i am kimimaro

White bones condensed into a bone flute, emerging from the palm of Kimimaro's right hand.

He extended his left hand, grasping the bone flute directly and placing it to his lips.

The flute sounded!

Demon Flute!

Dream Sound Lock!

This was the first time Kimimaro used genjutsu, and it was the sound genjutsu he obtained from Tayuya.

As the melodious flute sound echoed, Hinata and the others felt everything around them change instantly.

The original lush forest scene transformed into a crimson space.

White skeletons filled the surroundings.

"This... what's going on?"

Hinata stopped her attack, feeling an overwhelming sense of dread.

"Oh no! It's genjutsu, and it's sound genjutsu. We've fallen for it."

Shino's expression turned extremely grim.

In their injured state, Kiba and Akamaru were instantly bound by ropes that appeared out of nowhere, unable to move.

"Damn it, what the hell is this? Let me go!"

Kiba struggled fiercely, but it was useless.

Shino tried to control his kikaichu to break the genjutsu, but found that he could no longer command the insects within his body.

"How could this be?"

Shino panicked.

The kikaichu were his greatest reliance. If even they couldn't help him, then they could only wait for death.

"Ah!"

Hinata let out a scream as she, like Kiba, was bound by ropes, unable to move.

Shino didn't last much longer, ending up in the same state as the other two.

"Such powerful genjutsu, no weaker than Kurenai-sensei's. How could someone like this be a genin? What is Otogakure trying to do?"

Countless questions filled Shino's mind, but soon, he was unable to think.

Within the illusion, their bodies were gradually melting.

Team 8, completely annihilated!

Outside the illusion.

"Boss, you intervened too quickly."

Suigetsu, having shaken off the kikaichu's attack, complained.

"You were too slow. Dealing with three genin and still taking so long. The longer it takes, the more variables there are."

Faced with Kimimaro's retort, Suigetsu could only stick out his tongue, feigning innocence.

"Alright, let's find a hidden place. It's time to get down to business."

Kimimaro picked up the unconscious Hinata, while Jugo carried Kiba under his left arm and Shino under his right.

Akamaru was left to Suigetsu.

The three of them traveled quickly and soon found a cave.

"Boss, how about here? It looks pretty secluded."

Suigetsu looked around, confirming there were no issues before speaking.

"The concealment is sufficient, but there are still 75 people in the Forest of Death. We can't guarantee we won't be discovered. You two stay outside and don't let anyone step foot in here."

"Yes, boss. We'll complete the mission."

"As long as I'm still alive, I won't let anyone disturb you."

After giving the two some instructions, Kimimaro entered the cave alone with Hinata.

The cave was quite spacious and didn't feel cramped.

However, it was somewhat dark.

"Breaking Path 20, Shining Heavens!"

A blue sphere emerged from Kimimaro's right palm and flew upwards, illuminating the entire cave as if it were daylight.

Shining Heavens, a reward obtained from taking a photo at the Hokage Rock scenic spot.

The light shone on the still unconscious Hinata.

Her fair face was stained with a bit of dust, looking somewhat disheveled.

Hinata would remain unconscious as long as the genjutsu affecting her wasn't dispelled.

"Binding Path 73, Inverse Mountain Crystal!"

An inverted triangular pyramid appeared in the cave, encompassing both Kimimaro and Hinata.

Inverse Mountain Crystal, a reward obtained from taking a photo at the Konoha Village scenic spot.

It could form a triangular pyramid-shaped defensive barrier that couldn't be broken by anything less than a high-level offensive technique.

It was perfect for use as a medical room.

Kimimaro placed Hinata on the crystal and began his experiment.

"Pardon me."

First, blood.

The power of a bloodline limit largely stemmed from blood; it was an indispensable element.

Kimimaro was a meticulous person. He had studied medical ninjutsu for many years, all for this moment.

Hyuga blood could better adapt to the Byakugan's power.

Then, his own blood.

The power of the Shikotsumyaku, infused into it.

The two masses of blood converged in mid-air, undergoing subtle changes.

Divine Hands!

Kimimaro's hand bones turned golden, and then his hands manipulated the mass of blood in mid-air at an indiscernible speed.

With a flick of his right index finger, the single mass of blood split into two.

The two masses of blood formed a taiji pattern, yin and yang complementing each other, appearing remarkably harmonious.

Kimimaro's eyes lit up.

"It really works!"

The preliminary experiment was a success!

Next came the most crucial formal procedure.

Kimimaro had confirmed his medical plan from the very beginning.

Simply gouging out the eyes wouldn't achieve the desired effect.

Therefore, he never intended to take Hinata's eyes.

What he wanted were the Hyuga genes that could fuse with the Shikotsumyaku, and a fusion method that wouldn't cause rejection.

Achieving such a perfect result through ordinary methods would require an extremely long period of experimentation.

Kimimaro obviously didn't have that kind of time.

But he did have a cheat.

With a movement of his right hand, two Clow Cards materialized out of thin air, held between his middle and index fingers.

The Mirror Card, The Twin Card.

One for replication, the other for duplication; their abilities were quite similar.

The Mirror could replicate people or objects.

The Twin could turn people or objects into two.

Both required chakra to maintain and had a time limit.

If destruction was the price, the replicated things could exist forever.

And things replicated using one's own chakra would never experience rejection.

Killing two birds with one stone.

Of course, limited by the user's own strength, it was impossible to replicate something far beyond their capabilities.

For example, the current Kimimaro could absolutely not use these two cards to replicate the Rinnegan.

Even replicating the purest Byakugan before him required Kimimaro's full effort and the sacrifice of two cards to replicate both eyes, highlighting the limitations involved.

Although it was a pity to destroy two good Clow Cards, if it could cure his bloodline disease, this small price was nothing to him.

Kimimaro placed the overlapping Clow Cards in front of him, and with a flick of his fingers, the two cards instantly separated.

"Mirror! Twin! Unleash your powers of replication, with blood as the guide, destruction as the price, transform into my eyes, and be with me for all eternity!"

As he spoke, the two Clow Cards emitted an intense white light that shot towards the sky but was blocked by the Inverse Mountain Crystal, keeping the light within the triangular pyramid.

The white light took shape, forming three figures.

The Mirror was a green-haired girl, holding a round mirror in her hands.

The Twin were two children, one with blue hair and the other with pink hair.

The three of them glanced at Kimimaro simultaneously. The Mirror girl gathered one portion of blood, and the Twin children gathered the other.

The white light reappeared, connecting to Hinata's eyes.

The purest Byakugan of the Hyuga clan!

Bloodline power, replication, transformation, fusion!

With the aid of the two blood portions and the power of the two Clow Cards, a pair of brand-new Byakugan was being born out of thin air!

(End of Chapter)