In Otogakure, the sounds of battle drew quite a crowd of onlookers.
Sharp bones covered the entire battlefield like a forest, and Kimimaro moved freely through them.
Facing him, Sasuke controlled lightning with one hand, easily shattering the incoming bone spikes with his Lightning Blade.
With the Sharingan's exceptional motion tracking and the Lightning Blade's immense destructive power, Kimimaro struggled to land a hit on Sasuke.
"They're both so strong."
Jirobo crunched on potato chips as he marveled at their strength.
Hearing Jirobo's remark, Sakon and Ukon nodded beside him.
"Yeah. No wonder Lord Orochimaru values them the most."
"That Uchiha is the youngest of us all, isn't he?"
"I think so."
"He's the youngest, yet he can hold his own against Kimimaro, the oldest among us."
"So this is what an Uchiha is capable of..."
Hearing the others praise Sasuke only made Kimimaro angrier.
"Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Willow!"
Furious, Kimimaro unleashed his bloodline ninjutsu and charged at Sasuke.
Sharp bone spikes grew from his palms and elbows, and he swayed like willow branches in the wind as he attacked Sasuke.
Sasuke immediately thrust his Lightning Blade at Kimimaro, but Kimimaro drifted aside like a leaf, evading the attack.
At the same time, a sharp bone spike shot toward Sasuke's throat.
Clang!
A gleaming steel blade caught the bone spike.
Sasuke had drawn the sword at his waist just in time to block Kimimaro's attack.
"All right, you two. That's enough."
Just as they were about to fight another few hundred rounds to settle who was stronger, Kabuto's voice came from a distance.
"Lord Orochimaru wants to see you both."
"Hmph."
Only after hearing that Orochimaru had summoned them did the two stop fighting.
Kimimaro retracted his bone spikes, and Sasuke sheathed his sword. The two headed toward Orochimaru.