Xiu was startled by Shine's sudden reaction, and the scroll in his hand almost fell. He quickly steadied himself and nodded heavily: "Yes, Lord Shine, it is indeed Kimimaro!"
"According to the intelligence, this child is only four years old, but his Shikotsumyaku has already awakened early, and his Chakra refinement far exceeds that of Ninjas his age. I speculate that his actual combat ability is already very close to the Chunin level!"
"Four years old... close to Chunin..." Shine repeated in a low voice, a mysterious smile slowly curling at the corners of his mouth. His eyes flickered with playfulness and excitement, like a hunter who had discovered the most precious prey.
He knew Kimimaro's potential all too well—this Genius who could face off against the Fourth Kazekage Rasa at the age of fifteen. If he hadn't been held back by the so-called "bloodline disease," he would have certainly become a top-tier combat force in the Ninja World.
And regarding that so-called "bloodline disease," Shine had a completely different understanding from Orochimaru.
Under the analysis of the Ōkuninushi Mangekyo, the balance of Chakra in the Ninja World was laid bare before his eyes: Uchiha Itachi's "bloodline disease" was because he opened his Mangekyo at too young an age, and his Yin Release Chakra was too violent, far exceeding the carrying limit of Yang Release;
On the other hand, Kimimaro's situation was exactly the opposite. As the ultimate manifestation of Yang Release, the Shikotsumyaku awakened too early, causing the Yang Release Chakra to spiral out of control like a prairie fire, while the Yin Release Chakra was too weak to provide balance, resulting in the illusion of a gradual physical collapse.
Thinking of this, a crazy but highly feasible idea exploded in his mind: The Kaguya Clan and the Hyuga Clan are both descendants of Otsutsuki Hamura, the younger brother of the Six Paths Sage Otsutsuki Hagoromo!
The Hyuga Clan inherited Hamura's Byakugan and mastered the path of balance within Yin and Yang;
While the Kaguya Clan inherited Hamura's Shikotsumyaku, the pinnacle of Yang Release.
If... if he could eliminate a member of the Hyuga Main House, transplant their Byakugan into Kimimaro, and use the balancing power of the Byakugan to harmonize the out-of-control Yang Release Chakra, could he completely cure his "bloodline disease"?
What excited him even more was whether Kimimaro's Bloodline would be completed because of the balance of Yin-Yang Release, triggering an atavism phenomenon?
One must know that the ancestor of the Kaguya Clan was Otsutsuki Hamura. If he could return to the combat level of Hamura, wouldn't that be far beyond Kage-level?
It might even be possible to touch the threshold of Super Kage-level!
This thought was like a flame, burning brighter and brighter in Shine's heart, making his whole body tremble with excitement.
He no longer suppressed his inner excitement. His eyes were as sharp as if they could pierce through the walls of the cave, aiming directly towards the Land of Water: "Xiu! Give me all the intelligence on Kimimaro immediately!"
"Including his precise hiding location, daily activity patterns, and the Ninja configuration guarding him—number, strength, rotation schedule, don't miss a single detail!"
"Yes! I'll get on it right away!" Xiu felt the urgency and majesty in Shine's tone and did not dare to delay, responding immediately.
"And!" Shine raised his hand to interrupt him, speaking rapidly with decisive and thorough commands, "Immediately send word to Qi and Genki, tell them to take their elite teams and rush to the border of the Land of Water to stand by and prepare for support!"
"Have Hien give up her current training and head to the border of the Land of Water immediately. Use Medical Ninjutsu and Earth Release to set up traps and barriers for the retreat. We must ensure everything is foolproof!"
A series of commands poured out without the slightest hesitation, showing the control of a leader. As Xiu quickly took notes, he was shocked—he had never seen Shine so out of character and so excited. Clearly, this Kimimaro held extraordinary significance for his master.
Shine stood there, already beginning to deduce the plan to rescue Kimimaro in his mind, the smile on his face becoming increasingly playful.
As for the "frontline support" Hiruzen Sarutobi hoped for? That was just a smokescreen he used to paralyze the Konoha High Command.
Sorry, Sandaime-sama. Shine mocked inwardly, a hint of cunning ridicule flashing in his eyes.
Did you really think I would obediently go to the Kirigakure Battlefield to be your pawn and work myself to death for Konoha?
If you took it seriously, you're far too naive.
He could almost see Hiruzen Sarutobi's exasperated and cursing appearance when he received the news—"You... mother?? F*** you!"
Shine couldn't help but imitate Sarutobi's tone in his heart, almost laughing out loud.
The victory or defeat of the Kirigakure Battlefield and the safety of Konoha were not as important as a single Kimimaro in his eyes.
As long as he could bring this Genius under his command, cure his Bloodline defect, and make him the sharpest sword in his hand, he wouldn't mind giving up on supporting the front line, or even letting the entire Kirigakure Battlefield collapse completely.
"Lord, are there any other instructions?" Xiu had recorded all the commands and asked with a bow.
Shine took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and his eyes became cold and determined again: "No more. Do as I said, the faster the better! I will take Yan and head to the border of the Land of Water immediately. This time, no matter the cost, we must bring Kimimaro back!"
His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable determination, echoing in the cave.
The Ninjas training nearby stopped their movements and looked over, feeling the surging Aura about to explode from their leader. Their eyes were full of awe and expectation.
Shine turned to look at Yan beside him and said briefly: "Yan, get ready. We're leaving."
"Yes! Lord!" Yan bowed and accepted the command, his eyes flashing with anticipation—he knew that a thrilling rescue operation was about to begin.
Shine's gaze turned towards the Land of Water again, ambition and excitement burning in his eyes. Kimimaro, wait for me. From today on, your fate will be rewritten by me. And the landscape of the Ninja World will be completely overturned because of us!
...On the other side.
The Hidden Mist frontline had long since turned into scorched earth.
Dark red blood soaked the black soil. Broken ninja swords, shattered forehead protectors, and mangled corpses were scattered everywhere. The smell of blood and gunpowder mixed together, thick enough to make one gag.
Uchiha Fugaku knelt on one knee, leaning on his blood-stained ninja sword. His chest heaved violently, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan bloodshot, and a near-frenzied anger surged in his eyes.
"Bastard! Uchiha Setsuna! You grandson of a turtle!" He suddenly roared, his voice hoarse as if rubbed with sandpaper, making the eardrums of the remaining Clan Members nearby ache. "My people are almost all dead! And you're still enjoying yourself in the Village!"
...
Advance chapter available on pãtrêon Got1808