Sasuke stared at the curse mark patterns on Kimimaro's body, a thought creeping into his mind:
If I use the power of the curse mark… could I become stronger too?
That dangerous idea stirred something inside him. His composure cracked, and as if responding to his hesitation, the Juin (Curse Mark) on his shoulder began to activate.
"Ahhhh!!!"
He cried out in pain, clutching his shoulder.
Seeing this, Kakashi and the others immediately rushed forward to intercept Kimimaro.
Fortunately, Kimimaro stopped attacking. He looked Sasuke in the eyes and said,
"Seems you've recognized my strength. You desire the power of the curse mark now, don't you? Don't hesitate—come with me. I'll take you to see Orochimaru-sama."
"Shut up!"
Guy shouted sternly, "That kind of ominous power isn't true strength!"
Kakashi followed up, "That's right. The curse mark may grant power, but it's an evil force. It will cause immense harm to your body and mind. Sasuke, that's not the kind of power you need!"
Kimimaro said nothing, just calmly looked at the trembling Sasuke.
He believed—if Sasuke truly craved power for revenge, he would eventually accept the curse.
But in that moment of uncertainty, Sasuke noticed something inside his pocket—a small folded slip of paper. His fingers trembled as he took it out.
It was filled with notes: his strengths and weaknesses… and Natsuki's carefully written advice.
It was because of Natsuki's guidance that he had grown from a slightly stronger genin to a capable chūnin, strong enough to face jōnin in battle.
Compared to this cursed power, Sasuke realized—he should trust Natsuki's words more.
The curse mark's strength was foreign, a trick to steal his body. A tool for Orochimaru's selfish desires.
He would never give in!
"Stay calm… I have to calm down. Only then can I make the right decision. Orochimaru's desperate to get his hands on my body—that much is clear. But I still have a vengeance to fulfill. I can't let him succeed!"
Sasuke gritted his teeth, formed several hand seals, then placed his palm over the curse mark.
Soon after, the curse mark began to recede. Sasuke exhaled in relief.
"Well done," Kakashi said with rare praise. "Didn't think you'd mastered sealing jutsu to this level. Very impressive."
As a sealing expert himself, Kakashi immediately recognized that Sasuke had just activated the Fūja Hōin (Evil Sealing Method) to suppress the curse.
And the fact that Sasuke regained his composure so quickly showed his willpower had grown immensely.
"I'm still far from done," Sasuke said with rare humility.
He meant every word. His goal was to learn the Shishō Fūin (Four Symbols Seal), and one day become a Jinchūriki.
If he could achieve that, he'd no longer need the curse mark to fight Uchiha Itachi. And he definitely wouldn't allow Orochimaru to steal his body.
Kimimaro shook his head. "So you still don't understand. Then I'll defeat all of you and take you back myself."
Sasuke didn't reply, but turned to the others. "I can't beat him alone. He's too strong. Let's all go in together—no more wasting time. We can't risk any surprises."
By surprises, he meant more of Orochimaru's subordinates showing up.
A quick, decisive fight was the best course.
Everyone agreed.
Sasuke moved to the rear to rest while Guy, Kakashi, and Neji stepped forward. Shino and Tenten would provide support from behind.
Tenten didn't hesitate—she summoned her Ryūgan Shensuo Ken (Dragon-Eye Telescoping Sword) and donned her Infinite-Slot Armor, wielding the twin blades Raigā (Thunder Fangs).
Shino launched his bugs straight from the rear without a word.
"Cough… Looks like my body's reaching its limit. I'll have to end this quickly."
Kimimaro felt the strain in his body and made a decision.
He entered Juin Nii Sutēto (Curse Mark Level Two).
His skin turned black, giant bone spikes sprouted from his back, and even a tail emerged—he looked monstrous.
His chakra grew even colder and more vicious than the Sound Four's—so oppressive that even Shino's kikaichū (bugs) instinctively recoiled.
"This guy's aura is terrifying!"
No one dared to lower their guard.
Then, to their horror, Kimimaro yanked out his spine.
It morphed into a weapon—half whip, half sword—squirming in his hands like a living creature.
"Tessenka no Mai: Tsubaki!" (Dance of the Clematis: Vine)
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
He swung the spine-whip, stirring the very air into chaos.
Then—snap!
The spine-whip lashed out at Kakashi, who barely ducked in time and charged forward.
But Kimimaro's wrist flicked, and the spine curled like a snake, whipping back at Kakashi's exposed back. He had no choice but to evade again.
"Let me try! Konoha Dai Senpū!"
Guy launched in with a sweeping roundhouse kick.
But Kimimaro's spine suddenly lashed out, wrapping around Guy, and yanked him in like prey.
"Guy-sensei!!"
Everyone cried out in alarm.
Tenten immediately launched her Ryūgan Sword, splitting it into three dragon-shaped blades that rushed at Kimimaro's face.
Kimimaro ducked.
The spikes on his back bloomed into a bone flower, knocking all three dragons aside. Worse—the bone flower charged at Guy, aiming to skewer him through.
So this was the Tessenka no Mai: Hana (Dance of the Clematis: Flower).
The "vine" was the spine-whip.
The "flower" was the blooming bone-spike bouquet on his back—used to finish the enemy after binding them.
Guy's eyes widened at the wall of death rushing toward him.
"Hachimon Tonkō! Third Gate—Seimon, Kai!"
(Eight Gates Released Formation! Third Gate—Life Gate, Open!)
Boom!
Explosive power surged from Guy's body as the third gate opened. He ripped the spine-whip apart and lunged at Kimimaro.
He grabbed the massive bone flower—
—and drove his knee straight into Kimimaro's back!
CRACK!
Blood splattered into the air.
But it wasn't Kimimaro's.
Guy fell back, clutching his knee in pain.
Kimimaro turned around—his face was covered in bone spikes too. Guy had kneed right into them!
The spine-whip coiled up again, ready to strike.
"Hakkeshō Kaiten!" (Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation!)
Neji dashed in and spun, blocking the whip's follow-up strike.
Tenten crossed her blades and unleashed a powerful lightning slash.
But Kimimaro countered by swinging the spine-whip and breaking the lightning in half.
Tenten was dumbfounded. "You can break lightning?!"
Shino, from the rear, explained calmly, "Technically, bone isn't a good conductor. His bone-whip resists chakra-based lightning. And since your lightning is made of chakra—it can be disrupted."
Tenten opened her mouth to argue—then fell silent.
She had nothing to say.
(End of Chapter)
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