren faltered slightly. Deep down, she knew—Kimimaro wasn't bluffing.
Kimimaro narrowed his eyes. He didn't want to kill her. Guren was a misguided follower of Orochimaru, not a monster. She was powerful, loyal, and her Crystal Release was an exceedingly rare Kekkei Genkai—unrelated to elemental nature transformation, and able to trap even chakra-based techniques.
But more than that, she was useful.
Not in a crude way. Kimimaro had long since shed the simplistic loyalty he once held for Orochimaru. He now pursued his own vision—a world where those with potential weren't wasted.
Guren had potential.
If he could one day sway her from Orochimaru's grasp, she would be an invaluable asset.
Jugo was a powerhouse, but unstable. Karin had unique healing potential, but lacked raw offensive ability. Crystal Release could add the edge his team needed.
Kurotsuchi—Tsuchikage's granddaughter—was off-limits, at least for now.
But Guren? Orochimaru's pawn? She was viable.
Still, he wouldn't push her now.
From within the labyrinth of pink crystal walls, Guren shouted:
"I admit you've changed—but this is my battlefield. Crystal Release: Crystal Labyrinth Technique! Do you think you can catch me here?"
A sudden boom echoed across the shimmering walls, followed by a long, splintering crack.
Kimimaro didn't answer with words. Instead, he pulled his hand back, flexed his fingers, and drove his arm into the earth—
"Dance of the Seedling Fern."
Sharp, forest-like bone spears erupted from the ground, bursting through the crystal walls like ivory trees splitting glass.
Guren barely dodged in time, her eyes filled with shock.
He didn't even activate his Cursed Seal to use that...!
Kimimaro's silhouette appeared through the falling crystal shards, calm and unhurried.
He didn't chase. Not yet. He had already planted the seed.
Guren's loyalty might still belong to Orochimaru today, but soon… that would change.
"Who broke my crystal?" Guren's eyes narrowed as she became immediately alert, sensing a potential threat.
"Daughter, are you alright?!"
A deep, booming voice echoed as a burly man in standard Iwagakure flak armor appeared, his presence radiating authority. It was Kurotsuchi's father, Kuro, known as a high-ranking Iwa shinobi and the son of the current Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.
"Dad!" Kurotsuchi ran toward him, relieved, then pointed at Guren. "That woman's with Orochimaru! She tried to attack us. Arrest her!"
Guren's eyes flickered as she quickly turned and leapt away, vanishing into the nearby forest using Crystal Release to create a smokescreen of glittering shards.
"Why didn't you stop her?!" Kurotsuchi demanded.
Kuro gave his daughter a calm look and gently ruffled her hair. "She didn't harm you, and provoking Orochimaru's remnants carelessly isn't worth the trouble. Iwagakure has its hands full without igniting conflict with the Sound."
Kurotsuchi huffed but soon turned toward Kimimaro, still visibly annoyed. "And you! She was trying to kidnap you! Why didn't you fight back?"
Kimimaro gave a faint smile. "She was only following orders. After everything she's heard us say, I think even she is starting to doubt Orochimaru. She's not evil, just... misled."
"Hmph," Kurotsuchi folded her arms. "You're just saying that because she's pretty."
Kimimaro chuckled softly. "Not at all. Honestly, you're prettier."
Kurotsuchi's cheeks flushed crimson. "W-what are you saying?! Dad! See how annoying he is?!"
Kuro raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two of them. His daughter, usually serious and headstrong, was actually acting… shy?
He turned to Kimimaro with interest. "Who exactly are you?"
Before Kimimaro could answer, Kurotsuchi interjected. "His name's Kimimaro. He's strong—really strong. That big guy over there is Jugo, and the redhead's Karin. They're not bad, Dad. Why don't we take them back to the village? They don't have anywhere else to go, and Kimimaro cooks like a professional chef!"
Kimimaro raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Kuro crossed his arms, his expression turning thoughtful. "A former subordinate of Orochimaru, one who risked his life for him, now apparently disillusioned... And that red-haired girl—Uzumaki, perhaps? If so, her healing potential could be invaluable. And the big one—Jugo—his chakra's unstable, but his strength is remarkable."
He looked back at the trio. "The three of you… would you consider coming to Iwagakure? With your talents and age, you're worth investing in. But you'll need to undergo observation at first. Security protocols, you understand."
"Dad! That's too harsh!"
Kuro gave her a firm look. "It's still lenient. If it weren't for you, they'd be taken in for interrogation first."
Kimimaro bowed respectfully. "Your offer is generous, and we're grateful. But we have other obligations right now and must leave the Land of Earth. Perhaps one day we'll return."
"Ah? Leaving already?" Kurotsuchi's expression turned crestfallen. "But... you just got here. And I finally found someone interesting to talk to."
Karin and Jugo both glanced at each other awkwardly, unsure what to say.
Kimimaro smiled gently. "If fate allows, we'll come back. I'll even cook for you again."
"…Alright," Kurotsuchi said with a sigh. Then, as they began walking away, she called out, "Hey—do you really think I'm prettier than her?"
Kimimaro paused, looked back at her with a calm sincerity, and said, "I don't say what I don't mean."
Kurotsuchi's eyes widened, and her ears turned red as she tried to hide her reaction behind a glare. "W-whatever! Just hurry up and leave already!"