The next day.
In the backyard of Tsunade's house.
Kiyohara formed hand seals with both hands, a large amount of fire nature chakra gathering within his chest.
Boom!
At last, all of that fire nature chakra burst forth from Kiyohara's mouth, rapidly condensing like flowing water into the shape of a fireball.
This fireball was only about four meters in size, the result of Kiyohara deliberately controlling the amount of chakra output.
The fireball rose into the air, its orange red flames flickering unstably, radiating an intense heat that distorted the surrounding air.
Kiyohara could make it larger, even expand it to dozens of meters, turning it into something like a torrent of flames.
But there was no need.
The power of the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique mainly depended on the amount of chakra invested.
The more chakra poured in, the larger the fireball and the higher its temperature.
However, there was an obvious bottleneck. The total amount of chakra in the human body was limited, and simply stacking quantity resulted in poor efficiency.
The reason Madara's Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation was so terrifying was not just because of its massive scale, but also because his understanding of fire chakra nature transformation had reached an extreme level, allowing every portion of chakra to unleash its maximum efficiency.
Even so, that technique was still only classified as a B rank ninjutsu.
Later on, Madara did not continue relying on fire release.
When Sasuke and Naruto fought at the Valley of the End, the fire release they used had also been enhanced with the chakra granted by the Sage of Six Paths.
At that level, even Amaterasu could only serve as a feint.
Otherwise, one would continue shaping it, turning it into something like the Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique, molding the flames into the shape of a dragon.
This represented the two main development paths of fire release ninjutsu: nature transformation and form transformation.
In fact, it was not limited to fire release. Lightning release, wind release, earth release, and others followed similar patterns.
Fire release was simply more distinctive.
At its core, fire was a form of plasma.
Fire nature chakra could replicate this state, which was why it was called fire release, what shinobi referred to as nature transformation.
"Temperature…"
Kiyohara murmured softly.
"The core of a flame's power is temperature. If I can break through the upper limit of temperature, then even if the fireball's size remains the same, its destructive power will increase drastically."
So how could temperature be increased?
The traditional method relied on more precise chakra control to improve the "purity" of fire nature chakra.
But that required long periods of training and innate talent.
Kiyohara thought of another method, microwave heating.
Microwaves generate heat by causing the molecules within a substance to vibrate and rub violently against each other, making heating efficiency far superior to traditional conduction.
If a similar principle could be applied to fire release…
Magnet Release.
The gourd at Kiyohara's waist trembled slightly.
Fine black iron sand drifted out from the mouth of the gourd, not forming into a solid mass, but dispersing into countless microscopic particles invisible to the naked eye, evenly spreading through the air around the fireball.
They arranged themselves into certain specific shapes, resembling coils.
In the next moment, magnet release chakra acted as a catalyst, controlling changes in the magnetic field to influence the fireball.
The principle was similar to the magnetron inside a microwave oven.
The fireball began to change.
The originally orange red flames gradually shifted toward a bright yellow.
At the edges of the flames, a faint and almost imperceptible blue halo appeared.
If a thermometer had been placed nearby, its needle would have shot upward wildly.
Sweat began to bead on Kiyohara's forehead.
Maintaining both the fire release form and the magnetic field of magnet release simultaneously demanded extremely high chakra control.
Gradually, the color of the flames turned completely into a blazing white.
At that moment, a semi transparent figure appeared in the corner of the training room.
The spirit form of Anbu Kiyohara stood there with arms crossed, leaning against the wall, watching the scene with great interest.
"A composite ninjutsu using magnet release and fire release? Not a bad idea, but the risk is high."
Anbu Kiyohara commented.
"I know."
Kiyohara nodded.
The Anbu Kiyohara drifted closer and carefully observed the interior of the fireball.
"The chakra output required to maintain this technique is enough to release five ordinary Great Fireballs."
"The chakra issue… can be optimized later…"
Kiyohara could feel his chakra being consumed rapidly, and even the molecules in the surrounding air were beginning to react.
Finally, Kiyohara exhaled forward, launching the blazing white fireball toward the specially prepared target area in the corner of the training room.
There, he had set up earth release mannequins in advance.
Boom!
In an instant, the fireball exploded, forming a circular shockwave.
The reinforced stone floor was blasted into a scorched crater more than ten meters wide, with smoke rising from it.
Kiyohara stood in place, his clothes fluttering from the heat, as his Sharingan slowly returned to normal.
The spirit form of Anbu Kiyohara floated to the edge of the crater and looked down.
"The surface rock was directly vaporized, and the melting depth reaches one meter. This level of power already matches that of an A rank ninjutsu."
Anbu Kiyohara nodded.
Kiyohara had essentially developed a new ninjutsu.
However, without a bloodline limit, it would be impossible to replicate his method.
Moreover, both chakra reserves and control were indispensable.
"But the preparation time is too long, and the chakra consumption is too high. Its practical value in combat is limited."
"It is only the first attempt."
Kiyohara wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"It can be optimized later. Shorten the startup time, reduce chakra consumption, and it will become viable for real combat."
"Have you thought of a name?"
Anbu Kiyohara asked.
Kiyohara pondered for a moment.
"How about Fire Release: Microwave Bullet?"
"Call it whatever you want."
Anbu Kiyohara shrugged.
"But I should remind you, a high precision composite ninjutsu like this, once it goes out of control in battle, the first one it might injure is you."
"I know."
Kiyohara walked to the edge of the crater, crouched down, and lightly touched the surface of the molten rock with his fingers.
A burning sensation came from his fingertips, though his hardened skin barely managed to endure it.
After that, Kiyohara began cleaning up the traces.
Overall, he was quite satisfied with this technique.
With a few days of optimization, it should be ready for actual battlefield use.
This move would be quite effective for clearing out minor enemies or countering water release techniques.
Moreover, the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique was only one carrier. Kiyohara could also try applying it to the Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique.
After tidying up most of the traces, Kiyohara glanced at the sky.
It was time to cook.
He turned and left.
Half an hour later.
The aroma of food drifted out from the kitchen on the first floor.
Kiyohara stood by the stove, wearing a dark blue apron.
Just as the last plate of tempura was finished, the sound of footsteps came from the stairs.
They were slow and dragging, clearly belonging to someone who had not fully woken up.
Tsunade appeared at the top of the stairs.
She was wearing a light purple silk nightgown. The design was quite loose, the neckline slightly low, revealing her delicate collarbone and a hint of fair skin.
The length of the nightgown only reached mid thigh, faintly revealing more as she walked.
Her long blonde hair was messy and fluffy, with a few strands sticking to her cheeks.
Her eyes were half closed. One hand held onto the stair railing while the other rubbed her temple, clearly showing that she had drunk quite a lot the previous night.
"Kiyohara… do you have any hangover medicine…"
Her voice was hoarse from the hangover as she staggered toward the dining table.
Kiyohara turned around with a bowl of miso soup in hand, just in time to see this scene.
From the first floor, he could directly see Tsunade on the staircase.
Because the staircase was wooden and hollow, with wooden railings.
Kiyohara had once wondered whether Senju Hashirama had used wood release when building the Senju clan's homes in Konoha, which was why their residences commonly used wooden structures.
But clearly, that was not the focus right now. When Kiyohara raised his head, he could see certain things.
Pink.
He had not expected Tsunade to still have such a playful side. There was even a small pink pig pattern on the waistband.
Kiyohara remembered that in the databook, there was an explanation about Tonton, that it was a pet pig raised by Tsunade, which showed that she really liked pigs.
Then, Kiyohara turned off his "auto targeting" and placed the soup bowl on the table.
At the same time, he silently evaluated that his teacher's figure was indeed excellent.
"The hangover medicine is in the second layer of the cabinet."
Kiyohara said.
"Ah, forget it, too troublesome. I will just use the Yin Seal."
Tsunade muttered groggily as she walked to the chair and plopped down heavily.
A faint purple glow lit up the diamond shaped mark on her forehead.
Chakra surged out from the mark, flowing through her meridian system.
The speed of alcohol metabolism was forcibly accelerated. The flush on Tsunade's face faded at a visible rate, and her hazy eyes quickly became clear again.
"Ah… I am alive again…"
She let out a long breath and leaned back against the chair.
Footsteps sounded again from the stairs, this time light and brisk.
Shizune came down carrying Tonton.
The little pink pig snorted softly in her arms, its black bead like eyes fixed on the food on the table.
"It smells so good! What did you cook today, Kiyohara-kun?"
Shizune's eyes lit up.
Hearing this, Tsunade turned her head and glanced at Shizune, who was slowly walking down the stairs.
From that angle, she suddenly realized something.
Only then did she finally notice the issue with what she was wearing.
She felt a bit embarrassed, though inwardly she muttered that the brat Kiyohara probably had not seen anything.
But then again, at least she was wearing something today. In the past, when she got drunk, she often wore nothing but a nightgown.
Thinking of this, she felt a little relieved.
"Just regular dishes."
Kiyohara handed her the last bowl of rice.
"I prepared something for Tonton too."
He brought out a small plate from the kitchen, filled with a specially made mix of vegetable puree and grains.
Tonton excitedly jumped down from Shizune's arms and rushed over to the plate, snorting as it began to eat.
The three of them, along with the pig, began their meal.
The dining table was quiet, with only the soft clinking of utensils. After taking a few bites, Tsunade suddenly spoke.
"Kiyohara, I heard about what happened yesterday."
Kiyohara looked up.
"The Hokage told you?"
"Mm."
Tsunade picked up a piece of tempura.
"The old man came to me personally and said that my disciple wiped out the enemy's base all by himself."
Kiyohara set down his chopsticks.
"Sensei, I…"
He guessed that Tsunade was going to say that going alone had been too reckless.
"I am not blaming you."
Tsunade interrupted him and took a bite of the tempura, the crisp sound particularly clear in the quiet dining room.
"There are things you do not understand. The village has a darker side too."
Tsunade was clearly referring to Shimura Danzo.
Back then, the entire village had gone through a period of fanaticism.
They had tried to recreate the Wood Release power of her grandfather, Senju Hashirama, with wave after wave of volunteers participating in human experiments.
Although it had eventually been stopped and such research officially prohibited, Tsunade still felt conflicted about it.
She suspected that the base Kiyohara had destroyed was secretly run by that old schemer Danzo.
However, without evidence, there was nothing she could do.
All Tsunade could hope was that Kiyohara would not attract the attention of those with ulterior motives.
Kiyohara looked at Tsunade in slight surprise.
"What? Did you think I would scold you for being impulsive?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"Kiyohara, I accepted you as my disciple partly because of the old man, but since you have become my student, I will take responsibility for you."
Tsunade said seriously.
"I understand, Sensei."
Kiyohara nodded.
Come to think of it, each of the Three Legendary Sannin might have their own flaws.
But when it came to their disciples, all three of them were undeniably excellent teachers.
"Good."
Tsunade took another sip of miso soup.
"That said, your strength has been improving at an astonishing rate. Looks like you train every single day."
There was a hint of admiration in her voice.
Even among shinobi, not everyone could maintain daily training.
"It is nothing special."
Kiyohara nodded.
Tsunade did not continue the topic and instead turned to Shizune.
"Shizune, you have a shift at the hospital this afternoon, right? Keep an eye on the patient in room three for me. Record his postoperative recovery in detail."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade!"
Shizune nodded.
The meal ended in a relatively relaxed atmosphere.
After eating, Tsunade went upstairs to change clothes, Shizune stayed behind to clean the dishes, and Kiyohara put on his coat, preparing to head out.
"Kiyohara-kun, are you going to train?"
Shizune asked while washing the dishes.
"Mm, I am heading to Training Ground Three."
"Be careful on the way."
Kiyohara nodded, pushed open the door, and left.
Konoha had already entered early summer, and the temperature was pleasant.
There were not many people on the streets. At this time of day, most shinobi were either out on missions or taking a midday rest.
Kiyohara followed a familiar route toward Training Ground Three.
He was not walking quickly, his thoughts still lingering on the ninjutsu from the morning.
"Kiyohara?"
A clear voice called out from the side.
Kiyohara turned his head and saw Kurenai walking out from a small alley.
She was wearing casual shinobi attire today. Her long black wavy hair was tied into a high ponytail, making her look neat and capable.
A faint smile rested on her delicate face, and in her hand she held a skewer of three colored dango.
"Kurenai, good afternoon."
Kiyohara stopped.
"Good afternoon!"
Kurenai quickly walked over and naturally took a place beside him, the two continuing forward shoulder to shoulder.
However, when she thought about the birthday gift Kiyohara had given her last time, her expression became slightly unnatural.
A hint of shyness crept in.
She then took the initiative to start a conversation.
"Are you going to the training ground?"
"Mm, going to train."
"Me too!"
Kurenai took a bite of the dango, and a bit of sauce from the glutinous rice ball stuck to the corner of her lips.
"I am going to practice genjutsu. Oh, right, Kiyohara, have you had lunch? Do you want to try this? I just bought it, it is still warm."
She held the skewer out in front of him.
Three colored dango.
Pink, white, and green, neatly lined up on a bamboo stick, coated with a layer of sweet sauce that gave off a sugary fragrance.
Kiyohara looked at the dango, and a certain image suddenly flashed through his mind.
Mitarashi Anko in the future, Anko in her thirties, was practically a completely different person compared to her younger self.
The contrast was extreme.
He subconsciously glanced at Kurenai.
The girl's figure was slender and well proportioned, her waist delicate, her legs straight and long.
At present, the word "fat" had absolutely nothing to do with her.
But every time Kiyohara saw Kurenai eating sweets, he could not help but think of this issue.
But what about the future?
If she also became obsessed with sweets like Anko…
"Kiyohara?"
Kurenai tilted her head.
"What is wrong? Do you not like dango?"
"No, it is just…"
Kiyohara took the skewer and bit into the pink one.
"I suddenly thought of Anko."
"Anko-senpai?"
Kurenai blinked.
"What about her?"
Kiyohara handed the skewer back to her, watching as she took a bite of the second one, and said slowly,
"Anko really likes sweets, especially dango. I was just thinking, if you also eat like this every day, then maybe…"
He deliberately paused for a moment.
Kurenai's chewing motion froze. She widened her eyes and looked at Kiyohara.
"Turn into what?"
"Turn into Yuhi Sweet Potato."
Kiyohara said it with a completely serious expression.
The air fell silent for two seconds.
Then Kurenai's cheeks flushed red at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"Kiyohara!"
Her small face puffed up in anger, her crimson eyes glaring at him, and even her ponytail swayed slightly from agitation.
"W-what do you mean by that? How could I possibly get fat? I train every single day!"
As if to prove her point, she waved her arms forcefully.
"And my taijutsu has improved a lot recently, and ninjutsu training consumes a lot of stamina too!"
Looking at her flustered and indignant appearance, Kiyohara could not help but laugh.
"I was joking. Kurenai, your figure is very good. You will not get fat."
"That is more like it…"
Kurenai muttered softly, but she still looked down at herself with a bit of concern, pinching the side of her waist.
"I really have not gained weight, right?"
"No."
Kiyohara examined her seriously.
"On the contrary, it feels like your muscle definition has become more obvious. If you keep training regularly, you might even develop abs."
"A-abs?!"
Kurenai's face turned even redder.
"How could a girl have abs? That would be too…"
She stopped halfway through her sentence, suddenly recalling something, and her voice gradually became quieter.
Actually, it was not uncommon for female shinobi to have abdominal muscles.
She had seen some before, faintly visible lines that were the result of long term high intensity training.
But Kurenai mainly specialized in genjutsu and wind release, so her taijutsu training intensity was not as high, leaving her abdomen still flat and soft.
"There is nothing wrong with having abs."
Kiyohara said.
"It represents strong core strength and better body control."
And for women, unless they used extreme methods, it was very difficult to reach the same level as men. That was simply a natural physiological difference.
"I suppose that is true…"
Kurenai said softly, her ears slightly burning.
"But it still feels a bit strange…"
As they chatted, they unknowingly arrived near Training Ground Three.
At that moment, a familiar shout came from ahead.
"Third Gate, Gate of Life… open!"
Green chakra steam burst upward like blazing flames.
Then came a sudden explosive sound.
Boom!
A massive tree as thick as two people embracing it was kicked cleanly in half at the waist.
The upper half of the trunk spun through the air for over ten meters before crashing heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
Kiyohara and Kurenai stopped at the same time and looked forward.
In the center of the field, Might Guy maintained a high kicking stance, his entire body surrounded by green steam.
His skin was flushed red from increased blood flow, veins bulging on his forehead and neck, yet his face was filled with a pure, burning smile.
"Hahaha! This is the power of youth!"
Might Guy lowered his leg and landed steadily.
The steam slowly dissipated. He breathed heavily, but his eyes shone brightly like stars.
Then he noticed the two of them at the edge of the field.
"Oh! Kiyohara! Kurenai!"
Guy grinned widely, revealing a row of bright white teeth.
"Are you here to train as well? What a youthful coincidence!"
He strode over, his green jumpsuit gleaming under the sunlight.
Sweat had soaked his clothes, clinging tightly to his body and outlining his lean, powerful muscles.
"Guy."
Kiyohara nodded in greeting.
"Was that the Third Gate of the Eight Gates just now?"
"That is right!"
Guy gave a thumbs up, his teeth flashing with a gleam.
"The Gate of Life! After opening it, the body's limits are removed, greatly enhancing strength and speed, but the burden is also heavy, so it cannot be maintained for long."
He looked at Kiyohara, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Kiyohara, do you want to learn the Eight Gates? I can teach you!"
Kiyohara was slightly taken aback.
The Eight Gates… of course it was good. The Eight Gates had a kind of pure numerical beauty to it.
What surprised him was how directly Guy offered.
"Guy."
Kiyohara carefully chose his words.
"Is it really appropriate to teach me the Eight Gates so casually?"
Guy burst into laughter, his white teeth gleaming.
"Youth is meant to be shared! And Kiyohara, the last time we ran together, I already felt that you have the talent to become a taijutsu specialist!"
Might Guy patted Kiyohara on the shoulder with such force that his body swayed slightly.
"But I must say this first. The Eight Gates is not an easy form of training. It works by forcefully breaking through the eight chakra points in the body to remove physical limitations and gain power. With each gate opened, the burden increases exponentially."
For once, Guy's expression became serious.
"The First Gate, the Gate of Opening, is relatively safe. But starting from the Second Gate, the Gate of Rest, it removes the limits on physical fatigue and may cause damage. As for the Eighth Gate, the Gate of Death…"
He paused, his voice lowering.
"That is a flame ignited by one's life. My father… he opened the Gate of Death."
The atmosphere grew heavy.
"Guy, your father was a hero."
Kiyohara said.
"Haha! It is fine!"
Guy shook his head vigorously, his smile returning.
"My father's youth burned brilliantly. He protected his comrades and safeguarded the honor of Konoha. That is the meaning of the Eight Gates. It is not for destruction, but for protection!"
He looked at Kiyohara, his gaze burning with intensity.
"So Kiyohara, if you truly want to learn, you must first understand this. The Eight Gates is not a toy to show off power. It is a final measure, a resolve to stand up and protect what matters, even if it means burning yourself away!"
Kiyohara fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"I understand."
Kiyohara said.
"However, I will not follow a purely taijutsu path. The value of the Eight Gates to me lies more in serving as a reference, to understand the principles of unlocking the body's potential. Perhaps it can help me optimize my existing combat system."
"Huh? What reference principles?"
Guy scratched his head, clearly not fully understanding Kiyohara's terminology.
His academic ability was higher than Obito's, but lower than Kiyohara's.
As a child, he had not even been able to pass the shinobi academy entrance test. If it had not been for his persistence in running laps around the playground catching the attention of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, he might not have even entered the academy.
So Guy had focused almost entirely on taijutsu.
Of course, he could still use some basic ninjutsu.
"In short, it is about training the body and breaking through chakra points. But you are right, Kiyohara. Everyone's youth is different. You can understand the Eight Gates in your own way!"
He suddenly thought of something, his eyes lighting up.
"How about this! This afternoon, I will teach you the basics, starting with the First Gate, the Gate of Opening. It removes the brain's limitations and enhances reaction speed and perception!"
Kiyohara and Kurenai exchanged a glance.
"Now?"
Kurenai sounded a bit surprised.
"Of course! Youth is about taking action immediately!"
Guy gave a thumbs up.
"Kurenai, you can join as well. Even though you are a girl, improving your physical foundation will also help your chakra control!"
Kurenai hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Then… I will give it a try."
Although she felt that image was somewhat strange, she decided to treat it as training together with Kiyohara.
If it was only the First Gate, the impact would not be too great.
"Alright, let us begin."
Guy led the two of them to the center of the training ground, cleared his throat, and adopted a teaching posture.
"Listen carefully. The foundation of the Eight Gates lies in absolute control over the body. Before breaking through the chakra points, you must fully understand every muscle in your body."
He pointed at himself.
"First, we start with the most basic physical training. Today's goal is…"
"Wait."
Kiyohara interrupted him.
"Guy, I want to try a different approach."
"Hm?"
Kiyohara formed hand seals, and his Sharingan quietly activated.
In his crimson pupils, the tomoe slowly rotated.
"My Sharingan can perceive chakra flow and the subtle changes within the body. Instead of starting from external training, it would be better for me to first clearly observe what exactly happens to the chakra inside the body when the Eight Gates are opened."
He looked at Guy.
"Guy, can you open the Gate of Life once more? You do not need to use full power, just enough for me to observe the process of chakra breaking through the points."
Guy was momentarily stunned, then broke into a wide grin.
"Interesting! Using your eyes to directly see through the principles of youth? Alright, I will show you!"
He took a deep breath and began to refine chakra.
"First Gate, Gate of Opening… open!"
Sweat evaporated, forming green steam that began to surround him.
"Second Gate, Gate of Rest… open!"
Might Guy's skin began to flush red.
The surrounding air subtly distorted due to the leaking chakra.
"Third Gate, Gate of Life… open!"
More green steam rose, though on a much smaller scale than before.
Guy maintained the lowest possible activation state to allow Kiyohara to observe.
Kiyohara's Sharingan focused on the flow of chakra within Guy's body.
Through the Sharingan's vision, the chakra flowing inside Might Guy resembled streams of glowing light.
And at the critical nodes where those streams converged, astonishing changes were taking place.
The Gate of Opening was located in the brain. When Guy activated it, Kiyohara saw that within the meridian system, the chakra point responsible for suppressing and controlling chakra was forcibly broken open, allowing a greater flow of chakra to surge into the cerebral cortex.
Then came the Gate of Rest, the Gate of Life…
Kiyohara carefully observed these chakra points.
(End of Chapter)