6-10

Chapter 6: Sixteen Consecutive Strikes

In the thick fog, Kimimaro seemed to have a god's perspective, sensing everyone's position with perfect clarity.

Zabuza's Silent Killing Technique was already one of the best in the Hidden Mist.

Thus, Kimimaro had the advantage over these Mist Shinobi.

Five Mist Shinobi lay ahead.

Kimimaro quickly rushed forward, and they immediately reacted.

"What’s going on? The Hidden Mist Jutsu doesn’t work on this boy from the Kaguya Clan?"

"No idea, just kill him first! How strong could a mere kid be? The five of us Chunin can't take him down?"

"Well said."

"Water Style! Wild Water Wave!"

"Water Style! Water Fang Bullet!"

Water surged from one of the Hidden Mist Chunin's mouths, gushing toward Kimimaro.

Six Water Fang Bullets tore out of the water stream like spiraling drills, heading straight for Kimimaro.

Seeing this, Kimimaro didn’t slow down at all; in fact, he sped up.

"Hmph, just another fool courting death."

"As expected, the Kaguya Clan are all reckless brutes."

The Mist Chunin sneered.

But soon, their sneering vanished.

Kimimaro’s eyes gleamed like lightning, and he swung the bone swords in both hands, directly slashing at the incoming Water Fang Bullets!

He swung horizontally with his right hand!

The first Water Fang Bullet shattered instantly.

Water splashed as Kimimaro swung his left hand!

A thrusting horizontal slash!

The second Water Fang Bullet dispersed!
He turned his body!
The bone sword in his right hand followed!

A spinning slash!
The third Water Fang Bullet was smashed!

Landing, he bent his knees, and struck out with both swords!

Double horizontal slash!
The fourth Water Fang Bullet broke!

The two swords crossed each other and cut downward!
Cross down slash!

The fifth Water Fang Bullet vanished!

The twin swords pulled back!

Cross upward slash!

The sixth Water Fang Bullet was destroyed!

Six slashes in a row, all completed in one fluid movement!
Kimimaro emerged from the chaos, not a single drop of water on him.

So fast!
The five Chunin were stunned.

What incredible twin-sword techniques.

Not even some Jonin could master this skill, yet it appeared in the hands of a mere boy.

Unbelievable!

"Quick! Kill him!"

The Mist Chunin shouted immediately.

But now, after Kimimaro’s series of attacks, not only had his momentum risen, but he had also closed the distance between them.

An advancing downward slash!

Kimimaro slashed down at the first Mist Chunin!
At this moment, carrying the momentum of his consecutive attacks, this slash was fully charged. The Mist Chunin couldn't react in time, and the blade sliced from his left shoulder all the way to his right side of the abdomen.

The sword pierced three inches into his body, and blood splattered!

"Ah!"

The Mist Chunin screamed as Kimimaro's blade was already heading for the next target.

"Bastard!"

The next Mist Chunin cursed, bringing his long blade down!

He was tall, and his attack was full of power.

Kimimaro raised his twin swords in a crossed block!
Clang!
His not yet fully grown frame had no great advantage against an adult shinobi.

The impact of the blow made Kimimaro's hands go numb, almost breaking his offensive momentum.

Without hesitation, Kimimaro released the bone swords from his hands, then even faster, grabbed them in a reverse grip!
His power erupted suddenly!

Reverse blade slash!
The twin swords deflected the tall Mist Shinobi's long blade.

Next, sparks flew from the clash of bone sword and long blade; the latter was pulled upwards, leaving its wielder exposed. Kimimaro's blade slashed upward, slicing through the tall Mist Shinobi's throat!
"Hmm..."

The tall Mist Shinobi's pupils shrank as his strength rapidly drained away.

Eight consecutive slashes!
Each one aimed at a different target.

But that wasn't the end.
Star Burst Stream, sixteen consecutive strikes!

Seeing Kimimaro kill two of them, the remaining three Mist Chunin started to panic.

What was with this Kaguya boy?
Killing Chunin like he was chopping vegetables.

How could his sword be this fast?

Without specialized taijutsu training, it was impossible to withstand.

"Get some distance, use Ninjutsu to deal with him!"

One of the tall, thin Mist Shinobi whispered, and the three of them retreated together. However, Kimimaro was relentless, using Water Body Flicker on the puddle-covered ground with great effect.

Seeing he was about to catch up, there was no time to use Ninjutsu. The tall, thin Mist Shinobi's eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness as he kicked one of his companions in front of him.

Suddenly struck, the Mist Shinobi lost his balance and stumbled toward Kimimaro.

His eyes were full of panic, and even more, fury.

"Bastard!"

He shouted angrily, but the tall, thin Mist Shinobi didn't care at all, his hands already forming seals.

The other chubby Mist Shinobi was also forming seals with his hands.

Neither of them cared about their companion’s fate.

Kimimaro was taken aback by this.

He hadn't expected that the Mist Shinobi would have absolutely no camaraderie, willing to betray each other for time.

For a moment, he even felt some pity for this Mist Shinobi.

Surprise was just that; pity was just that. Kimimaro didn't show any mercy.

If he hesitated now, the next one to die would be him.

The bone sword in his right hand swung, ending the life of the stumbling Mist Chunin instantly.

Ninth strike!
The Mist Chunin fell into a pool of blood with unwilling eyes.

To die not because of a strong enemy, but because of being betrayed by a comrade with no hope of survival—this might be the most frustrating way for a shinobi to die.

"Heh, you bought us time, you can be proud of that."

The tall, thin Mist Shinobi laughed coldly, the seals on his hands now complete.

The chubby Mist Shinobi also finished his seals and was the first to shout, "Earth Style! Earth Flow Wall!"

A wall of earth rose, but instead of blocking in front of them, it rose behind Kimimaro, sealing off three of his escape routes from behind and both sides!
This move cut off all possibility of dodging.

And the tall, thin Mist Shinobi spat out a high-pressure stream of water, twenty centimeters in diameter.

"Water Style! Water Colliding Wave!"

The water column shot forward like a high-pressure water cannon, straight at the young shinobi.

With his escape route blocked, Kimimaro had no way to avoid it!

The water column closed in, aimed straight at him!

"Dodge? Hmph! I never planned to dodge!"

Kimimaro roared internally, slashing out with his bone swords at an incredible speed!

Tenth strike!
The blade sliced into the water column.

The immense force of the water column nearly knocked the bone sword from his hand, but Kimimaro held tight, refusing to let go.

His left hand swung the eleventh strike!
With the pressure on his right-hand bone sword slightly relieved, he pulled back and then swung the twelfth strike!
Each strike faster than the last, Kimimaro seemed to truly want to cut the water column apart!
"Faster!"

Kimimaro screamed internally, channeling his chakra fully into his bone swords.

His speed and strength were both intensifying.

"What an idiot, still thinking he can slice through a water flow? With that young body of his, how could he possibly manage it?"

The chubby Mist Shinobi sneered.

But in the next instant, he was stunned.

From within the water column, a flash of eerie white sword light appeared, and the frail figure of the boy charged out!

Fifteenth strike!

"Ah!"

Kimimaro let out a fierce shout, landing with one foot in a puddle, activating the Water Body Flicker once more!

The final strike!
The sixteenth strike!

"Die!"

Whoosh!
In the horrified eyes of the two Mist Shinobi, Kimimaro’s bone sword pierced through one of their chests!

Thrust!

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 7: Darkness and Light

With his left sword piercing the fat Mist Ninja's chest and his right sword stabbing the tall, thin Mist Ninja in the heart, Kimimaro stood before them, his bone swords gleaming eerily.

The two ninjas looked at him in disbelief, unable to fathom how he managed to cut through the water column so swiftly or why the strike was so fast.

**Starburst Stream Slash!**
One slash faster than the last, enhanced by Water Body Flicker, making it too quick for them to react.

Kimimaro panted slightly; his consecutive strikes had pushed his speed to its limit, leaving him momentarily drained. Sixteen hits in a row took a toll on his stamina. If not for his Kaguya clan's terrifying body and the Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse), Kimimaro, new to this world, wouldn't have been able to execute the Starburst Stream Slash.

"Damn you! Let's go to hell together!" The fat ninja, using his last strength, drew a long sword from his body and aimed to slice the frail young boy in front of him in half.

Kimimaro's eyes narrowed. Exhausted, he couldn't dodge.

The fat ninja's eyes gleamed with a final spark of madness.

**Clang!**
The sword hit—but it didn't strike Kimimaro's body. Instead, it clashed against his bones. Two ribs extended from his body, blocking the attack.

**Bone Lock!**
Though his body was spent, the power of his bloodline remained strong. The strength of the Shikotsumyaku emerged, stopping the fat ninja’s deadly strike.

The fat ninja's eyes widened, his last-ditch effort having failed miserably. The Kaguya clan's bone defense was far too formidable.

In despair, he closed his eyes for the last time. Lifeless.

Kimimaro withdrew his bone sword and sighed in relief. Without hesitation, he used his restored energy to move his legs and immediately fled the scene. The entire battle, though seemingly long, lasted less than ten seconds. Kimimaro had to escape before the other Mist Ninjas realized what had happened. Otherwise, his earlier planning would be for nothing. His strength was waning, but he still had enough to run.

He quickly escaped the mist concealment jutsu and sprinted into the distance. Meanwhile, Mei Terumi defeated the Kaguya clan leader.

"Kaguya Bone... Why must it end this way?" Mei Terumi sighed as she looked at the severely injured clan leader, who, despite being unable to fight back, still stubbornly stood.

"Hahaha! Mei Terumi, you'll never understand the difference between living with pride and living on your knees! Go ahead and serve as Yagura's lapdog! But my Kaguya clan will never bow down! Hahaha!"

Though his body was battered, the Kaguya clan leader's wild laughter echoed across the battlefield.

Mei Terumi felt a deep unease. His words stirred her emotions.

Kaguya Bone extended his right hand, summoning a white bone blade.

Mei Terumi frowned. "Are you still going to resist? Give up. Come with me to see the Mizukage, and maybe there will still be a chance for you."

"Heh, my entire clan fought back with everything we had. We never thought we'd actually destroy the Mist Village, and we never expected to survive. The gap between the strength of one clan and one village is something I'm well aware of. All I wanted was to make a statement! I want the entire Mist Village, the entire shinobi world, to know that the Kaguya clan would rather die than be humiliated! Today, though I die, I will die a proud warrior—not Yagura’s dog!

Mei Terumi, you are not worthy of killing me! And neither is Yagura! I will spill my last drop of blood where my ancestors fought bravely!" 

With a shout, Kaguya Bone thrust his bone blade towards his own throat.

"No!" Mei Terumi screamed, rushing to stop him, but it was too late.

Blood splattered, staining the earth red. Mei Terumi arrived just in time for the hot blood to splash onto her face. Kaguya Bone grinned grotesquely, opening his mouth as if to say something. But his throat was pierced, and no sound came out.

Yet Mei Terumi understood his words by reading his lips: "My hot blood could never melt the ice of the Mist."

Though their blood was still hot, the hearts of the Kaguya clan had grown cold. 

This was likely the current state of the Kaguya clan.

Mei Terumi’s outstretched hand froze mid-air. Kaguya Bone’s life had ended, but his body didn’t fall. He stood tall, like a warrior to the very end.

Mei Terumi was deeply shaken. At just twenty years old, witnessing such a scene left her deeply moved. The Kaguya clan, with their blood, had shown Mei Terumi and the Mist Village one thing:

It wasn’t difficult to kill the Kaguya clan. 

But to make them submit? Impossible.

"Kaguya clan... I will remember this," Mei Terumi whispered, her shock lingering.

By now, all the Kaguya clan members lay dead, their corpses cold and still.

"Lady Mei Terumi, a Kaguya boy escaped during the battle. I’ll gather a team to pursue him. Though he disappeared from my Byakugan’s sight a minute ago, he's only a boy and shouldn't have gotten far. There’s still a chance to catch him," said Ao, his right eye glowing blue.

The **Byakugan**, with its far-seeing and x-ray capabilities, could even track Kimimaro through the mist. This Byakugan was the only one to have ever left the Hyuga clan.

Mei Terumi frowned but stopped Ao. "Let him go."

"Lady Mei Terumi, but…"

Ao was startled.

"The Kaguya clan may have made mistakes, but they don’t deserve to be exterminated. After all, when the Mist Village was first established, the Kaguya clan made great contributions. I don’t know what the Fourth Mizukage is thinking, but wiping out the bloodline clans is a decision the Mist Village will regret in the future. This Kaguya boy managed to escape our blockade, so let him be. Let the Kaguya clan's bloodline survive in some form."

"But if the Mizukage punishes us for this..."

"I will take full responsibility!" Mei Terumi declared firmly.

As someone from a bloodline clan herself, she couldn’t bear to see the Kaguya clan annihilated. It would be like seeing her own clan’s future.

Seeing Mei Terumi’s determination, Ao didn’t press further. He had no desire to wipe them out, either.

Mei Terumi looked at the surrounding corpses, her resolve hardening. 

"We can’t let the Fourth Mizukage continue like this. If we do, the Mist Village will be doomed."

Clenching her fist, she glanced at the fallen Kaguya clan members, feeling a deep sorrow.

They were all from the same village—why did it have to come to this? If this continued, could the Mist Village remain one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages?

...

Kimimaro ran as fast as he could, unaware that his clan had been completely wiped out. He only wanted to escape.

"Faster! I need to go faster!"

Kimimaro ran tirelessly, not knowing how long he’d been running.

All he knew was that he was running towards the light.

The darkness slowly dissipated, and a ray of light suddenly appeared.

It was… the sunrise!

A red sun rose from the horizon, gradually banishing the night.

As sunlight bathed Kimimaro, he completely broke free from the darkness and stepped into the light.

**Chapter 8: The Sword Clow Card**

A warm, comforting sensation wrapped around his entire body as Kimimaro slowly came to a stop.

He had no idea how far he had run, but now, all he could feel was exhaustion, as if he couldn't muster even an ounce of strength.

The blood on the two bone swords he held tightly in his hands had already dried.

Kimimaro’s legs gave out, and he sat down on the ground.

"*Cough, cough...*"

After the exhaustion came an overwhelming thirst.

Luckily, the one thing the Land of Water wasn’t lacking was water sources.

Kimimaro struggled to his feet and walked over to a nearby stream. He plunged his head into the cool water, leaving the bone swords stuck in the ground beside him.

He greedily savored that first sip of freedom.

Lifting his head, he shook it, sending droplets of clear stream water flying from his white hair.

The droplets scattered, and even his white hair seemed to revel in the joy of freedom.

"I did it," he murmured to himself, a sliver of joy rising in his heart.

He was free!

This new world had finally opened its arms to him.

For a moment, he felt new energy surge through his exhausted body.

The weariness of the night seemed to fade away.

Kimimaro tore off a piece of his shirt, soaked it in the stream, and gently wiped the blood off his bone swords.

Once the blood was gone, the swords returned to their original, pristine white.

In that moment, both the boy and his swords were pure and untainted.

However, even though the bone swords were clean, it was easy to see several nicks and cracks on them, while the boy himself had been reborn.

"It seems these bone swords are no longer usable."

Kimimaro muttered to himself, tossing the clean bone swords into the lake.

As the swords sank, the boy bid a final farewell to the Hidden Mist.

Now, he had a free body and soul.

Taking a deep breath of fresh air, Kimimaro exhaled heavily.

In his mind, a transparent interface only he could see appeared in front of him.

It displayed his information:

**Tourist**: Kimimaro  
**Age**: 10

**Innate Ability**: Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse)

At the top was a simple character introduction, and below it, the screen was divided into three sections.

Each section had several small boxes.

The three sections were labeled: **Scenic Photos**, **Character Photos**, and **Event Photos**.

In the Scenic Photos section, there was a picture of Kimimaro with the place where he had been imprisoned, with the words "Kirito Swordsmanship" written underneath.

In the Character Photos section, there were two pictures: one of Kimimaro shaking hands with Haku and another with Zabuza. Below them were written: **Water Body Flicker Technique** and **Silent Killing Technique**.

The Event Photos section was still blank.

As Kimimaro looked at it, he suddenly noticed a "1" flashing on the Event Photos section.

"What is this...?"

He reached out and tapped the flashing "1" in the air, and immediately, a line of text appeared.

**"The tourist has experienced the Kaguya Clan massacre. Check-in complete. Received Clow Card: ‘The Sword.’"**

A cold, electronic voice rang out, and a new picture appeared in the Event Photos section, showing Kimimaro’s heroic figure during the previous battle.

Unlike the Character and Scenic Photos, the Event Photos only appeared after the event had concluded.

Kimimaro's expression became rather intriguing.

"Clow Card? Like from *Cardcaptor Sakura*?"

This... was interesting.

The back of the photo showed the image of the Clow Card he had just received.

At the top of the card was the word "Sword," and below it was an image of a long sword bound by chains.

The Sword Card possessed the power to cut through anything and could be infused into any weapon.

Its strength depended on the user's willpower—the stronger the mind, the sharper the sword would become.

Kimimaro extended his right hand, and a brand-new bone sword emerged from his palm.

With a thought, the power of the Sword Clow Card flowed into the bone sword.

*Enchantment!*

Kimimaro tightened his grip on the sword and lightly slashed it across a large stone beside him.

*Crack!*

A sword mark appeared on the stone.

"This power..."

Kimimaro was surprised. He hadn’t even used much strength, yet the sword had left such a deep mark on the stone.

If he put his full strength into it, the power would be even more terrifying.

It was similar to the effect of Wind Release chakra infusion, but the Sword Card's power was tied to his will, meaning its potential far exceeded that of Wind Release.

And it consumed very little energy.

Satisfied, Kimimaro withdrew the Sword Clow Card, and the bone sword returned to its original state.

"Not bad at all. If the bone sword had been this sharp during the last battle, my efficiency would have been much higher."

Kimimaro thought to himself, then leaned against a nearby tree and closed his eyes to rest.

After a night of fighting, he was nearly out of stamina and desperately needed rest to recover his strength.

If he encountered enemies again, he wouldn’t even have the chance to fight back.

Resting now would also allow him to escape faster later.

Sharpening the sword doesn't delay the work of chopping firewood. Even though it was risky, this was the best course of action for now.

The bone sword was planted in the ground next to him, within arm’s reach. If anything happened, he could draw it instantly to fight.

About fifteen minutes later, Kimimaro opened his eyes, a look of caution on his face.

He could sense someone approaching!

Whoever it was, they weren't trying to hide their presence, clearly unafraid of being detected.

Kimimaro immediately drew the bone sword from the ground and looked toward the source of the presence.

"Heh, so you're here after all."

A man in a pale yellow kimono with ghostly pale skin and chilling snake-like eyes approached.

Orochimaru!

It was him!

From the way he spoke, he had been looking for Kimimaro.

So, I was being watched all along? Kimimaro’s mind raced with thoughts.

First, he felt a sense of relief.

At least he didn’t have to worry about being hunted by the Hidden Mist anymore. With Orochimaru here, even if Mist Shinobi showed up, they wouldn’t be a problem.

Second, Orochimaru had definitely set his sights on him.

Joining Orochimaru’s camp?

Kimimaro wasn’t entirely against the idea.

Orochimaru was one of the few truly “good” teachers in the world of *Naruto*, and if Kimimaro wanted to understand the world’s power systems more deeply, joining his side would save him a lot of trouble.

The only real issue with joining Orochimaru was personal safety.

But that didn’t concern Kimimaro much.

His kekkei genkai disease was his greatest safeguard. Until Orochimaru found a way to cure it, he wouldn’t do anything to harm Kimimaro.

Once that problem was solved, Kimimaro was confident he could gain enough power to challenge Orochimaru.

Lastly, the rewards from the Time Travel Bureau made it clear that there was no direct cure for his kekkei genkai disease or immortality. So, the medical ninjutsu of this world was Kimimaro’s best option.

If he could solve his disease without using forbidden techniques, that would be the ideal outcome.

Medical ninjutsu, first choice: Tsunade.

But even if Kimimaro could find her, why would the granddaughter of the First Hokage heal a rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist?

Not very realistic.

Below Tsunade, Kabuto was the second-best medical ninja.

Although Kabuto hadn’t cured Kimimaro in the original series, that didn’t stop Kimimaro from wanting to learn medical ninjutsu from him.

Kabuto’s medical expertise owed a lot to Orochimaru’s resources.

In any world, growth depended on access to resources.

Moreover, Orochimaru’s experiments all required medical knowledge; otherwise, they wouldn’t have been possible.

So, Orochimaru definitely had a system for learning medical ninjutsu.

That was the main reason Kimimaro wanted to join Orochimaru’s camp.

Learn medical ninjutsu, understand the root of his disease, and then treat it.

No other option made more sense than staying by Orochimaru's side.

But following the original plot to join Orochimaru’s camp wouldn’t work.

He had escaped on his own, without showing any desperation to be wanted or needed.

Forcing himself into the role might make Orochimaru suspicious.

Although Orochimaru would probably still take him in, the treatment would likely be different.

If that’s the case...

"Who are you?"

Even though he had recognized Orochimaru, Kimimaro didn’t reveal that.

There was no need to show unnecessary flaws.

Now, he had to create a new persona for himself.

One better than a mere tool.

"Heh heh, who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is you. As a member of the Kaguya Clan, you fled from battle. Isn't your clan known for its love of fighting?"

Orochimaru’s lips curled into a mocking smile, but there was a hint of admiration in his eyes.

He had always been someone who valued life.

The Kaguya clan’s decision to fight on despite knowing it would lead to their death seemed utterly foolish to him.

In contrast, someone like Kimimaro, who used every ounce of his will to survive, was someone Orochimaru truly admired.

"Fighting may be the Kaguya clan's purpose, but it's not mine. To me, living has meaning, while death is worthless."

Kimimaro coldly said this, making Orochimaru’s eyes gleam with interest.

"Heh, what an interesting guy. But now that you've betrayed your clan, you’re nothing more than a wandering soul without a place in this world."

"A place to belong..."

(End of chapter)

Chapter 9: The Hand of God

Kimimaro remained silent for a moment, then pointed to his chest.

"This is where I belong!"

Orochimaru was a bit surprised.

This boy had an incredibly strong will.

To declare that his own heart was his destination—that kind of resolve could only come from someone with immense mental strength.

This boy, imprisoned for nearly ten years, had not sought anyone's approval. Instead, he had honed such a powerful will.

Truly remarkable.

A smile began to spread across Orochimaru's face.

This boy was quite intriguing.

Orochimaru could almost see his own reflection in Kimimaro.

Initially, Orochimaru only admired Kimimaro's talent, but now he felt a deeper connection, almost as if he had found a kindred spirit.

"Alone, what meaning is there in living?"

Orochimaru spoke again, though it seemed like he was asking himself as much as he was asking Kimimaro.

"The meaning of living?"

Kimimaro murmured softly, a look of confusion appropriate for his age appearing on his face.

To play his role completely, Kimimaro knew it would be odd to respond too quickly to such a question.

After a moment, as if he had come to a realization, he spoke firmly, "Right now, I don’t know what the meaning of living is. But I do know that life is fragile. If you die, nothing has meaning. If you’re not strong enough, you’ll end up like my clan, with no control over your fate.

"I want to live! I want to live forever! To gain the power to change everything! Maybe then, I will find the meaning of living."

As he finished speaking, Kimimaro could clearly see the visible joy in Orochimaru’s eyes.

The look in Orochimaru’s eyes was like he had found a kindred spirit.

"Heh, that’s quite an interesting thought."

Orochimaru wasn’t afraid of loneliness—in fact, he thrived on it.

But finding someone like himself was certainly a welcome discovery.

People who pursued immortality and power were, in essence, Orochimaru's kindred spirits.

In that moment, Orochimaru's fondness for Kimimaro grew significantly.

Sensing the change in Orochimaru, Kimimaro felt the time was right. He tightened his grip on his bone sword and spoke coldly.

"Enough with the talk. Judging by your appearance, you're not a ninja from the Hidden Mist Village. Who exactly are you?"

He had answered Orochimaru's question and established his new persona of seeking immortality and power. It was time to get to the main point.

"You don’t need to be so tense. I’m not from the Hidden Mist Village. But I can offer you everything you desire. Come with me, and I can help you gain both power and immortality. Because we are the same kind of people."

Sunlight shone from behind Orochimaru, making him appear radiant, almost like a savior sent to rescue Kimimaro.

The atmosphere was intense.

If Kimimaro didn’t have the soul of someone who had traveled from another world, he might have regarded Orochimaru as a god in that moment.

There was no illusion, no manipulation—just the sheer force of Orochimaru’s charisma.

You had to admit, in this aspect, Orochimaru could easily start a masterclass.

No wonder he was known as the friend of orphans.

"Remember my name. I am Orochimaru."

That deep, raspy voice slowly revealed his name.

"Orochimaru?"

Kimimaro repeated it softly, as if contemplating the meaning behind the name.

"You can give me everything I want?"

"Heh, I can make you stronger quickly. As for immortality, that road is long. I’m still searching myself. Perhaps we’ll be companions on that journey. Come with me, Kimimaro."

Orochimaru extended his right hand in an offer.

Kimimaro put on an appropriate look of fascination and slowly walked toward Orochimaru.

The smile on Orochimaru’s face grew wider.

"If I can gain immortality and power, I’m willing to go with you."

"Heh, you won’t be disappointed."

Kimimaro grasped Orochimaru’s outstretched hand, accepting his offer.

"Congratulations, traveler. You've acquired the Imperial Arm: The Hand of God. The Hand of God enhances the precision of your fingers by hundreds of times, greatly aiding in tasks such as weapon crafting and medical treatment. It can fully integrate with the soul of the traveler’s hands."

Hearing this, Kimimaro felt a surge of joy within.

With the Hand of God, his path toward research and medicine would be much smoother.

Although ecstatic inside, Kimimaro maintained a composed exterior, showing no odd expressions.

"Let’s go. We should leave this place."

"Where are we going?"

"To the place that belongs to us."

Kimimaro followed Orochimaru and left.

He knew he was safe, for now.

Leaving the Hidden Mist Village and joining Orochimaru's camp had granted him the freedom to survive, as well as the opportunity to learn.

There might be many places in the ninja world where he could learn, but Orochimaru was undoubtedly the best teacher for Kimimaro.

The two set off together, with little conversation along the way.

Most of the time, Orochimaru was offering Kimimaro guidance on his training.

That’s right—his lessons had already begun.

Seeing Kimimaro’s eagerness to learn, Orochimaru naturally didn’t mind teaching him.

In Orochimaru’s eyes, this boy was different from the other tools he had used in the past. He felt more like another version of himself.

However, this boy was still too weak to stand on the same level as him.

But with Kimimaro’s talent, it was only a matter of time.

During breaks, Kimimaro continued to refine his chakra.

There was no denying the remarkable talent of his body.

According to Orochimaru, the amount of chakra in Kimimaro’s body was already comparable to that of an average jonin.

If that weren’t the case, the original Kimimaro wouldn’t have been able to fight his way out on the night his clan was destroyed.

Other ninjas might envy him for this.

But Kimimaro knew that jonin-level chakra was just the starting point.

Without chakra comparable to a tailed beast, he wouldn’t even be able to make proper introductions in the later stages of his journey.

The road of training was still long.

Moreover, he hadn’t yet fully integrated the original body’s strength. Otherwise, his escape from the Hidden Mist’s encirclement wouldn’t have been so difficult.

Seeing Kimimaro still diligently extracting chakra even during breaks, a glint of satisfaction flashed through Orochimaru’s golden eyes.

This thirst for power greatly pleased him.

He had once gone through this same phase.

This boy really was like him.

"A genius of the Kaguya Clan… I wonder how far he can go."

Orochimaru licked his lips in anticipation.

That night, the two arrived at an inn.

"Orochimaru-sama, we’ve received news from the organization."

It was the innkeeper who spoke, his face full of respect when he saw Orochimaru.

Kimimaro perked up upon hearing this.

"The organization? The Akatsuki? Of course, at this time, Orochimaru hasn’t left the Akatsuki yet."

Just a few days ago, Itachi and Juzo had severely wounded the Fourth Mizukage, leading to Zabuza’s rebellion and the massacre of the Kaguya Clan.

Orochimaru had been Itachi’s second partner in the Akatsuki, and after returning from this mission, he would pair up with Itachi, only to lose an arm to him later, sparking his obsession with the Sharingan.

"What’s the news?"

"Juzo-sama is dead. The leader is reorganizing the team. There’s a meeting in seven days at the usual place."

"I see. Prepare two rooms. I’ll be staying here tonight."

"Yes, Orochimaru-sama."

Their conversation confirmed Kimimaro's earlier thoughts.

End of Chapter.

**Chapter 10: One Finger Bullet**

In the room, Kimimaro sat cross-legged.

Since coming to this world, his nerves had been on edge.

But now, he finally relaxed completely.

This place felt safe.

Orochimaru was in the next room. Even if Mist ninja came looking for him, Kimimaro had no need to worry.

At this time, in the Hidden Mist Village, no one could snatch someone away from Orochimaru.

Kimimaro closed his eyes. He didn’t sleep immediately but instead began to review the memories of his original self.

More specifically, the Kaguya clan’s Fluid Art that he had learned.

During his previous battle, Kimimaro mostly relied on Kirito’s swordsmanship. The power of his Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse) was only used for defense.

But the potential of Shikotsumyaku was far greater than that.

Its defensive power was formidable, but its offensive capabilities were also impressive.

In the memories of his original self, there were several techniques related to Shikotsumyaku.

It’s worth noting that abilities granted by a kekkei genkai (bloodline limit) don’t always need to be taught by others. A highly gifted individual can discover them on their own.

Just like how Neji Hyuga figured out the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms and Rotation by himself.

And speaking of talent, Kimimaro, as the last member of the Kaguya clan, was even more gifted than Neji.

"Shikotsumyaku is mainly a taijutsu style, so how I use it depends on me."

After reviewing the Shikotsumyaku techniques, Kimimaro came to this conclusion.

He extended the index finger of his right hand and aimed at a cup not far away.

In the next moment, he activated his chakra and could clearly feel the bone in the distal phalanx of his index finger regenerating an extra segment.

The original bone was pushed out.

The skin at the tip of his finger broke open, and the finger bone shot out!

*Bang!*

The cup three meters away was hit by the bone, instantly shattering into pieces.

"Not bad power. Given time, it might even exceed the destructive force of a bullet."

**Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!**

This was one of the techniques of Shikotsumyaku.

However, for now, it could only be called **One-Finger Drilling Bullet**.

It wasn’t that Kimimaro couldn’t use all ten fingers, but that the ten-finger technique was a wide-area attack, while the one-finger technique focused on a single target.

In terms of raw power, concentrating chakra into one finger made the **One-Finger Drilling Bullet** even stronger.

The chakra that would normally be spread across ten bones was now focused on just one, making it naturally more potent.

Just as Kimimaro was about to continue his exploration, his ears twitched—he heard sounds of fighting outside.

He immediately stood up, hid behind the window, lifted the curtain slightly, and looked toward the street.

It was already deep into the night, and there were no streetlights.

He could only make out vague shapes under the moonlight.

On the street, a Mist ANBU ninja was chasing down a white-haired, purple-eyed boy.

The sounds of battle came from them.

Aside from the two of them, the street was completely deserted.

In times of war, few dared to go out at night.

The white-haired boy looked to be about Kimimaro’s age. He was fighting while retreating, clearly struggling.

The Mist ANBU ninja thrust his long sword forward, piercing the white-haired boy’s chest.

“Ugh…”

The white-haired boy clutched his chest with his right hand, his pupils dilating as he stared straight at the Mist ANBU.

The ANBU’s face was hidden behind a mask, revealing no expression, but through the two eye holes, Kimimaro could see the cold, ruthless gaze.

“The remnant of the Hozuki clan—Hozuki Suigetsu—target eliminated.”

The Mist ANBU spoke coldly.

But just then, something unexpected happened!

Suigetsu’s left hand shot out suddenly, forming the shape of a gun aimed directly at the Mist ANBU’s right eye.

“Not good!”

The ANBU ninja was startled and tried to evade, but his right hand, holding the sword, was tightly gripped by Suigetsu’s right hand.

That small hand, much smaller than the ANBU’s, somehow summoned a surprising amount of strength, locking his hand in place.

Suigetsu’s exposed chest had no blood. Instead, it was made of water!

“Water Release: Water Gun Technique!”

*Bang!*

A stream of water shot out from Suigetsu’s left index finger like a bullet.

At such close range, there was no avoiding it.

The water bullet pierced through the Mist ANBU’s right eye, blasting through his skull.

The Mist ANBU fell to the ground, lifeless.

Suigetsu pulled out the sword from his chest and took deep breaths.

Not from exhaustion, but from the fear of coming so close to death.

“This…”

Kimimaro had witnessed the entire scene, surprise flashing across his face.

This white-haired boy was quite the actor.

If he hadn’t faked being hit, the Mist ANBU wouldn’t have been so easily killed, even if he was only a Chunin.

“The Hozuki clan’s unique Hydrification Technique allows them to turn their bodies into water, making them immune to all physical attacks.”

Orochimaru had appeared silently beside Kimimaro, explaining in a soft voice.

Clearly, Orochimaru thought Kimimaro was curious about the technique Suigetsu had used.

Orochimaru’s sudden appearance made Kimimaro tense up, once again reminding him of Orochimaru’s terrifying strength.

At this time, Orochimaru was in peak condition, one of the strongest shinobi, even among the Kage level, unlike his weaker, sickly state during the events of **Naruto: Shippuden**.

“That Mist ANBU underestimated him. He probably didn’t expect a boy under ten to have already mastered a technique even some Hozuki clan Jonin couldn’t.”

Orochimaru continued, his tone betraying his growing interest in Suigetsu.

The Hozuki clan wasn’t a bloodline limit clan, strictly speaking; they were a secret technique clan.

Similar to the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans of the Hidden Leaf, they had their own unique secret techniques.

But the power of these techniques was comparable to most kekkei genkai.

It seemed the Mist Village’s purge of kekkei genkai clans had also implicated clans with secret techniques.

The Mist didn’t want such talent, but Orochimaru certainly did.

“Kimimaro, let’s go meet this young Hozuki.”

With that, Orochimaru pushed open the window and jumped down.

Kimimaro followed closely behind.

He knew Orochimaru’s love for orphans had been piqued once again.

One of Orochimaru’s hobbies was collecting talented children.

Suigetsu, who had just taken down the Mist ANBU, sighed with relief, grumbling, “These Mist ANBU just won’t give up. I’m so close to escaping the Land of Water, but here’s another one. I need to get rid of this body fast, or they’ll figure out my abilities.”

Suigetsu was about to dispose of the body when Kimimaro and Orochimaru approached.

He immediately became alert.

“Who’s there?”

Seeing that the two weren’t dressed like Mist ninja, Suigetsu relaxed slightly, but his guard was still up.

After being hunted for so long, his vigilance was high.

“Young Hozuki, come with me. I need your strength.”

Orochimaru flashed his signature smile.

With that smile, he had lured many orphans before.

But Suigetsu wasn’t buying it.

“You need me, so I have to go with you? Keep dreaming! Who the hell are you?”

Orochimaru: “…”

Seeing Orochimaru flustered, Kimimaro chuckled to himself.

Who would’ve thought that the great orphan-collector Orochimaru would fail?

“Kimimaro, take him down.”

(End of Chapter)