The flesh on his back stretched apart, and protruding bones jutted out like sharp swords.
Kimimaro reached back, grasped the handle of a bone, and pulled it out forcefully.
Morkel's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What the hell?! He… he pulled out his own spine?!"
Kimimaro smirked. "Don't be so surprised. I can control the growth of my bones at will."
With that, he brandished the bone whip made from his own spine and shouted:
"Dance of the Maidenhair Flower!"
The whip lashed out, slicing through the air with terrifying speed.
Morkel quickly activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, teleporting back to Shikamaru and the others. He had already seen the insane hardness of Kimimaro's bones, so there was no need to engage him in direct combat. Fighting Kimimaro head-on in taijutsu was a losing battle.
Forming hand seals rapidly, Morkel called out:
"Wood Style: All-Encompassing Technique!"
A thunderous crash followed as dozens of enormous wooden hands erupted from the ground.
This technique had once captured the mighty Eight-Tails, so containing Kimimaro was no challenge.
In an instant, Kimimaro, who had been confidently swinging his bone whip, was caught. Thick wooden hands coiled around him, rendering him completely immobile.
A swift and decisive defeat!
Kimimaro, who had been brimming with arrogance just moments ago, struggled in frustration.
"Let me go!" he yelled indignantly.
His pride was wounded—just a moment ago, he had been in control, engaging in close combat. But now, with a single use of Wood Style, Morkel had utterly subdued him.
Not far away, Sasuke watched the battle in silence.
Observing Morkel's overwhelming strength, Sasuke realized that even if he trained under Orochimaru for ten years, he might never reach this level.
The fastest way to gain power… might be through Morkel.
Yet, things had already gone too far for him to return to the village.
Morkel knew that Sasuke was watching. That was why he had deliberately displayed his powerful Lightning Style and then finished the battle with Wood Style—to make Sasuke understand that he could learn far more by staying with him than by joining Orochimaru.
Turning to Sasuke, Morkel said, "Don't overthink it. Just come back with me."
"We all understand your desire for power, but do you really think that place will make you stronger?"
Sasuke remained silent.
Morkel continued, "Naruto didn't report what happened last night to the higher-ups in Konoha. If you come back today, everything can go back to the way it was."
Sasuke hesitated, but after a moment, he shook his head.
"Morkel, I have no way back."
He took a deep breath. "I can act as Konoha's spy inside Orochimaru's organization."
Morkel's eyes flickered. He wasn't sure how to respond.
"Come back to the village with us first. If you want to be a spy, you need to report to the Hokage first."
Kimimaro, who had been completely ignored, shouted angrily, "Hey! You guys are underestimating me!"
The next moment, thick bone spurs burst from the ground.
Kimimaro clenched his teeth in agony and yelled:
"Dance of the Ferns!"
Thousands of massive bone spikes erupted, towering like giant trees, transforming the landscape into a grotesque bone forest.
Morkel reacted instantly, using the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport himself and his allies into the sky.
He summoned several eagles, which swiftly carried them away from danger.
From above, Morkel noticed Sasuke's transformation—curse mark wings flapped behind him as he sped toward the Sound Village.
Shikamaru hesitated. "Should we chase him?"
Morkel had a complicated expression. He didn't answer.
Below, a massive bone spike emerged from the ground, carrying Kimimaro with it.
His right arm, encased in spiraling bone, formed a drill-like weapon—his strongest attack, the Eightfold Dance!
No one had ever survived this technique!
As Kimimaro lunged, Morkel's face changed, and an immortal mask appeared over it.
With a flicker, he vanished, dodging Kimimaro's deadly thrust.
Reappearing behind him, Morkel delivered a brutal kick.
"Crack!"
The force shattered Kimimaro's bone support, sending him crashing to the ground.
His eyes, filled with unwillingness, fluttered shut. "Orochimaru-sama… I tried my best…"
Sasuke had already fled.
Morkel knew he could chase him, but there was no point. If Sasuke didn't find his own answers, even if they dragged him back, he would just leave again.
Sighing, Morkel landed, picked up Kimimaro's bone weapons, and dug a grave.
At Konoha's Hokage Office
Tsunade stared at Morkel.
"With your abilities, he shouldn't have been able to escape."
Morkel replied, "He said he wanted to be a spy."
"Do you believe him?" Tsunade pressed.
Morkel fell silent.
Tsunade's voice hardened. "What if he causes harm to other villages? What if he starts the Fourth Ninja War?"
Morkel met her gaze. "Should I go and destroy Orochimaru's lair and bring him back now?"
Tsunade sighed. She knew Morkel was capable, but sending him alone wasn't an option.
In the end, she let him go.
Meanwhile, Itachi and Kisame
Standing atop a hill overlooking Konoha, Itachi spoke softly:
"Sasuke, you have good comrades. But your friend… has been targeted."
A crow flapped its wings, its eyes revealing the unmistakable Mangekyō Sharingan before flying off.
Kisame glanced at Itachi. "The organization has summoned us back."
"Let's go." Itachi lowered his hat, and the two disappeared into the shadows.
A Week Later—Konoha
At Morkel and Naruto's house, a carrier pigeon landed on the windowsill.
Morkel caught it and untied the letter from its leg.
Opening it, he read:
[I arrived safely at the Sound Village. I miss you.]
Morkel showed Naruto, and both chuckled.
Cloud Shinobi Village Delegation
One day, while Morkel was teaching Naruto the Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, a large group of shinobi approached Konoha.
Morkel sensed their chakra. "They're from Cloud. Most of them have lightning-based chakra."
Leading the group was a tall, imposing ninja—Raikage Ai!
Summoned by Tsunade, Morkel entered the conference hall, where the Raikage sized him up.
"This kid mistakenly captured one of our strongest ninjas? Impressive."
But beneath the praise, Morkel sensed hostility.
A Cloud Elder snapped, "He must be punished for harming our relations!"
Tsunade smirked. "Are you serious? Your ninja attacked first."
She slammed the table. "Konoha is no longer a pushover!"
Raikage's face darkened, but Tsunade offered a deal.
"Sign an alliance agreement. And send Killer Bee to train Naruto in jinchūriki control."
Raikage hesitated but agreed.
Later, Morkel grinned at his six million copper coin compensation.
Feeling rich, he considered investing in Ichiraku Ramen—until the owner refused.
Soon after, Tsunade summoned him.
"Time for a new mission!"
Morkel groaned. "I'm rich. Why work?"
Tsunade snapped, "Because you're a ninja!"
Their mission?
Find a missing black-furred ferret.
Morkel sighed.
Life as a ninja was never dull.
More episodes are available on patreon
patreon.com/Atoki_29