After that, Kakashi also brought out his birthday gift: a set of notes on Hatake swordsmanship techniques.
Seeing that, Kiyohara was quietly pleased.
This was good stuff. Back when he hadn't had the Sharingan yet, Kakashi used it all the time, but Kiyohara hadn't been able to copy it.
And by the time Kiyohara could copy techniques, Kakashi had already stopped using Hatake swordsmanship.
So now was the perfect chance to keep refining his own swordsmanship.
"Thanks, Kakashi."
Kiyohara nodded.
This was genuinely useful to him.
He had never abandoned swordsmanship, but lately his ninja blade had started falling behind the level of his fights, so he had been using it less often.
Still, chakra was incredibly versatile. Later on, he could try learning techniques that turned chakra itself into a weapon.
The weapons in Susanoo's hands, for example, were formed from chakra.
Taking that a step further, there were certain special tools that allowed the user's chakra to freely transform into weapons as well.
Otsutsuki Kinshiki could do exactly that.
The red ring behind him—called the Furious Smelting—was said to be a unique inherited weapon passed down from his ancestors, one that could use chakra to create all kinds of weapons in great numbers.
It was even claimed that if any one of those weapons were pushed to full power, it could split the sky.
Though whether that was actually true was debatable.
In the end, Kinshiki still wound up getting turned into a chakra pill and eaten on the spot by Momoshiki, pushing him into phase two.
Otherwise, the two of them probably would have gotten beaten down by Naruto and Sasuke in no time.
Trying to compare them to Kaguya Otsutsuki was still a bit ridiculous.
Kiyohara figured Kaguya hadn't just feared Momoshiki and Kinshiki—she'd feared the rest of the Otsutsuki clan too.
After all, that clan really had produced gods…
"Kiyohara, this is the custom medical kit I made for you. There's also a charm inside."
Rin said softly, her cheeks a little red.
"Thanks, Rin."
Kiyohara glanced at the custom medical kit and felt it looked a little more refined than Kakashi's gift.
Lastly, Shizune brought out her own gift for Kiyohara as well: a full set of senbon needles.
All in all, Kiyohara felt the day's haul was pretty good.
After all, this was basically all free loot. He'd gladly take more.
Several days passed.
In the backyard of Tsunade's house, Kiyohara was practicing Fire Release: Dragon Flame Release Song Technique.
Unlike ordinary Fire Release, which was usually unleashed with brute force, the essence of this technique was division and control.
It required splitting one stream of chakra into four, while simultaneously maintaining and controlling four separate flame dragons.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Release…"
After forming hand seals, Kiyohara exhaled.
Four crimson fire dragons burst forth, each about as thick as a waist, twisting and circling through the air.
They occupied the four directions—up, down, left, and right—while maintaining perfect synchronicity.
But after three seconds, the dragon in the upper left suddenly began trembling violently and lost coordination with the other three.
Kiyohara immediately cut off the chakra supply to that dragon and let it dissipate, while reinforcing his control over the remaining three.
"This is basically the same as using four jutsu at once," Kiyohara thought.
It was completely different from the Five Release Great Combo Technique Hiruzen had given him. That technique involved summoning four clones and having them coordinate, each using a different elemental ninjutsu to attack the enemy at the same time.
In that process, the shadow clones also shared part of the chakra control burden.
But Fire Release: Dragon Flame Release Song Technique relied entirely on one person.
Still, Kiyohara wasn't discouraged.
Ninjutsu training had always been like this. The higher the level of the technique, the more time it took to polish it.
He stood up and poured himself a glass of water, planning to rest for a moment before continuing.
Just then, a soft knock came from outside the door.
"Kiyohara-kun… are you in?"
It was Rin's voice.
Kiyohara opened the door.
Rin stood there.
"Kiyohara-kun, I… I wanted to ask you for help with something."
Rin took a deep breath.
"It's about the Three-Tails' power… I want to try taking it a step further."
Kiyohara stepped aside and let her in.
"Come in and tell me."
Rin knelt by the low table, and Kiyohara sat across from her. Sunlight slanted in through the window.
Tsunade had gone out early that morning with Shizune to buy new sake at an izakaya, so Kiyohara was the only one in the house.
"These past few days, I've been practicing borrowing tailed beast chakra."
As she spoke, Rin extended her right hand, and a pale red chakra appeared in her palm.
"But I can feel that the Three-Tails' power goes far beyond this. It feels like I should be able to make this chakra denser, more solid—like the other jinchuriki…"
Kiyohara knew she was talking about the half-tailed beast transformation mode.
When a jinchuriki used a tailed beast's chakra, it generally went through several stages. The initial stage was the borrowed tailed beast chakra mode, where pale red chakra appeared with bubbles mixed into it.
In that state, a ninja's physical abilities all improved, and the tailed beast chakra healed injuries, leaving almost no scars and granting astonishing recovery speed.
But the next stage was the half-tailed beast transformation mode. At that point, the body underwent visible changes, becoming covered in dark red tailed beast chakra, sometimes even growing a skeletal structure behind it.
Based on the original story, a Three-Tails jinchuriki would develop a thicker layer of armor on their back.
"You want me there to watch over things, just in case?"
Kiyohara asked.
Rin nodded, her eyes lighting up.
"If you're there, Kiyohara-kun, I'll feel a lot safer. And if I really do lose control…"
"I'll keep the situation under control,"
Kiyohara finished for her.
"But Rin, you need to understand—half-tailed beast transformation isn't just about drawing out more chakra. Your body will change, and your mind will be affected too. You'll become much more violent."
"I know."
Rin clenched her fists.
"You said it yourself before, Kiyohara-kun. A ninja needs to learn to control their power, not be controlled by it."
Kiyohara nodded.
He had already been accompanying her during earlier training too—just never to the point of entering half-tailed beast transformation mode.
"Okay."
Kiyohara stood up.
"Let's go to the training ground. There are no missions today, so we can take it slow."
At Training Ground Three, Kiyohara picked a wide open area and set up a simple warning barrier around it. It was meant both to keep outsiders from seeing and to provide at least a little protection in case Rin lost control.
"Warm up first. Draw on the tailed beast chakra gradually, the same way you always do."
Kiyohara stood ten meters away.
"I'll watch your condition. Once you've adjusted, we'll try deepening the connection."
Rin nodded and closed her eyes.
Pale red chakra seeped out from her tenketsu like a thin mist.
At first it was only a very light layer, but as time passed it grew denser and denser, until it formed a faint chakra cloak around her.
"Keep going."
Kiyohara's Sharingan tracked the flow of chakra.
Rin bit her lip and began loosening the restraints on the Three-Tails' chakra.
More tailed beast chakra surged out of her, and the chakra cloak became much thicker. A tail of chakra even began forming behind her.
Rin could feel a strange consciousness trying to influence her. It wasn't the full Three-Tails, more like the beast's instinctive rage and urge to destroy.
It was like standing at the edge of a crashing tidal wave—one wrong move, and she'd be swept away.
"Kiyohara… kun, this feels… strange…"
"What kind of strange?"
Kiyohara stepped a little closer and opened his Sharingan fully.
"Hot… my mind feels agitated… I want to break things…"
Rin's breathing grew ragged, and the shadows of three tails began swaying behind her.
"I… I can't control these thoughts…"
The three tomoe in Kiyohara's eyes spun faster.
"Look at me, Rin."
Rin raised her head instinctively and met his crimson eyes.
In that instant, a cool stream of chakra flowed into her mind.
Kiyohara used genjutsu to forcibly steady her, bringing Rin back to clarity.
"You okay?"
"Yeah… just a little tired."
Rin leaned against his arm, breathing hard.
The experience had clearly shaken her. For one brief moment, she had almost drowned in that urge to destroy everything.
Kiyohara helped her over to rest in the shade of a tree and handed her a canteen.
Rin took it and drank in small sips, her cheeks flushed from the effort.
And then she remembered that she had just leaned against Kiyohara's arm like that…
"Thank you, Kiyohara-kun."
She lowered her head, her voice very soft.
"If you hadn't been here, I might have already…"
"It's always like this the first time."
Kiyohara sat down beside her.
When Jiraiya trained Naruto to control tailed beast power, Naruto had nearly killed him in a rampage.
He'd been left with a massive permanent scar on his chest.
But Kiyohara had the Sharingan, so naturally he didn't have to go through the same kind of mess Jiraiya did.
"Once you start getting used to it, it'll get easier and easier."
Kiyohara said.
Rin stole a glance at him.
The line of Kiyohara's profile was sharp under the sunlight, and those crimson eyes had already turned black again.
For some reason, just looking at him made most of the fear she had felt start to fade away.
A sense of safety quietly spread through her heart.
"Kiyohara-kun."
She spoke suddenly.
"Yeah?"
"Can you… stay with me for a few more training sessions?"
Rin gathered her courage.
"I want to master this state as soon as possible."
Kiyohara turned and met her gaze.
A few seconds later, he nodded.
"Okay. But that's enough for today. You've burned through too much chakra. We'll continue tomorrow."
Rin smiled happily.
Over the next twenty-some days, whenever there were no missions, Rin came to Training Ground Three at dawn to practice half-tailed beast transformation under Kiyohara's supervision.
Her progress was obvious.
By the seventh day, she could form two complete chakra tails while remaining conscious.
By the twelfth day, when the third tail formed, she no longer showed any clear emotional instability.
By the eighteenth day, she attempted a deeper half-tailed beast transformation. A hardened layer resembling bone appeared around her elbow joints—that was the Three-Tails' chakra physically altering her body.
That same day, Kurenai came to the training ground too.
"Rin, Kiyohara."
Kurenai waved as she approached. Today she was wearing a dark purple training outfit suited for movement, with her long hair tied in a high ponytail.
"I heard Rin's been practicing a new move. Mind letting me see it?"
Rin looked at Kiyohara, and he nodded.
"Perfect. Real combat is the best test. Kurenai, you can be the opponent."
"No problem."
Kurenai walked to the other end of the clearing and began forming hand seals.
"Then I won't hold back… Demonic Illusion: Naraku Bunshin!"
Three illusionary clones of Kurenai appeared at once and charged Rin from different directions.
This was Kurenai's usual style—use genjutsu to create confusion while her real body hid among the illusions and attacked from within.
If this had been the old Rin, she would probably already have been forced into a defensive position.
But today…
"Hah!"
Rin gave a short cry, and a red chakra cloak instantly covered her whole body. Three solid tails spread behind her.
She didn't try to distinguish which one was the real Kurenai. Instead, she slammed both hands to the ground.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
A ring-shaped wall of water surged up and cut off all four Kurenais.
At the same time, Rin clenched her right hand slightly, gathering Water Release chakra into it.
"Water Release: Water Fang Blade!"
Rin condensed rotating water around her hand, forming a spinning water blade.
Kurenai immediately drew a kunai to defend herself.
Now!
Chakra exploded beneath Rin's feet, and her speed increased several times over in an instant.
Kurenai only saw a red blur flash past. The next moment, Rin was already at her side, her elbow covered in a white hardened bone-like layer as she struck.
"So fast!"
Kurenai barely managed to get her arms up in time to block.
Bang!
The force of that elbow strike sent Kurenai sliding back several meters, carving two shallow trenches into the ground.
She shook out her numb arms and gave a bitter smile.
"That strength is ridiculous…"
"Sorry, Kurenai!"
Rin hurriedly drew in her chakra.
"I didn't control my strength properly."
"No, you did well."
Kiyohara walked over.
"Your speed and strength both reached the expected level, and your chakra control is very stable. But…"
He turned to Rin.
"This half-tailed beast mode puts a heavy burden on you. In that state just now, how long do you think you could keep it up?"
Rin took a moment to feel out her condition before answering.
"Probably… about two minutes?"
"Two minutes is already pretty good. That's enough for a lot of fights."
Kiyohara nodded.
Fights between ninja were usually fast. They didn't last very long.
Battles like Naruto and Sasuke fighting from day into night were actually pretty rare.
Kurenai walked over, still rubbing her arms, though she was smiling.
"But seriously, that was impressive, Rin. For a second there, I really thought I was going to lose."
"You're being too modest, Kurenai."
Rin said shyly.
"If you'd gone all out, kept your distance, and used genjutsu and Wind Release, I definitely wouldn't have had such an easy time."
"That's just a matter of tactics."
Kurenai blinked.
"But honestly, seeing how much stronger you've gotten makes me feel like I need to step things up too. Next mission, let's both give it everything."
Kurenai didn't feel jealous of Rin's power—just a little envious.
Watching Kurenai's expression, Kiyohara found himself wondering how far along Nono Yakushi's research into the Ketsuryūgan had gotten.
He'd accepted Fugaku's money, but then turned around and donated another sum to the orphanage.
When they got back to Tsunade's house, it was already afternoon.
Shizune was in the kitchen preparing lunch, while Tsunade sat on the sofa reading the latest medical journal.
Even though she was always saying she hated paperwork, she still read very seriously whenever it involved her own field.
"You're back?"
Tsunade didn't even look up.
"How'd the training go?"
"Very smoothly."
Kiyohara sat across from her.
"Rin has already gotten an initial handle on half-tailed beast mode."
"Oh?"
Tsunade finally put down the journal and looked at Rin with interest.
"Not bad, Rin. But jinchuriki training can't be rushed. You need to take it step by step."
"I'll be careful, Tsunade-sama."
Rin answered obediently.
Even now that she knew Tsunade also had flaws—like drinking too much and gambling and not being the flawless person she'd once imagined—Rin still respected her deeply.
After all, Tsunade's actual ability was the real thing.
Just then, hurried knocking came from the entryway.
Shizune went to open the door.
Outside stood an Anbu ninja wearing an animal mask.
He spoke immediately:
"Tsunade-sama, the Hokage is urgently convening a jonin meeting. Please proceed to the Hokage Building at once."
The atmosphere in the room instantly grew tense.
"Do you know what it's about?"
Tsunade rose to her feet, her expression serious.
"Sunagakure is asking for reinforcements."
The Anbu answered concisely.
"The Mist front has changed."
Tsunade and Kiyohara exchanged a look, and each saw the same gravity in the other's eyes.
If Suna was asking for help, then the western front had likely deteriorated to the point where Suna could no longer hold it on its own.
Especially since Suna and Konoha had only just formed their alliance.
Suna would never ask Konoha for help lightly. Doing so meant exposing its weakness.
"Kurenai, Shizune, you're coming too."
Tsunade grabbed the green coat hanging by the door.
"Kiyohara, let's go."
"Yes."
Rin could only watch them leave with a trace of envy.
Shizune was a special jonin, and Kurenai was a jonin.
Rin herself still hadn't formally received jonin certification yet.
I need to become a full jonin too, Rin thought.
Now that she was a jinchuriki, making jonin wouldn't be difficult.
As long as the higher-ups approved her qualifications, it would pass.
At the top floor conference room of the Hokage Building, the long meeting table was already full on both sides.
Besides Hiruzen Sarutobi and the two advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, clan representatives like Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, and Yamanaka Inoichi were present, along with Namikaze Minato and others.
When Tsunade's group entered, many eyes turned toward them.
Kiyohara could feel the complicated emotions in those looks—scrutiny, expectation, and even a quiet sort of wariness.
What had happened in the Land of Rain had already spread.
Kiyohara remained calm as he took a seat behind Tsunade, while Kurenai and Shizune sat farther back in the observer seats.
"Everyone is here."
Hiruzen tapped his pipe.
"Then let's begin."
The low murmurs in the room stopped immediately.
"One hour ago, an emergency plea for assistance from Sunagakure was delivered via summoning beast."
Hiruzen unrolled a scroll.
"After breaking through Suna's defensive line, Kirigakure's main force entered the Land of Wind. Their vanguard is now only three days' march from the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire."
A suppressed intake of breath spread through the room.
"How bad are Suna's losses?"
Nara Shikaku asked in a low voice.
"According to Suna's report, they've lost at least eight hundred ninja in the naval fighting, and their land defenses have been breached in multiple places."
Hiruzen exhaled a plume of smoke.
"More importantly, the Mist has deployed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
After many of them had been killed last time by Might Duy's kick, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had been reorganized with a new set of candidates.
~~~
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