Outside the Fire Temple.
Chiriku raised his head, his gaze resting on the familiar scenery in the distance. A wave of warmth rushed to his eyes.
He was finally back.
Since leaving the Capital, he had rushed toward the Fire Temple while simultaneously searching for any trace of Kazuma. Regrettably, his search had been in vain. He had found nothing.
Having experienced so much in the outside world—witnessing the bustling cities and the myriad complexities of the human heart—he found that, in the end, only this temple could bring him true peace of mind.
Chiriku slowly ascended the stone steps. The closer he got, the more apprehensive he felt. Upon reaching the entrance, he gently knocked on the temple gate.
Creak.
With a soft groan, the heavy door cracked open. A young novice monk peeked his head out. When he recognized the visitor, his eyes went wide with surprise and delight.
"Master Chiriku! Master, you've finally returned?"
"Mn." Chiriku offered a gentle smile.
Overjoyed, the young monk turned back and shouted into the courtyard, "Master Chiriku is back!"
Before long, a crowd of monks and novices rushed over, throwing the gates wide open to welcome him inside. Chiriku suppressed his surging emotions and stepped across the threshold. He glanced around the courtyard, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Is the Head Monk well?"
"He is well," the novice replied, his expression dimming slightly. "However... Senior Brother Sora has disappeared. The Head Monk has been searching for him relentlessly."
Chiriku nodded slowly. "I see. Take me to Sora's quarters."
He walked through the temple, heading straight for the boy's room. After a quick inspection, Chiriku found no signs of a struggle—only that all of Sora's belongings had been taken.
Chiriku stood still for a few seconds, a heavy realization settling in his chest.
'Kazuma is indeed still alive.'
"That child... I hope he can let go of his obsessions and live a good life from now on." He sighed softly, choosing not to dwell on it further.
In the mountains outside the Fire Temple.
Sora sat inside a dimly lit cave, staring at the stranger before him. He was at a loss, unsure of how to react.
The man turned his head. "Sora. You have suffered these past years."
"You... you said before that you are my father?" Sora's voice trembled, filled with a desperate hope.
Kazuma remained silent for a moment before speaking, his voice even. "Your father is dead. I was a friend of your father's. My name is Furido. From now on, I will be your teacher."
He turned and began walking toward the cave exit. "Let's go."
"Go where?"
"To see the world. We will travel to other places, other nations."
The Land of Grass. Underground Base.
"Lord Orochimaru."
"Ah, is that you, Kimimaro?"
Orochimaru looked up from his research. Standing in the doorway was a young, small Kimimaro, looking at the Sannin with a face full of expectation. "When will you be able to grant me the Cursed Seal?"
Orochimaru let out a low, raspy chuckle. "There is no rush. Wait a little longer."
"Yes!" Kimimaro responded, unable to hide a flicker of disappointment, though he dared not press the issue. He lifted his head to speak again, but Orochimaru suddenly raised a hand.
A snake slithered across the floor to its master.
After a moment of communion with the reptile, Orochimaru spoke. "A guest has arrived. Take the others and go welcome him. I want to see the results of your training."
"Should we hold back?" Kimimaro asked.
Orochimaru laughed softly, a cold sound. "He he he, the guest is a cunning powerhouse. You won't be his match. Attack with everything you have. As long as you don't die, I don't care what happens to the others."
"Understood!"
The Land of Grass. A ravine between mountains.
A wooden bridge spanned the deep gorge, offering the only path forward.
A figure moved swiftly beneath the bridge. A moment ago, Masahiko had looked up, spotting the ambushers, and a faint, amused smile had touched his lips.
He stepped onto the bridge. He had only taken a few steps when—
Rumble!
The ground beneath him shattered. Sharp earthen spikes erupted from the bridge's surface.
Immediately following the quake, a piercing sound rang out—Hummmm!
From beneath the debris, a hand shot out. The attacker wore a strange, gauntlet-like device that emitted a high-frequency screech painful to the ears. But just as the ninja surged his chakra to activate the sonic weapon...
A hand clamped onto his wrist.
Boom!
A deafening noise echoed. Masahiko ripped the attacker straight out of the earth and dragged him to eye level. It wasn't Dosu, just a fodder ninja testing the prototype.
With the attacker's arm immobilized, Masahiko channeled his own chakra, overwhelming the device.
Bang!
The sonic amplifier exploded amidst a blood-curdling scream. The violent burst of chakra detonated the mechanism, reducing the immediate area to a mist of blood and shrapnel.
Masahiko's expression was indifferent. "A test subject?"
With a casual flick of his arm, he hurled the broken ninja toward a specific spot in the treeline, forcing the hidden observers to break cover.
Three figures leaped from their hiding spots. The leader was a handsome boy with pale skin and two distinct red dots on his forehead.
Masahiko cracked his neck, loosening his muscles. "Lord Orochimaru may have sent you here, but I doubt he explicitly forbade me from killing you, did he?" He tilted his head, scanning the group. "Forget it. It doesn't matter. Come at me all at once—I have important matters to attend to, and I'm short on time."
The leader bowed slightly, his demeanor respectful yet cold. "I am Kimimaro. Please guide me!"
"Kimimaro, huh?"
Masahiko narrowed his eyes, sizing up the future vessel. Then...
Vanish.
In an instant, Masahiko disappeared from his position.
Kimimaro immediately retreated.
Boom!
A massive fireball roared from an elevated angle, blanketing the sky as it descended. The flames expanded violently, consuming the entire area where the Sound Ninja had stood.
Figures leaped frantically from the shadows, their faces twisted in panic.
'Such a powerful Fire Style...!'
Kimimaro was startled, but he did not cower. He raised both hands, and from his fingertips, hard bone bullets erupted, firing like machine-gun rounds toward Masahiko in mid-air.
Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!
However, just as the bone bullets were about to make contact, Masahiko didn't dodge—he advanced.
His blade was drawn in a flash. A crescent arc of cold steel sliced through the air, intercepting the barrage. With a fluid deflection, he swept all ten bone bullets aside.
In the blink of an eye...
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The other Sound Ninja collapsed, incapacitated.
Before Kimimaro could mount a counterattack, Masahiko had already closed the distance, his blade slashing down.
Kimimaro's body erupted with bones. He pulled a bone katana from his own body, his movements becoming eerie and fluid as he engaged the enemy.
Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Camellia!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew as steel met bone. Masahiko wielded his sword with terrifying speed, looking completely at ease.
Behind him, three remaining subordinates used Earth Style to tunnel silently, leaping out for a surprise assassination.
Bang!
A highly compressed, violent torrent of water exploded from beneath Masahiko's foot.
Stomp.
The ground shattered under the force of the hydro-impact. The shockwave concussed the tunnelers instantly, knocking them unconscious before they even breached the surface.
Kimimaro felt a deep, trembling shock. This was the first time he had felt such overwhelming pressure from anyone other than Orochimaru.
'So... Taijutsu and Ninjutsu can be used like this?!'
The remaining upright ninja charged in unison.
Masahiko held his sword in one hand and a kunai in the other. His figure flickered through the battlefield, striking from multiple angles simultaneously, like a phantom.
Before Kimimaro's brain could process the movement, his body reacted on instinct.
Clang! Clang!
The enemy's blade was fast—too fast. But more than that, the movements were flexible, fluid... almost like a dance.
'Dance of the Camellia?'
For a split second, Kimimaro hallucinated that his opponent also possessed the Shikotsumyaku.
While he was frozen in shock—
Whoosh!
A kunai flew past his face, slicing a few strands of hair. It embedded itself into the tree behind him with a dull thud.
If it had been an inch to the left, that kunai would be lodged in his brain.
Cold sweat beaded on Kimimaro's forehead.
"The Shikotsumyaku is impressive, but right now, you rely on it too much."
Masahiko's voice came from behind him.
"Be a good boy and lead the way."
"Yes!"
Kimimaro hurried to comply, but his mind was in chaos. This man... he had replicated the essence of the Dance of the Camellia after seeing it only once. He was terrifyingly strong. It was no wonder Orochimaru said they stood no chance.
As they walked, Kimimaro glanced up at Masahiko, hesitating.
"What do you want to ask?" Masahiko said, not looking down.
"How... how did you do that?" Kimimaro asked quietly.
Masahiko smiled, adopting the air of a wise instructor. "If you understand the mechanics of joint flexibility and fluidity, that Taijutsu of yours isn't difficult to learn."
He glanced at the boy.
"Furthermore, a Kekkei Genkai is a tool, not the master. You are letting the bone manipulate you, rather than you manipulating the bone."
Kimimaro bowed his head deeply, his eyes shining with a misunderstood reverence.
"I will remember this. Thank you very much for your guidance!"