Kimimaro sidestepped, and Kitsuchi's punch shattered the training ground wall behind him with explosive force.
So this quiet guy's strength really is near Kage-level, Kimimaro thought, eyes narrowing slightly.
No wonder Kurotsuchi eventually became the Fourth Tsuchikage… Her grandfather probably passed it down, and Kitsuchi clearly didn't want the seat.
"Uncle Kitsuchi, what's the meaning of this sudden attack?"
"You dare ask me that? After what you've done? And who gave you permission to call me 'uncle'?!"
Kimimaro raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "You just said I did 'something'—so if not uncle… should I be calling you father-in-law?"
"You little punk!"
Kitsuchi roared and charged again, chakra surging into his arm.
"Earth Release: Fist Rock Technique!"
Kimimaro sighed inwardly. He probably won't calm down until he lands a hit. He activated his own Earth Release technique, coating his right fist in hardened stone. Well, I did sleep with his daughter… guess they finally found out.
"Boom!"
Their fists collided mid-air, the clash shaking the training ground. The shockwave fractured the earth beneath them into a spiderweb pattern of cracks.
"What monstrous strength…" Kitsuchi muttered, gritting his teeth. "You were so weak the last time I saw you."
That was true. The last time they met, Kimimaro had only just awakened in this world—his Shikotsumyaku underdeveloped, still dependent on Orochimaru's research and the synthetic reconstruction of his clan's kekkei genkai.
"If I were still weak, would Kurotsuchi have chosen me?" Kimimaro responded calmly.
"You little bastard! I'll beat some humility into you!"
Before he could throw another punch, Kurotsuchi rushed over and wrapped her arms around her father's thick arm.
"Dad, that's enough! You've vented your anger. What if you seriously hurt him?"
Kitsuchi stared at his daughter's pleading face and let out a frustrated huff. "Tch… Daughters always take the outsider's side." He turned and left the training field without a word.
Once he was gone, Kurotsuchi ran over and latched onto Kimimaro's arm.
"I missed you. You haven't visited in so long."
Kimimaro gently ran his hand through her dark hair. "I've been busy with… a lot. I need to earn a standing that makes me worthy of you."
Kurotsuchi rolled her eyes, though her smile remained. "You're such a smooth talker."
"That's right. You've tasted it—my words aren't the only thing sweet," Kimimaro added with a sly smirk.
Kurotsuchi turned bright red. "Baka! That part wasn't sweet at all!"
"Ahem!"
The deliberate cough came from behind them. It was Karin.
Kurotsuchi turned and laughed. "Karin, are you jealous? You're always with Kimimaro. I never even complained about that."
"You could be with him too… if you weren't always under watch," Karin replied bluntly.
Kurotsuchi's expression dimmed. "Yeah… I don't have that kind of freedom."
Kimimaro looked at her seriously. "When did your father find out?"
"It's been a while," she replied. "Dad didn't catch on at first, but Grandpa's sharper. One time he took one look at me and knew something was off. They were actually preparing to arrest you… but then news from the Land of Vegetables came in. After learning what you did there, they backed off."
Kimimaro blinked. "Seriously? So I passed their test… because of that mission?"
"More or less," Kurotsuchi said, counting off on her fingers. "The Land of Vegetables may be small, but its Daimyo is still considered on par with the Land of Earth's in political rank. And since you were appointed as an official guardian ninja by that Daimyo, it elevated your standing quite a bit."
Kimimaro chuckled softly. "So even the legendary Tsuchikage cares about those formalities?"
"Of course," Kurotsuchi said. "Grandpa's super old-school. He's stubborn and strict, especially about protocol. That's why, even though you came here in a personal capacity, he refuses to receive you with formal honor—he's expressing his displeasure."
"So... he isn't satisfied with me?"
"Not at all!" Kurotsuchi laughed. "But don't worry—he dotes on me, and he won't really make things difficult for you. Just brace yourself when you meet him later."
Kimimaro's expression tightened. Meeting the Tsuchikage, huh? The wielder of Dust Release… the only Kekkei Tōta user alive.
It'll be my first time facing a true Kage since coming to this world.
Meanwhile, Kurotsuchi pulled Karin aside for a whispered chat.
"Karin… you already…?"
"Of course," Karin said, proudly. "I won't let you leave me behind."
"But you are behind," Kurotsuchi teased.
"Heh… I've got something that puts me ahead of you."
Kurotsuchi frowned. "What? The first kiss? That was forever ago."
Karin leaned in and whispered something in her ear.
Kurotsuchi's eyes widened. "…You serious?"
Kurotsuchi's face flushed deep red. "You really have the nerve! How could you… be with other women too?"
Kimimaro gave a half-smile. "How about it? Want to try staking your claim?"
"No way, that's way too embarrassing," she muttered, turning away.
"If you don't get a head start, by the time you reconsider, you might not like your position in the lineup."
Kurotsuchi's expression darkened. "He has more women now?"
Karin, who stood nearby, shrugged. "I'll tell you, but don't go blabbing to your grandpa. Let's see… the Daimyo of the Land of Vegetables, that one's obvious. Then there's the Snow Queen—remember the one you crossed the Great Snow Mountain to deal with? Yeah, her. And recently, there's another tough woman, a real powerhouse. Oh, and I think that priestess from the Land of Demons will fall for him eventually too. There are others he's interacted with, but I'm not about to start rumors."
"That's already too many!" Kurotsuchi exhaled sharply. "I'm not going to get jealous—yet. But from what you're saying, the Snow Queen is already his, and the priestess might be next? Kimimaro already has that kind of influence?"
Karin nodded. "That's why I'm telling you this—because you're one of us. But seriously, don't let Ōnoki find out. If he thinks we're siding with someone this powerful, he might lock us up on the spot. Kimimaro's strength is growing fast… If he were to clash with your grandfather, I'm not saying he'd win for sure, but it wouldn't be a one-sided fight."
Kurotsuchi fell silent, momentarily shaken.
On one hand, Kimimaro's growing influence—controlling the Land of Vegetables, forming relationships with leaders of other nations—was something she definitely couldn't let her grandfather hear about. If Ōnoki knew Kimimaro might soon control more than just a fringe nation, he would re-evaluate him as a major threat.
On the other hand, Kimimaro's strength. Karin wasn't someone who would lie about power levels—she had medical skills and chakra perception, and she knew strength. Still, Kurotsuchi couldn't believe anyone at sixteen could be a match for her grandfather. Ōnoki wasn't just a veteran Kage—he possessed Dust Release, one of the deadliest Kekkei Tōta techniques.
But Kimimaro… a Kage-level ninja at sixteen? The sheer potential…
The thought made Kurotsuchi's decision firmer. Since she had already chosen him, she would genuinely support him. She believed that if Kimimaro ever succeeded in his goals, he wouldn't turn his back on Iwagakure—or her.
His power gave her confidence. It made her feel secure enough to bring him to meet her grandfather.
But on the way to the Tsuchikage's residence, Kurotsuchi couldn't stop pinching Kimimaro's side. "You're too greedy," she whispered. "While you're here in Iwagakure, you have to spend more time with me."
Kimimaro chuckled. "Not afraid of being watched by your grandfather and father?"
"Hmph. Then we'll leave the village for a while. They're not going to tail me every minute."
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