NARUTO: I, KIMIMARO EVOLVE MY BLOODLINE LIMIT

Haruna didn't monopolize Kimimaro for long, as both his and Karin's birthdays were approaching.

Karin had already made it clear to Haruna—those few days belonged to her.

Coincidentally, their birthdays were only five days apart. Of course, that referred to the calendar; Kimimaro was two years older.

Eventually, Kimimaro's sixteenth birthday arrived.

In the ninja world, sixteen was already considered adult. There were no universities or formal higher education institutions. Most shinobi graduated from the Academy at twelve or thirteen and were immediately thrust into the responsibilities of adult life. Though not comparable to university graduates from Kimimaro's past life, these young ninja were considered to have completed their "compulsory education." They knew what they needed to know and were often far more mature than teens from more peaceful worlds.

Children like Shikamaru had already become chūnin soon after graduation, and missions that risked their lives were routine. In Kimimaro's former world, this would have been considered child labor, but here, it was simply normal life.

To mark the occasion, Kimimaro and Karin decided to celebrate their birthdays together—right in between their actual birth dates. After enjoying a lively dinner with friends that evening, Karin quietly pulled Kimimaro into their room.

She had changed into a deep crimson nightgown and sat gracefully at the edge of the bed, her cheeks tinged with color.

"Kimimaro, do you think I'm beautiful?" she asked softly.

"Of course," he replied, his voice steady. "My Karin is the most beautiful."

She gently guided his hand to her chest. Her blush deepened. "Still think they're small?"

The teasing tone in her voice didn't mask the emotions behind it.

"Not small anymore…" he murmured.

"Then what are you waiting for?"

And so, they embraced.

Their emotions surged, but for Kimimaro, this moment felt different. With Kurotsuchi and Haruna, it had been more instinctive—natural, but not as deeply sentimental. Karin, though… she had been with him from the start, never asking for anything, always giving. Perhaps that was why this moment felt more poetic—he thought of lines he once read in another life:

"The flower path has never been walked; the jade beauty, now within reach."

T/N: I give up I won't make any comment anymore 😭 😭 

In a nearby room, Hanabi stirred from her sleep.

"Huh? What's wrong with Sister Karin? She sounds like she's crying... but not quite."

Curious—and slightly concerned—Hanabi activated her Byakugan without thinking.

Then she froze.

"Big Brother… and Sister Karin…?"

She didn't completely understand what she was seeing, but she knew enough. Her cheeks turned crimson.

So… boys and girls do that sort of thing? But… doesn't it hurt?

Unintentionally, Kimimaro and Karin had just given Hanabi a very advanced anatomy lesson.

The next morning, Karin nestled in Kimimaro's arms, eating breakfast with a satisfied smile.

Hanabi, however, kept glancing at them from the corner of her eye, her expression unreadable.

"Hanabi?" Kimimaro said, noticing.

"Ah—b-big brother!" she jumped. "I-it's nothing, really."

Kimimaro narrowed his eyes. In an instant, he understood.

Damn. We were too close this time... When it was Haruna, Hanabi definitely wouldn't have dared activate the Byakugan.

He leaned toward Karin and whispered.

She was startled, then blushed furiously before glaring at him. "You—ugh, fine. After breakfast, I'll talk to her. Don't worry. Girls mature early in this world—especially kunoichi. And I am a medical ninja. This kind of conversation is just another kind of healing. I'll make sure little Hanabi is cheerful and trauma-free by the time I'm done."

True to her word, Karin took Hanabi aside after the meal. By midday, the young girl was back to her usual self—though she blushed a little every time she looked at Kimimaro.

From then on, Kimimaro and Karin made sure to sleep farther away from Hanabi's room.

The two lovers took a short trip to relax—leaving Haruna envious. Unfortunately, as the Daimyō of the Land of Vegetables, she couldn't move about freely.

But peace never lasted long.

Just as Kimimaro and Karin were enjoying their time together, an urgent message arrived.

"From the Land of Snow?" Kimimaro said, recognizing the seal. "It must be from Koyuki."

Karin raised an eyebrow. "Jealous?" he teased with a smile.

But as he read the contents, his smile vanished.

"…Looks like we're going to the Land of Snow."

He passed the letter to Karin.

"Kazahana Koyuki is under house arrest? Yukigakure's Himi is forcing her into marriage?"

Karin's expression hardened. "Looks like we'll need to take control of the Land of Snow earlier than expected."

They had discussed it before—the Land of Vegetables was too small for their long-term ambitions. They would need to expand, and the Land of Snow, with its advanced technology and isolation from the Great Nations, had always been a strategic target.

Though the environment was harsh, the region was rich in resources and largely ignored by other major powers.

For Kimimaro, it was the perfect next step.

More importantly, Kimimaro had already established a good relationship with Kazahana Koyuki, the rightful heir of the Kazahana clan and ruler of the Land of Snow. Koyuki had long been dissatisfied with Yukikawa Himi, the minister who held actual power and manipulated the government from behind the scenes. This presented Kimimaro with a rare opportunity—to take control of the Land of Snow without resorting to large-scale conflict.

Well… perhaps it would require Kazahana Koyuki to shed just a little blood.

Originally, the plan had been to wait at least half a year—or even a full year—for the Land of Vegetables to finish its initial development phase. After all, the Land of Snow was located across the sea, and transporting resources and troops wasn't simple.

But now, Yukikawa Himi had grown desperate. He had placed Koyuki under house arrest and was attempting to force her into marriage to consolidate his control over the throne.

If he succeeded, it would become much harder to intervene.

Karin, though feeling a twinge of jealousy, didn't blame anyone but herself—after all, she had been the one to first suggest taking Koyuki in when the opportunity arose. At the time, Kimimaro hadn't even considered it.

Still, she spoke with composure: "You need to hurry. Infiltrate the Land of Snow, eliminate Yukikawa Himi, and rescue Kazahana Koyuki."

Kimimaro pulled her into a light embrace. "It's so good to have you."

"Hmph, just know where your blessings lie. This isn't the time for sweet talk. Finish it quickly. Not just because Koyuki's in danger, but also because the Land of Vegetables' first grand examination is set to begin in just over a month—you can't miss it."

"I understand. You're more of a household head than I am now. Maybe you should handle all the diplomacy and management, and I'll just focus on getting stronger."

"Do what you want, but just know this—those Daimyo, princesses, and even the Tsuchikage's granddaughter you're always getting involved with… in the end, they'll all have to listen to me."

"As long as you're strong enough to make them, I have no objections."

"Hmph, that's exactly what I'm aiming for. I'll become stronger—stronger than all of them!"

After finalizing the strategy, Kimimaro prepared for his journey to the Land of Snow.

This time, he would travel alone.

There wasn't much choice—Guren, Suigetsu, and Jūgo needed to remain behind to protect the others, which allowed Kimimaro to depart with peace of mind. The remaining members of their group simply weren't strong enough yet. This was a mission that required precision and overwhelming strength—not numbers.

Before he left, Kimimaro received an octagonal jade crystal from Guren. It served as a surveillance tool, though its range was still limited.

However, Kimimaro was confident. Within a month, the Crystal Release potion he'd been developing would be completed. Once it was, he intended to test whether it could support two-way visual and sensory communication.

Additionally, he created a Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystal using Ice Release. He instructed the others to store the mirror in cold preservation—it wasn't just a backup communication method, but also a potential anchor for rapid travel, reconnaissance, or emergency intervention if needed.

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