Late at night, all was quiet.
Ye Fan and Dragon Puppet returned to Konoha without alerting anyone.
As soon as they got home, Ye Fan released Kimimaro from his spatial storage.
Although he had taken a pill, Kimimaro's condition was terrible. Treatment had to begin as soon as possible.
Kimimaro was not particularly surprised by this unfamiliar place. His calm expression made him seem free of all desire, indifferent even to life and death.
"Get the pot going and boil some water!"
Ye Fan instructed Yugito Nii, who had just come in.
Yugito Nii had yet to figure out what was going on, but since it was Ye Fan's order, she could only do as she was told.
Half an hour later, Kimimaro was submerged in a prepared medicinal bath. The rising white steam made the entire room hazy.
"You overused your Kekkei Genkai and drained your life force."
As Ye Fan spoke, he inserted fine needles into Kimimaro's main acupoints.
Kimimaro came from the Kaguya Clan, and his Kekkei Genkai was Shikotsumyaku, an ability that allowed him to control his own bones.
"Dragon Puppet, I'll leave the rest to you."
After finishing what he needed to do, Ye Fan prepared to return to his room to meditate and regulate his breathing.
He had already told Dragon Puppet everything that needed attention afterward, so there was no need for him to remain beside the medicinal tub.
Only after Ye Fan left did Kimimaro in the tub ask, "Lord Orochimaru, who is he?"
"He is the one who granted me new life, and he is also my master. You must respect him even more than you respect me!" Dragon Puppet said.
"Lord Orochimaru, hadn't my body already reached its limit?" Kimimaro asked again.
"Kimimaro, you will recover." After a pause, Dragon