He Said I Was a Good Kid

Before Shikamaru could finish speaking, Naruto pulled out a long sword from somewhere and jumped directly in front of Kimimaro, speaking in a serious tone he had never used before.

"I'll hold that guy off, you guys go after him."

"Naruto, you..."

"It's alright, I'll be there in a bit," Naruto interrupted immediately. "You guys go quickly."

Kimimaro remained expressionless and without the slightest hesitation, activating the first Cursed Seal with a sweeping motion. His entire body was covered in bones, making him look like a demon crawling out of hell.

While Shikamaru was filled with horror, he also knew that if he didn't leave now, it would be too late.

"Let's go!" Shikamaru led the way and left.

The other four quickly followed, leaping away in four winding paths. Logically, no matter how terrifying Kimimaro was, he couldn't possibly stop four people simultaneously in front of Naruto.

This is knowledge that Ninja Academy have long taught: how to escape during battle.

Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Camellia

Kimimaro's speed suddenly increased, bone blades appearing on his arms as he charged towards the five who were trying to escape. Naruto didn't let him get away with it; he clapped his hands together and activated the Ninjutsu Adamantine Sealing Chains using the system.

Thick, golden iron chains shot up from the ground, sealing off every direction Kimimaro pursued. Like vines with eyes, they relentlessly and overwhelmingly locked onto Kimimaro.

It was originally Sealing Jutsu used to lock down the Nine-Tails, so using it against Kimimaro would be a complete waste of its potential.

"What was that just now?" Choji and the others had successfully shaken off Kimimaro, but they were still shaken. "Won't Naruto be in danger?"

"Who knows?" Kiba Inuzuka's expression grew even more serious. "It was probably Naruto who did it. Instead of worrying about him, we should worry about us."

The five of them chased after the direction the Sound Four had gone, Shikamaru said through gritted teeth.

"Naruto should be able to handle it. Speed things up, we have to leave Sasuke!"

On the other side.

Kimimaro, trapped in the Adamantine Sealing Chains Locket, realized that he probably couldn't break free of these chains. After a brief moment of thought, he suddenly entered Curse Mark Stage Two state and activated Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Early Fern.

Countless bones began to grow from the ground, their number far exceeding that of the chains of the Adamantine Sealing Chains. Almost instantly, the once lush forest was covered with spiky white bones, resembling a forest of bones.

Naruto was well aware of Kimimaro's terrifying strength and never intended to get entangled with him from the beginning. He immediately launched his ultimate move, intending to make Kimimaro passively deplete his Chakra.

The Dance of the Early Fern was Kimimaro's most powerful Ninjutsu when he was in Curse Mark Stage Two state, but it undoubtedly hastened his death, which was already terminally ill.

Like Kimimaro, Kimimaro was willing to dedicate everything to his master.

Kimimaro, covered in icy bones, was lifted up from the skeletons, like a monarch born on a throne of bones. His right hand, cold and indifferent, transformed into a giant bone spear, and he thrust it down without a trace of emotion towards Naruto was imprisoned by the towering forest of bones.

Before setting off on the mission, Kimimaro was practically a corpse. He was merely forcibly burning his last breath, offering his final value to Orochimaru.

[Nine-Tails' Recognition: 19.8%]

Within the forest of bones, dark red Chakra surged skyward, instantly shattering the surrounding hundred-meter-wide bone forest.

"Lava Release!!"

Naruto did not Tailed Beast Transformation; he merely activated two tails while retaining most of his sanity. Supported by a large amount of Nine-Tails' chakra, molten lava instantly covered the entire bone forest, completely stopping the bones from growing any further.

Kimimaro's strongest bone spear, aimed at Naruto, shattered layer by layer the moment it touched the Nine-Tails Cloak, crumbling inch by inch. Being harder than iron doesn't mean it's absolutely indestructible; it simply means it hasn't encountered a more powerful force.

Naruto has no conscience; he could have easily thrown Kurama (the Nine-Tails) to take the hit in a crucial moment.

Who told it to eat his food and take his things? That's just how it is when you're working.

But that was a life-saving move that had to be used when facing the more dangerous Itachi Uchiha and Orochimaru. Facing Kimimaro, it wasn't necessary to resort to the Nine-Tails to fight.

With the strongest bone spear shattered, Kimimaro's life came to an end, and his body became completely immobile.

Surrounded by a sea of molten lava, Kimimaro was left with only a narrow strip of bones about a meter wide, like an isolated island in a magma ocean. Kimimaro bowed, looking as if he were dying.

Kimimaro.

"Do you know my name?" Kimimaro didn't look up; he had completely lost control of every part of his body.

My heart beat slower and slower, and my breathing became weaker and weaker.

"Ah, you're about to die." Naruto said nonchalantly. "What a pity, Orochimaru must have valued you highly."

"I am not afraid of death, but I am afraid of dying without any value." Kimimaro's voice was devoid of any emotion, as if he felt no pain in the face of death. "If my death can bring value to Lord Orochimaru, then it is worthwhile."

"What a fanatical and terrifying believer," Naruto remarked, as he withdrew the Nine-Tails' chakra.

"Lord Orochimaru walks ahead, he always turns around to make sure I'm keeping up. If I fall behind, Lord Orochimaru will stop until I reappear." Kimimaro's voice finally showed a hint of emotion.

"I have no reason to live. I... I'm just a thief."

"I only secretly shared the meaning of Lord Orochimaru's life."

"That's pretty good." Naruto said dismissively, like an old hunter waiting for his dangerous prey to die.

He didn't want to risk his life; he had plenty of time; he didn't care if Sasuke was taken away. So, like Evil God, he kept tempting Kimimaro to speak, hastening his death.

"What's your name?" Kimimaro asked.

"Kiba Inuzuka." Naruto gave Kiba's name without hesitation, even though he knew there was no point in hiding it from a dying man.

But if Impure World Reincarnation, just don't look for him.

Kiba Inuzuka

Kimimaro murmured the name, and despite being unable to move Kimimaro managed to lift his head. Naruto was not far away, could even hear the sound of bones cracking, but he couldn't find a trace of pain on Kimimaro's sickly pale face.

He hid it well, or perhaps he was simply enjoying himself at that moment.

Because Kimimaro is laughing.

"Thank you, you reminded me of happy things. I'm about to die, and I'm happy because... because."

The boy, covered in bone spurs, spoke in a voice that grew weaker and weaker until it was almost inaudible.

Not far away, Naruto drew his Kusanagi Sword, his blue eyes as deep and unfathomable as the sea. He was emotionless; he would wait for Kimimaro to breathe his last before delivering the final blow. The Death Reaper would treat every child who didn't finish them off equally, dragging them into hell.

Naruto was clear-headed and ruthless, but he still heard Kimimaro's last words clearly.

Her blood-stained lips parted slightly, as if in a soft murmur.

"Lord Orochimaru said I am a good boy."