Chapter 95: The Good Guys Never Came
Might Guy had underestimated Kimimaro's eerie and unpredictable Kekkei Genkai, and paid a small price for it. After using the recoil to quickly retreat and land safely, Guy saw Kimimaro crash through a house and fall to the ground, kicking up a large cloud of dust.
Wasting no time, Guy pulled out bandages and quickly wrapped his wounded arm. Then he watched Kimimaro warily.
"Your entire skeleton as a weapon, huh? What an incredible Kekkei Genkai…" Guy stretched his numb right hand, wincing a little from the pain in his fingers. "And you can even form armor from hardened bone to protect your body… No obvious openings at all…"
Kimimaro's mastery of his bloodline limit had reached terrifying heights. Even among the Kaguya clan, he was so feared for his talent that they had locked him up from a young age, only letting him out to act as both shield and weapon when battles broke out.
Sure enough, a moment later, Kimimaro emerged from the rubble unscathed.
"I really underestimated you." He glanced around, noticing that most of the Konoha shinobi had taken the opportunity to continue chasing after Orochimaru. "Looks like I failed in my mission. But it's been long enough—Lord Orochimaru must have already gotten far. Just holding off a powerhouse like you is enough."
Without someone like Might Guy pursuing, the current situation heavily favored Orochimaru's escape. And if it came down to it, the Sound Four could enter their cursed seal level two forms and sacrifice themselves one after another. The Leaf ninja would have no chance of catching up.
"My earlier attitude was… impolite."
Kimimaro had the Earth Seal, but had yet to use its power. As the pressure mounted, he finally activated the cursed seal, replenishing his stamina and chakra. But even in level one, it was clear he couldn't match Guy. So without hesitation, Kimimaro entered level two. His elegant face transformed into something monstrous. A thick tail trailed behind him, and jagged bone spikes jutted from his back, arms, and shoulders—not just for show, but lethal weapons.
"In this form, I should be more of a match for you. Now… let's begin."
Boosted by the cursed seal, Kimimaro's speed surged. He moved faster than the eye could track, leaving behind only ghostly afterimages.
The battle between these two close-combat titans grew ever more intense. Their blinding speed and overwhelming power were far beyond what ordinary shinobi could interfere with.
The fight slowly began tipping in Kimimaro's favor—not because Might Guy was weaker, but because the Shikotsumyaku was simply too difficult for taijutsu users to deal with. It was hard enough just to land a clean hit, and Kimimaro's bone spikes made every approach potentially fatal.
Although Guy, using only the Primary Lotus, was still slightly superior in raw power, the straightforward nature of his attacks was easily countered. When brute force and speed couldn't overwhelm the enemy, Kimimaro's bone manipulation and fluid, unpredictable style stifled Guy's full potential.
Looks like the Primary Lotus isn't enough…
With his combat instincts honed by countless battles, Guy realized that if the fight continued like this, neither of them would win quickly—it would devolve into a battle of endurance. While Guy had youth and vitality on his side, Kimimaro's sickly condition was a time bomb. Guy had the edge in the long run, but he didn't want to drag things out.
Resolved, Guy forced Kimimaro back momentarily, then quickly prepared.
"Gate of Life—Open!"
The Reverse Lotus began in earnest. Veins bulged on Guy's face, and his skin flushed red.
With the opening of the third gate, his speed and strength soared to a new level. Now, even Kimimaro couldn't suppress him.
"Gate of Pain—Open!"
With the fourth gate unleashed, Guy's speed was now overwhelming. He charged Kimimaro with a flurry of kicks and punches. Sensing danger, Kimimaro retaliated.
"Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!"
His sharpened finger bones shot out like bullets toward Guy. But the chakra-imbued pressure surrounding Guy repelled the projectiles with ease—they didn't even slow him down.
"Gate of Limit—Open!"
With five gates active, Guy's body glowed red with chakra, his aura so intense it blew debris into the air.
He vanished.
With a thunderous Konoha Great Whirlwind, Guy kicked Kimimaro skyward. Only after the attack landed did the gust from his movement tear up the earth below.
Realizing he was in trouble, Kimimaro instinctively countered.
Dance of the Larch.
Spikes of hardened bone shot out to shield his body. Though most of them were shattered by Guy's brutal combination of punches, they absorbed enough of the blows to keep him alive.
Capitalizing on the opportunity, Guy used Leaf Shadow Dance, locking Kimimaro mid-air and driving him down. The impact cracked the earth and formed a massive crater.
Anticipating a counterattack, Guy leapt high into the sky before the dust even cleared.
Dance of the Clematis: Vine!
A whip-like bone, formed from Kimimaro's own spine, shot up and bound Guy's body midair. From the crater, Kimimaro emerged, kneeling and barely conscious.
Though his bones were nearly indestructible, his internal organs were not. The earlier damage had already begun to seriously affect him.
This technique, originally meant to bind and kill, now served only to delay the inevitable.
Looks like I'm going to die after all… Not strong enough… No wonder Lord Orochimaru abandoned me. But… at least I got to die for him. That's better than rotting in a hospital bed. I just hope Lord Orochimaru's new vessel is worthy…
But Guy wasn't finished.
"Gate of View—Open!"
The sixth gate opened.
Guy's body radiated emerald chakra flames. He roared and tore the bone whip apart, then streaked down like a meteor.
Morning Peacock!
A barrage of flaming punches, like a peacock spreading its feathers, engulfed Kimimaro.
After the relentless assault ended, Guy stood panting, gazing at the crater.
Half of Kimimaro's body had been buried into the earth by the impact.
"You were a rare and worthy opponent," Guy said quietly. "But why would someone like you serve an evil man like Orochimaru?"
Barely clinging to life, Kimimaro gasped, "Evil… good… I wouldn't know. I only knew battle… and in my darkest hour… only Lord Orochimaru came to me…"
His voice faded. No one heard his last words.
Guy stood in silence.
"Kid… I hope you're reborn in Konoha next time…"
Without looking back at the now motionless Kimimaro, Guy caught his breath and rushed off once more to continue the pursuit.
Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Mizuki's main body was facing a sudden crisis.
They've changed direction… and they're coming this way? Picking up speed? Why? That shouldn't be happening…
Back with the fleeing Sound ninja, Orochimaru gritted his teeth and gave a grim order.
"It's just ahead… go get it. Then we'll return and begin the rebirth ritual…"
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