Kiyohara was looking at them, and they were also looking at Kiyohara.
Yugao wore a cat-like mask, peering at Kiyohara through the eyeholes beneath it.
If one counted carefully, this was already the third time they had formally met.
"Now?"
Kiyohara asked.
He had originally thought that a notice would be sent first, telling them to return later.
No wonder there had been a delay of several days—it turned out that ANBU had personally come to escort them.
Thinking of this, Kiyohara glanced at Rin.
This level of treatment was probably because of her.
The Three-Tails inside her body was now considered classified information, and everyone involved had been required to maintain strict secrecy.
Just like Kushina's existence—at present, only a very small number of people knew that she was Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Most people only knew that she was the last surviving member of the Uzumaki clan and that she lived a very reclusive life.
"We depart in one hour."
The tall ANBU shinobi gave Kiyohara and the others some time to pack their belongings.
"No problem on my end."
Kiyohara looked at Kurenai and Rin.
The two of them quickly expressed that they had no objections either.
Thus, the departure time was set for one hour later.
The tall ANBU shinobi remained at the camp entrance together with Hayate and Yugao, waiting for Kiyohara and the others to come out.
After notifying Ebisu and Kakashi, Kiyohara returned to pack his things.
He strapped on a heavy backpack.
Fortunately, his chakra reserves had increased quite a bit, and his physical endurance had also improved to some extent.
Chakra was a mixture of spiritual energy and physical energy. Those with a large amount of chakra generally also possessed decent "endurance" and "blunt-force resistance."
For example, during the Valley of the End battle, even when Sasuke was completely exhausted, he could still pound a wall with his bare hands and smash out a deep crater.
If that same punch landed on Naruto, it would at most leave some bruises.
If it were an ordinary person, their brains would have been splattered.
However, shinobi were quite weak against sharp weapons—a kunai of ordinary craftsmanship could still pierce their defenses.
'If I'd known, I would've brought more storage scrolls,'
Kiyohara thought to himself.
Many of the items he was carrying were supplies looted from Mist shinobis. Because his storage scrolls were already packed full, he had no choice but to stuff the rest into a backpack.
There was no nearby transit town where he could dispose of them, so he could only carry everything with him.
Fortunately, this wouldn't affect his mobility.
When he arrived at the gate, Kiyohara was relatively early this time.
The last person to arrive was Kakashi.
He said that he had dreamed of Obito last night.
Kiyohara suspected it wasn't really a dream, but rather a resonance between Kakashi's Sharingan and Obito's Sharingan.
As for the exact principle behind it, even Kiyohara didn't know.
Obito had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, and Kakashi's Sharingan had followed suit and awakened as well.
However, due to insufficient chakra, Kakashi's Mangekyō had degenerated back into a three-tomoe Sharingan.
Kakashi himself was currently unaware of this.
...
Konoha, Root headquarters.
"Lord Danzo, according to reliable intelligence, Kiyohara is already on his way back to the village."
A Root shinobi presented the information to Danzo.
Although there were only seventeen official members, relying on a massive number of auxiliary personnel, Danzo still possessed his own intelligence network.
Otherwise, with just seventeen people, there would have been no way to cover up all the experiments he and Orochimaru had conducted.
"This brat… to think that what flows in his body is naturally evil blood…"
Danzo narrowed his eyes.
At first, he had wanted to pull Kiyohara over to his side.
The more he heard about Kiyohara's outstanding performance, the more eager he became—thirsty for talent, desperate for a capable subordinate.
He had wanted to guide out the darkness in Kiyohara's heart and turn him into one of his men.
Who would have thought that this guy would suddenly flip things around—he was black paper from the very start.
"No… whether this brat will truly stand on the Uchiha's side is still uncertain…"
Danzo stroked his chin.
He disliked the Uchiha, but he wouldn't mind having one more Uchiha subordinate.
On the contrary, this kind of bloodline-limited subordinate was exactly what he lacked.
At present, his most capable subordinates were still shinobi from the Aburame and Yamanaka clans.
As long as he subjected Kiyohara to Root's brainwashing and implanted a curse mark, there was no guarantee that he couldn't be used.
"Send someone from the Yamanaka clan…"
Danzo had an idea.
Now was the best opportunity. Once Kiyohara was pulled in by Hiruzen or accepted by the Uchiha clan, it would become much harder to make a move.
...
Several days passed.
The main gate of Konoha.
Morning sunlight filtered through the towering walls as Kiyohara's group passed through the massive gates under the escort of ANBU shinobi.
The entire journey was very quiet.
The ANBU shinobi didn't speak, and Kiyohara and the others also remained silent.
Kurenai would occasionally sneak glances at Kiyohara, eager to return and continue training with him.
Whenever she was with Kiyohara, Kurenai always felt that time passed especially quickly.
Rin, on the other hand, kept her head lowered, her hands unconsciously clasped together.
Although the Three-Tails within her had been temporarily suppressed, that strange sensation of chakra still lingered, like a time bomb buried deep in her heart.
After entering the village, the ANBU split into two groups.
"Rin Nohara, please come with us. The Hokage has arranged for you to go directly to see Lady Kushina."
The tall ANBU captain said.
His voice, muffled by the mask, sounded somewhat dull.
Rin looked at Kiyohara and Kurenai, a trace of unease flashing through her eyes.
"Go,"
Kiyohara nodded at her.
"Lady Kushina's sealing techniques are very strong. You'll be fine."
Kiyohara said.
Kushina wasn't difficult to get along with, and with her personally handling it, Rin's situation should stabilize.
Moreover, the Three-Tails wasn't nearly as troublesome as the Nine-Tails, and the sealing requirements would be much lower.
Rin bit her lip, glanced at Kiyohara, subconsciously touched the bracelet in her hand, and finally followed the two ANBU away.
The remaining two ANBU, Yugao and Hayate, led Kiyohara and the others toward the Hokage Tower.
"Please follow me,"
Yugao said.
She was about half a head shorter than Kiyohara, with a slender build, but her posture was straight and crisp, carrying the distinctive sharpness of ANBU.
Hayate followed silently at the side, coughing lightly from time to time.
The Hokage Tower stood at the center of the village. The three of them passed through long corridors, climbed the stairs, and finally stopped in front of a wooden door.
"The Hokage is waiting for you inside."
Yugao pushed the door open and gestured for Kiyohara to enter.
Kiyohara stepped into the room.
The Hokage's office was spacious and bright. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the entire view of Konoha could be seen.
Hiruzen sat behind the large desk, a pipe in hand, and happened to look up at Kiyohara and the others.
"Hokage-sama."
Kiyohara greeted.
"Sit."
Hiruzen pointed to the chairs opposite him.
He set down his pipe and carefully examined the young man before him.
Kiyohara had grown a little taller compared to a few months ago, his shoulders broader. Though there was still youthful immaturity on his face, his eyes were already far steadier than someone his age should be.
Most importantly, Hiruzen could sense that the chakra within Kiyohara's body was far more abundant than what the reports had described.
"I've already learned in detail about what happened at the Land of Grass border,"
Hiruzen spoke slowly.
"You did very well, not only protecting your companions, but also foiling Kirigakure's plot. Well done."
After offering some words of praise and making arrangements for follow-up matters, Hiruzen gave them several days off and dismissed them.
In the end, only Kiyohara was left behind.
Kiyohara knew that Hiruzen was about to ask about the Sharingan.
Hiruzen looked at Kiyohara, this young shinobi.
Generally speaking, Uchiha shinobi awakened their eyes due to the pain of imminent loss of a companion.
In Kiyohara's case, it was probably because of Rin.
That was understandable. Tailed beasts were mysterious existences to most shinobi, shrouded in ignorance.
Hiruzen believed that Kiyohara had mistaken Rin for having been transformed into a monster, and in his emotional agitation, had awakened the Sharingan.
"Kiyohara, you contributed the most this time, and you're the shinobi most deserving of praise,"
Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke.
He rarely parted with his pipe, and the Hokage's office gradually filled with the scent of secondhand smoke.
"Hokage-sama, I merely bore more responsibility because I was able to. I believe that everyone's desire to protect their companions is the same."
"I still remember when Hokage-sama came to give a speech at the Shinobi Academy. Back then, you spoke of 'the Fire.' Now, I finally understand it. That so-called 'fire is the resolve to protect one's companions in the village. Wherever the leaves of Konoha dance, the Will of Fire burns on, unceasing and eternal."
Kiyohara spoke up.
Figures like the Hokage, would also, from time to time, go to the Shinobi Academy to observe the new students. After all, it was important that everyone learned from a young age under whose light they were growing, and beneath whose radiance they were nurtured.
Listening to Kiyohara's words, a trace of approval flashed through Hiruzen's eyes.
He had not expected Kiyohara to grasp the Will of Fire so deeply.
These words were something even his own son, Asuma, might not necessarily be able to articulate so thoroughly. That rebellious brat still did not truly understand what it meant to be a shinobi, nor what the Will of Fire really was.
If Asuma had even half of Kiyohara's insight, then as an old father, Hiruzen could finally put his mind at ease.
"Well said, Kiyohara."
Hiruzen stood up, took a scroll from a drawer, walked over to Kiyohara, patted him on the shoulder, and then handed him the scroll.
"As a reward for your outstanding performance this time, take this. It's a B-rank Lightning Release ninjutsu called 'Lightning Release: Thunder Crash.' Its power is formidable, and it's difficult to master, but with your talent, you should be able to learn it."
Kiyohara accepted the scroll, on which a yellow lightning character was inscribed.
He remembered this technique—it was one of Hiruzen's signature jutsu. Although classified as B-rank, in reality it was already very close to an A-rank technique.
TN: I had no idea what this is.
That was because this Lightning Release ninjutsu differed from most others. Instead of following the meridian pathways of the hands, it was released from the mouth, much like a Fire Release technique, expelling a bolt of lightning directly.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Kiyohara smiled.
The Hokage was pleased with his understanding of the Will of Fire, and he himself was pleased with the reward.
Everyone had a bright future ahead of them.
"Go back and rest well. Don't slack off in your training either."
"The future of Konoha depends on young people like you."
After saluting, Kiyohara left the office.
The moment the door closed, the smile on Hiruzen's face gradually faded.
It seemed that the environment truly had a tremendous influence on a person.
Kiyohara, who had never received guidance from the Uchiha clan, had instead fully absorbed Konoha's Will of Fire.
Moreover, his elders had all died in battle for Konoha as civilian heroes. Raised in such an environment, it would be difficult for Kiyohara to develop the same aloofness and stubborn extremism characteristic of the Uchiha clan.
Hiruzen lit a fresh tobacco, placed it into his pipe, and took a deep drag.
...
By the time Kiyohara left the Hokage Tower, dusk had already fallen.
He walked along the main road toward his home, gripping the scroll that recorded "Lightning Release: Thunder Crash" in his hand.
There weren't many pedestrians on the street.
Kiyohara's home was relatively remote, located on the outskirts of the village, so the farther he went, the fewer people there were.
When the streetlights along the roadside lit up, casting dim halos of light into the darkness, it signaled the arrival of night.
Just as he turned a street corner, four figures blocked his path.
"You are Kiyohara, right? Lord Danzo requests your presence."
The speaker was Root shinobi, wearing a mask and a tight combat outfit.
A simple monkey pattern was painted on his mask.
His voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.
Kiyohara frowned slightly.
He observed the others and noticed that their masks bore the patterns of a snake, an ox, and a horse respectively.
Danzo's people?
Was it because this place was too remote, allowing them to confirm there were no bystanders nearby? Or had they set up some kind of barrier here to prevent others from noticing, before coming after him?
"Danzo? I don't know who that is."
Kiyohara feigned ignorance.
In truth, ANBU itself was already classified information.
As for Root, its existence was even more secretive.
Some shinobi didn't even know Root existed at all.
As the leader of Root, Danzo was naturally like a root himself—deeply buried underground, unknown to the public.
"Hmph, it's normal that you don't know Lord Danzo."
The one wearing the snake mask, Snake, spoke up.
"Lord Danzo is one of Konoha's high-ranking officials. We belong to a major division under ANBU."
Horse added.
"Lord Danzo requests your presence."
Ox repeated emotionlessly.
"I don't know any Danzo. If you want to see me, bring an official order from the Hokage. Otherwise, I will regard this as espionage."
Kiyohara's expression turned cold.
Going to see Danzo?
What a joke.
Was he supposed to wait to have one of Danzo's curse marks branded beneath his tongue?
How was that any different from being branded with a slave seal?
One had to remember that Danzo had dared to attack Shisui, someone who possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan on the spot and steal his eyes.
He had not cared in the slightest about the Uchiha clan's reaction, nor the consequences that would follow.
He was someone who acted first and reported later.
Kiyohara had no intention of testing that risk.
"How dare you call Lord Danzo a spy?"
Horse's tone carried a hint of anger.
For these Root shinobi, Lord Danzo was already a godlike figure.
Seeing someone dare to slander him naturally ignited their fury.
At the same time, that anger came quickly—and faded just as fast.
He regained his composure.
After undergoing the "eradication of self" training, their emotions were dulled.
What remained in their hearts was absolute obedience to Danzo's orders.
"Lord Danzo's command must be carried out immediately."
Horse stepped forward, reaching for Kiyohara's shoulder.
Kiyohara sidestepped and avoided it.
"I've already said it. Without an order from the Hokage, your actions are espionage."
Kiyohara silently refined his chakra, ready to strike at any moment.
He did not take these four people seriously at all.
They were nothing more than a group of cowards hiding in the shadows.
And Danzo wouldn't truly dare to stir up a major incident inside the village.
That man, just like his Root organization, only liked to operate in darkness.
"Then you leave us no choice."
The four Root shinobi moved simultaneously.
Their coordination was extremely precise, two blocked Kiyohara's retreat, one attacked from the front, while another rapidly formed hand seals.
Mind Body Switch Technique!
That was a secret art of the Yamanaka clan, capable of invading another person's mind.
Kiyohara's Sharingan activated instantly.
In the crimson field of vision, everything slowed down.
He saw the flow of chakra within the Yamanaka shinobi's body, saw the traces of chakra gathering in his hands.
The next instant, Kiyohara's figure vanished from where he stood.
The Yamanaka clan's secret techniques were indeed troublesome, but if they couldn't hit the target, they were utterly meaningless.
With the dynamic vision of the Sharingan enhancing him, the repulsive force Kiyohara could apply could also be stacked to higher levels.
Whoosh!
The jutsu released by Horse struck his own companion directly.
They had not anticipated Kiyohara's speed to be this fast.
Just as he adjusted his hand seals, preparing to re-aim at Kiyohara's shadow, Kiyohara's large hand had already descended over his head.
"I gave you a chance, and you still couldn't make use of it."
Bang!
With a single palm strike, a crisp explosion echoed through the air at close range.
Horse's head disappeared.
It wasn't blown apart or knocked flying.
It was smashed straight down from his neck into his chest!
Yet Kiyohara had exquisitely avoided all the vital points, leaving him barely alive.
As for whether he would end up a vegetable or permanently paralyzed afterward—that was Horse's own problem.
Kiyohara never showed mercy to those who dared to attack him.
"How dare you!"
The remaining Ox, Snake, and Monkey couldn't help but feel their suppressed emotions surge.
This Kiyohara was simply too audacious.
It was true that very few shinobi even knew of Lord Danzo's existence, usually only clan heads or powerful jōnin were aware.
But in past missions, even those who didn't know would still cooperate obediently.
Where had there ever been someone like Kiyohara, who attacked without a word of hesitation and crippled a man with a single palm?
He clearly had no regard for Root at all.
This was blasphemy against the revered Lord Danzo!
"Secret technique—"
Just as Ox was about to unleash some kind of secret art, Kiyohara's body vanished once more, and he drew the shinobi blade at his waist.
Clang!
A layer of chakra flowed over the blade. That enchanted chakra was the sharp, cutting current of wind.
Half-transparent, flowing and howling, difficult to discern!
Wind Release was the most commonly paired nature with swordsmanship, its usage rate even surpassing that of Lightning Release combined with sword techniques.
Kiyohara's current mastery of Wind Release was already extraordinary.
Before Ox could even complete his first hand seal, both of his hands were severed, still maintaining the hand-seal posture as they drifted through the air.
Squelch!
Blood sprayed everywhere.
The remaining two Root shinobi finally managed to complete their hand seals amid the chaos.
"Damn it, this kid is too fast. Use a wide-area jutsu and suppress him with me!"
Snake shouted to his remaining companion.
He knew very well—this kind of speed was something neither he nor Monkey could catch up to.
The best way to deal with speed-type shinobi was firepower suppression.
Force them to keep their distance, and prevent close combat altogether.
"Got it!"
At the critical moment, Monkey chose the same approach as his companion.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
In an instant, a violent gale burst forth from Snake's mouth.
Because the chakra was gathered outside the oral cavity through the gaps in the mask, even as the gale roared outward, his mask remained firmly in place on his face.
(End of Chapter)