Reviving Kimimaro
Boom!
A deafening roar echoed across the battlefield as the vast forest of bones shattered under an overwhelming force.
Dust and debris filled the air.
"That's..."
"The Peacock King!"
"Why is he here?!"
The surviving Sunagakure shinobi stared in shock.
Chen Xing hovered in the sky, his black hair fluttering in the wind. His gaze fell upon the pale young man lying motionless among the shattered bones.
Kimimaro.
With a wave of his hand, a powerful gravitational force lifted Kimimaro's body from the crater.
Closing his Tenseigan, Chen Xing descended before Gaara.
"Chen Xing-niisan, what brings you here?" Gaara asked in surprise.
Chen Xing pointed toward Kimimaro's body and smiled.
"I came for him."
Without further explanation, violet chakra erupted around him, forming a giant peacock. The chakra construct seized Kimimaro's body in its talons before soaring into the distance.
Neither Gaara nor the Sunagakure shinobi dared stop him.
After all, Kimimaro's Dance of the Early Fern had nearly annihilated the entire force. Looking at the hundreds of casualties around him, Baki could only grit his teeth in frustration.
---
Chen Xing's interest in Kimimaro went far beyond obtaining his corpse.
Kimimaro possessed the Shikotsumyaku, the Kekkei Genkai of the Kaguya Clan. His talent rivaled that of the greatest prodigies in the ninja world.
The only thing limiting him was his terminal illness.
With the life-restoring techniques Chen Xing possessed, curing Kimimaro's disease was entirely possible.
As for loyalty?
Chen Xing had no concerns.
Under the influence of Kotoamatsukami, even a Kage-level shinobi could have their will altered without realizing it.
---
Instead of returning directly to Celestial Village, Chen Xing traveled to the remote grasslands of the Land of Grass.
Kimimaro's Cursed Seal had already faded, revealing his frail and disease-ridden body.
Using his unique life-force techniques, Chen Xing spent several hours removing the diseased cells that had plagued Kimimaro since childhood.
Only after completely curing the illness did he begin the resurrection.
Green chakra gathered around his hands.
"Secret Art: Samsara Rebirth."
A vast amount of life force flowed into Kimimaro's body.
Slowly, color returned to his pale face.
His heartbeat resumed.
His breathing steadied.
Finally, Kimimaro opened his eyes.
---
Looking around in confusion, he quickly noticed Chen Xing beside him.
"Why did you save me?" Kimimaro asked quietly.
"I need talented people."
Chen Xing's answer was simple.
Kimimaro frowned.
Before he could speak again, a mysterious power invaded his consciousness.
Kotoamatsukami.
Chen Xing had no interest in lengthy persuasion.
The Mangekyō Sharingan's ultimate genjutsu quietly reshaped Kimimaro's loyalties.
A moment later, Kimimaro lowered his head respectfully.
"Chen Xing-sama."
Chen Xing nodded.
"Good. We still have one more person to find."
---
The person he sought was Karin.
During the Chūnin Exams, Chen Xing had already instructed Samei to establish contact with her.
Now that matters in Konoha had settled, it was time to bring her back.
Traveling with Kimimaro, Chen Xing soon arrived in Kusagakure.
Locating Karin was easy.
After a brief conversation, he brought her away from the village without incident.
Soon afterward, the three returned to Celestial Village.
---
Two Months Later
Over the next two months, two events shook the ninja world.
The first was the formal engagement between the Fourth Celestial Shadow, Chen Xing, and Hyūga Hinata of Konohagakure.
The proposal had been accepted by the village leadership after careful consideration.
The alliance benefited both villages, and neither side had reason to refuse.
Since Hinata was still young, only an engagement was arranged.
The wedding would take place in the future.
---
The second major event was Uchiha Sasuke's defection from Konoha.
Just as in the original timeline, Sasuke ultimately chose power and followed Orochimaru.
Despite Konoha's attempts to stop him, he abandoned the village and disappeared into the Land of Sound.
---
Deep within a secluded valley near Celestial Village, a massive waterfall crashed into a clear lake below.
At the center of the lake stood a lone figure.
Chen Xing.
Whoosh!
A violet blur flashed across the water.
Then another.
And another.
In an instant, dozens of afterimages appeared around the lake.
The speed was so great that it was impossible to determine which figure was real.
Standing nearby were Samei, Kimimaro, and Karin.
All three watched in astonishment.
"So fast..." Karin whispered.
"Is this Space-Time Ninjutsu?" Samei asked.
Over the past two months, Chen Xing had devoted himself to studying the principles behind the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Although he had yet to fully master Minato Namikaze's legendary technique, his progress had been remarkable.
At the same time, Kimimaro and Samei had received enhanced vitality through Karin's Uzumaki bloodline research.
Kimimaro's former illness had vanished completely.
Freed from the limitations of his disease, the full potential of the Kaguya Clan's strongest genius was finally beginning to emerge.