i am kimimaro

"This is..."

Looking at the final content of the stone tablet, a glint flashed in Kimimaro's eyes.

Outside the cave.

"It's been half an hour, why hasn't he come out yet? Could something have gone wrong?"

Looking at the silent cave, Taketoshi Sachiko felt a bit worried.

This forbidden area was not an ordinary one, but one specifically designed for the clan leader of the Kaguya clan.

Each clan leader, after being recognized by the previous clan leader, would come here to complete the final test.

The purpose of the test was to perfect the Kaguya fluid technique.

Under the siege of numerous skeletons, one would push their Kaguya fluid technique to the limit, thereby taking it a step further.

The successor didn't need to shatter all the skeletons, they just needed to last half an hour inside to leave safely.

The Kaguya clan had been passed down to this day, and every clan leader's successor had come out alive.

It's just that some were unscathed, while others were seriously injured.

After all, to be recognized by the previous clan leader, their strength was naturally not weak.

The previous clan leader could also judge whether they truly had the ability to pass the test.

But this time, Kimimaro's situation was rather special.

On the one hand, he came for the stone tablet, and on the other hand, there was no previous clan leader to judge whether Kimimaro's strength was up to par.

So, Taketoshi Sachiko couldn't help but worry.

Although Kimimaro didn't want to do anything for the Kaguya clan, he was still the strongest Shikotsumyaku of the Kaguya clan at present. Taketoshi Sachiko naturally hoped that he could pass the test.

That way, the Kaguya clan would have a new clan leader.

Even if Kimimaro didn't acknowledge it, as long as he passed the test, the entire Kaguya clan would regard him as the clan leader.

And the rule of the Kaguya clan was that everything was subject to the clan leader.

Just as Taketoshi Sachiko was worried, the white-haired youth slowly walked out of the cave.

Hyuga Hiashi opened his eyes and looked straight at Kimimaro, his eyes full of expectation.

"Uncle Hiashi, I didn't let you down. The thing you wanted is already in my mind."

Kimimaro pointed to his head and said softly.

"You deciphered the stone tablet?"

Hyuga Hiashi was a bit surprised. He hadn't told Kimimaro the specific method, so how did he decipher it?

"While undergoing the test, I accidentally splashed blood onto the stone tablet, which revealed the text. But unfortunately, the stone tablet has already merged with the forbidden area. I wanted to take it out, but I couldn't shake it at all."

Hearing this, Hyuga Hiashi thought to himself that Kimimaro was lucky.

That half of the stone tablet wasn't important, what mattered was the method to remove the Caged Bird Seal within it.

"But I need to return to Konoha before I can tell you, Uncle Hiashi shouldn't mind, right?"

Hyuga Hiashi took a deep look at Kimimaro.

Kimimaro was worried that Hiashi would turn hostile.

After all, there was no one else here. If Hyuga Hiashi really turned hostile, it would indeed be a bit troublesome.

"Hehe, alright."

Hyuga Hiashi didn't mind. He hadn't planned on turning hostile in the first place.

Kimimaro's actions made Hiashi appreciate him even more.

It was better for young people to have some shrewdness than to be naive.

With the item in hand, the group set off to leave.

Along the way, Taketoshi Sachiko kept looking at Kimimaro, as if observing something.

Kimimaro sensed it, and when he looked back at her, she looked away again, not intending to say anything.

Kimimaro didn't bother to ask about it.

With Hiashi here now, there were many things Taketoshi Sachiko couldn't say.

When the time was right, she would naturally speak.

Three days later, the group returned to where the Kaguya clan was settled.

"Elder Sachiko, we're setting off back to Konoha now. Regarding the attack on the Taketoshi Village, I'll ask the village to investigate after I return. If you need any help in the future, you can also come to Konoha to find me."

Hyuga Hiashi was quite good to the Kaguya clan. Before leaving, he also gave Taketoshi Sachiko a sum of money, enough for them to live comfortably.

With the matter settled, the group of five hurried back to Konoha.

But Kimimaro, while Hiashi wasn't paying attention, left behind a shadow clone.

After the group had gone far away, the shadow clone came out.

"Elder Sachiko, it's time to give me the medical records."

"Follow me."

Led by Elder Sachiko, Kimimaro and a group of Kaguya clan members returned to the original Taketoshi Village.

The Kaguya clan members who were supposed to have been taken away by the Kirigakure ANBU were all here.

The leader of these clan members was a woman around forty years old, named Taketoshi Aoi.

"Elder Sachiko, you're back."

Taketoshi Aoi wasn't surprised by Taketoshi Sachiko's return.

Obviously, they had already communicated beforehand.

"Tsuki has already told me everything. You were able to return safely, so the clan leader's test must have been passed."

Taketoshi Aoi said, shifting her gaze to Kimimaro.

She still had an impression of Kimimaro.

The most terrifying Shikotsumyaku inheritor of the Kaguya clan in thousands of years.

Taketoshi Aoi's gaze held a hint of respect.

"Indeed, Kimimaro has passed the test in the forbidden area. He is the new clan leader of the Kaguya clan!"

Taketoshi Sachiko said loudly.

As soon as she finished speaking, the hundred Kaguya clan members knelt before Kimimaro.

"Greetings, Clan Leader!"

The number of people wasn't large, but their voices were extremely loud and clear.

Kimimaro wasn't happy about this, instead, he frowned slightly.

"I didn't say I wanted to be the Kaguya clan leader."

"Clan Leader, regardless of whether you're willing to lead the Kaguya clan, we will all regard you as the clan leader. Our bodies are at your disposal!"

Taketoshi Aoi said with an oath-like expression.

"Then give me the medical records first."

"Yes! Clan Leader!"

Taketoshi Aoi handed the already prepared medical records to Kimimaro.

It seemed they were really obedient.

There were about dozens of medical records. Kimimaro read them very quickly, finishing them all in about ten minutes.

In his heart, he suddenly had many more thoughts about the bloodline disease.

After memorizing the medical records, Kimimaro returned them to Taketoshi Aoi.

"I won't take advantage of you either. I promised Elder Sachiko before that I would tell you the contents of the stone tablet regarding the Kaguya clan. This is the Kaguya fluid technique recorded on it, the Dance of the Night and the Dance of the Moon."

Kimimaro took out a piece of paper and handed it to Taketoshi Aoi.

Taketoshi Aoi took it and said in a low voice, "Thank you for your generous gift, Clan Leader!"

"What a stubborn bunch."

Kimimaro shook his head slightly, but having such a group of subordinates wasn't a bad thing.

The talents of these Kaguya clan members weren't low. Given time, it wouldn't be difficult for two-digit numbers of Jonin to appear among them.

But Kimimaro didn't have the energy to manage them right now.

"I still have things to do, so I won't stay here for long. As for the position of clan leader, you can reconsider. If after a year, you still want me to be it, you can come find me in Otogakure. But by then, be prepared to become tools."

Kimimaro's voice carried a hint of coldness.

"Clan Leader, please rest assured, after a year, we will definitely go to Otogakure!"

Taketoshi Aoi said resolutely.

In the Kaguya clan, the strong were respected.

Once they acknowledged Kimimaro's status as clan leader, they would never betray him.

But Kimimaro didn't know this yet, he was just saying it casually.

The next moment, he turned into smoke and disappeared.

"Heaven blesses my Kaguya! I didn't expect our clan to produce such an amazingly talented person."

The moment Kimimaro walked out of the cave unscathed, she knew that the Kaguya clan had hope.

(End of Chapter)