Lightning Release chakra surged through Kimimaro's body.
He could clearly feel his cellular activity weakening with every clash.
He couldn't keep fighting like this!
After all, his body was already gravely ill and on the verge of collapse.
If this continued…
He would be worn down to death sooner or later!
"Time to finish this in one strike!"
Kimimaro roared, his voice echoing.
"Haa…"
The skin and flesh on his back split open as bones pushed through, one of them forming into something like a sword!
Kimimaro raised his hand, gripping the bone handle, then forcefully yanked it free.
Shinju: (⊙o⊙)
WTF??
H-He just… pulled out his own spine!!
"Don't be shocked. I can freely control the growth of the bones inside my body," Kimimaro explained calmly.
Then he swung the bone whip made from his own spine and shouted loudly:
"Dance of the Clematis!"
The bone whip lashed through the air. Shinju used Flying Thunder God to retreat instantly, landing beside Shikamaru and the others.
He had already tested the hardness of Kimimaro's bones—there was no need to continue trading blows.
Going head-to-head with someone like this in taijutsu would only put him at a disadvantage.
Shinju quickly formed hand seals.
"Wood Release!"
Fwoosh!!
Dozens of massive wooden hands erupted from beneath the ground!
This was the same technique that had once restrained the Eight-Tails with ease. Compared to that, Kimimaro was nothing.
In just a moment, the overconfident Kimimaro, still swinging his bone whip, was completely restrained by the giant wooden hands, unable to move.
Defeated in seconds!!
Kimimaro's previous overwhelming aura immediately vanished.
"Let me go!" Kimimaro shouted furiously.
Just moments ago, the red-haired boy had fought him evenly with taijutsu.
But now, with a single Wood Release technique, he had been restrained so easily.
It felt like he was being toyed with!
Not far away, Sasuke also understood… Even if he trained under Orochimaru for another ten years, he probably wouldn't reach Shinju's current level.
So maybe… training alongside Shinju was the fastest way to get stronger.
But now, after things had escalated this far, returning to the village seemed impossible for him…
Shinju, however, knew Sasuke had been watching his fight with Kimimaro from start to finish.
That was exactly why he had intentionally used a powerful Lightning Release and then ended the battle decisively with Wood Release—to make Sasuke realize that staying by his side would teach him more than following Orochimaru ever could.
"Stop overthinking it. Come back with us," Shinju said, turning toward Sasuke.
"I understand your desire for power," he continued softly. "But think carefully—do you really believe going to that place will make you stronger?"
Sasuke remained silent.
Shinju went on, "Naruto didn't report what happened last night to Konoha's higher-ups."
"So if you come back with us now, nothing will change—you'll still be treated the same as before."
"Let me go," Sasuke muttered.
After a brief silence, he shook his head firmly.
"Shinju… I can't go back anymore."
"I can stay there as a Konoha spy."
Shinju hesitated, his gaze flickering. He didn't know what to say for a moment.
"At least come back with us to the village first," Shinju finally said. "If you want to act as a spy, you need to report to the Hokage before doing anything."
Meanwhile, Kimimaro—still restrained—felt ignored and shouted angrily,
"Hey! Are you seriously going to pretend I don't exist?!"
The next second, a massive bone spike grew from his body, piercing deep into the ground!
Kimimaro gritted his teeth, his face contorting in pain as he roared:
"Dance of the Seedling Fern!!"
Shu shu shu—!
Tens of thousands of massive bone spikes burst out from beneath the ground!
Each one was as thick and tall as a towering tree!
In an instant, an area spanning several hundred meters transformed into a forest of bone!
Shinju immediately activated Flying Thunder God, grabbing Shikamaru and the others, bringing everyone high into the air.
He then summoned several giant hawks, letting them carry the group safely.
From above, Shinju noticed something unusual—Sasuke, after activating his Curse Mark transformation, had grown wing-like appendages resembling hands.
Flapping them powerfully, Sasuke soared over the bone forest at incredible speed.
And his destination… was Otogakure.
"We…" Shikamaru hesitated, glancing at Shinju.
He wanted to ask whether they should chase Sasuke.
But Shinju's expression was complicated. He didn't reply.
At that moment, a huge bone pillar rose from beneath the ground!
Kimimaro's body was attached to it.
His right hand was now encased in bone, forming a massive spiral-shaped drill.
This was his ultimate spear!
No defense could withstand his strongest spear!
Seeing Kimimaro's deadly attack incoming, Shinju's face instantly shifted into Sage Mode markings.
In the blink of an eye, his body vanished from sight, avoiding the strike!
When he reappeared, he was behind Kimimaro, delivering a devastating kick!
Crack!!!
The force of the kick was so great it shattered the massive bone pillar supporting Kimimaro's body!
Kimimaro fell to the ground, his eyes filled with unwillingness and frustration.
"Orochimaru-sama… I did my best," he whispered weakly.
And with that…
Kimimaro died.
Meanwhile, Sasuke was already far away.
Of course, if Shinju wanted to chase him, catching up would've been easy.
But there was no need.
Some things, Sasuke had to figure out on his own. Otherwise, even if they dragged him back to the village, he'd just run away again… and again.
Shinju landed and picked up Kimimaro's bone sword and bone whip.
Then, after digging a small pit, he quietly buried Kimimaro's body.
...
Konoha.
Hokage's Office.
Tsunade stared directly at Shinju.
"With your ability, he shouldn't have been able to escape."
"He said he wants to act as a spy by Orochimaru's side," Shinju replied, shrugging.
"And you just believed him?"
"Do you know where to find him now that he's vanished completely?"
"What if he does something that harms other villages?"
"What if he triggers the Fourth Great Ninja War?"
Shinju sighed. "Fine, I'll go to Orochimaru's hideout right now and bring him back. How's that?"
He looked at Tsunade seriously.
Tsunade fell silent.
Even if Shinju dared to go, she wasn't comfortable letting him take such a risk.
In the end, Tsunade reluctantly let Shinju leave.
...
Konoha Hospital.
When Naruto learned that Shinju hadn't brought Sasuke back, his eyes widened so much he nearly fell off the bed.
Shinju couldn't be bothered to explain in detail and simply said,
"He chose his own path."
...
A mountain outside Konoha.
Kisame and Itachi stood there.
Itachi's face was hidden beneath his straw hat as he murmured softly,
"Sasuke… you've found two good companions."
"But one of them has drawn someone's attention… and trouble is coming."
After speaking, Itachi pulled out a crow from somewhere and released it.
Its wings flapped as it took off into the sky, but no one noticed—the bird's eyes were Mangekyō Sharingan, spinning like a pinwheel.
"Kisame, the organization has summoned us back," Kisame said, resting Samehada on his shoulder.
"Hm. Let's go," Itachi replied, lowering the brim of his hat.
...
Konoha.
One week later.
Shinju and Naruto's house.
At the window, a messenger pigeon landed gracefully.
Quick as lightning, Shinju caught it and removed the letter tied to its leg.
Unfolding the note, he read the simple message written on it:
[If you're reading this, I've arrived safely at Otogakure. Don't worry about me.]
Shinju called Naruto over.
The two of them read the letter together and smiled faintly.
Soon after, the pigeon took flight again.
This time, attached to its leg was another slip of paper—with a small, simple tree diagram drawn on it.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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