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The surrounding Kaguya clansmen holding candles couldn't help whispering among themselves while looking at Kimimaro.
They feared Kimimaro's strength, yet eagerly anticipated seeing him display his prowess this time.
Even at only four or five years old, without much training, he was already a powerful combat tool.
"With this guy around, even Yagura coming won't be useful."
"This kid really makes people envious, being able to serve as a human weapon."
Not a trace of fear towards war or death could be seen on these people's faces, even with the Mizukage bringing ANBU to annihilate their clan.
Their faces only showed a fervent desire for war and eyes shining with immense anticipation.
They craved war and bloodshed from the bottom of their hearts.
Only through repeated battles could they truly feel their existence, the true meaning of their being.
Continuously killing others, then being killed by others.
This was the endless self-verification they pursued.
Although Kimimaro didn't quite understand these people's enthusiasm, this was the first time he was being watched by so many.
For a moment, he felt somewhat shy and echoed their smiles.
Though these people felt somewhat strange, regardless, this was the first time in years he had found meaning in his existence.
Namely—to fight for the clan.
Being needed, having a purpose for existing, and companions.
These were things Kimimaro, trapped in darkness, had always longed for but couldn't obtain.
Fight for the Kaguya clan. This mark was briefly imprinted in Kimimaro's mind.
...
The ANBU who had arrived earlier surrounded the Kaguya clan grounds.
Personnel had already been stationed in every surrounding corner. Pairs of eyes hidden behind masks watched the Kaguya clan's movements intently.
The people inside the clan grounds still maintained a peaceful appearance, seemingly unaware of the impending doom.
"Water Release: Hiding in Mist Technique!"
Several masked ANBU members, following beside Yagura, raised two fingers before their faces and chanted in low voices.
The humidity in the air instantly increased; vast swathes of white mist spread around everyone.
The mist and night further reduced visibility.
Nearby, the flames burning beside the Kaguya clan's wooden houses gradually blurred.
Several figures quickly stepped across tree branches, soon disappearing into the mist, rustling down a few leaves.
Shadows flickered. The ANBU already surrounding the area leaped down from the trees the moment the mist arose, entering the Kaguya clan grounds.
"Clang—!"
A dull, resonating sound suddenly rang out within the dense mist.
A dark kunai and a pale white bone blade pressed tightly together. The masked ANBU member quickly retreated a step.
"We've lived in Kirigakure for so many years, after all. Did you think this could fool our eyes?"
A pair of wide-open eyes instantly glared out from the mist, their almost ferocious expression fixed on the ANBU mask.
The Kaguya clan had known the news long ago. Although feigning calm, everyone was secretly gathering strength, vigilant of any disturbance.....
After the mist arose and the ANBU struck, the two sides instantly clashed.
These people... were prepared!?
One could realize this just by engaging them.
"Tch!"
The ANBU member couldn't help clicking his tongue in annoyance, leaning back to dodge the bone blade that attacked along with the voice, forcefully throwing the kunai in his hand.
Throwing at this distance could almost certainly be dodged easily.
"Ahhh!"
A sudden, unexpected scream sounded from behind the man, followed by several sounds of flesh being torn.
Splattered blood instantly dyed the surrounding thick mist red; the pungent smell of blood gradually spread.
Within the dense mist, quite a few people must have gathered nearby.
Throwing the kunai now, regardless, was basically enough to injure someone.
In this chaos, the slightest hesitation meant death.
Enemies emerging from unknown locations within the dense mist, and sharp blades cutting through the wind.
"Where are you looking when you throw that?"
Even if a comrade was attacked, there was no pity whatsoever.
The man showed almost no hesitation! Gripping the bone blade, he instantly lunged towards the ANBU.
All his ribs protruded from his body, shielding his entire flesh within, resembling a pale white bone sphere from afar.
The Kaguya clan's Kekkei Genkai allowed them to alter bone hardness and grow bones.
However, humans only had about two hundred bones total. Once used up, they were gone. Thus, each of them fought every battle with the resolve to die.
This group are all lunatics!
There was no way to break the charging bone sphere. The ANBU member quickly formed hand seals, took a deep breath, preparing to blow the enemy away.
But just as he charged forward, several pale blue water whips lashed out from the mist.
With a crisp crack, the man's arrogant smile instantly froze on his face.
Tiny cracks instantly appeared on the stark white bones. After the crisp sound, all the bones shattered instantly.
Along with the entire person, directly broken into several pieces!
Yagura Karatachi looked down condescendingly at the blood occasionally splashing out from the dense mist below, and the tragic screams.
Not the slightest fluctuation could be seen in his purple eyes, as indifferent as if watching vegetables being chopped below.
Several ANBU members stood silently on nearby branches, their masks concealing all emotions.
This slaughter wouldn't take long.
The Ninja Academy students huddled together in one classroom as a form of refuge.
Hatake Kuroshi gave the students a few simple instructions, then teleported to the Kaguya clan grounds.
The chakra-infused mist instantly obscured most vision.
Although Shisui had his Sharingan activated, observing people within the mist was still somewhat difficult.
"Yo, you two still nesting here?"
Hatake Kuroshi suddenly popped his head out from behind Shisui and Mangetsu Hozuki, placing a hand on each of their shoulders.
Shisui and Mangetsu Hozuki were hiding secretly in the tree, completely caught off guard that someone could find them in such thick mist.
"Mmph—!"
Mangetsu Hozuki was focused on searching for Yagura Karatachi's figure in the mist and was startled by the sudden voice, nearly crying out.
Hatake Kuroshi directly covered Mangetsu Hozuki's mouth. Yagura Karatachi was also participating in this battle.
If Mangetsu Hozuki yelled out, exposing their position would be quite troublesome.
Yagura Karatachi was currently under control; who knew if he was battle-hungry or suspicious.
Hatake Kuroshi didn't want to join the battle this early yet.
The spot Shisui chose offered pretty good concealment; for so long, no one had noticed the two of them watching the battle from above.
Of course, it couldn't be ruled out that their presence was also weakened due to the mist.
Shisui had almost instinctively reached into his tool pouch; turning his head, he saw that messy silver hair and eye-patch-covered face.
He forcibly pushed his hand back down, not drawing the kunai inside.
"Amazing, Kuroshi-sensei! I didn't feel you come up behind me at all!"
"You're also very skilled with abilities like Shunshin, right!"
Seeing Mangetsu Hozuki's surprised look, Shunshin no Shisui beside him tilted his head somewhat dejectedly.
That's a space-time ninjutsu; its principle is completely different from Shunshin.
"Mm, you can understand it that way~"
Explain cursed techniques later; just go along with him for now.
Hatake Kuroshi squeezed in between the two with a flippant smile and sat down.
"Genji and the others are here. This dense fog probably won't dissipate until then."
Hatake Kuroshi roughly sensed the battle situation below. Although the Kaguya clan fought with reckless abandon... the ANBU still had the advantage in numbers and were skilled at fighting in dense fog.
Dealing with the Kaguya clan shouldn't be too difficult for them.
It wasn't strange for Kirigakure to use mist, but this dense fog couldn't be dispersed by ordinary Wind Release.
Only Yagura Karatachi himself taking action could dispel this thick mist.
"Ah, they're coming."
"There should be a Kaguya clan kid, where is he~"
Hatake Kuroshi rested his cheek on his hand, scanning the battle below without looking up.
Genji and Ao, along with some mole ANBU, were already close by.
"How many kids do you plan on taking in?"
"These people aren't as easy to handle as you think. Their clan's meaning of existence is battle. They might turn around and fight you later."
Shisui looked at Hatake Kuroshi, involuntarily raising an eyebrow.
Although Hatake Kuroshi liking to raise children wasn't inherently problematic, why even take in Kaguya members?
Whether witnessed firsthand or heard through legends... the Kaguya clan sounded like single-celled war fanatics.
What was so good about taking in the children from this group?
Hatake Kuroshi pouted like a petulant child.
"Tsk, don't discriminate based on origin—"
"My place collects all sorts of popular and unpopular kids~"
"Isn't the one following you also notorious?"
Although Shisui wanted to retort further, an inconspicuous red color suddenly spread across the bloody mist below.
This was a signal mimicking the bloody mist, meant to avoid Yagura's detection.
Masked mole ANBU quickly joined the fray. Fighting their own people, they didn't even need to change clothes.
This very confusion was meant to force Yagura to dispel the mist.
Even if Yagura was under control, this battle situation had only one solution.
Shisui shook his head and instantly jumped into the dense mist, joining the battle.
Hatake Kuroshi, wondering why it suddenly got quiet, turned his head and saw Shisui's continuously descending figure, pausing blankly for a moment.
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