Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki

After the violent tremors and deafening roar, the forest grew eerily calm once more.

"What just happened?" Kimimaro murmured, glancing toward the direction of the explosion. Smoke billowed into the sky, and frightened birds scattered in all directions, yet the scene offered no clear explanation.

"Now's my chance!" Kiba seized the moment, charging at Kimimaro with chakra-enhanced limbs. He darted forward with all his strength, determined to take the coffin back.

Kimimaro didn't even turn to face him. With a casual wave of his hand, the bone blade extended from his shoulder, grazing the tip of Kiba's nose.

"So close..." Kiba barely managed to halt his movement, narrowly avoiding decapitation.

The stark difference in their strength was undeniable, and Kiba was all too aware of it. Yet he couldn't abandon Choji or Sasuke. He was cornered, torn between impossible choices.

Kimimaro turned to face him, bone blade raised. "I will not show mercy to those who obstruct Lord Orochimaru's will."

Clang!

Before the blade could strike, it was deflected by a black rod hurled with immense force. The impact sent violent vibrations through Kimimaro's arm, nearly making him drop his weapon. His bone blade cracked from the blow.

Startled, Kimimaro turned toward the black iron rod embedded in the ground. He couldn't believe that a weapon existed, besides Orochimaru's Kusanagi blade, that could shatter his bones—bones harder than steel.

A blue light streaked through the sky, heading straight for Kimimaro like a comet.

Sensing the incoming attack, Kimimaro's curse mark activated, spreading across his body. Bone spurs erupted from his skin, layering him in a protective shell.

"Frozen Force Concerto!"

Boom!

The impact of the blue comet colliding with the white "cactus" sent shards of ice and bone flying in all directions. Kiba was thrown backward by the sheer force of the explosion.

Kimimaro stumbled as frost coated his body. The bone spurs on his chest shattered, leaving him visibly shaken.

The dust settled, revealing Kirito standing with his left foot glowing faintly blue.

Kimimaro steadied himself, glaring at his new opponent. "White hair, pale eyes, and Ice Release abilities... You must be the one they warned me about."

Kimimaro's cold, analytical gaze betrayed no fear. Orochimaru's trusted right hand, Kabuto, had foreseen Kirito's interference and awakened Kimimaro early to counter him. Despite his terminal illness, Kimimaro was resolute in his mission to deliver Sasuke to Orochimaru.

"I will not falter, even against you," Kimimaro said, pulling another bone blade from his shoulder. "Lord Orochimaru's will must be fulfilled."

Kirito materialized another black rod in his hand, his calm demeanor unwavering. "Let's see if you're as good as the legends say."

The battle commenced in a blur of black and white. Kimimaro's bone blade clashed repeatedly against Kirito's black rod. Each strike sent shockwaves rippling through the air. But Kimimaro's blade couldn't withstand the unrelenting force of Kirito's weapon; it splintered with each clash.

Kimimaro leaped back, bone spurs emerging from his body. He spun into a whirlwind, launching himself at Kirito in a deadly "Dance of the Camellia."

Kirito didn't flinch. His body crystallized into solid ice just as Kimimaro struck, shattering into harmless shards.

"An ice clone," Kimimaro muttered, halting his attack. His eyes darted around, searching for Kirito.

"Shikamaru, get Kiba and Choji out of here!" Kirito's voice boomed from behind Kimimaro.

Shikamaru and Naruto arrived just in time to see Kirito reform from a block of ice. Without hesitation, Shikamaru grabbed Kiba, and Naruto hoisted the weakened Choji onto his back.

"Got it," Shikamaru replied. "Let's go, Naruto."

Kimimaro's eyes followed them briefly, but his focus returned to Kirito. "If they leave, I'll have to kill you to complete my mission."

More bone spurs emerged from his body, and his curse mark began spreading further. His skin turned black, and a tail of bony spikes grew from his back.

"You're persistent," Kirito said, his tone icy. He caught Kimimaro's tail mid-swing, yanked him off balance, and slammed him into the ground. Lava began bubbling on Kirito's arm, the crimson glow intensifying as he prepared a devastating blow.

"Rest in peace," Kirito murmured, swinging his lava-covered fist down at Kimimaro.

Boom!

The fiery impact sent molten rock flying everywhere, engulfing Kimimaro in an inferno.

From a distance, Naruto saw the lava exploding and yelled, "The coffin! If Sasuke's in there, he'll be caught in the blast!"

Naruto sprinted toward the coffin, ignoring Shikamaru's protests. The coffin tumbled from its position as the ground shook.

Crash!

The coffin exploded, and Sasuke emerged from the wreckage. His hair and skin briefly shimmered with the curse mark's effects before reverting to normal.

"Sasuke!" Naruto shouted, his face lighting up with relief.

Sasuke turned, his expression unreadable as black patterns spread across half his face. Without a word, he bolted.

"Damn it, Sasuke!" Naruto yelled, chasing after him.

"Wait, Naruto!" Shikamaru groaned, reluctantly following. "This is such a pain..."

Back at the battlefield, the ground trembled as massive bone spires erupted around Kirito. Kimimaro's final technique, Dance of the Early Fern, transformed the area into a forest of white bones.

Kimimaro emerged from one of the spires, his body battered but still moving. His left arm was gone, charred by Kirito's lava, and his movements were sluggish. Yet his determination remained unshaken.

"For Lord Orochimaru!" he roared, launching himself at Kirito with a massive bone spear.

Kirito sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing Kimimaro's arm and driving a black rod into his chest.

Kimimaro froze, his strength fading. "Lord... Orochimaru..." he whispered before collapsing, lifeless.

Kirito pulled the rod free and turned his gaze toward Naruto and Shikamaru's direction.

"I'll leave Sasuke to them for now," he muttered, walking back toward Kiba and Choji.

Meanwhile, Naruto caught up to Sasuke, only for another figure to block his path—a green-haired woman wielding crystal shuriken.

"Crystal Style: Shuriken Dance!"

Naruto braced himself, but an ice wall rose around him, shielding him from the attack.

Kirito arrived moments later, standing atop a nearby branch. His sharp gaze locked onto the woman.

"Why is she here?" Kirito murmured, his voice low and foreboding.

(End of Chapter)