c24: Battle of Otonin — Corrected and Expanded
According to Shikamaru's plan, Neji, Kiba, and Choji advanced first, while Shikamaru and Naruto deliberately kept a measured distance behind them to avoid detection. The five moved swiftly through the dense forest, following the traces left by the Otonin. They found, to their surprise, that the enemy had not set any traps an unusual choice considering how meticulous Orochimaru's subordinates typically were. This could only mean one thing: the Otonin were arrogantly confident in Jirobo's strength and believed he would eliminate anyone who attempted pursuit. Soon enough, Neji, Kiba, and Choji closed the distance between them and the fleeing Sound Four. As previously arranged, Choji launched the first strike using his Multi-Size Technique to disrupt their formation, Kiba followed in with Fang Over Fang, and Neji circled around to focus on retrieving Sasuke.
Although the sudden appearance of the three Konoha shinobi momentarily startled the Otonin, they still responded with composed cruelty. Their coordinated attacks, however, were almost entirely ineffective. Tayuya, always foul-mouthed and ill-tempered, clicked her tongue irritably and shouted, "What the hell is that meat-head Jirobo doing? Letting brats catch up this fast useless idiot!" Sakon snorted disdainfully and replied, "I said we shouldn't have left the weakest of us at the rear. He slowed us down."
At that moment, Kidomaru his six arms unfolding like an arachnid preparing to strike leapt forward and said, "You two go. Don't waste Lord Orochimaru's time. I'll finish these runts. It won't take long." Compared to Jirobo, Kidomaru was indeed on another level, especially with his spider-based chakra weapons and long-range ninjutsu. Trusting his ability, Tayuya and Sakon nodded and retreated with the coffin containing Sasuke.
Kidomaru wasted no time. He released his golden spider silk sticky, chakra-hardened, and incredibly durable. The threads spread out in dense layers, quickly entangling Neji, Kiba, and Choji. Just as the silk tightened to the point of constriction, Neji activated his Byakugan, his eyes glowing with pale precision, and used Gentle Fist strikes to sever the chakra channels woven inside the silk. This was the natural counter to Kidomaru's ninjutsu: cutting the chakra flow from within. Naruto at this point still lacked a reliable method to neutralize Kidomaru's specialty, making Neji the optimal one for this matchup.
Naruto whispered to Shikamaru from their hidden vantage point, "Don't reveal yourself yet. When Neji finds an opening, help him pin Kidomaru down using shadow possession. Watch his movements carefully you know how tricky long-range fighters are. Don't attack unless you're absolutely sure." With Neji engaging Kidomaru directly, Kiba and Choji resumed the pursuit of the remaining Sound ninja. Naruto followed them silently from the shadows, keeping his presence concealed. He trusted Shikamaru's tactical support well enough to believe Neji could handle Kidomaru without disaster.
After a short chase, Kiba and Choji once again caught up to Sakon and Tayuya. This time, they had managed to close in enough to force the Sound pair to halt. Sakon clicked his tongue. "First Jirobo fails, and now Kidomaru couldn't stop them? Troublesome pests." He glanced at Tayuya. "Take Orochimaru-sama's vessel and move. I'll stall them myself." But before Tayuya even crossed fully beyond Kidomaru's range, a hand burst out from the earth beneath her feet Naruto's Earth-Style infiltration technique—grabbing her ankle. Reacting instantly, several shadow clones erupted from the ground, grappling onto her limbs and halting her movement entirely. Because her attention had been fixed on escaping with the coffin, she had not anticipated an underground ambush.
"Rasengan!"
Naruto descended from above, clad in his white combat robes, the swirling sphere of chakra roaring in his hand.
Tayuya immediately forced herself into Cursed Seal Level Two, her form twisting and gaining monstrous strength. She broke free from several clones, but she had no time left to evade the Rasengan. Although durable, Tayuya still possessed a human body; the direct hit crushed her chest with overwhelming chakra force, killing her instantly. Naruto had targeted her specifically because he knew Sakon could evade or separate into Ukon, making a one-hit kill difficult.
Hearing the impact, Sakon turned sharply and saw Tayuya collapse lifelessly. His eyes widened. "Tayuya!" Then his gaze snapped to Naruto. "So it's the brat in white the so-called prodigy of Konoha, Uzumaki Naruto. No wonder Jirobo and Kidomaru failed. You must've taken them out yourself."
Choji and Kiba arrived just in time to witness the scene and shouted, "Naruto! Nice one! Now let's finish off this freak with two faces together!"
Naruto prepared to strike, but before he could close the distance, another figure also dressed in white appeared beside Sakon without making a sound. Even the arrogant Sakon felt his stomach drop. "K-Kimimaro…? But your body should be"
Kimimaro's voice was cold and emotionless. "I can move by my own will for now. You have already delayed Lord Orochimaru's reincarnation ritual. Under normal circumstances, I would execute you for such incompetence." His eyes narrowed. "You will stop them here. I will personally retrieve Lord Orochimaru's next vessel."
Without another word, he lifted the coffin and vanished, moving with inhuman speed. Left behind, Sakon trembled with a mix of fear and humiliation. Desperate to reclaim his pride, he immediately activated Cursed Seal Level Two, his body mutating grotesquely as Ukon emerged. In this feral state, he roared and threw himself against Naruto, Choji, and Kiba with reckless determination.
Naruto used the Substitution Technique twice in rapid succession, slipping out of Sakon's grasp just as the two-headed monster lunged again. The feints left only splintered wood in Sakon's hands. Forced to divide their attention, Kiba and Choji moved in to hold Sakon back, each unleashing their respective clan techniques to halt his advance. Meanwhile, Kimimaro's speed was undeniably frightening his movements were smooth, precise, and unhesitating but because he carried Sasuke's coffin, his mobility was hindered just enough for Naruto to overtake him. When Kimimaro finally halted and set the coffin gently on the ground, he looked at Naruto with cold, evaluating eyes. "So Sakon couldn't even delay you. As Kabuto said, you are the so-called Konoha prodigy in white. A pity. You will die here today."
Naruto's expression hardened. He knew exactly how strong Kimimaro was the strongest of the Sound Five, Orochimaru's ideal vessel, a master of Shikotsumyaku. Even Naruto felt pressure in his chest. Still, he forced a smile and said, "Whether I win or lose isn't decided until the end. I know you're way stronger than those guys earlier… but giving up isn't my style."
He formed seals instantly. "Earth Style: Earth Flow River!"
The forest floor liquefied into a surging mud current, but Kimimaro strode forward regardless, bones sprouting from his soles to act as anchors. Naruto followed with, "Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bomb!" Flames roared across the mud, but Kimimaro shielded himself with protruding bone plates, pressing forward step by step. "Earth Style: Earth Wall Array!" Naruto threw defensive and offensive techniques in alternating rhythm as he leapt backward, forcing distance between them. The moment Naruto paused for breath, Kimimaro calmly remarked, "A wise tactic. You're fully aware you stand no chance in taijutsu, so you rely on continuous ninjutsu bombardment. But this level of jutsu doesn't affect my body."
With terrifying suddenness, Kimimaro burst into motion, the ground cracking beneath his feet. Naruto reacted instantly by creating five shadow clones, each moving into position.
"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
Chakra-infused earth shells pounded Kimimaro from multiple angles, slowing him for the first time.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
The intense heat scorched Kimimaro's exposed skin despite his defense, forcing him to brace himself. Bone armor erupted across his frame as he activated the Cursed Seal's first stage, his body hardening and mutating.
"Wind Style: Pressure Burst!"
A violent gust surged forth, strengthening the flames from the fire jutsu and simultaneously pinning Kimimaro in place under sheer air pressure.
As Kimimaro concentrated fully on resisting the barrage, Naruto launched himself from above, gathering a massive spinning sphere of chakra. "Big Ball Rasengan!"
Kimimaro immediately entered Cursed Seal Level 2. His body transformed grotesquely the spine elongating, the bones forming a monstrous armor that wrapped around him like an ossified demon. Naruto's Big Ball Rasengan slammed into Kimimaro's bone mountain with a thunderous crack. Fractures spider-webbed along the bone armor, shards breaking off from the sheer rotational force. Still, the hardness of Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku far exceeded Naruto's expectations; despite the damage, the Rasengan did not fully pierce through.
But the impact was powerful enough to send Kimimaro skidding across the ground for dozens of meters before he dug his bone spear into the soil to halt himself. Naruto stared, shocked that his strongest attack had failed to cause severe injury. No wonder Orochimaru coveted Kimimaro's body this was a living fortress.
Before either could launch their next attack, black, corrosive chakra began leaking from the seams of Sasuke's coffin. A pulse of dense, malevolent power erupted. The lid burst open, and Sasuke stepped out, his Cursed Seal Level 2 having fully matured. Dark marks crawled across his skin, his voice dripping with cold confidence as he let out a twisted laugh. Without even glancing back at Naruto, he turned and sprinted straight toward Orochimaru's hideout.
Suddenly a voice shouted, "Naruto! Go after Sasuke leave this one to me!"
Naruto turned sharply and saw Rock Lee, dressed in his hospital garb, but already moving with the same determined fire he had shown during the Chunin Exams. He had come straight from his recovery bed, refusing to let Naruto face Kimimaro alone.
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