Chapter 5: Starburst Stream!

The Water Style jutsu from the two Hidden Mist Jonin seemed to signal a counterattack. In an instant, dozens of Hidden Mist Chunin and Jonin appeared around the members of the Kaguya Clan.

They were surrounded.

"They actually used the lives of their Genin as bait to lure us in, then sent their Jonin and Chunin to trap us. Hidden Mist's tactics are truly ruthless."

Kimimaro's expression was extremely grim.

Only by being in the thick of things could he truly feel the cruelty of the Hidden Mist.

Those Genin, although older and without much talent—unlikely to ever become Chunin—were still sacrificed so easily. It was unbearably cruel.

The Hidden Mist Village had been ruined by Obito.

"Compared to this, the Leaf seems much better. Haha, what a world where everything is bad."

Kimimaro let out a cold laugh in his heart, gripping his bone sword tightly, as if it were the only thing that could bring him a sense of security.

In this world, if you want to survive, you can't afford to be soft-hearted.

After the earlier ninjutsu attacks, the casualties among the Kaguya Clan started to rise.

Before long, the remaining members gathered together.

"It seems we've walked into an ambush. The Hidden Mist had their encirclement set up well in advance. In that case, let's fight with all we've got! Hahaha!"

The Kaguya Clan leader laughed heartily, showing no fear of death, only an overwhelming desire to fight.

Seeing this, Kimimaro thought the clan leader was foolish, yet couldn't help but feel a hint of respect for his courage.

Perhaps this is what it means to be a born warrior.

But the world of the shinobi doesn't belong to warriors—it belongs to shadows, to schemers, to those with unfair advantages.

Fewer than twenty Kaguya clansmen remained.

They formed a circle, facing outward, ready to attack at any moment.

"Surrender. You have no chance of winning. Surrendering might save your lives. For the sake of the Kaguya Clan's legacy, there's no need for all of you to die here."

A Hidden Mist Jonin spoke softly.

Kimimaro looked toward the speaker, surprised.

Mei Terumi!

The future Fifth Mizukage. He didn't expect her to be part of this battle to wipe out the Kaguya Clan.

It seemed she had some compassion for the Kaguya.

After all, they were both bloodline clans, and it's only natural to feel some sorrow at the fall of another.

"Hahaha! The Kaguya Clan only has warriors who die in battle! There are no cowards who surrender! Even if we die today, we'll take a few of you down with us! Kaguya warriors! Fight to the death with me!"

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

The battle cries surged with overwhelming fighting spirit!

Although the enemy outnumbered them several times over, the Kaguya showed no fear.

They might not have been smart, but they were resisting their fate.

Even if they were going to die, they would create havoc before their deaths!

They would make the Fourth Mizukage realize that the Kaguya Clan was not so easily bullied!

Mei Terumi sighed.

"Why fight like this?"

Her tone was full of regret for the Kaguya Clan.

But orders are orders, and she had no choice but to follow them.

That is the ninja's fate.

"Attack!"

With her command, the surrounding shinobi launched their assault.

"Fight to the death!"

The Kaguya Clan leader roared and charged at Mei Terumi.

White bone blades sprouted from his palms—Shikotsumyaku, the Dead Bone Pulse, revealed itself!

Mei Terumi's gaze turned serious.

The Kaguya Clan was known as the best close-combat bloodline clan in the Hidden Mist, and even she didn't dare to be careless.

The battle erupted.

Hidden Mist shinobi clashed with the Kaguya warriors.

A Hidden Mist Chunin charged at Kimimaro, slashing down with his long sword.

The power and speed of the strike were far superior to what the earlier Genin had shown.

Rotating Shield!

Kimimaro spun his bone sword, creating a white shield of light that blocked the long sword.

"Huh?"

The Hidden Mist Chunin was surprised at how easily Kimimaro had blocked his attack.

He hadn't expected a boy, barely ten years old, to withstand his full-strength strike.

Given his status, he hadn't heard of Kimimaro, the imprisoned genius of the Kaguya Clan.

As the shield of light faded, Kimimaro swiftly counterattacked with a sword technique, Bone Sword Corruption, aiming straight for the Chunin's heart.

Quick, precise, and deadly!

There was no time for the Chunin to react.

In the heat of battle, opportunities vanish in an instant.

A single moment of underestimation can cost you your life.

The Hidden Mist Chunin stared in disbelief at the bone sword piercing through his heart.

He couldn't believe he was dying at the hands of a boy.

Kimimaro's expression remained cold and indifferent. He didn't waste a second, pulling out his sword to search for his next target.

"You…"

The Hidden Mist Chunin fell in bitter disbelief.

Kimimaro's swift kill of a Chunin quickly drew the attention of other Hidden Mist shinobi.

In an instant, three Chunin launched a coordinated assault on him, pushing Kimimaro to the brink.

"Water Style: Water Bullets!"

Three water bullets shot toward him. Kimimaro spun his bone sword again, forming the Rotating Shield to deflect them.

Defensive sword techniques are truly useful.

But at that moment, two other Chunin appeared behind him, their long swords slashing down!

"Die!"

Without even turning his head, Kimimaro's ribs suddenly burst out of his body, intertwining to catch the swords.

The Bone Cage appeared once again!

The Kaguya Clan's best defensive technique for close combat.

"What?!"

The Chunin were shocked that the Kaguya Clan's secret Bone Cage technique could be used by such a young boy.

How old was he?

But Kimimaro didn't care about their thoughts. He swiftly turned and slashed!

A horizontal arc of his sword!

One strike, two deaths!

Blood sprayed from the throats of the two Mist ninja, creating a mist of red in the air.

With a swift movement, Kimimaro stepped into a water puddle left by the Water Style attacks, activating his Water Body Flicker!

Although it was his first time using it, he executed it with great skill.

In a flash, he was right in front of the Chunin who had cast the water bullets.

The Chunin reacted instantly, throwing a punch!

Kimimaro narrowed his eyes, calmly and steadily thrusting forward with a counterattack!

His bone sword deflected the Chunin's punch and pierced straight through his heart.

Another one down!

Kimimaro panted slightly, the intense combat draining his stamina.

He looked around. At some point, mist had begun to gather.

"This is… the Hidden Mist Jutsu?"

Kimimaro immediately recognized that this was no ordinary fog.

The mist thickened quickly, obscuring his vision.

His range of sight shrank to just a few meters.

At this distance, any sudden attack would be nearly impossible to react to.

Kimimaro took a deep breath as the Silent Killing technique flashed through his mind.

Zabuza's Silent Killing method included techniques for moving freely within the Hidden Mist Jutsu—perfect for this situation.

Kimimaro felt grateful for the gamble he had taken in confronting Zabuza earlier. Without the Silent Killing technique, he'd have no options in this mist.

His ears twitched, relying on sound to track the positions of those around him.

Locating by sound!

One of the fundamentals of the Silent Killing technique.

Screams echoed constantly as the battle reached its most intense point.

"There are probably only a few Kaguya who can fight effectively in this mist. If this keeps up, our casualties will soar. I can't wait any longer."

Kimimaro knew that if he didn't leave now, there wouldn't be another chance.

Mei Terumi, far away, was someone worth noting, but now wasn't the time to approach her. He could distinguish between priorities.

The encirclement was tightening. If he didn't move now, when would he?

"Southeast. Only five enemies. That's the weak point."

Kimimaro's ears twitched again, already analyzing the situation within the mist.

If he wanted to break through, he had to move fast.

Otherwise, the other enemies would close in, and things would get complicated.

Kimimaro extended his left hand, summoning another bone sword from his palm.

Now dual-wielding swords, he steeled himself.

"The time to break through is now!"

Whoosh!

With his Water Body Flicker, Kimimaro accelerated to his limit in the thick mist!

Holding a bone sword in each hand, his jade-green eyes were filled with cold determination.

"Starburst Stream!"