Chapter 253: Naruto's Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, Kimimaro's Death!
While Sarutobi Asuma was teaching Uchiha Shisui, Naruto, for the sake of his good friend, abandoned Haruno Sakura to pursue Kimimaro.
After all, Kimimaro was the one who took his first kiss.
However, with the Nine-Tails replenishing his Chakra, Naruto did indeed catch up to Kimimaro, who was heading north with Sasuke.
"Put Sasuke down!"
Naruto roared, leaping above Kimimaro's head and forming Hand Seals with both hands.
Multiple Shadow Clones Jutsu!
A large number of Shadow Clones appeared in the air, lunging at Kimimaro.
Kimimaro had no choice but to stop and deal with the swarming Narutos.
Bang, bang, bang!
Holding a wooden bucket with both hands, Kimimaro leaped, kicking and exploding each Naruto clone.
However, even though Kimimaro was superior in Taijutsu, Naruto ultimately had the advantage in numbers. Even if these Shadow Clones exploded upon contact.
But for Naruto, these were all diversions, feints meant to disrupt the opponent's vision and attention.
After having over twenty Shadow Clones blown up, Naruto seized an opportunity and hit Kimimaro with a Rasengan.
Although Kimimaro's hardened bones, which grew from within his body, blocked the Rasengan at the last moment, he was still sent flying by it. Naruto immediately took the chance to snatch Sasuke away, leaving behind his Shadow Clones while his original body turned and fled.
However, Kimimaro, now with his hands free, was undoubtedly even more terrifying.
In less than a minute, Naruto's Shadow Clones were all annihilated, and Kimimaro then pursued Naruto.
"Damn it!"
"This guy is actually so strong, he wasn't injured even after being hit by the Rasengan."
Naruto glanced back at the pursuing Kimimaro, his brow furrowed.
He knew that if this continued, he would definitely be caught.
In terms of speed, that guy was faster than him!
Just then, Haruno Sakura also caught up.
Naruto's eyes lit up, and he immediately shouted joyfully, "Sakura!"
Seeing that Naruto had gotten Sasuke back, Haruno Sakura was also pleasantly surprised. "Naruto, he's actually becoming reliable!"
As they got closer, Naruto immediately threw Sasuke, who was in his arms. "Catch!"
Haruno Sakura leaped to catch him, and after landing, she saw Naruto turn back to block the approaching Kimimaro.
She originally intended to turn and leave, but she saw that after a few exchanges, Naruto was kicked away, and his right forearm was cut by Kimimaro's bone blade, leaving a wound.
"Naruto!"
Haruno Sakura was shocked and wanted to go help, but Naruto reached out and stopped her. "Sakura, you take Sasuke and go. Leave this to me!"
Naruto stood with his back to her, blood continuously dripping from his right forearm.
Haruno Sakura couldn't help but stare blankly at Naruto's back.
"Hand over Sasuke. He is the person chosen by Lord Orochimaru!"
"Otherwise, I don't mind killing all of you!"
Kimimaro said coldly.
Naruto curled his lip. "Tch!"
"We're not afraid of you!"
"That Orochimaru guy, don't even think about taking Sasuke!"
He looked at Kimimaro with determination. "I will absolutely not let you succeed!"
With that, he formed Hand Seals again.
As smoke billowed, a large number of Shadow Clones appeared.
"This move again, but it won't work this time!"
Kimimaro said coldly, as more bone spikes grew from his body, forming a defense and simultaneously becoming attack points.
"Go!"
A group of Narutos shouted and then all rushed forward.
Kimimaro's expression was blank as he also lunged forward, swinging his bone blades as if dancing.
His weapons were not just bone blades, but also the bone spikes on his body.
This time, even with the Shadow Clones interfering, Naruto couldn't find an opportunity to hit with the Rasengan.
This was because Kimimaro's Taijutsu was too superb, and the attacks from his bone spikes prevented him from getting close for a melee attack.
In just a moment, Naruto's Shadow Clones were all eliminated.
"There's only one left."
"Then, let's finish this!"
Kimimaro stared mercilessly at Naruto. Suddenly, all the bone spurs protruding from his body retracted, and then he raised his hands, pointing all ten fingers at Naruto.
Under Naruto and Haruno Sakura's shocked gazes, bones emerged from the tips of Kimimaro's fingers.
"This guy..."
Naruto sensed something was wrong.
Haruno Sakura behind him shouted, "Naruto, be careful! His is a Kekkei Genkai! I heard Lord Asuma say it's the Shikotsumyaku from Kirigakure!"
"Ten Fingers Bullet!"
Kimimaro's finger bones immediately shot towards Naruto like bullets.
Naruto dodged, but was hit by the second wave, crying out in pain as a bone pierced his palm.
"Naruto!"
Haruno Sakura cried out, quickly putting down the wooden barrel containing Sasuke. She leaped forward and used the Genjutsu she knew before Kimimaro could finish Naruto off.
Although it was broken in an instant, she managed to rescue Naruto.
"That guy is too strong..."
Haruno Sakura looked at Kimimaro with a grave expression.
Her Genjutsu abilities weren't weak, yet they only bought her a moment.
It was fortunate that she only intended to save Naruto; if she had tried to kill him, she likely would have been killed in return.
And...
Haruno Sakura looked down at the wound on Naruto's hand, her heart trembling even more.
His palm had been completely pierced!
Naruto was covered in cold sweat, but still managed a smile, "This injury is nothing!"
"Sakura, you take Sasuke and go first."
"Besides, I believe Shikamaru and the others must have caught up by now!"
Haruno Sakura looked at Naruto, her eyes welling up, "You're... going to die!"
Naruto blinked, then bared his teeth in a smile, "I'm Namikaze Naruto! The son of the Fourth Hokage! I won't die here!"
As he spoke, he struggled to his feet and glared fiercely at Kimimaro, "I won't be defeated by a guy like this!"
Haruno Sakura watched, and tears involuntarily welled up in her eyes.
She was now facing a difficult choice.
Take Sasuke and leave Naruto behind!
Or, stay and fight alongside Naruto, but risk dying with him, and then have Sasuke taken away.
"Hey, brat, if you keep this up, you're dead!"
"Use that technique!"
From within the seal, the Nine-Tails suddenly spoke.
He didn't want to die with the Jinchuriki, especially such a foolish one.
Naruto was tempted, but hesitated, "Kurama, Mom told me not to use that technique."
"Idiot!"
The Nine-Tails roared, "You're about to die, why won't you use it?"
"Do you want to watch your two comrades die?"
"Besides, the Fourth and Kushina never said you absolutely couldn't use it."
Naruto froze.
At this moment, Haruno Sakura appeared in front of Naruto, holding a kunai. "Naruto, you take Sasuke and go. I'll cover your retreat!"
Naruto stared blankly at Haruno Sakura, "Sakura..."
"Hey, you don't want the person you like to die here, do you?!"
The Nine-Tails seized the opportunity.
Naruto instantly calmed down. The next moment, his body was covered in a golden Chakra Cloak.
It was at this very moment that Kimimaro lunged at Haruno Sakura.
Bang!
Kimimaro was sent flying backward.
Haruno Sakura's eyes widened as she looked at Naruto, who had suddenly appeared in front of her and sent Kimimaro flying with a single punch.
"This is..."
"Such powerful chakra!"
"And..."
Haruno Sakura noticed that the wounds on Naruto's arms and palms were healing at an astonishing rate.
So strong!
This was the first time she had ever seen Naruto like this.
Kimimaro, who had landed, stared at Naruto with a shocked expression.
He could feel that this kid was incredibly powerful!
Both his speed and strength had greatly increased.
"However, no one can stop Lord Orochimaru!"
Suppressing his surprise, Kimimaro activated his cursed seal, revealing intricate patterns on his skin.
"This guy has gotten stronger too!"
Haruno Sakura exclaimed in alarm.
Naruto naturally sensed it as well and shouted, "Sakura, get back!"
Haruno Sakura nodded, picked up the wooden bucket, and retreated.
Kimimaro began to charge forward, and Naruto lunged at him.
In an instant, their figures collided, and dull thuds echoed continuously.
However, under the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, Naruto's physical abilities had all been greatly enhanced.
Speed, reaction time, strength.
This led to a remarkable improvement in his taijutsu. He had been outmatched before, but now he was fighting Kimimaro on equal footing.
He was even superior to Kimimaro in terms of strength.
If Kimimaro hadn't sprouted bone spikes for defense and counter-attack, Naruto's immense strength would have severely injured him.
Haruno Sakura, who had retreated a distance, watched in astonishment.
The change was too drastic.
Naruto seemed like an entirely different person.
Suddenly.
Using the momentum from their collision to push back, Kimimaro raised his hand and unleashed Finger Bullet Barrage once more.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The bone projectiles flew with incredible speed, but Naruto, under the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, also had greatly enhanced speed and reaction capabilities, and he was prepared.
He dodged the Finger Bullet Barrage, leaped into the air, and performed Hand Seals, creating two Shadow Clones.
Seeing the three Narutos lunging at him, Kimimaro found it too late to use Finger Bullet Barrage again. He could only resort to the Dance of the Larch, sprouting bone spikes all over his body.
The two Shadow Clones that attacked first were consecutively sent flying by Kimimaro, but Kimimaro had no time to react to Naruto's own attack, only managing to cross his arms to block the bone spikes in front of him.
*Rasengan!*
Naruto pressed the spinning sphere in his hand down, and the resilient bone spikes shattered.
Boom!
The ground cracked and caved in.
Naruto's Rasengan blasted Kimimaro deep into the earth.
Swish!
Naruto leaped back a distance, his brow furrowed slightly.
As the dust settled, Kimimaro was seen standing up from the pit, coughing.
"Cough, cough..."
Kimimaro coughed up blood.
However, Naruto saw that hard white bone was now exposed beneath his skin.
"This brat blocked your attack with a hardened bone layer!" Kurama stated.
"I know," Naruto replied. "This guy is really troublesome!"
Under the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, the power of Rasengan was even greater than usual. It was astonishing that it hadn't defeated the opponent in a single blow.
Haruno Sakura's eyes widened as she watched. "What kind of monster is this guy?"
At that very moment, the cursed seal on Kimimaro's body changed again, entering its second state.
Under the chilling gaze of Naruto and Haruno Sakura, Kimimaro's body rapidly underwent transformations.
A tail had actually grown from him.
"This guy..."
Naruto couldn't help but swallow.
"Hey, is that the move Asuma, that bastard, gave you!"
The Nine-Tails reminded him, "Finish him off in one go, or it'll be troublesome."
"Although this guy doesn't look like he has much time left."
Slap!
Naruto clapped his fists together, excitement flashing in his eyes. "Got it!"
Immediately, he formed Hand Seals with both hands, creating two Shadow Clones.
At the same time, Kimimaro charged forward at high speed.
Naruto's two Shadow Clones immediately rushed forward.
However, Kimimaro, who was charging, suddenly pulled out his own bones from his spine. With a flick of his arm, he pierced through one of Naruto's Shadow Clones.
The second Shadow Clone leaped into the air, but before it could land, it was whipped away by Kimimaro's tail and exploded.
However.
With the two Shadow Clones buying him time, Naruto finally completed his technique.
Accompanied by a sharp, piercing grinding sound, a giant windmill appeared in his hand.
"When did this guy master this technique?"
Haruno Sakura was shocked, but she then recalled what Sarutobi Asuma had said about teaching Ninjutsu under the Sage Tree.
At this moment, Naruto flicked his right hand, and under Haruno Sakura's astonished gaze, the rapidly spinning Wind Style: Rasenshuriken shot out.
"He can actually throw it!"
Haruno Sakura couldn't help but exclaim.
After throwing the Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, Naruto quickly retreated.
"Let's go!"
Naruto shouted.
Haruno Sakura snapped back to reality and quickly retreated with the wooden bucket.
Kimimaro was also quite surprised that Naruto's Ninjutsu could be thrown. He immediately swung the bone spear in his hand, colliding with the rapidly flying Wind Style: Rasenshuriken.
Instantly, the Wind Style: Rasenshuriken expanded, like a ball of light continuously growing, devouring the surrounding space, and in a blink of an eye, it enveloped Kimimaro.
"Ah..."
Haruno Sakura screamed.
The raging wind swept her off her feet, and she and the wooden bucket she was holding were blown away.
"Sakura!"
Naruto yelled, reaching out. His Chakra arm rapidly extended, grabbing Haruno Sakura.
Meanwhile, inside the expanding ball of light, dense bone spurs rapidly grew like spirits of thorns, spreading out and clashing with the power released by the Wind Style: Rasenshuriken.
Bone spurs shattered one after another, only to grow again.
Soon.
The expanding ball of light rapidly contracted and then disappeared, leaving only the storm sweeping outwards.
"Careful!"
Haruno Sakura cried out.
She saw the spreading bone spurs.
Naruto glanced back and quickly retreated with Haruno Sakura, finally landing on a tree.
The storm ended.
The bone spurs also stopped growing.
"That guy should be dead by now, right?"
Haruno Sakura swallowed.
"Careful!"
The Nine-Tails in the seal roared a warning.
Naruto also felt it and threw Haruno Sakura away.
Kimimaro suddenly appeared above the forest of bone spurs, his arm covered in white bone like a spiral spear, stabbing towards Naruto on the tree.
But he missed.
Naruto grabbed another tree with his Chakra arm and swung away, dodging the attack.
Naruto then leaped off the tree trunk, lunging forward through the air.
However, just as he was about to use the Rasengan, the Chakra Cloak around him suddenly vanished.
"Hey, Kurama!"
Naruto cried out in alarm.
Just then, a figure zipped past, grabbing Naruto and pulling him away to land on another tree.
"Kiba!"
Naruto exclaimed in surprise, then looked towards Haruno Sakura's position, where he indeed saw two more people: "Hinata, Shino!"
"Hey, Naruto, who is this guy?"
Kiba asked, looking at the monstrous Kimimaro.
Aburame Shino then leaped over, observing Kimimaro and stating, "This guy... looks dead!"
"Huh?"
Naruto looked at Kimimaro, seeing blood dripping from his mouth and his eyes now vacant.
Dead?
Naruto was a bit stunned.
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