Kimimaro Arrives!

The rain in the Valley of the End gradually stopped, leaving only devastation everywhere and a heavy atmosphere.

The Hidden Leaf Village group set out on their return journey with the unconscious Naruto.

No one spoke. Only the sound of footsteps and suppressed breathing remained.

The failed mission, their severely wounded companions, and Sasuke's resolute departing figure weighed on everyone's hearts like boulders.

Shikamaru's brow was knotted tight as he kept clicking his tongue. "What a pain... We didn't bring him back, and everyone's hurt like this. How are we supposed to explain this when we get back...?"

Kiba irritably ruffled his hair while Akamaru whimpered softly in his arms.

Neji kept his Byakugan active in vigilance, but his gaze had grown somewhat unfocused.

Ling Yue followed at the back of the group, the soft white light of [Healing Arts] continuously enveloping Naruto on the stretcher and stabilizing his injuries.

She was not in good shape herself. Her chakra had been greatly depleted, and the spot on her left shoulder where Sakon had struck her still throbbed faintly.

Sasuke's final complicated glance and resolute retreating figure lingered in her mind.

His final words—"Next time, we'll be enemies"—still echoed in her ears.

Stronger... I have to become stronger...

Just as the group passed through a rugged gorge, Neji's Byakugan seemed to sense something. He shouted urgently, "Careful! There's an extremely powerful chakra signature ahead! It's approaching at high speed! So fast!"

Everyone instantly went on alert, immediately forming a defensive formation and protecting the stretcher in the middle!

Before his words had even faded, a white figure appeared on the towering rock wall ahead!

The man wore a plain white kimono, his skin so pale there was not a trace of blood in it. Two vermilion marks sat on his forehead, and he radiated a sickly yet extremely dangerous aura.

Most striking of all were the stark white, blade-like bones protruding from his shoulder blades and elbows!

"What... kind of monster is that?" Kiba sucked in a breath.

"The Dead Bone Pulse of the Kaguya Clan?" Neji's voice was filled with shocked disbelief. "That clan should have long since..."

Shikamaru's face turned incomparably grim. "This guy... His chakra is absurdly strong! And it's full of deathly energy... Is he coming for us?"

The white-clad youth, Kimimaro, indifferently swept his gaze over the Hidden Leaf Village group below, who faced him as if confronting a great enemy. At last, his eyes settled on Naruto on the stretcher. His voice was calm and flat. "The Nine-Tails jinchuriki... Lord Orochimaru's vessel cannot be allowed to suffer any mishap. Those who interfere will be eliminated."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure vanished from the rock wall!

"So fast!" Neji cried out. Even his Byakugan could only catch a faint afterimage!

The next second, Kimimaro had appeared directly in front of the group, swinging his arm!

"Finger Bullet Barrage!"

Ten finger bones shot forth, faster than ordinary shuriken and covering everyone!

"Get out of the way!" Shikamaru shouted!

Everyone hurriedly dodged, but the finger bones were too fast and too densely packed!

Kiba's shoulder and thigh were instantly pierced through. Blood sprayed as he screamed and fell to the ground!

Akamaru was also grazed, yelping in pain without end.

Using the Multi-Size Technique, Choji blocked two shots with his arms, but the finger bones embedded deeply in his thick muscles, making cold sweat stream down his face from the pain.

Neji barely managed to evade and block with his Byakugan and Gentle Fist.

Ling Yue activated [Paper Arts], her body twisting like rippling water as she narrowly avoided several shots aimed at vital points. Still, her arm was grazed open, leaving a bloody gash deep enough to expose bone!

In just one exchange, the pursuit squad had suffered more serious injuries!

"Bastard!" Shikamaru was both shocked and furious as he immediately activated the Shadow Imitation Technique, trying to catch Kimimaro's shadow.

But Kimimaro's speed was inconceivable. With a slight shift, he escaped the shadow's range, then instantly appeared behind Shikamaru and thrust a bone blade at his back!

"Shikamaru, watch out!" Ling Yue, the closest one, burst forward with [Flash Step], shoving Shikamaru aside while blocking with a kunai!

The kunai collided with the bone blade with an ear-piercing screech!

The tremendous force numbed Ling Yue's arm, and a notch was chipped into the kunai by the hard bone blade!

Kimimaro's green pupils shifted slightly as he looked at Ling Yue. "Your speed is passable. But useless."

The bone blade in his other hand stabbed without hesitation toward Ling Yue's lower abdomen!

Ling Yue once again evaded at the limit with [Paper Arts], but the wind pressure kicked up by the bone blade still tore through her clothes and left a line of blood.

So strong! His speed, strength, reactions, and the strangeness and sharpness of his weapons all far surpass those of the previous opponents!

Is this one of Orochimaru's trump cards?

"Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" Neji finally found an opening and drove a flurry of palms toward Kimimaro.

Kimimaro did not dodge. His body began spinning in place!

"Dance of the Willow!"

The bones around his body seemed to transform into a storm of blades, effortlessly deflecting all of Neji's attacks and even forcing Neji back again and again, adding several wounds to his arms!

"Damn it! I can't get close at all!" Neji gritted his teeth.

"Partial Multi-Size Technique: Human Bullet Tank!"

"Dance of the Camellia." Kimimaro's expression did not change. The bone blade danced in his hand, slashing precisely and efficiently at the Human Bullet Tank!

Choji's Multi-Size Technique was forcibly cut apart! Several deep wounds appeared on his body as he screamed, reverted to normal, and collapsed to the ground.

They were completely outmatched! The gap in strength was far too great!

Cold sweat covered Shikamaru's forehead as his mind raced wildly, yet he could not find any effective tactic.

His shadow could not catch him, they could not match him in taijutsu, and ninjutsu... That bone defense was not afraid of ordinary ninjutsu at all!

Kimimaro seemed to have lost patience. His gaze locked onto Naruto on the stretcher again as he walked toward him step by step.

"I won't... let you touch Naruto!" The injured Kiba struggled to his feet and launched one final charge with Akamaru, once again using Fang Over Fang.

"Boring." Kimimaro did not even turn around. Several sharp spinal bones simply burst out from his back!

"Dance of the Clematis: Flower!"

Fang Over Fang was easily pierced through. Kiba and Akamaru were skewered on the bone spikes, blood dripping from their bodies as both lost consciousness.

An atmosphere of despair enveloped everyone.

Kimimaro did not stop walking, drawing closer and closer to Naruto.

Ling Yue watched her companions fall one by one. She watched the invincible white figure approach. She watched the unconscious Naruto, and extreme fury and unwillingness surged through her heart once more!

I can't fall here! I absolutely can't just watch my companions...

Without regard for anything else, she activated [Thunder Breathing] and [Lightning Flash Body Technique]!

She even drew upon that dangerous sliver of power from the [Fire Thunder God], which she had yet to master!

Bloody lightning arcs rapidly spread across her body once more!

Though nowhere near as violent as when she had fought Shukaku, they carried a sense of utter determination!

Her figure flashed, placing herself between Kimimaro and Naruto. Unstable bloody lightning coiled around the kunai in her hand as she pointed it straight at Kimimaro!

"Oh? You still have strength left? This Lightning Release... is somewhat interesting. But it still won't change the outcome."

He raised his hand, his stark white bone blade aimed at Ling Yue. "Move aside, or die."

Ling Yue took a deep breath, suppressing the surging blood and stabbing pain within her body. Her gaze was sharp. "If you want to touch him, you'll have to get past me first."

Just as the tension reached its peak—

"Hey! You white-haired freak! I'm your opponent!"

A hot-blooded voice crashed in from the side, accompanied by a green figure!

It was Rock Lee! Blue steam enveloped his entire body. The Eight Gates had already been opened!

Moving at an extreme speed, he fiercely kicked toward Kimimaro!

"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"

Kimimaro apparently had not expected this sudden arrival. He hastily raised his bone blade to block!

With no time to dodge, Kimimaro was kicked backward several meters by the tremendous force!

Rock Lee landed and stood before Ling Yue and the others in a fighting stance. Though steam swirled around his body, his eyes were incomparably resolute. "Sorry I'm late! Leave this guy to me! Take Naruto and go!"

"But... your injuries haven't healed yet." Shikamaru hesitated.

"It's fine! This is the passion of youth!" Lee flashed his signature shining teeth and gave a thumbs-up before turning to Kimimaro. "This guy is strong!"

Kimimaro steadied himself and looked at Lee, who had opened the Eight Gates. For the first time, a trace of seriousness appeared on his face. "The Eight Gates? With your body, how long can you hold out?"

"Long enough to defeat you! Lotus!" Lee did not waste another word and charged Kimimaro again!

The two instantly clashed in fierce battle! They moved so fast that only blue steam and white bone shadows could be seen colliding madly. Shockwaves rolled through the air, and thunderous booms rang out without end!

With the Eight Gates open, Lee's speed and strength temporarily suppressed Kimimaro!

"Go!" Shikamaru made a swift decision, calling on those who could still move to carry the severely wounded and Naruto as they prepared to retreat.

Ling Yue watched Lee frantically exchange blows with Kimimaro, knowing he was buying them time with his life.

She gritted her teeth, gave the battlefield one final look, then turned and followed the group.

However, they had not run far when Lee's pained grunt came from behind them!

Lee's right leg had been pierced through by Kimimaro's bone blade! Blood flowed freely!

Kimimaro flung Lee aside, his gaze locking onto the retreating group once more, especially Naruto, who was protected in the center.

"I said it before. The Nine-Tails jinchuriki must be eliminated."

The clothes on his back instantly tore apart as countless bones wildly grew from every part of his body!

"Dance of the Seedling Ferns!"

The next instant, countless bone spikes burst from the ground, instantly covering the entire area and cutting off everyone's escape route!