Yagura personally entered battle. In his tailed beast state he was unstoppable. After years of suppressing kekkei genkai, the Kaguya clan no longer had anyone able to challenge him.
Even Kimimaro, though he could fight for a time, was still a child. How could he withstand the strength of a Kage?
The Kaguya were soon slaughtered by Yagura and his forces.
Because of their attack, Shigeo quickly located Ao among the Kirigakure shinobi. At this time Ao was still young, his Byakugan hidden under a black eyepatch. Because of that concealment, he had not yet noticed Yagura's condition.
Seeing the Kaguya nearly annihilated, Shigeo marked Ao with a Hiraishin seal and then left the village. On the battlefield he seized Kimimaro and vanished.
"Calm down!" Shigeo restrained Kimimaro, who was blood-crazed, his body bristling with bone spikes, pale and staggering yet still in battle state.
"It's over. The war's done," Shigeo said firmly.
Time passed, dawn broke. Shigeo closed his eyes.
Kimimaro asked, "What's wrong?"
"I'm blind. In daytime I can't open my eyes. I use sensing to feel everything around me. If I open them, the sun burns."
"I feel terrible too," Kimimaro admitted, leaning against a rock, gasping.
By a forest stream, Shigeo examined him. Though only five, Kimimaro's body was frail, weakened by his own bloodline.
Drawing bones as weapons consumed his own flesh and vitality. Unlike chakra, which could be trained, drawn from nature, or borrowed from tailed beasts, his Shikotsumyaku came entirely from his own body.
"Here. Take this medicine."
Thanks to Shizune, he had many medical supplies stored in scrolls. He ground herbs and fed them to Kimimaro.
Kimimaro's cold eyes softened with gratitude. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Heal quickly. I'll take you to meet a friend."
Kimimaro asked, "What about Yagura? He lives?"
"Yes. Still alive."
After half a day's rest, food, and medicine, Kimimaro recovered somewhat.
Together they went to a village ten li southwest of Kirigakure. There they found Haku waiting. The three children were overjoyed. Haku, shy by nature, became talkative with two new friends.
"I want to train too. Let's be a three-man ninja team."
Kimimaro scoffed. "Fine. But I prefer solitude. True masters stand alone."
Shigeo laughed. "A master? Tell me, master, what's for dinner? I'm hungry."
Kimimaro blushed—this morning's rabbit had been Shigeo's catch. He turned to Haku. "What's for dinner?"
Haku looked embarrassed, toes rubbing the floor.
"Forget it. I'll treat you both to something good. Let's go."
The village was small but for money they found lodging and meals. One household even gave Haku clothes and shoes—funded, of course, by Shigeo. Money was the one thing he had plenty of.
That night, after bathing, dressed neatly, Haku looked like another person—delicate as a girl, his beauty shining.
In the room, Haku insisted, "I'm oldest. You two should call me aniki."
"I think 'big sister' suits you more. I'm strongest, so I'm leader," Kimimaro said proudly.
"You both live off my money. Call me aniki," Shigeo shot back.
"No, I'm the leader!" "I'm the leader!" The three argued, laughter and noise filling the night.
Childish, unreasonable—but the bond of friendship was born.
Later, Kimimaro and Haku slept. Shigeo sat awake, watching. He was no saint, but at that moment, he wished they could live safe, healthy lives.
He rose and vanished into the night.
Kirigakure had tightened defenses after the Rokubi rampage and Kaguya rebellion.
At the village gates, corpses of the Kaguya hung from poles. Yagura used this to declare his authority, warning all who thought to betray the village.
Shigeo warped directly inside.
The streets were empty. In a flash he appeared at Ao's house, where lights still burned. Using Fūton, he tapped on the window.
Ao opened it, seeing only a boy below. "Go home. Enough mischief." He thought it just a child's prank.
"Have you heard of the Uchiha clan?" Shigeo's eyes turned scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan, ready to cast genjutsu.
(End of Chapter)
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