Chapter 80: Kimimaro

Following Yakushi Kabuto outside, Sasuke looked at the rows of buildings around them and asked in confusion:

"Karin, where is this?"

Karin glanced at Sasuke, puzzled.

"Naruto didn’t tell you? This is the Hidden Sound Village."

Although she found the question a little strange, Karin still answered.

Anyone Naruto was willing to bring here was naturally someone he trusted.

"The Hidden Sound Village?"

Sasuke froze, a head full of question marks.

No matter how hard he searched his memories, he couldn’t find any information about this village.

He had never even heard of it.

Walking ahead of them, Kabuto smiled.

"The Hidden Sound Village was established only recently. It doesn’t have much significance in the shinobi world yet, so it’s perfectly normal that you people from Konoha haven’t heard of it."

Sasuke nodded and did not dwell on it.

Before long, they arrived at a training ground.

Kabuto had arranged for quite a few ninja to come over.

There were Chunin, as well as Genin.

The future Sound Four were among them.

"Let’s send a Genin first."

After looking over the Sound ninja, Kabuto decided to let a Genin test Sasuke’s strength first.

He had previously assumed that Sasuke’s strength would be extraordinary because of his impressions of Naruto and Uchiha Izumi.

Thinking about it now, however, the Genin Naruto had mentioned was probably simply referring to Sasuke’s current level.

Naruto had said that nobody should die, but if Kabuto actually took that literally, he would be an idiot.

Orochimaru’s former target had been Sasuke himself. The fact that Naruto had managed to convince Orochimaru to give up on Sasuke meant that Sasuke was quite important.

The fact that Naruto had brought Sasuke to the Hidden Sound Village further proved this point.

As a former master of espionage who had operated under multiple identities, Kabuto was exceptionally good at reading people and figuring out their intentions.

If he seriously injured Sasuke, he would not be able to bear the responsibility. Even Orochimaru might not be able to protect him.

After all, Kabuto still vividly remembered those two Mangekyo Sharingan and the Nine-Tails that had been treated almost like a pet.

"Dosu, go a few rounds with this Sasuke."

Kabuto pointed to a female ninja.

It was Tayuya, one of the future Sound Four.

"Yes~!"

Tayuya did not waste any time and immediately charged toward Sasuke, who was standing alone in the middle of the training ground.

"A female ninja?"

Sasuke was slightly displeased when he saw that they had sent a woman, but he did not underestimate her.

The moment she was about to enter close combat, Sasuke’s eyes suddenly opened, revealing his crimson Two-Tomoe Sharingan.

Genjutsu!

Sasuke had occasionally received guidance from Uchiha Izumi, so his understanding of how to use the Sharingan was already quite good.

Tayuya, who was still charging forward, suddenly froze.

The inertia of her movement could not be stopped, and she was about to crash straight into Sasuke.

Sasuke’s taijutsu had improved considerably. He immediately raised his leg and kicked.

His application of force was practiced, and the movement flowed together perfectly.

"Pff—!"

Tayuya spat out a mouthful of bile.

The intense pain broke her free from the genjutsu, but the kick sent her flying backward.

Enduring the pain, she quickly pulled out her flute while still in midair.

The moment she landed, she slid backward from the remaining momentum and immediately began playing.

A strange melody rang out.

The scene before Sasuke’s eyes suddenly changed.

"Genjutsu?"

His eyes narrowed slightly.

The power of his Sharingan erupted.

"Genjutsu won’t work on me!"

He broke through the genjutsu while simultaneously locating Tayuya’s position.

Several kunai shot from his hands.

Nearby, Kabuto nodded inwardly.

Tayuya had been careless, but Sasuke’s strength seemed quite decent.

Among the Genin present, Tayuya was not exactly the weakest.

But she was not much stronger than the others, either.

After several exchanges, she was completely suppressed by Sasuke.

Her specialty, sound-based genjutsu, was also completely countered by Sasuke’s Sharingan.

She could only rely on her ferocity to keep fighting.

The outcome was obvious.

Two minutes later, Sasuke held a kunai against Tayuya’s neck and turned toward Kabuto.

"Kabuto, don’t you have anyone stronger?"

Sasuke had no idea that Tayuya was only a Genin.

After a real battle, his confidence had increased tremendously.

Sasuke was feeling invincible again!

Seeing this, Karin, who was sitting nearby, shook her head with a laugh.

His strength was only average, but he sure was arrogant.

Of course, Karin was comparing him to Naruto.

Strong, yet kind and easygoing.

Thinking of that, Karin felt a wave of resentment.

If Sasuke hadn’t come, she might have been able to spend more time with Naruto.

Kabuto said:

"Tayuya, step down."

At that moment, a Sound ninja walked over.

He wore a long robe that exposed his chest. His hair was white, his eyes were green, and there were two red dots between his eyebrows.

"The most important thing for a ninja is intelligence gathering. The clan crest on his clothes has already revealed his identity. You were too careless."

Tayuya’s face stiffened as she stepped back.

She had indeed been careless just now. Seeing that her opponent was young, she had not taken him seriously.

Once she realized who he was, however, his Sharingan had completely countered her genjutsu.

But Tayuya did not dare argue.

The person standing before her was far too rigid.

She could neither afford to offend him nor dared to.

Kabuto pushed up his glasses.

"Kimimaro, what brings you here?"

"I came to see Lord Orochimaru’s favored vessel."

Kimimaro stared at Sasuke with an appraising gaze.

Sasuke frowned.

Although he did not know what a "vessel" meant, he could tell from the word alone that it was nothing good.

Kabuto said:

"Lord Orochimaru has already found a better replacement."

Kimimaro naturally knew about this information.

He nodded and did not say anything else, turning to leave.

Sasuke suddenly spoke.

"Kabuto, can you let him fight me?"

Kabuto immediately cursed inwardly.

Oh, no.

Kimimaro, who had already taken two steps, turned around.

"You want to fight me?"

Sasuke maintained his expressionless face.

"You don’t dare?"

"Fine."

Kimimaro showed no emotion.

His expressionless face was almost on par with Sasuke’s.

He casually turned his wrist.

A bone blade suddenly extended from his forearm.

He grasped it in his hand.

Bones? What is this?

Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

He had no knowledge whatsoever of the Kaguya clan’s Shikotsumyaku.

Suddenly, Kimimaro pushed off with his foot.

The ground cracked beneath him.

In the blink of an eye, he had already reached Sasuke.

Sasuke’s pupils contracted.

I can’t keep up!

His Sharingan actually couldn’t follow Kimimaro’s speed!

"Kimimaro, stop!"

As Kabuto shouted, he immediately used the Body Flicker Technique, attempting to intercept Kimimaro.

But Kimimaro did not stop because of Kabuto’s warning.

He thrust forward.

"Is this all you’re capable of?"

There was a hint of disappointment in Kimimaro’s heart as the bone blade pierced forward, deliberately avoiding Sasuke’s vital organs.

He’s trying to kill me?

Sasuke’s heart tightened.

Kimimaro was far too fast, making it impossible for Sasuke to judge his movements accurately.

Faced with the overwhelming sense of danger, Sasuke could only barely twist his body aside.

Schk!

The bone blade pierced several inches into Sasuke’s chest before Kabuto arrived between them and stopped it.

Grabbing Kimimaro’s arm tightly, Kabuto quickly said:

"He’s someone Naruto brought here. Kimimaro, don’t cause trouble for Lord Orochimaru."

Kimimaro’s gaze sharpened.

He had assumed Sasuke was simply an experimental vessel brought by Orochimaru.

But now, remembering a certain Uchiha’s Mangekyo Sharingan, he realized that he might have caused a serious problem.

"Lord Orochimaru, Naruto."

Kabuto hurried into the laboratory where Naruto was talking with Orochimaru.

The moment he saw Naruto, Kabuto’s gaze shifted away.

Naruto’s heart stirred.

He vaguely guessed that something had happened.

Orochimaru, who was slightly displeased at being interrupted, asked:

"Kabuto, what is it?"

Kabuto looked nervous.

He glanced at Naruto before quickly looking away.

"Well... Sasuke was seriously injured by Kimimaro."

Hearing this, Orochimaru looked toward Naruto.

He had not even known that Sasuke had come.

Naruto, however, was completely unconcerned.

"Just treat him, won’t that solve the problem?"

Naruto had no reason to worry about Sasuke’s fate.

What he was curious about was how Sasuke had ended up getting injured by Kimimaro.

Wasn’t he supposed to fight Chunin?

Kimimaro’s bloodline disease was not particularly severe at this point, and Naruto had encountered him several times before.

The first time they met, Uchiha Izumi had made a few jokes about Orochimaru.

Kimimaro, being as stubborn as ever, had wanted to teach Uchiha Izumi a lesson.

The result?

He had been thoroughly beaten by her.

After that, whenever they met, Kimimaro had become much more obedient and polite.

But regardless, his strength should at least be above the standard of a typical Jonin.

So how had he ended up fighting Sasuke?

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