Kimimaro stood in place, speechless for a moment.
Most ninjas of the Snow clan, both male and female, were beautiful, but contrary to their attractive faces, they were cold and stiff in their dealings with others.
Within the Snow clan, among the Ice Release ninjas, Haku was a complete anomaly.
He had never seen Haku lose his temper with anyone. He seemed gentle and easily bullied, yet he completed the clan's harsh training with the highest proficiency, earning praise from both clan leaders.
But when it came to describing him as resilient and strong, his performance in the Ninja Academy's combat exams was poor. Because he hesitated to deliver his attacks, he couldn't even unleash half of his true strength, placing him at the bottom.
The Snow clan leader wanted me to interact with Haku, not just to foster closeness between the clan's geniuses, but more importantly, so I could influence him.
But it seemed to have had very little effect.
Kimimaro knitted his brows. "You're not suited to be a ninja. You should withdraw from the Ninja Academy in a few days."
If his temperament doesn't change, it's obvious what will happen if he goes to the battlefield in the future. Rather than die easily on the battlefield, it would be better to stay in the village.
Not everyone has to be a ninja. There's nothing wrong with Haku choosing to withdraw.
Kimimaro was well aware that a world that forces one to be cruel to survive was the biggest mistake.
"…" After hearing Kimimaro's suggestion, Haku simply shook his head.
Seeing this, Kimimaro's expression turned a little cold.
This kind of advice had been given between them many times, but each time, the other party wouldn't argue with him. He would just continue to do what he needed to do.
This 'non-violent non-compliance' attitude left Kimimaro somewhat helpless. He couldn't exactly beat him up over it, could he?
"I…" Kimimaro was about to say something when a sharp pain shot through his bones, as if every cell in his body was bursting. His face instantly turned pale, and he fell backward.
A hand supported Kimimaro's back. Haku's face was filled with anxiety. "What's wrong with you… Is it that disease?"
Kekkei Genkai represented innate powerful abilities. Almost all Kekkei Genkai users far surpassed ninjas of the same level.
But this power came at a price. Kekkei Genkai disease was the most serious hidden danger.
The attitude changes in the Uchiha clan due to the overuse of the Sharingan were, at best, latent symptoms. However, for the Kaguya clan who possessed the Shikotsumyaku, the onset was life-threatening.
"Back… pack… medicine…"
Kimimaro's body trembled, and his lips mumbled.
Upon hearing this, Haku quickly began to search and soon found a syringe filled with red liquid.
Without any hesitation, he directly injected it into Kimimaro's shoulder.
As the plunger was pushed in, the look of pain on Kimimaro's face slightly eased, but he soon began to cough up blood.
It was as if every blood vessel in his body had ruptured. Large amounts of blood spread out, soaking the snow beneath their feet.
Haku's face changed drastically, his brow furrowed with deep worry. "What's going on…" He wondered if he had grabbed the wrong medicine.
"Don't… worry."
Kimimaro suddenly grabbed Haku's arm, his weak voice still coming from his throat. "This is normal… It's normal."
The Shikotsumyaku allowed one to freely manipulate and alter the bones within their body for combat, offering both offense and defense. It was a powerful Kekkei Genkai.
However, for unknown reasons, while the bone marrow produced blood, it sometimes also distributed a toxic substance throughout the body.
This erosion was secretive and profound. Therefore, those who awakened the Kekkei Genkai of the Kaguya clan needed regular bloodletting surgery to reduce the concentration of toxins in their bodies.
But this method wasn't always effective. Besides knowing that those who awakened the Kekkei Genkai with a higher degree of development had a higher frequency of attacks, the Kaguya clan knew almost nothing about the pattern of the appearance of that mysterious toxin.
It was quite ironic that the Kekkei Genkai users who manipulated the Shikotsumyaku were not intimately aware of their own bones.
"I'll take you back to the clan."
With a worried look, Haku helped Kimimaro up and, without another word, headed back in the direction they came from.
Kimimaro pulled on Haku's shoulder, shaking his head. "I'm fine. It's just a little blood; it'll be made up soon."
If not for the effects of Kekkei Genkai disease, the Shikotsumyaku was almost one of the most powerful Kekkei Genkai in the ninja world. Besides the basic manipulation of bones and the creation of blood, it could also heal internal and external injuries. Its vitality was second only to monstrous clans like the Senju and Uzumaki.
Haku still didn't reply, only insisting on helping Kimimaro towards the clan.
He knew Kimimaro was typically stubborn, and his words now might just be him trying to tough it out. He needed to confirm with the clan leader or other Kaguya clan members.
"You…" Kimimaro was weak after all and couldn't win against Haku at this moment. He could only focus on restoring blood within his body and recovering from his weakened state as quickly as possible.
Just as Haku suspected, he was indeed pushing himself, not wanting to be seen in such a state. And these injuries were truly nothing.
Kimimaro was calculating how long it would take to prove to this stubborn guy that he was fine when he suddenly sensed an unusual aura. "Careful…"
The words left his mouth, and almost simultaneously, even before him, Haku reacted, pulling him back and warily facing forward.
At the entrance of the alley, a tall figure appeared.
He wore a black cloak over a fitting samurai outfit. His build was lean but not flimsy. Especially his deep eyes, which seemed to possess a magical quality that could draw one in.
Kimimaro noticed the man had a braided hairstyle, wore red earrings, and had a peculiar number mark under his left eye. He was clearly not from the Land of Iron.
"He's not a samurai, not a ninja, and doesn't have much chakra fluctuation… But why does he give me such a sense of danger?"
A hint of confusion flickered through Kimimaro's mind, and he asked coldly, "Who are you, and why are you blocking our way?"
The man didn't answer. He just scrutinized Kimimaro's body with obvious disgust in his eyes. "A descendant of Kaguya… Heh…"
The Kaguya clan, also known as the Bamboo Taken Tree clan. Kimimaro didn't think much of the man's address, instead adopting an offensive stance. "If you don't want to fight, get out of the way."
The man's face showed little emotion, but the contempt and dismissiveness in his eyes were clear and infuriated Kimimaro.
Just as Kimimaro was about to attack, the man finally spoke, his low voice in his ear, "I have no interest in a junior like you…"
"But… hand this child over to me."
The man in black shifted his gaze to Haku, his deep eyes showing a flicker of interest.
His name was Jigen, but that was merely the name of this body. His true identity was Otsutsuki Isshiki.
In ancient times, he had arrived on this planet with Otsutsuki Kaguya, their purpose being to harvest the fruit from the Divine Tree planted there much earlier.
However, during this process, he was betrayed by Kaguya. His own 'Karma' was largely consumed by the Divine Tree, and he was on the brink of death.
Fortunately, he met the owner of this body by chance and transformed them into a 'vessel' to contain himself, thus surviving.
However, after a thousand years, this 'vessel,' even with his power supporting it, was nearing decay. Therefore, Isshiki had begun roaming the ninja world over a decade ago, searching for his next 'vessel.'
Choosing Jigen back then was out of desperation. Now that he had the luxury, Otsutsuki Isshiki intended to choose carefully. He had spent over ten years and still found nothing.
This time, upon arriving at the Land of Iron, he accidentally sensed an aura of that woman and came to investigate. He unexpectedly gained another harvest.
"You want to take Haku away? Dream on!"
Kimimaro forced himself to stand, his eyes flashing coldly.
Although they hadn't known each other long, Kimimaro already considered Haku a rare companion. Hearing that the man wanted to do this, his face showed little emotion, but his heart was filled with raging anger.
"You are no match for me."
Isshiki's tone was indifferent, merely stating a fact.
But Kimimaro immediately felt his body grow heavy. The pressure was like a mountain, and he, already somewhat weak, could barely stand.
Haku supported Kimimaro's body. A rare resilience appeared on his delicate, almost feminine face.
He said, in a deep voice, "We are indeed no match for you, but this is the Land of Iron, the territory of the Snow clan and the Kaguya clan, and furthermore, we are subordinates of the Akatsuki organization…"
"With your strength, you must not be an unknown ninja. You must know how powerful Lord Nagato of the Akatsuki organization is."
"Just as we are no match for you, you are definitely no match for Lord Nagato."
Information about the great battle that had occurred outside the Village Hidden in the Rain was spreading like wildfire. Haku believed the man had heard of it and was using it to bluff, hoping he would back down.
Isshiki had indeed heard of it. He had even observed that battlefield from afar.
Indeed, Nagato, the leader of the Akatsuki organization, and Orochimaru of Konoha were not to be underestimated. They were no less powerful than Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha of decades ago.
But to say that that fellow could rival him, let alone defeat him, was simply ridiculous.
Isshiki's emotions changed subtly, but Haku, with his keen perception, naturally sensed Isshiki's attitude towards Nagato. His heart sank immediately.
Whether it was because the opponent's strength was extraordinary, even surpassing Lord Nagato, or because he believed they were not worth Nagato's attention, neither scenario was good news for them.
They could only fight.
A hint of azure flashed in the Byakugan. The temperature in the alley dropped rapidly, and tiny water droplets condensed into ice crystals in the air.
Kimimaro felt the youth behind him had completely turned into an ice pick, as if ready to reveal its sharpness from its sheath at any moment. His own heart settled a little.
He stirred the chakra in his body, his bones forming a bony armor on his body's surface, ready to cooperate with Haku's attack at any time.
However, the next moment, a vast and powerful pressure descended upon the alley. Haku and Kimimaro felt their bodies freeze in place. The chakra that had been flowing smoothly within them stopped in their meridians. It became hundreds of times more difficult to manipulate.
The man in black standing at the alley entrance remained motionless, his expression still cold. Unbeknownst to them, black stripes had appeared on his face, and his immense aura seemed to be solidifying the air.
But strangely, people were coming and going outside the alley, as if oblivious to what was happening here.
Both Haku and Kimimaro were shocked. They were not weak. While their strength might not equal that of a Jonin, it was not far off, and their perception was even sharper.
Such a level of power, let alone the two clan leaders, even a Kage-level shinobi would not possess such strength.
In the ninja world, besides the leader of the Akatsuki organization and Orochimaru of the Konoha Sannin, how could there be a powerhouse of this caliber? Why had they never heard of him before?
Haku's heart sank bit by bit. The worst-case scenario had occurred.
Setting aside whether their lives were worth provoking such a formidable foe for their clan and organization, the difficulty of even discovering who was responsible was insurmountable.
Even now, the passersby outside the alley were oblivious to the situation here due to some method employed by the other party.
But how had they provoked such a powerful being?
Just as they were falling into despair, unexpectedly, the man in black retracted his imposing aura.
Isshiki slowly approached Haku, his deep gaze cast down. "If you come with me and willingly become my 'vessel,' I can grant you one wish."
Having lived in the ninja world for a millennium, although most of the time was spent on research and training, Isshiki had gained a certain understanding of humans.
While the mediocre were numerous, those with talent, given sufficient knowledge and perspective, had immeasurable growth potential.
Of course, this was limited to those who could naturally grasp natural energy. Other humans, though resembling them and originating from the same source, were merely common, low-grade beings.
The black-haired youth before him was one of those with talent. If this youth willingly became his reincarnation 'vessel,' he might obtain an unprecedentedly perfect body.
In that case, not only would his strength be even greater than before, but his potential would also be incomparable. He might even be able to secure a larger share of resources upon returning to his clan in the future.
This youth was worth his particular attention.
Haku didn't know what a 'vessel' was, but he was currently unable to refuse. So he asked, "A wish? What wish can you grant me?"
"There are many, for example…"
Isshiki's gaze shifted to Kimimaro, who stood beside Haku, and he said slowly, "Completely cure this boy's illness."
With his eyesight, he naturally knew the origin of the Shikotsumyaku blood disease.
The Bone Shattering Ash Bone was a God-level killing technique. Anyone struck by it would turn to dust, leaving only ashes. Few pure-blooded Otsutsuki could even wield this ability.
Even in its incomplete form, it was not something a mere ninja body could withstand. What's more, they dared to develop such an ability.
What surprised Isshiki even more was that a ninja from the Kaguya clan had actually managed to slightly perfect this ability. Although for those who couldn't control it, the power of the Bone Shattering Ash Bone was undoubtedly a poison that led to suicide.
"What did you say? You can really cure his Kekkei Genkai disease?"
Haku's eyes suddenly lit up.