Kaede Kitahara's claim that the Kaguya Clan was a Sage Body clan directly stunned everyone.
Especially with the Senju Clan and the Uzumaki Clan as comparisons, both of them also Sage Body clans, everyone became intensely curious about the other Sage Body clan, the Kaguya Clan.
Everyone knew something about the powerful history of the Senju Clan, and the Uzumaki Clan had been no weaker. Although they had been wiped out many years ago, every surviving member was stronger than the last.
They had even once established their own shinobi village. That alone was already impressive.
"Hagoromo's Lineage corresponds to the Uchiha Clan, the Senju Clan, and the Uzumaki Clan, while Hamura's Lineage corresponds to the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan and the Kaguya Clan's Shikotsumyaku / Dead Bone Pulse. But if that's the case, it feels like Hamura's Lineage is weaker than Hagoromo's Lineage."
Uchiha Itachi had his own judgment. The strongest clan in the Shinobi World was undoubtedly the Senju Clan. Even the unwilling Uchiha Clan had to admit that much. As for second place, of course the Uchiha Clan took it without question.
Looking at it that way made things clear. Hamura's Lineage was obviously weaker than Hagoromo's Lineage. Although they were still famous major clans in the Shinobi World, there was still a gap between them.
But logically speaking, since the two brothers belonged to the same clan, there should not have been such a huge difference. Maybe he was simply overthinking it.
[Orochimaru had no idea how much potential Kaguya Kimimaro had as the final Sage Body descendant of Hamura's Lineage. He completely wasted him.
Then again, Orochimaru probably did his best. After all, he once placed high hopes on Kimimaro and gave him the Earth Curse Mark. The only Cursed Seal on the same level was Sasuke's Heaven Curse Mark. Although it could only be considered a degraded version of Senjutsu, it did make up for Sasuke's lack of Sage Mode. After all, in late-stage battles, not having Sage Mode was a huge disadvantage.
But there was nothing that could be done about his Kekkei Genkai Disease. It was the same as Uchiha Itachi's situation. Maybe both were related to overusing their Kekkei Genkai!]
"Orochimaru? This has something to do with Orochimaru again? So that Kimimaro from the Kaguya Clan ended up in Orochimaru's hands?" Jiraiya thought of how Orochimaru often collected orphans. He had not expected someone so talented to be among them.
But thinking about it, he himself was not much worse. Had he not taken in a Rinnegan?
Was that not impressive too?
Still, if it was Kekkei Genkai Disease, then there really was not much anyone could do.
With his broad experience, he had indeed seen a few people with Kekkei Genkai develop Kekkei Genkai Disease in his lifetime. The most typical example was Nagato. In his eyes, the reason Nagato had become like that was essentially because of a Kekkei Genkai Disease, was it not?
"Does my condition count as Kekkei Genkai Disease?"
Uchiha Itachi thought about his own situation. It was true that using the Mangekyo Sharingan worsened his illness. In fact, before awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan, his body had been perfectly healthy. There had been nothing wrong with him at all.
But after awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan, all kinds of problems had gradually begun appearing in his body. Aside from the usual deterioration of eyesight, he had also started coughing blood, feeling weak, and developing other physical symptoms.
That made him certain that this was absolutely not one of the normal aftereffects of the Mangekyo Sharingan.
There had to be another problem. Now Kaede Kitahara had pointed it out for him. His condition was Kekkei Genkai Disease.
It seemed this Kekkei Genkai Disease was extremely troublesome.
However, what he cared about more was the Heaven Curse Mark Kaede Kitahara had mentioned on Uchiha Sasuke.
That Cursed Seal should be the one Kakashi had specifically helped Sasuke seal away in the first video.
Later, when his future self had deliberately driven Sasuke's Chakra to the absolute limit and waited for Orochimaru to appear, it was obvious that the Heaven Curse Mark contained some of Orochimaru's Chakra or perhaps fragments of his soul.
It was a hidden danger. Under normal circumstances, it would not matter much. Sasuke had special Chakra suppressing it. But once he was driven to the end of his rope, he could possibly be taken over by Orochimaru through Possession / Body Snatching.
But Kaede Kitahara also said this power was very important to Sasuke. He had seen the might of Sage Mode in several videos. Clearly, the boost it gave a ninja was astonishing.
Although Kaede Kitahara called this a degraded version, it was still obviously very important.
But this thing clearly carried hidden dangers as well. Orochimaru had left a backup plan inside it. They had to find a way to remove it, just as his future self once had.
"Cough, cough!"
Thinking this far, Uchiha Itachi could not help coughing up blood.
"Sage Mode, huh?" Uchiha Sasuke thought about the time when he possessed the Cursed Seal. Although he could not determine the exact moment he obtained it, judging from Orochimaru appearing in the first video wearing an Otogakure Forehead Protector, it was highly likely to happen during the Chunin Exams.
He felt a little eager.
Even if that power had problems, he still wanted to obtain a power that could help him take revenge.
Although he did not plan to go join Orochimaru, there should be no issue with plucking a bit of wool from Orochimaru's body.
As for the fragment of Orochimaru's soul contained inside it, he did not care. This time, he would not be beaten until all his Chakra was exhausted.
"Heaven Curse Mark, Earth Curse Mark…" Uchiha Sasuke thought about Orochimaru wanting to take over his body. From those two Cursed Seals of the same level, he could roughly infer Orochimaru's thoughts. This Kaguya Kimimaro was probably also one of the vessels Orochimaru had prepared as a replacement body.
Thinking of how Kaede Kitahara had said Kaguya Kimimaro was the last Sage Body descendant of Hamura's Lineage, corresponding to him, the last Sage's Eyes descendant of Hagoromo's Lineage, Sasuke felt that it did not really demean him.
Yes. Even now, deep in Uchiha Sasuke's heart, he still carried the profound pride of being part of the Uchiha Clan. Even as a vessel, the only person qualified to be compared to him had to be the descendant of another distinguished clan.
Uchiha Sasuke could even guess that Orochimaru's first choice probably had not been him, but rather the boy named Kaguya Kimimaro, whom Orochimaru had raised since childhood.
It was just that Kimimaro had Kekkei Genkai Disease like Itachi and would not live long. Was that why Orochimaru had been forced to choose him instead?
"Orochimaru, you dared covet the bloodline of the Uchiha Clan. Death is too good for you."
Uchiha Sasuke spoke coldly.
"So Kimimaro had an identity like that?"
Seventh Hokage Naruto thought carefully. Back then, he had actually crossed paths with Kaguya Kimimaro and had been completely beaten down in Taijutsu.
That had been the first time he had encountered someone like that, someone who could crush him with Taijutsu skill alone.
Unlike Rock Lee at the time, who had relied on absolute speed and strength, Kimimaro had displayed the peak of technique when it came to Taijutsu mastery.
Even now, after reaching middle age, Naruto believed his own Taijutsu had improved tremendously compared to back then. But putting aside outside factors like speed and strength, if they spoke purely of technique, he did not feel that he had surpassed the Kimimaro of that time by much.
In terms of Taijutsu skill, Kimimaro truly had reached the peak possible for that level of strength.
However, this so-called Sage's Body was something he had not known about. Back then, he had been busy chasing Sasuke. After returning, he had only heard that the fight had been won, but Sasuke had gotten away. He had no idea how that battle had actually unfolded.
[Strongest Shield VS Strongest Spear!]
Suddenly, at that moment, a video title appeared. Immediately afterward, a video appeared before everyone.
"Strongest Shield? Strongest Spear? What a bold claim."
Tsunade glanced over the title of the video. She did not know what the Strongest Spear was, but in her eyes, the so-called Strongest Shield was probably only her Great Grandfather's secret technique, Quintuple Rashomon.
It was a defense no attack could pierce.
Unfortunately, she had no talent in that area and could not learn it.
Instead, Orochimaru was the one who had learned it.
She immediately clicked into it. The first thing that entered her view was Uzumaki Naruto in his teenage years. Young Uzumaki Naruto's face had shown a few Demon Fox-like traits. Clearly, a little of the Nine-Tails' Chakra had seeped out, though not too much yet.
It had only made his canine teeth lengthen and his eyes flash with an eerie red light.
In that state, Uzumaki Naruto was not someone an ordinary Chunin could handle. However, standing before him was a white-haired boy whose face was as still as an ancient well.
He looked a few years older than Uzumaki Naruto. Holding a white bone sword, he struck down the Shadow Clone Jutsu copies pouncing toward him with just a few swift movements, blowing them apart in midair.
At that moment, Uzumaki Naruto's Shadow Clone Jutsu exposed its massive weakness. It broke apart the instant it was hit. Against Genin-level or even Chunin-level opponents, Uzumaki Naruto's Shadow Clone Jutsu could defeat enemies through overwhelming numbers. However, once the level of strength rose to Jonin level, the huge weakness of the Shadow Clone Jutsu became obvious.
"That isn't how the Shadow Clone Jutsu is supposed to be used."
Tsunade held her forehead as she spoke. Uzumaki Naruto had pushed the Shadow Clone Jutsu beyond the level it should have reached, but that was not the correct way to use it.
If someone could defeat a Jonin just by creating Shadow Clone Jutsu copies, then Jonin would be far too worthless.
The moment Kimimaro made his move, Tsunade immediately sensed how formidable he was. He absolutely had Jonin-level strength.
And he was a Jonin who specialized in Taijutsu. Ninja who knew only Taijutsu were rare, because most could not endure long enough to reach that level. But once they did, every one of them became a monster with terrifying combat power.
Most ninja could not possibly have enough Chakra to keep releasing Ninjutsu in a head-on duel. Most Ninjutsu were basically used to support tactics, and in the end, victory still had to be decided through Taijutsu.
Under those circumstances, one could understand just how absurd a Taijutsu-specialist ninja really was.
Especially one who specialized in Taijutsu and still managed to reach Jonin level. Their combat power was often among the best in their rank.
Although they had enormous weaknesses and openings, their strengths were just as outrageously strong.
"That brat from the Kaguya Clan has some skill."
Tsunade guessed that this had to be Kaguya Kimimaro.
And as a fellow descendant of the Sage's Body, Tsunade also felt her competitive spirit stir.