In truth, the two of them couldn't be blamed.
There was no helping it—Kimimaro's performance was simply too eye-catching.
One of them already knew how powerful he was and naturally cherished such talent even more.
The other analyzed the boy through his own eyes, running countless deductions in his mind. And the more he calculated, the more excited he became.
He was clearly still just a child, yet his strikes were ruthless beyond compare—and that unique ability of his…
Orochimaru had seen it with his own eyes: bone blades extending from the boy's hands.
A Bloodline Limit.
This was an unpolished jade—a rare gem carrying a special Bloodline Limit.
On the battlefield, Kimimaro was still slaughtering without restraint.
It didn't matter who stood before him. His expression remained calm, and every swing of the blade in his hand stirred up a mist of blood.
That special Bloodline Limit granted him the ability to manipulate his bones. Though it hadn't been developed to its fullest, it was already more than enough for combat.
"Tsk tsk, what a unique Bloodline Limit."
"The Shikotsumyaku of the Kaguya clan, hm…"
"sensei, are you really not going to consider giving this child to me?"
Gekko Chizan was already at the stage where, the moment he saw promising talent, he simply couldn't walk away.
If he set his eyes on something, he truly wanted it.
But unfortunately, this time Orochimaru stood firm.
"Hehe… Chizan-kun, after all this time, I know you too well."
"The more you want something, the more precious it must be. That only makes it even more impossible for me to give this child to you."
"And look—the light is gone from that child's eyes."
"He was left behind for me. The lonely need a harbor… hehehe."
Orochimaru shamelessly praised himself without the slightest restraint.
Gekko Chizan couldn't stand it anymore and quickly cut him off.
"Alright, that's enough. Let's talk about what to do now."
"Are we taking the kid directly? Or waiting until the battle ends?"
"I don't think the Kaguya clan can hold on much longer."
Though the fighting was still intense, it was obvious the Kaguya clan's offensive was weakening.
More and more shinobi from Kirigakure were joining the fray.
The scales of victory had already begun to tip.
"Let's wait until it's over."
"That child will definitely survive."
"It's my intuition."
Gekko Chizan glanced at Orochimaru in surprise. Intuition?
Still… this guy's instincts were indeed frighteningly accurate.
Since Orochimaru had made his decision, so be it.
According to the storyline he knew, Kimimaro would carve his own way out regardless. There shouldn't be any issues.
The course of the battle unfolded exactly as they had predicted.
The Kaguya clan had gained the early advantage only because they caught Kirigakure off guard.
Once Kirigakure reacted, the ending was already decided.
"Ah, ah, I can't watch this anymore."
"The Kaguya clan is truly foolish. I'll go pull that kid out."
"And then we retreat?"
Orochimaru had originally intended to wait until the battle ended, but in the very next second Gekko Chizan vanished from his side.
He could only shake his head helplessly and mutter:
"After all these years, still so impatient… hehe."
"Well, perhaps it's for the best. Watching this kind of battle is rather dull anyway."
On the battlefield, Kimimaro continued his killing.
In truth, he had no thoughts at all.
Locked away. Released. Fighting. Killing.
That was the entirety of his life.
Just as Gekko Chizan had once described Haku, Kimimaro too was a blank sheet of paper.
The foolish Kaguya clan treated him as nothing more than a weapon. They never once considered whether that weapon had thoughts of its own.
Perhaps, in their eyes, weapons didn't need thoughts.
Just as Kimimaro once again pierced the enemy before him with a bone blade—
A figure suddenly appeared in front of him.
But unlike the others, this person did not attack.
Instead, he simply waved a hand.
He can't move? What is this?
Kimimaro's body was suddenly restrained by crystal, and confusion flickered across his face. His body truly would not respond.
Without hesitation, the bones within him began to shift.
Bones harder than steel strained against the crystal, on the verge of shattering it apart.
"Tsk tsk, kid, don't resist. I'm taking you away."
"The battle's already over."
Gekko Chizan glanced around.
The Kaguya clan's rebellion was nearly extinguished. Most of them had already fallen in gruesome deaths.
Kimimaro froze slightly, then looked around as well.
Sure enough, those familiar faces were dropping one after another—just like the people he himself had killed.
The next second, the scene before his eyes changed.
"Eh? sensei, you're back?"
"Yo, Haku, we're back."
"Sensei, who is he?"
With two consecutive uses of Flying Thunder God, Gekko Chizan transported both Kimimaro and Orochimaru back to the mountainside where they had been earlier.
The moment they landed, Haku noticed.
Haku was currently absorbed in building a house with his Ice Release.
Not bad—the little house looked quite decent.
Kimimaro's gaze was drawn to it as well.
Ice… looks cold.
"Hey, sensei, I'll leave this kid to you."
"Mm, hehehe… what a fine child."
For some reason, hearing Orochimaru's laughter and those words sent a chill down Gekko Chizan's spine.
So unsettling. Even after all these years, still just as unsettling.
"Kid, what's your name?"
"..."
"Relax, I'm just asking. After all, the one who's going to take you in is the person behind you. But I was the one who pulled you off that battlefield. Shouldn't you at least tell me your name?"
Gekko Chizan crossed his arms and studied Kimimaro with an amused look.
He had to admit—the boy was quite good-looking. Though those two red dots on his forehead… were those eyebrows, or something else?
"Kimimaro…"
"Hm?"
"My name is Kimimaro…"
His expression remained calm, his voice clear and crisp.
When he looked at Gekko Chizan, there was not a trace of emotion in his eyes.
Haku, standing to the side, felt a flicker of dissatisfaction.
He understood now—this kid had been rescued from the battlefield by his sensei. And yet this was his attitude?
"Hey! My sensei saved you. You should say thank you!"
"...Who are you? Do you want to fight?"
"Huh???"
Haku stared at Kimimaro in disbelief.
Kimimaro, meanwhile, had already assumed a fighting stance.
The two children locked eyes, neither willing to step back.
"Hmph! Don't think you're so amazing. Be careful, or I'll turn you into a popsicle!"
Anger rose in Haku's chest. His hands slowly extended forward as large amounts of ice gathered beside him.
As if in the next instant, the freshly formed ice spikes would shoot straight toward Kimimaro.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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