Just as Ōnoki was negotiating with Nadeshiko Tsubaki in the conference room of Iwagakure over how to deal with the former site of Otogakure—
At that very moment, deep within the ruins of the former Otogakure, inside one of the underground bases once abandoned by Orochimaru, an unseen incident was quietly unfolding.
"Since that trip to Sunagakure, I haven't been back here once."
Orochimaru's voice echoed softly through the darkness.
"Looking at it now… the experimental equipment here really is crude compared to Konoha's."
The underground corridor was dim and oppressive. Thick, forearm-sized pipes crisscrossed the ceiling, dripping water intermittently. Pools of stagnant water dotted the ground, reflecting the faint light in broken fragments.
"Lord Orochimaru," a woman spoke from behind him, her voice heavy with guilt.
"After we lost contact with you, several riots broke out not long after."
She had her light-purple hair tied high in a ponytail, long sideburns framing her face. She wore a loose, matcha-colored robe, her expression lost and burdened.
"At first, Tayuya and the others helped suppress them. But later… when Companion #1 went berserk, I tried to restrain him. I didn't expect the others to join the rebellion."
Her fingers tightened unconsciously.
"There aren't many people left here now."
Kimimaro stopped walking.
His fists clenched tightly, joints cracking as bone shifted beneath his skin.
"A bunch of ungrateful, opportunistic trash."
His voice was cold, seething with restrained fury.
"If Lord Orochimaru hadn't taken them in, they would've died long ago—powerless, forgotten."
"They dared betray Lord Orochimaru."
"Then they've already sealed their own fate."
As his emotions surged, tadpole-shaped curse seal patterns spread from Kimimaro's neck, crawling across half his body.
"Kimimaro."
Orochimaru's tone was calm—almost gentle.
"Those children had their own reasons. From the very beginning, it was merely an exchange of needs."
"They wanted power. I wanted experimental subjects."
"That was all."
"Let them go."
Though his voice was relaxed, his golden eyes were chillingly cold—like the Orochimaru of the Ninja World Wars, the man who would cross any moral boundary for victory.
"I understand, Lord Orochimaru."
Kimimaro lowered his head.
As he spoke, an old memory surfaced—Companion #1, the boy Guren had mentioned earlier. His former closest friend.
He had not forgotten the oath he made back then.
When Companion #1 lost control and went berserk, Kimimaro had sworn to become his cage… the one who would restrain him and bring him back to sanity.
Yet he had broken that promise when he left years ago.
Who knew how Companion #1 had endured these years—locked away in darkness, just like before?
The thought filled Kimimaro with crushing guilt.
"Lord Orochimaru…"
His voice wavered.
"Can you take Jūgo with us this time?"
It was a plea. A quiet, desperate one.
Orochimaru stopped walking.
He turned, raised a hand, and gently stroked Kimimaro's cheek.
"Kimimaro, Jūgo has always been your companion. I won't leave him behind."
"And besides…"
A faint smile tugged at Orochimaru's lips.
"I am no longer the man I used to be. We are now part of Konoha."
"Isn't bringing your companions home exactly what a Konoha shinobi should do?"
Kimimaro froze.
For a moment, Orochimaru felt time rush past him.
When they first met, Kimimaro had been a child—not even half his height.
Now, he was only a head shorter.
From now on… he couldn't treat him like a child anymore.
After hearing those words, Kimimaro's eyes trembled.
His loyalty to Orochimaru deepened even further—and with it, his sense of belonging to Konoha.
I will protect my companions in Konoha.
And I will protect Lord Orochimaru.
Loyalty.
Behind them, Guren finally let out a long breath of relief.
It seemed that this time, Lord Orochimaru truly intended to take everyone away for good.
They could finally leave this desolate hellhole—this place where conflict could erupt at any moment.
Most importantly…
She would finally be free from watching over Jūgo.
Every time that man went berserk, she had to pour massive amounts of chakra into her Crystal Release, repeatedly sealing him until he was completely exhausted.
In the beginning, she could still rely on her superior chakra and experience.
But over the past two years, as Jūgo grew stronger, she had felt increasingly powerless.
If Orochimaru hadn't returned now… she might have died during a future suppression.
The three of them continued deeper into the corridor, stopping only when they reached a thick iron door—warped and dented, covered in fist marks.
Inside the sealed chamber, Jūgo—who had been resting with his eyes closed—suddenly sensed two familiar chakras besides Guren's.
"…This is—"
"Kimimaro… and Lord Orochimaru?!"
His emotions surged instantly.
The natural chakra inside his body spiraled out of control, flooding his limbs. His muscles swelled violently, skin turning from flesh-toned to gray-brown as it hardened.
"AAAGH—!"
"What is this…?!"
Hearing Jūgo's suppressed, agonized roar, Kimimaro frowned.
"As his body matures, the amount of natural chakra inside Jūgo keeps increasing."
"That makes it easier for him to lose control—and harder to restrain than before."
He lowered his voice.
"I hope Lord Orochimaru can finally free this child from his suffering."
Kimimaro stepped forward.
The curse seal exploded across his body, turning his skin dark brown as black markings spread rapidly.
Six thick bone spurs erupted from his back, and a massive bony tail burst from his coccyx—solid, heavy, and terrifyingly powerful.
"Lord Orochimaru," Kimimaro said calmly.
"Leave this to me."
"This is the promise I made to Companion #1."
As he spoke, he drew a bone whip directly from the back of his neck.
"ROAR—!"
A beast-like howl filled the chamber. Violent bangs echoed as the iron door shook violently.
Kimimaro spun, smashing the iron gate open with his tail, then lashed the bone whip forward—wrapping it tightly around Jūgo's wrist.
Jūgo yanked back with all his strength, trying to drag Kimimaro toward him.
But Kimimaro was no longer the frail man suffering from a bloodline disease.
This was a healthy Kimimaro.
No illness. No restraints.
He slammed the whip downward, smashing Jūgo into the ground.
Gripping it with both hands, he pivoted on his shoulder and swung again.
SNAP!
The maddened Jūgo was slammed down once more, crashing heavily before him.
Guren stared, completely dumbfounded.
Why was Kimimaro this strong…?
This fighting style—
This wasn't anything like the Kimimaro she remembered at all.