The Bones of Hubris

"My specialty... involves flesh... or more specifically the slicing of it. Draw close enough, and I'll be happy to demonstrate. Should anyone wish to experience my technique... by all means, feel free to come this way."

- Mikasa Ackerman At the last moment, Kimimaro ducked underneath the steel blade that whistled through the air above, throwing the shinobi swinging it off balance. Razor sharp bone shards sprouted like wicked weeds from Kimimaro's back and shoulders, as he crouched just within the Kirigakure nin's guard. The shinobi barely had time to consciously register his encroaching doom. His eyes bulged as the a twelve inch blade of steel like bone disemboweled him, severing through skin, viscera, sinew, and spinal column in a single swipe too fast for him to actually witness. His leftovers hit the ground with a thump and blood spurted from the gaping wound in his corpse. Several more shinobi swiftly followed him into the pure world.

Another blade whistled through the air. Kimimaro moved. His speed was blinding. His strikes deadly. But his enemies came in hordes. His heart hammered in his chest and he felt the icy sting of fear. He could not believe the stupidity of the clan leader. Even as a child he could clearly see the lack of aim to this fight. No strategy or goal... simply a ceaseless tsunami of death sweeping across the Village Hidden in the Mist.

''Would he live? Did he even want to continue this existence? What was his purpose here?'' He thought to himself momentarily. But as the blades, exploding tags, and man-made elements howled their displeasure underneath the heavens, his time to spare for introspection dwindled to zero. He shook off his doubts and redoubled his concentration on cutting down his enemies.

Perhaps they had a chance. The clan leader, though not as pure in the blood as Kimimaro himself, had mastered the five dances and possessed the crowning technique of the Kaguya clan.