At the same time, inside the cavern the Rokubi raged like a beast gone mad. Shigeo's earlier Katon (Fire Style) had accidentally scorched its tail, driving it beyond control. Its corrosive acid gas now made it impossible for any shinobi to approach.
Several elders of Kirigakure, along with more than a dozen ANBU, fought desperately with sealing techniques to suppress the beast, praying it would not escape the cavern. If it did, the entire village would be in danger.
The Rokubi Saiken was not the strongest tailed beast, but its acid was more troublesome than a Bijūdama.
"Fūton, Suiton, Doton!"
Every method to disperse the gas was tried, but still no one could close in.
Meanwhile, outside the village, the Kaguya clan heard of the situation. They prepared to seize this chance.
With Yagura at the western mountain overseeing the Rokubi, this was their only opportunity. If they continued enduring, the clan's power would be devoured bit by bit until nothing remained.
The Yuki clan had perished this way. They would not repeat that fate.
"Go, release Kimimaro!" the elder ordered. Their weapon, their only hope in this night of survival.
"Yes!"
At the back mountain of the Kaguya compound, a child had long been confined. Considered their most dangerous weapon, he had been locked away since he could walk.
The clan members rushed into the cave. "Kimimaro, the clan needs you. Come out!"
They unlocked the cell. As the door swung open, they froze.
Inside, another boy sat atop a stone, muttering to himself. "Should I let Yagura die now? Or wait a few years? I'll need to return for Sanbi anyway… killing him now feels out of sync with the story. What do you think, Kimimaro?"
"You… who are you?"
The Kaguya shinobi tensed. Kimimaro was vital. If Yagura demanded his surrender, they had risked death to deny it. Tonight was their clan's gamble. No one could interfere.
"Pff!" Before he could act, Kimimaro charged. His Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse) burst forth, impaling him on the spot.
"I won't let you hurt him."
"No, I wasn't—our clan is rising. Please fight with us…" The man raised his hand weakly. Even in death, he spoke of family.
But to Kimimaro, raised only as a weapon, never given warmth, "clan" meant nothing.
"Friend, let's go." Kimimaro turned, waving to Shigeo. "Let's do what you want."
The boy on the stone was Shigeo.
After leaving Saiken's cavern, he had wandered out of the village by chance into the Kaguya settlement. He remembered Orochimaru's interest in Kimimaro. How could he let Orochimaru succeed? He would take Kimimaro away, forever out of Orochimaru's reach.
Thus he had found the prison and entered.
Kimimaro, cold by nature but ruthless, had twice failed to kill him. After that, he accepted Shigeo's presence. Not talkative, he simply listened while Shigeo rambled his plans.
Saiken was now in his clone list. Only Isobu remained.
Yagura, unstable and under Obito's control, was dangerous to approach. Shigeo wanted to copy Sanbi but dreaded waiting years. Should he kill Yagura now?
"I want to remove the Fourth Mizukage. Do you think I can?" Shigeo asked.
"You can. The Kaguya are attacking. This is your chance." Kimimaro, though only five, was already mature in thought.
Shigeo laughed. "You're a good friend, hah."
"Actually, killing Yagura is simple. No need for us to act. Just tell Ao, who has Byakugan, and he'll expose it. But we'll need to stay in the Land of Water until Sanbi resurfaces."
"I don't care. I've been in a cave for two years. Anywhere else is the same." Kimimaro's joy was plain. He had never had a friend, and now he had one he trusted.
"Good. Then let's move."
"I'll aid the Kaguya. Afterward, we'll meet outside the village. Here—this bone flute. Follow its sound." He snapped off a hollow finger bone, handing it to Shigeo. "See you."
He turned and left to join the clan.
Shigeo smirked, pocketed the flute, and leapt toward Kirigakure.
Back in the village, Saiken was suppressed, but the streets glowed bright with lanterns. Villagers whispered, trying to learn what was happening.
Then from outside came shouts—the Kaguya clan attacking Kirigakure.
Yagura swiftly received word and dispatched shinobi.
The night was long. Kirigakure would not sleep. Yagura's bloody reign, the wounds of the Third War, the endless defections—Kirigakure was already battered. Only the other villages' own recovery kept them safe.
Now, with Saiken's rampage and the Kaguya's assault, the village felt stripped of power.
(End of Chapter)
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