Kimimaro's eyes returned to normal.
He could feel the distinct differences between the Sharingan and the Byakugan. While the Sharingan possessed unparalleled insight in the spiritual and illusionary domains, the Byakugan excelled in clarity, range, and chakra flow perception. In terms of overall sensory capability and close-range combat, the Byakugan had the advantage. However, the Sharingan had its own strengths, particularly in genjutsu and predicting movements.
He had directly awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan, likely due to his powerful chakra and physique, but since it was newly acquired, he needed time to adjust to its perception and depth. He hadn't forced the evolution to three tomoe yet.
"The three-tomoe Sharingan will likely reveal the greatest differences compared to the Byakugan. Once it matures, it can utilize spiritual techniques—particularly illusion-based genjutsu and battlefield-level prediction."
Without the Mangekyō Sharingan, the three-tomoe Sharingan and the Byakugan could be considered roughly on par—each representing a different specialization. The Byakugan was superior in long-range detection, 360-degree vision, and internal chakra flow analysis. The three-tomoe Sharingan, meanwhile, excelled in perception, copy techniques, and genjutsu.
However, once the Sharingan evolved into the Mangekyō, the gap widened. The Mangekyō introduced unique abilities to each user—like Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Kamui—alongside the Susanoo, a powerful chakra avatar. And from the Mangekyō, one could eventually awaken the Rinnegan under the right conditions, such as combining it with Senju chakra.
"In comparison, the Rinnegan's utility is broader. Its abilities like the Six Paths Techniques and planetary-scale jutsu far exceed typical Mangekyō powers in scope—but not necessarily in direct combat. The Mangekyō's raw offensive force, especially with Susanoo, remains formidable."
Kimimaro analyzed calmly.
"The ordinary Rinnegan is still far from the Rinne Sharingan, which belongs more to Ōtsutsuki-tier beings. Kaguya never possessed a Mangekyō, yet she wielded the Rinne Sharingan. That hints that the original evolution path for the Sharingan likely went directly toward it, before it was segmented into the stages we know: Sharingan → Mangekyō → Rinnegan."
By contrast, the Byakugan remained relatively stagnant in development until the appearance of the Tenseigan—a transformation that only manifested in certain Ōtsutsuki descendants, such as Toneri, and required special conditions like combining Ōtsutsuki chakra with Hyūga lineage.
Kimimaro's Byakugan would not evolve on its own; only when his Sharingan evolved to the Rinnegan, potentially unlocking an Ōtsutsuki-level transformation, would he have the chance to awaken the Tenseigan.
"The three-tomoe will come with experience in combat—it might only take a few days. But the Mangekyō… that relies too heavily on emotional trauma. Without that, there's no awakening, and without the Mangekyō, the Rinnegan and the Tenseigan are just dreams."
He knew better than to rush these things.
After packing their supplies, Kimimaro set off toward the Land of Birds, accompanied by Karin and Yomaru. He had already sent word to the Land of Demons; someone would rendezvous with Subaru, Hokuto, and the others and escort them to the Land of Vegetables.
Though his last meeting with Shion and Chief Priest Ashisuke had been brief, their mutual status allowed them to exchange benefits discreetly. Tokens of alliance had already been sent to open channels of cooperation.
As they entered the border of the Land of Birds, the environment changed significantly. Unlike the mineral-heavy terrain of the Land of Bears, the Land of Birds was lush and tranquil, filled with the songs of birds and blooming flora.
"Previously, Meng Zō tried to use rogue ninjas to stage a coup and take over this land," Yomaru reported, walking beside Kimimaro. "But he was stopped by Konoha shinobi. In truth, many rogue ninjas just want a place to live in peace, but Meng Zō went too far—he murdered the previous daimyō. His daughter, Lady Toki, inherited the position. She governs alongside her husband, Chishima. They've stabilized the country quite well."
Karin, walking nearby, smirked teasingly. "So, the daimyō lady already has a husband, huh? Someone just lost their shortcut to power."
"Am I that kind of person?" Kimimaro smirked faintly. Having just activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, he was in a good mood. "I've reviewed the intel. Toki may be a woman, but she's shrewd and politically adept, and by all accounts, genuinely cares for her people. It's not easy to stir unrest under a ruler like that. But we're not here to incite rebellion—or chase after women. We're here to recruit rogue ninjas. As long as she doesn't interfere, her character is irrelevant to our goals for now. Yomaru, continue. How do we contact the targets?"
"Yes, sir!" Yomaru straightened. "Some rogue ninjas have pledged allegiance to Toki. She has a strong sense of justice—or, to put it less kindly, she's vengeful. The ones she's taken in are only those who sought protection from Meng Zō after her father and brother were killed. Anyone who participated in hunting her or Chishima down was blacklisted. That's why I had to flee."
"You were involved in the deaths of her family?"
"No. On the contrary, I opposed Meng Zō's actions at the time. You saw me in the Land of Bears—I preferred pulling strings from the shadows. But Meng Zō was the leader. Once he crossed the line, we either followed or fled. I chose to flee."
Kimimaro's eyes sharpened. "So the ones loyal to Toki are out of reach for now, while the rest are still scattered and unaligned?"
"Correct. But I'm confident I can sway some of those by her side. After all, what you offer far surpasses what Toki ever could. You're a true shinobi, sir—while her personal power is barely at genin level. The ones who stay with her now either lack ambition or crave stability. Those hungry for strength and purpose will come."
Kimimaro raised a single finger. "Then remember this: I have one condition. I don't care about their pasts. But anyone who chooses to follow me must be loyal and must align with my ideals. If they betray me or violate my rules, I'll make them regret they ever drew breath."
"Understood, sir! Honestly, your vision of a new order resonates with many of us. We rogue ninjas never had the chance to learn jutsu properly. We've been outcasts—always surviving on scraps and instinct. If you give us structure and purpose, we'll follow you to the end. I'll make sure only those who qualify are brought in."
"Take this scroll." Kimimaro passed it to Yomaru. "If you face trouble you can't handle, use it."
He demonstrated its function.
A massive crystal dragon emerged from the summoning cloud—its shimmering hide refracting the light like polished glass.
Though in truth, it was still a bone dragon. Kimimaro had crafted two such creatures—one left in the Land of Vegetables under Hanabi's care, and one kept for his own use. To disguise its origin, he had layered it in Crystal Release armor, masking its skeletal frame and bolstering its durability.
The result: a magnificent, fearsome construct.
Yomaru was stunned. The dragon's power dwarfed his own, yet Kimimaro had casually summoned it and entrusted it to him. The man's strength was unfathomable.
For the first time in a long while, the rogue ninjas had found someone truly worthy of following.
Over the next few days, Kimimaro and Karin remained at a local inn, rarely venturing out. Delegating had its perks—he was there as a safeguard, nothing more.
He had, however, overestimated the Land of Birds.
Though Toki noticed some of her ninja slipping away, she didn't intervene. She wasn't a feudal lord of a great nation—her grip over the shinobi under her rule was weak at best.
Thus, Kimimaro's business in the Land of Birds concluded swiftly.
He left feeling satisfied—and so did Karin.
Yomaru returned with over five hundred rogue ninjas. The man had scoured every contact he had and nearly collapsed from exhaustion.
There were no jōnin among them, and only around a hundred possessed chūnin-level skill. Most hovered just above genin.
But Kimimaro didn't mind.
Rogue ninjas, despite lacking formal training, often had vast real-world combat experience and unpredictable fighting styles. With proper instruction, many of them could reach chūnin level—and some might even grow into true jōnin.
Kimimaro had no intention of squandering that potential.
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