Chương 60: Chapter 60: Kaguya Kimimaro

The sudden appearance of the new enemy left Kiba stunned, and the realization that this figure had managed to steal the coffin unnoticed filled him with dread. Choji was incapacitated, and Kiba himself was in poor condition.

The man standing before him exuded a presence that felt far more threatening than Jirobo. Kiba's instincts screamed that this opponent was on a whole different level.

Glancing at Jirobo's lifeless body, the newcomer, Kimimaro, spoke with cold detachment, "If he couldn't fulfill Lord Orochimaru's task, then his death is of no consequence. If you intend to stop me, I'll kill you too."

With that, Kimimaro turned to leave, carrying the coffin containing Sasuke.

To Kimimaro, nothing mattered more than ensuring Sasuke's safe arrival at Orochimaru's base. Orochimaru's reincarnation was imminent, and if Sasuke wasn't delivered in time, the process would be delayed for years. This was unacceptable to Kimimaro, who viewed Orochimaru as a god and his purpose as absolute.

Stricken by a terminal illness, Kimimaro had once been Orochimaru's chosen vessel for reincarnation. However, his failing body had rendered him unworthy, leaving him desperate to find meaning in his existence. Sasuke's arrival as Orochimaru's new vessel gave Kimimaro a renewed purpose: to deliver Sasuke and ensure Orochimaru's dreams were realized.

With unwavering resolve, he suppressed his ailing body, determined to complete this mission before his life ended.

Watching Kimimaro walk away with the coffin, Kiba forced himself to stand despite his exhaustion. "I won't let you take Sasuke," he said, his voice filled with defiance.

Kimimaro turned, a sharp bone emerging from his shoulder like a blade. He pointed it at Kiba. "I show no mercy to those who stand in my way."

Before the fight could escalate, the ground suddenly trembled, interrupting their confrontation.

Elsewhere in the forest, Kirito, who had been assisting Shikamaru and Naruto, suddenly grew serious. He sensed Kimimaro's presence and realized the immediate danger Kiba and Choji faced. Without intervention, they wouldn't stand a chance.

Kirito had deliberately held back against the Sound Four, intending to train Shikamaru and the others while fostering trust and camaraderie among Konoha's younger generation. These shared battles and life-threatening missions would, over time, forge the bonds that defined the strength of the future Konoha Twelve.

But Kimimaro's arrival disrupted this balance.

[So, the game is over.] Kirito thought, recognizing that it was time to step in.

"Shikamaru! Naruto! Come to me!" Kirito suddenly called out.

The urgency in his voice drew immediate attention. Shikamaru and Naruto, moving through the forest, quickly leaped to Kirito's side.

"What's wrong, Kirito?" Naruto asked, his trust in Kirito apparent.

"New enemies have appeared," Kirito explained. "Kiba and Choji are in danger. We need to help them."

Shikamaru frowned. He hadn't accounted for this possibility in their strategy. If Kiba and Choji were already struggling with Jirobo, they wouldn't stand a chance against someone stronger.

"But how do we leave while these two are still here?" Naruto asked, gesturing toward Tayuya and Kidomaru.

The two Sound ninja had summoned their monstrous creatures—a giant spider and three grotesque giants. With their curse marks in the second stage, Tayuya and Kidomaru were far stronger than before. Shikamaru and Naruto had already been pushed to their limits, relying on Kirito's assistance to avoid defeat.

Tayuya and Kidomaru noticed the gathering and exchanged glances. "Why are those three getting together all of a sudden?" Tayuya muttered. "Where's that fat pig?"

"Probably stuffing his face somewhere," Kidomaru sneered. "Still, if they're grouped up, it's a good chance to finish them off and retrieve Sakon."

Just as they prepared to attack, Kirito slammed his hand against a nearby tree. "Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees!"

Boom! The earth shook violently as massive trees erupted from the ground, their thick trunks twisting and intertwining. The forest came alive, swallowing everything in its path, including Tayuya and Kidomaru.

"What is this?!" Tayuya shrieked, but she and Kidomaru were quickly engulfed by the sea of trees. Even their summoned beasts were ensnared and crushed before they could be dismissed.

The forest floor transformed into a massive, undulating carpet of wooden tendrils, spreading in all directions. When the chaos settled, Shikamaru and Naruto stood in stunned silence, awestruck by the devastation.

Shikamaru, slack-jawed, finally found his voice. "You mean you had this much power the whole time and since when can you use Wood Release?!" He glared at Kirito, frustration evident.

Naruto, though having witnessed Kirito's abilities before, still marveled at the overwhelming force on display. "Every time I see this, it makes me feel... small," he admitted.

Kirito, paying no attention to their reactions, disposed of Sakon's immobilized form by flinging him into the sea of trees. His arm glowed red as molten lava began to form, radiating intense heat.

Shikamaru and Naruto instinctively retreated, the sheer energy forcing them to keep their distance.

Raising his lava-covered fist, Kirito slammed it into the sea of trees.

Boom! The molten punch melted through the dense forest, creating a wide, fiery path.

Lowering his still-glowing arm, Kirito exhaled a blast of icy wind, cooling the molten lava and solidifying the path. "That leads to where Kiba and Choji are. Let's move."

"R-right," Shikamaru and Naruto stammered in unison, following Kirito as he led the way toward their embattled teammates.

Kimimaro, sensing the approach of new challengers, turned his gaze toward the path of destruction left in Kirito's wake. His grip on the coffin tightened.

"More interruptions," he muttered, readying himself for the inevitable clash.

(End of Chapter)

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