[Talk no Jutsu: Art of Opening the Heart]

Kimimaro didn't care about things like the Rabbit Goddess.

He was a weapon of war, locked away in a dark, sunless dungeon since childhood.

The cruel, extreme killing drills left him with only one source of warmth and trust: Kazama Kaguya, who often came to keep him company in the dungeon.

Kazama Kaguya sensed Kimimaro's resolve and sincerity, and fell silent for several breaths.

As a transmigrator who knew the story, he had initially approached Kimimaro with an ulterior motive.

Powerful Taijutsu and a kekkei genkai, unwavering loyalty, and a willingness to give his life—pretending he didn't want to win over someone with such incredible qualities would be a lie.

But after two years together, Kazama Kaguya had realized that, without even noticing, he had come to think of Kimimaro as a younger brother.

People were social creatures, and bonds were a shared emotional need.

In the Ninja World, children only a few years old were already killing people. It was completely insane.

Ninjas were all mentally ill.

The Uchiha Clan were the worst of the lot.

Kazama Kaguya often felt that he didn't fit in with the Ninja World because he wasn't twisted enough.

"Damn this Ninja World. It's a cesspit, just like Warhammer next door. You can't even rest in peace after you die. The Kage and Daimyo of the Five Great Nations should all be strung up from lampposts."

Still, complaining wouldn't change the fact that he'd transmigrated.

The Blood Mist Policy meant the Kaguya Clan was doomed to perish, but he and Kimimaro could still be saved.

Defecting was imperative.

Seeing the determination in Kimimaro's eyes as he stood up for him, Kazama Kaguya decided it was time to come clean.

He took a deep breath and unleashed the Ninja World's legendary, supreme, hand-seal-free secret art.

[Talk no Jutsu: Art of Opening the Heart]

"Kimimaro..." Kazama Kaguya reached out and ruffled the boy's hair, then asked softly, "What do you think is the meaning of life?"

"The meaning of life?" Kimimaro froze. After thinking for a moment, he shook his head in confusion. "I'm sorry, Lord Kazama. I don't know."

"Looks like you haven't found your reason for living yet."

Kazama Kaguya sat down and met the boy's eyes through the dungeon's iron bars. His gaze was gentle. "Then would you like to hear what gives my life meaning?"

"Can I, Lord Kazama?" Kimimaro's eyes lit up with interest.

Kazama Kaguya smiled and spoke softly. "Kimimaro, there's always a reason to live. There's always something you want to do."

"I've been sick for too long, trapped in Kirigakure. The endless mist has worn me down."

"I long for a healthy body. I want to see the Kage Rock carvings in Konoha, hear the thunder rumbling among the mountains of Kumogakure, visit the Summoning Holy Lands and meet the three sages, and, more than anything, wield power as great as the Rabbit Goddess's and stand forever above the heavens."

The grand, breathtaking vision left Kimimaro dumbfounded.

His world was so small that he couldn't even find his way around Kirigakure once he left the dungeon. He had never imagined that the world outside could be so wonderful.

For a moment, he sat frozen, a strange feeling welling up inside him.

It was like a country boy who had always lived in a mud hut seeing a high-end club decked in gold and jade for the first time. An overwhelming sense of inferiority washed over him like a flood.

Kazama Kaguya sensed that something was wrong with Kimimaro. He patted the boy's shoulder and said gently,

"Kimimaro, you can take your time finding your reason to live. There's no rush. Your future is bound to be filled with endless possibilities."

"I'm greedy. I want to attain the power of a god and stand above the heavens. But it's too lonely on my own. Will you come with me?"

Kazama Kaguya opened his heart and shared his most sincere feelings. His eyes brimmed with hope and encouragement, like a beam of light falling into the heart of a boy who had been imprisoned in darkness for so long.

In an instant, Kimimaro felt as if an arrow had pierced his heart.

So this is what it feels like to be needed? It's wonderful!

A flush of excitement colored his face, and his uncertain future suddenly became clear.

In that instant, he knew the reason he was alive.

He jumped to his feet, eyes shining, and said excitedly, "Lord Kazama, let me be your hands and feet. I'll protect your throne in the heavens and fight until my very last bone is shattered!"

The boy's voice held a hint of childishness, but his will was as firm as a rock.

"That's wonderful."

Kazama Kaguya smiled and held out his hand. "Kimimaro, welcome to glorious evolution! Our organization is called the Alliance."

His golden finger, the Evolution Equation, wasn't some hobbled version that only worked on himself.

Smack!

Their hands clasped tightly, forging an unbreakable bond.

Looking at the boy who wanted to give everything he had, Kazama Kaguya thought to himself, Kimimaro, Orochimaru isn't right for you. Once I obtain Otsutsuki blood, you'll be the next to evolve.

The Blood Mist Policy? Infinite Tsukuyomi? Heh. Obito Uchiha, I can't wait to see the look on your face.

Next, Kazama Kaguya went over some key points about escaping Kirigakure.

"Kimimaro, someone has taken control of Kirigakure, and our clan is about to rebel. We'll only have one chance to defect. You have to remember every word I'm about to say."

"Yes, Lord Kazama."

"Here's what you'll do..."

After giving him detailed instructions and making sure Kimimaro could carry out the plan as required, Kazama Kaguya left the dungeon.

With the Kaguya Clan Rebellion imminent, Kazama Kaguya had spent the past two years lying low and making preparations.

He had already stocked up on a Summoning Scroll containing dried food and clean water, Explosive tags, and poisoned weapons such as Thousand Kunai.

Defecting from a Ninja Village was never simple, especially for someone from a kekkei genkai clan. The moment they defected, they would face relentless pursuit by the Anbu.

Obito Uchiha wouldn't allow information to leak.

With only a sickly man like him and a still-growing Kimimaro, even escaping during the clan's rebellion wouldn't be enough to avoid the Anbu pursuit.

So, besides gathering supplies, there was one other important thing he needed to do.

He had to find an ally or a bodyguard to ensure his successful defection.

Kazama Kaguya had already picked out an ally, but the time wasn't right yet.

As for a bodyguard, no one inside Kirigakure would be willing to take his commission at this time.

He needed to create an opportunity—dig a hole and wait for someone to jump in.

As it happened, Kazama Kaguya knew that Suikazan Fuguki was currently the Kirigakure Anbu captain, and that there was one man who had always been a member of his Intelligence Protection Force.

"Kisame Hoshigaki, my former Jonin instructor. I wonder what you'll choose this time."

It was Konoha Year 54, and Kazama Kaguya's body was fourteen years old.

Kirigakure had the same system as the Konoha Ninja Academy: children enrolled at six and graduated at twelve.

The original owner of the body had been unlucky. He had graduated in Konoha Year 52, just as Obito Uchiha launched his invasion. He became one of the first sacrifices after the Blood Mist Policy was implemented, sent to his death on a high-risk mission targeting kekkei genkai users.

Kazama Kaguya had transmigrated at that moment. When he opened his eyes, he saw Kisame Hoshigaki, who was about to dispose of the original owner to prevent the village's kekkei genkai intelligence from leaking.

That cold, shark-like face had stayed with him ever since.

After that, Kazama Kaguya had retired, citing psychological trauma and the onset of Bloodline Disease.

For the past two years, he had kept his head down in Kirigakure, desperately charging the Equation and quietly training to sense Natural Energy. He had even successfully evolved All-Killing Ash Bones.

But now, this power that could end all things was overloading him.

While his genes were collapsing, he had secretly trained to Chunin strength. Now, however, he could barely keep up with the pace of a Genin fight, and couldn't maintain it for long.

Still, with All-Killing Ash Bones as his trump card, any enemy who took a hit would theoretically die in one blow—even someone at Six Paths level.

Before coming to the dungeon, Kazama Kaguya had invited Kisame Hoshigaki to meet him, claiming he had discovered important intelligence.

As a member of the Intelligence Protection Force, Kisame Hoshigaki had spent his life upholding the principle of protecting intelligence, even at the cost of his own life.

So, for the sake of intelligence, he was certain to show up.