Clang!
The bone blade crashed against the Tianbuliu Sword, producing a sharp, piercing sound that tore through the air, accompanied by sparks flying in all directions.
Kimimaro had learned from Kabuto's mistake. He deliberately avoided looking into Izumi's eyes, instead observing her footsteps and relying on his hearing to determine her movements as he fought back.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
In less than ten seconds, the two exchanged over a hundred blows, their movements so fast that only afterimages remained.
This guy… he's incredible.
As the battle with Kimimaro continued, Izumi grew increasingly alarmed and began suppressing the unconscious arrogance creeping into her mind.
Now, having received Heiyan's Sage Cells, her physical strength far surpassed that of ordinary humans. Combined with the dynamic vision granted by her Sharingan and the enhanced power of the divine treasure Tianbuliu Sword, she was more than capable of easily overwhelming most Jonin in close combat.
Yet, she had one glaring weakness—almost no real combat experience.
Her opponent, Kimimaro, however, was an exceptionally gifted and experienced Taijutsu genius.
Despite being unable to use his eyesight—a massive disadvantage—he relied on his vast combat experience and his Dead Bone Pulse ability to withstand Izumi Uchiha's relentless assault.
Then, once he became familiar with her fighting style, Kimimaro swiftly launched a counterattack, catching Izumi completely off guard.
[Dead Bone Pulse: Dance of a Willow]
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
In an instant, razor-sharp bone spikes erupted from Kimimaro's palms, elbows, back, and knees.
Leaping forward in a dance-like motion, Kimimaro unleashed a flurry of rapid attacks on Izumi Uchiha.
What?!
Izumi's heart jolted. Facing Kimimaro's bizarre high-speed assault, the six tomoe swirling rapidly in her eyes struggled to keep up—they could barely track his movements.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
She hesitated for a split second, and instantly felt multiple bone spikes slash across her skin, leaving deep, horrifying wounds that spewed blood continuously.
"Ha!"
At this critical moment, Izumi shouted sharply, channeling Chakra into the Tianbuliu Sword in her hand. The Kusanagi's blade surged outward in an instant, extending over thirty meters.
Within one second, the sword pushed Kimimaro backward until he crashed against a huge boulder.
"Hmm?"
Orochimaru uttered a soft sound of surprise, finally noticing the Kusanagi in Izumi Uchiha's hands.
As a passionate collector and enthusiast of the Sword of Kusanagi, he had been tirelessly searching for these rare weapons. The Murakumo Sword (Totsuka Sword in Japanese lore) he used to kill Kazekage Rasa was his most treasured possession.
He never expected that this young girl from the Uchiha clan, Izumi Uchiha, would also wield a Kusanagi.
Wait—no, she actually had two.
Looking behind Izumi Uchiha, Orochimaru suddenly realized that her second Kusanagi sword looked nearly identical to the Murakumo Sword in his own possession.
Was it just a coincidence?
Regardless, Orochimaru's interest in Izumi Uchiha was growing stronger by the second. He wanted everything about her—both her body and her two Kusanagi swords.
After temporarily driving Kimimaro back.
"Phew~"
Izumi took a deep breath, calming the fluctuating energy within her body. Then she immediately formed a hand seal, and the Sage Cells inside her activated instantly, rapidly healing her wounds.
Should I do it? Should I activate my Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan?
This thought flickered through Izumi's mind. She knew that once she used the power of the Mangekyou, this battle would instantly become meaningless.
Even someone as talented as Kimimaro would be completely helpless before those eyes.
No, I can't.
After all, the opponent only had one Kekkei Genkai—the Dead Bone Pulse—while she possessed both the Sharingan and Sage Cells, inheriting the bloodlines of both the Uchiha and Senju Clans.
It would be utterly humiliating to still lose to Kimimaro with all these advantages stacked in her favor.
Thinking thus, Izumi dispelled that idea. She clenched her teeth, her determination solidifying.
Zwoosh!
Once again, Izumi charged forward with her sword toward Kimimaro, but this time, she wielded the forces within her more skillfully. In addition to the Sharingan, she fully utilized the power of Heiyan cells.
"It's useless. No matter how many times we fight, you'll always lose."
As Kimimaro suppressed Izumi's attacks, he simultaneously tried to break her mentally with words, his hands showing no mercy as he unleashed an even stronger technique: [Dead Bone Pulse: Dance of the Camellia].
He blocked Izumi's Tianbuliu Sword with several bone blades, then thrust his elbow forward. A bone spear shot out from his elbow, piercing straight toward Izumi's chest.
He remembered what Orochimaru had said, and thus avoided aiming directly at Izumi's heart, intentionally shifting his strike slightly to the side. With this woman's recovery ability, it shouldn't be a big issue.
However, Izumi wouldn't allow herself to become prey so easily.
"Haaaa!"
Facing the incoming bone spike, she let out a sharp cry, raising her other hand into a fist and throwing a punch forward.
Is she insane?
Seeing this scene, Kimimaro sneered inwardly. His bone spikes were harder than steel, yet she actually dared to confront them with her bare flesh. Just wait for your palm to be pierced through.
Unexpectedly,
Hssshh!
When Izumi threw this punch, a powerful gust erupted from within her body, enveloping her fist and forming an indestructible force.
Monster Strength.
At the moment her fist smashed into the bone spike, it let out a sharp crack—and right before Kimimaro's stunned eyes, the spike exploded into dust.
Yet Izumi's punch still carried immense momentum, striking directly onto Kimimaro's right shoulder.
Bam!
Kimimaro immediately let out a muffled groan. He flew backward like a ragdoll, hit the ground, and staggered back several meters before finally steadying himself.
What terrifying strength.
At this moment, he wore an expression full of lingering fear—this was the first time he felt panic-stricken. And now, seizing the advantage without giving him any respite, Izumi had already attacked again.
Kimimaro quickly found himself overwhelmed, struggling to keep pace with Izumi's relentless assault.
Dang!
Another clash of their swords—barely, he blocked Izumi's Tianbuliu Sword with his bone blade. At some point, his blade already bore various-sized chips along its edges, and cracks covered its surface.
Bones may be strong, but in the end, they're still just bones—how could they ever match up to divine weapons like the Sword of Kusanagi?
When Kimimaro realized this, his gaze involuntarily swept across the blade of Tianbuliu Sword.
Its smooth, mirror-like surface reflected a pair of crimson Sharingan eyes—locking onto Kimimaro's gaze at that exact moment.
Not good—Kimimaro realized too late.
Izumi Uchiha had successfully used Tianbuliu Sword like a "mirror," reflecting her Sharingan's power into Kimimaro's eyes and casting a Genjutsu on him.
Instantly, Kimimaro stood frozen, dazed and unmoving.
Boom!
Izumi, after gathering strength, unleashed another strike of Monster Strength straight into Kimimaro's chest, sending him flying.
Thud.
Kimimaro crashed onto the ground, rolling to land at Orochimaru's feet. He spat out a stream of blood, clearly gravely wounded.
"Perfect."
Orochimaru ignored his injured subordinate entirely. His eyes lit up instead, staring intensely at Izumi Uchiha as if he wanted to devour her alive.
Her performance just now convinced Orochimaru—she was exactly the perfect body he'd been searching for, an ideal vessel beyond doubt.
This young girl before him not only possessed the formidable ocular power of the Uchiha Clan, but also Monster Strength and regeneration surpassing even the Senju.
If she could awaken the legendary Mangekyou Sharingan like Itachi Uchiha did, that would make her even more perfect.
While Orochimaru stared fixedly at Izumi, fantasizing about his grand plan, the battered Kimimaro struggled slowly to his feet.
"Lord Orochimaru, please give me one more chance. I won't fail again."
Ignoring his own injuries, he swore vengeance against Izumi.
"No need. I'll handle it myself."
Orochimaru glanced at the indentation in Kimimaro's chest, patted his shoulder, and gestured for him to step aside and rest.
Then his eyes flashed with malice. He channeled chakra through his body, and the Murakumo Sword shot straight toward Izumi Uchiha.
To his shock, Izumi raised her arm sharply—the Murakumo Sword behind her launched forward, clashing midair with Orochimaru's blade.
The same Sword of Kusanagi from two different timelines clashed, sparks flying as they locked in a stalemate.
"How can this be…"
Orochimaru saw this scene, puzzled beyond comprehension.
Just then—
"Orochimaru!"
A crisp shout from Izumi drew his attention. Looking over, he discovered her Sharingan had changed again without him noticing.
It was no longer triple-tomoe; instead, a complex Mangekyou pattern emerged, full of mysterious allure.
Mangekyou Sharingan?!
Orochimaru felt both shocked and delighted. As soon as he recovered from the surprise, he extended one hand forward without hesitation. Dozens of poisonous snakes burst from his sleeve, binding tightly around Izumi like ropes, constricting her body completely.
[Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands]! This was Orochimaru's signature jutsu—a Ninjutsu he could unleash instantly without any hand seals, perfect for ambushes.
"I never expected you to have the Mangekyou Sharingan. This is simply wonderful. Your body, your Sword of Kusanagi, and your eyes—I'll take them all."
Orochimaru proudly declared victory, feeling unusually exhilarated.
The pleasure he felt when he killed Kazekage Rasa earlier wasn't even a fraction—no, not even a hundredth—of what he was feeling now.
"First of all," she said calmly, "I think I should correct you. Those eyes of mine aren't [Mangekyou Sharingan]. They are… [Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan]."
Izumi was tightly wrapped in poisonous snakes and appeared unable to move, yet her expression remained calm. Instead, she fixed Orochimaru with a look of pity.
Under Orochimaru's shocked and uncertain gaze, she continued speaking:
"Secondly, it seems you've misunderstood the situation. The captured prisoner here is you—not me."
As Izumi finished speaking, a startled cry from Kimimaro beside him jolted Orochimaru back to reality.
Suddenly, he realized that across from him, Izumi had never actually been controlled by [Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands]. On the contrary, it was his own body that was completely entangled by snakes, leaving him unable to move.
How could this be?
Orochimaru's face turned pale with horror. He knew well about the Sharingan's genjutsu, but as someone who was himself an expert in illusion techniques, he'd already taken precautions. There was no way he should have fallen into a genjutsu.
Unless—unless her genjutsu had already surpassed anything he knew.
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