"Orochimaru, how dare you come to the Hidden Cloud to steal someone, you've got some nerve."
Yugito Nii halted, her expression tense.
Facing Orochimaru, very few in the ninja world could remain at ease, not even the jinchūriki.
On one hand, Orochimaru had long been famous with considerable strength.
On the other hand, his methods were unpredictable.
"Hehe, Ghost Maru has always been my person, so how could this be considered stealing? If anyone's stealing, it's you who took him away while my men weren't paying attention. I'm merely retrieving what belongs to me."
"Is that so? Even if that's true, our Hidden Cloud doesn't intend to return this boy to you."
"That won't do. I've gone through a lot to find him. Yugito Nii, don't push your luck. I have no intention of becoming enemies with the Hidden Cloud. Otherwise, those two gatekeepers earlier wouldn't be alive right now."
Kimimaro was telling the truth.
He had the opportunity to kill the two guards earlier, which would have made his escape easier.
But he chose not to, to avoid enmity with the Hidden Cloud.
The Hidden Cloud was a tight-knit village.
The Raikage had even bowed to Tsunade for the sake of his subordinates, demonstrating how much he valued them.
If they killed Hidden Cloud shinobi, there was no telling what extreme actions Raikage might take in a fit of rage.
Kimimaro didn't want to be hunted by the Hidden Cloud.
As it stood, snatching Ghost Maru could still be justified, so Raikage wouldn't lose his temper.
Yugito Nii, of course, understood what "Orochimaru" was implying.
Making enemies with someone like Orochimaru wasn't exactly wise.
However, being manipulated in this way left her feeling very upset.
She wasn't someone who was afraid to cause trouble.
"The person I want, you'll give to me whether you like it or not! Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, I'd like to see for myself just how strong you are."
Yugito Nii's aura turned fierce.
When Orochimaru made his name, she had still been a child, so she had never witnessed his prowess.
Now, with the chance in front of her, she didn't mind testing him.
Kimimaro wasn't surprised by this outcome.
No jinchūriki were easily dealt with.
Especially one who had matured into their powers.
At twenty-two years old, Yugito Nii could already harness some of the Two-Tails' strength. She was formidable enough to hold her own even against Kage-level opponents.
"So, negotiations are off?"
Kimimaro chuckled softly, extending a long tongue like Orochimaru.
"Make your move, Orochimaru!"
Yugito Nii growled, as sharp claws grew from her hands.
Kimimaro didn't attack immediately, standing still and waiting for her move.
In this stalemate, Yugito Nii hesitated to act rashly.
Facing a master like Orochimaru, a reckless attack might lead to instant defeat.
"What is this guy planning? Why isn't he making a move? We're not far from the village. Isn't he afraid I'll call for reinforcements?"
Yugito Nii couldn't figure out what Kimimaro was thinking.
What she didn't know was that Kimimaro had already prepared a plan.
The shadow clone back at the inn had turned into a monitor, observing the Hidden Cloud.
With no news from the clone, it meant everything was still under control and no reinforcements were coming.
Just as Kimimaro predicted, the overconfident Yugito Nii had come alone.
In this situation, he didn't mind dragging things out a bit longer.
"Hehe."
Kimimaro smiled, but still didn't move.
"Ghost Maru" hid behind him, looking frightened.
"Damn it, is he mocking me? He's not even making a move."
Yugito Nii's anger flared, and she decided not to wait any longer—she charged!
Her claws slashed through the air, leaving a cold gleam in their wake.
She attacked!
Her claws crossed, slashing downward with force!
**Cross Slash!**
Kimimaro gripped his bone sword with his right hand and slashed upward!
**Clang!**
The bone sword intercepted the claws, breaking her attack.
Yugito Nii frowned, retracting her claws back into her hands, causing Kimimaro's sword strike to miss, while she leaned back to dodge the blow.
In a swift flip, she landed, kicking off the ground and increasing her speed. Her claws reappeared, targeting the opening in front of Kimimaro!
Her movements were clean and fast, so fast that most people wouldn't have time to react.
But Kimimaro's swordsmanship, passed down from Kirito, was even faster!
He swiftly retracted his bone sword.
Instead of defending, he countered with an attack!
**Diagonal Slash!**
The bone sword swung from the upper left to the lower right!
Sparks flew!
The sword clashed with her claws, producing a piercing screech.
Having failed in her attack, Yugito Nii withdrew again.
She glanced at her claws, noticing a small chip.
It had clearly been caused by Kimimaro's strike.
"What a sharp sword, it even chipped my claws."
Her claws, formed from the Two-Tails' chakra, were not as strong as Matatabi's actual claws, but still more durable than regular weapons.
Yet, Kimimaro's sword had damaged them.
The sharpness of the Sword of Clow's enhancement was not to be underestimated.
With a thought, the chip in her claws disappeared.
Yugito Nii launched another assault.
She blurred into afterimages, darting around Kimimaro, searching for an opening.
Her feline agility was on full display.
Kimimaro stood still, his eyes following her, but he struggled to keep up with her speed.
"So fast. Is this the speed boost from the Two-Tails' chakra?"
Kimimaro thought, then decided to stop relying on his eyes to track her.
He closed his eyes.
**Silent Barrier!**
Activating the Silent Clow Card, he entered a state of absolute calm.
Now, he could clearly hear Yugito Nii's breathing.
Her breaths came from all directions, sometimes near, sometimes far, constantly shifting.
Her agility was indeed troublesome.
"Damn it! Is he looking down on me? He even closed his eyes! This guy is too strange."
Yugito Nii's anger rose. Even her feet sprouted claws as she charged at Kimimaro.
She lashed out wildly!
All four of her claws—two hands, two feet—struck simultaneously, aiming to rip off his limbs!
Just as she closed in, Kimimaro's black bone sword slashed out!
**Clang!**
The bone sword met her claws, halting her attack. The sword was flung into the air, spinning.
"He blocked it? But it doesn't matter, he's dead now!"
Her shock turned to vicious determination.
With the sword knocked away, her next strike would be lethal!
The claws on her feet remained unchecked.
But at that moment, Yugito Nii realized Kimimaro had suddenly disappeared.
"He's above!"
Kimimaro had bent his knees while delivering that last strike.
The sword had been thrown intentionally!
As the bone sword flew up, he followed!
Her foot claws struck nothing but air.
Grabbing the hilt of the spinning sword, Kimimaro used his downward momentum to deliver a powerful strike!
**Meteor Strike!**
(Chapter end)