Chapter 172: The Bone and The Fist
The forest surrounding the battlefield was filled with tension as two powerful kunoichi stood facing one another. The air crackled with their chakra, and both were determined to prove their strength—not just for the mission, but for their love.
Rock Lee, ever brimming with youthful energy, adjusted the Fist of Youth gloves Malik had gifted her. The sleek black fabric hummed with her chakra, amplifying her already impressive power. Her short black hair was shiny with sweat, her large eyes gleaming with focus. Despite the heavy training injuries she bore on her hands, she was ready to fight.
Standing opposite her was Kimimaro, the pale, graceful kunoichi, exuding an eerie calmness that sharply contrasted with Rock Lee's explosive energy. Her pale green eyes were narrowed, watching Lee closely. Kimimaro's pristine white hair swayed gently as she tilted her head. The Cursed Seal of Earth was etched at the base of her throat, forming a trio of curved lines in a circular arrangement. Her shirt's looseness facilitated the use of her abilities, and she wrapped her ample chest in a dark, purplish-pink silk fabric. The Shikotsumyaku, the Kaguya clan's unique bone manipulation ability, pulsed through her body, ready to be unleashed at any moment.
The two stood locked in a battle of both strength and ideals, but beneath it all, they fought for the affection of Malik—a man they both loved fiercely.
Kimimaro's lips curled into a smirk, her tone sharp. "You think you can keep up with me, Lee? Malik deserves someone with grace and strength, not a clumsy brute like you."
Lee's eyes flared with defiance as she cracked her knuckles. "Ha! Your elegance won't save you in a real fight, Kimimaro. Malik needs someone with true determination and spirit, not a delicate flower."
Kimimaro's smirk deepened as she elegantly raised a hand, preparing to summon her bones into action. "Determination? Is that what you call your reckless behavior? Malik needs someone who can protect him with precision and skill, not someone who charges in blindly."
Lee planted her feet firmly, her fists raised. "Precision and skill? Don't make me laugh. Malik needs someone who can stand by his side with unwavering loyalty and passion, not someone who hides behind their techniques."
With a sudden burst of speed, Rock Lee closed the distance between them, launching a powerful punch aimed straight at Kimimaro's torso. Kimimaro reacted just in time, twisting her body gracefully to the side, the movement almost dance-like, and the punch missed by mere inches.
But Lee wasn't done.
Her fists, enhanced by Malik's gloves, moved like lightning, each punch vibrating with an intense chakra-infused force. Kimimaro, however, was calm and composed, weaving between Lee's attacks with the precision of a blade.
CLASH!
Kimimaro's bones shot out from her arm, forming a sharp blade as she blocked one of Lee's punches, the impact sending a shockwave through the forest. The force was tremendous, but neither woman backed down.
"You're fast," Kimimaro admitted, her pale green eyes gleaming. "But it won't save you." She pushed Lee back, her bone blade extending as she advanced, forcing Lee to defend.
Rock Lee grinned. "Fast enough to keep you on your toes!" She shifted into a higher gear, activating more of her chakra reserves. Her movements became a blur, her feet barely touching the ground as she danced around Kimimaro's attacks, landing a solid hit on Kimimaro's side.
Kimimaro's body absorbed the hit, but she retaliated swiftly, manipulating her bones to form a hardened exoskeleton. The ground cracked beneath them as the intensity of the battle escalated, with neither giving an inch.
Amidst the clash, Malik—who was watching the fight through his connection with both women—mentally intervened.
"Stop this, both of you!" Malik's voice echoed in their minds. "I love you both, but this fight—this battle—won't change that! You're both special to me because of your differences!"
Both Kimimaro and Lee responded simultaneously, their words brimming with pride.
"She's weaker than me," Kimimaro sent back mentally, her voice confident.
"She's nothing compared to my passion," Lee responded, her grin never faltering.
Malik sighed. "You're going to be sisters-in-law! This isn't about who's better!"
The battle slowed momentarily as both women registered Malik's words, but their shared resolve had reached a new level. Kimimaro's eyes sharpened as she sent back, "This is a battle of love, Malik. This isn't about Orochimaru anymore."
Rock Lee's smile brightened as she agreed wholeheartedly, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "I've never been more determined in my life."
Malik, now more confused and slightly panicked, mentally pleaded with them to stop, but it was clear—they had found common ground, and now their fight was about proving their love for him in their own way.
Kimimaro's pale skin shimmered as her bones extended further, creating an intricate and dangerous armor. Her calm exterior betrayed the intensity of her passion, as she whispered, "Let's see if your fists can break these bones, Lee."
Lee, her hands still buzzing with chakra from her gloves, smiled back. "With these gloves and my youth, nothing is impossible!"
The two rushed toward each other again, their battle now a full-out war of emotions, love, and strength. The ground beneath them cracked and splintered as they collided once more.
Kimimaro used her Shikotsumyaku to its fullest extent, her bones growing and twisting in ways that made it hard for Lee to land a clean hit. Every punch Lee threw was met with a bone spike, a blade, or a reinforced barrier of Kimimaro's skeleton.
But Lee was relentless.
Her movements, fueled by the Fist of Youth gloves, were unpredictable, her raw energy clashing with Kimimaro's precision. Lee's punches created sonic booms in the air, and the forest around them was torn apart by the sheer force of their combat.
Just as Lee began to tire, her chakra reserves depleting from the intensity of her attacks, Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku proved too much. Lee's movements slowed, and Kimimaro, sensing the shift, began pressing harder.
Malik, desperately trying to stop them, continued his mental pleas. "I love you both! This is madness!"
But both women, now locked in their shared understanding, dismissed his worries.
"For love," they both whispered, their eyes locking as they charged at each other one last time.
In that moment, something shifted between them. Despite their fight, there was a newfound respect. Both knew that this battle wasn't about winning or losing—it was about showing their devotion to the man they loved. They were fierce in battle, but in their hearts, they knew that after this fight, they'd stand side by side as allies.
With one final clash, their fists met in a powerful explosion of chakra and bone.
With a deafening blast of sand, Kimimaro was sent hurtling backward, her body colliding with the hard ground. Rock Lee, gasping for breath, glanced up, her exhausted eyes meeting the intense, teal gaze of Gaara, who had arrived just in time.
The air was thick with tension, as the clash between loyalty, strength, and love had reached its breaking point. Gaara stood tall, her sand swirling protectively around her like a living shield.
"You're slower than when we last fought," Gaara remarked coldly, her gaze briefly flicking to Lee.
Lee grinned, despite her fatigue, brushing off her injuries. "I might've used up a bit too much energy during our fight." She was drained, but her spirit remained unbroken. However, Gaara sensed the underlying guilt within her, realizing that Lee had pushed herself beyond her limits to try and stand against Kimimaro.
"Let me handle this," Gaara insisted, her voice as unwavering as the sand that danced around her. "You don't need to risk further injury."
"I can still fight, Gaara," Lee protested, determination flashing in her wide, glistening eyes.
But Gaara's response was as firm as ever. "You'd only get in my way."
With that, Gaara stepped forward, her hand outstretched. Sand shot forward with blistering speed, Sand Waterfall Funeral, attempting to crush Kimimaro in a deadly embrace. The sand engulfed her, but before it could apply its full pressure, Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku activated. Bones erupted from her body, reinforcing her skeletal structure, and her Cursed Seal of Earth surged with dark chakra, allowing her to withstand the brutal technique.
Undeterred, Gaara narrowed her eyes and increased the scale of her attack. The ground quaked beneath the sheer force of her Sand Waterfall Imperial Funeral, the entire battlefield blanketed in a suffocating ocean of sand. Kimimaro disappeared beneath it, seemingly swallowed by the earth itself.
Lee watched breathlessly, her fists clenched in anticipation. "Did we… win?"
But Gaara knew better. She could feel it—Kimimaro wasn't finished yet. The ground rumbled beneath them, and with a sudden burst of energy, Kimimaro emerged, her body now fully transformed into her cursed seal's second state. Her skin darkened, her hair lengthened, and grotesque bone protrusions lined her body.
Kimimaro moved faster than the sand could react, her spine extending and wrapping around Gaara like a serpent. "You think that will stop me?" Kimimaro growled, her voice dripping with cold malice. She pulled Gaara in close, her bone blade raised, ready to strike.
"Dance of the Clematis: Flower!" Kimimaro's final blow was imminent, but Gaara summoned her Shield of Shukaku, blocking the attack just in time. The impact of bone against sand sent shockwaves through the forest, but Gaara held firm.
"You're strong," Gaara admitted, her voice calm despite the dire situation. "It's a shame someone with your talent is about to die."
Kimimaro's lips curled into a twisted smile. "I don't fear death. My life is for those I'm loyal to. That's what Malik would want."
Gaara's eyes darkened at the mention of Malik's name. She took a breath and, with a wave of her hand, commanded the sand beneath them to rise. "Malik is more than just a name for you to use. He deserves better than your blind loyalty."
With that, Gaara used her sand to drag Kimimaro deep underground. The earth swallowed Kimimaro once again, the sand crushing down with enough force to bury even the most resilient shinobi.
As Gaara and Lee floated above the battlefield on a platform of sand, they exchanged a glance, beginning to discuss the apparent victory. But before they could let their guard down, Kimimaro emerged behind them, her eyes cold and unyielding.
"You don't know anything about Malik. I am not misusing his name," Kimimaro spat, her voice low and dangerous.
Gaara's sand moved swiftly to intercept, but Kimimaro was already too close.
"Lee, you need to stay back. I can't let you get hurt again," Gaara said sharply, her voice filled with concern.
"But Gaara, I can't just stand by and watch! Malik needs us both!" Lee's voice was desperate, her body trembling with exhaustion, but her will to fight remained unbroken.
Kimimaro's eyes narrowed as she sneered. "You two are pathetic. Malik deserves someone who can truly protect him, not weaklings like you."
Gaara's expression didn't waver. "Kimimaro, you don't understand. Malik's love isn't something you can win with brute strength alone."
Kimimaro smirked, the bone blade in her hand gleaming under the light. "Oh, but it is. Malik needs someone who can stand by his side with unwavering loyalty and power. And that someone is me."
Lee stepped forward, her eyes blazing with determination. "You're wrong, Kimimaro! Malik needs someone who can inspire him, someone who can show him the true meaning of determination and spirit."
Kimimaro's expression hardened, the tension between the three kunoichi palpable. "Determination? Spirit? Those are just words. Malik needs someone who can protect him from any threat, someone who can stand against any enemy."
Gaara's sand swirled ominously around her. "And you think that's you? Malik needs someone who can understand him, someone who can be there for him in ways that go beyond physical strength."
Kimimaro's smirk deepened. "We'll see about that. I'll show you both what true power looks like."
Lee's fists tightened as her chakra flared to life once more. "And I'll show you what true dedication looks like!"
The battlefield exploded into chaos once more. Gaara's sand lashed out, creating barriers and launching attacks, while Lee darted between them, her strikes swift and precise. But Kimimaro moved with deadly grace, her bones extending and retracting with terrifying speed and precision. Every attack from Gaara and Lee was met with brutal counters, Kimimaro's power pushing them both to their limits.
Just as Kimimaro seemed poised to overwhelm them, her movements suddenly faltered. She stopped mid-strike, her head tilting slightly as if hearing something far off.
Gaara and Lee froze, watching in confusion as Kimimaro's expression softened. Her fierce gaze turned distant, almost as if she was listening to someone only she could hear. For a moment, the battle came to a standstill, the air thick with tension.
Without a word, Kimimaro straightened, giving Gaara and Lee one final, unreadable look before turning and dashing away into the dense forest. She moved with a purpose, vanishing into the shadows as swiftly as she had appeared.
"Wait—what just happened?" Lee asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
Gaara remained silent, her eyes narrowing as she watched Kimimaro's retreating form. "I don't know. But she's gone… for now."
The two stood in the aftermath of the battle, the wind rustling through the trees as they tried to comprehend what had just transpired. They had survived, but the fight wasn't over—not yet.