As Kimimaro entered Cursed Seal Level Two, Naruto completed his hand seals.
Thousands of Shadow Clones, each wielding a suction cup, vanished all at once.
Their combined memories and sensory feedback flooded back into Naruto's main body like a tidal wave!
"SASUUKEEEEE!!!" Naruto roared.
Then, just as fast as it erupted, his rage subsided.
He stowed his 'ninja tools' in silence and adjusted his waistband. The signature Sage Mode markings appeared on his face!
"What's that?"
Naruto in Sage Mode and Kimimaro in Cursed Seal Level Two both felt a strange sense of familiarity as they locked eyes.
At their core, Jugo's Cursed Seal and Sage Mode both harnessed natural energy—Sage Art Chakra.
This battle was a clash of kindred forces.
The difference lay in their approach: traditional Sage Mode required inner calm, complete composure, and a precise balance to prevent physical distortion.
The fewer the physical changes, the more perfect and powerful the Sage Mode became.
Jugo's Cursed Seal operated on the opposite principle. The natural energy within the seal caused extreme physical mutations and a killing instinct.
As long as his body and mind could withstand it, the more mutated he became, the stronger he grew.
"Give Sasuke back to me," Naruto said in Sage Mode. He crossed his arms before him, his voice steady.
At 16... uh, 13 years old, Sage Mode was your trump card.
At 32, it was your final trump card!
The first time you used Sage Mode, you said you'd definitely win.
The last time, you said... you'd come back alive.
Now, entering Sage Mode for his first real battle, Naruto was brimmed with confidence!
"Don't talk about Sasuke like he's your possession," Kimimaro retorted, cracking the bones in his arms.
"?"
Naruto froze.
Wasn't that his line? Did the other guy steal it? Was he also coveting Sasuke's body?
'Naruto, attack! Defeat this bone-user brat. I'll lend you my power. Don't worry about him getting close!' The Nine-Tails' voice echoed in his mind, bolstering his confidence.
"Right!" Naruto clapped his hands together and charged.
The Nine-Tails kept its word.
The crimson Tailed Beast Cloak materialized around Naruto.
For the first time, Sage Mode and Tailed Beast power merged in battle.
This combination could even handle the original Nagato.
Kimimaro's previous words revealed that, aside from regaining his health, he hadn't received any extra enhancements.
He was no match for this opponent.
But there was no need to worry.
Kimimaro was eager to contribute to Orochimaru's plans, but he wasn't foolish enough to act on impulse.
Orochimaru had warned him to report any formidable enemies to headquarters.
Acting out of turn would endanger his life and disrupt the Hidden Rain Village's overall strategy.
Pointless sacrifices helped no one.
So, upon discovering the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Kimimaro notified headquarters before intercepting him.
He trusted that the village would handle the situation, but until reinforcements arrived, he had to defend his position without yielding an inch.
Facing Naruto's straightforward punch, Kimimaro dodged, but the invisible Frog Kata strike still sent him flying.
Fortunately, possessing both the Shikotsumyaku and Cursed Seal Level Two in peak condition made Kimimaro highly durable.
"What?"
Kimimaro crawled to his feet, ready to confront Uzumaki Naruto again, only to find the boy running away, leaping into the distance.
'Was he fleeing?'
No.... his sole purpose was to break through his blockade and find Uchiha Sasuke!
Kimimaro never anticipated his opponent could think this far ahead.
According to the intelligence, Uzumaki Naruto shouldn't possess such strategic focus. Shouldn't he be fighting to the death, determined to defeat every enemy in his path?
'It was a miscalculation on my part!' Regret flooded Kimimaro's chest.
But in that brief exchange, he realized, Naruto in Sage Mode and empowered by Nine-Tails Chakra, was a powerhouse.
His speed, strength, perception, and regeneration far surpassed what Kimimaro's Cursed Seal and bone density could handle.
Not even his strongest technique, Sawarabi no Mai, would suffice.
That jutsu excelled in range, making it suitable only for high-attack, low-defense opponents.
Against Uzumaki Naruto's chakra cloak, it would be ineffective.
'Unless...'
Kimimaro was a righteous warrior. He would never normally resort to such unsavory tactics.
But...
"For Orochimaru-sama, I'm willing to do anything."
Kimimaro's resolve hardened.
Even if the act would make him ashamed of himself, if it meant keeping Naruto here, he had to do it.
...
Meanwhile, the Sound Four, who had been practicing the Flying Thunder Formation, stopped to watch the battle.
Weakened by releasing their own Cursed Seals, they could only observe.
"Naruto, I'm your father."
Naruto, who was mid-leap, heard this voice behind him and froze.
The words alone couldn't shake Naruto, who was in a post nut clarity state.
But that voice... It was familiar.
Even though Naruto had no concrete memories of his birth, a primal instinct recognized it.
Kimimaro had once heard Orochimaru say his voice resembled that of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, the father of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Knowing this, he decided to exploit the psychological connection to make his opponent drop his guard.
In the next second, Kimimaro appeared behind Naruto.
Forming the Tiger Seal with both hands, he thrust his fingers toward Naruto's ass!
Kimimaro had learned from the Sound Four that Shukaku, the One-Tail of Sunagakure, had once been forced back into its original form by Naruto using this exact technique!
This proved the technique was highly effective against both Tailed Beasts and Jinchūriki!
Even though the move was grotesque, he had to use it for Orochimaru-sama!
"Thousand Years of Death!!!"
"?!?"
Naruto snapped out of his daze and turned around, staring in horror at the fingers closing in on him.
He bent his waist to dodge.
The dodge barely worked.
But...
"Ten-Finger Bullet: Thousand Years of Death!!!"
Kimimaro's fingertips flipped open, launching bone projectiles like bullets!
"NANIIIII?! Nine-Tails, save me!"
Sensing the murderous intent aimed at his asshole, Naruto felt a deep sense of dread.
He called out, desperate for the fox to provide more chakra.
But his panic shattered the stability of his Sage Mode, causing his speed to plummet.
Now there was no way to evade.
It all depended on the Nine-Tails.
'Naruto, you idiot!!!'
The Nine-Tails was panicking too!
Since it shared Naruto's sensory feedback, it couldn't withstand taking such an attack either!
---------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator