Kimimaro had long suspected the cause of the Kaguya clan's short lifespan. From his understanding, it stemmed from the overuse of their Kekkei Genkai, Shikotsumyaku—a unique ability that allowed them to manipulate their own skeletal system. Constant drawing and regenerating of bones caused severe internal stress. Microscopic fractures and ruptures weren't always visible externally, but the strain weakened tissues and left the body vulnerable to infections. Even the best medical ninjutsu couldn't fully repair the cellular degradation. Over time, the repeated regeneration caused a systemic collapse—what could be described as a terminal illness.
He wasn't certain if his theory was completely accurate, but it matched his observations.
The Taketori clan, a distant offshoot of the Kaguya bloodline, had taken a different evolutionary path. They had chosen to limit the externalization of bone. Rather than drawing bones outward as weapons, their bodies developed subdermal ossification. Their skin and flesh hardened, forming a protective armor. It lacked the finesse and offensive versatility of Shikotsumyaku but preserved the body from decay and degeneration.
Kimimaro's pale green eyes narrowed. If he was to defeat this Taketori bodyguard—a seasoned jonin—it would require him to use more than base techniques.
The middle-aged Taketori stood between Kimimaro and his target, Taketori Ginro. His posture, experience, and chakra signature made it clear: this wasn't an opponent Kimimaro could overpower in his base state.
Normally, Kimimaro's control of taijutsu and his skeletal techniques allowed him to fight on par with a Tokubetsu Jonin. But this wasn't enough now.
Not without that.
Dark, flame-like markings began spreading across Kimimaro's body—the activation of the Cursed Seal of Earth, bestowed upon him by Orochimaru. With it, his power surged. Blackened skin and bone protrusions burst from his body as he entered the first stage.
More than a dozen sharp bone spikes erupted from his ribcage, intercepting the jonin's fist.
And then, his voice rang out coldly:
"Dance of the Larch."
But he wasn't done yet. A chilling snap echoed as Kimimaro reached over his shoulder and yanked a vertebra out of his own spine.
"Dance of the Clematis: Vine."
The whip-like spine coiled around the Taketori jonin like a serpent. Before the man could break free, Kimimaro's left hand morphed into a spiraling bone drill:
"Dance of the Clematis: Flower."
The spear drove cleanly through the jonin's chest, crushing his heart.
"Impossible..." the man choked, eyes wide. "You're from the Kaguya... yet your body isn't breaking down... And that cursed chakra—what did Orochimaru do to you...?"
Kimimaro said nothing. He twisted the spear with a sickening crunch, ending the man's life.
Deactivating his Cursed Seal, Kimimaro staggered. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
"Jūgo… that one cannot be allowed to escape."
Jūgo, who had already dealt with the lesser guards, moved toward the retreating Ginro. He caught him in one fluid motion.
"You… you can't kill me! I'm the heir to the Taketori—!"
Crunch.
Ginro's neck was shattered.
Kimimaro exhaled wearily. "A spoiled coward. Not worth the chakra he spent drawing breath."
He knelt beside the corpse and withdrew a cylindrical test tube from his pack. The tube, rimmed with red glass and reinforced with metal, had a blood-drawing needle embedded in the cap. Kimimaro carefully extracted Ginro's blood, then moved from corpse to corpse, touching each briefly.
The system responded.
This strange ability, granted after his rebirth, allowed Kimimaro to extract life energy—a quantifiable essence within all living beings. According to the system:
Civilians had roughly 100 units
Genin up to 500
Chūnin up to 3,000
Jōnin up to 20,000
Kage-level ninja could reach or exceed 200,000 units
Values beyond that were undefined.
Life energy degraded quickly after death. Within minutes, it dropped to under 20%, continuing to decay rapidly.
He had already harvested several thousand units from prior battles—during his escape from Kabuto's lab, and from enemies killed along the journey.
The system also permitted extraction from the living, but it came at a cost. If more than 10% was taken, the subject would grow fatigued. At over 20%, permanent damage became likely. Above 50%, recovery became nearly impossible. Over 80%... and they were as good as dead.
That kind of extraction was reserved for dire moments.
After the final corpse was touched, Kimimaro collapsed to one knee. The backlash from using the Cursed Seal was evident.
When activated, the Stage One Seal doubled the drain on his already limited Shikotsumyaku usage timer. Stage Two tripled it.
This battle had lasted less than five minutes… but his countdown had already burned over ten minutes.
He clenched his fists.
He didn't have much time left.
Not only that, but the moment Kimimaro activated the Cursed Seal, a warning from the system echoed in his mind: activating it would double the physical strain on his already fragile body. In his current condition, he couldn't afford to use it for long.
The Earth Cursed Seal was both a source of power and a deadly burden. Kimimaro understood this well. It had been designed to forcibly enhance the user's abilities, but for someone with his mysterious terminal illness, the added stress only worsened his condition. In fact, part of the reason his health had deteriorated so quickly over the years was because of the seal Orochimaru had branded him with.
Jūgo, who had fought by his side, caught him as he collapsed. Without saying a word, he hoisted Kimimaro onto his back and quickly left the scene.
Karin, stunned by what had just happened, didn't hesitate for long. She glanced back at the ruins of her captivity. There was no going back now. Wordlessly, she followed them.
Far away, deep within the Hidden Sound Village, in the dim interior of one of his hidden laboratories, Orochimaru suddenly paused in his work. His narrow, snake-like eyes narrowed further, glinting with a mix of surprise and curiosity.
"The Cursed Seal... it's been activated?" he muttered, licking his lips. "Anko would never willingly use it. Then could it be... Kimimaro?"
The Cursed Seals he created all contained a trace of his chakra. Just like how the reincarnations of Indra and Asura could be identified by their unique chakra, the seals Orochimaru crafted were like beacons tied to his own essence. Chakra was more than just energy—it was a reflection of the soul. And Orochimaru could sense his own chakra being stirred across great distances.
He waved a hand and summoned Kabuto. "Kabuto. Prepare a tracking unit. Someone has reawakened my gift... and I intend to retrieve it."
Back in the forest, Kimimaro was unconscious. His body trembled from overexertion as Jūgo gently laid him inside a cave hidden beneath overgrown brush. Jūgo stepped outside for a moment and returned with some wild fruits, setting them beside Kimimaro.
"Try to eat something when you wake up," he said, not knowing whether Kimimaro could even hear him.
Karin entered moments later, still shaken but composed. Her voice was quiet. "What happened to him?"
Jūgo glanced back at her. Despite his size and strength, his tone remained calm, even gentle. "He overdid it. Kimimaro's not healthy… and he used a technique that put too much strain on his body. To protect you."
He didn't know the full story, but the signs were there. Even before this battle, Kimimaro's time had always felt limited.
Karin walked over and knelt beside Kimimaro. Without hesitation, she rolled up her sleeve and placed her forearm near his mouth.
"Here. Bite."
Jūgo blinked. "What are you doing?"
"I'm from the Uzumaki clan," Karin explained. "My chakra has strong healing properties. When someone bites me, they can absorb it and recover from serious injuries. I've done this before."
As Jūgo watched silently, Kimimaro, barely conscious, instinctively bit down. His teeth sank into her flesh. Blood flowed, and with it, chakra.
Karin gritted her teeth but didn't make a sound. A few moments later, Kimimaro stirred, his eyes slowly opening. He realized what he was doing and immediately released her arm.
"You... I…"
"I'm fine," Karin said with a small, warm smile. "It's what I'm good at. I'm a medical ninja, sort of. Are you feeling better?"
Kimimaro stared at her silently for a moment. Then he gave a small nod.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "My name is Kimimaro. Kaguya Kimimaro."
Karin's eyes lit up. "Nice to meet you, Kimimaro. I'm Karin. And… thanks for saving me."