The heavy rain drummed across the exam venue for several seconds before quieting.
On the rooftop, within the four purple flames of the barrier, Orochimaru suddenly stopped and glanced toward Kimimaro. A flicker of consternation passed through his snake-like eyes.
"Kimimaro… you…"
In the center of the examination hall, Yuichi slowly lowered hes hand.
The Rasengan had vanished.
But Kimimaro lay motionless on the ground before her.
Yuichi stared at him.
Under the force of the Rasengan, the white bone of Kimimaro's forehead had cracked open. A single slit split his skull—small, yet enough.
From that narrow opening, the Rasengan's chakra had torn into his brain.
Yuichi was surprised.
Kimimaro had withstood the Hard Vortex Water Blade… and had nearly endured the Rasengan as well. If he hadn't spent so much energy defending against the earlier jutsu, he might have survived.
'The Shikotsumyaku… truly a terrifying bloodline limit.'
System Prompt:
[Character Kimimaro has died, unlocking the "Character End Reward" selection.]
[Because Kimimaro was killed by the Host before completing his character development line, full rewards cannot be obtained.]
[The rewards of character Jiraiya cannot be unlocked.]
[Please choose whether to receive the Character End Reward.]
[Please choose]
[1. Receive Character End Reward — gain some of the character's abilities or jutsu.]
[2. Decline the reward — obtain five random jutsu.]
As Yuichi's thoughts swirled, the system presented a new choice.
he looked at the two options, and the corners of hes lips curled upward.
'As expected… the stronger the opponent, the better the rewards for killing them.'
When he had killed Jiraiya, he gave up the Character End Reward in exchange for random masteries in elemental releases.
But with Kimimaro's death, the alternative was five random jutsu.
Clearly, the quality of rewards depended on the strength of the fallen.
Yuichi's gaze lingered on Kimimaro's broken forehead.
If this boy had overcome his bloodline sickness and continued to refine his Shikotsumyaku… how terrifying could he have become?
Perhaps he might even have awakened the ultimate form—the Ash-Killing Bones, a technique so powerful it could pierce Susanoo itself, reducing its victims to nothing but dust.
Maybe Kimimaro's bloodline disease was the very price of inheriting that devastating ability.
Of course, this was only speculation. The original texts never said outright that the Shikotsumyaku was a fragment of Kaguya's deadly ash bones.
Still, the decision was clear.
Kimimaro had nothing but his bloodline. The Earth Curse Mark was Orochimaru's power, not his.
Yuichi closed hes eyes for a moment, then opened them with resolve.
'Receive the Character End Reward.'
System Prompt:
[Congratulations! The Host has acquired the special bloodline physique Shikotsumyaku (20% of Kimimaro's power due to incomplete inheritance).]
[Special Physiques: Sage Body (50%), Shikotsumyaku (20%)]
[You have gained +1452 proficiency in Taijutsu.]
[Physique: Advanced Ninja Physique (1652/1001299867)]
Yuichi's eyes widened.
Over a thousand points in Taijutsu proficiency in one go.
'So that's it… my approach has been wrong this entire time. To truly grow stronger, practice alone isn't enough. Without infinite chakra, training is far too slow. The fastest way to improve… is through killing.'
If he lacked Water Release proficiency, he could simply hunt down a Water-style shinobi and claim their end reward.
He lips curved into a sharp smile.
'I like this system.'
A sudden warmth surged through her body. Yuichi felt her own bones pressing against her flesh, as though trying to pierce through her skin. A sharp tingling spread through hes frame… then vanished in an instant.
"Is he… dead?"
"Yuichi killed someone with the strength of a Jōnin… all on he own?"
Around the arena, shinobi leaned over the railings, staring in shock at Kimimaro's corpse.
They whispered among themselves.
Yuichi suddenly raised her head, hes eyes sweeping across them.
What she saw in their gaze was not just admiration.
It was awe—fear and respect intertwined.
"The enemy is defeated! Everyone, hurry and get the civilians to safety!"
Almost instinctively, the Konoha shinobi obeyed her command. Even those who hesitated quickly followed after seeing their comrades move. In moments, the genjutsu-stunned villagers were being carried to safety.
Yuichi noted the effect. With just a test order, even Chūnin had begun to listen to her. Their actions admitted what their hearts already knew.
The strong had the right to command.
From the shadows, the masked members of Anbu observed. Unlike ordinary shinobi, their expressions betrayed thoughtfulness.
Yuichi herself felt a faint strangeness in giving orders to Konoha's forces—but she pushed the thought aside. There was no time for reflection.
'Enough stalling. I can't be late.'
he leapt onto the roof above the auditorium, her eyes locking on the four pillars of purple flame burning atop the opposite building.
Several Anbu stood outside the barrier, helpless to enter. Inside, the Third Hokage had already engaged Orochimaru.
Yuichi exhaled in relief. The battle was only just beginning.
"It seems… I haven't missed the real show."