Sasuke Retrieval Mission (4)

A/N: We hit the target for a Double Release Tomorrow on Monday. For another Double Release, let's hit 500 powerstones by Sunday. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Goal: 500 Powerstones!

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Kimimaro moved first, pulling his spine out from his back. "Dance of the Clematis: Vine," he muttered, the flexible, bone-like whip held in one hand, while his other hand wielded the deadly "Flower" form.

Without hesitation, Kimimaro swung the vine toward Goro. Goro, able to read the attack, leaned back, narrowly dodging. The bone whip whistled past him, but Kimimaro swiftly pulled it back, slashing diagonally toward Goro. Goro was forced to fall onto his hands, transitioning into a backflip to avoid the strike.

But Kimimaro anticipated this. As Goro was mid-flip, still in the air, Kimimaro swung his flower-arm, aiming to skewer Goro's body with his arm.

Goro acted quickly. Without even bothering with hand signs, he spat a high-powered stream of water at Kimimaro using his Wild Water Wave Jutsu. The blast of water slammed into Kimimaro, pushing him back just enough to give Goro the space he needed to land safely.

"He didn't use a hand sign... or perhaps he did, and I missed it?" Kimimaro thought, analyzing Goro's excessively quick counterattack.

Goro, finally deciding it was his turn to make a move, formed a Rasengan in his hand. Kimimaro tensed, preparing to defend against the attack, but Goro flickered above him in an instant. Kimimaro swung his flower-arm upward, trying to cut Goro out of the air, but his target vanished in a plume of smoke.

"Another clone? Where is he?" Kimimaro wondered, momentarily thrown off by the sudden shift.

Before Kimimaro could react, Goro used the smoke screen to his advantage. He appeared from the haze in front of Kimimaro and drove the Rasengan straight into his stomach. The force of the impact sent Kimimaro spinning through the air, slamming him into the tree behind him.

But Kimimaro wasn't done yet. Just before the Rasengan hit him, he had increased the size and density of his ribcage bones, which absorbed the brunt of the attack. As he stood, slightly hunched, he wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth.

"I thought that was enough to beat him... I should've put more power into that," Goro thought, watching Kimimaro recover more quickly than expected.

Kimimaro stood tall, despite the damage, and began to speak. "Dance of the Seedling Fer—"

Before he could finish, blood poured from his mouth, cutting off his words. His body trembled as his illness caught up to him, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

'His time was up... but so soon? No. It was my attack. He had to use his all in order to defend against it... That Kekkei Genkai is truly something else…'

Goro watched as Kimimaro struggled, finally succumbing to the disease that had been eating away at him for years.

Stepping forward, Goro reached down, cutting off Kimimaro's big toe and placing it in his pocket. 'His powers will finally be mine.'

As Goro stood and began heading toward the direction of Sasuke and Naruto's fight, he felt a presence approaching rapidly. Turning back, he saw none other than Rock Lee, standing determined and full of energy.

'Lee, what is he doing here?'

Rock Lee slowly approached Goro. "I know you. You're from the Chunin Exams. The first person to be disqualified. How were you promoted?"

Goro couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. 'He has no filter, does he?'

"Do you really need to point out that I was disqualified?" Goro replied, his tone dry.

Rock Lee immediately straightened up, eyes wide in apology. "I apologize! I did not mean it in that way!"

Goro sighed, scratching the back of his head in slight exasperation. "It's fine. Anyway, I'm on my way to catch up with Sasuke and Naruto. They should be fighting right now."

Hearing Sasuke's name, Rock Lee frowned, his mind briefly flashing back to the bitter rivalries of the Chunin Exams. "Sasuke..." he muttered, his brows furrowing in concern.

Goro turned toward the direction Sasuke and Naruto had gone. "So, you coming?"

Rock Lee nodded without hesitation, determination in his eyes. With a flicker, Goro sped off, and Rock Lee followed, matching Goro's pace as they moved through the trees.

Just as they disappeared into the forest, Gaara and Temari arrived at the open field where the battle had taken place moments ago. Temari scanned the area, quickly spotting Kimimaro's corpse lying motionless on the ground.

"It looks like they were here," she said, walking over to inspect the body.

Gaara, standing a short distance away, nodded in agreement. "Yes..."

Temari crouched down and checked for signs of life, but there was none. "He's dead," she confirmed, rising to her feet.

Gaara gazed at Kimimaro's lifeless form for a moment, his face impassive. "Let's move."

Temari nodded, and the two flickered away, vanishing into the trees to continue their pursuit.

Goro stood atop the massive statue of Hashirama Senju, his eyes locked onto the fierce battle taking place below. The wind whipped around him as Rock Lee finally landed beside him, panting heavily. "You're... quick..." Lee managed to say between gasps, trying to catch his breath.

But Goro paid him no mind, his focus solely on the scene below. Naruto was shrouded in his One-Tailed cloak, while Sasuke had transformed into his Cursed Mark Level 2 form, his body having large webbed hands sprouting from his back like wings.

Rock Lee's gaze followed Goro's, and his eyes widened as he took in the scene. "Naruto needs help!" Lee exclaimed, his voice full of concern as he prepared to leap into the fray.

Before Lee could act, Goro grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back. "You'll die, you idiot. I heard you're still recovering," Goro said bluntly, keeping his grip firm.

"No, I have the medicine here," Lee replied, pulling out a small bottle from his pouch and holding it up proudly.

Goro looked at the bottle with a deadpan expression and snatched it from Lee's hand. He inspected the label, then shoved it in Lee's face. "This is sake, not medicine."

Lee blinked, then took the bottle back, pulling off the cork and sniffing it. His eyes went wide. "It does smell like sake..."

Goro sighed and casually tossed the bottle off the cliff. "It's poison," he muttered, as the bottle plummeted into the valley below.

Lee, undeterred, pulled Goro's arm off his collar with surprising determination. "I have to help Naruto. We cannot let Sasuke go!" His voice was filled with resolve.

Goro, however, remained calm. "We'll take Sasuke once the battle is over. This is a battle between rivals."

Rock Lee hesitated, then nodded slowly as the words sank in. "Rivals... I understand..." He stood back, watching the intense fight below, the flames of his own rivalry burning quietly in his chest.

Turning to Goro, Rock Lee gave him a thumbs up, his spirit unbroken. "Okay! I get it!" he said with his usual enthusiasm, his eyes shining with newfound understanding.

Goro smirked slightly, keeping his attention on the battle below, waiting for the moment to strike.

Flickering behind Goro and Rock Lee were Gaara and Temari, arriving shortly after they did.

"What's the situation?" Gaara asked, his voice as monotone as usual.

Both Goro and Rock Lee turned back to look at the two. Rock Lee's eyes widened slightly. "It's you…"

Goro, still focused on the ongoing battle, replied, "Naruto and Sasuke are currently locked in battle."

Gaara walked forward, positioning himself in front of Goro, and sat down at the edge of the statue, his eyes fixated on the fierce fight below. He silently observed the exchange of blows, taking in the raw emotions of the combatants.

"We're not going to intervene?" Temari asked, her voice tinged with concern as she joined Gaara at the edge.

Gaara, not turning from the sight below, responded with a rare hint of insight, "How can we? This is a fight between friends and rivals. Can't you see? They're giving it their all. It's not our place to intervene."

Temari's brows furrowed. "But they'll tear each other apart!" she exclaimed, her worry evident.

Goro, shrugged slightly. "I can heal them," he said, keeping his eyes glued on the battle below.

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Reminder: For another Double Release, let's hit 500 powerstones by Sunday. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Goal: 500 Powerstones!