Upon locating the inn where Haku had been staying, Mukuro found it had unsurprisingly been reduced to a pile of rubble. Seeing the destruction with his own eyes, Mukuro finally grasped the sheer magnitude of his battle with Uchiha Madara and understood why the Mist shinobi he encountered on his way here looked at him with a mix of shock and fear.
Kagura Mind's Eye!
Activating the Kagura Mind's Eye, Mukuro quickly pinpointed Haku's chakra signature, faint though it was. Even from a distance, the technique allowed him to locate Haku in a dense forest outside the Hidden Mist Village.
Divine Presence! Mukuro instantly teleported to Haku's side.
"Lord Mukuro, you've won, haven't you?" Haku's face, initially filled with worry, lit up with relief upon seeing Mukuro unharmed.
Mukuro gave a faint smile, gently patting Haku's head. "Of course."
"Hm? Who's this?" Mukuro's gaze shifted to the child standing beside Haku. The boy, who appeared to be around Haku's age, had long silver-white hair and two red markings on his forehead. His expression was cold and detached, yet something about him felt familiar, stirring a suspicion in Mukuro's mind.
"Lord Mukuro, this is Kimimaro. I just met him," Haku explained.
Kimimaro! Kaguya Kimimaro!
Mukuro's heart leapt. Kimimaro was a member of the Kaguya Clan, also known as the Bamboo Cutter Clan, a group infamous for their Shikotsumyaku—a terrifying kekkei genkai that allowed them to manipulate their own bones for both offense and defense. Members of the clan could control the growth and density of their bones, making them deadly in combat.
Kimimaro, however, was unique. He had awakened a far more advanced form of Shikotsumyaku than any of his clansmen, which led to him being revered—and imprisoned—by his own clan as both a living weapon and a shield. During the Kaguya Clan's ill-fated rebellion against the Hidden Mist Village, Kimimaro had been spared only because his kekkei genkai disease rendered him unable to fight.
Eventually, Orochimaru took him in, raising him to be a devoted follower. Kimimaro idolized Orochimaru to the point of obsession, viewing the role of becoming Orochimaru's next vessel as the ultimate honor.
Mukuro's suspicion was confirmed—it was indeed Kimimaro. A surge of joy filled him. Kimimaro was one of the reasons Mukuro had come to the Land of Water. This tragic figure from the original storyline was someone Mukuro had long wanted to save and give a new purpose.
"Kaguya Kimimaro?" Mukuro asked, his tone calm as he addressed the boy.
"You know me?" Kimimaro's brows furrowed slightly as he heard Mukuro utter his clan name. Though he was part of the Kaguya Clan, Kimimaro held no affection for them. In fact, he had used the chaos Mukuro caused by destroying the Hidden Mist Village to escape their confinement. It was during his flight through the forest that he had encountered Haku.
"Kimimaro, how about following me from now on?" Mukuro raised an eyebrow, posing the question directly.
"Like Haku does? Follow you?" Kimimaro glanced at Haku, noticing the warmth and trust in his eyes—something Kimimaro himself had never experienced. A flicker of longing crossed his face as he turned back to Mukuro.
Though their interaction had been brief, Kimimaro already regarded Haku as a friend.
"Yes," Mukuro nodded, awaiting Kimimaro's response.
Kimimaro lowered his head, pondering for a moment. When he looked up again, his gaze was firm. "I can, but I need to confirm first if you're truly worthy of my loyalty." His tone was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.
So, I don't have Orochimaru's talent for manipulation, do I? Mukuro thought wryly.
"Fair enough. How do you want to confirm it?" Mukuro asked, his curiosity piqued.
Kimimaro didn't answer verbally. Instead, he pulled a sharp bone from his shoulder and lunged at Mukuro without hesitation, his movements fluid and decisive.
Mukuro's eyes lit up at Kimimaro's attack. Despite his young age, Kimimaro already possessed an extraordinary combat instinct. If not for the limitations imposed by his kekkei genkai disease, his potential would have far surpassed that of an elite jonin.
Shikotsumyaku wasn't merely a kekkei genkai for manipulating bones—it had far greater applications. After all, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's All-Killing Ash Bones was an advanced form of Shikotsumyaku, a technique so terrifying it could reduce its victims to dust.
However, Kimimaro was still far from reaching such heights. Mukuro effortlessly caught Kimimaro's arm mid-strike and flung him aside.
As Kimimaro hit the ground, spikes of bone sprouted from his back, cushioning his fall and preventing injury. He quickly regained his footing and continued his assault. Sharp bone spikes emerged from his shoulders, elbows, and knees as he launched another attack.
Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!
A sturdy wooden barrier rose in front of Mukuro, blocking Kimimaro's bone spikes.
Wood Release: All-Encompassing Forest!
Countless vines erupted from the ground, wrapping tightly around Kimimaro. With his current strength, there was no way he could break free. The restraints also prevented him from using Shikotsumyaku effectively.
"Well, Kimimaro, have you made up your mind?" Mukuro asked with a faint smile. No matter how talented or full of potential Kimimaro was, he was still young and inexperienced—a mere genin. There was no way he could pose a threat to Mukuro.
"Kimimaro, there's no way you can defeat Lord Mukuro. He destroyed the entire Hidden Mist Village just moments ago," Haku chimed in at the right moment.
The entire village? Kimimaro's eyes widened in shock. During Mukuro's battle with Uchiha Madara, he had been in his Tenseigan Chakra Mode, which looked completely different from his current appearance. Naturally, Kimimaro hadn't recognized him.
Mukuro released the All-Encompassing Forest, freeing Kimimaro. Standing up, Kimimaro looked at Mukuro with newfound respect and said earnestly, "From today onward, I, Kimimaro, will follow you."
"Good. From now on, we're comrades. Kimimaro, you're strong, so you'll need to protect both Haku and me," Mukuro said with a smile, patting Kimimaro's head.
Comrades? Hearing the word, Kimimaro's eyes sparkled with a light he had never known before. For the first time, he felt he had found a purpose in life. Looking at Mukuro, Kimimaro nodded firmly, his expression resolute. "Lord Mukuro, I will protect you and Haku with my life."
At that moment, a cold, sinister voice suddenly cut through the air.
"Well, Mukuro-kun, it's been a while. I didn't expect my most prized vessel to be snatched away by you. How about handing over this child to me?" Slowly, a pale-skinned, black-haired man emerged into view.
Orochimaru!
So, he's already set his sights on Kimimaro's body? Mukuro thought, his gaze narrowing.
"Who are you?!" Kimimaro immediately pulled a sharp bone from his shoulder, stepping in front of Mukuro to shield him. Clearly, he had already made protecting Mukuro his life's mission.
"Stand down, Kimimaro. He's no threat to me," Mukuro said with a reassuring smile before turning to Orochimaru. His tone grew cold. "And what if I refuse, Orochimaru-senpai?"
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