Chapter 72: Kimimaro

"Is that so? We're only half a day's journey from the Land of Water."

Uchiha Nagi glanced out of the ship. In the distance, he could faintly make out a large island.

These past few days, Nagi's journey had been uneventful. There were no major storms at sea, nor had he encountered any patrols by Kirigakure ninja.

According to the merchant ship's owner, for the past two years, many merchant ships would complete their transactions at the docks and leave immediately, not daring to stay too long.

This was because the internal situation in Kirigakure was very complex; the Mizukage had purged many families possessing kekkei genkai, causing widespread panic and unease.

However, the greed of merchants was such that even knowing the danger, they couldn't change their nature and continued to come to Kirigakure to trade...

Kirigakure, being an island nation, certainly had land suitable for growing grain. However, having avoided the ravages of war on its home soil through several Great Ninja Wars, its population had naturally skyrocketed.

Therefore, besides not being self-sufficient in food, they also lacked clothing. Many commoners in the ninja world still wore simple linen. The hemp and cloth for making these clothes—the ninja world hadn't undergone industrial petrochemical development, so they naturally couldn't extract synthetic fibers like polyester. Clothes, like food, had to be made from materials grown from the land.

In short, as a nation entirely composed of islands, commoners would prioritize planting grain, then other crops.

After arriving at the docks, merchants and buyers began their negotiations, and a group of laborers started moving cargo off the ship. Of course, there were also some ninja patrols, but they only took a cursory glance before leaving. How could high-and-mighty ninja stay long with a group of smelly laborers?

While they were conducting their checks, Uchiha Nagi had already secretly disembarked. Perhaps peace had lasted too long, and the Kirigakure ninja had become somewhat complacent, or maybe their attention was entirely focused on the Fourth Mizukage's great purge.

He stealthily lurked around the docks and began to gather information...

For others, gathering information would be difficult, but for Uchiha Nagi, it was exceedingly simple. Not even Chunin or Jonin could withstand the power of his Mangekyo Sharingan. A direct Mangekyo genjutsu, and they'd confess everything, even down to their childhood bedwetting incidents.

"Is that so? Because of the Fourth Mizukage's relentless pressure, coupled with Zabuza's assassination attempt as a trigger, the Kaguya clan has also decided to launch a rebellion..."

Uchiha Nagi then said to the patrolling ninja, "Alright, continue your patrol. Remember, you've never seen me. Forget this ever happened—"

The two patrolling Genin dazedly agreed, "Yes, we've never seen you..."

Even Genin knew about it; the Kaguya clan's failure was practically guaranteed.

The village's Anbu, along with Chunin and Jonin, had all been recalled by the Fourth Mizukage, likely to prepare an ambush for the Kaguya clan.

The Kaguya clan, much like the Uchiha, seemed to have some mental instability, a touch of madness. They launched their rebellion without even a proper plan, buying up large quantities of explosive tags and weapons, as if afraid others wouldn't know they were about to rebel.

Uchiha Nagi estimated the Kaguya clan's rebellion would happen within a few days. It would be better to infiltrate the Kaguya clan beforehand and find Kimimaro. He couldn't let Orochimaru snatch him away.

It was a dark and windy night, perfect for murder and arson.

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a barely visible light. Perhaps sensing something amiss, recently, as night fell, every household in Kirigakure kept their windows tightly shut, neither venturing out nor turning on their lights.

Uchiha Nagi had obtained a map of Kirigakure beforehand. He was now heading towards the Kaguya clan's compound.

The Kaguya clan was also a major clan in Kirigakure, one of its most prominent families. Most of its members were belligerent. As long as they awakened the Shikotsumyaku, they were essentially tanks on the battlefield.

In large-scale battles, they were often the main force. As for each individual's Shikotsumyaku, not everyone's was as durable as the adult Kimimaro's, capable of withstanding the crushing pressure of Gaara's Sand Tsunami. It all depended on individual strength.

But as long as they awakened the Shikotsumyaku, even the most ordinary Genin among them couldn't be killed by standard kunai or shuriken.

"Tsk tsk. Don't they understand the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold'?" Uchiha Nagi mused, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "Letting the manipulated Fourth Mizukage slaughter their own village's major clans."

Should I spread the news that the Fourth Mizukage is being manipulated? Just to annoy Obito, Nagi thought with grim satisfaction. Yes, that's a delightful idea. I'll definitely do it before I leave. It'll give me some peace of mind, and making Obito unhappy will make me feel even better.

Evidently, the Kaguya clan had no Kage-level powerhouses, or perhaps all their 'stat points' were allocated to physical constitution, with few points in mental attributes. Thus, Uchiha Nagi had managed to infiltrate all the way without being discovered.

And the Kaguya clan hadn't even arranged guards or patrols around their perimeter. Such arrogance...

He stealthily snuck in, searching for their clan's prison.

Looking around, he spotted a drunkard guzzling wine. Uchiha Nagi leaped down, his red Mangekyo Sharingan flaring to life.

"Where is your Kaguya clan's prison—"

The drunkard felt dizzy, his eyes glazing over. "From here... just follow the corridor west... and you'll reach it..."

Uchiha Nagi continued, "In the prison, is there a child locked up, a boy named Kimimaro?"

The drunkard nodded. "Yes... Because Kimimaro awakened his Kekkei Genkai at too young an age, the clan head ordered him to be locked in a sealed prison... to prevent his 'bloodline disease' from erupting..."

Uchiha Nagi frowned, curious. "Bloodline disease? What's that about?"

The drunkard explained that the earlier one awakened the Shikotsumyaku, the greater their potential. However, using the Shikotsumyaku too much before the body was fully developed could easily lead to a 'bloodline disease'—essentially a genetic illness.

It makes sense, Nagi thought. Constantly retracting bacteria-laden bones back into the body...

Furthermore, those Kaguya clan members who overused their abilities were prone to madness, fighting recklessly without regard for their lives, exhibiting a kind of psychotic frenzy. So, their clan's prison was often prepared for those who easily lost control.

Uchiha Nagi thought for a moment, then let the drunkard continue sleeping, making him forget their encounter.

This also cleared up a long-standing doubt for Uchiha Nagi: Kimimaro seemed completely obedient and was also young; why would the Kaguya clan head lock him up in their own prison like a secret weapon?

It turned out it was to protect him, and also to suppress his power, preventing him from developing the bloodline disease due to overly rapid growth...

"Found him. The only child in the dungeon."

Behind an iron door, in a cell sealed with paper talismans, a white-haired little boy was listlessly poking a bone spike into the dirt floor, drawing circles...