"This man... is most likely a Sound ninja."
Shikamaru broke into a cold sweat.
Kimimaro looked down at the four of them from above.
"What a pain."
Whether it was Lee or Neji, both had formidable combat strength.
"Is this guy here to keep us from reaching Naruto?"
Sasuke's brow furrowed.
"Probably not." Shikamaru said. "Didn't you hear? He said 'my luck is quite good' just now."
Neji added, "If his luck is 'quite good,' that means... the person he's looking for is one of us."
"Correct. Uchiha Sasuke." Kimimaro's gaze settled on Sasuke. "You are what Orochimaru-sama desires."
"So that man sent you, did he?" Sasuke smiled coldly.
"No. I came of my own will." Kimimaro said. "I have no time left. What drives me now is no longer my body, but my spirit. So at the very least, in whatever time I have remaining, I will fulfill Orochimaru-sama's wish."
[A die-hard fan, huh]
[This guy's pressure is insane]
[Feels like a dying man?]
[Why do I feel like this guy has more presence than his precious Orochimaru-sama]
[Because Hanabi's over there]
[Damn, that's a good point]
[Feels like as long as Hanabi's around, no matter how much cool factor an enemy has, it just plummets]
[I, Hanabi, specialize in stripping clout]
[Got it—if the BOSS wants to look cool, he'd better avoid Hanabi]
"What a pain." Shikamaru felt a headache coming on.
They were supposed to be heading out to support Naruto, but now his own teammate Sasuke had been locked onto by an enemy.
And the pressure radiating off this man was immense.
This was no longer the time to go looking for Naruto.
"Sasuke." Shikamaru asked quietly. "Naruto's fight with that guy—how long do you think he can hold out?"
"If he goes all out... Naruto will win." Sasuke had full confidence in Naruto.
Especially with that thing inside him.
Though Gaara carried enormous pressure of his own, it simply couldn't compare to what Naruto had.
[The number-one Naruto stan in the world, Pillar Bro]
[Second Pillar always has full faith in Naruto]
[I still miss the arrogant you from the beginning of the story who called Naruto a dead-last—please revert]
[No way, what if Naruto really does become Naruko? Pillar Bro might have to step up and take responsibility—you can't say that kind of thing now]
[Good point lmao]
[Holy crap, it cut off!]
[Gaia!]
[Guess we wait seven years...]
After the encounter with Kimimaro, the Stage hadn't cut away to another scene.
But it wasn't much of a consolation either—this episode's runtime had ended.
The audience would have to wait seven days for the next one.
Though those "seven years" flew by in the blink of an eye.
Because the very next shot marked the start of a new episode.
Dense forest. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the canopy, casting dappled patterns on the ground.
Nara Shikamaru, Uchiha Sasuke, Rock Lee, and Hyuga Neji stood below, looking up at the tree trunk above.
A killing intent hung thick in the air. Kimimaro stood on the trunk, head slightly lowered, gazing down at the four of them.
"This guy... his Chakra feels wrong." Neji's Byakugan contracted slightly as he murmured under his breath.
"Sasuke, be careful. He's here for you." Shikamaru looked at Sasuke.
"Hmph. I don't care who he is. Anyone who gets in my way pays the price." Sasuke's Sharingan spun slowly, his eyes ice-cold.
[It's over, Pillar Bro's started posturing again]
[The skies clear, the rain stops, and suddenly you think you're all that again]
[Let's just call Second Pillar the Fair-Weather Pillar!]
[Pillar Bro is the Fair-Weather Pillar, can't argue with that lol]
[These comments are toxic—such a serious scene and they turn it into this]
[Absolutely unhinged]
The white figure leapt down from the treetops, landing steadily before them.
Kimimaro Kaguya. His pale face was utterly expressionless, his gaze like ice.
"Then let me take point!" Lee charged out first, moving so fast he was nearly a blur.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
Against this probing attack, Kimimaro simply sidestepped, avoiding Lee's kick. His movement looked leisurely, yet was impossibly precise.
"Shadow Imitation Jutsu!" Shikamaru seized the opening. His hands flew through seals, and the shadow on the ground slithered out like a serpent, stretching toward Kimimaro.
But Kimimaro's body twisted abruptly. Bones erupted from within him, forming a layer of jagged bone armor. Shikamaru's shadow struck the armor and was severed clean.
"What?!" Shikamaru's eyes went wide.
"My turn! Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" Neji closed in fast, palm strikes sharp and relentless, aimed directly at Kimimaro's chakra points.
But Kimimaro neither dodged nor retreated. His bone armor was impossibly hard, and Neji's strikes were deflected one after another.
"That didn't feel right!"
Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms was a technique that could penetrate the body and strike directly at the chakra points.
The problem wasn't just that the strikes had been blocked—it was that the Chakra Neji channeled to seal those chakra points had been deflected.
"The Hyuga clan's Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms targets the internal organs. But my kekkei genkai controls bone. If I can control bone, I can shift the position of my chakra points and shield them to a degree. Against me, your technique amounts to little more than a massage!"
Kimimaro kicked Neji away.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!" Sasuke's Sharingan had already locked onto Kimimaro.
I can't beat Hanabi, but I sure as hell can beat you!
A torrent of scorching flame erupted from Sasuke's mouth, sweeping forward to engulf Kimimaro's silhouette.
"Hmph... Huh?!"
Sasuke's face had been smug a moment ago, but when he saw Kimimaro after the flames cleared, disbelief replaced it.
When the fire cleared, Kimimaro stood in the same spot, completely unscathed. Not a single scorch mark marred his bone armor.
"What the hell... is this monster?" Sasuke broke into a cold sweat.
"Don't let your guard down. His ability is extremely tricky." Neji said gravely. "A bone-based kekkei genkai... what a troublesome power."
Gentle Fist targeted internal organs.
But if the insides were tougher than the outside, the whole approach became pointless.
"Now then. It's my turn."
Kimimaro slowly raised his hand. Bone extended from his palm, forming a razor-sharp bone sword.
"Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Camellia."
His figure vanished in an instant. The next moment, he was right in front of Lee. The bone sword sliced through the air, aimed straight for Lee's throat.
Lee dodged, naturally—but as if Kimimaro had read his movement, the sword shifted angles and thrust at him again. After evading several times, Lee finally ran out of room.
Clang! Sasuke's kunai intercepted the bone sword just in time, sparks flying.
"Lee, fall back!" Sasuke barked. If he hadn't tracked Kimimaro's movements with the Sharingan, Lee would've been in serious trouble.
"He predicted my movements?" Lee felt it too.
His opponent's combat experience was vast. Lee's straightforward attack style had been completely read.
"Now's my chance! Shadow Bind!"
And in that opening, Shikamaru finally seized the moment. His shadow coiled upward like vines, managing to lock Kimimaro's movements.
Shikamaru exhaled with relief. "Finally got you!"