Outside the Fire Temple.
Jiraiya looked up at the familiar scene in the distance, his eyes welling up.
I'm back!
After leaving Kyoto, he rushed toward the Fire Temple while searching for possible traces of Kazuma.
Unfortunately... in the end, he was unable to find Kazuma.
Having experienced much outside, seen bustling cities and thousands of hearts, it was this temple that finally brought him peace.
Jiraiya slowly climbed the steps.
The closer he got, the more apprehensive he felt.
At the door, Jiraiya gently knocked on the temple gate.
Creak—
After a sound, the gate opened a crack, and a novice monk poked his head out. Seeing it was Jiraiya, his eyes widened in surprise:
"Uncle Jiraiya! Uncle, you're finally back?"
"Yes."
Jiraiya smiled.
The other was overjoyed and turned back to shout: "Uncle Jiraiya is back!"
Before long, a group of monks and novice monks rushed over.
The gate was thrown wide open to welcome him inside.
Jiraiya suppressed his emotions, walked into the temple, looked around, frowned slightly, and asked: "Is the Abbot well?"
"He's fine, but Senior Brother Sora has somehow disappeared. The Abbot has been looking for him lately."
The little novice monk replied.
Jiraiya nodded slightly and said: "I see. Take me to Sora's residence."
He went inside and all the way to Sora's place.
After looking around, Jiraiya found no traces, only seeing that everything had been taken away.
Jiraiya stood still for a few seconds.
Kazuma is indeed still alive!
"That child... I hope you can let go of your obsession and live a good life from now on."
He sighed softly, no longer dwelling on it.
On the mountain outside the Fire Temple.
Sora sat in a cave, looking at a strange face, not knowing what to do for a moment.
The other person turned his head.
"Sora, it's been hard on you all these years."
"You said before... you are my father?"
Sora's voice trembled, but it was full of hope.
Kazuma remained silent for a moment before saying:
"Your father is dead. I am a friend of your father's. My name is Furido, and I will be your teacher from now on."
Saying that, he walked outside.
"Let's go."
"Where to?"
"To look around, go to other places, and see other countries."
...Land of Grass.
Inside an underground base.
"Lord Orochimaru."
"It's Kimimaro."
Orochimaru looked up.
The small Kimimaro was standing outside the door, looking at him with expectation: "When can you plant the Cursed Seal on me?"
Orochimaru laughed deeply: "No rush, wait a bit longer."
"Yes!"
Kimimaro was slightly disappointed upon hearing this, but he didn't dare say more.
He looked up and was about to speak, but Orochimaru suddenly raised his hand.
Then, a snake crawled over.
After a moment, Orochimaru said: "Guests have arrived. Take a few of them to welcome them and see the results of their training."
"Should I hold back?"
Kimimaro asked.
Orochimaru chuckled: "The opponent is a cunning powerhouse... You won't be a match for him. Attack with all your strength; as long as you don't die, it's fine. The others don't matter."
"Yes!"
...Land of Grass, in a valley, a wooden bridge connected the ravines, allowing passage.
A figure slowly crossed the bridge.
After a moment, he looked up toward the distance, a slight smile appearing on his face.
Reaching the end of the bridge, after a few steps... suddenly, the ground cracked, and earth spikes emerged from beneath.
Following that.
"Whir!"
A sharp sound.
A hand reached out from underground.
The person was wearing a strange device on his hand, emitting a screech that made the ears ache, but when he surged his Chakra to activate the ninja tool... a hand grabbed him.
Then—
Boom!
A loud explosion.
He was pulled out of the soil and dragged in front of Masahiko.
It wasn't Dosu.
After the person's hand was controlled, he increased his Chakra output, and soon... Bang!
The ninja tool exploded along with a shrill scream. After the Chakra exploded violently, it caused a mist of blood to fill the air, which was quite tragic.
Masahiko's expression was indifferent: "An experimental subject?"
He threw the person violently toward another direction, knocking out the person hiding there.
After a moment, three people jumped out from their hiding spots.
The leader was handsome.
Masahiko loosened his muscles.
"Lord Orochimaru sent you here; surely he didn't say I couldn't kill you?"
"Forget it, it doesn't matter."
He tilted his head, scanning them, "Attack together. I have important matters and am in a bit of a hurry!"
The leader bowed slightly.
"My name is Kimimaro. Please guide me!"
"Kimimaro, huh."
Masahiko narrowed his eyes, sizing him up, and then... instantly, he disappeared from the spot.
Kimimaro immediately retreated.
Bang!
A massive fireball came overwhelming from diagonally above.
With a roar—
The flames expanded and spread, covering the entire area.
Figures jumped out from their hiding places, each with a terrified face.
Such a Fire Release... so strong!
Kimimaro was shocked but did not back down. Instead, he raised both hands, and bone bullets erupted from his fingertips, shooting toward Masahiko in the air.
However.
The moment the bone bullets were about to hit, the opponent advanced instead of retreating.
The blade was instantly drawn, tracing a crescent arc in the air, diagonally sweeping in and deflecting all ten bone bullets.
In the blink of an eye... Bang bang bang!
Figures fell one after another.
Before Kimimaro could counterattack, the opponent had already closed in, the blade slashing across.
Bones erupted all over Kimimaro's body, and he even pulled out a bone blade, his body dancing bizarrely—
Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Camellia!
Clang clang clang!
A series of clear rings.
Masahiko's blade swung rapidly, without any pressure.
Behind him, three people quietly followed using Earth Release, jumping out for an assassination... Bang!
A concentrated, powerful stream of water erupted from beneath Masahiko's feet.
With a thunderous strike, the ground beneath his feet cracked.
The powerful impact left the people underground dazed.
For the first time, Kimimaro felt a deep shock from someone other than Orochimaru—
So Taijutsu and Ninjutsu could be used like this!
The next second, everyone rushed up together.
Masahiko held a sword in one hand and a Kunai in the other, his figure darting rapidly in several directions, like an illusion.
In just an instant... before Kimimaro's consciousness could react, his body moved first.
Clang clang clang!
A blade fast to the extreme, flexible movements, a dance... Dance of the Camellia?
In this instant, Kimimaro almost thought the opponent also possessed the Shikotsumyaku.
Amidst his shock—
Whoosh!
A Kunai flew past his eyes.
Just an inch away, this Kunai could have pierced his forehead.
Cold sweat dripped from Kimimaro's forehead.
"Shikotsumyaku is good, but currently you rely on it too much. Just lead the way honestly."
The opponent's voice came from behind him.
"Yes!"
Kimimaro hurriedly followed, his thoughts in a mess.
The opponent could learn his Taijutsu with just one look; he was truly too strong. No wonder Lord Orochimaru said they couldn't be his match.
He looked up at Masahiko, hesitating to speak.
"What do you want to ask?"
"How did you do it?"
Kimimaro asked softly.
Masahiko smiled and said: "If you know the techniques for flexible joints, this Taijutsu move of yours isn't hard to learn."
He looked down.
"Also, a Bloodline Limit is a tool, not the main body. You rely on the Shikotsumyaku too much."
"I'll remember that. Thank you very much for your guidance!"