Chapter 321 - Cap 299: Floral Storm

Deidara's body slowly began to break down as his soul returned to where it had come from, leaving only the inert body of the person who had served as a sacrifice for Edo Tensei because he could not bear the full burden of the chakra that had been infused into his body.

"At least you don't have to bear this filthy world that is on the brink of chaos anymore..." - Kisame murmured as he looked at the sacrificial corpse, only to shake his head - "I think I'm being too melodramatic... I guess Konoha is still affecting me..."

* * * [Kimimaro vs Kakuzu] * * *

"I never thought that I would face Orochimaru's sick mascot, much less that I would see the result of his research in the field of the Cursed Mark..." - said Kakuzu with neutrality as he watched his opponent - "In fact, if I had known you were still alive, I would have hunted you down so that I could sell you, after all, you are the last member of a famous clan"

"I paid my debt with Orochimaru, I am no longer his attack dog" - said Kimimaro with neutrality - "The Kaguya clan is dead, now I am simply Kimimaro"

"No matter how much you want to hide it, the blood of a cursed clan runs in your veins," answered Kakuzu neutrally. " You may have been saved, but your children will not be so lucky"

Kimimaro was silent for a second before shaking his head - "You may be right, but if that happens, I'll stop them"

"You won't be alive forever, Kaguya boy" - said Kakuzu as he released all his masks - "In fact, you won't live after this day!"

"Tessenka no Mai: Tsuru (Clematis Dance: Branch)" - mumbled Kimimaro as he drew a whip from his spine, although he didn't end there because with his second hand he drew a second whip - "Doburu Tessenka no Mai: Supaiku (Double Clematis Dance: Spike)"

"Not bad, although you only doubled the number of wh.i.p.s, that's all" - said Kakuzu with neutrality - "Now it's my turn! Katon: Zukokku!"

"Doton: Domu!"

"Futon: Atsugai!"

"Raiton: Gian!

"Suiton: Suiruydan no Jutsu!"

Kakuzu threw his big Jutsus range at Kimimaro, only to be surprised to see Kimimaro use one of his wh.i.p.s as a kind of hook against a tree and dodge his attack with great ease - "Ok, I didn't expect that, it's an interesting application, although it's not enough, not when I have all this chakra!"

Kakuzu continued to attack with all the elemental Jutsus he possessed, only to frown in irritation as he watched Kimimaro move through the trees like some kind of spider - "You're annoying, kid"

"I am only putting into practice what Kurama-sama told me," Kimimaro replied as he watched the green-eyed man neutrally.

* * * [Flashback] * * *

"Look Kimimaro, I know you want to become strong, but the path you are choosing is not the best, especially the way your Kekkei Genkai works," said Kurama seriously as he watched the last descendant of the Kaguya clan. "For example, I have learned many techniques during my travels through the Elemental Nations, but I only use a few things... Do you know why?"

Kimimaro only shook his head because he couldn't make sense of it. Having a wide variety to choose from was a huge advantage against his opponents, but the redhead said that was not good, which frankly confused him a bit.

"The answer is simple because it's unnecessary," Kurama replied seriously. "I don't gain anything by throwing dozens of useless Jutsus if I can throw a single Jutsu perfected to the limit instead"

"!" - Kimimaro opened his eyes in realization when he heard this - "Bringing a Jutsu to the border of perfection..."

"Exactly, in my case, I mostly use my variations of Rasengan and the occasional Bijuudama" - answered Kurama with a smile - "The other thing I use is Taijutsu, Kenjutsu among other movements that use my superhuman strength as an advantage, you should do the same"

"I understand Kurama-sama" - Kimimaro nodded as he thought - "But being Jutsus created through my Kekkei Genkai, they are already in their purest and most perfect state..."

"If they are perfect, then you just have to modify them a little, not to mention that you have to train your body more because the stronger your bones are, the more power your techniques will have," responded Kurama seriously.

"Right... I hadn't thought of it that way..." - Kimimaro murmured as he nodded - "Now I have the direction to walk, but not how to get there..."

"As I said before, all you have to do is create new applications for your techniques or modify them slightly to make them different," responded Kurama while lifting a finger. "For example, my Rasengan is a pure chakra control technique, but when I infuse an element, this technique changes in nature and acquires different abilities"

"The other thing you can do is to create different combat methods depending on your techniques, for example, you can use a second spine whip and use it to acquire better mobility" - answered Kurama while he continued with his talk - "Remember, imagination is what limits you nowadays, you just have to keep thinking of new applications for your techniques because you could even mix two techniques to create a new Jutsu".

". . ." - Kimimaro nodded when he heard this because the ginger seemed to be right - "According to what you say, I could use my wh.i.p.s to work as hooks so that I could not only use them to attack, but also to defend myself and dodge..."

"Exactly" - replied Kurama as he nodded.

"I understand" - a mysterious glow appeared in Kimimaro's eyes as he thought of different simple new applications for his techniques, such as reducing the size of his Tessenka no Mai: Hana, to increase speed, he could also reduce the volume and increase the length to increase penetration power, he could even just cover his hands and elbows to create a more aerodynamic version.

"I see you've come up with a solution" - said Kurama when he noticed the change in expression of the last member of the Kaguya clan - "I have to make you remember something though"

"Say, Kurama-sama" - said Kimimaro seriously.

"First, your bones are much heavier than a normal person's, so the less you use, the faster you go," said Kurama seriously. "Second, don't overuse your techniques because that was the origin of your chronic disease, massive calcium deficiency"

"I know, thanks for the reminder, Kurama-sama" - answered Kimimaro with respect - "In fact, I was now thinking of reducing the mass of my Tessenka no Mai: Hana, to acquire more speed".

"You could try to base your new technique on the Getsuga of the Inuzuka clan" - proposed Kurama while he was thinking - "You could even use techniques like the Kage Bunshin to be able to create a greater distraction, there are many ways to improve your attack pattern".

"I understand..." - Kimimaro nodded firmly - "I'll try, Kurama-sama"

"Good luck" - said Kurama as he watched the young man from the Kaguya clan retire.

* * * [End Flashback] * * *

"That's why I'm going to see how effective the techniques I managed to develop thanks to the help of Kurama-sama" - said Kimimaro while creating a clone - "Tessenka no Mai: Denkyu (Dance of the Clematis: Bulb)".

Kimimaro threw his wh.i.p.s to the side when he saw that Kakuzu had stopped after using so many techniques, after all, it didn't matter how much Chakra one possesses, because after throwing Jutsus left and right he will end up with deep mental fatigue due to such simple factors as control, chakra consumption, among other things.

Kimimaro's hands were quickly covered by what looked like two bone spears as the spikes coming out of his body from the activation of his Level 2 Cursed Seal became smaller and thinner, giving him a more aerodynamic figure simultaneously.

"It's time for Round 2" - said Kimimaro as he looked closely at his opponent. His clone quickly appeared behind Kakuzu with a cold aura surrounding his body - "It's time for me to show you one of the four arts that I managed to develop after all my effort and suffering..."

Kimimaro slowly closed his eyes for a few seconds, only to open them suddenly and run against his opponent.

"It won't be that easy to hit me, you brat!" - roared Kakuzu fiercely as he stretched out his body hair to better position his masks - "Elemental Bombardment!"

Kakuzu released all his Jutsus in Kimimaro's direction, only to open his eyes in surprise when he saw him disappear from the scene without a trace - "That speed!"

"That's one of the benefits of my new way of controlling the bones in my body," said Kimimaro as he, like his clone, appeared a few inches from his target - "Lower density, higher speed... but well, let's leave that for another time because now you are about to experience the power of my technique... Tessenka no Mai: Hana no Arashi - Natsu (Dance of the Clematis: Floral Storm - Summer)!"