Why… why was this person so excited, even happy?
Jūgo's small mind couldn't comprehend it. That terrifying sight of pale white and crimson intermingled, shouldn't it evoke sorrow or fear instead?
Ye Zi watched Kimimaro's demonstration calmly. He already noticed several flaws, likely due to insufficient development of the Kekkei Genkai.
Kimimaro's next move showcased what he wanted to demonstrate further.
Lowering his head slightly, a lump formed on the back of his neck, and soon, a section of stark white bone began to emerge.
He took a deep breath, reached for the bone protruding from the back of his neck, and slowly applied pressure, gradually pulling it out. Pain flickered across his face, his brows furrowing tightly.
Ye Zi observed Kimimaro's pained expression, but his actions did not falter. A flicker of approval passed through Ye Zi's eyes.
Kotoha and Jin, standing to the side, looked on in shock. They were familiar with Kimimaro's previous ability demonstration, but this—this was new to them.
That bone… could it be his spine?
From where he was pulling the bone, it seemed so, but its appearance was slightly different from what they knew a spine to look like.
The section of spine Kimimaro pulled out looked sharper, like a unique kind of bone sword.
Once the entire section of spine was removed, the pained expression on Kimimaro's face eased slightly. Holding the bloodstained bone sword like a treasure, he presented it to Ye Zi excitedly. "Lord Ye Zi!"
Ye Zi accepted the bloodstained spine sword. It felt slightly heavy in his hand, several times denser than ordinary bone. To test its sharpness, he lightly ran his fingertip along the spine's fang-like ridges, drawing a shallow cut.
"Not bad," Ye Zi remarked approvingly before handing the spine sword back to Kimimaro. The latter accepted it with a beaming smile.
Jūgo, on the other hand, was utterly dumbfounded. If he weren't already accustomed to his own terrifying transformations, he might have fainted on the spot.
"However," Ye Zi continued, "the time it takes for your bones to form, even if it is one second, is too slow. You must reach an instantaneous speed to maximize effectiveness."
One second was enough time for Ye Zi to cut Kimimaro down multiple times.
Ye Zi held high hopes for Kimimaro's Kekkei Genkai. The ability to protrude sharp bones from any part of the body was a taijutsu ninja's nightmare.
If Kimimaro could master instantaneous bone manifestation, he could launch unexpected, lethal attacks in close combat with taijutsu opponents.
"And another thing," Ye Zi added, "the bloodstains on your bones, this is a sign of incomplete mastery, isn't it? When you pulled out your spine, it was too slow, causing you pain, correct?"
Kimimaro listened intently, then nodded firmly. "When I use this ability, it hurts, but I will overcome it. I won't let pain affect me."
Ye Zi fell silent at his response. Was the pain caused by the bones scraping and growing within his body, damaging his internal tissues?
If this side effect couldn't be eliminated, using this ability in battle would mean constant self-inflicted torture.
There were two options: Either grow numb to the pain by getting used to it. Or, master the ability to such an extent that the side effect disappears entirely.
Kimimaro was clearly enduring this pain to continually strengthen himself.
Ye Zi could sense Kimimaro's relentless effort. Though he doubted there was enough time for Kimimaro to grow into someone of significant value to him, he saw glimpses of Kotoe and Nanako in him.
"I believe you can overcome it," Ye Zi said with a smile, placing his hand on Kimimaro's head.
Kimimaro looked up, his eyes filled with Ye Zi's smiling face, and a deep sense of fulfillment washed over him.
The next time, he would refine his ability to a more perfect level. For this goal, he would not shy away from the pain that accompanied the process.
Ye Zi withdrew his hand, turned slightly, and looked at Jūgo, who still appeared dazed. "Kimimaro, his name is Jūgo. From now on, you'll be responsible for him."
After speaking, Ye Zi glanced at Kotoe and Shin, saying, "Arrange for this child to share a room with Kimimaro."
Kotoe and Shin nodded in acknowledgment. Although they didn't know where Ye Zi had brought this child from, they assumed he possessed some special ability like Kimimaro.
Kimimaro reinserted the spine back into his body. Although his spine had already regrown during its removal, he didn't know where else to place it, so he returned it to his body, where it could fuse with his other bones.
After doing so, Kimimaro approached the still-dazed Jūgo and said with a smile, "Hello, my name is Kimimaro."
"Huh?" Jūgo snapped out of his stupor upon hearing Kimimaro's voice and instinctively stepped back several paces in fear. Realizing how rude this was, he hurriedly apologized, "I'm sorry, I…"
"It's okay," Kimimaro replied cheerfully. "Lord Ye Zi has asked me to look after you, so from now on, you'll be with me!"
"No, that's not possible. I might hurt you," Jūgo said hastily, shaking his head. If he lost control, he could harm Kimimaro. He even considered asking Ye Zi to imprison him.
Kimimaro wasn't upset by Jūgo's words, only looking at him curiously.
"Jūgo, Kimimaro has the ability to control you," Ye Zi interjected suddenly.
"But…" Jūgo hesitated. Though he had witnessed Kimimaro's abilities, he still doubted that Kimimaro could control him.
Hearing this, Kimimaro, Kotoe, and Shin all looked puzzled.
Ye Zi then explained Jūgo's unique nature to the three of them. Afterward, he addressed Kimimaro, saying, "If he enters that state, control him, but try not to hurt him."
"Yes, Lord Ye Zi," Kimimaro replied confidently.
"Take him around and help him get familiar with the place," Ye Zi said.
"Understood." Kimimaro nodded, grabbing Jūgo's hand without hesitation and walking toward the door.
Jūgo let Kimimaro lead him, staring blankly at the hand holding his own.
As he watched the two leave, Ye Zi turned his gaze to Kotoe and Shin. Initially, he had planned to have one of them help settle Jūgo. However, after witnessing Kimimaro's improved mastery of his Kekkei Genkai, he decided to let Kimimaro take charge instead.
After nearly half a year without seeing Ye Zi, Kotoe had so much she wanted to say, but now that the moment had come, she didn't know where to begin.
She simply stood there, looking at Ye Zi with a hesitant expression.
Shin glanced at Kotoe, then at Ye Zi, and said, "I'll go supervise their training."
With that, he briskly walked back toward the training ground.
Now only Kotoe and Ye Zi remained.
"Are you doing okay?" Ye Zi asked after a brief silence.
Kotoe's eyes curved slightly, her cheeks tinted with a faint blush, and she replied softly, "I'm doing well. It's just… I missed you a little."
After speaking, she averted her gaze, afraid of seeing Ye Zi's reaction.
Seeing Kotoe's shy, blushing face, Ye Zi felt his heartbeat quicken, and his expression became slightly unnatural.
Kotoe, looking away, didn't notice Ye Zi's unease.
"I'm hungry. Can you prepare some food for me?" Ye Zi turned his back to her, trying to mask his awkwardness.
Hearing this, Kotoe looked at Ye Zi's back, her face lighting up with a lovely smile. "I'll prepare it right away," she said.
Meanwhile, in the wide corridor, Kimimaro led Jūgo, intending to show him the room they would share.
The base was large enough for everyone to have their own room, but starting today, there would be an exception.
Jūgo remained silent as Kimimaro guided him.
After walking for a while, Jūgo stared at Kimimaro's back and asked, "That person is very important to you, isn't he?"
Without turning around, Kimimaro replied, "Are you talking about Lord Ye Zi?"
"Yes," Jūgo nodded.
"Of course," Kimimaro answered without hesitation.
"I hope to use my abilities to do something meaningful for Lord Ye Zi."
His clear voice was filled with determination as unyielding as stone.
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Currently on Chapter 429 - The Primary Objective is Accomplished...