**Chapter 32: Leaving the Village**

Through his research on Jūgo, Orochimaru had perfected the curse seal, and the condition of the Sound Four's curse seals was improving as well. However, it would still take time for them to fully master this power.

Under Orochimaru's design, the curse seal currently had two stages.

The first stage, known as Level One, covers the entire body with black runes, with the pattern varying from person to person. In this state, the curse seal increases the user's basic abilities by three times, an already astounding boost.

The second stage, known as Level Two, occurs when the black runes completely cover the body, transforming the person into a monstrous form, with their power increasing tenfold. However, this was still not Orochimaru's most satisfactory version of the curse seal.

The Sound Four only possessed ordinary curse seals, but Orochimaru envisioned higher-tier seals: the Heaven Curse Seal and the Earth Curse Seal. These seals were of the same level but had different functions. The Heaven Curse Seal granted the ability to fly, while the Earth Curse Seal allowed the user to move underground. Their power amplification effects were even more impressive than the ordinary curse seals, but the fatality rate was also higher. Anko's curse seal had originally been a failed version of the Heaven Curse Seal.

Now, with the cells of Jūgo, Orochimaru was confident that he could perfect both of these curse seals.

One important side note: the greatest side effect of Orochimaru's curse seal was that it carried his chakra, which would erode the bearer of the seal. If the erosion became too severe, it could be fatal, and the user would also be controlled by Orochimaru. Only someone stronger than Orochimaru could reverse this control, as seen in Sasuke.

"Kabuto told me your Kekkai Genkai disease has started acting up again. How are you holding up?" Orochimaru asked, his expression slightly grim after hearing Kimimaro's cough, which left a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

Kimimaro replied, "I'm barely managing to suppress it, but the situation isn't optimistic."

"What do you plan to do?" Orochimaru asked, clearly concerned for Kimimaro. Despite having anticipated this, he still felt sorry for him.

"I want to leave the village for a while and travel around the ninja world, to see if I can find another solution. Staying here won't help me improve in my current state," Kimimaro expressed.

"That's fine. Your fate should be in your own hands. The Sound Village is too small to be your final destination," Orochimaru said.

"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru."

"But I'll give you two years. Whether or not you find a solution, you must return. By then, I will need your help with something important."

Two years? Is he already preparing for the Konoha Crush plan? Kimimaro thought quickly but answered, "I'll return in two years."

Orochimaru smiled his usual smile and left. Over the years, he had come to see Kimimaro as a kindred spirit, and so he didn't want to confine him to the Sound Village. With Kimimaro's current strength, he would be more than capable of traveling the ninja world.

Leaving the Sound Village was something Kimimaro had been considering for a while. With his current issues resolved, he planned to leave the next day. The sooner, the better.

However, there were two matters to address before his departure: Suigetsu and Jūgo.

"Boss, you're leaving the village? Take me with you! I'm bored to death in this place!" Suigetsu exclaimed excitedly.

Kimimaro wasn't surprised by this reaction. Suigetsu wasn't the type to sit idle. Jūgo, on the other hand, was, but even he wanted to follow Kimimaro since he had come to the Sound Village for the sole purpose of following the white-haired youth.

"Sorry, but I plan to go alone this time. You both need to stay here."

"What? Boss, that's so unfair! You're going off to have fun by yourself?" Suigetsu complained.

"Why?" Jūgo asked quietly, clearly disappointed.

"I'm not going on a mission or a vacation. I'm searching for a way to cure my Kekkai Genkai disease. It would be inconvenient to travel with others."

"Your Kekkai Genkai disease? So the rumors about all the Kaguya clan geniuses having a disease are true? No wonder you've been focusing all your energy on medical ninjutsu for the past two years," Suigetsu said, shocked. Jūgo also looked surprised.

"My disease is severe. With my current medical abilities, I'll only live until twenty. I need to find a solution while I still have time. Orochimaru has given me two years, and I think that will be enough."

"I'll go with you to protect you," Jūgo offered.

"Me too, Boss! I'll protect you!" Suigetsu added.

Kimimaro smiled and shook his head. "I don't need your protection. You two should stay here and train. Jūgo, whether you can control the power of your curse seal depends on the strength of your chakra. The Sound Village has plenty of resources to help you train. In two years, you should be able to control it. If you came with me, there wouldn't be enough resources or time for your training."

"As for you, Suigetsu, you're too playful, always thinking about reclaiming the Seven Swords of the Mist. If you came with me, I'd probably have to clean up the mess you'd make after two days. If you truly want to revive the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, you need to train harder. With your current strength, which isn't even at the jōnin level, how do you plan on retrieving the seven swords?"

Kimimaro's words convinced both Jūgo and Suigetsu to abandon their plans to join him. With the conversation over, Kimimaro gathered chakra in his hand and touched Jūgo's forehead with a sword-like finger.

"Silent Barrier!"

A cool sensation spread through Jūgo's mind, while Kimimaro's face turned pale. He had used all of his chakra to cast this technique. After ten seconds, he withdrew his hand, his body slightly shaking from weakness. Suigetsu hurried to support him.

"Boss, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I set a Silent Barrier in your mind, Jūgo. With the chakra I left behind, it will last for two years. Whenever you're about to lose control, it will immediately bring you back to your senses. So you can train in peace over the next two years."

(End of chapter)