The Kaguya Incident

Land of Water

Central Main Island

Nighttime, in a village dungeon at the southernmost tip of Central Main Island, a handsome boy of about five or six years old, with two red dots on his forehead and long silver hair, huddled in a corner, clutching Bone Spike and repeatedly raising his hand to poke the wall behind him.

Why am I here...?

"Did I do something bad...?"

The boy poked and prodded for a while, then stood up, stroking the human face he had carved with Bone Spike, and muttered to himself in a somewhat bewildered manner:

"Does God... really exist...? If he really does..."

The boy's bewildered face turned angry, and he raised the Bone Spike with his right hand, aiming at the human face.

Why are you locking me up here?!

Even when the boy was a little angry, his face didn't contort; instead, it remained indifferent.

Just as the boy was about to stab the human-faced statue, the dungeon door opened, and light shone into the boy's small cell. The boy, who had not been exposed to light for a long time, instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes from the light.

"Kimimaro, the time has come to use you. Fight for the Kaguya Clan!"

A tall man stood outside the cell door, his face contorted with rage, issuing orders to the boy named Kimimaro.

Kimimaro looked bewildered. At the beckoning gesture of the tall man, he slowly walked out of the dungeon. He followed the man to the center of the village, where hundreds of tall men had already gathered.

In the middle of the crowd, a man who appeared to be the leader, seeing everyone gathered, unnaturally curled his lips to reveal his teeth, and with a sinister grin, issued his orders:

"The Kirigakure has long despised our clan. Tonight, we will launch a surprise attack and destroy the Kirigakure! Kill any Kirigakure Ninja you see!"

"Hehehe... Hi!" X99

The hundreds of the Kaguya Clan men in the arena all wore smiles identical to their leader's, with eerie curves at the corners of their mouths, revealing their teeth, and their bloodthirsty eyes creating terrifying and ferocious grins.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

After the Kaguya Clan ninjas agreed, they vanished in Body Flicker Technique, leaving a constant rustling sound in the arena. Seeing this, young Kimimaro, holding Bone Spike, followed behind, bewildered.

After the group had been marching for a long time, they dispersed. Kimimaro was alone on the path, running in a fighting stance with Bone Spike in his hand. Soon he came across a tall ninja wearing Hidden Mist Forehead Protector.

Kimimaro remained silent and charged forward to stab with the Bone Spikes.

"I'm really lucky to run into someone from the Kaguya Clan here."

Upon seeing the Bone Spike, the Kirigakure Ninja realized they were targeting the Kaguya Clan, the mission's objective for the night. He drew his Kunai and charged towards the young Kimimaro, hoping to claim the credit.

Pfft!

The Kirigakure Ninja's Kunai struck Kimimaro. Instead, the boy's Bone Spike pierced Kimimaro's abdomen, drawing blood and causing a serious injury.

The Kirigakure Ninja only knew some basic Three Body Technique. Seeing that the enemy was difficult to deal with, they immediately used the Clone Technique to create three clones, who then fled in four different directions without lingering in the fight.

Kimimaro watched the fleeing enemy, put down the Bone Spike, swung his hands, and fired two volleys of bullets from his ten fingers.

The bullets struck four enemies; three of them vanished into smoke, while one figure was hit by a bone bullet, fell to the ground, and cried out in pain.

"You... you're not an ordinary kid..."

The Kirigakure Ninja looked at the young Kimimaro with fear on his face.

Kimimaro discovered the enemy's true form and, without a shred of pity, extended his right hand, pointing his index finger at the screaming Kirigakure Ninja. A bone spike shot out, and Kimimaro easily finished off the enemy. He then picked up the Bone Spike and continued on his way to find more enemies.

Kimimaro ran for a while and saw two figures, one large and one small, again. Noticing they weren't wearing the Hidden Mist Forehead Protector, Kimimaro abruptly stopped, his Bone Spike positioned in front of him in a fighting stance, and asked in a cold yet polite manner:

"Are they from Hidden Mist?"

The tall man opposite him reached for a broad, thick sword on his back with his right hand and replied coldly and decisively:

"No"

"Oh, really? I'm sorry..."

Kimimaro was somewhat surprised. He put down the Bone Spike and apologized softly. Then he quickly passed the two of them and continued his attack.

The little boy next to the tall man carrying the large sword turned around to look at Kimimaro, who flashed past him quickly, and watched Kimimaro into the distance.

"White?"

The tall man took two steps, then, seeing that the little boy hadn't followed, turned back to look at him and called out softly.

"Ah, no, nothing, Lord Zabuza."

The boy named Bai quickly replied.

"There's no time to stand still, let's go."

The man carrying the large sword had a cold look in his eyes. He gave a soft command, then turned and continued on his way.

"Hi..."

Haku replied, jogged a couple of steps to Zabuza with Zabuza, Zabuza with Zabuza, he couldn't help but turn back to look at Kimimaro as he walked away.

"His eyes are exactly the same as they were before I met Lord Zabuza..."

Kimimaro ran swiftly along the stream and came to a stop. Kimimaro saw a white flower bud about to bloom and paused to look at it for a while. Remembering that he still had a mission, he turned and left.

Kimimaro ran all the way down the hillside, and on a hilltop, he saw a person wearing a loose robe with his back to him.

"Chance."

Kimimaro quickened his pace, charging forward and thrusting the Bone Spike in his hand straight at the person whose back was turned to him.

Orochimaru, watching the flames of war burning in Kirigakure below the mountain and hearing the wind behind him, turned to the side and kicked the silver-haired boy who had attacked him away.

After being kicked away by the immense force, the boy used his superb body control to make his body float and spin in the air before landing, preventing himself from being injured a second time. He landed, bent slightly, and pounced again.

Orochimaru clearly saw who it was, extended his right hand in a stop gesture, and said coldly:

"Please wait a moment."

Upon hearing the sound, the silver-haired boy actually slammed on the brakes, stumbled, and came to a stop, swaying slightly.

Orochimaru looked at the boy before him, finding it somewhat amusing, and said in a gentle voice:

"What a panicked fellow! I'm not from this village."

Kimimaro looked at the person in front of him, with long black hair reaching his waist, pale skin, and yellow vertical pupils. The person opposite him slightly turned to make way for him.

"Your target is over there. Alright, go quickly."

Upon hearing the words, Kimimaro, somewhat bewildered, suddenly darted past the person in front of him, jumped down the hillside, and rushed towards the village below.

Orochimaru turned around, his gaze following the figure of the silver-haired boy. A smile appeared on his lips. During their eye contact, Orochimaru had secretly activated Genjutsu, leaving an imprint on the boy's mind.

Orochimaru gazed at the raging flames that had spread across various parts of Kirigakure below, his heart filled with disdain:

"It seems to have begun, Kaguya Clan. They can only find their way to survive through battle. A bunch of fools, finding pleasure only in fighting. This kind of simplistic thinking is no longer viable."

Treating an organized group as an adversary, even if it involves the use of force, will only make you a fool rushing to your death.

But I really liked the look in that child's eyes just now...

The battle cries from the Kaguya Clan were deafening. Kirigakure's clan ninjas were holding their own against the numerous Kirigakure Ninja.

Kimimaro, surrounded by numerous Kirigakure Ninja, moved with ease, his movements swaying like a dancer.

The Kaguya Clan was evenly matched in terms of strength and resources. Kimimaro, continued fighting, chasing after a fleeing Kirigakure Ninja.

Kimimaro remained expressionless, gripping the Bone Spike as he pursued the panicked Kirigakure Ninja. The Kirigakure Ninja continued to flee, with Kimimaro in hot pursuit.

Finally, they chased him to a stream, where Kimimaro killed the fleeing Kirigakure Ninja. Kimimaro's pursuit conveniently avoided the Kirigakure reinforcements, saving him from Destiny by the Kirigakure Ninja.

After Kimimaro killed the Kirigakure Ninja, he turned around and noticed a white flower bud.

"The flowers from that time."

Kimimaro remembered this flower. He slowly walked to the bud, squatted down, placed his hands on his knees, and observed the white bud.

Why open it here?

Kimimaro muttered to himself.

Why won't you answer me?

Kimimaro was somewhat annoyed that his words went unanswered.

"You're ignoring me too."

Kimimaro held the Bone Spike spikes in front of him, assuming an attack stance.

"What's the point of this place when nobody can see us?"

Kimimaro was speaking with some excitement, raising the Bone Spike in his hand, about to launch an attack, when suddenly a hoarse voice came from behind him.

Please don't do that.

Orochimaru looked at the boy in front of him, his face gentle, and continued softly:

"There's no such thing as living a life that necessarily has to be meaningful."

Kimimaro saw Orochimaru and stood up in surprise.

"But if you keep living, you might find something interesting, just like you found that flower."

During the previous great battle between Hidden Mist and the Kaguya Clan, Orochimaru noticed Kimimaro's performance.

Unable to bear seeing such a gifted young man die meaninglessly in the internal strife of the Land of Water, she gently comforted him.

Kimimaro was somewhat bewildered by Orochimaru's words, yet he also felt that Orochimaru's words were very meaningful. He turned around to face Orochimaru.

Orochimaru Kimimaro's slender figure, handsome face, elegant manners, and excellent bloodline, felt a surge of admiration and reached out his left hand to stroke Kimimaro's cheek.

"Just like I found you, come on, let's go."

Kimimaro was pondering Orochimaru's words when Orochimaru suddenly touched his face in a playful gesture.

Kimimaro looked at Orochimaru in front of him. Bathed in the glow of the rising sun, warm sunlight appeared behind Orochimaru, as if he were sent by a god to save him.

Kimimaro blushed and smiled, as if he had found the meaning of life.