NARUTO: I, KIMIMARO EVOLVE MY BLOODLINE LIMIT

"Hello, beautiful, I'm Kimimaro—Kaguya Kimimaro."

Kimimaro glanced at Yamanaka Ino with curiosity. In the original timeline, Ino didn't have much spotlight, but her striking looks and bright personality still made her stand out. He knew her type—Ino was known to be easily infatuated with handsome boys.

Just like her crush on Sasuke, which stemmed largely from his looks. Sakura, too, had been drawn to Sasuke at first for the same reason, though her affection had deepened over time. Compared to Sakura, Ino's feelings were more surface-level and less enduring.

However, in terms of emotional adaptability, Ino arguably had an edge. She knew when to let go. Unlike Sakura, who clung tightly to her feelings for Sasuke, Ino was practical—once it became clear Sasuke wasn't interested, she moved on. In the original story, she eventually found companionship with Sai, who reciprocated her interest.

When Hinata noticed Kimimaro smiling slightly at Ino, she suddenly recalled how her younger sister had once suggested "sharing" her older brother. She quickly shook the memory away and focused: "Kimimaro, it's been a while. This is Ino, Tenten, and—"

"Let me guess," Kimimaro interrupted smoothly, eyes narrowing in amusement. "This young man with the Byakugan… he must be the Hyuga clan's prodigy, Hyuga Neji."

"You know me?" Neji's voice was calm, but his interest was piqued. He was aloof, but he respected power.

"Of course," Kimimaro said. "I was with Orochimaru for some time—I gathered plenty of information about Konoha. Plus, Hanabi constantly brags about how incredible her cousin Neji-nii is. Honestly, I'm almost jealous."

"Hanabi… she's really with you?" Neji asked, surprised. He had heard the rumors, but it felt strange to hear it confirmed.

"Yes. Lord Hiashi entrusted her to me himself."

"Lord Hiashi… my uncle?"

"Didn't you know? The Hyuga and Kaguya clans were once close allies during the Warring States period."

Neji glanced at Hinata. She gave a small nod.

"…I didn't. My father passed away when I was young. He never told me."

Kimimaro's tone softened. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine." Neji looked at him with intent eyes. "I heard from Rock Lee that you're powerful. Forgive my directness, but… would you honor me with a duel? If Lord Hiashi trusts Hanabi to you, then I'd like to see your strength with my own eyes."

Kimimaro shook his head. "You'll be disappointed."

"No need to be modest."

"I'm not being modest," Kimimaro replied calmly. "I mean it literally. At your current level, you won't be able to draw out my full strength."

Neji stiffened. He was proud—extremely so—but this man spoke with such certainty that it startled him.

"Don't let his words get to you, Neji," Tenten encouraged. "I believe in you!"

"Yeah, you're awesome, Neji," Ino chimed in, before turning to Kimimaro with a teasing glint. "Handsome and strong, huh? That's rare."

Kimimaro smirked. "Oh? So if I meet both your criteria, will you fall for me?"

"Haha, maybe! Sasuke's been a bit of a letdown lately. If you've got the looks and the skills… I might have to reconsider my options!" Ino replied playfully.

Of course, Kimimaro could tell she wasn't serious. Her lingering affection for Sasuke had already started to wane. She'd realized that someone like Sasuke—emotionally distant, fixated on revenge—would never open his heart. Ino wasn't the kind to waste herself on a dead end.

She still occasionally fantasized about Sasuke, but it was mostly habit. What she truly wanted was someone who could actually reciprocate her feelings.

"Alright," Kimimaro said, stepping forward. "If you're serious about fighting, let's not cause a scene here."

The group made their way to a quiet training ground on the village outskirts.

Neji dropped into his Gentle Fist stance. "Here I come."

Kimimaro smiled faintly. "Whenever you're ready."

Fighting Neji, Kimimaro had no intention of using any other ninjutsu—only his Shikotsumyaku. These weren't his comrades or trusted allies, so there was no need to reveal his Wood Release. Besides, this was a perfect chance to test his taijutsu.

Neji moved first.

His speed is excellent, and his chakra control is highly refined. As expected of the Hyuga clan's top prodigy.

Kimimaro exchanged several barehanded blows with him, calmly gauging the rhythm of the Gentle Fist.

"If this is your limit, it's disappointing," Neji said coolly.

"That's what I should be saying."

"Then I'll show you the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist—Eight Trigrams Style."

In an instant, Kimimaro felt the pressure of an invisible dome. Neji's chakra flared as he slid into a stance and began his assault.

"Eight Trigrams: Eight Palms! Sixteen Palms! Thirty-Two Palms—Huh?"

Neji's expression faltered mid-technique. His rapid strikes had clearly connected, yet Kimimaro's tenketsu weren't closing off. From each point of impact, white bone protrusions began to push out from beneath the skin—bone armor, rapidly encasing him.

"The Gentle Fist targets chakra points to block chakra flow," Kimimaro explained calmly, unfazed. "But as long as your chakra doesn't penetrate my body, the effect is just blunt impact. My Shikotsumyaku prevents internal disruption."

With a smooth motion, Kimimaro extended a bone spear from his palm and thrust it at Neji. The Hyuga prodigy flipped backward, narrowly evading the jab.

"You can't run forever." Kimimaro's other hand lashed out, releasing a bone whip that snapped through the air. "Hyuga Neji, your weakness is your lack of mid-to-long-range offense."

Neji dodged with Byakugan-enhanced precision, then suddenly planted his feet, gathering chakra.

"Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm!" he cried.

A burst of compressed chakra shot forward, hitting Kimimaro dead-on.

"Impressive!" Hinata gasped from the sidelines. "Neji-nii's already using the Vacuum Palm…"

Kimimaro raised a drill-shaped bone spear to block. The chakra blast cracked part of the bone weapon—but it regenerated almost instantly.

"Not bad," Kimimaro said, brushing off his shoulder. "But it's clear your mastery of that technique is incomplete."

"Enough playing around. Let me end this."

He slammed a palm to the ground. "Dance of the Larch."

From beneath the battlefield, bone spikes erupted in a forest of deadly white lances, stabbing out indiscriminately in every direction—a more contained, refined form of the Dance of the Seedling Fern.

Neji immediately spun, chakra flaring. "Eight Trigrams: Palm Rotation!"

A dome of spinning chakra burst from his body, deflecting the hail of incoming bone projectiles. The absolute defense of the Hyuga clan was on full display—projectile after projectile was shattered or ricocheted away.

Kimimaro grinned as the storm settled. "Well done. You're better than most—but still far from perfect."

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