261-265

Chapter 261 

Three of Hiruko’s subordinates were heading down the mountain, while Kimimaro paused his observation of Kakashi.

 “This puppet seal is quite ingenious. I might improve it when I get the chance.”

 With his Byakugan active, Kimimaro had already analyzed most of the puppet techniques. A bit of work back at the base would allow him to replicate them with ease. Speaking of which, the Byakugan was proving to be incredibly useful in this regard—far superior to the Sharingan in specific applications.

 *Each tool has its specialty,* he mused.

 Now, with his enhanced Byakugan incorporating the power of the Sharingan, the dojutsu was undergoing subtle changes. It was evolving.

 At that moment, a towering gate, at least ten meters tall, appeared ahead, completely blocking the path up the mountain. Kakashi, as lifeless as ever, continued walking forward as though the gate didn’t exist. The moment he approached, the gate opened on its own, allowing him through.

 Kimimaro was about to follow when three figures stepped in to block his way. At the same time, the gate shut tightly behind Kakashi.

 “Beyond this gate lies forbidden territory. Lord Hiruko does not welcome you. Leave at once,” said a cold voice. It was a purple-clad ninja, his tone devoid of emotion.

 “Where I go isn’t up to Hiruko to decide. Besides, the three of you combined couldn’t stop me,” Kimimaro replied with equal iciness.

 “How dare you speak so disrespectfully of Lord Hiruko! You deserve death!” The purple ninja’s eyes gleamed with malice as he signaled to his comrades. To him, Kimimaro was as good as a corpse.

 The red-clad kunoichi and the blue-clad ninja immediately unfurled their scrolls and began forming hand signs.

 “Summoning Jutsu!”

 In a flash, two massive summoned creatures appeared: a giant bird and a beast resembling an oversized canine. 

Kimimaro scanned his adversaries and calmly extended his right hand, murmuring, “Hado #31: Shakkaho.”

 A fiery red sphere rapidly coalesced in his palm before launching forward. The flaming orb was small but fierce. The dog-like beast charged straight at it, intending to swat it away. However, the moment its paw made contact with the orb, a massive explosion erupted.

 *BOOM!*

 A thunderous sound echoed through the mountain. The canine let out a pained howl, its paw blasted clean off. 

The three ninjas’ expressions turned grim. The seemingly simple attack had packed devastating power.

 The bird took to the sky, flapping its wings and firing feathers like deadly arrows, intending to turn Kimimaro into a pincushion. Without even looking up, Kimimaro waved his right hand lightly.

 “Bakudo #39: Enkosen.”

 A golden circular shield materialized instantly, deflecting every single feather. Yet the feathers transformed into explosive tags midair and detonated upon contact.

 “Interesting. Let’s see how you handle this,” Kimimaro remarked, his lips curling into a faint smile. He raised his hands and pointed his ten fingers at the trio.

 “Lightning Burst Bone Bullets!”

 White lightning and black runes spiraled around the finger bones he fired like projectiles, hurtling toward his foes. 

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

 Kimimaro’s bone bullets rained down relentlessly, seemingly endless. The trio attempted to defend themselves, but the onslaught was inescapable. Within moments, all three were left gravely injured, their summoned beasts equally battered.

 Satisfied, Kimimaro ceased his assault. His fingertips felt warm, but fortunately, they weren’t smoking.

 “Nothing beats this method of attack,” he muttered to himself before preparing to pursue Kakashi.

 But the purple ninja wasn’t finished. “Wait!” he called out, shakily rising to his feet.

 “You’re still standing? Hiruko must treat his subordinates well,” Kimimaro quipped.

 “Lord Hiruko is the strongest! It is my honor to die for him. I will never let you pass! *Giyaku no Jutsu!*”

 Dragging his wounded body, the purple ninja formed a series of hand seals. As he finished, something bizarre occurred: he placed his hands on the red- and blue-clad ninjas, and the three of them began to merge.

 Not only that, but their summoned beasts also joined the grotesque fusion. In seconds, a massive, monstrous creature stood before Kimimaro.

 “So this is the Giyaku no Jutsu?” Kimimaro activated his Byakugan, observing the process with interest. Merging five entirely different bodies into one was no small feat. Impressive, yes, but he wondered about its combat effectiveness.

 “Let’s test its strength.”

 Kimimaro extended his right hand, summoning a pitch-black bone sword from his palm. With a powerful leap, he launched himself toward the monster.

 “*Meteor Strike!*”

 He brought the bone sword down in a powerful arc. 

 *Slash!*

 The blade cleaved through the monster with ease, splitting it cleanly in half. Kimimaro landed gracefully, his sword untouched by blood.

 “Seems like the durability isn’t great,” he said with a hint of disappointment, retracting his sword and continuing up the path. 

 About three minutes later, a Konoha squad arrived at the scene. Staring at the bisected monstrosity, Yamato and his team stopped to assess the situation.

 “What a powerful strike,” Asuma commented, examining the clean cut. Even his Wind Chakra-enhanced blades couldn’t achieve such precision.

 “This was likely Kimimaro’s work,” Yamato said. “It seems he’s already engaged Hiruko’s subordinates.”

 “What’s he trying to do?” Asuma asked, puzzled.

 “I’m not sure. But judging by the Hokage’s attitude, Kimimaro doesn’t seem to be our enemy this time.”

 Might Guy, however, was growing impatient. “Enough talk! Kakashi’s fate is unknown—we need to move now!”

 The team pressed on. Meanwhile, Kakashi had already reached Hiruko.

 “Kakashi! You’re finally here! I’ve waited so long for this moment!” Hiruko’s eyes were filled with madness and excitement. Years of planning were about to come to fruition, and he could barely contain his anticipation.

 “So, you’re Hiruko?” Kakashi asked, his tone calm but guarded.

 Just as Hiruko was about to lead Kakashi inside, Kimimaro appeared.

 Hiruko froze in shock. He hadn’t sensed Kimimaro’s presence at all.

 “You’re with the Akatsuki?” Hiruko asked, his surprise evident. If Kimimaro was here, his subordinates had clearly been defeated. Though not the strongest, they were capable enough to delay most threats.

 The Akatsuki... truly an enigmatic and dangerous organization.

 Kimimaro smiled faintly and extended his right hand. 

 “Allow me to introduce myself: Kōjin of the Akatsuki—Kimimaro Kaguya.”

 Hiruko was momentarily at a loss, unable to grasp Kimimaro's intentions. But when he saw Kimimaro extend his hand for a handshake, he couldn’t help but feel ecstatic. 

 Without hesitation, he clasped what appeared to be a friendly hand. 

 “Congratulations, visitor! You have successfully taken a photo with the character Hiruko and earned a reward: *Tiger Seal Stone*.”

 **Tiger Seal**: A talisman of balance.  
It grants its bearer the power to harmonize or segregate opposing forces, allowing different energies within their body to coexist seamlessly and merge perfectly.

 Kimimaro raised an eyebrow in surprise.  

 “Not the *Demonic Buds Technique*? This *Tiger Seal* is far more valuable, though. Looks like I’ll still need to pry that technique out of Hiruko’s mouth.”  

 This thought flickered in his mind, but before he could dwell on it, an overwhelming force surged from Hiruko’s right hand.  

 “Dark Release: Absorption Pit!”  

 Hiruko’s eyes flashed with malice as a diamond-shaped mark on his palm erupted with terrifying suction, as if to drain every ounce of chakra from Kimimaro’s body!  

 “Starting big, are we? You want to drain me? Not that easy. Universal Pull!”  

 An equally potent suction force emanated from Kimimaro’s palm.  

 Hiruko was stunned as the chakra he had just absorbed from Kimimaro was forcefully pulled back by another power.  

 This... was unprecedented.  

 “What?!”   

Hiruko’s expression shifted drastically as he felt even his own body being drawn in. He hastily canceled his technique and retreated.  

 Kimimaro didn’t pursue him and calmly released his grip.  

 “What kind of technique is that?” Hiruko asked, his tone heavy with caution.  

 “You wouldn’t understand even if I told you. Let’s get to the point—I’m quite interested in your *Demonic Buds Technique.* How about handing it over for my research?”  

 Kimimaro’s words were direct, but Hiruko wasn’t about to give up his life’s work so easily.  

 “Keep dreaming!”  

 Hiruko flatly refused.  

 “Sigh... So, no deal? Are we really going to have to fight?” Kimimaro asked, feigning helplessness.  

 “You arrogant fool! Don’t think you can defeat me so easily! All you ‘geniuses,’ all you *Kekkei Genkai* wielders—why do you all act so superior?!  

 I developed the *Demonic Buds Technique* to prove that even commoners, even those without innate talent or bloodline limits, can become strong!  

 Today, I will use the *Demonic Buds Technique* to annihilate self-important people like you!”  

 Hiruko, no longer composed, became visibly agitated.  

 In the next instant, he vanished.  

 No, to be precise, he moved at an incredible speed.  

 **Swift Release**: One of the four *Kekkei Genkai* Hiruko had absorbed.  

 Once activated, his speed reached an extreme level.  

 Kimimaro narrowed his eyes as his **Byakugan** emerged, scanning rapidly. It didn’t take long for him to pinpoint Hiruko’s position.  

 *Clang!*  

 **Steel Release**: The second *Kekkei Genkai* Hiruko had absorbed.  

 His fist, imbued with steel-like hardness, hurtled toward Kimimaro’s face at blistering speed.  

 The blow, carrying immense force, was met by a flawless, jade-like palm that intercepted the metal fist with precision.  

 *Clang!*  

 The fist stopped cold.  

 “What?!”  

 Hiruko’s eyes widened in disbelief.  

 Despite his speed and the power of his strike, Kimimaro had effortlessly caught the blow.  

 “It must be a fluke!”  

 Hiruko refused to accept the reality and activated **Swift Release** again, disappearing to search for another opening.  

 But this time, Kimimaro didn’t remain stationary.  

 In a flash, he also disappeared, matching Hiruko’s terrifying speed.  

 “What the…?”  

 Hiruko’s eyes darted wildly, unable to track Kimimaro without the aid of the Byakugan.  

 “I’m here!”  

Kimimaro’s voice sounded right by his ear, startling Hiruko.  

 Too late.  

 *Boom!*  

 A powerful punch struck Hiruko square in the back, bending his body into an arc and sending him flying into a massive boulder.  

 *Crash!*  

 Amid the debris, Hiruko’s chakra fluctuated wildly, causing his puppet technique to falter.  

 The once-dazed Kakashi regained his senses.  

“I’m... alive?”  

Realizing he had survived, Kakashi quickly surveyed the situation.  

“Kimimaro!”  

 He was surprised to see him.  

 “Yo, Kakashi. Long time no see. You always seem a bit worse for wear when we meet.”  

 Kimimaro’s tone was light, almost teasing.  

 Kakashi ignored the jab, turning his focus to Hiruko, who was climbing out of the rubble, seething with anger. His clothes were in tatters, and his eyes burned with murderous intent.  

 “You bastard! I’ll kill you!”  

 From the situation, Kakashi deduced that Kimimaro was fighting Hiruko.  

 “You’re here to deal with Hiruko?”  

 “More or less,” Kimimaro replied casually.  

 “Then let’s deal with him together.”  

 Lightning crackled in Kakashi’s hand as he prepared his **Chidori.**  

 Kimimaro waved him off.  

 “One measly Hiruko is enough for me. You just watch. Maybe write an 800-word review afterward if you’re feeling inspired.”  

 Kakashi: “???”  

 Kimimaro moved again.  

 **Shunpo!**  

 He closed the gap in an instant, his punch aimed straight for Hiruko.  

 Hiruko barely managed to evade using **Swift Release**, pulling away just in time.  

 *Boom!*  

 Kimimaro’s punch shattered the ground, scattering debris everywhere.  

 Hiruko took the opportunity to aim his **Dark Release: Absorption Pit** at Kakashi.  

 The *Chidori* in Kakashi’s hand was sucked away into Hiruko’s grasp.  

 “What?!”  

 Kakashi was shocked to see his jutsu absorbed.  

 Hiruko’s speed surged once more as he used the stolen lightning chakra to amplify himself, appearing beside Kimimaro in an instant.  

 With a blue flash of lightning, Hiruko’s right hand became a deadly blade, thrusting at Kimimaro.   **Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!**  

 Kimimaro’s hair elongated and hardened into a protective shell, neutralizing the lightning attack.   

“This… Jiraiya’s technique?”  

 Hiruko recognized the jutsu immediately, his shock evident.  

 Taking advantage of Hiruko’s momentary distraction, Kimimaro formed another seal.  

 “**Ten Thousand Hair Needles!**”  

 The hardened white hair transformed into countless sharp needles, shooting toward Hiruko at point-blank range.   

“No!”   

Hiruko couldn’t evade in time.  

 “Argh!”   

A bloodcurdling scream echoed as Hiruko was pierced through, his body resembling a white porcupine.  

 Blood seeped from his wounds, staining the ground.

Chapter 262

Kimimaro's jutsu is incredibly versatile, leaving his opponents overwhelmed and unable to predict his next move.

It’s said that the Third Hokage and Kakashi Hatake have mastered over a thousand jutsu. Whether that's true or not, Kimimaro isn’t sure, but he himself currently wields no fewer than a hundred techniques.

He had even mastered techniques of Jiraiya, having replicated them with his Byakugan’s Mirror Force. Though his regular Needle Senbon lacks the power of Sage Jiraiya's version, when infused with Wind Chakra, its sharpness increases dramatically.

Even Hiruko, with his Steel Release defense, found himself impaled like a porcupine. Yet these were mere superficial injuries and not enough to defeat him outright.

Still, Hiruko was deeply shocked to see Kimimaro using Jiraiya’s jutsu.

He had never heard of Jiraiya taking another apprentice.

If not a student, then how did Kimimaro know Jiraiya’s signature techniques?

Kakashi was equally stunned.

He, too, recognized Jiraiya’s hallmark jutsu.

"What exactly is Kimimaro’s connection to Konoha? Lady Tsunade clearly favors him, and now he’s wielding jutsu that Jiraiya-sama never taught to anyone… What’s going on?"

Even someone as sharp as Kakashi was at a loss.

Could Kimimaro be a spy planted by Konoha’s upper echelons?

But why would someone from Kirigakure, raised in Otogakure, become a mole for Konoha?

And if that wasn’t the case, how else could Kimimaro explain these jutsu?

Before Kakashi could think further, Kimimaro launched another attack.

"Hidden Shadow Bone Snakes!"

Kimimaro stretched out his right hand, and from his sleeve flew several bone snakes, which coiled tightly around Hiruko, still bristling with Needle Senbon.

A binding jutsu, inspired by Orochimaru’s Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.

However, without a summoning contract with the Ryūchi Cave, Kimimaro couldn’t use real snakes, so he mimicked the move with his Shikotsumyaku.

Thus, he developed this technique—a powerful restraining ability.

Hiruko was stunned once more.

"This… This is Orochimaru’s technique? Who are you, really?"

Having already demonstrated signature moves from two of the legendary Sannin, Kimimaro had thoroughly piqued Hiruko’s curiosity.

But Kimimaro had no intention of answering.

He clenched his right hand into a fist, and the bone snakes tightened their grip.

Hiruko felt as though his entire skeleton might be crushed.

Constriction!

A hallmark of serpentine combat.

Feeling the immense pressure from the bone snakes, Hiruko dared not waste another moment. He gathered chakra and pushed his Steel Release to its peak.

In an instant, Hiruko’s body transformed entirely into metal.

Though incredibly hard, even metal would eventually break under such pressure. However, its sharp properties could turn the tables on the binding technique.

Crack!

Hiruko's bladed hand cleaved through the bone snakes, turning the constriction force into a cutting force, freeing himself.

Swift Release activated!

Hiruko pulled back, forming hand seals with lightning speed.

"Storm Release: Thundercloud Void!"

Above, storm clouds began to gather rapidly.

Kimimaro glanced up, seemingly unperturbed, but intrigued by Hiruko’s Bloodline Limit combination.

"As expected of Hiruko’s hand-picked Kekkei Genkai. Swift Release for speed, Steel Release for offense and defense, Dark Release for chakra absorption, and now Storm Release for superior lightning power. Add Sharingan to the mix, and it’s nearly perfect."

The ninja world boasts countless Kekkei Genkai, and Hiruko had chosen five with clear synergy. If he could fully integrate them, his strength would become terrifying.

He wouldn’t be invincible, but he could stand at the gate of Kage-level might.

Currently, however, he was just a troublesome elite jonin.

Of these, Dark Release posed the greatest challenge.

Its ability to absorb chakra made it particularly vexing.

But many before Hiruko had wielded similar abilities, from genin to Otsutsuki-tier fighters.

Kimimaro had long understood how to counter such techniques.

The solution was simple: use non-chakra-based attacks.

For example, Needle Senbon or Needle Jizo jutsu, which relied on physical elements, or Earth Release, which was harder to absorb.

Conversely, Lightning, Wind, and Fire Release were easily neutralized by chakra absorption.

Hence, Kimimaro avoided them when fighting Hiruko.

Even his favorite Ghost Path techniques were of little use.

The storm clouds thickened, and streaks of blue lightning began striking down in a wide radius.

But this was only the prelude.

Hiruko formed another set of seals.

"Storm Release Secret Technique: Storm Demon Dragon!"

The storm clouds swelled, and the crackling lightning within grew more ferocious.

Once Hiruko gave the final command, the full force of the storm would descend.

"A technique similar to Kirin?" Kimimaro murmured, his eyes gleaming as his Byakugan tracked the flow of lightning within the storm.

"Watch out!" Kakashi shouted.

Kimimaro merely smiled, showing no concern for the impending lightning onslaught.

He turned to the frantically sealing Hiruko and said calmly, "Do you know what it means to be hoisted by your own petard?"

"What?" Hiruko was puzzled, but Kimimaro quickly made him understand.

Kimimaro raised his right hand, crackling with lightning.

A bolt shot from his hand and struck the storm clouds.

In that moment, Kimimaro established a connection with the storm.

Hiruko suddenly felt his control over the storm slipping away.

"What’s happening?"

His jutsu was now out of his grasp, leaving him bewildered.

Then came Kimimaro’s cold voice.

"Lightning Style: Kirin."

The principles of Kirin weren’t complex. With sufficient mastery of Lightning Release and the ability to read lightning flows, anyone could replicate it.

Kimimaro had observed it twice and possessed both prerequisites, making it easy to reproduce.

A colossal thunder beast emerged from the storm, roaring with terrifying power.

Its presence eclipsed even the Kirin Sasuke had once unleashed.

The terrifying momentum that had unfolded was all thanks to the two techniques just performed by Hiryūko.

Those two Storm Release techniques gathered massive thunderclouds, allowing the Kirin to unleash unprecedented power.

With a wave of Kimimaro's right hand, the Kirin descended in an instant!

“No!”

Hiryūko was shocked and hastily activated the Void Release absorption hole in his palm.

But the Kirin's speed and power were overwhelming; even Void Release couldn't absorb it all in time.

*Boom!*

A deafening explosion shook the air as smoke and dust rose.

A massive crater formed where Hiryūko stood, surrounded by scorched earth.

Kakashi was dumbfounded at the sight.

"Is this... a ninjutsu technique?"

Witnessing such a Lightning Release move, Kakashi knew he'd likely be haunted by it every time he thought of Lightning Release techniques in the future.

As the wind dispersed the dust, Hiryūko lay at the center of the crater, barely clinging to life.

Though not dead, his body suffered extensive burns. Without miraculous medical ninjutsu or a forbidden jutsu to replace his body, his life as a ninja was over.

"This is what they call poetic justice," Kimimaro quipped.

By then, Yamato, Guy, and Asuma had also arrived.

They had seen the terrifying descent of the Kirin from afar and were equally stunned.

But seeing that Kakashi was alive, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

"Kakashi! I'm so glad you're okay!" Guy exclaimed in excitement.

When Tsunade had told them Kakashi might have to risk his life to kill Hiryūko, Guy had been deeply worried.

He had rushed over with all his might, fearing they’d arrive too late.

Fortunately, they made it in time, and Kakashi was still alive.

"I'm fine, just a little... shaken," Kakashi said with a wry smile, even finding room for a joke.

But his words carried some truth.

After witnessing the Kirin, he doubted he’d ever see another Lightning Release technique that could compare.

Kimimaro moved to Hiryūko's side.

*“Summoning Jutsu!”*

With a series of hand signs, he summoned the Golden Sword Lion Beast.

“Time to work,” he said.

The beast rolled its eyes at him. "You’ve been calling me out just to do grunt work lately, haven’t you?”

“Haha, better this than risking your life, right?”

“I was born for battle, not to be your mode of transportation!”

The Golden Sword Lion Beast grumbled in dissatisfaction.

“Alright, alright, next time I’ll call you out to fight, not just for a ride,” Kimimaro promised.

“Hmph!”

Though annoyed, the Golden Sword Lion Beast merely snorted, grabbed Hiryūko with its jaws, tossed him into the air, and caught him on its back with practiced ease.

Kimimaro then turned to Kakashi and the others.

“Well, I’ll be taking my leave.”

Without waiting for a response, he hopped onto the Golden Sword Lion Beast, and they quickly departed.

Asuma wanted to give chase, but Kakashi stopped him.

“Forget it. We can’t stop him.”

“We’re four elites; you think we can’t?” Asuma protested.

“Take a look around,” Kakashi said, gesturing to the scene of destruction. “If he uses another technique of that scale, can we survive?”

“This…” Asuma fell silent.

“Let’s return to the Hokage and report. Hiryūko’s plan has failed—that’s already good news. As for Kimimaro, let the Hokage decide. For now, we keep this quiet.”

After that intense battle, Kakashi suspected there was some hidden agreement between Kimimaro and Konoha’s higher-ups. The fewer people who knew, the better.

Kakashi led the group back to Konoha, while Kimimaro returned to the Hidden Sound Village with Hiryūko.

To extract the secrets of the Chimera Technique from Hiryūko, ordinary means wouldn’t suffice.

But the Sound Village had no shortage of unconventional methods.

Kimimaro handed Hiryūko over to the intelligence division.

“You have ten days. The next time I come back, I want every secret of the Chimera Technique extracted from him.”

“Rest assured, Lord Kimimaro,” the intelligence chief, a member of the Yamanaka clan recruited by Orochimaru, said with a grin. “You’ll have what you need in five days.”

Orochimaru was, after all, the greatest talent recruiter in the ninja world.

“Good. Don’t disappoint me.”

Satisfied with the response, Kimimaro prepared to leave.

With only half a month until Jiraiya and Pain’s rendezvous in the Hidden Rain Village, he needed to make a trip to the moon before then, leaving him little time.

As he was about to depart, he encountered someone unexpected—familiar, yet strange.

“...Kabuto?”

Kimimaro’s eyes narrowed at the sight of Kabuto, now shrouded in layers of secrecy.

“Ah, Kimimaro,” Kabuto greeted with a cold chuckle, lifting his gaze.

“You… what is this?”

Kimimaro’s surprise grew as he noticed Kabuto’s face covered in white serpent scales, radiating a chilling aura even more ominous than Orochimaru’s.

“You transplanted Orochimaru-sama’s cells?”

“As expected of you, Kimimaro. Yes, I’ve borrowed some of Orochimaru-sama’s cells. After his last body-shedding, the leftovers were useless to him, so I took them for myself.”

Kabuto’s tone grew fervent. “What do you think? Impressive, right? I feel as if I’ve become one with Orochimaru-sama. Soon, I’ll even master Sage Mode, something Orochimaru-sama couldn’t achieve. Then, I’ll surpass him and become the ultimate being. From now on, call me… Oro-Kabuto!”

Kimimaro placed a hand on Kabuto’s shoulder, his expression serious.

“Power is important, but don’t lose sight of who you are. Otherwise, it will become your greatest weakness.

Remember, your name is Yakushi Kabuto. Orochimaru already has his own legacy. You are Yakushi Kabuto, and you will always be Yakushi Kabuto.”

After imparting these words, Kimimaro left, leaving Kabuto standing in place.

“Yakushi Kabuto… I am Yakushi Kabuto?”

The fanaticism in Kabuto’s eyes faded into confusion, then clarity.

“Thank you.”

Chapter 263

Kimimaro stepped out of the Hidden Sound Village, the powerful ocular energy in his eyes gradually dissipating.

"Speaking under the influence of genjutsu really does make things more convincing. Maybe I should study the art of Talk no Jutsu someday," he muttered to himself.

After these musings, Kimimaro pulled out a map he had obtained from Hiashi Hyuga.

"This location isn't exactly close. Even at my speed, it'll take about a day to get there. A life of endless toil," he sighed, before fixing his direction and dashing forward.

As he sprinted, Kimimaro reviewed his recent gains. Watching the battle between Itachi and Sasuke had been fruitful. Beyond acquiring the Mangekyo Sharingan’s ocular powers, he had also received a reward from the system's event photo.

This time, the reward was quite the set.

A fire-based deluxe package:

- *Hado #12: Fushibi* – A web of flames formed using chakra to trap enemies.

- *Hado #31: Shakkahō* – A concentrated ball of flame, roughly the size of a Rasengan, launched from the palm.

- *Hado #33: Sōkatsui* – Azure flames unleashed from a blade.

- *Hado #73: Sōren Sōkatsui* – A powerful dual version of Sōkatsui.

While the first three weren’t particularly overwhelming in power, the last one was quite formidable. It was the first time Kimimaro had received such an extensive reward in a single event.

Yet, he wasn’t overly thrilled. At his current level, such techniques were merely icing on the cake. Only exceptionally powerful abilities could excite him now.

In fact, he found more joy in the Tiger Talisman’s potential than in this bundle of fire techniques. Kimimaro retrieved the Tiger Talisman from his pouch.

The emblem on the talisman looked peculiar, as if it could split in half.

"A tool to balance all internal powers. This is a real treasure. If it helps me harmonize the Kekkai Genkai of Shikotsumyaku and Byakugan, I won’t have to worry about the backlash of Bloodline Limits, no matter how recklessly I push myself. If the fusion goes well, my Shikotsumyaku could grow even stronger."

He contemplated the evolution of Shikotsumyaku toward All-Killing Ash Bones but lacked a concrete path. For now, all he could do was elevate his Bloodline Limits. However, he was nearing the saturation point. Even his extraordinary talent had limits.

Kimimaro was beginning to feel those limits and knew he needed external forces to break through. The Tenseigan on the moon was one such possibility.

Still, he wasn’t sure if this method would succeed. The Tiger Talisman offered another potential solution, which he couldn’t ignore.

"But using this talisman requires caution. If it splits me into two people, that’d be a headache. To avoid such a scenario, I’ll take an extreme approach."

With that thought, he made his decision. Without hesitation, Kimimaro tossed the Tiger Talisman into the air and swallowed it whole.

Anyone witnessing this might think he had a death wish. Yet, Kimimaro simply swallowed the talisman and wiped his mouth with satisfaction.

"After following Orochimaru for so long, I guess I’ve picked up some of his eccentric habits," he chuckled at himself. Sitting cross-legged, he began to feel the talisman’s effects.

For now, it emitted only a faint warmth. No significant changes yet.

"Looks like its potential needs time to develop," he thought.

Suddenly, he felt the power of the Byakugan stirring within him.

"What’s this…?"

Before he could react, the Shikotsumyaku's energy also began to surge. Byakugan represented Yin, while Shikotsumyaku represented Yang. The two forces clashed furiously within him.

Kimimaro furrowed his brow. Surprisingly, the violent collision caused no discomfort, only a warm sensation spreading through his body.

"This… feels strange," he thought, sensing the two energies slowly beginning to merge. The process was gradual, but one thing was clear: Shikotsumyaku’s power far outweighed the Byakugan’s. Even with the boost from the Sharingan’s power, the Byakugan still lagged.

"If this continues, the fusion will likely stall halfway," he mused. "The Byakugan’s Bloodline Limit isn’t strong enough. Even after copying the Hyuga clan's best, it still pales in comparison to my Shikotsumyaku.

"My Shikotsumyaku is so strong that even I struggle to contain it. Hinata’s Byakugan, though pure, hasn’t reached that level.

"To achieve balance, I need to elevate the Byakugan further. This journey to the moon is becoming more necessary."

Resolving himself, Kimimaro stood up and continued toward his destination. The talisman’s fusion wouldn’t hinder his actions.

Meanwhile, on the moon…

Ōtsutsuki Toneri gazed toward Earth. As the strongest heir of the Ōtsutsuki clan, Toneri was born without eyes. His exceptional talent came at a price, similar to Kimimaro’s plight with the toxic toll of the All-Killing Ash Bones.

Without the Ōtsutsuki's critical Bloodline Limit, the Byakugan, Toneri had survived. Yet, with the right Byakugan, he could evolve it into the Tenseigan—a testament to his fearsome potential.

"The Shinobi world seems to be spiraling into chaos," Toneri murmured.

Decades ago, the Gedo Statue sealed on the moon vanished. The Ōtsutsuki knew then that someone in the Shinobi world had awakened the Rinnegan, the only power capable of summoning the statue.

Toneri’s father had visited Earth multiple times to investigate but never found the wielder. On one such trip, he brought Toneri along.

It was then that Toneri "saw" Hinata Hyuga, the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan.

From that moment, Toneri developed feelings for her. Now, as the leader of the Ōtsutsuki, he upheld the clan’s ancient mission, passed down by Hamura Ōtsutsuki.

"If things continue this way, it may be time to initiate the plan—to destroy the Shinobi world and bring about a new one."

For the first time, Toneri felt a ripple of anticipation. His once tranquil life was on the verge of change.

Chapter 264

"Is this really the moon?"

Kimimaro stepped out of the space portal and found himself standing on the moon.

At first glance, it was even more desolate than the deserts of the Land of Wind.

"Living in a place like this... The descendants of Hamura Ōtsutsuki must have had a rough time."

If Kimimaro had to spend his entire life here, he wouldn't want to. Such an existence, even with eternal life, held little meaning for him.

He preferred to see diverse landscapes and meet different people rather than being confined to one place—especially one as barren as this.

After musing for a moment, he turned to glance back at the space portal and murmured, "This space portal is fascinating. Traveling from the shinobi world to the moon takes only an instant. Imagine using such technology to develop the economy."

Spatial teleportation, regardless of the location, held immense value.

In fact, it wasn’t entirely impossible to achieve even in the shinobi world. Although few could master space-time ninjutsu, it wasn't unheard of.

If the Flying Thunder God Technique could be widely implemented, it would greatly benefit the entire shinobi world. Of course, teaching everyone the Flying Thunder God Technique was unlikely, but if someone could incorporate its principles into a teleportation array, the idea could become a reality.

Unfortunately, few would think about such things—not just because it was a massive project, but also because the benefits weren’t enticing enough for those skilled in space-time ninjutsu.

Shaking his head to dismiss his wandering thoughts, Kimimaro activated his Byakugan to explore this smaller-than-Earth moon.

With a five-kilometer range, his Byakugan revealed much.

This space portal was likely built by Hamura Ōtsutsuki long ago.

Thus, the portal's location wouldn't be far from the Ōtsutsuki clan's base.

Soon, Kimimaro spotted a massive structure.

On this bare moon, the building stood out like a sore thumb.

"That's the place."

Withdrawing the power of his Byakugan, Kimimaro began moving toward the structure.

At the same time, Toneri turned toward Kimimaro's direction.

"That ocular power... Is it the Byakugan?"

Although Toneri was born without eyes—let alone the Byakugan—his other abilities were far from weak, especially his sensory skills.

He clearly felt a gaze of Byakugan energy directed at him.

"What incredible ocular power. I’ve never encountered anything like this. Even the Hyūga clan leader I met in Konoha years ago couldn’t compare—far from it, in fact."

Talking to himself, Toneri became intrigued by the source of this power.

"Has someone from the Hyūga clan come to the moon?"

This thought surprised him.

The Hyūga clan knew the entrance to the moon, but they would never set foot here unless absolutely necessary.

Curious, Toneri extended his sensory abilities to the limit, trying to pinpoint Kimimaro’s location.

After Kimimaro’s Byakugan power receded, Toneri could no longer sense him directly.

Now, he relied solely on his own abilities to find this mysterious person.

"Not far away and moving closer?"

Toneri moved swiftly to intercept Kimimaro.

Soon, the two met face to face.

"A guest from afar. But to barge in like this—don’t you think it’s a bit improper?"

Toneri’s tone was icy, devoid of much emotion.

Kimimaro looked up at Toneri standing above and showed little surprise.

"It is a bit abrupt, I admit."

"Who are you? A Hyūga? No... You also possess the power of the Shikotsumyaku."

Toneri frowned, puzzled.

How could these two powers coexist in one person?

The Hyūga and Kaguya clans had separated long ago. When they split, the Byakugan and Shikotsumyaku powers were also divided.

Awakening both powers simultaneously should have been impossible.

Could it be an eye transplant?

Toneri quickly dismissed this idea.

Kimimaro’s Byakugan showed no signs of transplantation or backlash—it appeared as natural as if it had grown on him.

This led to one highly improbable conclusion: atavism.

Such an occurrence was incredibly rare, but it was the only explanation that made sense.

Little did Toneri know, "cheats" existed in this world.

"Kaguya Kimimaro," Kimimaro said, revealing his name without hesitation.

Toneri's frown deepened.

Though both descended from Hamura Ōtsutsuki, the Hyūga were far more respected than the Kaguya clan.

This was partly because the Ōtsutsuki valued the Byakugan more than the Shikotsumyaku, and partly because the Kaguya clan’s lack of intelligence led the Ōtsutsuki to sever ties.

As a result, the Kaguya clan had no knowledge of the Ōtsutsuki presence on the moon.

If they didn’t know, why was this person here?

"Why has a member of the Kaguya clan come here?" Toneri asked.

Kimimaro’s brow furrowed slightly, annoyed by Toneri's attitude.

Whether intentional or not, the white-robed boy gave off an air of arrogance that was deeply irritating.

"I came because I wanted to," Kimimaro replied.

"Hmm? Some places aren’t for you to simply visit. As a cast-off of the Ōtsutsuki clan, you have no right to set foot here."

Toneri's cold words carried a haughty disdain.

"This world is vast, and there’s nowhere I cannot go. You have no right to make me leave."

Kimimaro had come with one goal: to claim the Ōtsutsuki’s Tenseigan.

This meant he and Toneri were destined to be enemies.

After all, Toneri would never hand over his clan’s enormous golden Tenseigan to Kimimaro.

Kimimaro was here to take it by force.

"Hmph, as expected of Kaguya’s descendants—so foolish! Since you’re here, you can stay here forever!"

With a cold snort, Toneri waved his hand, and countless stone warriors rose from the ground, surrounding Kimimaro.

Kimimaro’s sharp gaze scanned the stone warriors, observing their every movement.

To command such a massive army of stone warriors in an instant, Toneri’s strength was indeed formidable.

Even without the Tenseigan, he was no ordinary opponent.

"Attack!"

At Toneri's command, the stone warriors charged.

Kimimaro raised his hands, and countless finger bones shot out from his fingertips!

Rat-tat-tat!  

The sound of rapid fire filled the air.

Each bone pierced a stone warrior’s head, exploding upon impact.

Headshots. One after another.

Fragments of shattered stone rained down, scattering across the ground.

Kimimaro moved like a relentless war machine, tearing through the stone army with cold precision.

A one-man army, exuding an overwhelming aura that could block thousands.

No matter how many stone warriors came, they were nothing more than targets for him.

The expression on Toneri face shifted slightly.

“The Shikotsumyaku can be used this way?”

The Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets was a signature technique of the Shikotsumyaku. Toneriwas naturally familiar with it.

But the sheer scale of this Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets was beyond anything he had ever imagined, even in his dreams.

In an instant, the army of stone giants was utterly annihilated, reduced to a field of rubble.

Kimimaro flicked his slightly heated fingers and glanced at Toneri.

“Is this all you’ve got? If so, you won’t be able to stop me.”

Facing Kimimaro’s taunt, the surprise on Toneri face gradually faded.

“It seems there’s a reason you’ve made it this far. Speak. What are you here for?”

Although Kimimaro’s power surprised Toneri, it wasn’t enough to make him back down.

He was merely curious about what Kimimaro was planning to do on the moon.

“I heard that there is a Tenseigan here on the moon. I’m very interested in it.”

At these words, anger surged across Toneri face.

“Overestimating yourself!”

Kimimaro paid no mind to Toneri attitude. Instead, he pointed to a structure not far away.

“If I’m not mistaken, the Tenseigan should be right over there.”

In the vision of his Byakugan, the golden, massive Tenseigan shone as brightly as a candle in the darkness.

“Yes, it’s there. But you won’t live to see it.”

Toneri clasped his hands together. In the next moment, an enormous statue emerged from the ground!

A powerful aura descended!

The statue bore a striking resemblance to Ōtsutsuki Hamura.

Kimimaro’s expression shifted slightly.

“What immense chakra... This isn’t just Toneri power. Could it be a safeguard left by Ōtsutsuki Hamura?”

Ōtsutsuki Hamura’s techniques were undoubtedly formidable, but the strength of a jutsu depended on the user.

Toneri wasn’t weak, but he wasn’t overwhelmingly powerful either.

If Toneri had the Tenseigan, Kimimaro wouldn’t stand a chance.

But the current Toneri didn’t have the strength to force Kimimaro to retreat.

The colossal statue let out a roar that sounded almost inhuman. Above, countless floating stones appeared in the sky.

In the next instant, these stones rained down like a storm.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

Wherever the stones landed, deep craters formed.

It was an indiscriminate, large-scale attack.

Kimimaro activated Shunpo and continuously dodged.

But with such a wide attack range, even he couldn’t avoid all the falling stones.

“Back to giant mechas again, huh? Perfect time to test that new move,” Kimimaro muttered under his breath.

The Crest of Courage reappeared on the back of Kimimaro’s hand, and at the same time, his eyes released terrifying ocular power.

“Wargreymon!”

White bones surged from within Kimimaro, forming Wargreymon’s skeletal structure.

Red and gold energy then enveloped it, shaping Wargreymon in its entirety.

The energy-formed Wargreymon now matched the colossal statue in size.

*Roar!*

The sound wave from its roar instantly pulverized the falling stones.

Kimimaro stood atop Wargreymon’s head.

Using the Mangekyō Sharingan he inherited from Itachi, Kimimaro enhanced his “mecha technique” once again.

Previously, he could only form partial projections of Wargreymon. Now, using the powers of Susanoo as a foundation, he could create a solid form akin to Susanoo itself.

It wasn’t perfect yet.

But the aura Wargreymon emitted now surpassed that of Hamura’s statue.

Its mere roar held destructive power capable of nullifying the statue’s attacks.

Seeing this, Toneri composure faltered.

The emergence of Wargreymon filled him with a sense of danger.

“It seems you’re not just any ordinary person. But even so, anyone who dares seek the Tenseigan must die!”

Toneri moved, appearing atop the statue’s head in an instant.

The statue seemed to gain a soul, its eyes glowing brightly as its aura intensified.

“Many have tried to kill me, but they all failed. You will be no different,” Kimimaro replied.

His white eyes took on a sinister crimson hue, and blood tears streaked down his face.

“This technique really takes a toll... I didn’t expect the burden to be this heavy,” Kimimaro thought, sensing the strain.

“But once I consume the Tenseigan’s ocular power, this problem will disappear.”

Like the Mangekyō Sharingan, strengthening the ocular power would eliminate drawbacks such as Susanoo’s strain.

Kimimaro’s eyes burned with fervor at the thought.

The Tenseigan was within reach.

As long as he defeated the obstacle in front of him, the Tenseigan would be his.

Although Toneri couldn’t see, he perceived Kimimaro’s blood tears in another way.

“It seems your technique isn’t without cost. I’d like to see how long you can hold out!” Toneri remarked.

The statue attacked!

Despite its massive size, it moved with surprising agility.

In the blink of an eye, it reached Wargreymon and threw a punch.

A sonic boom reverberated through the air, a testament to its power.

Kimimaro didn’t dodge. Wargreymon raised its arms, crossing them to block.

*Clang!*

The punch forced Wargreymon back, carving two hundred-meter-long trenches in the ground.

“Impressive strength,” Kimimaro commented, further enraging Toneri .

Toneri clasped his hands together and shouted, “Meteor Shower!”

Nearby meteors rapidly approached, drawn in by the statue’s power.

Under Toneri control, countless meteors hurtled toward Kimimaro and Wargreymon.

The meteors rained down relentlessly.

“This level of power... truly remarkable,” Kimimaro murmured.

Suddenly, a sharp pain surged through his eyes, and he clutched his right eye.

“There’s no time to waste. Let’s end this with one final strike.”

Sensing Kimimaro’s resolve, Wargreymon’s eyes glowed green.

Raising its hands, it began gathering an immense amount of energy.

Golden energy swirled, forming a massive sphere.

“Gaia Force!”

With a low shout, Kimimaro unleashed the Gaia Force.

The meteors disintegrated upon contact with the golden energy sphere.

The Gaia Force didn’t stop there, hurtling toward Toneri and the statue with unstoppable momentum.

Chapter 265

Faced with such a powerful energy sphere, Shiren was clearly unprepared.

In that instant, he felt the chilling grip of death.

The stone statue extended its massive hands, attempting to catch the Gaia Energy Cannon.

But such overwhelming power was far from something that could be easily intercepted.

The moment the colossal stone hands made contact, they disintegrated into fine powder instantly.

The golden energy sphere shone as brightly as the sun.

Unsurprisingly, the stone statue shattered!

A flash of white light erupted, sending clouds of dust into the air.

For a moment, the entire moon trembled violently.

Even Kimi’s Battle Greymon form dissipated in that moment, leaving only Kimi himself, fatigued and slumping to the ground.

“Phew… wielding this kind of power is as exhausting as I expected. The chakra depletion is manageable, but the toll on my ocular powers… it’s astonishing.”

Though Kimi’s Byakugan far surpassed the capabilities of a typical one, it was still just a Byakugan.

After devouring Shisui’s and Itachi’s eyes, Kimi had thought he could easily perform this technique to offset the limitations of his Byakugan.

But clearly, even three Mangekyō Sharingan were insufficient.

“The cost is high, but the power is equally astounding. With this move, I am invincible to anyone below Six Paths-level.”

Kimi’s current strength was likely on par with an Edo Tensei Madara Uchiha.

But achieving total victory was another story.

He lacked a pair of supreme eyes.

No matter how exceptional the Mangekyō Sharingan’s ocular power was, it could not compare to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan or the Rinnegan.

It was a difference of class.

Kimi took a deep breath and turned his gaze to the distance.

There, the golden Tenseigan awaited to fill the gap in his power.

A great battle loomed.

To prepare for the unknown challenges ahead, Kimi needed a pair of ultimate eyes.

Initially, he had intended to awaken the Tenseigan through the power of Yin-Yang Release, but after years of effort, he had yet to fully master it.

Time was running out.

Besides, there was no guarantee that mastering Yin-Yang Release would truly awaken the Tenseigan.

Thus, once Kimi felt strong enough to seize the Tenseigan from the moon, he had come.

The experiment had proven that while Shiren was formidable, he was far from Six Paths-level.

In fact, he was significantly lacking.

So this battle ended in Kimi’s victory.

As the dust settled, a deep crater emerged in the ground—evidence of the Gaia Energy Cannon’s devastating impact.

At the center of the crater, Shiren lay in a battered and humiliating state.

His breathing was weak, but he clung to life.

After all, as a pure-blooded member of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, his vitality was extraordinary.

“This… how is this possible…”

Shiren could scarcely believe it.

Even with the power of his ancestor Hamura Ōtsutsuki, he had failed to defeat this Kaguya Clan warrior from the ninja world.

A clan of savages obsessed with physical strength—how could they be this powerful?

He couldn’t comprehend it, much less accept it.

Kimi now stood before him.

“Your life force is truly impressive.”

Even though Kimi had not pushed his Battle Greymon mode to its peak, the Gaia Energy Cannon was no trivial attack.

For Shiren to survive it head-on, his life force was indeed remarkable.

Kimi doubted he could do the same under similar conditions.

Shiren had little strength left to speak. An idea suddenly formed in Kimi’s mind.

“Such a fine body… it’d be a shame to let it go to waste.”

A faint smile tugged at Kimi’s lips. Raising his right hand, he concentrated chakra into his fingers, forming a sword-like point, which he pressed against Shiren’s forehead.

Instantly, a powerful binding force surged into Shiren’s consciousness.

This was Kimi’s newly developed Puppet Curse Seal!

The original curse seal, created by Hiruko, had proven capable of controlling even Kakashi, a Mangekyō Sharingan wielder.

Kimi’s modified version integrated ocular power to further enhance its potency.

This upgraded Puppet Curse Seal was perfect for controlling Shiren.

With Kimi’s strength, he had no fear of Shiren turning against him.

A red glow appeared, forming matching crimson markings on both Kimi’s and Shiren’s foreheads.

The mark resembled a crimson eye, glowing briefly before vanishing.

The Puppet Curse Seal was complete!

Kimi had gained full control over Shiren’s body and mind.

“Not bad at all.”

Kimi was thoroughly satisfied with the results.

While the Puppet Curse Seal was convenient, it wasn’t something to be used recklessly.

The more people he controlled, the greater the mental strain on Kimi himself.

If it hindered his own mental capacity, it would be counterproductive.

For now, one puppet was enough.

A green chakra glow enveloped Kimi’s hand as he began healing Shiren’s injuries.

Although few members of the Ōtsutsuki Clan remained on the moon, there were still some.

With Shiren leading the way, Kimi could avoid many unnecessary complications.

After a quick treatment, Shiren regained enough strength to move under Kimi’s control.

Shiren then led Kimi toward the chamber housing the golden Tenseigan.

Along the way, they encountered several members of the Ōtsutsuki Clan.

Each time, they merely bowed respectfully to Shiren, not daring to question him.

“So Shiren commands this much respect here,” Kimi thought to himself.

The Ōtsutsuki Clan on the moon was divided into main and branch families.

However, in a twist, the main family had been completely wiped out by the branch family.

Shiren, as the clan leader, was from the branch family.

Soon, Shiren brought Kimi to the chamber where the golden Tenseigan was kept.

Seeing the massive Tenseigan, over dozens of meters in diameter, left Kimi in awe.

“This is… absolutely ridiculous.”

Although he had known the Tenseigan was enormous, seeing it in person was overwhelming.

An eye this large—just how colossal was the original owner?

“What incredible ocular power—far greater than Pain’s Rinnegan.”

Kimi had once faced Pain’s Rinnegan directly.

The strength of its ocular power had left an indelible impression on him.

But compared to this immense Tenseigan, Pain’s Rinnegan was like that of a newborn infant.

“A Tenseigan of this scale, destroyed in the original story… what a waste. Now, it’s mine.”

A smile played on Kimi’s lips as he lightly tapped his foot, propelling himself into the air toward the golden Tenseigan.

The Tenseigan was protected by a sealing technique that would absorb the chakra of anyone lacking Hamura’s bloodline.

But Kimi had no concerns.

If someone like Hinata from the Hyuga Clan could approach it, then Kimi, a direct descendant of Kaguya, certainly could.

Moreover, he possessed Byakugan, making him the closest relative to Hamura in recent times.

Rather than being drained, Kimi felt an inexplicable connection to the golden Tenseigan.

“This feeling… it’s extraordinary.”

Kimimaro murmured softly, then extended his right hand and placed it on the golden Tenseigan.

*Warmth!*

That was the sensation the golden Tenseigan gave Kimimaro.

It felt as though he was basking in gentle sunlight, with warmth flooding his entire body.

"The power of bloodlines truly is extraordinary."  

Kimimaro smiled faintly. As chakra surged within him, the golden flowing cloud mark on his forehead emitted a faint golden glow.

The golden Tenseigan was drawn to this light, and the ocular power within it began to flow slowly into Kimimaro.

Ocular power was increasing.

A brilliant golden radiance burst forth from the golden Tenseigan, enveloping Kimimaro completely.

"What is this?"  

Kimimaro was startled. By the time he regained his composure, he had already been transported into the depths of the golden Tenseigan.

Surrounded on all sides by overwhelming ocular power, it felt like a boundless ocean.

Kimimaro was but a small vessel in this vast sea, far too small to contain it all.

The sheer pressure made him feel as if his body might be crushed into paste.

"This is bad. I need to escape immediately. If I linger here, I won’t just fail to absorb the ocular power—I might be consumed by it instead!"  

Realizing the danger, Kimimaro struggled to break free from the golden Tenseigan.

But escape was far easier said than done.

The ocular power surged like ocean waves, and Kimimaro was a lone boat caught in the storm.

The only way out was to break through the tumultuous waves.

The flowing cloud mark on his forehead transformed into a golden eye, rapidly devouring the ocular power.

Kimimaro tried to use this devouring ability to carve out an escape route.

*Ocular power devoured!*

A gap appeared before him.

Kimimaro rejoiced and prepared to move forward, but just as he took a step, new ocular power rushed in to fill the void.

For the first time, Kimimaro found himself resenting the ocular power he once coveted.

"The method works, but it’s too slow. I need to devour at maximum speed, gain control of the absorbed power, and repeat this process until I escape!"  

Kimimaro realized that the only option was a reckless gamble.

The normal devouring rate of the third eye was insufficient to open an escape route. Only by increasing the devouring speed severalfold could he have a chance.

However, this posed another issue.

Excessive devouring speed would prevent him from fully processing the absorbed power, leaving it without a place to be stored.

If the accumulated ocular power became too much, it could overwhelm his mind, potentially driving him insane.

The risk was immense.

But at this moment, Kimimaro had no choice.

Remaining trapped here meant certain death.

With no hesitation, he took a deep breath and activated the *Seal of Sage Void.*

In an instant, a white mask appeared on his face, covering it entirely.

*Sage Void Mode II!*

Kimimaro unleashed Sage Void Mode II, determined to go all in.

The third eye, the divine eye, opened wide, pushing its devouring ability to the limit.

*Devour!*

Golden ocular power flooded into the divine eye at an alarming rate.

A new gap appeared before him.

Kimimaro seized the opportunity, moving quickly to occupy the cleared space.

The ocular power then rushed to fill his previous location instead.

"It works!"  

Kimimaro’s eyes lit up, and he continued devouring with renewed determination.

At this moment, the divine eye resembled a water reservoir, with the ocular power pouring in like a relentless stream.

As the reservoir reached its limit, Kimimaro had no choice but to transfer the excess power into his Byakugan.

Unlike the divine eye, the Byakugan’s capacity was far inferior.

The moment golden ocular power entered the Byakugan, blood began to seep from it.

*Tears of blood reappeared!*

But Kimimaro did not falter.

This was not a time to retreat—it was a matter of survival.

Although the Byakugan endured immense pressure, there were tangible benefits.

If he could survive this ordeal, his Byakugan might evolve into the Tenseigan.

Despite the excruciating pain in his eyes, Kimimaro continued devouring the ocular power without hesitation.

*One step.*

*Two steps.*

*Three steps.*

Step by step, Kimimaro moved toward the edge of the golden Tenseigan’s core.

The white mask on his face was now drenched in blood, creating a bizarre and eerie sight.

At the same time, two white horns began to grow from the mask, resembling dragon horns.

But Kimimaro was too focused to notice these changes.

It wasn’t just his Byakugan undergoing a transformation—his Sage Void Mode was evolving as well.

This was undoubtedly a life-and-death crisis, but it was also a monumental opportunity.

Even the power of his *Shikotsumyaku* bloodline was beginning to stir.

Unbeknownst to Kimimaro, deep within the moon, a pair of white eyes slowly opened.

"This sensation... is it Hamura? No, the power is weaker than his."  

The voice was hoarse, as if it hadn’t been used in countless years.

The speaker was none other than *Ōtsutsuki Kaguya*, sealed by Hagoromo and Hamura.

Bound by chains and stripped of her divine tree’s power, she had been trapped in unending darkness for as long as she could remember.

"It’s not Hamura or Hagoromo, yet this individual has developed such power and even entered this place..."  

Kaguya murmured softly.

"He is a variable."  

A glimmer of light appeared in her eyes.

A *variable*—yes, a variable that might provide her with an opportunity to escape.

While she had previously created Black Zetsu as a contingency, it lacked the strength to act independently, leaving her trapped for an indeterminate amount of time.

But this individual was different.

He wasn’t a descendant of Hamura, the guardian of the moon. He was from her other bloodline branch.

Closing her eyes, Kaguya began gathering her remaining strength.

She wanted to establish contact with Kimimaro.

This could be her chance to break free.

Meanwhile, Kimimaro, still frantically devouring ocular power, remained unaware that he had drawn the attention of the sealed Kaguya.

He was now taking the final step that would determine his survival or death.

*Golden light exploded!*

Covered in blood, Kimimaro emerged from the golden Tenseigan!