The next morning, a knock came from outside the door. Naruto stirred from the crystal bed Guren had crafted.
He didn't get up. Instead, he raised a hand and used Wind Release chakra to open the door remotely.
Standing outside was a clearly annoyed Guren, holding a breakfast tray.
"Naruto Uzumaki, right? Orochimaru-sama told me to bring you breakfast."
Naruto finally got up and took the tray.
But Guren didn't leave. She remained standing in the doorway, staring at him expectantly.
"Something else?" Naruto asked, confused.
"Mm. I'll speak after you finish eating." Guren crossed her arms. Though still young, she already carried herself like a dignified older woman.
"I'm not hungry. Just say what you want," Naruto replied, already tired of being dragged along by others—he wasn't about to be ordered around, even over something as minor as breakfast.
But Guren was firm, her tone unyielding.
"This is Orochimaru-sama's order. Even if you're not hungry—you're going to eat it."
To her, this was an assignment from Orochimaru. She had to complete it before doing anything else.
'And that has what to do with me?' Naruto thought.
Sure, Guren was attractive, but he wasn't the type to go soft just because a woman batted her eyes. He wasn't going to indulge her.
"I said, I'm not hungry." Naruto's tone turned cold.
Guren's eyes also grew frosty.
"Being chosen as a vessel by Orochimaru-sama—and valued so highly—is your fortune. You should be honored.
But don't let it go to your head.
Remember this well: Orochimaru-sama's words are absolute!"
Naruto was honestly impressed by how deep Orochimaru's manipulation ran.
'He really managed to brainwash this girl that thoroughly?'
"Come to the training ground with me."
"Let's see exactly what makes you so special in Orochimaru-sama's eyes."
Seeing Naruto's indifferent expression only made Guren angrier.
'I'm the one most suited to be Orochimaru-sama's vessel! No one's taking that from me!'
Naruto raised his hand, considering ending this little tantrum right here.
But then he remembered her Crystal Release. She might actually be a decent test subject for his new Shikotsumyaku techniques.
So he followed her to one of the training grounds Orochimaru had built in the Sound Village.
It had a wide-open space and various training contraptions designed by Orochimaru himself.
This was where all the potential vessels trained, each desperate to earn Orochimaru's favor.
As Naruto and Guren entered, they drew curious stares.
Guren's strength was among the best under Orochimaru's command.
And in the Sound Village, strength and potential were status.
Among the scattered onlookers, Naruto spotted several familiar faces:
The twin brothers Sakon and Ukon, Jūgo, Kidōmaru, Tayuya, and Suigetsu Hōzuki…
Even Kimimaro was there, his body mostly recovered. His gaze toward Naruto was complicated.
After all, "gratitude" wasn't something Kimimaro knew how to process.
Also among them was a red-haired girl with black-framed glasses—Karin.
When she saw Naruto's face and physique, she quickly wiped her glasses, eyes sparkling like stars.
"So this is Naruto Uzumaki? He's… insanely hot…"
Beside her, Suigetsu casually flicked his white hair and covered one eye with his palm, grinning.
"Heh… yeah, I can feel the pressure. He might actually be a threat to my handsomeness."
Karin rolled her eyes.
"Suigetsu, you idiot. Do you even own a mirror? You dare compare yourself to him? Who gave you that confidence?"
Suigetsu clutched himself dramatically, his expression a mix of fear and bashfulness.
"You knew?! You've been secretly watching me, haven't you?!
Karin—I never imagined you were that kind of woman!"
Karin burst into laughter, then turned and kicked him.
But Suigetsu's body liquefied into blue water, completely avoiding the hit.
Back at the center of the training ground, Guren took her stance opposite Naruto.
Their postures and tension made everyone pause their own training, eyes shining with anticipation.
"Guren's going to fight Naruto Uzumaki? This is gonna be good."
"Guren's seriously insane…" muttered Kabuto, watching from afar.
He and Kimimaro were the only ones here who'd seen Naruto's terrifying power firsthand.
Guren formed hand seals rapidly.
"Crystal Release: Jade Crystal Labyrinth Dragon!"
Three massive pink crystal dragons shot into the air—one carrying Guren into the sky, while the other two lunged toward Naruto.
Karin's heart skipped a beat.
Even though she was also from the Sound Village, she instinctively found herself worrying for Naruto.
The dragons barreled toward him, but Naruto's eyes gleamed with a pale blue triangular eye-shadow—the sign of Sage Mode.
Since this was a test, he figured he might as well go all out.
Watching from a distance, Kabuto began sweating as memories of Orochimaru's brutal defeat flashed through his mind.
'He's really using that… just to fight Guren?!'
"Sage Art: Ten Finger Bullets."
Naruto raised his right hand. Ten bone bullets fired forward.
They didn't look like much—but when they hit the heads of the charging dragons—
Boom! Boom!
The massive crystal beasts shattered instantly into dust.
"That's… Shikotsumyaku?! Impossible!"
Gasps echoed across the field.
Kimimaro, most of all, couldn't believe it.
Naruto actually possessed the Dead Bone Pulse?
Guren was visibly shaken. She knew exactly how tough her Crystal Release was.
To have it broken like cheap glass—this was a first.
"Crystal Release: Crystal Shuriken!"
Refusing to back down, Guren unleashed another barrage—dozens of crystal shuriken flying toward Naruto with deadly speed.
Naruto coated his body in Shikotsumyaku armor, remaining motionless.
The storm of shuriken slammed into him, producing crisp, metallic clinks.
When it ended, Naruto hadn't moved an inch.
And the bone armor showed not a single scratch.
"His defense is insane! That didn't even leave a mark!" Suigetsu exclaimed dramatically.
The others nodded in agreement—they all knew how powerful Guren's jutsu were.
But no one felt it as strongly as Kimimaro.
As a user of Shikotsumyaku himself, he knew how durable it was…
But even so—it had never reached this level.
Naruto withdrew the bone armor, satisfied.
After some real combat testing, he realized something:
Shikotsumyaku techniques had narrow attack ranges. Compared to his other abilities, they weren't very practical.
But then again…
The Kaguya clan had always been known as a clan of madmen. The fact they came up with these kinds of raw, brutal techniques was probably the best their bone-filled heads could manage.
Naruto silently wondered whether Shikotsumyaku had any hidden potential left to unlock.
"This it? You got anything stronger?
I'm not itchy, so I don't need your help scratching."
He spoke calmly—but Guren's face twisted in fury.
The others tried—and failed—to hold in their laughter.
"Arrogant. Too arrogant," Suigetsu said what everyone was thinking.
"Damn it! You asked for it!"
"Don't come crying to me if you can't take what's coming next!"
Guren began to channel all her chakra, forming a new set of seals.