"Guy! Tenten! Neji! You're here!"
Kakashi was the first to react, his tone visibly lightening. Although they had already dealt with the Sound Four, this new enemy looked far more dangerous. Having reinforcents arrive was definitely reassuring.
Guy scanned the battlefield. "Kakashi, is everyone alright?"
Kakashi shook his head. "We're fine. We took down the Sound Four. But this new guy just showed up out of nowhere."
Everyone's eyes turned toward Kimimaro. Tenten gave him a thorough look and nodded, confirming that he matched the intelligence Natsuki had passed along.
She then tossed a scroll to Kakashi.
Kakashi blinked and caught it, opening it to read with Sasuke and Shino.
After reading, all three understood at once:
"A Kekkei Genkai, huh… No wonder he feels so dangerous!"
In the shinobi world, Kekkei Genkai were sothing to be wary of. Possessing one ant access to special techniques far beyond the norm—dangerous and difficult to counter. The most well-known examples were Sasuke's Sharingan and Neji's Byakugan—both famous throughout the ninja world and feared accordingly.
Even lesser-known ones like Hyōton (Ice Release) from Haku were devastating in their own right.
Fa didn't matter. Kekkei Genkai were always a cut above regular jutsu. You couldn't afford to underestimate them.
This Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse) was particularly eerie—attacking and defending with one's own bones. Natsuki hadn't detailed everything in the intel, but the one thing made clear was: his bones are extrely dangerous.
Kimimaro, ever the sharp one, caught on quickly. "You have intel on ? That shouldn't be possible."
"Doesn't matter," Guy interrupted bluntly. "If Orochimaru sent you to capture Sasuke, you're the enemy. Co, let's fight!"
As perhaps the most polite man in the ninja world, Kimimaro naturally accepted.
"Very well. Then let us fight. I apologize, but I have a mission. Even if it costs my life, I will bring Sasuke back to Orochimaru-sama!"
With that, he lunged forward, his bone sword slicing through the air with deadly precision.
Neji stepped up first, activating his Byakugan and launching his Hakke Rokujūyon Shō (Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms).
But Kimimaro wasn't ordinary. His bone sword flowed with impossible grace, deflecting every single strike of the Sixty-Four Palms. Not only that—he even found chances to counterattack.
His bone blade was so sharp that Neji didn't dare block it directly, retreating as a result.
"Such taijutsu skill?!"
Everyone watching was stunned.
They all knew how fearso the Sixty-Four Palms was, especially with Byakugan's pinpoint accuracy. But Kimimaro had fended it off with only a bone sword—and even forced Neji to back down. His prowess in close combat was frightening.
That imdiately lit Guy's fighting spirit ablaze. He jumped into the fray, launching his signature Konoha Dai Senpū (Leaf Great Whirlwind).
But Kimimaro calmly grew a white bone blade from his body, forcing Guy to halt mid-kick—those blades were way too sharp. One solid strike would cost him dearly.
Unfazed, Guy drew his nunchaku.
He swung them with stylish flair, trading blows with Kimimaro. For a mont, they were evenly matched.
But it didn't last.
Kimimaro suddenly put so real force behind his bone sword, and with a sharp clang, snapped Guy's nunchaku in half, pushing him back.
Tenten couldn't help but shout, "Guy-sensei! Don't tell you bought that cheap nunchaku on sale? Next ti just get them from my family's shop! I'll give you a discount!"
Guy fired back, "Hey! That was from Mantendō's Ninja Tools! Top quality!"
Neji sighed. "It's not the nunchaku. His bone sword is just too sharp. Normal weapons can't handle it."
Just then, Sasuke stepped up. His eyes were burning with battle fervor. Although he'd just finished fighting Tayuya and had used up a lot of chakra, he still had his chakra battery from Natsuki —no need to worry.
Fighting strong enemies like this was exactly how he could grow stronger.
"If you ca for , then I'll fight you myself!"
Sasuke surged forward, short sword in hand, Rai Shunshin (Lightning Body Flicker) propelling him at high speed. His blade aid straight at Kimimaro's abdon.
Just when he thought he had landed a decisive blow—clang! His short sword was stopped by bones that had suddenly erged from Kimimaro's stomach, forming a dense lattice that trapped his blade.
Sasuke tried to yank the sword out—but it wouldn't budge.
"I see now. I underestimated you. Shikotsumyaku really is insane."
He let go of the trapped sword and swiftly pulled out another. He always brought spares for exactly this kind of situation.
Shino then spoke. "Want to tag in? His bones are too good for direct attacks, but he probably can't stop my bugs."
Tenten added, "Or . Lightning attacks should still get through his bones, right?"
Sasuke was a little exasperated. Why is everyone so eager to fight now?
He knew both Shino and Tenten were strong—and they probably could deal with Kimimaro. But he wasn't going to pass this opponent off to soone else. This was his chance to improve!
So he quickly said, "Leave him to !"
Shino and Tenten exchanged glances and shrugged. Shino had already defeated two enemies—he didn't need to fight. And Tenten wasn't that battle-hungry in the first place.
If Sasuke wanted it, he could have it.
Just then, Tenten seed to rember sothing. She pulled out a slip of paper, scribbled a few notes, and used chakra to send it away.
Monts later, the paper returned—with new writing.
Kakashi glanced over and nearly twitched.
On the paper:
(Tenten)
Natsuki, I'm here with Guy-sensei and Neji. Kakashi-sensei, Shino, and Sasuke are all fine. The Sound Four are dead—only Kimimaro is left.
(Natsuki )
Good. Stay safe. Kimimaro is extrely dangerous.
Tenten wrote back:
Got it, we'll be careful. You too—especially you, idiot
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