326-330

*Chapter 326: A Temporary Alliance*

A blazing fire reduced Black Zetsu’s body to ashes. Kimimaro turned his gaze to the distant Six Paths Nagato.

At this moment, Nagato hovered high above the clouds. His forehead now bore two delicate horns, and his already immense power had ascended to an even greater level.

“Hahaha! I’ve succeeded! With this power, I am invincible! This is enough to reshape the world!” Nagato’s laughter echoed across the entire ninja world.

All eyes were drawn to him.

“Damn it, he beat me to it,” Madara muttered in frustration as he observed Nagato’s escalating power.

His plans had flaws after all. Otherwise, the one standing there now would have been him, not Nagato.

Looking at the godlike figure Nagato had become, Madara sighed softly.

“So be it. Nagato has inherited my ideals. He should be capable of fulfilling my original plan. As long as the ninja world achieves peace, it doesn’t matter who casts the Infinite Tsukuyomi,” Madara thought to himself.

“Something feels off,” Hashirama suddenly said.

“What do you mean?” Madara asked, puzzled.

“The chakra in Nagato’s body is rapidly condensing, but it isn’t blending with his own chakra. Instead, it’s rejecting it, as if someone forcibly implanted foreign chakra into him,” Hashirama explained, his sensory abilities surpassing Madara’s.

“Maybe it’s because his power comes from the Divine Tree? The Divine Tree’s energy is naturally different from his own,” Madara speculated.

“That’s possible, but this concentration of chakra…” Hashirama trailed off, as if realizing something but unable to articulate it.

Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke also sensed the unusual situation.

“What immense chakra. I didn’t expect Nagato’s power could rise even further,” Sasuke said coldly.

“Maybe the situation the Sage of Six Paths warned us about is about to happen,” Naruto replied.

“It seems that trouble is unavoidable,” he added.

The two focused intently on Nagato, who was now gazing at the full moon in the sky.

The moon was at its fullest—a perfect opportunity to cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

However, Nagato was neither Madara nor Obito; he had little interest in the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

He sought to wield the Ten-Tails’ power to reshape the ninja world, not to rely on a single jutsu.

“Wonderful, Nagato, you’ve done it!”

From a distance, pieces of white paper flew toward Nagato, forming into the figure of Konan by his side.

Nagato smiled faintly, a rare sight.

“Yes, I’ve finally succeeded. With this power, the entire ninja world will bow to my will. And my first task is to eliminate those capable of opposing me!” Nagato declared, his gaze locking onto Naruto and Sasuke.

At that moment, he noticed Kimimaro, who had been lurking in the shadows.

“Kimimaro, you’ve finally decided to show yourself,” Nagato said, his Rinnegan pinpointing Kimimaro’s position.

“Kimimaro!” Sasuke exclaimed angrily, his face contorting with rage. Following Nagato’s gaze, he spotted Kimimaro, and his fury ignited further.

In the blink of an eye, Kimimaro used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear before the group.

“After absorbing the Divine Tree, your power has grown even more formidable,” Kimimaro remarked.

“Do you think that power is enough to kill me?” Nagato responded coldly.

Before Kimimaro could reply, he sensed danger from behind.

Amaterasu!  

Black flames erupted from Sasuke’s right eye, hurtling toward Kimimaro. This was no ordinary fire; it was Amaterasu, imbued with Sasuke’s fury.

“Sasuke! What are you doing?!” Naruto shouted, alarmed, but it was too late to stop him.

The black flames landed on Kimimaro’s robe, burning fiercely.

“Got him!” Sasuke exclaimed, a triumphant look on his face.

But Kimimaro remained unfazed, coldly observing the flames that burned his robe.

“Sasuke, do you really think such a trivial attack could harm me?” Kimimaro sneered.

To Sasuke’s horror, the Amaterasu flames vanished as if absorbed by Kimimaro’s body.

“How is this possible?!” Sasuke was stunned.

Amaterasu, the inextinguishable black fire, was renowned for its devastating power. Once it touched an enemy, it would burn them to ashes. Yet, not only had Kimimaro survived, but he had nullified the flames entirely.

Even this enhanced version of Amaterasu, empowered by Sasuke’s Six Paths chakra, was ineffective.

Unable to comprehend or accept this, Sasuke began to doubt himself. How could someone of his current power, supposedly at the pinnacle of the ninja world, fail to harm Kimimaro?

Naruto sighed in relief, seeing Kimimaro unharmed.

“Kimimaro, are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine. Such petty tricks can’t hurt me,” Kimimaro replied indifferently.

“Ha! It seems you’re not united after all. Perhaps you should settle your internal disputes before facing me,” Nagato mocked.

Kimimaro remained unaffected by the taunt, but Naruto shot back, “Nagato, don’t think you can drive a wedge between us! Neither Sasuke nor Kimimaro will fall for your words.”

Turning to Sasuke, Naruto added, “Sasuke, I know you have a grudge against Kimimaro, but now isn’t the time for revenge. Let’s deal with the immediate crisis first, and then settle personal matters, okay?”

Sasuke snorted but didn’t reply, signaling his reluctant agreement.

Naruto then turned to Kimimaro.

Understanding Naruto’s intent, Kimimaro smirked and said, “Don’t worry. I won’t hold a grudge against children. But after this battle, if he insists on provoking me, I won’t go easy on him.”

“Who needs your mercy?!” Sasuke snapped, bristling with anger. He nearly charged at Kimimaro but was stopped by Naruto.

“Sasuke! Don’t forget what our mission is!”

Watching the trio bicker, Nagato sneered in disdain. These so-called opponents didn’t seem worthy of his attention.

He considered leaving and letting Kimimaro and Sasuke fight it out. Given Sasuke’s current strength, Nagato doubted Kimimaro could handle him as easily as before.

Whoever won, the other would be weakened, leaving Nagato to pick them off effortlessly.

But with Naruto present, preventing such a clash would be difficult.

Thus, Nagato decided to personally eliminate all three of them.

---

The onlookers watching the battle began to feel uneasy.

"This Uchiha kid really knows how to stir up trouble—he’s actually thinking about fighting that Kaguya clan kid right now," someone muttered.

Tobirama observed the situation and commented sarcastically, "What’s the bad blood between Kimimaro and Sasuke?"

Minato asked curiously, "What could possibly be driving them to fight?"

Jiraiya explained from the side, "The grudge of a murdered brother."

"Itachi Uchiha?" Minato asked, visibly surprised.

Jiraiya nodded.

Tobirama, hearing this, added with a grim tone, "This complicates things. The Uchiha clan values their bond with their brothers above all else. If Kimimaro killed Sasuke's brother, this feud isn’t going to end peacefully."

Tsunade interjected, "Naruto’s here; he won’t let things escalate into a full-blown war."

"Yeah, Naruto will do his best to defuse the situation," Jiraiya agreed. "But I’m more concerned about Nagato. His power seems to have grown even stronger. I’m not sure if Kimimaro, Naruto, and Sasuke combined can stop him."

"If those three team up, they might stand a chance," Tobirama remarked. "Your sensory abilities might not pick this up, but I can feel it—Kimimaro's strength has significantly increased. He now possesses a power similar to Nagato’s."

He paused and added thoughtfully, "It seems Kimimaro disappeared for a reason earlier—he must have obtained this power from somewhere."

Tsunade looked shocked. "Kimimaro has gained new power too?"

Tobirama nodded. "Yes, Tsunade. This is someone you’ve placed great faith in, right? He’s quite extraordinary—more of a prodigy than even your grandfather. Perhaps the future of the shinobi world will rest on his shoulders alone."

He murmured, eyes filled with thought, "Though whether this will be a blessing or a curse for the ninja world remains to be seen."

On the battlefield, Naruto’s attempts to calm Sasuke seemed to be working.

"Sasuke, just let it go for now. After this battle is over, you can deal with him however you like," Naruto pleaded.

Sasuke’s anger cooled slightly, but he pointed at Kimimaro and growled, "Fine, Naruto. For now, I’ll let it slide. But after this fight, I won’t let him off the hook!"

Naruto sighed in relief, knowing this was the best he could hope for. He nodded. "Alright."

For now, Kimimaro, Naruto, and Sasuke reached a temporary truce.

Nagato, watching from a distance, sneered. "So, you’ve made your decision? Fine, come at me all at once. I’ll show you that gods cannot be defied—and I am the god of this shinobi world!"

Nagato’s overwhelming confidence was palpable; his recent surge in power had only amplified his already haughty demeanor. He raised his hands and shouted, "Chibaku Tensei!"

With that, countless meteors began raining from the sky, their sheer number casting the battlefield into despair.

"This is bad! If these hit the battlefield, everyone will die!" Naruto exclaimed. He turned to Kimimaro and Sasuke. "We have to stop this!"

Not waiting for a response, Naruto leapt into the air, extending his right hand and unleashing a surge of chakra. "Sage Art: Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!"

The Rasenshuriken flew from Naruto’s hand, shattering meteor after meteor into fragments.

Sasuke glanced at Kimimaro without a word and activated his full-body Susano’o, wielding its massive blade to slice through the falling meteors.

But even with their combined efforts, the meteors continued to descend relentlessly.

"Kimimaro! Do something!" Naruto shouted, his hands a blur as he formed more Rasenshuriken.

"Is this the end of the world?"

"We’re doomed!"

The shinobi alliance cried out in despair. This rain of meteors was unlike anything they had faced before—it was apocalyptic.

Desperate, Hashirama formed hand signs and summoned his Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence to shield the battlefield, though he knew it could only protect a fraction of the forces.

"Give it up, Hashirama," Madara said.

"No! I won’t!" Hashirama retorted, his resolve unshaken.

Madara sighed. "You’re impossible. Fine, I’ll help."

Even with both Hashirama and Madara’s combined efforts, they couldn’t completely halt the meteor storm.

At that moment, Kimimaro finally made his move.

"Bakudō #73: Tozanshō!"

With a low chant, a massive inverted triangular crystal barrier materialized, encasing the entire shinobi alliance.

The meteors struck the crystal barrier but shattered harmlessly against its surface, reduced to rubble.

"Did… did we survive?"

The alliance was stunned.

"It’s Lord Kimimaro! Lord Kimimaro of Las Noches saved us!"

"He’s stronger than the Kage!"

A wave of relief and admiration spread through the shinobi ranks.

Naruto, catching his breath, quipped, "Kimimaro, next time, could you step in a bit sooner?"

Sasuke, on the other hand, eyed Kimimaro warily, sensing his growing power.

Nagato frowned, clearly unsettled by this display. "I didn’t expect you to have such power, Kimimaro. I guess I’ll have to take you seriously."

Just as Nagato prepared to attack, a sharp crack echoed through the battlefield. His forehead protector split in two, revealing a crimson eye on his forehead.

"What is this?" Nagato was startled.

A Rinnegan mixed with Sharingan patterns emerged, glowing ominously.

Kimimaro glanced up at the blood-red moon above. "It’s starting," he murmured.

Suddenly, trees erupted from the ground, binding the shinobi alliance and draining their chakra, channeling it directly into Nagato.

"What’s happening?"

The alliance panicked as they struggled against the invasive trees.

This was just the beginning.

*Chapter 327: Resurrection*

An endless surge of immense power overwhelmed Nagato, leaving him momentarily stunned.

“What’s going on? Why is this power continuously flowing into my body? I can’t stop it!”

Nagato’s expression gradually twisted in pain.

The sheer magnitude of this power was far beyond what he could bear.

Even his enhanced Six Paths body was unable to endure it.

The terrifying force caused his body to swell.

“Nagato!”

Konan cried out in alarm as she witnessed the scene.

She wanted to help Nagato, but she had no idea what she could do.

“Konan! Leave now!”

Realizing something was terribly wrong, Nagato urgently ordered Konan to escape.

But there was no way Konan would abandon him at this moment.

“No, I’m not leaving! What’s happening? Why is this happening?” she asked desperately.

“I feel a powerful will… it’s taking over my body. This feeling… I can’t hold on much longer.”

As Nagato spoke, he suddenly felt an intense ocular power fixate on him.

It was a foreign yet incredibly potent force.

The terrifying ocular power paralyzed him, rendering him incapable of resisting as the will consumed his body.

The next moment, Nagato’s body swelled further.

“What’s happening?”

Everyone on the battlefield, except Kimimaro, was stunned.

Even Madara was no exception.

“How could this be? According to the stone tablet, Nagato should have gained the strength to activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi by now. So why is this happening?”

Madara was utterly baffled.

Standing nearby, Hashirama remarked, “Madara, it seems there’s more to this than we thought.”

Hashirama glanced at the blood-red moon in the sky, where the outline of the Rinne Sharingan with nine tomoe was slowly taking shape.

“So this is the Infinite Tsukuyomi? Terrifying indeed. Even though it hasn’t fully manifested, I can already sense the dreadful power of its genjutsu. Not even my peak self could withstand it. And with the moon amplifying its reach, the entire shinobi world will be caught in its grasp. No one will escape.”

Hashirama murmured, feeling fear for the first time in the face of a genjutsu.

“Now that this technique is complete, can anyone stop it?”

Hashirama turned his gaze toward Kimimaro and the others. At this point, the shinobi world could only pin its hopes on them.

“Kimimaro! Please save Nagato!”

Konan, desperate and at a loss, turned to Kimimaro for help.

She knew that if anyone could save Nagato now, it had to be Kimimaro.

But Kimimaro shook his head and replied, “I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t want to help; I simply can’t. I gave you all a chance before, but you didn’t take it. If you had, none of this would be happening now.

The consequences of one’s actions must be borne by oneself. Konan, I can’t save him. For Nagato, this is already a dead end.”

Hearing Kimimaro’s cold response, Konan felt her heart sink.

She knew Nagato was beyond saving.

“No, I don’t believe it!”

Even so, Konan refused to give up.

Her body transformed into countless sheets of paper that wrapped around Nagato’s swelling form. She attempted to disperse the explosive surge of chakra while suppressing the invading will.

But with her strength, achieving this was impossible.

The power of her Paper Style was no match for the will of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.

In just moments, Konan spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Konan! Leave me! Don’t worry about me!”

Nagato shouted with the last ounce of strength he had.

But Konan refused to budge.

Blood poured from her eyes, nose, and mouth as her chakra weakened rapidly.

At this moment, Nagato regretted everything.

He should never have dragged Konan into this.

Now, he was powerless.

He looked toward Kimimaro, hoping for help, but it was too late.

The will of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya had fully descended.

Nagato’s body swelled to its limit, and then, white hair burst forth!

Boom!  

With a deafening explosion, the sheets of paper enveloping Nagato’s body were blown apart.

Konan coughed up another mouthful of blood and, like a wilting flower, fell from the sky.

“Konan!”

Jiraiya rushed forward and caught the gravely injured Konan.

“Jiraiya-sensei… please save Nagato…”

Looking at the familiar yet distant face before her, Konan made her final plea.

But what could Jiraiya possibly do?

“Konan…”

Holding the fading Konan in his arms, Jiraiya was at a loss for words.

Tsunade stepped forward, her hands glowing with healing chakra as she tried to save Konan.

But Konan’s condition did not improve.

“It’s no use, Jiraiya… There’s no hope,” Tsunade said softly, shaking her head.

Jiraiya fell silent.

“Jiraiya-sensei… I’m sorry… In the end, the three of us couldn’t become the students you could be proud of…”

Konan forced a faint smile as she said these words.

Then, in Jiraiya’s arms, she took her final breath.

For Konan, death at this moment might have been a form of release.

Looking at the peaceful expression on Konan’s face, Jiraiya sighed.

“Konan, in the next world, live for yourself. And if you see Yahiko… tell him I said hello.”

Jiraiya’s original team of three had now fallen completely.

“Jiraiya…”

Seeing Jiraiya’s sorrow, Tsunade called out to him, her heart aching.

But Jiraiya merely shook his head, saying nothing.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, a new enemy had emerged.

Nagato’s body had exploded, and in his place stood a pale-skinned woman with white hair and white robes.

She floated in the air, exuding an overwhelmingly oppressive aura.

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya…

had been resurrected!

“Who is that?”

Madara was stunned, unable to comprehend the situation.

But all questions would soon be answered.

“So it’s true what the Sage of Six Paths said. She is Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, isn’t she?”

Naruto said grimly.

“There’s no mistake. This chakra… there’s no one else it could belong to,” Sasuke replied, his heart sinking at the enormity of the challenge ahead.

“So, she’s finally here,” Kimimaro thought, meeting Kaguya’s gaze.

“I am finally resurrected,” Kaguya said coldly, a hint of joy in her tone.

But she soon noticed something strange—there was no trace of Black Zetsu.

“Where is Black Zetsu?” Kaguya asked softly.

“Sorry, Kaguya-sama. Your precious son, Black Zetsu, has already been sent to the afterlife by me. You won’t be finding him here,” Kimimaro said with a warm smile that carried chilling words.

Kaguya’s expression immediately darkened, fury evident on her face.

“You dare kill Black Zetsu!”

"How should I put it? You could say it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but you could also say it was planned all along," Kimimaro said with a smile.

"Unforgivable! Black Zetsu orchestrated this plan for so long to save me, and you dare kill him? I'll use your head to honor his sacrifice!" Kaguya's fury erupted.

"Kaguya-senpai, your temper is really something. The moment you show up, you’re already talking about killing?" Kimimaro remained unfazed by Kaguya's threats, maintaining a casual demeanor.

"Heh, and you didn’t hold up your end of our deal, did you?" Kaguya sneered coldly.

"Well, isn't that because you didn't tell me the whole truth, Kaguya-senpai? Honestly, I admire Black Zetsu a lot. Over a thousand years, he manipulated events, controlling figures like Madara Uchiha, Obito Uchiha, and Nagato—three legends of their time—convincing them that the Infinite Tsukuyomi was a salvation. Truly impressive.

"Look over there, even Madara still believes it right now."

Kimimaro’s words dripped with sarcasm as he mocked Madara directly.

Madara, however, paid no attention to Kimimaro’s taunts. Using the Body Flicker Technique, he appeared nearby in an instant.

"What is going on? Who are you? Why has it come to this?" Madara’s voice was filled with anger and confusion.

His sharp mind had already pieced together most of the truth, but a sliver of hope kept him desperate for a different answer. If not, everything he had ever done would seem utterly foolish.

Kaguya had no intention of answering Madara’s questions.

Seeing this, Kimimaro stepped forward and said, "Madara-senpai, you seem pitiful enough. Let me tell you the whole truth."

With that, Kimimaro used magic to compress the entire sequence of events into a packet of information and transmitted it directly into Madara’s mind.

In an instant, the entirety of the truth exploded in Madara’s thoughts. A sharp pain shot through his head, followed by clarity.

"So that’s how it is! That’s how it is! Hahaha! To think that I, Madara Uchiha, who considered himself a mastermind, was just a pawn all along! Hahaha! What a joke! What a joke!" Madara laughed maniacally, his tone hysterical.

His laughter sent a chill through everyone present, especially Hashirama.

Hashirama had never seen Madara like this before. Though he didn’t know exactly what truth Kimimaro had revealed, he could feel Madara’s despair and regret.

Madara’s entire life had been reduced to a farce.

"Madara..." Hashirama murmured, too stunned to approach.

Tobirama scoffed and remarked coldly, "So even this arrogant fool has his day of reckoning. This is karma."

"This is all your fault!"

After laughing, Madara’s face twisted with fury. His Rinnegan locked onto Kaguya, his killing intent unmistakable.

"Susano’o!"

Madara leapt into the air, summoning Susano’o and wielding its massive blade to strike at Kaguya.

Kaguya’s expression turned disdainful. She extended her right hand, and a gray rod shot out from her sleeve at lightning speed, piercing Susano’o.

In the next instant, an incredible sight unfolded. The gigantic Susano’o began to crack and disintegrate into gray fragments.

"What?!"

Madara was stunned as Susano’o crumbled around him. He could only watch as the gray rod closed in on his body. It moved too fast, even for his Rinnegan to avoid.

In the blink of an eye, the technique struck.

*All-Killing Ash Bones*—Kaguya’s signature move, capable of annihilating even those at the Six Paths level. For Madara, resurrected through Edo Tensei, it was no contest.

The gray rod pierced Madara’s chest. His body began to break apart, unable to sustain itself.

"Dammit... Not even one move...?"

Madara’s eyes burned with anger and frustration. The once-mighty Madara Uchiha had never felt so powerless—not even when he first clashed with Hashirama.

"Madara!"

Hashirama rushed to his side, catching Madara as his body began to crumble.

But it was too late.

"Hashirama... I’m sorry. If there’s ever a next time, I promise we’ll build the peaceful world we dreamed of together."

With those final words, Madara’s body turned to dust, vanishing into the air.

The resurrected Madara had seen the truth and found closure, but it had all been like a fleeting dream.

"Madara..."

Hashirama stared at the dust in his hands, overwhelmed with regret.

This lifelong rival had finally awakened to his mistakes, but far too late. If only they had worked together from the beginning, the world would not have descended into such chaos.

Kaguya, uninterested in these sentimental emotions, had only one thought in her mind after learning of Black Zetsu’s death: unleashing the full power of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

She floated into the sky, her Rinne Sharingan opening wide on her forehead.

The moon, which had already begun casting its light, now radiated a blinding brilliance as the Infinite Tsukuyomi’s full power activated.

A wave of white light spread across the land, engulfing everything.

"No! She’s strengthened the Infinite Tsukuyomi!" Naruto cried out.

Sasuke immediately activated Susano’o to shield himself and Naruto.

"Sasuke! Bring Kimimaro in too! And Granny Tsunade! And Pervy Sage!"

Naruto’s pleas fell on deaf ears. Sasuke glanced at Kimimaro and coldly said, "There’s no time."

It wasn’t just Tsunade and Jiraiya who couldn’t make it in time—Sasuke had no intention of saving Kimimaro either.

To Sasuke, as long as he and Naruto survived, they could still save the world. Kimimaro was irrelevant. In fact, being caught by the Infinite Tsukuyomi would make it easier to deal with him later.

"Kimimaro!"

Naruto’s frustration grew as Sasuke ignored his protests.

Kimimaro, however, seemed unfazed. Standing under the crimson moonlight, he spread his arms and calmly absorbed the Infinite Tsukuyomi’s energy.

"So this is the completed Infinite Tsukuyomi, the strongest genjutsu of the ninja world. Compared to this, even Kotoamatsukami is insignificant," Kimimaro murmured.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world fell under its thrall. One by one, people were ensnared by the moon’s light, wrapped in the roots of the God Tree, and plunged into the genjutsu of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

The Shinobi World had entered its darkest hour.

(To Be Continued...)

*Chapter 328: One-on-One*

The entire shinobi world fell into a sudden silence.

Whether they were Kage or Genin, all were enveloped by the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Only four individuals were exceptions.

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, who cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and the three who wielded the power of the Six Paths: Kimimaro, Naruto, and Sasuke.

"Kimimaro... I leave everything to you."

Tsunade's eyes, now transformed into Rinnegan by the Infinite Tsukuyomi, closed as she was wrapped in branches and fell into slumber.

Kimimaro glanced briefly in Tsunade's direction but quickly looked away.

“Tsunade-senpai, leave it to me.”

The world returned to silence.

Sasuke, observing the still-conscious Kimimaro, was puzzled.

“Why are you unaffected? Even the Infinite Tsukuyomi can’t deal with you?”

Kimimaro chuckled. “You have fine eyes, and so do I.”

Sasuke's gaze shifted to Kimimaro’s Tenseigan.

Those eyes held a power rivaling his own—and perhaps even surpassing it.

“Damn it!”

Sasuke clenched his fist, frustrated that even the Infinite Tsukuyomi was powerless against Kimimaro. Could he still hope to defeat him?

“Sasuke, didn’t you just agree to team up for now?” Naruto interjected, trying to diffuse the tension.

“Humph.”

Sasuke scoffed, offering no further comment.

Naruto quickly apologized to Kimimaro.

“Kimimaro, Sasuke’s just like that. Don’t mind him. Let’s focus on the bigger threat.”

Kimimaro gave a slight nod, not even sparing Sasuke a glance as he turned away.

Sasuke’s anger intensified. His fists trembled with barely contained rage.

“Kaguya-senpai, it seems you’ve chosen to fight us to the death.”

Kimimaro’s voice was low and composed.

“This world doesn’t need your existence. Especially not those two.”

Kaguya’s cold eyes bore into Naruto and Sasuke. She could sense the presence of Hagoromo and Hamura in them. Their mere presence brought painful memories of her sons.

A surge of killing intent burst forth.

Kaguya locked her sights on Naruto and Sasuke.

In an instant, a black portal opened beside her, and she stepped through it.

*Yomotsu Hirasaka.*

“That’s… spatial ninjutsu! And such speed!” Naruto exclaimed.

Before he could finish, the black portal appeared behind them.

A chilling hand reached for their necks.

Both Naruto and Sasuke sensed the danger, reacting swiftly. But Kaguya’s grip was unavoidable.

“You will die!”

Kaguya's cold voice was accompanied by a tightening grip on their throats.

Despite their struggles, Naruto and Sasuke weren’t easily subdued. Both grasped Kaguya’s hands, refusing to be overpowered.

Kaguya’s brows furrowed in surprise. Even now, they resisted.

As she prepared to unleash another technique, a streak of white lightning cut through.

Forced to dodge, Kaguya released her grip.

*Hado #4: Byakurai!*

The lightning shot from Kimimaro’s right hand.

“Kaguya-senpai, no need to rush.”

Kimimaro smiled.

“You insolent fool!”

Fury consumed Kaguya as she summoned overwhelming chakra into a massive punch.

*Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack!*

Kimimaro leaped back repeatedly, mitigating the assault’s ferocious power. Yet the technique's sheer speed made complete evasion impossible.

Kimimaro retaliated with a swing of his black bone sword.

*Getsuga Tensho!*

A crescent of black energy collided with Kaguya’s attack, neutralizing it. However, the shockwave forced Kimimaro to retreat several steps.

“Impressive. As expected of Kaguya’s strongest taijutsu.”

Kimimaro gauged her strength. Kaguya’s chakra was immense, but her combat techniques were limited—primitive even.

The shinobi arts, honed over millennia, surpassed what Kaguya could wield in her era.

This gap represented Kimimaro and his team’s slim hope.

Without it, they would have no chance of defeating her.

Kaguya, realizing the *Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack* had failed, summoned even greater chakra.

What had been a single punch became a flurry of countless strikes.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Kimimaro were all within range.

“Not good!” Naruto exclaimed, channeling his chakra.

“Boil Release: Unrivaled Strength!”

Naruto shattered incoming blows.

Sasuke summoned *Susano’o*, his massive blade parrying the barrage.

Kimimaro unleashed a relentless series of black crescents with his sword, matching Kaguya’s offensive.

Realizing their tenacity, Kaguya shifted tactics.

*Amenominaka!*

Suddenly, the battlefield changed. They were no longer in the shinobi world.

A powerful gravity pressed them to the ground.

“So heavy… what’s going on?” Naruto gasped.

They saw Kaguya equally affected, pinned to the ground.

“This is a space manipulation technique,” Sasuke deduced. “She’s brought us to another dimension—her domain.”

Kimimaro added, “A gravity dimension. The gravity here far exceeds that of the shinobi world. Even with our strength, movement is difficult. Ordinary people would be crushed instantly. Fortunately, Kaguya isn’t immune to her own trap.”

“Then why bring us here?” Naruto asked.

“She likely intends to use that technique again—the one she used on Madara,” Kimimaro warned.

As he spoke, Kaguya raised her hands, revealing two gray tubes from her sleeves.

“It’s that move! We’re in trouble!” Naruto shouted.

The *All-Killing Ash Bones* launched.

The intense gravity slowed them, giving the trio a fighting chance.

Sasuke focused his Rinnegan, preparing to activate a powerful ocular jutsu, but he struggled to cast it quickly under these conditions.

“Damn it, I’m too slow!”

Just then, Kimimaro’s voice echoed:

“Proud sons of heaven, fortress of iron, dragons roar, lions bellow, tigers prowl, wolves charge—halt the heavens before collapse! *Bakudo #81: Danku!*”

At the next moment, a massive transparent wall suddenly appeared in front of the three of them.

Clang! The sound of impact echoed as the two Co-Kill Ash Bones were completely blocked by the Wall of Void.

Crack!

The instant the Co-Kill Ash Bones struck, the Wall of Void groaned under the pressure, shattering into gray powder and vanishing into the air.

The two forces canceled each other out completely!

“That was close...” Naruto exhaled in relief.

Just moments ago, he truly felt the threat of death.

Sasuke glanced at Kimimaro, his eyes filled with seriousness.

He had seen this technique before.

But the power displayed this time was far beyond what he had encountered previously.

Blocking the Co-Kill Ash Bones wasn’t something the previous Wall of Void could manage.

Yet now, Kimimaro had done it, which meant his strength had improved significantly.

“What exactly has this guy done? Why is he stronger than both Naruto and me, even after we gained the Sage of Six Paths’ power?” Sasuke was puzzled.

At this moment, Kaguya also realized that with Kimimaro present, she wouldn’t be able to eliminate Naruto and Sasuke successfully.

She needed to separate them.

Heavenly Transfer!

Another space-time ninjutsu!

The vision of Kimimaro and the others blurred as they disappeared from the gravity dimension.

When Kimimaro regained his senses, the space around him was empty. Neither Kaguya nor Naruto and Sasuke were in sight.

“Hmm? Looks like Kaguya has split us all up. Divide and conquer, huh? Not a bad tactic. But if she thinks that will work on me, she’s made a big mistake,” Kimimaro thought to himself. With a flicker, he vanished from the spot.

Space-time ninjutsu wasn’t exclusive to Kaguya—Kimimaro could use it too.

Flying Thunder God Technique!

---

Elsewhere, Sasuke found himself in a vast desert.

“Damn it, space-time ninjutsu again? It looks like Kaguya, Naruto, and the others aren’t here.”

Using his Rinnegan, Sasuke scanned the surroundings but found no sign of life.

For now, he was at a loss.

“This is bad.”

Having just awakened the power of the Rinnegan, Sasuke wasn’t yet proficient with it.

“I don’t know who Kaguya is fighting now, but whoever it is, I doubt they can handle her alone. I need to find a way out of here. The only way is through space-time ninjutsu.”

Touching his left eye, Sasuke muttered, “I can feel it—there’s space-time power hidden in my left eye. I need to unlock it quickly, or it’ll be too late.”

The Rinnegan possessed numerous abilities, but mastering them took time.

Sasuke was far from reaching his peak strength, having just acquired this power.

Sitting cross-legged in the desert, Sasuke delved into his mental world to explore his Rinnegan’s potential.

---

In the lava dimension, Naruto faced Kaguya’s attacks alone.

“Damn it, we got separated. What now?”

Without his powerful teammates, Naruto found himself on the defensive.

“You’re all alone now. Prepare to die!” Kaguya launched another attack.

The Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack sealed all of Naruto’s escape routes, forcing him to rely on the power of Truth-Seeking Orbs to barely fend her off, his situation perilous.

“This isn’t good...” Anxiety flickered in Naruto’s eyes, but he could do nothing else.

Even with the power of the Sage of Six Paths, Naruto wasn’t confident in defeating Kaguya alone.

At best, he could hold her off temporarily, but victory seemed impossible.

Just as Naruto managed to scatter another Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack, a black void suddenly appeared behind him.

A gray spike shot forth.

Co-Kill Ash Bone!

“Damn it!” Naruto exclaimed in horror.

It was too late to dodge—this attack would be fatal.

At that critical moment, a white blur appeared.

With a single strike, the Co-Kill Ash Bone was cut cleanly in two!

Crack!

A precise and decisive blow.

“Kimimaro!”

Seeing the newcomer, Naruto’s face lit up with joy.

It was none other than Kimimaro, who had arrived just in time using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

“That was close,” Kimimaro said with a smile.

“How did you get back here?” Naruto asked curiously.

“You forgot? I left a Flying Thunder God mark on you. As long as I can sense it, I can reach you no matter what dimension you’re in,” Kimimaro explained with a grin.

“Oh, right! I almost forgot about that. This is great—now I’m not at such a disadvantage anymore. By the way, can you find Sasuke?” Naruto asked.

Kimimaro shook his head.

“I didn’t leave a mark on him. We’ll have to deal with Kaguya first and then figure out how to find him.”

“I guess that’s all we can do,” Naruto replied, slightly disappointed but quickly regaining his resolve.

There was no time for despair.

Kaguya frowned. She hadn’t expected Kimimaro to possess space-time ninjutsu as well.

This guy was proving troublesome.

In that case...

Kaguya turned her focus entirely to Kimimaro.

Naruto felt a surge of confidence with Kimimaro’s support and began forming hand seals.

“Shadow Clone Jutsu!”

Hundreds of clones surrounded Kaguya.

“Time to fight back!” Naruto roared as the clones charged in unison.

Unfazed, Kaguya slowly raised her hands.

In the next instant, every clone vanished without a trace.

Heavenly Transfer!

Kaguya had transported all of Naruto’s clones—and Naruto himself—to another dimension.

“Looks like I’ll deal with you first,” Kaguya said, her gaze settling on Kimimaro.

This time, she chose Kimimaro as her first target.

Though she had planned to save him for last, she now saw the necessity of eliminating him early.

Kimimaro remained unperturbed, his lips curling into a faint smile.

“Just what I wanted.”

(End of Chapter)

**Chapter 329: Amaterasu’s Eightfold Sake Cups!**

 In the primordial sphere of the Truth Seeking Ball, strands of white hair transformed into needle-thin projectiles, hurtling toward Kimimaro with the speed and precision of a torrential downpour.

 The sheer intensity of the assault could only be described as overwhelming.

 Kimimaro wielded his black bone sword in a seamless dance of defense, effortlessly deflecting the hair needles. Sparks flew as the needles clashed with his sword, leaving visible nicks on the blackened blade.

 Fortunately, the Kaguya clan’s Shikotsumyaku provided unmatched regenerative capabilities, quickly mending the sword's damage.

 “Good thing Kaguya doesn't shed hair frequently; otherwise, these needles wouldn’t last more than a couple of rounds,” Kimimaro muttered, his tone light despite the tense atmosphere.

 Suddenly, a crescent-shaped energy burst forth from his blade—a **Getsuga Tenshō**!

 The black crescent cleaved through the needle barrage, scattering them in its wake. Taking advantage of the opening, Kimimaro swiftly distanced himself from Kaguya’s attack range.

 Kaguya frowned deeply, clearly displeased at how easily Kimimaro handled her moves.

 “Lady Kaguya, it seems your millennia of imprisonment haven’t done much for your combat skills,” Kimimaro taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

 “Hmph.”   

Kaguya responded with a cold snort, launching another attack.

 Yet, despite her vast arsenal—**All-Killing Ash Bones**, **Rabbit Hair Needles**, **Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack**—none could breach Kimimaro’s defenses.

 At this point, Kimimaro's power had grown to nearly rival hers. Moreover, his battle-hardened experience far exceeded hers, making him an even more formidable opponent.

 The longer the battle dragged on, the more the scales tipped against Kaguya.

 Though not known for her strategic mind, even Kaguya began to sense the shift in dynamics. A creeping unease took hold—Kimimaro, once a mere afterthought, now stood as a significant threat.  

 The memory of encountering him on the moon surfaced in her mind. Back then, he had only just touched upon the threshold of Six Paths power. But now, his strength had surged in a seemingly impossible short span.

 “You’ve absorbed the Ten-Tails’ chakra, haven’t you?” Kaguya’s sharp eyes discerned the truth.

 Kimimaro smirked. “Impressive deduction. Yes, I have.”

 “But without the Gedo Statue, how could you possibly merge the chakras of the nine Tailed Beasts?” Kaguya’s confusion was evident.

 “That’s my secret.”   

Kaguya’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Have you encountered another member of the Ōtsutsuki clan?”

 Kimimaro chuckled, his calm demeanor unshaken. “Not exactly. But I know more about your clan than you might expect—like your role as a Guardian.”

 Kaguya’s pupils shrank in shock. “You… you know that? You must’ve met Ōtsutsuki Isshiki! Is he still alive?”

 Her voice wavered, and fear flashed across her face. The name alone brought memories of her desperate escape from Isshiki’s devouring grasp.

 Kimimaro’s smirk deepened. “He lives, but our current battle has nothing to do with him. Rest assured, I’ll take care of Isshiki for you.”

 He raised his right hand, and the black bone sword dissolved into a mass of violet flames. The flames exuded a terrifying energy, warping the very fabric of time and space around them. 

Golden light burst forth from the crest on Kimimaro’s forehead, illuminating the entire Truth Seeking Ball space.

 Kaguya’s instincts screamed danger. She was locked in place by the golden light. 

“What kind of ocular power is this? It surpasses the Rinne Sharingan!” she exclaimed in disbelief. 

As a master of ocular jutsu, she understood that higher-level dojutsu could suppress lower ones. But to see her Rinne Sharingan subdued was both shocking and terrifying.

 Kimimaro’s golden gaze was absolute.

 Yet, what truly horrified Kaguya was the violet flame in his hand. It harbored a power that seemed capable of incinerating her very soul.

 Two black flames ignited in Kimimaro’s golden eyes—**Amaterasu**.

 The black flames merged with the violet fire in his hand, intertwining into a dark purple inferno, each lick of flame etched with sinister black patterns.

 Kaguya’s alarm reached its peak. Without hesitation, she activated her space-time jutsu—**Heavenly Subjugation of Omnipresent Thought**—attempting to escape.

 But to her shock, she couldn’t. 

A faint golden barrier shimmered around them, sealing the space. It was the light emanating from Kimimaro’s third eye.

 “You’re not going anywhere,” Kimimaro stated coldly, his voice filled with finality.

 The black-purple flames solidified in his hand. “This move was crafted especially for you, Lady Kaguya. Farewell.”

 With a swift motion, the fire was unleashed.

 The flames hurtled toward Kaguya at blinding speed, locking onto her. Though she tried to dodge, it was futile—the fire tracked her every move.

 “**Amaterasu: Eightfold Sake Cups**!” Kimimaro shouted.

 The black-purple flames exploded upon contact, engulfing Kaguya entirely.

 “No!” Kaguya’s scream echoed as the fire spread across her body.

 Her form began to swell and distort, desperate to shed the flames, but the inferno grew with her. The black and purple flames consumed her, unstoppable and all-encompassing.

 “You cannot escape,” Kimimaro said, his golden eyes devoid of emotion.

 The battle had ended.

 (End of chapter)

Chapter 330: The Gray-Killing Sword

The fusion of Amaterasu and the Eight Wine Cups created a black and purple flame of terrifying power.

Amaterasu’s flames are inextinguishable, and when the Eight Wine Cups technique is mastered to its peak, it can even manipulate time itself.

When combined, these abilities create a technique with unparalleled destructive force and a deadly "one-hit kill" property.

The Eight Wine Cups halt time, while Amaterasu's flames engulf the target, leaving no room for escape.

However, such a powerful technique comes at a great cost.

Kimimaro could only barely use this technique when entering the third stage of his Sage Curse Mode.

This was the first time he had used it in actual combat.

---

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's body swelled, transforming into a massive sphere.

The nine-tailed beasts, along with a rabbit-like creature, seemed to be struggling to break free from the gigantic orb.

She tried to flee, but under the effect of the Eight Wine Cups’ purple aura, escape was impossible.

It was as if she was trapped in frozen time, unable to make any movements.

All that awaited her was to be at Kimimaro’s mercy.

“It’s almost over,” Kimimaro muttered softly.

Then, the third eye on his forehead opened once again.

Golden light erupted, enveloping the colossal form of Kaguya.

*Devour!*

The golden light drew out the ocular energy that had been continuously burned from Kaguya's body and absorbed it into his divine eye.

This ocular energy was none other than the power of the Rinne Sharingan!

Kimimaro felt invigorated as his divine eye grew stronger.

---

The powers of the nine-tailed beasts surged into him as well.

The Tiger Seal Curse rotated wildly, breaking down the energy and transferring it to the ten-tailed beast seed within Kimimaro’s body.

The once-infantile form of the Ten Tails began to grow rapidly, transforming into a massive fox in mere moments. Its power increased severalfold.

Yet, the influx of energy showed no signs of stopping.

Suddenly, an idea struck Kimimaro.

Extending his hands, he separated a portion of the energy from his body.

In his palms, two forms began to take shape from the chakra he released.

Looking closely, they resembled juvenile versions of the Nine-Tails and the One-Tail.

“A full moon wanes; it’s unwise to completely absorb the Ten Tails’ power. Separating two tailed beasts will allow them to cultivate independently,” Kimimaro murmured.

Among the nine-tailed beasts, Kimimaro found all but the One-Tail, Eight-Tails, and Nine-Tails unremarkable.

The Eight-Tails lacked aesthetic appeal, so Kimimaro chose to resurrect the One-Tail and Nine-Tails.

This way, he avoided strange markings from the Ten Tails' power in his body and gained two potential allies.

The newly reborn Nine-Tails and Shukaku sat obediently in his palms, developing their own consciousness.

---

The chakra Kimimaro expended for the Amaterasu Eight Wine Cups was instantly replenished, even exceeding his original limits.

Thankfully, by separating the Nine-Tails and Shukaku, his chakra gradually stabilized.

Meanwhile, Kaguya’s once-enormous form had turned to ash, devoid of any life or chance of revival.

“Apologies, Lady Kaguya,” Kimimaro murmured, though his face betrayed no regret.

The seemingly invincible Kaguya Ōtsutsuki had been utterly annihilated.

This was something even the Sage of Six Paths had not achieved.

Of course, it wasn’t necessarily that the Sage couldn’t do it; he simply chose not to.

Kimimaro, however, had no such reservations.

This battle, though appearing effortless, was won largely due to his techniques.

With the Eight Wine Cups and Amaterasu fused into one, Kimimaro knew he had become invincible in this world.

Once he fully assimilated the Ten Tails’ power, even the Ōtsutsuki Clan would pose no threat to him.

---

More importantly, with the Ten Tails’ energy, he could feel his Kekkei Genkai disease completely cured, his vitality surging endlessly.

*Immortality!*

Kimimaro was now certain he had achieved eternal life.

“Finally, it’s done,” he sighed with relief.

Though the path to immortality wasn’t long, it had required tremendous effort.

Now, his goal was achieved.

---

Suddenly, space rippled.

Someone was coming!

Kimimaro turned to see Sasuke and Naruto arriving together.

Sasuke had mastered using the Rinnegan to open portals in a short time.

After locating Naruto, he brought him along.

“Kimimaro! Where’s Kaguya Ōtsutsuki?” Naruto asked, scanning the area and finding no trace of her.

Sasuke furrowed his brow, his gaze falling on the two juvenile tailed beasts beside Kimimaro.

“Huh? What are those? They look like Kurama and Shukaku,” Naruto noted.

Kimimaro replied calmly, “Kaguya is dead, reduced to ash. These two are juvenile tailed beasts I condensed from her energy. Cute, aren’t they?”

“What? Kaguya’s dead?” Naruto exclaimed, shocked. Sasuke was equally stunned.

In such a short time, Kimimaro had killed Kaguya?

They turned to the blackened ashes on the ground, still faintly exuding Kaguya’s aura.

It was her.

“Those two are indeed my and Shukaku’s powers,” Kurama said from within Naruto, “but their consciousness has been erased. They’ve been reborn.”

---

Naruto was in awe, but his astonishment quickly turned to admiration.

“Kimimaro really killed Kaguya alone? Even with the Sage’s power, Sasuke and I could only seal her. He’s incredible!”

Sasuke, however, clenched his fists in frustration, his shock mingling with anger and fear.

“Damn it! He’s gotten even stronger. If he can kill Kaguya alone, there’s no way I can defeat him now. Naruto won’t help me either.”

Despair crept into Sasuke’s heart. Would he never avenge his brother in this lifetime?

---

“We should leave and lift the Infinite Tsukuyomi. No need to keep everyone waiting,” Kimimaro said, indifferent to their reactions.

Naruto readily agreed, but Sasuke interrupted, “Wait.”

Kimimaro turned back, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

“What’s this? Do you want to settle things with me here?”

Kimimaro had already seen through Sasuke’s intentions.

The battle lust and killing intent in Sasuke’s eyes were unmistakable.

Though Sasuke knew he wasn’t Kimimaro’s match, he couldn’t hold back any longer.

Drawing his Kusanagi blade, Sasuke pointed it at Kimimaro.

“This ends today. Only one of us leaves here alive.”

“Today’s battle will end with only one of us walking away,” said Kimimaro coldly.

“Sasuke!”

Naruto rushed forward to intervene. He knew Sasuke was no match for Kimimaro right now.

If they fought to the death, Sasuke would be the one to fall.

And Naruto couldn’t stand the thought of either of them losing their lives.

“This has nothing to do with you. Get out of my way!”

Sasuke snarled, shoving Naruto aside without hesitation.

Naruto glanced at Sasuke, whose killing intent was palpable, and then at Kimimaro, who stood unwavering. He panicked—this fight could end disastrously.

When he realized Sasuke wasn’t listening, Naruto turned to Kimimaro. “Kimimaro, don’t take this personally. Sasuke’s not thinking straight.”

“Move aside.”

Sasuke shoved Naruto again, then drew the Kusanagi blade, lunging toward Kimimaro.

The blade was as swift as lightning, crackling with blue electricity.

*Chidori Blade!*

Sasuke wasn’t holding back.

“Sasuke!”

Naruto was stunned by Sasuke’s resolve. He didn’t expect him to attack with full force so quickly.

Kimimaro remained still, calmly raising two fingers.

*Clang!*

The crackling Kusanagi blade stopped dead against Kimimaro’s fingertips. The blue lightning sizzled, scattering harmlessly into the air.

“No way!”

Though not Sasuke’s strongest move, it still packed a punch. Yet Kimimaro blocked it effortlessly with just two fingers.

“You’re carrying a lot of hatred for me,” Kimimaro remarked, his tone indifferent.

He had grown so much stronger that Sasuke no longer posed a threat.

“Hatred for my brother’s death will never fade!” Sasuke shouted.

Failing his initial strike, he leapt back, activating his Sharingan. Instantly, his *Perfect Susano’o* took shape.

“Sasuke, stop this!” Naruto yelled again, but Sasuke ignored him.

“Naruto, it’s no use. He won’t listen to you now.”

Naruto turned back to Kimimaro. “You’re not seriously planning to kill Sasuke, are you?”

Naruto had come to understand Kimimaro’s nature during their time together. If pushed too far, Kimimaro wouldn’t hesitate to strike Sasuke down.

“If I kill him, would you turn against me?” Kimimaro asked.

“I…” Naruto was at a loss for words.

His bond with Sasuke ran deep. But Kimimaro had also become a trusted ally. Kimimaro had helped him so much—he couldn’t bear to see either of them die.

“I won’t let you kill each other. If possible, I’ll resolve this conflict myself,” Naruto declared after a moment’s thought.

Kimimaro chuckled softly. “I see. Step back, then. I won’t kill him.”

“But—”

“No buts. Sasuke’s too angry to listen to reason. I’ll handle him. Once I’ve beaten him, you can talk some sense into him.”

Kimimaro turned his attention back to Sasuke.

Sasuke was ready, summoning the powerful *Indra’s Arrow*.

Black flames mixed with blue lightning as two arrows appeared on the Susano’o’s bow.

“Take this!”

The twin arrows shot forth, merging in mid-air into a devastating lightning-flame bolt.

Kimimaro observed calmly. “Going all out from the start, huh? You must know you can’t afford a prolonged fight.”

As the deadly attack approached, Kimimaro drew a sword from his body—a gray *Bone Sword*. Unlike his previous weapons, this one emanated pure corrosive energy.

*Shikotsumyaku: Killing Ash Blade.*

Kimimaro thrust his blade forward, meeting the oncoming attack.

The formidable Indra’s Arrow disintegrated upon contact.

Sasuke’s eyes widened in disbelief, but Kimimaro wasn’t finished. His left hand flicked, releasing a volley of gray *Bone Senbon* toward Susano’o.

*Crack!*

The mighty Susano’o began to shatter.

Realizing the danger, Sasuke activated his *Rinnegan*. “Amenotejikara!”

In an instant, Sasuke swapped places with Kimimaro, leaving Kimimaro within the crumbling Susano’o.

“Die by your own technique!” Sasuke thought triumphantly.

Kimimaro, however, calmly dispelled the Bone Senbon and the corrosive energy.

The Susano’o shattered completely, but Kimimaro remained unscathed.

“Even that didn’t work?” Sasuke muttered, his confidence shaken.

He had thrown everything he had, yet Kimimaro emerged unharmed.

“Looks like you’ve run out of tricks,” Kimimaro said quietly.

“Shut up! This ends with one of us dead!”

Sasuke charged again, but Kimimaro vanished in a blur, reappearing beside him.

A precise strike to Sasuke’s stomach sent a shockwave through his body.

*Gentle Fist: Chakra Point Strike.*

Sasuke collapsed, his chakra drained and his body weakened.

“What’s… happening?” Sasuke gasped, struggling in vain.

“Your fight ends here,” Kimimaro said, his voice cold.

---

(End of chapter)