As Kimimaro was backed up, still blocking and parrying the blonde in front of him, he felt a coughing fit come on that he barely managed to suppress. The blonde nuisance was proving to be an actually skilled and upcoming Shinobi. The problem was that Kimimaro didn't have much time left. Eventually, his body would decay that not even his own will, fueled by his desire to serve Orochimaru, would be enough to push forward. If only Kabuto could have healed him a bit more.
Naruto leapt back just as Kimimaro gave a wet coughing sound and his breathing was getting heavier. Naruto's nose picked up a slight scent of blood, no doubt from Kimimaro coughing it up. Tayuya also mentioned Kimimaro's illness, something wrong with his lungs.
Naruto felt bad, knowing Kimimaro was essentially a cripple fighting for the will of his Lord. Naruto thought he was ready for the darker aspects of the Shinobi world, yet this was something else. Naruto gripped his mother's swords tighter. Damn it, this went against everything that he believed in. Naruto hung his head, realizing that was somewhat hypocritical given some of the things he had done.
"Give up." Naruto told the albino. "Please, we can take you to Konoha, Tsunade is there and she can heal you, she's the best damned medic in the world." Naruto said his body still tight with the readiness to fight.
"I do not need your pity." Kimimaro said as he stood up straight once more and wiped the blood away on the sleeve of his top. His head turned as the barrel began to hiss, signaling that it would finish with the Uchiha soon. Kimimaro stood taller, and tapped into the power of his Cursed Seal, causing it to begin to spread. His breathing felt easier, even though he knew that was an illusion. It would only speed up his injuries. "For Orochimaru-sama, I will fight on to deliver Sasuke-sama."
Naruto was reminded briefly of Haku. Naruto rolled his shoulders a bit. "So be it Kimimaro-san." Naruto said and combined his mother's swords back together again. He then took the Kusanagi in hand, holding both of the swords in a firm grip but with a loose stance.
"Third Dance Uzumaki Naruto, Dance of the Larch." Bones began to sprout from Kimimaro's skin, tearing the shirt more and causing blood to spill out. The biggest significant problem with his Kekkei Genkai, the Shikotsumyaku, was that the users were anemic. It was what accelerated his disease, using his abilities for Orochimaru. Because he was bleeding quite a bit based on the opponent, even his white blood cells spilled out. Having a rare blood type also made things difficult; Kabuto had difficulty finding a possible transfusion.
The Cursed Seal from Orochimaru helped in this regard a little bit, it allowed for a minor healing factor, healing the damage as he did it. But the mark would only do so much.
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Kimimaro needed to end this battle. He rushed ahead at Naruto and began his wild and chaotic attacks, spinning and slashing at the blonde. He would give the blonde Shinobi this, better men than he had been finished before Kimimaro reached the third dance.
Naruto grew bothered by this, despite his speed and strength he was having difficulty keeping up with Kimimaro. This changed when Kimimaro suddenly leapt back into a back flip. Naruto saw Lee, trying for the standard flying kick. Naruto raced past Lee, and summoned his chakra to flow through his coils and into his blades. Naruto slashed out with both, releasing a stream of wind chakra that launched the sharp blades out like lethal projectiles. Kimimaro leapt to the side, no doubt trying to keep what blood he had in his body, in his body.
Suddenly the barrel that had Sasuke began to exude black smoke that reeked of evil chakra. Naruto actually covered his nose and his eyes became slit and red from the Kyuubi. He was pissed, he had no idea why.
The top of the barrel exploded and Sasuke leapt out, landing. Through the smoke, Naruto could see long hair that was quickly receding back into his head. "SASUKE!" Naruto yelled out, his voice amplified by his fury.
Instead of responding, Sasuke glanced to Kimimaro. "Keep going the direction that you are facing to reach Orochimaru-sama." Kimimaro said before stepping forward, ready to fight once more.
"Lee, can you fight?" Naruto asked sharply to the green spandex clad boy beside him.
"Of course Naruto-kun, Tsunade-sama's treatment worked wonderfully." Lee said bouncing on his heels a bit; no doubt keeping his muscles warmed up and loosened.
Naruto nodded. "Step behind me." He said before unfurling a scroll. Sasuke was running off, and Naruto needed to deal with Kimimaro. He unsealed the contents of the scroll and soaking wet sand began to pour out, raining water and sand down on Kimimaro who was dodging.
Naruto recently got the idea from this from Ichibi. "Sabaku Sôtaisô!" Naruto shouted, using the sand to grab Kimimaro. This wouldn't stop the second stage of the Cursed Mark, but damned if he didn't try to make Lee's job easier. Naruto slammed his hands on the ground, pulsing his chakra out. The wet sand formed a large pyramid before condensing in size, crushing Kimimaro.
Naruto then froze the water into a thick set of ice mirrors that interwove with the sand. Naruto glanced to Lee. "It won't hold him for long, but he should waste a lot of chakra getting out." Naruto said before sprinting off after Sasuke, the Kyuubi's chakra actually making him faster but his anger more potent.