41-45

*Chapter 41: Explosive Bugs*

Amaiy is a medical ninja trusted by the Raikage and one of the top three medical experts in the Hidden Cloud Village.

If even he says so, then this young man must have some skill.

"Raikage, do you have any objections? The condition of your subordinate is not looking good. The longer we delay, the worse it will be for him," Tsunade said.

"Sorry to trouble you," the Raikage responded briefly.

Tsunade and Kimimaro exchanged glances and began their examination.

The strange lump on Karai's abdomen was clearly a sign of an internal problem.

There was a bug inside, and it was still alive.

Each used their own method to examine the patient.

Soon, both had completed their work.

"You go ahead," Tsunade said, passing the floor to Kimimaro.

"I’ll explain, though it may not be perfect. This patient’s body has been invaded by a special type of bug. This bug lives in the body's chakra pathways and feeds on chakra, growing rapidly.

Normally, a ninja’s chakra is stored within their cells. Only when they perform jutsu do they use spiritual energy combined with physical strength to draw out chakra from their cells and circulate it through their chakra network.

Whenever chakra appears in the pathways, it gets devoured by the bug. As the bug consumes more chakra, it grows larger. Once it has absorbed a certain amount, it will explode, tearing the body apart.

Not only that, the explosion will have a blast radius of about three meters, seriously injuring or even killing anyone nearby."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, surprised that Kimimaro had so accurately diagnosed the bug's characteristics in such a short time.

"It feeds on chakra? No wonder Nikai exploded and died while using a jutsu," the Raikage said, clenching his fists.

"Has someone already died from this?" Tsunade asked.

"Yes, Nikai died instantly when he used a jutsu and exploded. If Karai hadn't stopped using his jutsu midway, he would have been blown up as well."

"So it's not just any bug," Tsunade mused.

"This is likely the work of an explosive bug," Kimimaro added.

"An explosive bug?" Tsunade was unfamiliar with the name.

"Yes. The explosive bug is a highly specialized insect that only grows in unique environments. After hatching, it’s so small it can’t be seen with the naked eye and enters the body through a person’s breath. It’s practically impossible to defend against.

There aren’t many of these bugs. The only group that specifically cultivates them is a mercenary organization called Xuanyuan," Kimimaro explained.

"You know about this?" Tsunade asked, surprised.

"I read a lot of books. I found this in one of them," Kimimaro responded modestly, his extensive reading showing its advantage.

Even Tsunade hadn’t read 5,000 medical books, let alone memorized them.

Tsunade wasn’t overly concerned and trusted Kimimaro’s explanation.

"The Xuanyuan mercenaries, known for hunting ninjas? Raikage, it seems you've crossed someone quite wealthy. Hiring them is expensive, but they never fail," Tsunade teased.

Seeing the Raikage in such bad luck seemed to lift her spirits.

"Hmph," the Raikage grunted but didn’t respond.

Kimimaro approached the Raikage.

"Kid, what do you think you're doing?" the Raikage growled.

"Raikage, if I'm not mistaken, you were ambushed along with your subordinates, correct?"

"Yes, Nikai, Karai, and I were attacked together."

"Then it’s likely you also have remnants of explosive bugs in your body. They just haven’t activated yet."

"According to your theory, if I use chakra, the bugs should grow larger. But just a moment ago, I arm-wrestled Tsunade and released a lot of chakra, yet I feel fine. Your diagnosis must be wrong."

"No, my diagnosis is correct. You haven’t had any symptoms because you release chakra too quickly.

You perform jutsu almost instantly, so the explosive bug doesn’t have time to absorb your chakra. Simply put, your speed outmatches the bug’s ability to consume chakra.

Just because you haven't noticed anything yet doesn’t mean you won’t. If you don’t believe me, try using chakra to perform a shadow clone jutsu—but do it slowly.

The amount of chakra required should be enough for the bug to grow to the size of a fist."

The Raikage looked serious, staring at the smiling young man, unsure whether to trust him.

But it was just a shadow clone jutsu—was he really afraid to try?

"Fine, I’ll give it a shot!"

The Raikage formed the seals and attempted a shadow clone jutsu.

In the next moment, he felt a jolt in his abdomen. The jutsu didn’t succeed, but a bug-shaped lump appeared on his stomach.

It looked just like the one on Karai's abdomen, only smaller.

"What the...?" The Raikage’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Kimimaro smiled. "Raikage, do you believe my diagnosis now?"

His knowledge of explosive bugs allowed him to handle the situation smoothly.

Even Tsunade was surprised. To be honest, she wouldn’t have asked the Raikage to take such a risk, given her lack of familiarity with explosive bugs.

But Kimimaro was clearly confident.

"Mr. Kimimaro, I take back what I said earlier," Tsunade conceded.

"No problem, but it seems both you and your subordinate will need treatment," Kimimaro said.

"Treat him first. I can manage," the Raikage said, showing concern for his subordinates.

It was no wonder the Hidden Cloud Village was so united, with no defecting ninjas. Even their jinchūriki were treated well compared to the rest of the ninja world.

"No, let Raikage go first," Karai said, enduring the pain.

"Enough, we'll treat you both at the same time. Shizune, Kimimaro, each of you take one patient and prepare for treatment. Kimimaro, if you finish faster than Shizune, I’ll agree to mentor you for a while.

Shizune, if you finish first, I promise not to gamble or drink for the entire year."

"Really, Lady Tsunade?! I’ll do my absolute best!" Shizune said, excited by the bet.

"Alright, Lady Tsunade," Kimimaro replied confidently, sure he could beat Shizune.

But the Raikage wasn’t pleased.

"Tsunade! You're treating us like a joke! I came to you because you're the best medical ninja, and now you’re passing us off to them?"

"If you want to get treated, then shut up. I don’t need to step in for such a small issue."

"Tsunade, you’re messing with me!"

"Relax, if anything goes wrong, I’ll take full responsibility."

Seeing Tsunade’s firm stance, the Raikage had no choice but to reluctantly agree. With his life in her hands, he couldn’t be too stubborn.

"You’d better be right, or neither I nor the Hidden Cloud Village will forgive you!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 42: The Competition*

There are two patients before them: Karai and the Raikage.

Although both have the same issue, their physical conditions and the severity of their symptoms differ.

The Raikage’s condition appears better, but his skin and muscles are much harder than Karai’s.

Ordinary sharp tools cannot penetrate his skin, which undoubtedly increases the difficulty of the surgery.

Even without activating his chakra, the Raikage’s body, trained in the Lightning Armor technique, has a naturally high defense.

That towering figure isn’t just for show.

Thus, treating the Raikage requires extremely precise chakra control, especially when using the chakra scalpel.

Karai’s problem is that the explosive bugs inside him have grown significantly, so the healer must be extra careful.

While the focus of treatment differs for each patient, the difficulty is about the same.

So, no choice would be an easy one.

“I’ll take care of the Raikage,” Kimimaro said.

“Alright,” Shizune replied.

Kimimaro chose the Raikage, leaving Shizune to handle Karai.

Tsunade stood at a distance, watching the two perform surgery.

Shizune took out a scalpel and infused it with chakra.

Blue chakra instantly appeared along the blade, not only increasing its sharpness but also serving as a hemostatic aid.

This was a common medical ninjutsu.

Before learning the chakra scalpel technique, all medical ninjas performed surgeries this way.

Kimimaro formed seals with his hands and immediately used the chakra scalpel technique.

Amai, watching nearby, was startled, not expecting Kimimaro to know such an advanced medical ninjutsu.

“As expected of Kimimaro,” Amai thought in admiration.

Shizune wasn’t surprised, as she had already seen Kimimaro use the chakra scalpel before.

Advanced medical ninjutsu doesn’t necessarily mean faster results.

Shizune had confidence in her skills. As the disciple of the greatest medical ninja in the world, she had her own pride.

Taking a deep breath, Shizune began her treatment.

She placed the scalpel on Karai’s abdomen and gently made the incision.

Ssss!  

Blood spurted out, splattering nearby as the skin opened, revealing the white explosive bugs inside.

Thanks to the chakra in the scalpel, no more blood spurted, and the surgery proceeded smoothly.

Amai watched the surgeries intently, not noticing that Tsunade, watching from a distance, had a drastically changed expression at the sight of blood.

Her body trembled slightly, her breathing grew rapid, and her eyes widened, bloodshot with fear.

Her hemophobia had kicked in!

However, Tsunade didn’t leave but stayed to watch Kimimaro.

Kimimaro looked at the Raikage lying on the table and said, “Raikage, I’m going to begin.”

“Go ahead,” the Raikage replied.

“Alright.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Kimimaro’s chakra scalpel plunged into the Raikage’s body.

There was a momentary pause when the blade met the dark skin, but it quickly cut through the tough flesh.

The white explosive bugs were exposed, still alive.

In this situation, the best approach would be to kill the bugs first before extracting them to prevent them from consuming more chakra and causing an explosion during removal.

Shizune followed this method.

But Kimimaro, intrigued by the explosive bugs, merely knocked them unconscious with a gentle tap instead of killing them, intending to study them later.

This made the procedure more difficult, but Kimimaro completed it effortlessly.

He used the chakra scalpel to sever the connection between the bug’s legs and the Raikage’s internal tissues.

This was a highly risky maneuver, as any mistake could damage the body’s vital meridians.

Yet Kimimaro performed it swiftly.

In no time, he had completely separated the bug’s sixteen legs from the surrounding tissues.

Dispersing the chakra scalpel, Kimimaro grabbed the bug and set it aside.

At the same time, Shizune also finished removing Karai’s explosive bug.

At this stage, both were evenly matched.

This was the most dangerous part of the surgery.

The next step—suturing the wound—was where their basic skills would be put to the test.

Shizune’s hands glowed with the green light of the Mystical Palm Technique, rapidly healing the incision.

Under Tsunade’s guidance, Shizune had perfected this technique.

For a wound of this size, it would take her only three minutes to completely close it.

The patient would need just three days of rest to fully recover.

Shizune was confident she wouldn’t lose.

Even if Kimimaro had mastered the Mystical Palm Technique to a high level, his speed should match hers.

Not even Tsunade could surpass her by more than a few seconds.

After all, there was a limit to the effectiveness of the technique.

“What an incredible method!”

While Shizune was focused on healing Karai, Amai gasped in awe.

Curious, Shizune looked over—and widened her eyes in surprise!

Kimimaro’s hands were moving swiftly above the Raikage’s abdomen, almost too fast for the naked eye to follow.

Thin threads of chakra, barely visible, wove rapidly between his fingers.

Closer inspection revealed that Kimimaro was also using needles made of condensed chakra.

These were compressed chakra scalpel threads, turned into suturing needles capable of quickly passing through flesh and sealing the wound.

This was Chakra Thread Suturing!

It was Kimimaro’s newly acquired ability, being used for the first time.

Although a bit unfamiliar with it, Kimimaro operated flawlessly, with no errors.

In just thirty seconds, the once open wound was completely stitched.

“Done,” Kimimaro said, halting his movements as the chakra threads and needles dissipated.

The Raikage’s abdomen had no scar, as if he had never been injured at all.

The crowd was stunned.

What kind of medical ninjutsu was this?

None of the three medical ninjas present had ever seen anything like it.

“Raikage, you can get up now. Your treatment is finished,” Kimimaro said.

“Finished?”

“Yes. Try moving around to see if there’s any discomfort.”

Hearing this, the Raikage got up from the table.

He touched his abdomen, searching for a scar, but found none, which surprised him.

He had undergone medical treatment before, but no other healer had achieved such results.

At least, no one from his village could.

The Raikage immediately activated his chakra, transforming into lightning, and moved outside the room.

His movements were smooth, and his attacks were fierce, with no signs of having undergone major surgery.

“Incredible... To move so freely after such an invasive procedure. Kimimaro, how did you do it? What was that medical ninjutsu you just used?”

Amai looked at Kimimaro in admiration.

“Chakra Thread Suturing,” Kimimaro replied.

“Chakra Thread Suturing? I’ve never heard of that. Did you create it yourself, Kimimaro?”

“More or less.”

“That’s amazing!”

Ignoring Amai’s praise, Kimimaro turned to Tsunade.

“Tsunade-senpai, I won.”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 43: Joining*

Tsunade stared at the smile on Kimimaro's face, momentarily lost in thought.

Kimimaro’s face always reminded her of Dan and Nawaki.

In this moment, even her fear of blood seemed to subside slightly.

“You win.”

Shizune was still in the middle of treating him, but the Raikage had already fully recovered, so there was no need to say who won or lost.

Kimimaro’s technique had also astonished Tsunade.

To perform a medical ninjutsu that allowed a patient to regain mobility immediately after surgery was no simple feat.

Tsunade could tell how difficult it was, almost like it had opened up a whole new system of medical techniques.

It must be some kind of secret jutsu.

This greatly surprised Tsunade.

The Kaguya clan had not only learned medical ninjutsu, but had also developed a secret technique within it.

Is this talent misplaced?

No, that’s not right.

During the battle, he had dodged the entire time, not even using his Kekkei Genkai, clearly not going all out.

Just his evasion skills alone were comparable to those of a Jonin.

Who is this guy?

Thoughts raced through Tsunade’s mind as she quickly organized them.

“Thank you, Lady Tsunade.”

Kimimaro breathed a sigh of relief.

The mission was finally complete.

By now, the fully recovered Raikage also walked over.

He extended his right hand and said, “Kimimaro, your medical ninjutsu is truly amazing. If you have the chance, you should visit the Hidden Cloud Village. I’ll be sure to treat you well.”

Nearby, Ameyuri chimed in, “Yes, Mr. Kimimaro, our medical department in the Hidden Cloud has many advanced medical devices. I think you’d be interested.”

“Raikage, are you trying to poach people now?” Tsunade said with a half-smile.

“A talent like Kimimaro is always welcome in the Hidden Cloud. Unlike the Leaf Village, which persecutes its own, the Hidden Cloud is at least safe.”

The Raikage’s words had an obvious meaning, and Tsunade’s face turned pale.

She couldn’t argue with that.

She knew her own village well, and Tsunade was fully aware of Konoha’s state over the past few years.

Her departure from Konoha was partly because of the deaths of Dan and Nawaki, but also due to the increasing darkness within the village.

After losing the people most important to her, Tsunade couldn’t bear to witness the village’s internal strife any longer.

It made her feel as though Dan and Nawaki’s sacrifices were meaningless.

She couldn’t change it, so she chose to leave.

Leaving was a form of escape.

For Tsunade, who had not yet emerged from the shadows of the past, this might have been the best choice.

The atmosphere grew tense.

At that moment, Shizune’s treatment was finally complete.

Kimimaro shook the Raikage’s hand, breaking the suffocating silence.

“Thank you for your kind offer, Raikage. As one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, I’d love to visit the Hidden Cloud someday.

But not now. I plan to study medical ninjutsu with Lady Tsunade for a while. Once I finish that, I’ll be sure to visit.”

“Hahaha! Great! With your word, that’s enough. I’ll be waiting for your visit in the Hidden Cloud.”

The Raikage laughed heartily.

Faced with a medical genius like Kimimaro, the Raikage was indeed tempted.

This invitation was also a way to gain Kimimaro’s favor.

A skilled medical ninja is more valuable to a village than even a Kage-level fighter.

They could elevate the entire village’s medical capabilities.

If it weren’t for Tsunade being there, the Raikage would have taken Kimimaro back to the Hidden Cloud right away.

The temptation was just too great.

“You should worry about the Xuanyuan Clan instead. They won’t stop until they achieve their goal. Though the explosive bugs have been removed from your body, if it happens again, you might not be so lucky,” Tsunade said, taking the opportunity to taunt the Raikage, who she clearly didn’t like.

“You don’t need to worry about that. I won’t fall for the same trap twice.”

Having been caught off guard by the Xuanyuan Clan before, the Raikage would not let it happen again.

Now that he knew about the explosive bugs, it was impossible for him to be tricked again.

“Good luck then. Shizune, Kimimaro, we’re leaving.”

With the treatment done, Tsunade didn’t want to stay any longer, so she left with the two of them.

Watching their backs as they departed, the Raikage seemed lost in thought.

“Raikage-sama, are you really going to let them go? If Kimimaro joins Konoha, it won’t be good for us,” Ameyuri said quietly.

“Don’t worry, he won’t join Konoha. He’s a proud man and won’t bow to anyone. There’s something more to him. I don’t know where he came from, but he’s not simple. Ameyuri, once we return, have the Anbu investigate his background. I have a feeling he’s more than he seems.”

“Yes, Raikage-sama.”

“Now that Karai’s explosive bugs have been removed, let’s head back to the village.”

“Understood.”

Ameyuri replied, but then suddenly remembered something and quickly added, “Oh, Raikage-sama. When I came to meet you yesterday, new intel arrived from the village.”

“What intel?”

“Lady Yugito encountered an unconscious boy on her way back from her mission. She said that the Two-Tails inside her sensed the Three-Tails’ chakra in the boy, but the boy himself didn’t have the Three-Tails. She thought it was strange.”

“A boy with the Three-Tails’ chakra? The Three-Tails should be sealed inside the Fourth Mizukage. How could there be a boy like that? Strange. What did Yugito think?”

“She thinks the boy might be the Fourth Mizukage’s child, which could explain it.”

“The Fourth Mizukage’s child? The Hidden Mist has been in isolation for years. Who knows what they’ve been up to. Maybe we can find some clues from that boy.”

The Raikage muttered as he led his group back to the Hidden Cloud Village.

Meanwhile, Kimimaro and the others were already sitting down for breakfast.

“Kimimaro, a deal’s a deal. Since you won, I’ll study medical ninjutsu with you. As for your Kekkei Genkai disease, I’ll do my best to treat it, but I can’t promise a full cure.”

“I understand. If the Kekkei Genkai disease were easily curable, it wouldn’t be considered an incurable condition. But I believe, with our combined medical skills, we can find a path forward.”

“With that mindset, we’ll be fine.”

Tsunade nodded in satisfaction.

“Kimimaro, welcome aboard.”

“No need to be so formal, Shizune. Just call me Kimimaro.”

“Alright, Kimimaro.”

Tonton, the pig, jumped onto Kimimaro’s shoulder, visibly happy.

“It seems Tonton likes you a lot,” Shizune said, surprised, as it was the first time she’d seen Tonton so affectionate with anyone besides her and Tsunade.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 44: The Energy Within the Bones*

"Visitor: Kimimaro.

Age: Twelve.

Kekkei Genkai: Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse).

Tourist Photo Rewards: Kirito's Sword Skills, Silent Clow Card.

Character Photo Rewards: Water Body Flicker, Silent Killing Technique, Hand of God, Bakudō #1 Sai, Hadō #4 Byakurai, Telepathy, Gaia Foundation, Mirror Clow Card, Thought Thread Stitching, Shunpo, Bakudō #30 Shitotsu Sansen.

Event Photo: Sword Clow Card."

Looking at his status panel, Kimimaro focused on the Shunpo and Bakudō #30 Shitotsu Sansen he had obtained, flipping through the descriptions.

Behind Shunpo was a photo with the Raikage.

Behind Bakudō #30 Shitotsu Sansen was a photo with Shizune.

Both were skills from Bleach—Shunpo was a speed technique, while Bakudō #30 Shitotsu Sansen involved releasing three sharp beams of light to bind an enemy's hands and waist.

"Most of these are support skills," Kimimaro muttered, closing his status panel.

Today's haul wasn't bad at all.

If he could fully master the Shunpo gained from his photo with the Raikage, he could surpass even the Raikage in speed.

However, mastering it would not be something that could happen overnight.

In the room, Kimimaro pulled out a white explosive bug taken from the Raikage's body.

"This thing is quite interesting. It feeds on chakra, but once it devours enough, it self-destructs. An ideal weapon. Even a Kage-level fighter could be killed if caught off guard.

If the Aburame clan's parasitic insects had this ability, their clan's power would skyrocket.

The power of the Xuanyuan group must come from these explosive bugs. First, they ambush their target, then release the near-invisible bug eggs. Few beneath the Kage level would be able to avoid such a deadly strike. Even against a Kage-level opponent, it could cause significant annoyance.

However, using the bugs this way is wasteful. If the explosive bugs could be cultivated to evolve, perhaps they could devour chakra without exploding. That ability would be immensely valuable."

Chakra devouring...

In Boruto, such a skill was everywhere, but for now, it was still rare.

If Kimimaro could succeed in researching the explosive bugs, they would have great utility.

But how to cultivate them? That would require slow, careful study.

Right now, Kimimaro needed to extract the eggs from the explosive bug to continue his research.

For him, this was a simple task.

Wielding a chakra scalpel, it didn’t take long for him to extract the eggs.

He placed them in a solution for preservation and set them aside for later.

The explosive bugs could be studied gradually. Right now, he needed to meet with Tsunade to address his Kekkei Genkai disease.

Inside the room, Tsunade and Shizune were already waiting for Kimimaro.

“Tsunade-senpai, Shizune-nee.”

“Lie down first. Shizune and I will run a checkup.”

“Okay.”

Kimimaro didn’t object and lay down immediately.

Tsunade and Shizune exchanged glances before beginning the examination.

As medical-nin, they didn’t need much in the way of medical equipment.

They themselves were the most advanced tools available.

Their hands glowed with green chakra as they slowly passed them over Kimimaro’s body.

Wherever the green chakra touched, the information gathered was relayed back to the medical-nin's minds in a unique way.

As the examination progressed, the expressions on Tsunade and Shizune’s faces grew more troubled.

The Kekkei Genkai disease was more complicated than they had anticipated.

Kimimaro’s body, as part of the Kaguya clan, was already a medical anomaly for them.

If he were a member of the Uchiha or Hyuga clans, Tsunade would have had a better understanding.

But this was a Kekkei Genkai disease she had never encountered before, so she would need to start from scratch.

Fifteen minutes later, Tsunade and Shizune stopped their examination simultaneously.

Kimimaro sat up and, noticing their serious expressions, smiled instead.

“Tsunade-senpai, Shizune-nee, there’s no need to look so grim. I know my body well. This Kekkei Genkai disease is indeed difficult to treat. If it proves untreatable, I’m prepared for that.”

Kimimaro’s words were sincere—he truly had braced himself for the worst.

Tsunade looked at his smiling face, momentarily dazed, but quickly collected herself.

“Your mindset will help greatly with the treatment. Now, I need you to demonstrate your Shikotsumyaku abilities.”

“Sure.”

Without hesitation, Kimimaro extended his right hand.

With a thought, the skin on his palm split open, and a white bone emerged from inside.

Strangely, no blood flowed from the wound.

The white bone continued to grow until it formed a bone blade about twenty centimeters long.

The bone blade rested in Kimimaro’s right hand, and the wound on his palm healed instantly.

Shizune was speechless, while Tsunade frowned slightly.

“Amazing... This ability pushes the boundaries of what the human body can do.”

“You flatter me, Shizune-nee,” Kimimaro replied modestly.

Unlike Shizune’s awe, Tsunade had gleaned important information.

“From the examination and your display of Shikotsumyaku, I can tell the Kaguya clan’s Kekkei Genkai disease originates within the bones.

You can freely control osteoblasts and osteoclasts, even regulating calcium to generate a vast amount of bones for attack and defense.

Your skin heals instantly as the bones emerge, without a drop of blood—this bloodline limit truly does challenge the limits of the human body.

Your bones seem to have no limit, constantly regenerating. For an ordinary person, this would be unimaginable, but for you, it’s expected.

If that were the only factor, you shouldn’t have developed Kekkei Genkai disease.”

Tsunade paused, taking the bone blade from Kimimaro’s hand.

Her green chakra surrounded the blade as she began another check.

Soon, she had her answer.

“As I thought, the problem lies within your bones.”

“My bones?”

“Yes. There’s a strange energy within them. This energy is incredibly dangerous, exuding a sense of decay. Your bones can barely contain it, but as the energy leaks out, your body can’t handle it.

The stronger this energy grows, the harder it becomes for your bones to contain it. It’s like a beast trapped in a cage—once it breaks free, it will invade your body, consume it, and eventually, turn you to dust.”

Hearing this, Kimimaro’s face paled.

Energy within his bones?

He hadn’t felt anything himself.

But if Tsunade said so, he believed her—she was an unquestionable authority in this field.

What, then, was this energy?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 45: The Musical Note

Kimimaro seemed thoughtful, as if something had occurred to him, but he wasn’t entirely sure.

"Tsunade-senpai, in this situation, is there any way to treat it?"

Having studied medical ninjutsu for two years, Kimimaro was at a loss and could only place his hopes on Tsunade.

"The only way to completely cure your Kekkei Genkai disease is to control the energy constantly generated in your bones. If you can master this energy, your disease will heal naturally. But for now, you likely can’t even sense it, can you?"

Kimimaro gave a helpless smile.

Tsunade was indeed Tsunade, every word hitting the mark.

"I really haven’t sensed that energy yet."

"That’s because you’re not strong enough. In other words, you haven’t fully developed your Kekkei Genkai. That energy should represent the limit of your Kekkei Genkai."

"Just like how the ultimate stage of the Sharingan is the Mangekyō Sharingan, this energy is the end point of your Shikotsumyaku."

"So according to Lady Tsunade, I should intensify my training with the Shikotsumyaku? But won’t that also speed up the growth of energy in my bones? It’s like a race against time — either I fully awaken the Shikotsumyaku, or this energy explodes and takes my life."

In Kimimaro’s current condition, he could live for eight more years.

But if he hastened his Shikotsumyaku training, his lifespan would shorten drastically.

The faster the training, the quicker the death.

It was a gamble.

Trying to perfectly time it was almost impossible.

The success rate was probably less than one percent.

"Developing the Shikotsumyaku is necessary, but not right now. In your current condition, accelerating its development is suicide. The priority is to improve your body’s endurance."

"If your body can gradually build some resistance to the energy in your bones, it will be much easier to develop the Shikotsumyaku later on."

As Tsunade spoke, she set a bone blade aside.

"So, our first step in treatment is divided into two parts. For you, you need to enhance your physical strength. A strong body will be the foundation for our future treatment."

"As for me, I need to extract the energy from your bones and make it gradually adapt to your body in a more controlled way."

"This initial treatment is just an experiment. I’m not sure how effective it will be."

"Having a method is enough. I had no clue before this. Tsunade-senpai, thank you for your hard work."

Kimimaro’s face was full of gratitude.

"No need to thank me, I’m just upholding our bet. I’m also quite interested in your medical ninjutsu. During this time, we can learn from each other."

"If Tsunade-senpai wants to learn the thread-stitching technique, I can teach you."

"Don’t worry, I won’t let you teach me for free. You have your secret techniques, and I have mine."

Tsunade clearly didn’t want to take advantage of Kimimaro.

As a medical ninja, Tsunade understood the hard work required to create such an advanced medical ninjutsu.

So she opted for an equivalent exchange.

But what she didn’t know was that Kimimaro’s thread-stitching technique was almost a free gift.

"In that case, I’ll thank you in advance, Tsunade-senpai."

Tsunade didn’t respond, instead handing Kimimaro a piece of paper.

"The ingredients listed here—find a way to gather them yourself. They’ll significantly help in increasing your body’s strength. It’s best to gather enough for about a year’s worth."

Kimimaro took the paper and glanced at it.

Most of the ingredients weren’t available on the market; they had to be found in specific environments.

After reading it over, he put the recipe away.

"I’ll start gathering these ingredients tomorrow. They should all be available within the Land of Lightning. I should be able to collect them in about seven days."

Having read over 5,000 books, Kimimaro was well-versed in the distribution of ingredients in this world.

Finding these ingredients wasn’t difficult.

Tsunade gave a slight nod, not doubting Kimimaro’s abilities.

"In seven days, we’ll meet in the Land of Ogres. By then, I should have extracted the special energy from your bones."

"Alright."

After a brief meeting, it was time to part.

As Tsunade and Shizune watched Kimimaro leave, Shizune whispered, "Lady Tsunade, can Kimimaro’s Kekkei Genkai disease really be cured?"

"It’s difficult. If we had caught it five or six years earlier, I would have been confident. But now, the energy in his bones has started spreading, and the difficulty of treatment has multiplied several times."

"So does that mean Kimimaro is…"

"No matter how difficult it is, I will cure him!"

Tsunade’s eyes were filled with determination.

And that determination came from looking at Kimimaro’s face.

"Lady Tsunade…"

Shizune was moved by Tsunade’s resolve.

This was the first time she had seen this level of determination in Tsunade.

The legendary decisive medical master—Shizune had only heard of her, never seen her in action.

Because when Shizune had met her, Tsunade was already in a state of decline.

Now, at this moment, she finally felt the powerful presence of the legendary medical master.

"Let’s go to the lab in the Land of Ogres."

"Yes, Lady Tsunade."

Shizune replied, glancing at the shrinking figure of Kimimaro in the distance.

"Kimimaro, you’d better not die so easily. Otherwise, Lady Tsunade may never recover."

Kimimaro didn’t know what Tsunade was feeling at that moment.

But one thing was certain: the disguise he’d created with the Gaia makeup was working.

Two days later.

Somewhere in the Land of Lightning.

Kimimaro, now back to his true appearance, was picking herbs.

"After gathering this last cold grass dew, only two ingredients remain. But these two are the hardest to find. I’ve searched the nearby area, but no luck. Looks like I’ll have to sneak into the Village Hidden in the Clouds to find them."

Kimimaro muttered to himself, planning to rest at a nearby town before making his move.

But just then, he spotted a mark.

"This is…"

Kimimaro approached and saw that a musical note had been carved under a large tree.

It was the mark of the Sound Village.

Only ninjas from the village would carve this mark in visible places when they needed help.

It was a way of seeking assistance from fellow villagers.

"Are there Sound Village ninjas nearby?"

Following the direction indicated by the mark, Kimimaro ran off.

After all, he was a member of the Sound Village, and he couldn’t turn a blind eye.

Following the marks, he quickly found another one.

This time, it was stained with blood.

"Judging by the state of the blood, they haven’t gone far."

Kimimaro quickened his pace, using his swift movement technique!

Whoosh!

He turned into a blur as he rushed forward.

Soon, a cave appeared before him.

The marks led here.

"Are they inside?"

The dark cave loomed ahead, like the gaping maw of a beast, waiting to devour anyone who entered.

Kimimaro narrowed his eyes and walked inside.

(End of Chapter)