11-15

*Chapter 11: Battle with Suigetsu*

Orochimaru's eyes flashed with a cold glint, clearly displeased with Suigetsu's attitude.

Kimimaro now understood why Suigetsu was so afraid of Orochimaru later on.

It was probably because his rude attitude early on led Orochimaru to give him a harsh lesson, leaving a lasting fear.

Who knows, Suigetsu might continue defying Orochimaru, which could eventually lead to him being locked up as a test subject.

Orochimaru had spoken, and Kimimaro wanted to test just how strong this genius from the Hozuki clan was.

Kimimaro stepped forward and drew his bone sword from his waist.

"Damn it, what a hassle."

Suigetsu grumbled, but he had no intention of confronting Kimimaro directly. At the moment, he didn’t care about the corpse of the Mist Anbu he had killed and immediately turned to run.

"I'm not playing with you guys!"

Even while fleeing, Suigetsu couldn't resist throwing out a taunt.

Kimimaro raised an eyebrow—Suigetsu was indeed interesting.

With a light tap of his foot, Kimimaro chased after him immediately.

Orochimaru remained still, seemingly not intending to follow. His gaze fell on the Mist Anbu corpse.

Suigetsu sprinted away at full speed, with Kimimaro close behind.

Soon, they left the small town.

"Damn, why won't this guy give up?"

Suigetsu cursed internally, surprised at Kimimaro's persistence.

"But that snake-like guy didn’t follow. If it's just one person, I should be able to handle it."

Just as Suigetsu was thinking this, Kimimaro had already caught up and slashed at him!

A diagonal slash!

The bone sword cut through Suigetsu’s body from the upper left to the lower right.

But no blood splattered—only water.

The sensation from the sword intrigued Kimimaro.

Cutting water?

What a fascinating feeling.

This hydration technique was indeed impressive, a very troublesome ability.

The Hozuki clan's hydration technique could be considered an ultimate soft art, while the Kaguya clan's Shikotsumyaku was an embodiment of ultimate hardness.

Clearly, the two techniques didn't complement each other well.

However, the Hozuki clan also had hard techniques, like the Water Gun technique.

And the Kaguya clan had soft taijutsu techniques, such as the Dance of the Willow and Dance of the Camellia.

It was obvious that the ancestors of both clans understood the balance of hardness and softness.

Kimimaro was looking forward to this fight with Suigetsu.

Although Suigetsu had used his hydration technique to neutralize the damage, he was still shaken internally.

"This guy is so fast? Damn it, if this turns into a real fight, it’s going to be trouble."

Suigetsu quickly reformed his body and sped up again.

Not far ahead, a small creek lay in their path.

Kimimaro narrowed his eyes, realizing Suigetsu's plan.

As a member of the Hozuki clan, Suigetsu's strength would increase significantly if he could enter the water.

Suigetsu had been running in this direction clearly to take advantage of the water to fight back.

If Suigetsu entered the creek, it would be difficult to catch him.

Kimimaro leapt onto a nearby tree, using his legs to push off and accelerate!

Whoosh!

He flew over Suigetsu and landed directly in his path.

Swinging his bone sword, Kimimaro said quietly, "Sorry, you can't pass."

"Damn it, just a little further."

Suigetsu cursed, wasting no time. He drew the long sword from his waist.

Besides the hydration technique, the Hozuki clan was also highly skilled in swordsmanship.

Suigetsu's brother, Mangetsu Hozuki, was one of the best, being the only person to master all seven swords of the Hidden Mist.

Unfortunately, Mangetsu died young.

If he were still alive, the Fourth Mizukage might not have acted against the Hozuki clan.

Though Suigetsu's talent was slightly inferior to Mangetsu's, he was still remarkable, earning the title "Demon Reborn" in the Mist Village.

The "demon" referred to Zabuza.

This showed that Suigetsu's talent was at least on par with Zabuza's.

"Kid, don't think I'm running because I'm afraid of you. If we fight for real, you might not stand a chance against me!"

Suigetsu's face twisted into a fierce expression, but it did nothing to intimidate Kimimaro.

After all, Kimimaro had just crawled out of a sea of blood and hell.

"Then try me."

"You little punk! Stop pretending!"

Seeing Kimimaro's calm and indifferent demeanor, Suigetsu felt a surge of rage.

He gripped his long sword tightly and attacked Kimimaro.

The long sword came slashing down, but Kimimaro held his bone sword horizontally to block it.

Clang!

The iron long sword struck the bone sword, creating a spark.

Kimimaro redirected Suigetsu's sword, sending it off course. At the same time, he kicked out, aiming for Suigetsu's abdomen.

However, the forceful kick felt as though it had hit water, with no real impact.

The hydration technique!

Kimimaro's attack was instantly neutralized.

Suigetsu grinned, revealing his shark-like teeth.

"Heh heh, you're dead!"

At point-blank range, Suigetsu used his left hand, forming a gun shape, gathering chakra.

"Water Style! Water Gun Technique!"

A water bullet shot out from Suigetsu's left index finger!

The Water Gun technique was a rare jutsu that didn’t require hand signs.

But just as Suigetsu unleashed it, he noticed that Kimimaro had adopted a similar pose.

Kimimaro’s left hand formed the same gun gesture, and he shouted, "Finger Bullet Drill!"

A white bone bullet shot from his fingertip, almost in sync with Suigetsu's Water Gun.

Bone bullet vs. water bullet!

The two projectiles flew through the air, compressing the air and making a piercing sound.

In less than a meter's distance, everything happened in a flash!

Bang!

The collision!

Water splattered!

The bone shattered!

But while the water dispersed into droplets, half of the bone bullet remained, piercing Suigetsu’s chest!

Splash!

Water splashed again!

The bone bullet hit the ground, sinking into the soil.

This attack hadn’t hurt Suigetsu, but he was deeply shocked.

Before Suigetsu could recover, Kimimaro's bone sword was already swinging again.

"Horizontal Four Slashes!"

Kimimaro slashed four times in quick succession!

At this distance, Suigetsu had no chance to dodge.

In an instant, all four of Suigetsu’s limbs were cut, but the result was still the same—water splashed everywhere.

Suigetsu retreated several meters, half-kneeling on the ground, panting heavily, clearly exhausted.

Repeated use of the hydration technique in such a short time was pushing him to his limits.

"You… you're from the Kaguya clan!"

Suigetsu had found the bone sword strange at first but hadn’t thought much of it.

Now, after seeing the Finger Bullet Drill, he was certain—Kimimaro was from the Kaguya clan.

Only the Kaguya clan could use such a technique.

Just as no one but the Hozuki clan could use the hydration technique.

"Kaguya... Kimimaro."

Kimimaro said slowly, raising his bone sword and pointing it at Suigetsu.

"Damn it! The Kaguya clan still has survivors?"

Suigetsu was shocked.

Hadn’t the Kaguya clan been wiped out last night?

This guy must be one of the few who escaped!

(End of chapter)

Chapter 12: Binding Spell No. 1

Realizing that Kimimaro’s situation was quite similar to his own, Suigetsu's hostility subsided.

"Hey, hey, we're both being hunted by the Hidden Mist. Why fight each other? We should work together."

After witnessing Kimimaro's terrifying strength, Suigetsu had no desire to continue the battle.

If the fight dragged on, he feared that the life he had just narrowly reclaimed would slip away again.

Suigetsu wasn’t ready to die yet—he still had his own dreams.

"I won’t kill you, but come with me and be my subordinate."

No one is perfect, and the point of a ninja squad is to cover each other's weaknesses.

Suigetsu’s water-based jutsu and Kimimaro’s abilities would complement each other well.

Besides, Suigetsu was a decent guy, perfect material for a subordinate.

Having an underling in Orochimaru’s ranks would make Kimimaro's tasks much easier.

"What?! You’ve got to be kidding me!"

Suigetsu wasn’t happy at all.

A subordinate?

You wish!

"Refuse, and you die."

"You’re pushing me too far! I’d rather die here than be your subordinate!"

As he spoke, Suigetsu gripped his long sword and attacked again.

Slash! Chop! Hack! Strike!

The long sword in Suigetsu's hand seemed to come alive, constantly shifting its attack patterns.

His swordsmanship was ferocious and not to be underestimated.

Kimimaro, facing this astonishing onslaught, focused with a serious expression. His bone sword spun and deflected every strike with impeccable swordsmanship.

Although Suigetsu's blade was fast, it was still within a range that Kimimaro—who had inherited Kirito's sword techniques—could handle.

After all, when it came to speed, Kirito was quite famous.

No matter how fierce Suigetsu's attacks were, they couldn’t break through Kimimaro's swirling defense.

After dozens of clashes between the long sword and the bone sword, Suigetsu still hadn’t broken through his defense.

“Damn it, if speed won’t work, then I’ll use strength to settle this!”

Suigetsu thought to himself before jumping back a few meters and suddenly accelerating.

His left arm holding the sword swelled, doubling in size.

"Water Style! Great Water Arm Technique!"

By concentrating all the water in his body into his left arm, Suigetsu’s strength surged dramatically.

He swung his sword with far more power than before.

"Take this!"

Suigetsu leapt into the air, pouring all his strength into one mighty slash.

His speed and power both reached their peak.

Clearly, this was his last-ditch effort.

Kimimaro, facing the overwhelming attack, gripped his bone sword and crouched slightly, preparing to spring forward.

"Sonic Impact!"

His sword technique activated!

But that wasn’t the end of it.

With a thought, Kimimaro triggered the Sword Clow Card.

A new sharpness radiated from the bone sword’s edge.

In mid-air, Kimimaro’s bone sword sliced through the air, its pale glow aimed at Suigetsu’s descending blade!

Their eyes met, and in an instant, the clash between sword and blade erupted!

Clang!

The bone sword struck the center of Suigetsu’s blade, and with a crisp sound, the powerful slash was cut clean in two!

The sword shattered in half, its tip spinning through the air before embedding itself into the ground.

Suigetsu stared in shock, still gripping the handle of his broken sword.

His sword… had been cut in half?

What just happened?

Whoosh!

The sound of rushing air signaled Kimimaro’s bone sword now aimed at Suigetsu’s throat.

The blade hovered less than a centimeter from his neck.

Suigetsu could feel the sharp energy radiating from the sword's tip.

If Kimimaro wished, he could easily pierce his throat.

Suigetsu gulped, tension building as death loomed so close.

"Do you have enough chakra left to use your Hydration Technique to evade my next strike?"

Kimimaro’s cold voice rang out again.

Suigetsu chuckled bitterly to himself. He had no chakra left to perform the Hydration Technique.

That last attack had drained him completely.

"It seems you don’t. Then, you can die now."

Kimimaro raised his sword to strike.

"Wait, wait! Boss! I was wrong! Don’t take it so seriously! I was just messing with you earlier, heh heh."

Suigetsu forced a strained smile.

Outmatched and not wanting to die, he had no choice but to give in.

Fortunately, they were both being hunted by the Hidden Mist, which made Suigetsu feel a bit better about the situation.

Kimimaro’s lips curled into a slight smile.

Got him.

Sheathing his bone sword, Kimimaro spoke softly, "Hold out your right hand."

Confused but compliant, Suigetsu extended his right hand.

Kimimaro gripped it, and Suigetsu felt a cold sensation.

"Congratulations! You’ve just been bound by Binding Spell No. 1!"

A new photo appeared on the team panel.

The Binding Spell, from Bleach, was a support technique.

It was used to bind and restrict a person’s movements.

This particular spell could instantly immobilize someone’s arms and legs, making it one of the most basic binding techniques.

Its effectiveness depended on the skill of the caster and the strength of the target.

Suigetsu, feeling Kimimaro’s icy grip, shuddered.

"What’s with this guy? Does he have some weird fetish?"

A flurry of strange thoughts flooded Suigetsu’s mind, but Kimimaro soon released his hand, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Let’s go."

Kimimaro turned to leave.

Suigetsu’s eyes darted around as he hatched another plan.

"Now’s my chance! He thinks I’ve submitted and let his guard down. If I run to the stream and jump in, he won’t be able to catch me!"

With that thought, Suigetsu bolted.

The stream was only ten meters away, and he was confident he could dive in before Kimimaro caught him.

However, Kimimaro noticed immediately.

Hearing the movement, he turned with a frown.

As Suigetsu neared the stream, joy filled his heart.

Looking back, he taunted, "Heh, you fool! I’m no one's lackey! See you never!"

He leaped into the air, aiming for the water.

But just then, Kimimaro whispered, "Binding Spell No. 1: Sai!"

Mid-air, Suigetsu suddenly felt an unseen force binding his arms and legs together.

His body twisted awkwardly, and he crashed into the water with a splash.

With his limbs bound, Suigetsu struggled desperately, fighting to break free.

He never thought he’d one day be at risk of drowning.

He thrashed as the binding slowly weakened.

After all, Kimimaro had only just learned the technique, so its effects weren’t very strong.

It worked well in surprise attacks but wasn’t enough to fully restrain Suigetsu yet.

Just as Suigetsu broke free, a white chain shot down from above the stream, wrapping around him tightly and yanking him out of the water.

"Cough, cough!"

Suigetsu gasped for air, realizing the chain that had saved him was a long spine.

A shiver ran through him.

Only someone from the Kaguya Clan, with their Shikotsumyaku ability, could pull off a move like that.

"Still want to run?"

Kimimaro’s voice was icy.

Suigetsu forced a sheepish smile.

"Heh heh, actually, I was just feeling dirty and wanted to wash up before heading out with you, Boss. Clean start, right? Haha."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 13: Do You Think I Still Have a Chance?

Suigetsu gave an awkward smile, clearly feeling guilty.

However, Kimimaro didn’t hold it against him.

If their roles were reversed and faced with an unknown situation, he would also have tried everything possible to escape.

Suigetsu had merely reacted like any normal person would.

"I already gave you a chance once; I hope you learn to appreciate it. I don’t mind if you try to run again, but Orochimaru may not be so forgiving. When we go back, if you continue to speak recklessly and Orochimaru decides to kill you, I won’t stop him."

Suigetsu's face changed, understanding that Kimimaro was warning him for his own good.

Hearing Kimimaro mention Orochimaru also startled Suigetsu.

"Orochimaru? The Orochimaru, one of the Three Legendary Sannin? Aren't you a member of the Kaguya Clan? Why are you following him?"

"Is there still a Kaguya Clan?"

Kimimaro let out a mocking laugh.

Suigetsu gave a bitter smile and said, "Yeah, there’s no Kaguya Clan anymore... just like the Hozuki Clan."

"Stay alive. For people like us, staying alive is the most important thing. By following Orochimaru, at least for now, you won’t be in any danger."

"Sigh, looks like I don’t have any other choice. Let’s go."

With Suigetsu in tow, Kimimaro soon returned to the inn where they had originally stayed.

Orochimaru sat in the room, examining the corpse of the Mist Anbu.

Clearly, he hadn’t worried at all about Kimimaro bringing Suigetsu back and didn’t even look up.

"He’s back."

"Hehe, seems much more obedient now."

As Orochimaru spoke, the cold aura around him was palpable, making Suigetsu’s back shiver.

Only now did he realize how terrifying Orochimaru truly was.

"Orochimaru-sama, I’m willing to follow you. I was just unaware of who you were earlier, and that’s why I spoke foolishly. Now that I know who you are, my admiration for you is as vast as the mountains and rivers, endless.

If only you had told me earlier, I would have knelt and pledged my loyalty on the spot. Hehe, do you think I still have a chance?"

Seeing Suigetsu’s sudden shift in attitude, Orochimaru was a little surprised, but not shocked.

After all, he was just a kid under ten years old—how tough could he really be?

Kimimaro, too, looked at Suigetsu in astonishment.

Impressive. This kid has potential.

A master at changing faces.

"Hehe, what an amusing brat. Kimimaro, take him away. We leave tomorrow."

"Yes."

Kimimaro led Suigetsu away.

Orochimaru then turned his attention back to the Mist Anbu’s corpse.

It seemed he had already discovered some interesting information from it.

Ninja corpses were always important tools for gathering intelligence.

The Yamanaka Clan from Konoha specialized in this sort of thing.

While Orochimaru wasn’t as skilled as the Yamanakas, he had his own methods.

"The Mist Village is becoming more and more chaotic. The root of this turmoil lies with the Fourth Mizukage. But is he truly that foolish? Why does it feel like there’s an invisible hand controlling everything behind the scenes?"

Orochimaru murmured, his golden eyes filled with thought.

He couldn’t quite figure it out.

If his suspicions were correct...

Who would have the ability to manipulate the Mizukage into doing their bidding?

"How interesting."

Orochimaru licked his lips and then poured a potion over the Anbu’s corpse.

A strange scene unfolded.

The body dissolved into a puddle of blood, vanishing completely.

In another room, Kimimaro tossed the bound Suigetsu aside, restrained by bone chains.

"Ouch! Can’t you be a bit gentler?"

"No."

Kimimaro’s face remained cold as he withdrew the bone chains.

"Huh? Aren’t you afraid I’ll try to escape?"

Now freed from his restraints, Suigetsu felt much more relaxed, though puzzled by Kimimaro's sudden release of him.

"Once you regain your chakra, these chains won’t hold you anyway. Whether you’re bound or not makes no difference, so why waste my chakra?

Besides, Orochimaru is in the next room. You can try running, but let’s see if he gives you another chance."

The bone chains couldn’t hold Suigetsu, but a binding spell might.

However, Kimimaro had only just learned the technique and wasn’t strong enough yet.

At best, he could restrain Suigetsu for a few seconds.

So, Kimimaro gave up.

When Suigetsu heard Orochimaru’s name and recalled the terrifying aura from earlier, he immediately gave up on the idea of escaping.

"Get some rest. Don’t try anything funny. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in a long time. Tonight, I want to sleep well."

With that, Kimimaro climbed into bed.

"Hey! Where am I supposed to sleep?"

"On the floor."

"Seriously? You sleep on the floor! I’ll take the bed!"

Suigetsu charged forward.

But in the next moment, a white bone sword was pointed at his nose.

Kimimaro hadn’t even opened his eyes.

"Boss, I was just kidding. I’ll sleep on the floor, heh."

Suigetsu smiled sheepishly and backed away a few steps. Only then did Kimimaro lower the bone sword.

"What a cold-hearted guy."

Suigetsu silently complained to himself and settled down to sleep against the wall.

After running for their lives, Suigetsu was just as exhausted as Kimimaro, so he quickly fell asleep.

For both of them, it was a rare and peaceful night.

The next morning, Orochimaru took the two of them to the docks of the Land of Water, where they boarded a small boat and left the country.

The sea was shrouded in a thick fog.

This was typical of the waters surrounding the Land of Water.

Kimimaro gazed at the sea beside him.

On this boat, there wasn’t much he could do in terms of training.

There was a limit to how much chakra could be extracted at once, so he was quite bored.

"Orochimaru-sensei, I’ve heard that ninjas can walk on water. How is that done?"

Unable to endure the boredom, Kimimaro asked about training.

"Hehe, it’s not difficult at all. It’s merely a chakra control exercise that genin need to learn. You gather chakra at the soles of your feet and control the amount so that it balances with the water’s buoyancy, allowing you to walk on water."

Orochimaru, generous with his knowledge, explained the technique to Kimimaro.

"Heh, you don’t even know something that simple? Want me to teach you?" Suigetsu said excitedly.

As a member of the Hozuki Clan, he had already mastered this skill.

The Kaguya Clan, on the other hand, didn’t emphasize chakra control as much, focusing more on taijutsu.

"No need. I’ll try it myself."

Kimimaro stepped off the boat.

His first step was light, merely testing the water’s buoyancy.

Then, he gathered chakra at the soles of his feet, feeling the balance between the chakra and the water’s buoyancy.

Soon, he found the sweet spot.

With his right foot on the water’s surface, it felt as solid as the ground.

He had the feeling.

Without hesitation, he placed his other foot on the water.

But balancing on both feet was much harder.

His body began to sink, and soon, both legs were submerged up to his knees.

"Hahaha!"

Suigetsu laughed, genuinely enjoying seeing Kimimaro struggle.

This guy beat me up yesterday.

Despite the situation, Kimimaro remained calm, quietly sensing the subtle differences.

At the same time, he recalled the chakra flow method of the Water Body Flicker technique.

The Water Body Flicker allowed a person to move quickly across the water without hand signs. The principle was similar, though even more complex.

The Water Body Flicker only allowed outward chakra flow, not control over its return.

So, if he could master the Water Body Flicker, walking on water shouldn’t be difficult for Kimimaro.

Sure enough, after a short while, he stopped sinking and began to rise again.

A few more seconds, and he was standing steadily on the surface of the water.

Suigetsu, who had been laughing moments before, suddenly went silent.

"He… he mastered it?"

Suigetsu was dumbfounded.

It had taken him three days to learn this technique.

This guy…

Had it even been a minute?

Orochimaru smiled in admiration.

Such talent was worthy of his attention.

(Chapter End)

Chapter 14: Silence

Seven days to travel from the Land of Water to the Land of Rain wasn’t much time, so Orochimaru didn’t stop to rest much along the way.

For him, this was nothing, of course.

But for Kimimaro and Suigetsu, who were still young and not yet strong enough, it was quite exhausting.

However, Kimimaro took it as training and didn’t slack off the entire journey.

When they encountered rivers, he ran on the water, keeping pace with the boat.

When they came across steep slopes, he ran along the cliffside.

Throughout the journey, Kimimaro didn’t improve much in other areas, but his chakra control saw significant progress.

Of course, Orochimaru’s guidance was indispensable in this regard.

Orochimaru admired Kimimaro’s determination to become stronger. This was the mindset a strong person should have.

Seeing Kimimaro train so diligently, Suigetsu felt embarrassed to rest and joined in, though his effort and endurance were nowhere near Kimimaro’s.

On the fifth day, they finally entered the Land of Fields.

The Land of Fields was Orochimaru’s territory.

He had numerous secret bases across the ninja world, but the Sound Village he built in the Land of Fields was undoubtedly the largest.

After leaving Konoha, Orochimaru bribed the daimyo of the Land of Fields and, with his approval, established the Sound Village.

Now, the village had grown significantly.

“We’re here.”

Orochimaru stopped and looked at the gate of the Sound Village with a sense of accomplishment.

Although he had never aimed to become Hokage, being outright rejected by the Third Hokage had left him displeased.

Didn’t the Third Hokage say he wasn’t capable of becoming a Kage?

Well, I’ll build my own village and show you! I, Orochimaru, can run a village just as well as, if not better than, Konoha!

With this in mind, and to further his research, Orochimaru established the Sound Village.

After years of secret development, the Sound Village was now on par with the smaller hidden villages.

“This place is much smaller than the Mist Village,” Suigetsu muttered quietly. Orochimaru shot him a glance, and Suigetsu immediately fell silent.

Kimimaro looked at the ninja village in front of him and made a scissor gesture with his right hand as a familiar voice echoed in his ear.

“Tourist and Sound Village successfully photographed together. You are awarded a Clow Card: Silence. It has the power to erase all surrounding sounds.

When used externally, it creates a Barrier of Silence. Inside this barrier, anyone who makes a sound will be teleported outside. The barrier’s strength is linked to the user’s power. When used internally, it allows the user to maintain absolute calm.”

Receiving another Clow Card, Kimimaro didn’t feel much excitement.

“The Silence Card suits this village quite well,” he thought as he followed Orochimaru into the village.

“Orochimaru-sama!”

As they walked, people continuously greeted Orochimaru with looks of admiration in their eyes, showing just how respected he was.

Such charisma was rare.

Of course, those who didn’t admire or follow Orochimaru weren’t non-existent—he had simply imprisoned them.

If Suigetsu continued to behave as he was, he might soon join their ranks.

Orochimaru led the two into the village’s central building. Once inside, the villagers began murmuring amongst themselves.

“More newcomers, and two of them at that.”

“Usually, Kabuto-sama brings people back. This time, Orochimaru-sama personally escorted them. They must be important.”

“Damn it! More competition for Orochimaru-sama’s favor. I won’t lose to them!”

“They’re just kids. How tough could they be? I’ll teach them a lesson and show them who really deserves Orochimaru-sama’s attention around here.”

“That’s right!”

Many of the ninjas were clearly frustrated, feeling that Kimimaro and Suigetsu had stolen Orochimaru’s respect.

If Kimimaro knew about their resentment, he’d probably roll his eyes.

The room they entered was brightly lit, and a woman in white, around 20 years old, was busy with something.

Seeing Orochimaru, she immediately stopped what she was doing.

“Orochimaru-sama, you’ve returned.”

Orochimaru gave a slight nod and asked, “Is Kabuto back?”

“There was a complication with his mission, and he hasn’t returned yet.”

“It seems he’s encountered some trouble.”

Orochimaru pondered for a moment, then continued, “I have business and will be leaving soon. These two are in your care. Show them around the village. Other than leaving the village, grant them whatever they want.”

The woman, named Otoyo, curiously glanced at Kimimaro and Suigetsu, then nodded.

The last person to receive this kind of treatment was Kabuto, who was now the second-in-command of the Sound Village.

“Yes, Orochimaru-sama.”

Hearing that Orochimaru would be leaving, Suigetsu’s eyes lit up.

If Orochimaru left, escaping would be much easier.

As if reading his thoughts, Orochimaru pointed to Suigetsu and said in a low voice, “If this one tries to escape, capture him and throw him in the confinement room. I’ll deal with him when I return.”

Suigetsu’s heart sank. His plan had been seen through instantly.

“Orochimaru-sama, I wasn’t planning to escape. You’re the person I admire most! Why would I ever want to leave?”

Suigetsu quickly tried to explain.

Orochimaru chuckled, clearly not believing him.

“Kimimaro, if you seek power, continue your journey with me. That room contains many of my training notes. You’re free to enter and use them as you wish.”

Compared to Suigetsu, Orochimaru valued Kimimaro much more.

He didn’t intend to take Kimimaro as a disciple, but that didn’t stop him from teaching him a thing or two.

This treatment was even better than being a student.

“Thank you, Orochimaru-sama.”

Orochimaru wasted no time and left immediately.

He still had to head to the Land of Rain, and time was short, so he wouldn’t linger here.

Seeing Orochimaru leave, Suigetsu finally exhaled. The pressure Orochimaru brought was overwhelming.

“Come with me, I’ll show you to your quarters.”

Otoyo left the lab and approached the two.

“Thank you.”

Kimimaro, as usual, kept his words brief, but Suigetsu was the opposite, a chatterbox.

“Sis, how long have you been here? What do you do? Are you the one running the village? Do you think Orochimaru-sama is attractive? Are you married?”

Suigetsu’s questions became more and more ridiculous, until finally, a vein appeared on Otoyo’s forehead.

Wham!

She punched Suigetsu on the head, causing a splash of water.

“Ouch! Why’d you hit me?”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 15: Medical Ninjutsu

Suigetsu was a chatterbox, and after just a few sentences, Otoha could barely tolerate it anymore.

After landing a punch, Otoha was a bit surprised.

"Not a bad ability. No wonder Lord Orochimaru values you so highly," she muttered to herself.

Then, she said, "You talk too much. You look a little cuter when you're quiet. If you keep rambling, I'll make sure you can't speak for three days."

"Really? I don’t believe you," Suigetsu kept testing his luck.

Otoha narrowed her eyes, pulled a pill out of nowhere, and shoved it directly into Suigetsu’s mouth, lifting his chin with her other hand.

She was so quick that Suigetsu couldn't react.

With a gulp, the pill was already down his throat.

Kimimaro’s eyes lit up. What speed! She must be at least at jōnin level. No wonder Orochimaru trusts her to manage the Sound Village.  

"What did you just make me eat..." Suigetsu began to speak, but no sound came out.

His mouth was moving, but no words could be heard.

Suigetsu panicked.

"Don't worry. The poison in the pill will only keep you silent for three days. It won’t have any other effects. But if you keep pestering me after three days, it won’t be so simple," Otoha said calmly.

Suigetsu immediately quieted down.

She was ruthless—poison at the drop of a hat.

Of course, anyone under Orochimaru is not to be messed with.  

However, Kimimaro's eyes gleamed with excitement.

Poison? Is she a medical ninja? That's great! If she's a medical ninja, I can learn medical ninjutsu from her later.  

With Lord Orochimaru's orders, she shouldn't refuse me.  

"Alright, it's quiet now. Let's keep moving," Otoha said with a satisfied smile as Suigetsu could no longer make a sound.

Looking pitiful, Suigetsu glanced at Kimimaro.

Kimimaro’s lips curled slightly as he whispered, "Serves you right."

Furious, Suigetsu raised his hands, ready to fight.

Kimimaro immediately raised his fingers like a gun, aiming them at Suigetsu's forehead, ready to fire a bone bullet.

"What’s wrong? Feeling itchy?" Kimimaro whispered menacingly in Suigetsu’s ear.

Suigetsu instantly backed down.

Seeing him relent, Kimimaro lowered his hand and followed Otoha.

Damn Kimimaro! When I get stronger, I’ll show him! Suigetsu fumed silently, unable to voice his complaints.

Otoha glanced at Suigetsu, then at Kimimaro, finding the situation amusing.

These two Orochimaru brought back are quite interesting. One talks non-stop, the other is cold and reserved. But judging by their talents, that white-haired boy seems far stronger. The one who uses water techniques is definitely wary of him. Looks like they didn't have the best history together.  

These thoughts quickly passed through Otoha's mind as she led them to two empty rooms.

One on the left, the other on the right.

"You’ll stay here. Kimimaro, you take the room on the left. Suigetsu, the room on the right. My room is just ahead. If you need anything, you can come find me, though I’m usually in the lab."

Kimimaro nodded slightly in thanks before entering his room.

Suigetsu silently entered his room, unable to say a word.

Inside the room, Kimimaro surveyed the space.

It was about 50 square meters, more than enough for a young boy.

Everything was stark white, making the room feel rather monotonous.

But Kimimaro didn’t mind.

In these chaotic times, having a place to stay long-term is already a stroke of luck.  

He sat on the bed, flipped his right hand over, and a Clow Card appeared in his palm.

On the card was an image of a girl with closed eyes. Her collar was raised high, covering half her face, including her mouth.

At the top of the card, the character for "Silence" was written.

With a thought, the girl on the card opened her eyes and transformed into a stream of light, appearing before Kimimaro.

She was cold and silent—just as her name implied, Silence.  

Kimimaro smiled slightly and whispered, "Set up a Silence Barrier."

In an instant, the girl transformed into light again, spreading throughout the entire room.

With my current ability, the largest Silence Barrier I can set up is this size, and it only works on weaker ninja. But as I get stronger and more skilled, its range and power will improve.  

Eventually, even elite ninjas will have to follow the rules within this barrier. Although it seems like a harmless ability now, used properly, it can give an enemy a nasty surprise.  

For now, though, the biggest benefit of this Silence Card is how it calms my mind.  

With another thought, the barrier disappeared as the stream of light returned to his body.

Kimimaro felt his mind become clear, his thoughts sharper.

What a strange feeling.  

After enjoying the sensation for a moment, the power of the Silence Card faded, and it returned to its Clow Card form, disappearing from his hand.

In this state, whatever I do will be twice as effective.  

After testing his new ability, Kimimaro lay down on the bed to rest.

The journey had left him quite tired.

After sleeping, Kimimaro went to find Otoha.

"Otoha-senpai, I’d like to learn medical ninjutsu," he said as soon as they met.

"Medical ninjutsu?" Otoha was surprised.

There were many ninja in the Sound Village, but few wanted to learn medical techniques.

In fact, even in the five great ninja villages, medical ninja were always the rarest.

One reason was the high threshold for medical ninjutsu.

Another reason was that those who had the talent for it usually preferred to become powerful offensive ninja rather than support-type medical ninja.

In this world, people willing to be the "green leaves" were rare.

Interesting kid. Medical ninjutsu must be popular lately. Two years ago, Kabuto came to me first to learn medical techniques. Are you sure you want to learn it?  

Kimimaro nodded.

Learning medical ninjutsu had been part of his plan for a while.

Throughout their journey, he’d been training his chakra control by walking on water and climbing mountains.

Chakra control was the most important aspect of becoming a medical ninja.

"Interesting little guy. Since you want to learn, I'll teach you. Follow me."

Otoha didn’t refuse. After all, Orochimaru had told her that Kimimaro could have anything he wanted.

She could see that Orochimaru valued Kimimaro highly.

Teaching him a little medical ninjutsu was no big deal.

Plus, as a medical ninja herself, Otoha was happy to see someone else interested in the field.

She led Kimimaro into a room filled with shelves of books.

"Medical ninjutsu is the most knowledge-intensive form of ninjutsu. To learn it, you need to master the theory first, then move on to practice. These books cover all the medical ninjutsu knowledge in the Sound Village, from beginner to advanced. There are over ten thousand volumes here.

Once you eliminate duplicates, you'll need to read about five thousand books to fully grasp all the knowledge of medical ninjutsu."

Kimimaro was stunned.

Five thousand books?

What does that even mean?  

Even if he read five books a day, it would take nearly three years to finish them all.

And that’s just reading. Memorizing it all would take even longer.

"Do you still want to learn?"

(End of Chapter)