Holding Kimimaro in his arms and using the earthen walls for cover, Shine moved swiftly through the intricate corridors of the dungeon. His Mangekyo Sharingan accurately predicted the ambushes ahead, allowing him to evade the hidden bone blade traps one after another.
The moment they burst out of the dungeon, the Kaguya Clan Compound outside was already on high alert.
The Clan Members activated their Shikotsumyaku one after another, covering their bodies in bone armor. Bone blades and bone needles were launched simultaneously, raining down toward the three of them.
These Kaguya Clan Members were each fierce and brave. Even when facing a powerful enemy, they did not retreat in the slightest, fully demonstrating the bloodlust and pride of a Kekkei Genkai Clan.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!" Genki formed hand seals again, and countless small fireballs gushed out, colliding with the incoming bone needles and exploding into a sky full of sparks.
Qi brandished his ninja sword, forcefully carving out a bloody path. The blade was stained with the blood of the Kaguya Clan Members, but he did not hesitate for a second—with the mission at hand, there was no room for mercy.
Kimimaro clung tightly to Shine's neck, watching his familiar clansmen pursuing them from behind. Seeing them fight bloody battles to protect the clan, he felt a pang of reluctance in his heart, yet not a shred of regret.
He knew that the path he had chosen might be full of thorns, but it would allow him to truly control his own destiny. This was ten thousand times better than staying in the Clan Compound as a literal imprisoned "Genius."
The three figures soon rushed out of the Kaguya Clan Compound, blending into the thick mist characteristic of the Land of Water.
The pursuers behind them continued to roar and chase, the Chakra fluctuations of the Shikotsumyaku echoing in the mist, but they were consistently unable to catch up with Shine and the others.
Shine sped through the mist with Kimimaro in his arms. Feeling the unyielding strength within the small body he held, a satisfied smile curled at the corners of his mouth.
"Where are we going?" Kimimaro asked, leaning against Shine's shoulder, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.
Shine looked down at him, his gaze gentle yet firm. "To a place where you can grow stronger with peace of mind. There is no imprisonment there, no exploitation—only equal partners and infinite possibilities."
Kimimaro didn't ask further; he just held Shine tightly, his dark red eyes staring into the depths of the mist.
He knew that from this moment on, his fate had completely changed.
And his pride as Kimimaro of the Kaguya would eventually bloom with the most dazzling light in this new world.
The thick mist was like ink, shrouding the defensive lines on the outskirts of the Hidden Mist Village.
Shine and his group were about to step into the safe zone. The wet soil beneath their feet still held traces of Kirigakure Ninja Chakra. Suddenly, Uchiha Qi, who was scouting ahead, froze. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan flared to life in the mist, and his tone carried an unprecedented gravity: "Lord! Strong Chakra reaction ahead! The concentration is extremely high and it's approaching fast!"
Before he could finish, Qi's face turned deathly pale, and his entire body's Chakra tensed instantly. That Chakra was not only massive but also carried the cold, sharp chill unique to Water Release. It was as oppressive as a deep-sea vortex, something no ordinary Ninja could possess.
"It's a top-tier powerhouse!"
Shine had already sensed the anomaly before this moment.
The Mangekyo of Ōkuninushi quietly rotated, its pale purple glow penetrating the thick mist. A slender figure ahead, containing terrifying energy, gradually became clear.
As the distance closed, that small face—appearing to be only eleven or twelve years old yet exuding a gloominess inconsistent with its age—caused Shine's eyes to narrow slightly. His fingertips unconsciously brushed the hilt of his tachi.
"Ninjas of the Uchiha Clan?" Yagura Karatachi's voice was as indifferent as ice, devoid of any emotion, yet it cut through the silence of the thick mist like a frost-tempered blade.
He floated in mid-air, standing on a thin film of water. His short white hair fluttered slightly in the mist. Those deep blue eyes were locked onto Shine and the others. Especially when he saw Kimimaro in Shine's arms, a flash of ruthlessness crossed his eyes. "Leave the Kaguya brat behind, and I shall spare your lives."
The expressions of Uchiha Qi and Genki instantly became extremely solemn—Yagura Karatachi!
The most talented of the Hidden Mist Village's younger generation. Although he looked like a child, his actual age was nearly thirty. His mastery of Water Release was superb, and he was already a core combat force of the Hidden Mist.
The two instinctively stepped in front of Shine, their Three-Tomoe Sharingan warily fixed on the opponent as their Chakra surged wildly.
Shine, however, remained composed. A playful smile even curled at the corner of his mouth, and his arm holding Kimimaro was as steady as a mountain. "Kid, you haven't even grown hair yet and you dare block my path? Aren't you afraid I'll slice you down with one stroke?"
He knew Yagura's true age, yet he deliberately mocked his appearance, his tone unabashedly teasing.
"Bastard!" Yagura's pupils constricted violently, and the veins on his temples instantly bulged.
Being mocked for his appearance was his lifelong sore spot. Shine's words were like a needle, stabbing deep into his fury.
Deep blue Chakra surged instantly, and the surrounding mist seemed to be drawn in, swirling frantically around him. "You're looking for death!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" Yagura's hands formed seals as fast as lightning as he let out a low shout.
The surging Chakra drew from the underground water veins, and a water dragon dozens of feet long burst from the ground. Its scales were clearly visible, and its dragon head was hideous. Carrying the sound of whistling wind and overwhelming water vapor, it lunged straight at Shine and the others. Everywhere it passed, the ground was washed into deep gullies.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Loud Singing Technique!" Almost the moment the water dragon appeared, Uchiha Qi, Genki, and Yan formed seals simultaneously, their three shouts unified.
Three thick fire dragons erupted from their mouths. The flames were scorching, dispelling the surrounding thick mist. The three fire dragons intertwined to form a blazing wall of fire, crashing violently into the incoming water dragon.
"BOOM—!!" The moment fire and water merged, a massive explosion was deafening. Water vapor and sparks flew everywhere, forming a white expanse of steam that enveloped the entire battlefield.
The powerful shockwave made the ground tremble violently; surrounding trees were snapped in half, and sand and stones were sent flying.
Before the steam had even dissipated, Shine's figure had already vanished from his original spot.
He pushed the Body Flicker Technique to its limit, leaving only a faint black shadow. In the next second, he appeared behind Yagura. The tachi in his hand was drawn instantly, the blade glinting with a cold green light. With a sharp whistling sound, it slashed directly toward Yagura's neck—the speed was so extreme that even the mist couldn't keep up with his movement.
Yagura's combat instincts were extremely sharp. In a life-or-death moment, he almost instinctively activated the Substitution Jutsu.
With a "poof," Shine's tachi slashed into a piece of wood that had suddenly appeared. The wood was instantly split in two, while Yagura's figure appeared ten feet away, his face pale and heart pounding with lingering fear.
He hadn't expected Shine's speed to be so terrifying!
"Water Release: Water Pillar Cannon!" Yagura didn't dare to be careless. His hands formed seals even faster, and he spat out a high-pressure water pillar as thick as a barrel. The water pillar carried a sharp sound that tore through the air, shooting straight at Shine, its power even greater than the previous Water Dragon Bullet...
Advance chapter available on pãtrêon Got1808