In the eyes of the Sunagakure shinobi, an endless sea of sand surged forward like a tidal wave. Layer after layer of sand crashed into the underground base, crushing everything in its path. Dozens of Otogakure ninja were buried instantly beneath the overwhelming force.
Meanwhile, deep within the underground base, Orochimaru, Kabuto, and the Sound Four had just gathered.
Rumble!
The entire base shook violently. Cracks spread across the walls and ceiling, widening with every second.
"Orochimaru-sama, this must be the One-Tail Jinchūriki of Sunagakure," Kabuto said grimly.
Orochimaru's expression darkened.
"Gaara... So he's become this powerful."
Without hesitation, Orochimaru opened a hidden escape route and quickly retreated.
Above them, the base continued collapsing as massive chunks of stone crashed down.
Kimimaro, however, showed no concern. Walking calmly through the chaos, he avoided the falling debris with effortless movements.
As he advanced, the black markings of the Cursed Seal of Earth spread across his body.
Moments later, he burst out of the collapsing base.
---
After nearly two minutes of continuous assault with his Sand Tsunami, Gaara finally stopped.
Even he was breathing heavily from the immense chakra expenditure.
The Sound Village headquarters had been completely destroyed.
Just then, a cold voice echoed from below.
"Gaara of the Desert... your reputation is well deserved."
Gaara and the Sunagakure shinobi immediately turned toward the source.
Boom!
A white figure burst through the sand and shot into the air.
It was Kimimaro.
Covered in black curse markings, bone spikes protruded from his body, making him appear almost inhuman.
---Dance of the Early Fern
Seeing Kimimaro emerge unharmed, the Sunagakure shinobi were stunned.
"Kill him!"
"Everyone attack together!"
"It's only one enemy!"
Ninjutsu and weapons flew toward Kimimaro from every direction.
Wind Release techniques sliced through the air.
Kunai and shuriken rained down.
Yet every attack bounced harmlessly off the hardened bones covering his body.
Kimimaro ignored them all and charged straight at Gaara.
"Hmph."
Gaara narrowed his eyes.
The sand beneath Kimimaro suddenly surged upward, wrapping around him.
Sand Burial!
Gaara clenched his fist.
The massive pressure crushed inward from all sides.
Boom!
To everyone's shock, Kimimaro broke free.
His clothing was torn, but beneath his skin was an even denser layer of bone armor that had absorbed most of the damage.
"The strength of the Shikotsumyaku..." Gaara muttered.
---"Dance of the Larch!"
Kimimaro lunged forward.
Dozens of sharpened bone spikes erupted from his body as he rushed at Gaara.
Instantly, Gaara's automatic sand defense formed a wall before him.
At the same time, Temari opened her giant fan.
"Wind Release: Great Sickle Weasel Technique!"
A powerful gale filled with razor-sharp wind blades slammed into Kimimaro.
Although it failed to seriously injure him, the force pushed him back and created distance between him and Gaara.
---
"Sand Burial!"
Gaara raised both hands.
An enormous wave of sand surged forward, swallowing Kimimaro whole.
More sand followed.
Then more.
Layer after layer pressed down with overwhelming force, burying him deep underground.
For several moments, Gaara continuously compressed the sand.
Finally, he exhaled heavily.
Sweat covered his forehead.
Even for him, maintaining such a large-scale attack consumed a significant amount of chakra.
Temari quickly stepped beside him.
"Gaara, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Gaara replied quietly. "Just using too much chakra."
---
Suddenly, Gaara's expression changed.
Without warning, his sand lifted every nearby Sunagakure shinobi into the air.
"What is it?"
Before anyone could react—
Boom!
The ground exploded.
Countless gigantic bone spikes erupted from beneath the earth.
"AAAH!"
Screams echoed across the battlefield.
The forest of bones spread in every direction, impaling anyone caught within its range.
Kimimaro's ultimate technique:
Dance of the Early Fern.
Only those protected by Gaara's sand escaped.
Looking down at the endless field of white bones below, Temari felt a chill run through her body.
Even Baki's face became grim.
"One man caused this much destruction..."
Many Sunagakure shinobi had been killed in an instant.
---
At that moment, a purple figure appeared in the sky above the battlefield.
Floating in midair, Chen Xing looked down with calm, icy eyes.
Within his blue pupils, the purple six-pointed celestial pattern slowly rotated.
"Deva Path: Almighty Push!"
A powerful repulsive force erupted from his outstretched hand.