Subaru looked at his eager companions, and a chill spread through his heart.
Everyone wanted a new path forward. Kimimaro hadn't used force—at least, not yet—but his measured and decisive approach had already shaken the resolve of many.
Seeing that Hokuto's injuries had been swiftly healed by Karin, Subaru sighed. "I'll do it."
He stepped forward and ended Sirius's life with a clean, efficient strike.
"Subaru…" Hokuto looked at him with a heart full of pain. She understood. Subaru wasn't cruel—he simply couldn't bear to let others dirty their hands. He wanted to take on the burden alone, for the sake of the village.
"Let's go. We'll stop by Hoshigakure, speak to the villagers, then we'll leave."
As they traveled, Subaru and Kimimaro walked at the rear, slightly behind the others.
"You think you're noble," Kimimaro said without looking at him. "Carrying burdens in silence, acting as though it's your role alone to protect everyone?"
"I just don't want my people to turn into killers."
Kimimaro glanced at him, then shook his head. "You still don't understand. There are things ingrained into people's very bones—pride, resentment, fear. You think you're shielding them from harsh choices, but others might see you as weak, or worse, as someone trying to win favor with me."
He paused. "I'm not criticizing you. Just stating a fact. I'm telling you this because you have potential. Watch, listen, and think more. I'll be watching your growth."
Then, just as quickly, Kimimaro turned his attention back to Karin, laughing lightly as if the conversation hadn't even occurred.
He didn't need Subaru—but if Subaru could grow, he could become valuable. To subdue Hoshigakure, he needed insiders. And Subaru, if properly molded, could become one of his core operatives.
Quietly, Hokuto reached out and held Subaru's hand. "Are we really going with him?"
"At least for now," Subaru said. "With his strength, he could flatten Hoshigakure in a day—but he chose not to. He sat down and talked to us. I want to see what makes his so-called 'territory' so different."
Their whispered exchange didn't escape Kimimaro's notice. He glanced back, inwardly shaking his head. Youth... so naïve. Reasoning was nothing without strength. The world didn't listen to the weak.
He, too, once believed problems could be solved without bloodshed. But he'd long since learned: without the power to kill, one couldn't protect anything—only watch it be taken.
Hoshigakure no longer had many true ninjas. Compared to major villages, they were a shadow of their former selves—but to Kimimaro, a thousand-plus shinobi, even if most were genin and chūnin, were valuable assets. Still, without new methods, their strength would fade with time.
Subaru gathered a few elders and key figures, held a private council, then approached Kimimaro once more.
To his surprise, Kimimaro now wore a wooden mask.
Kimimaro was nothing if not cautious. The Land of Bears sat precariously between the Lands of Earth, Wind, and Fire. The other great nations had already noticed the Land of Vegetables falling under his rule. He hadn't shown his face in the Land of Snow either. And now, with Hoshigakure weakened, he couldn't afford to let too many see his face until his position was secure.
More importantly, the shinobi of Hoshigakure simply weren't strong enough yet.
"I've spoken with them," Subaru said. "If you can eliminate the rogue ninjas occupying the Land of Bears and protect us, we'll publicly recognize a new Hoshikage."
"Is that all?" Kimimaro said, amused.
"There's more. If you're serious about helping us rebuild Hoshigakure, the villagers will support it. I'll bring over a dozen trusted representatives with me. You promised to teach us ninjutsu—"
"That comes after you truly acknowledge and submit to me," Kimimaro replied coldly.
"I told them that. But until then, we need a way to protect ourselves."
Kimimaro nodded. "That's simple. I can do both at once."
He stepped forward and faced the Hoshigakure delegates, then clapped his hands together.
"Crystal Release: Crystal Labyrinth Technique!"
Instead of the typical crystalline cage used in standard Crystal Release techniques, Kimimaro had modified it. Drawing on the sealing arts he'd studied under Orochimaru, he combined the core structure of the Crystal Labyrinth with the defensive principles of the Four Violet Flames Formation.
In an instant, shimmering crystalline walls erupted in a radius of nearly three kilometers. Within them, invisible sealing barriers crackled subtly with chakra, forming a defensive fortress.
"This is just a demonstration," Kimimaro said. "With the right guidance and loyalty, this kind of defense can become your village's standard."
The elders stared in awe. They had never seen such a fusion of advanced elemental release and sealing arts. Even the strongest of the previous Hoshikage had never created something like this.
For the first time in many years, hope flickered in the eyes of Hoshigakure's people.
With his current strength, Kimimaro no longer needed to prepare his Crystal Release: Eight Trigrams Formation in advance to scatter octagonal crystal shards throughout the area.
"You few—take this crystal orb. It allows you to monitor your surroundings in real time. With the toxic mist outside and my jutsu guarding this location, unless a Kage-level shinobi forces their way in, you'll be safe."
After handing out the tool, Kimimaro gave a cold, ominous smile. "But let me make this clear. Once I've finished dealing with the rogue ninjas, and after Subaru and the others return from their training, I won't continue sheltering those unwilling to truly pledge loyalty. Whether you support me or not, I will rebuild Hoshigakure—stronger than it has ever been. And be warned: anyone who leaves the village without my permission won't be allowed back."
Unbeknownst to them, Kimimaro had already laid a network of traps and surveillance nodes within the barrier.
Subaru and the other selected youths had been sent to the Land of Vegetables under the pretense of "training," but Kimimaro's true intent was reformation. Upon returning, their changed attitudes would influence others. Those who remained indecisive or resistant would be expelled without hesitation.
When Kimimaro departed, he was followed by over a dozen of the most talented youths—handpicked to be the foundation of the new Hoshigakure.
The mission to the capital of the Land of Bears proceeded smoothly. The rogue ninjas who had taken refuge there posed little threat.
To Kimimaro, they weren't even worthy of being called opponents.
Some of them were so weak, even the Hoshigakure genin were enough to subdue them.
Kimimaro quickly killed the ringleaders, demoralizing the rest. Some fled, others surrendered.
Out of the more than three hundred rogue shinobi, ninety-one chose to stay.
Their average strength was below that of a standard jonin, but they still offered value. From them, Kimimaro harvested over 150,000 units of life energy through his forbidden technique.
"Lord," said a shinobi stepping forward. "I'm Yemaru. I know many rogue ninjas in the Land of Birds. Some have been recruited by Daimyo Toki, but others still wander freely. If you're aiming to bring them under your command, please take me with you."
Kimimaro studied Yemaru with interest. The man had good instincts, respectable strength—probably Special Jonin level—and knew how to align with power.
"Very well. Organize the others. Half will accompany the youths to the Land of Demons. Someone there will give you further instructions. The rest will remain here in the Land of Bears—don't get involved in politics. Just focus on the ninjutsu I teach and await my orders."
"And you," Kimimaro said, eyes sharp as glass, "will come with me to the Land of Birds."
"Understood, Lord. Thank you for your trust."
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