Shine's figure had already appeared behind him, a faint glow of Chakra condensing at his fingertips as he struck the man's carotid artery with precision.
The Anbu member's body went limp and fell to the ground, dragged into the shadows by Shine in one smooth motion. The entire process took less than two breaths, and even the mist didn't stir in the slightest.
On the other side, Qi and Genki's movements were just as clean and efficient.
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan in both their eyes lit up simultaneously, and a pale red Genjutsu screen spread out like a spiderweb, silently enveloping the other two Anbu members.
The two Anbu members only felt the scene before them flicker. The original stone wall suddenly transformed into a clawing Yao Beast. Just as they were about to draw their blades to counterattack, their necks were already gripped by cold palms.
With two soft 'cracks' and the precise impact of Chakra against their Acupoints, the two Anbu members instantly lost consciousness. Genki and Qi dragged them to a hidden spot like dead dogs to hide them away.
Having dealt with the hidden sentries on the perimeter, Shine raised his hands to form a Seal. With a soft 'poof' sound, his form instantly shifted—he had actually transformed into the likeness of the Anbu member he just knocked out, even his aura mimicked perfectly.
Qi and Genki followed suit, transforming into the shapes of the other two Anbu members. The three of them then walked side-by-side toward the gate of the Kaguya Clan Compound.
The Kaguya Clan Members guarding the gate indeed suspected nothing.
At this moment, the Kaguya Clan was no longer as glorious as it once was. Under the blood mist policy, they lived as if walking on thin ice, surviving only by compromising with the Hidden Mist high-ranking officials.
They had long grown accustomed to the 'inspections' of the Hidden Mist Anbu, submissively opening the gate with numb expressions, not even daring to cast an extra glance.
They never imagined that the Hidden Mist Anbu's surveillance, intended as 'protection,' would become the perfect cover for enemies to blend in—who would have expected someone to dare to disguise themselves and infiltrate the heart of the Clan Compound right under the Anbu's nose?
The three of them strode openly through the compound, their black Anbu uniforms serving as the best pass.
Along the way, the Kaguya Clan Members moved out of their way, their eyes filled with fear and humiliation, exactly like the Kekkei Genkai Clan members they had seen outside the village earlier.
Shine's gaze swept over these numb faces, the coldness in his eyes deepening—such a Family had long lost its spirit. It was no wonder they would imprison a Genius like Kimimaro to use as a bargaining chip to please the Hidden Mist.
According to the intelligence, Kimimaro was being held in a dungeon deep within the Clan Compound.
It was a stone prison built into the mountain. Two Kaguya Clan guards stood at the entrance, swords at their waists, their eyes warily watching anyone who passed by.
Shine's group of three walked straight up. Before the guards could even open their mouths to question them, Qi and Genki's Three-Tomoe Sharingan lit up once again.
"You..." The guards had just spat out two words when their eyes instantly glazed over. Their bodies slumped against the stone wall as they fell into a deep sleep created by the Genjutsu.
Shine raised his hand and pushed open the heavy stone door. A damp, cold air rushed toward them, mixed with a faint smell of mold and blood. The light inside the dungeon was dim, with only the fluorite on the walls emitting a weak glow to illuminate the long corridor.
The three of them moved along the corridor. Most of the cells along the way were empty, with only a few holding Kaguya Clan Members who had resisted the Hidden Mist. They curled up in the corners with hollow eyes, and even when they saw the 'Anbu' passing by, they only numbly looked away.
Shine did not stop, his footsteps continuing toward the deepest part of the dungeon—that was his target.
Finally, at the end of the corridor, a single cell appeared before them.
The stone walls of this cell were much thicker than the others, and a simple Sealing Technique was carved onto the door, clearly intended to prevent the person inside from escaping.
Shine raised his hand to undo the Seal and pushed open the cell door. The sight that met his eyes made him startle slightly.
In the corner of the cell, a small figure was squatting on the ground, hugging his knees.
It was a child of about four years old, wearing a thin prisoner's outfit. Although the clothes were stained with some dirt, they still couldn't hide his delicate features.
His hair was a pale silver-white, and his skin was so fair it was almost transparent. His long eyelashes drooped, concealing the emotions in his eyes.
Even in such a dark and damp dungeon, he still emitted faint Chakra fluctuations. Those fluctuations were condensed and pure, carrying the unique Yang Release aura of the Shikotsumyaku, even more powerful than described in the intelligence.
Hearing the sound of the cell door opening, the child slowly raised his head.
A pair of dark red eyes met Shine's gaze. There was no innocence typical of a child his age in those eyes, only a wariness and coldness that didn't match his years, like a young beast abandoned in the wilderness, ready to resist any approaching threat at any moment.
His fingers were slightly curled, and there were still some stone chips under his fingernails. He had clearly tried to dig through the stone wall to escape.
This was Kimimaro. A satisfied smile slowly curved onto Shine's lips.
Awakening the Shikotsumyaku at age four, with strength close to a Chunin, and still maintaining his innate resilience and talent even while imprisoned in a dungeon—such a rare talent indeed did not disappoint him.
Kimimaro warily stared at the three 'Anbu' before him, his body tensing slightly as a trace of imperceptible killing intent flashed in his dark red eyes.
He had been in this dungeon for too long and was well-acquainted with the cruelty of the Hidden Mist Anbu. He knew these people would never come to see him for no reason. What awaited him was either even harsher training or the fate of being used as an experimental subject.
Seeing the boy's tense little body, Shine slowly released his Transformation Technique, revealing his original appearance.
The crimson Mangekyo Sharingan flickered with light in the dim dungeon, but it didn't release any malice; instead, it held a hint of appreciation.
"Kimimaro?" he spoke, his voice softening slightly as he tried not to appear too overbearing. "I am here to take you away."
Kimimaro's body suddenly stiffened. A flash of bewilderment crossed his dark red eyes, which was then replaced by even deeper suspicion.
He didn't speak, but just stared intently at Shine, as if trying to judge whether this stranger's words were true or false.
In his understanding, besides his own clan, no one would be willing to take him out of this cage. And his clan had already turned him into a tool to please the Hidden Mist.
Shine was in no hurry to explain, simply watching him quietly.
He knew that for a child like Kimimaro, excessive verbal persuasion was meaningless; only actual action could win his trust.
He turned and signaled to Qi and Genki, who immediately guarded the cell door, staying alert for any movement outside.
As for Shine himself, he slowly crouched down to eye level with Kimimaro. The crimson in his Mangekyo gradually faded, returning to black pupils. His tone was calm but carried an unquestionable power: "This is no place for you. Come with me. I can make you stronger, and I can let you control your own destiny, so you are no longer treated as a tool."
Advance chapter available on pãtrêon Got1808