The border grasslands of the Land of Fire.
Leaf Hurricane!
Rock Lee's powerful kick struck the wooden coffin carrying Sasuke, halting it in its tracks. A thick, black smoke rose from the cracks.
"Oi! Open that damn thing up! Sasuke's been stuffed in there for way too long! It's starting to rot! Don't you see the smoke?!" Lee shouted at Kimimaro, eyes burning with frustration.
Neji narrowed his eyes.
Kimimaro, unfazed, placed the coffin gently aside. Two sharpened bone blades extended from his palms. "Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Willow."
"Leaf Shadow Dance!" Lee instantly appeared beneath him.
CLANG!
Kimimaro blocked the airborne kick with an arm blade. Lee recoiled mid-air, eyes widening. "Nani?!"
"Careful," Neji warned, activating his Byakugan. "His chakra flow is completely unnatural—it's forcing accelerated bone growth. Shikotsumyaku, the Dead Bone Pulse."
"I see!" Lee nodded, then immediately dashed toward Kimimaro again.
Kimimaro calmly extracted a long, ivory blade from his own forearm. "Dance of the Camellia." He swung it down, slashing toward Lee.
Lee dropped low. "Leaf Whirlwind!"
His leg swept for Kimimaro's ankles, but the bone-user flipped backward, evading it with ease. Lee anticipated this, leaping after him. "Rising Dragon Strike!"
Kimimaro barely blocked the kick, sliding back upon landing.
Lee grinned. "Looks like that worked!"
Konoha Hospital.
Shiranui Genma groaned, adjusting the bandages around his arm. "If Sasuke really is in that coffin, sending a team of Genin was a damn mistake. There's no way they can win."
His bedmate, Raido, grunted in agreement. "Even Jounin like us ended up like this."
Tsunade remained silent, deep in thought. Sending Naruto should be enough to retrieve Sasuke. But why would Akatsuki interfere?
Her brows furrowed. "Orochimaru… Don't tell me…"
Sound Village.
Orochimaru sneered from the shadows. "Unmistakable… That brat… It has to be him."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "Who?"
"The son of Minato Namikaze." Orochimaru's grin widened. "Naruto-kun, in the end, you cannot escape death. But I… I will live forever! Hahaha!"
His laughter grew erratic, voice shifting between his own and a younger tone.
Kabuto merely lowered his head, silently watching.
The battle between Kimimaro and Lee intensified.
Kimimaro leapt, slashing downward. Lee countered, sending him flying skyward with a Shoryuken-style Rising Dragon Punch!
Kimimaro stood up, rolling his shoulder where the kick had landed.
"Leaf Hurricane!" Lee spun into a high kick. Kimimaro dodged, launching into the air. Lee immediately pursued, flipping mid-air, aiming a reverse heel kick.
BOOM! His foot hit the ground as Kimimaro sidestepped at the last second.
"It's over." Kimimaro rushed forward, slashing down.
"Shit!" Neji moved in to intercept.
"Wait!" Lee held up a hand.
The bone blade stopped inches from his face.
Neji froze, confused. "He actually stopped...?"
Kimimaro frowned.
Lee pulled out a small medicine bottle from his ninja pouch. "I'm sorry, but I need to take my medication! I strained a muscle during the Chuunin Exams, and the doctor insists I take my medicine on time."
Neji facepalmed. "Who the hell calls for a timeout mid-fight?!"
Kimimaro remained silent.
Lee uncorked the bottle, tilted his head back, and gulped it down in one go. Then, he tossed the bottle over his shoulder.
BOOM!
Everyone jumped.
Lee, swaying on his feet, blinked. "Oh, crap. Sasuke just exploded."
Neji and Kimimaro: "..."
The coffin had burst open. A smoking crater lay in the grass, and from its center, Sasuke stood. His hair, temporarily turned white, gradually darkened back to black.
Sasuke examined his hands, then threw his head back in laughter. "Hahahaha!"
Kimimaro sighed, tossing a slip of paper to him. "Enough theatrics. Here's Lord Orochimaru's location. If you want real power, move."
Sasuke scoffed, barely glancing at the note before disappearing into the forest.
"Sasuke!" Neji called after him, but Sasuke ignored him, vanishing into the trees.
Neji cursed. "Damn it! Lee, keep going. I'll chase Sasuke!"
He turned, but then noticed Lee acting… strange.
Neji picked up the discarded bottle and sniffed it.
"What the hell?! This is Sake?!"
He instinctively leapt back.
"Oi!" Kimimaro called out. "Sasuke's body belongs to Lord Orochimaru! You're not leaving!"
Neji: "…?"
What the fuck did he just say?
Ignoring the disturbing implications, Neji bolted after Sasuke.
Kimimaro lunged at Lee, bone blade flashing.
Lee, now completely hammered, caught the weapon with his bare hands. "Drunken Fist!"
He swayed side to side, lifting his arms like a puppet on loose strings. His movements were erratic, unpredictable.
Kimimaro frowned. "His speed is increasing…"
Lee staggered toward him, yelling, "You bastard! What the hell are you looking at?!"
He zigzagged unpredictably, his upper body leaning forward, then back, feet never touching the ground properly.
Kimimaro barely followed the movements. "What kind of technique is this?!"
Lee attacked with a lazy right hook. Kimimaro blocked—only for Lee to grab his wrist, twist, and strike upward into his throat.
Kimimaro jerked back, shocked. "Damn! He's actually fast!"
Lee let go, spinning into a wild roundhouse. BAM! Kimimaro was sent flying.
"Drunken Boxing: Bottoms Up Smash!" Lee slurred, wiping his nose.
Kimimaro coughed up blood. "This idiot… There must be some kind of enhancement in that drink."
Lee wobbled. "I feel so lightheaded…"
Then, he promptly passed out on the spot.
"..."
Kimimaro sighed, stepping forward, lifting his blade. "This is over."
As the sword came down, Lee's eyes snapped open. "Tricked you, bastard!"
His foot lashed out, catching Kimimaro square in the jaw. The bone-user flew back, crashing into the dirt.
Lee staggered. "Oi, Gai-sensei… I finally understand…!"
Then he passed out. Again.
Kimimaro picked himself up, dusting off his robes. He walked over to Lee's unconscious body and grabbed the sake bottle. One sniff, and his face darkened.
"Alcohol?! He was just… drunk?!"
Kimimaro exhaled slowly. "Fine. I'll take you somewhere where you won't feel pain anymore."
He raised his bone blade.
It gleamed under the moonlight—
And slashed down.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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