In a damp, shadowed underground chamber, a chill voice echoed. "Kabuto, how is Kimimaro?"
A bespectacled man replied, "Orochimaru-sama, Kimimaro should be nearing his limit."
Orochimaru's brow furrowed. "Looks like I'll have to find that woman. Bring Kimimaro. No matter how sick he is, he can still fight at full power."
Kabuto hesitated. "Orochimaru-sama, there's no need to push it that far, is there?"
Orochimaru said, "Kimimaro's combat power is terrifying. If I hadn't mastered Saisei no Jutsu (Regeneration Technique), I might not be his match. I want to use him to remove that nuisance."
The "nuisance" in his mouth was Kakashi. The thought of their last encounter in Konoha still gnawed at him.
Kabuto considered it. "Then why not send Kimimaro now? That way you don't have to risk going to find that woman."
Annoyed, Orochimaru snapped, "You think I don't want to? I don't even know where that bastard Kakashi is right now—how would I get to him? I do have ways to kill him myself, but it would take too long. Kimimaro is different—he can kill him head-on. But I don't know how long Kimimaro's body can last. Only by finding that woman will all of this be solved. And I'll gain a perfect new vessel. Bring Kimimaro. For now, he's the strongest here. He and I will go find that woman."
Kakashi was escorting Tsunade back to Konoha. She kept a stern face along the way, and Kakashi could only sigh inwardly. Just as they were about to leave town, Tsunade turned and said, "Wait here. I'm going back for one last bet. Shizune—come!"
Kakashi almost stopped her, then thought better of it. Since she'd agreed to return, she wouldn't run. The itch to gamble must have flared up. He was right—Tsunade wanted one last wager because she knew there'd be no chance once she returned to the village.
But halfway back to the gambling hall, two figures appeared ahead.
"Tsunade, long time no see. So you really were here."
Tsunade's brows drew together. "Orochimaru. You dare come here? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"
Orochimaru smiled. "This time I only want you to treat a strange illness. I believe you'll find it interesting." He indicated the youth beside him—loose robes, long hair, two red dots above his brows, a face drained of all color.
Tsunade stared. "A member of the Kaguya clan? Orochimaru, I didn't expect you to still have someone like this with you. I've heard of the Kaguya clan's disease. But I won't treat anyone for a traitor of Konoha. I'll clean house right now."
At her words, Shizune shifted into a fighting stance.
Orochimaru chuckled. "Seems I'll have to take you with me first."
Orochimaru didn't move, but Kimimaro flashed forward. A pale bone blade sprang from his palm, thrusting at Tsunade without mercy. Shizune formed a blue Chakura Mesu (Chakra Scalpel) in her hand—meant for healing, but deadly in battle, able to sever muscle and meridians with ease. She slashed at Kimimaro—yet before her strike could land, countless snakes coiled around her. Orochimaru yanked and flung her aside. With a thud, Shizune hit the ground and lost consciousness.
Tsunade evaded Kimimaro's attack and drove a heavy punch at his chest. Suddenly, a forest of bone spines burst from his torso. Tsunade halted mid-strike. Kimimaro pivoted, his kick slamming into her abdomen. She grunted and flew back, but she did not fall—she grit her teeth and stabilized. Kimimaro moved to press the attack, but Orochimaru said, "That's enough, Kimimaro. Leave the rest to me."
Kimimaro nodded. Orochimaru stepped forward. "Will you treat this child now? His future is limitless."
Tsunade hissed, "I'll admit the brat is strong—even while ill. But I will never treat him. Doing so would doom Konoha."
Orochimaru shook his head. "No helping it, Tsunade. I know your weakness."
He drew the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (Grasscutter Sword) from his mouth and slashed his own arm. Blood poured out. The instant Tsunade saw it, her face went chalk-white. Her legs gave way. She knelt, trembling uncontrollably.
Orochimaru sneered. "Tsunade, ever since Dan and Nawaki died, you've had hemophobia. Seems my research was correct."
Kakashi waited a long time and still hadn't seen Tsunade return. He shook his head. "Tsunade-sama really does love to gamble. Looks like I need to swing by the hall." He sprinted toward the gambling house.
He froze. Orochimaru was binding Tsunade with snakes, dragging her away. Shizune lay nearby—alive, but not waking soon.
So Tsunade had run into Orochimaru.
Kakashi drew the blood-red blade. One swift stroke severed the snakes around Tsunade. He stared coldly at Orochimaru. "You ran fast last time, didn't you?"
The composure vanished from Orochimaru's face. He glowered at Kakashi. "Perfect timing. In fact, it's no exaggeration to say I came to Tsunade because of you."
Kakashi glanced past him and saw Kimimaro. He knew how dangerous Kimimaro was, and everything clicked. "You want to use him to kill me. But with the Kaguya clan's illness, who knows how long he can live. So you're here to have Tsunade cure him—then you can kill me and add a trump card to your hand."
Orochimaru gave a rasping chuckle. "As expected of Kakashi—sharp mind as well as skill. But this is even better. No need to wait for treatment. We'll kill you now. Even sick, Kimimaro can still fight at full strength. And I've given him new power."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed. On Kimimaro's chest, a mark like Sasuke's—Juin (Cursed Seal). Kakashi relaxed inwardly. A cursed seal, huh. Sasuke will soon be able to use his as well. Let me see it in action today.
Orochimaru flicked a glance. Kimimaro nodded. Kakashi's eye turned scarlet—the Sharingan. He looked at trembling Tsunade and the unconscious Shizune. He'd have to settle this first.
At Orochimaru's signal, Kimimaro moved. Bones sprang from his fingertips. "Teshi Sendan (Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets)!" He fired the finger-bones like bullets.
Kakashi slipped left and right, evading with almost no effort. Orochimaru licked his lips. "The Sharingan really is troublesome. But Sasuke will soon present me with a fine pair of eyes."
Unfazed that Kakashi dodged him, Kimimaro flashed in close. White bone spines erupted across his body. "Tsubaki no Mai (Dance of the Camellia)!" He stepped in a strange rhythm, body spinning. At such close range, Kakashi couldn't simply run. He tightened his grip on the blood blade. "Ranbu Ketsuzan (Blood-Dance Sever)!"
Clang—clang—clang— The crimson edge slammed against the white spines in a storm of sparks. The blade still had the upper hand; chips of bone sprayed the air.
Whoosh—whoosh— Suddenly the rotating spines shot a hail of bone pellets. Kakashi started—he dodged in haste. Even with the Sharingan, at this range—and while he was still swinging his blade—avoiding most of them was the best he could do. One or two struck his arms and legs; even his cheek was nicked.
He frowned. The Kaguya clan really is something—their combat thinking is razor-sharp. A terrifying opponent.
As he reset, Kimimaro was on him again, his forearm encased in bone, forming a conical drill. It lunged. Kakashi sprang back. Kimimaro pursued relentlessly, each thrust narrowly avoided by Kakashi's deft footwork.
Then—shff—Kakashi vanished from in front of him.
Kimimaro scanned instinctively—then the hair on his neck prickled. He looked up. Kakashi was descending, both hands on his blade. "Ketsuzan!"
A howl of air—space itself seemed to split as the blood blade came down.
"Karamatsu no Mai (Dance of the Larch)!!"
Massive bones burst from Kimimaro's body, crisscrossing into a hardened wall. The blade crashed down with a thunderous crack, splitting the barrier—yet its momentum faltered.
Kakashi snarled. "Raikiri (Lightning Cutter)!!"
Electricity flooded from his grip into the blood blade. Revitalized, the edge screamed through the bones. With a brutal snap, the wall shattered. Kimimaro twisted his head aside, but the blade bit into his shoulder, carving a gash down toward his abdomen.
Expressionless, Kimimaro said, "Impressive. No wonder Orochimaru-sama values you. If I hadn't formed a bone membrane inside at the last moment, I'd have been cut in two."
Kakashi's gaze tightened. Stronger than expected.
"Hm?"
Orochimaru's neck shot out like a serpent, coiling around Kakashi. His jaws opened and clamped onto Kakashi's neck.
"Ah!" Kakashi hadn't expected the sudden strike. Pain flared. Orochimaru retracted his neck, smiling coldly. "You're finished, Kakashi. I've waited for this. With my blood curse, you won't be able to use chakra for a while. Hahaha."
Kimimaro said, "Thank you, Orochimaru-sama. To be safe, I'll use this."
He hunched slightly and slowly drew out his own spine. Kakashi's eyes widened—but he didn't panic.
Kimimaro gripped the spine. It extended into a whip several meters long. "Tessenka no Mai (Dance of the Clematis)!!"
Whoom— The spine-whip lashed around Kakashi, constricting tighter and tighter.
A flicker—Kimimaro flashed in. His arm formed a massive bone drill. It drove straight through Kakashi.
Kakashi's eyes went wide. He looked down at the hole in his body.
The kneeling Tsunade stopped shaking. "No—Kakashi, don't die… I'm sorry. This is all my fault. Why—why do my comrades die in front of me? Orochimaru—Orochimaru—I'll kill you."
Frost settled over her face. The trembling ceased. She stared at Kakashi's pierced body and the blood pooling on the ground—and felt no fear.
Orochimaru blinked. "So you've returned to what you were. But it's pointless. You're no match for me. Kakashi died trying to save you. Come with me and treat this boy."
Tsunade snorted. "Do you think I'm still the woman from a moment ago? I've found myself again. I may not beat you—but you might not be able to take me either."
Orochimaru smiled thinly. "I still have Kimimaro. Bringing you back won't be hard. And what's the point of this foolish struggle? Your lover and your brother are dead. You have nothing left."
Tsunade's eyes were firm. "They're gone—but their will stands with me. I'll fulfill their dreams. For the village, they gave their lives without hesitation—to protect it, to bring back countless smiles. That's what they wanted. It's what I want. I'll walk the road they walked—even if it's a road to death."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. "So words won't move you. I'll just take you by force. Go, Kimimaro!"
Before he finished, another voice cut in. "Well said, Tsunade-sama."
Tsunade jolted. A masked man appeared at her side. "Kakashi…"
Orochimaru also stiffened, looking at the "body" skewered by Kimimaro. The bone drill was still embedded; Kimimaro hadn't withdrawn it. He stared at the pierced Kakashi—
Sparks crackled. "Raiton Kage Bunshin (Lightning Release Shadow Clone)!"
Orochimaru's face twisted. Kimimaro thought, If I hadn't used bone, I'd be paralyzed right now by the discharge from dispelling the clone.
Tsunade breathed out. "So you're not dead. I should thank you—without that, I might not have found myself."
Kakashi smiled. "Let's save it for later. Handle things here first. Orochimaru is yours—just don't let him interfere with me."
Tsunade flexed her wrists. "Even if Orochimaru's stronger than me, when he faces me, he won't dare split his focus."
Cold sweat beaded on Orochimaru's brow. He stared without blinking at Kakashi and Tsunade, not daring to relax for an instant…
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