Kimimaro had also heard that Orochimaru intended to give Sasuke the Cursed Seal of Heaven.
That cursed seal was even more powerful than his Cursed Seal of Earth.
He had been utterly loyal to Orochimaru, yet this was all he got in return.
Even so, he would not betray Orochimaru.
There was no point.
The Shikotsumyaku kekkei genkai was powerful.
But that power came at the cost of his body.
It brought with it an incurable bloodline disease.
Orochimaru had studied the disease, but he could not find any way to cure it completely.
Kimimaro did not have much time left.
Then let me shine one last time for Orochimaru!
Zhou Cheng noticed the change in Kimimaro's expression and knew that talking would never convince him.
Then I'll beat you into submission!
A cold glint flashed through Zhou Cheng's eyes as he watched Kimimaro charge at him again.
He raised his Chakra Blade and met Kimimaro head-on.
The two quickly clashed.
But Zhou Cheng did all the attacking, while Kimimaro could only defend.
The gap in their strength was too great.
Everything Kimimaro did was futile.
His only advantage was that he did not fear death, fighting with a willingness to trade wound for wound.
If I die, I die. I don't have long to live anyway.
He mustered every last bit of his chakra.
Even if he died, he would tear a chunk of flesh from Zhou Cheng.
Zhou Cheng sneered. Against absolute strength, every trick was useless.
He channeled another portion of his chakra into his Chakra Blade.
Its size did not change, but the quality of its chakra more than doubled.
With each slash, even the rigid bone blades were cut apart.
Without your bones, what else can you do?
Kimimaro seemed to have already anticipated this.