The unique Kekkei Genkai of the Iburi Clan allows them to transform their bodies into smoke.
It's somewhat similar to the Hozuki Clan's Hydrification Technique, rendering them nearly immune to physical attacks.
However, the Iburi Clan's Kekkei Genkai has a fatal flaw… they cannot freely control their bodies once they turn into smoke. If blown by the wind, they scatter and perish completely.
Because of this, the clan is forced to live in an underground world devoid of wind, enduring a dark, sunless existence with scarce resources.
Years ago, when Orochimaru saved their clan, he implanted cursed seals in them, allowing them to barely control their smoke transformation and prolonging their lifespans.
But in exchange, Orochimaru took the children of the Iburi Clan, promising that through his research, he would uncover the secrets of their Kekkei Genkai and grant them the ability to live under the sun.
The result, however, was that all those children died in Orochimaru's human experiments.
"Who are you?!" Gotta, the leader, stepped forward, his burly frame shielding his people as he glared at the intruder.
Kinoe's voice was low behind his mask: "He is a mysterious Ninja who's recently risen to prominence in the Ninja World! He is called Shura, his strength is unfathomable!"
"No matter how strong you are, I won't let you slander Orochimaru-sama!" Gotta roared, transforming into smoke as he lunged forward.
The other members of the Iburi Clan also turned into smoke, filling the underground space with dense smoke.
"Tennyo." Menma called softly.
From the shadows of the tunnel, a 'female' figure emerged, floating protectively in front of Menma. She waved her ribbons like a whirlwind, generating a fierce gust that swept through the cavern, scattering the Ibuki Clan's smoke and forcing them back in terror.
"Damn it!" Gotta, who is still in smoke form, attempted to infiltrate the mysterious 'Female Ninja' using the [Body Oxidation Technique].
This was the Iburi Clan's secret technique… entering an enemy's body through their mouth or nose as smoke, then burning their internal organs from within.
An opponent unaware of the Iburi Clan's abilities would likely die from this technique. Even Kakashi, when he tracked them down in the original work, had been subdued by Gotta's Body Oxidation Technique.
If not for Kinoe's timely rescue, Kakashi might have been severely injured or even killed.
But as Gotta circled Tennyo, he was shocked to find no openings… no mouth or nostrils to enter.
This technique, which almost always works, actually failed this time!
"How is this possible!" Gotta, who was in the smoke form, was stunned.
Without their greatest advantage and lacking systematic Ninja Training, Gotta and the Iburi Clan were practically defenseless.
"Wind Release..." Menma formed a hand seal with both hands.
When Gotta heard the word 'Wind Release', he flinched and immediately retreated, putting distance between them.
But when he rejoined his clansmen, he realized the masked stranger hadn't actually used a Wind Release Ninjutsu… his hands had merely held a position.
After being tricked, Gotta released his smoke form and his pupils trembled.
'This man… knew our clan's weaknesses all too well!'
"Wood Release: Silent Binding Technique!" Kinoe struck as well. Completing his hand seals, a diamond-shaped wooden spike erupted from the ground, elongating endlessly as it shot toward Tennyo, who hovered in the air, generating fierce winds.
Whoosh-
Swoosh- Swoosh-
However, several wind blades shot out from behind Menma, slicing the snake-like wood into pieces.
Kinoe sensed that the Chakra of his Wood Release was being absorbed, and he couldn't help but look in shock at a mysterious masked figure holding a sickle floating out from behind the masked man!
'He can absorb chakra?!' Kinoe's heart sank. The greatest trait of Wood Release was its ability to drain an opponent's Chakra upon contact, allowing it to grow stronger… which was why it was so effective against Tailed Beasts, renowned for their vast Chakra reserves!
But now, there was another mysterious person who could also absorb Chakra!
'No… I'm not even sure if he's human.'
Just when Kinoe, Gotta and the others were getting fearful, Menma raised his right hand slightly, signaling Tennyo to stop the winds.
Menma turned to Kinoe, "You still haven't told them, have you? What Orochimaru did… why he was branded a traitor by Konoha?"
"!!!"
Kinoe was silent.
As a survivor of the experiments, he knew exactly what Orochimaru had done… how many innocent lives had been lost, including countless children. Even the Iburi Clan's children had...
"Then I'll tell them." Menma stepped forward, with Tennyo and Shinigami floating behind him, their overwhelming presence pressing down on the room.
Gotta and his clansmen instinctively retreated half a step under the pressure of this powerful aura.
"Orochimaru was once a Ninja of Konoha, but he kidnapped his own comrades for human experiments. Many died, so the Third Hokage personally led the purge, severely injuring Orochimaru and driving him out. Now… he's probably coming to collect you."
"Oh, and by the way, the children of your Iburi Clan also died in Orochimaru's laboratory."
Gotta staggered back, instinctively opening his mouth to refute, but Menma turned to Kinoe and continued, "You can ask him, the child who survived Orochimaru's experiments."
"Tenzo...?" Yukimi looked at Kinoe with worry, seeking confirmation.
At this moment, Kinoe, wearing a raccoon mask, fell into a brief trance.
Memories flooded back: the rows of experimental tanks in Orochimaru's laboratory, the other children floating in them, and a girl who looked strikingly like Yukimi, smiling at him through the glass.
One by one, they had all disappeared.
Presumably, their experiments had failed… and they'd been disposed of.
Just like he would have been.
If Danzo hadn't discovered him, Kinoe would have died long ago.
Kinoe's kind nature makes him want to tell Gotta and the others the truth, but his education from the Root made him hesitate.
Gotta stared at Kinoe, and when he saw he didn't deny it, he knew that the truth was likely even more brutal than the masked stranger had described.
This also caused Gotta's loyalty to Orochimaru to waver.
The Iburi Clan had pledged themselves to Orochimaru under the condition that he would solve their uncontrollable smoke transformation. In return, Orochimaru had demanded children for his experiments, claiming their undeveloped bodies might hold the key to unlocking the clan's secrets.
The Iburi Clan, which only had a population of only twenty-something adults, handed over five children. Except for the youngest, Yukimi, all the other children were given to Orochimaru.
And Orochimaru also promised them that he would bring the children back alive.
But if Orochimaru was truly so depraved that he would slaughter even his own comrades from Konoha… what worth did his promises hold?
Yukimi's pleading gaze finally shattered Kinoe's hesitation: "Those children… really didn't survive."
"No… that's impossible…" Gotta's world crumbled.
As the leader who had agreed to Orochimaru's deal and sent the children away, Gotta couldn't accept such a cruel truth.
Among those children had been his own son.
"Then, how about a little bet?" Menma's mischievous streak resurfaced.
"Let's wager… your clan's lives."
His masked voice was light, almost cheerful, as if proposing a harmless game.
"I'd be delighted to add the Iburi Clan's Kekkei Genkai to my collection."
The white three-eyed fox mask gleamed eerily in the dim firelight.