"Yes, sir." Without a moment's hesitation, Kimimaro stepped into the cave.
"Kai-kun, you really trust your subordinates. You should know that once Jūgo goes berserk, even elite Jōnin might not be able to withstand him," Orochimaru said with a smile.
Kai glanced at Orochimaru and said calmly: "Kimimaro at full power—even you might not be able to withstand him, Orochimaru."
A flash of anger crossed Orochimaru's eyes, though he didn't show it.
Orochimaru couldn't believe that someone of Kimimaro's age could have already reached Kage-level!
Kai could naturally see through Orochimaru's thoughts. Without saying much else, he simply stated: "Before Itachi left the village, he fought Kimimaro—more losses than wins."
This was indeed the case. Before awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan, Uchiha Itachi faced Kimimaro with an almost complete losing record. After awakening the Mangekyō, the two hadn't fought again. However, even if Kimimaro hadn't yet stepped into Kage-level, without using Mangekyō techniques, Itachi would still struggle to defeat him.
Hearing Kai's words, a clear trace of wariness flashed in Orochimaru's eyes.
In the pitch-black cave, only Kimimaro's footsteps echoed. Soon, he reached a heavy iron door.
"Just leave the food at the door. I'll get it later," a low voice came from behind the iron door.
However, to Jūgo's surprise, today seemed different from usual. The footsteps gradually approached, followed by the sound of the iron door being pulled open.
"Orochimaru? You haven't come in a long time."
Jūgo was curled up in a corner of the room, his body covered with dense black markings, trembling constantly as if suppressing his inner emotions.
"I'm not Orochimaru. My master ordered me to bring you out, so please come with me," Kimimaro said coldly.
"Not... not Orochimaru? In that case..."
Jūgo, who had been curled up in the corner, suddenly showed a ferocious expression. Brown keratin appeared all over his body as he roared: "Since you're not Orochimaru, then die!"
His right arm had transformed into a massive weapon covered in keratin, striking directly at Kimimaro.
Kimimaro showed no intention of dodging. Looking at the attacking Jūgo with an unchanged expression, he raised his left arm and said quietly:
"Dance of the Fern!"
Countless thin bone spikes emerged from Kimimaro's left arm, gradually growing thicker and spreading like a large net to envelop Jūgo.
The bone spikes rapidly contracted, wrapping Jūgo within them, leaving only his head exposed.
Jūgo gradually regained his sanity, his eyes vacant as he spoke: "What do you want with me? I can't control my power, so I can't leave here. Otherwise, I'll kill people indiscriminately."
Looking at Jūgo before him, Kimimaro's cold expression softened slightly, perhaps seeing his younger self. He said calmly: "Since my master needs you, from today forward, I will be your cage."
"My... cage? Like this?" Jūgo's eyes lit up with hope as he looked at his restraints.
Kimimaro didn't speak, only nodded.
"Alright, I'll go with you." Jūgo didn't hesitate. Comparatively, he preferred being in natural environments. However, due to his inability to control the power within him and having killed countless people, Jūgo had sought refuge with Orochimaru in desperation.
"Follow me." With that, Kimimaro retracted his bones, turned, and headed toward the cave entrance first, with Jūgo following closely behind.
Outside the cave
Kai, standing at the cave entrance, could naturally sense the commotion inside clearly.
Kimimaro's chakra signature, and... such dense natural energy!? Kai showed a surprised expression, then suddenly realized: there was no other chakra presence! This meant that dense natural energy was Jūgo's chakra!?
No wonder he had been unable to sense Jūgo's presence—he had fallen into a misconception. However, natural energy permeates every corner of heaven and earth. For Kai to distinguish which specific energy belonged to Jūgo using his Kagura Mind's Eye alone was extremely difficult.
As Kai pondered, increasingly clear footsteps came from the cave.
Kimimaro emerged, followed by a tall young man with orange hair, roughly the same age as Kimimaro.
"Master, Jūgo of the Scales has been brought," Kimimaro said respectfully, standing before Kai.
"Mm." Kai nodded, looking at Jūgo—pale complexion, pure eyes, showing no trace of violent tendencies.
"Interesting." Kai's lips curved slightly as he suddenly unleashed killing intent toward Jūgo.
Sensing Kai's fierce killing intent, Jūgo instantly entered his Sage Transformation state. Without hesitation, his keratinized arms struck toward Kai.
Seeing the transformed Jūgo, Kimimaro moved to intervene but was stopped by Kai.
Kai's expression grew serious. Jūgo, who had charged at him, suddenly came to a complete halt. His raised keratinized fist was only about twenty centimeters from Kai's face, but no matter how much Jūgo roared and struggled, his fist couldn't advance even slightly.
"Hmm... can't really be called a bloodline limit—more like a special physical mutation? Oh... all Eight Gates in his body are actually in an open state. Interesting." Kai's eyes had unknowingly transformed into the blue-yellow Magatama Rebirth Eyes.
Evolved from the Byakugan, the Magatama Rebirth Eyes naturally possessed all of the Byakugan's abilities. Under Kai's gaze, Jūgo's internal condition was completely visible.
"Kimimaro, restrain Jūgo," Kai commanded.
Hearing Kai's order, countless bones extended from Kimimaro's arms, binding Jūgo.
"Orochimaru, since the transaction is complete, then... farewell." Kai smiled at Orochimaru, placed one hand on Kimimaro's shoulder, and in the next moment, they vanished from the spot.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
The story isn't over...
🤔 Want to know what happens next to the characters?
🤫 Eager to explore the untold secrets of this world?
✍️ Ready to read more of my wildest stories?
✨patreon.com/DarkGolds