"What a pity…"
Kimimaro's voice was calm, almost regretful, as if he were lamenting the inevitable outcome rather than celebrating it.
"Ten-Finger Piercing Bullets!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In an instant, dozens of sharp bone projectiles burst forth from his fingertips once again—but this time, they were faster. Much faster. Their speed had increased severalfold, tearing through the air with terrifying force.
"Watch out, Hinata!"
Shino's voice rang out sharply.
Hinata's Byakugan had already activated, her veins bulging slightly around her eyes as her vision sharpened to its peak. She reacted immediately.
"Protective Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Palm!"
Her body moved like flowing water. With precise, circular motions, she deflected and redirected the incoming bone bullets. Each strike of her palm was perfectly timed, dispersing the lethal projectiles before they could reach her.
Yet even as she blocked them all…
The sheer force behind the attacks pushed her backward.
Her feet slid across the ground, leaving faint marks as she struggled to stabilize herself.
"So strong…!"
Hinata's expression tightened, her heart pounding.
"These bone projectiles… their force alone is enough to push me back…"
Fear crept into her chest—but she crushed it instantly.
Retreat was not an option.
If she stepped back now, everything would be lost.
She took a deep breath, her gaze sharpening with resolve.
"I can't fall here… I won't!"
"Gentle Fist… Eight Trigrams Palm!"
With a sudden burst of chakra, Hinata dashed forward. Her palms struck out in rapid succession, forming a relentless barrage aimed directly at Kimimaro's vital points.
This was no ordinary attack.
Under the strict guidance of Hiashi Hyuga, her mastery of the Hyuga Clan's traditional Gentle Fist had advanced tremendously. Combined with her self-developed Defensive Gentle Fist, her technique had reached a new level.
Each strike carried the ability to precisely seal chakra points, cutting off the opponent's flow of energy and rendering them powerless.
Shino watched closely, his expression serious.
"So this is the Hyuga Clan's Eight Trigrams Palm…"
"A technique that shuts down chakra flow with pinpoint accuracy… once it lands, the battle is effectively over."
But then…
His brows furrowed.
"Why isn't he dodging?"
Kimimaro stood still.
Completely still.
A faint, almost mocking smile played on his lips.
He didn't even attempt to evade.
Hinata herself felt a flicker of confusion—but she didn't hesitate.
This was her chance.
A once-in-a-lifetime opening.
"Ahhh!"
Her final palm strike surged forward with full power—
BOOM!
The impact landed.
For a split second, it seemed like victory.
But then…
"The Black Pine Dance."
Kimimaro's voice echoed softly.
Suddenly, his chest shifted.
From beneath his skin, curved ribs burst outward, spreading like blooming petals. They formed a dense, layered shield that completely blocked Hinata's attack.
The sound of impact rang out sharply.
Her strike—powerful enough to disrupt chakra—was stopped cold.
Not only that…
A powerful rebound force surged back at her.
"What—?!"
Before she could react—
BAM!
Kimimaro's leg lashed out, delivering a brutal kick.
Caught between the recoil of her own attack and his counterstrike, Hinata's body was sent flying.
She soared through the air, crashing heavily more than ten meters away.
"Hinata!"
Shino rushed forward instantly, placing himself in front of her protectively.
"Are you alright?!"
Hinata struggled to rise.
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she forced herself upright, her gaze still locked on Kimimaro.
"…So this is his ability…"
Kimimaro spoke calmly, as if explaining something trivial.
"By manipulating my bones, I can form an absolute defense. My ribs can block any close-range attack—and the stronger your attack, the stronger the recoil."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Taijutsu is meaningless against me."
His tone turned colder.
"This distraction has gone on long enough."
In the next moment, his body shot upward into the air.
A long bone blade extended from his arm, gleaming with deadly intent.
"Time to end this."
He descended like a falling meteor, aiming straight for Hinata.
But—
"Don't even think about it!"
Shino's voice cut through the air.
His fist clenched tightly.
BOOM!
Kimimaro's body jerked violently midair.
It was as if an invisible force had struck his chest. His face paled instantly, and his body trembled before collapsing to the ground.
"…What…?"
Kimimaro frowned.
"Parasitic Destruction Insects…?!"
"When…?"
Shino's voice was cold and steady.
"You underestimated us."
"Even though your earlier attack destroyed some of my insects, many remained hidden within your body—waiting."
His glasses reflected a faint glint of light.
"The moment your bones pierced through your flesh, they seized the opportunity to burrow deeper inside."
Kimimaro's expression shifted slightly.
"That earlier technique… Black Pine Dance…"
"Yes," Shino continued. "What you thought was your defense… became their opening."
"They've already begun devouring your chakra—and your flesh."
"This isn't something you can block externally. Your organs, your blood… everything is vulnerable."
For the first time—
Kimimaro smiled.
"…Impressive."
"I truly underestimated you."
Shino tightened his fists.
But then—
"However…"
Puff. Puff. Puff.
A horrifying sound echoed from within Kimimaro's body.
Shino's eyes widened.
He could no longer sense his insects.
"…What did you do?!"
Blood spilled from Kimimaro's mouth—but his smile remained.
"I simply created countless tiny bone spikes inside my body… and killed them all."
Shino's expression changed drastically.
"But if you do that… your internal organs—"
"I know."
Kimimaro's voice was calm. Too calm.
"I was already dying."
"This mission… is the last thing I can do for Orochimaru."
"If I can complete it… I can die smiling."
Shino clenched his fists tightly.
"What's wrong with this guy…?"
"Even if he's loyal… how can someone go this far?"
"To destroy his own body just to win… this is madness."
At that moment—
Dark markings spread rapidly across Kimimaro's body.
The Cursed Seal flared to life once more.
And this time—
It was different.
Stronger.
Much stronger.
His entire body transformed, turning a deep crimson. Bone spikes erupted from his back like the spines of a monstrous beast. His face twisted with dark patterns, and even a tail-like structure emerged behind him.
He no longer looked human.
He looked like a monster.
Hinata's breathing grew heavier.
"…His power… it's increased again…"
"This is far beyond before…"
Shino understood immediately.
Even in his previous state, they had struggled to keep up.
Now… in this form…
Victory was impossible.
"…I understand," Shino said quietly.
"But even so…"
He stepped forward.
"We have to stop him—even if it costs our lives."
Hinata nodded firmly.
"Yes."
Kimimaro grinned.
Then—
In a shocking move—
He reached behind his back… and pulled out his own spine.
The vertebrae extended, forming a long, flexible bone whip.
"You're already dead."
"Dance of the Clematis!"
The whip lashed out instantly.
Before Shino could react, it wrapped tightly around his body, binding him completely.
He struggled—but it was useless.
The constriction made it impossible to move, let alone use ninjutsu.
"Shino!"
Hinata rushed forward to help—
But Kimimaro's other arm transformed.
It hardened, extending into a massive spiral bone spear.
"Dance of the Clematis!"
With terrifying force, he swung it toward her.
The sheer piercing power was overwhelming.
Only someone like Gaara, with absolute defense, could hope to withstand such an attack.
Hinata… could not.
She was already exhausted.
Injured.
Out of chakra.
Still—
She didn't retreat.
Blood trickled from her lips as she raised her hands once more.
"Protective… Gentle Fist… Eight Trigrams Palm!"
Even now—
She chose to fight.
No regrets.
No fear.
Only resolve.
RUMBLE—!
BOOM!!!
The collision shook the ground.
But the result…
Was inevitable.
Kimimaro's overwhelming power crushed through her defense.
"Dance of the Clematis!"
His attack descended again—stronger, faster, unstoppable.
This blow—
Would end her life.
"Hinata!!!"
Shino roared, struggling desperately, but he couldn't break free.
Everything seemed to slow.
Hinata stood there, facing death head-on—
And then—
"Get lost."
A cold voice echoed across the battlefield.
BOOM—!
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)