There could be no delay in the timing of Kimimaro's treatment. Rengoku immediately went to the room Kimimaro and Haku shared and found Haku.
"Kimimaro is about to undergo a very dangerous surgery. We have to make sure he stays conscious and doesn't pass out."
"So, Kimimaro needs you."
What Haku had always longed for was to be acknowledged and needed by someone.
The moment Rengoku said this, Haku's eyes lit up instantly.
"Then let's go, Lord Rengoku!"
———
The two quickly returned to Orochimaru's laboratory.
Orochimaru had already placed Kimimaro in the operating room.
Outside the operating room, Rengoku saw Jugo, who had just had his curse mark extracted and turned into a child.
"Lord Rengoku," When Jugo wasn't berserk, he was actually a quiet and gentle person.
Since Rengoku also used Sage Arts, he naturally sensed that the natural energy in Jugo's body had been almost completely drained.
He smiled at Jugo and patted his shoulder as a greeting.
Among Orochimaru's group of subordinates, only Kabuto and Guren were competent right now.
The others were still too young.
But once Orochimaru finished perfecting his curse mark research, he would have a new batch of core strength.
When Rengoku brought Haku into the operating room, Kimimaro was already lying naked on the operating table.
He was only fourteen, but he was already one meter seventy tall, and since he specialized in taijutsu, his body was lined with streamlined muscle.
"I'm ready on my end."
Orochimaru was already standing in front of Kimimaro, fully prepared.
"You can begin."
Rengoku signaled to Haku with his eyes, and Haku moved to stand beside them.
Rengoku placed his hand on Kimimaro's forehead.
With the mental stimulation, Kimimaro immediately opened his eyes.
His gaze shifted left and right, and besides Rengoku and Orochimaru, he also saw Haku standing near him.
His usually calm eyes softened.
"Haku, why are you here?"
Haku's eyes curved into two crescents as he smiled, "Lord Rengoku said you needed me right now, so I came."
Kimimaro looked at Haku steadily, "Thank you."
Haku shook his head, "Don't thank me, just be safe."
"All right."
Orochimaru began forming hand seals, "I'm going to start inscribing the curse mark on you."
"Your body will show a series of rejection responses, including but not limited to burning, itching, chills, sharp pain…"
"But no matter how uncomfortable your body becomes, you must endure and cannot faint. Do you understand?"
Kimimaro nodded seriously, "I understand, Lord Orochimaru."
After giving his instructions, Orochimaru hooked his fingers toward the container beside him.
A substance like ink floated up out of thin air.
It began rotating around Orochimaru's hand, shifting into various runes, and finally condensing into a black sphere.
With a wave of his hand, the sphere spread like ink and began drawing lines across Kimimaro's body.
Kimimaro trembled, his muscles tightening completely, as a burning sensation like molten lava poured across his body.
Orochimaru observed Kimimaro's condition carefully. Seeing that he could still endure it,
His hands sped up, carving line after line on Kimimaro's body.
When the markings increased, the areas began itching, and it felt like someone was drilling holes into him.
Right now Kimimaro was experiencing something close to being cut apart alive.
He had always been calm and self-controlled, but even he furrowed his brows.
The muscles of his jaw tightened, and his eyes were filled with bloodshot lines.
"Urgh!"
Kimimaro held back from screaming. When he inhaled, only a muffled throat sound came out.
Orochimaru's hands did not stop, but he watched Kimimaro with his peripheral vision.
Seeing the strength of Kimimaro's willpower, he couldn't help but feel some admiration.
"Next, I will inject Sage Chakra to activate these curse marks."
"You must endure," Orochimaru reminded him at this most critical moment.
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru!"
Orochimaru twisted his hand and slammed his palm onto Kimimaro's chest.
All the curse marks glowed red like molten lava and began flowing across Kimimaro's body.
"UGH! AHHH!", Even the strong Kimimaro couldn't help but scream.
Searing waves of pain, as if they were going to burn him to ash, attacked his nerves again and again.
His consciousness started to blur.
Kimimaro's hand slackened, and a pair of small hands grabbed his.
It was Haku, clutching his hand in worry.
Kimimaro's awareness cleared. Seeing Haku's concerned gaze, it felt as if the pain was gradually fading.
His body slowly adapted to the burning sensation of the curse mark.
Orochimaru first raised an eyebrow, then looked at Haku with surprise.
He slowed his flow of Sage Chakra.
As the curse mark solidified on Kimimaro's skin, Orochimaru finally withdrew his hand.
Kimimaro's pain disappeared completely. Though exhausted, a strange new power streamed endlessly from the curse mark.
The weakness in his body was completely suppressed.
Orochimaru straightened and checked the data recorded by the machine beside him.
"For the next month, you must continuously absorb natural energy and mix it with Sage Chakra to strengthen your body."
"Until this evolution of your Shikotsumyaku concludes."
"Now I will teach the two of you Sage Arts."
'The two of them?'
Kimimaro and Haku were confused at the word.
There were only four people here: Rengoku, Orochimaru, Kimimaro, and Haku.
"You and Haku."
Orochimaru stuck out his tongue to wash his own face and looked at Haku with interest, "Haku has talent for absorbing natural energy."
"He is very suited for learning Sage Arts."
Rengoku was slightly surprised and glanced at Haku, 'Haku's Ice Release is already very strong. If he learns Sage Arts too...'
'His future potential would be limitless.'
Rengoku rubbed Haku's hair with an encouraging expression, "Learn Sage Arts well. There will be many times we need you in the future."
Seeing that everyone believed in him, Haku felt a bit embarrassed.
But being needed made him more happy than anything.
"I understand, Lord Rengoku. I will work hard."
Kimimaro was happy for Haku too and showed a faint smile.
After Rengoku and Orochimaru confirmed that Kimimaro was fine, Rengoku instructed the two of them, "For now, both Haku and Kimimaro will stay in the clan. I'll take Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, Karin and the others on a mission."
"I'll tell Gaara."
———
When Rengoku left Orochimaru's lab, Gaara was still waiting outside the hospital.
"Lord Rengoku, how is Kimimaro?"
Seeing Rengoku come out, Gaara hurried over with concern.
As Kimimaro's teammate, he genuinely cared for him.
"He's fine now, but he needs continuous treatment for a month. Haku was found to have talent for Sage Arts, so he'll be training here for a while."
"It would be boring going on missions alone, so come with me."
"This mission will have Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Karin."
Hearing that Rengoku would be leading the team, Gaara was very happy.
"Yes, Lord Rengoku."
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.