Chapter 298: For Orochimaru-sama
At the moment Kimimaro entered Cursed Seal Level Two, Naruto also completed his "hand seal."
Thousands of shadow clones holding the "Spring Breeze Sprite" disappeared simultaneously, and their memories and sensations returned to the original body like a surging tide.
"Sasuke!!!"
Naruto let out a furious roar.
Then Naruto quickly regained his composure.
He silently put away the ninja tool and pulled up his waistband.
The eye markings of Sage Mode instantly appeared on Naruto's face.
"That is…?"
"That is…?"
When Sage Mode Naruto and Cursed Seal Level Two Kimimaro looked at each other, they both felt a strange sense of familiarity.
The curse mark that came from Jūgo was, in essence, also a form of utilizing natural energy and senjutsu chakra.
So this battle could be said to have originated from the same source.
The difference was that traditional Sage Mode required inner tranquility and absolute calm, balancing the proportion between one's own chakra and natural energy to prevent the body from mutating.
The less the body changed, the more perfect and powerful the Sage Mode became.
But the curse mark derived from Jūgo was the complete opposite.
The natural energy within the curse mark caused extreme bodily mutations and bloodthirsty, violent impulses.
As long as the body and mind could endure it, the more mutated one became, the stronger they would grow.
"Give Sasuke back to me."
Sage Mode Naruto folded his arms in front of his chest, his voice calm and composed.
At sixteen… Well, thirteen years old, Sage Mode is your strongest trump card. At thirty-two, Sage Mode is your final last resort.
The first time using Sage Mode, you say you will definitely win. The last time using Sage Mode, you say you will come back alive.
Now that Naruto was entering Sage Mode in real combat for the first time, he was filled with confidence.
"Don't talk about Sasuke like he belongs to you."
Kimimaro flexed the bones in his arm and replied to Naruto.
"?"
Naruto froze for a moment.
Wasn't that his line?
The other guy had actually stolen his line?
Did that mean this guy was also coveting Sasuke's body?
[Naruto, go. Defeat this Shikotsumyaku brat. I'll lend you my power. Don't worry about him getting close!]
The Nine-Tails' voice sounded in Naruto's ear, boosting his confidence even further.
"Alright!"
Naruto clapped his hands together and rushed toward Kimimaro.
The Nine-Tails also kept its word. In that instant, a crimson tailed beast cloak appeared around Naruto's body.
Sage Mode and the power of the tailed beast had merged in battle for the first time.
With this kind of setup, it would be more than enough to fight the original Nagato.
As for Kimimaro, aside from becoming healthy, he had not gained any additional power-ups, so he naturally could not match it.
But there was no need to worry.
Kimimaro truly wanted to contribute to Orochimaru, but he was not someone with a completely rigid mind.
Orochimaru had reminded him that if he encountered a powerful enemy or a special opponent, he should report it to headquarters.
Trying to force things would only endanger his own life and disrupt Orochimaru's and Amegakure's overall strategic plans.
Such a sacrifice would be meaningless.
Therefore, when Kimimaro discovered the appearance of Naruto, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, he had already notified Amegakure before even stepping forward to intercept him.
Kimimaro believed that Amegakure would be able to resolve this issue.
But before reinforcements arrived from Amegakure, he had to stand his ground and fulfill his duty without retreating even a single step.
Facing Naruto's simple, unadorned punch, Kimimaro dodged it.
However, the existence of the Frog Kata (Frog Kumite) still sent him flying backward.
Fortunately, with both the Shikotsumyaku and Cursed Seal Level Two, and in perfect health, Kimimaro was extremely tough.
"What?"
Kimimaro climbed up from the ground and prepared to continue fighting Uzumaki Naruto.
But he suddenly noticed that Naruto had already turned his back to him and was running and jumping into the distance.
Was he fleeing?
No.
The opponent was simply trying to break through his interception and go find Uchiha Sasuke!
Kimimaro had never expected the other side to think of that.
According to the intelligence reports, Uzumaki Naruto, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, should not possess such cleverness.
Wasn't he supposed to fight stubbornly to the end, refusing to leave unless he defeated him?
It was his own miscalculation.
Kimimaro's heart filled with regret.
But during their brief clash just now, Kimimaro had already realized something.
Naruto in Sage Mode combined with the Nine-Tails' chakra cloak was incredibly powerful.
Speed, strength, perception, even the defensive and regenerative power brought by the tailed beast chakra around his body…
None of it was something Kimimaro's Cursed Seal Level Two and Shikotsumyaku could deal with.
Even his strongest technique, the Dance of the Seedling Fern, would not work.
The Dance of the Seedling Fern only had a large area of effect.
Its attack power was effective against ninjas with high offense but low defense.
Against Uzumaki Naruto, it would have no effect at all.
Unless…
Kimimaro was a proper and upright person. He would never normally do anything perverted or obscene.
But…
"For the sake of Orochimaru-sama, I am willing to do anything."
Kimimaro's eyes hardened with determination.
Even if the thing he was about to do was something he himself felt ashamed of, as long as it could stop Naruto, he had to do it!
At that moment, the Sound Four on the other side had already stopped their Flying Thunder Formation training and were watching the battle.
Because they had only just had their curse marks removed and were still in a weakened state, they could not help and could only observe.
"Naruto, I am your father."
Naruto, who was rapidly retreating, suddenly heard that sentence coming from behind him and immediately stopped in his tracks.
The content of the sentence itself could not shake Naruto in his current completely calm state.
But that voice…
It was far too familiar.
Even though Naruto had no memories from when he was just born.
That's right. Kimimaro had once heard Orochimaru say that his voice sounded somewhat similar to that of the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki's father, the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
Since that was the case, he would take advantage of it and force the opponent to expose his weakness!
In the next second.
Kimimaro had already appeared behind Naruto.
With his hands forming the Tiger seal, he thrust toward Naruto's vital point!
Kimimaro had learned from the Sound Four that the Sunagakure Village's tailed beast Shukaku had once been forced back to its original form by Uzumaki Naruto using this very move.
That proved this technique was extremely effective against tailed beasts and jinchūriki.
Even though using it was incredibly indecent, for the sake of Orochimaru-sama, he had to use it!
"One Thousand Years of Death!!!"
"?!"
Naruto snapped back to his senses and looked behind him, staring in horror at the fingers getting closer and closer.
He hurriedly bent forward, trying to avoid it.
With that dodge, Naruto barely managed to avoid it.
But…
"Ten-Finger Piercing Bullets: One Thousand Years of Death!!!"
Kimimaro's fingernails flipped open, firing bone projectiles from inside like bullets!
"Nani?! Nine-tails, save me!"
Feeling the murderous intent behind him, Naruto sensed disaster and hurriedly shouted for help, hoping the Nine-Tails would increase its chakra support.
But because he panicked for that brief moment, the stability of his Sage Mode broke, and Naruto's speed dropped.
Now there was no way to dodge.
All he could do was rely on the Nine-Tails.
[Naruto, you idiot!!!]
The Nine-Tails panicked too.
Right now it was sharing Naruto's sensations.
If that attack actually landed…
Even it wouldn't be able to handle it!
(End of this chapter)