133. Believe in Him!

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Kimimaro was breathing hard now, clutching her chest. Her eyes locked on Neji, frustration simmering beneath her calm.

Strength. Speed. Skill.

He outclassed her in all three.

And for the first time in years, she felt the sharp edge of inferiority.

But she couldn't fail.

Not for Orochimaru.

Her resolve hardened.

Kimimaro yanked her shirt open, revealing tightly bound wrappings across her chest, barely restraining the pulsating power beneath. Cracks ran from the cloth to her collarbone.

'If Neji could see, he'd be dead already,' she thought grimly.

Bone spikes erupted from her arms. The pain would've stopped most shinobi cold.

But she was Kaguya blood.

"Let me show you true kekkei genkai!"

Her fingers split, pale bone tips clicking outward.

"Dance of the Ten Finger Bullets!"

WHOOM!

Ten sharpened finger bones launched like bullets.

Neji's brow twitched.

[Chakra Barrier]

A golden-orange dome shimmered into existence around him. The bone bullets slammed into it like high-velocity rounds into bulletproof glass. Cracks formed… but it held.

Kimimaro narrowed her eyes. "Tch. That's not all I've got."

Another volley.

The barrier groaned.

Neji stayed calm. "But can you actually hit me?"

Her third strike came fast.

The barrier shattered—

But Neji was already gone.

A blur appeared behind her.

She turned just in time to see his fist descending.

Too late.

She activated a defensive reflex spiked ribs erupting from her torso.

The punch passed through her.

A… decoy?

BOOM!

The real strike came from behind.

Her body cratered into the earth, bouncing violently before skidding into the grass.

Blood flew from her lips as her bones rattled.

Kimimaro barely caught her balance.

That speed… just now—

She locked eyes on Neji again.

His body radiated a green aura. His skin flushed red.

He's using a power-up technique… just like me!

Red markings pulsed across her skin. Her complexion darkened to a dusky brown. Spinal bones tore from her back, forming a jagged, grotesque armor. Her tail lashed, extending with each breath.

From elegance to beast.

Her bones pierced the soil, anchoring her like a creature of war.

She exhaled.

The ground cracked beneath her.

Then—launch.

She shot forward.

Collision.

Two shadows clashed bone vs. body, primal vs. precise.

Each strike broke something.

Each counter shattered something else.

A rib flew across the field, embedding itself in a tree.

Gaara narrowed his eyes.

Kankuro whispered, "This isn't a battle we can help with…"

Temari scowled. "I hate to admit it, but if anyone interferes now, we'll get torn apart."

Gaara's voice was low. "We don't need to. That man… he'll win."

---

Back among the wounded, Shikamaru and Kiba watched the battlefield tremble.

Even in pain, both managed to smile.

"Still Neji," Kiba muttered.

Shikamaru sighed. "But… the coffin's gone. And Naruto's not here."

"Don't blame me," Kiba coughed. "Akamaru's out. No tracking."

Kankuro raised a brow. "You expecting puppets to sniff your friend out?"

A sudden gust swept through the grasslands Gaara had to raise a sand wall to block it.

The clash had escalated.

---

Back at the center—

Neji released his [Eight Gates – Gate of Life].

The red faded from his skin. The green glow vanished.

He exhaled slowly.

"Damn," he muttered, shaking out his hands. "Hard bones."

He couldn't keep showing high-level moves in front of witnesses. Not unless he wanted to give away everything.

Still… brute force wouldn't end this.

It was time.

He removed the upper half of his tunic, revealing tattooed glyphs and clan sigils that glowed faintly with chakra.

[Tiger-Dragon Roar]

He crossed his arms, fists blazing with chi.

Tiger's cry from his knuckles. Dragon's growl from his heels.

A low breath tightened his muscles.

Across the field, Kimimaro ripped her own spine from her body her ultimate weapon.

"Dance of the Clematis – Vine!"

[Shunpo]

Neji vanished.

Kimimaro struck out instinctively.

Her spine-weapon snapped outward trapping the space where he'd been.

She yanked it tight.

Got you.

With a snarl, she plunged her other arm forward, transforming into a long, serrated bone lance.

She stabbed straight through the trapped target—

"DIE!"

THUNK.

The spear struck clean.

Temari stood up. "He—!"

Gaara stopped her with a hand.

"...Believe in him."

---

As Kimimaro yanked her spine-weapon tight—

The target… burst into mist.

Another decoy?!

Too late.

Neji materialized at her blind spot his form solid and focused.

[Twin Impact]

Two punches.

First—jaw.

Second—gut.

Kimimaro choked.

Eyes wide.

The tailbones drooped.

The bone armor cracked.

She was out of time.

Out of chakra.

Out of breath.

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