Naruto’s Strongest Force [translation]

Amidst the Land of Water's dense woods, just outside the Kaguya clan, the white-haired child found comfort beneath the shelter of a tree.

His gaze, colored with a serene green, held a calm demeanor, highlighted by the subtle red eye shadow gracing his eyelids.

"I'm alone once more,"

Locked in a cage from birth, his sole purpose was to fight.

Yet, after each battle, a hollow emptiness lingered within him, and the quest for the meaning of his existence consumed his thoughts.

As he strolled along the lakeside, his mind in turmoil, a strange sense of déjà vu struck him. It was as if he had walked this path before.

His gaze is fixed upon a familiar sight by the lake – a lone flower flourishing amidst the desolation.

The soft, white petals adorned with dewdrops danced gently in the breeze.

"Why do you bloom here?" He questioned the flower while his frustration was rising.

"Why won't you answer me? Are you, too, ignoring me in this neglected place?"

Fueled by anger, he gripped the bone, contemplating destruction, as if he could erase the questions haunting him by annihilating the flower.

"Stop doing this."

A voice, unexpected and calming, echoed from behind.

He turned abruptly, realizing someone had silently joined him by the lake.

"Living might not always be naturally meaningful, but by persisting, you can uncover something important," Natsuki shared, pausing thoughtfully. "Much like how you discovered that flower, I discovered you."

Approaching him, Natsuki gently touched his face, causing a visible blush to spread across Kimimaro's features.

Orochimaru proved to be a spiritual mentor; 'borrowing' his words is quicker than making his own.

"Follow me."

In the forest, figures swiftly emerged. Miru descended, nestling Haku, accompanied by Kisame. Natsuki reassured him with a wave not to be alarmed.

"They're my companions."

"I'm Uchiha Natsuki, this is Miru, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Haku," He introduced, then turned to Kimimaro.

"May I have your name?"

"Kimimaro."

He smiled, "From now on, we'll be companions."

Kimimaro nodded, his attention shifting to Haku.

Despite the fresh clothes and a semblance of tidiness, his thin frame didn't escape his notice.

Haku's eyes sparkled with an unmistakable radiance.

Behind them, Kisame's shark-like eyes seemed to analyze everyone, his gaze piercing.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for significantly altering Kimimaro's life trajectory.]

Congratulations to the host for acquiring: Dance of the Seedling Fern X1

[Ding! Successfully recruited Kimimaro.]

Congratulations to the host for gaining: Combat Intuition.

Natsuki was shocked. Combat Intuition was a coveted talent, especially for taijutsu ninjas.

In close combat, where danger lurked in every moment, swift reactions were crucial.

Special techniques demanded quick activation, and a slip could mean instant death.

Pure taijutsu ninjas were rare among their kind, given the inherent risks. Even Guy, an outlier among specialists, lacked Kimimaro's invincible periosteum, making any mistake fatal in close combat.

With this newfound talent, he contemplated whether his daring plan could indeed come to completion.

Surprisingly, Natsuki observed him quickly bonding with Haku, speculating that their pasts shared a common loneliness.

Kimimaro's life had been confined to a cage, his age is a mystery, detectable only through his bones.

Although his skeletal structure didn't reveal his size, Natsuki suspect him to be around the age of fifteen, similar to Haku when he died.

Notably, Kimimaro stood taller than Haku, exhibiting a healthier physique.

While Kimimaro had food in captivity, Haku's struggles were evident.

Natsuki decided to test Kimimaro, discovering that the Shikotsumyaku was innately geared for combat.

Despite lacking formal training, Kimimaro's unstructured attack methods proved unpredictable, given that every bone in his body could be weaponized.

In terms of Kekkei Genkai development, Kimimaro was limited to pulling out bones for combat.

However, the various dances were already ingrained in his memory.

Natsuki wondered about the source of Kimimaro's mastery in these dances, as the Kaguya clan, while bone-centric, didn't possess the unique kekkei genkai like Kimimaro's.

The clan couldn't have taught him techniques during his childhood.

Kimimaro's response left him surprised; the dances seemed to appear automatically in his mind, dispelling any idea of a teacher.

This revelation solidified Natsuki's understanding that the Kaguya clan was a branch of Princess Kaguya's lineage.

Kimimaro was among those who had undergone atavism, not for the first time, as evidenced by the emergence of his bone.

In contrast to today's Kaguya, characterized by distinctive features, Kimimaro's appearance closely mirrored her ancestral traits.

While the recent Kaguya displayed unique physical attributes, Kimimaro's demeanor differed, presenting a cold and cold look—a throwback to Kaguya's transformed personality after consuming the Chakra Fruit.

Much like the Uchiha and Hyuga's eyes symbolized Sage's eyes, and the Uzumaki clan's chakra represented a sage body, Kimimaro's corpse bone veins displayed sage marrow.

It's a pity that future generations won't inherit such a unique bloodline.

Those undergoing atavism won't carry this genetic mutation, a stark contrast to the stable inheritance of the Uchiha and Byakugan bloodlines.

Yet, it's precisely the stability of these bloodlines that necessitates breaking free gradually to return to their ancestors.

This process, however, introduces risks, evident in the side effects of the Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan or the potential risks accompanying the evolution of the Byakugan into the Rinnegan.

Even Hashirama, known for his remarkable regenerative abilities, met a mysterious end.

Natsuki theorized that Hashirama's cells might have increased too rapidly, depleting his body's energy and cell resources, leading to his death.

Kimimaro shared a similar purpose, and Natsuki prepared to speed up his journey to Orochimaru.

After two years of research, Orochimaru had made progress in studying Kimimaro's condition.

The goal was clear: find a way for Kimimaro to receive the sage marrow, provided he could withstand the accompanying genetic mutations.

In his past life, Orochimaru's exploration of senjutsu was limited to the curse seals applied to individuals like Jugo.

Unfortunately, these were degenerated techniques, leading to severe body deterioration and negative side effects.

Natsuki, however, aimed to change this narrative.

His vision extended beyond the limitations of degraded arts, intending to elevate all practitioners of celestial techniques to the status of celestial beings.