Kimimaro frowned a bit on hearing Sasuke's introduction.
("Looks like he was supposed to be my replacement to become Orochimaru-sama's new vessel. But that does not matter, even if my health is a bit unstable right now, I will prove to Orochimaru-sama that I am superior to him in every way possible…") Kimimaro thought as he looked at Sasuke.
"My name is Kimimaro." He said.
"Are those bones?" Sasuke asked, seeing the bones sticking out of Kimimaro's body.
"This is my…."
"Kekkei Genkai!" Kimimaro said with a calm demeanor.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru who watched the scene from the sidelines had a frown upon his face.
"This…." Kabuto stared at the three who were on the battlefield.
Naruto stared at Kimimaro who was stopped with a parry from Sasuke.
He thought back to the time where some of the nine rookies were assembled by Shikamaru, to bring back Sasuke before he reached the borders of the Sound Village. Back then he could only stare at Sasuke's back helplessly while being blocked by Kimimaro…
Kakashi walked towards the Palanquin.
"Kazekage-sama!" Kakashi bowed down to Rasa.
Rasa was confused, what to make of the situation. Should he continue to work on the plan with Orochimaru who had now planned to attack him on the way to the Hidden Leaf, or to side with the leaf village with whom he wanted to destroy despite having a treaty with the village….
"The Third Hokage sent me here as an envoy to guide you to the village," Kakashi reported.
"Mm." Rasa nodded to prevent any suspicions.
…..
"This is unexpected…" Sasori commented as he stared at the scene from about a kilometer or two away while standing on top of a sand dune.
"Shall we join them?" Deidara asked excitedly as he jumped onto the strange creature's back.
"No!"
"I want to see, what those three are going to do…" Sasori said.
"Sheesh!" Deidara commented as he got back on to the ground.
"You're no fun my man!" Deidara sulked.
…..
Back on the battlefield…
"Kekkei Genkai?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes!" Kimimaro said as he unzipped his long-sleeved shirt and removed them from his body, letting the shirt hang down his waist.
("What is he doing?") Sasuke and other's surrounding the battlefield thought as they stared at Kimimaro.
(Crack!) a sound was heard as a bone emerged from the top of Kimimaro's left shoulder.
Kimimaro brought his right hand towards the bone and said…
"I see you have a sword."
"Why don't you battle with mine?" Kimimaro said as he pulled out his bone which had another bone at the top of the one he was holding.
("Did he modify his upper arm bones to create that bone hilted sword?") Sasuke thought as he stared at Kimimaro who pointed his sword straight at Sasuke.
….
Orochimaru smirked as he saw this scene.
Kabuto was also excited as he turned towards Orochimaru...
"Orochimaru-sama!"
"We can now see the battle between both of your supposed vessels…"
"Indeed!"
"It's sad to see that I missed the chance to implant the Cursed Seal of Heaven on Sasuke-kun." Orochimaru lamented while also feeling excited on the thought of a match between Sasuke and Kimimaro.
Kakashi tried to observe the thoughts across Kabuto's and Orochimaru's minds.
"Looks like they plan to watch by the side, which probably has to do with Orochimaru's desire for Sasuke!" Kakashi murmured.
Naruto who was by the side turned towards Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei!"
"Don't let your guard down."
"If they move, I will go after Orochimaru while you go after Kabuto," Naruto said as he stared at the battlefield.
Kakashi nodded as he looked towards the battlefield too.
Sasuke lifted his head towards Kimimaro.
"Hmph!"
"Is your bone strong enough to take my sword?" Sasuke asked with an expression of disdain.
Kimimaro looked at the bone-sword in his hand…
"It's not just ordinary bone."
"It has a density so ridiculous that it is as hard as steel," Kimimaro explained.
"As hard as steel?"
"So what? I'll break that bone of yours!" Sasuke declared as he ran towards Kimimaro.
(Whoosh!) Sasuke sent his sword straight ahead.
He felt the sword slip past Kimimaro.
"You have good speed!" Kimimaro commented as he sidestepped Sasuke who went past him.
"Hmph!" Sasuke turned back to send his sword after Kimimaro again.
Kimimaro smiled while back-stepping away from Sasuke.
Sasuke increased his speed once again.
Kimimaro was surprised, but immediately regained his calm demeanor after which he started to perform unorthodox movements while he kept avoiding Sasuke's moves one by one.
"Hmph!" Sasuke snorted as he sent a burst of lightning natured chakra throughout his body.
(Slash!)
Sasuke managed to make his sword cut Kimimaro's skin on his chest area despite Kimimaro making a last-second maneuver to avoid the unexpected drastic increase in speed.
("Damn!") Kimimaro stared at the wound caused by Sasuke.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru, Kakashi, Kabuto, and Naruto were shocked at Sasuke's move just now.
"Even though this was an unexpected interruption in my plans, I am going to let that slide…"
"To think that boy would improve soo much in just one month…"
"No…In less than one month." Orochimaru praised Sasuke's movements.
"Yeah…." Kabuto stared at Sasuke while feeling threatened from within about the significance of his existence to Orochimaru.
…..
Sasuke stared at Kimimaro as though he was a monster.
Sasuke's expression turned from shock to that of confidence as his battle intent shot to the skies.
("To think there are such powerful guys out in the world at my age…")
("Back in that exchange just now…")
("He did not even use his sword, he only used his speed to move away from me..")
("Now that I have caused an injury on his chest area... He will have no choice but to use his sword…")
("I will use that opportunity to destroy his sword.") Sasuke thought as he saw Kimimaro get into his battle stance once again.
"You are strong!"
"But you have not seen anything yet…"
"I have about five dances.."
"You blocked my first dance when you arrived here…"
"So, now I am going to show you my second dance," Kimimaro said as he lifted his sword towards Sasuke again.
< Dance of the Camelia! >
Kimimaro announced as he ran towards Sasuke.
Sasuke clad himself in his lightning natured Chakra once again as he brought his sword towards the front to face the incoming Kimimaro.
—————————————
Back in the alley at the entrance of the Sand village.
Chiyo stared at Yūra who had an expression of guilt across his face.
"I was a sleeper cell working for Sasori-sama!" Yūra confessed.
"Sasori?"
"Did he come here?" Chiyo asked.
"Yes!" Yūra nodded.
(Whoosh!) Chiyo launched forth in full speed as she went past Yūra.
(Whoosh!)
Mukade appeared in front of Chiyo.
"I can't let you go just like that!" Mukade said as he brought his hands to the front with Chakra strings coming out of his fingers.
(tak!) (tak!) (tak!) (tak!)
Sounds of puppet movements echoed throughout the valley.
Chiyo looked towards the sides to see about sixty-four puppets on their way to attack her.
She pulled out a small scroll from within her sleeves.
< Summoning - Father and Mother! >
Chiyo announced as two puppets appeared from the scroll and took their place by their side.
"Hahaha!"
"Two puppets?"
"Are you serious?" Mukade asked as he controlled the puppets according to the instructions from Sasori's scroll.
"Hmph!" Chiyo snorted as she moved her fingers.
(Clink!) a sound was heard as the two puppets merged their hands together.
Chiyo moved her fingers away from each other causing the puppet to move away from each other, revealing a razor sharp wire that connected the two…
"It's useless!" Mukade shouted in excitement as he sent the sixty-four puppets towards her at a much higher speed.
"Let's Go!" Chiyo said as she moved her hands, following which the Father and Mother puppets extended the distance between themselves and went to round up all the puppets in the vicinity through their razor-sharp wire…
(Slash!) (Slash!) (Slash!) (Slash!)
(Slash!) (Slash!)
The duo went about slashing all the puppets that went up against them.
"NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" Mukade screamed.
Within a few moments, all the puppets were slashed apart.
Chiyo stored the Father and Mother puppet in her scroll following which she turned towards Mukade as she raised a needle against him.
"Tell me where Sasori is, or else…" Chiyo threatened him.
"Or else?" Mukade asked in an angry voice.
"I'll just poison you here with this needle," Chiyo said.
"Hah!" Mukade exclaimed as he pointed his finger towards Chiyo.
"Like you can-" (Whoosh!)
Mukade felt something prick his index finger.
He brought his finger towards himself… only to see a needle sticking out.
Mukade realized it was the same needle that Chiyo just showed him.
"AARRGGGHHHH!!!!" He screamed.
"Tell me where Sasori is."
"If you tell me, I will consider treating you once I come back," Chiyo explained her deal.
"Damn you old witch!"
"I swear, I will-" Mukade stopped upon seeing Chiyo pull out another needle.
"Where?" Chiyo asked.
"He's after Lord Kazekage!" Mukade blurted out.
"WHAT?" Chiyo shouted as she took off in top speed towards the direction where Rasa was at.
————————————————
Back in the battlefield…
Sasuke and Kimimaro closed in on each other.
Kimimaro did not hold back as he started to send his sword forth multiple times towards Sasuke.
(Clash!) (Clash!)
(Clash!)
(Clash!)
(Clash!) (Clash!) (Clash!)
Sasuke deflected each, and every sword pierces using his sword.
This went on for a while where neither party had an advantage over the other.
Sasuke became angry as he ignited his sword with lightning natured energy.
Kimimaro saw Sasuke's action, but he could not choose to back out due to the situation he was in…
"AAAHHHH!!!!!" Sasuke shouted as he charged his way over, which was also done by Kimimaro in turn.
Just as they were about to clash with each other, Sasuke sent his sword forth…
(SLASH!!!)
Kimimaro's eyes widened…
Chapter for the day!
There's a new review by GoddessOfFood (Lv5)
50 likes = +1 chapter.
100 likes = +1 chapter (making 2 chaps)
As usual
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If the book reaches rank 25 or above, there will be two extra chapters for the weekend.
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