"Let's head back and take a look."
Kiyohara said it simply, then called over Rin and Shizune, and the group quickly returned to camp.
"What took you so long?"
Inside the tent, Tsunade had her arms folded and one brow raised as she looked at the group that had just come back.
"Did you two volunteer to be that brat's free labor again?"
"No, Tsunade-sama!"
Rin hurried to explain.
"We wanted to help. The experiment was at a critical stage…"
"Tsunade-sama, we really did volunteer."
Shizune nodded too.
Most of the time, she was eating the good food Kiyohara cooked without having done much for him in return.
So she had always felt a little bad about it. This time, she finally had a chance to help.
"Is that so."
Tsunade eyed the two girls suspiciously, then flicked her brown-gold gaze over to Kiyohara.
She was starting to realize this brat really knew how to handle women.
At this rate, who knew how many girls would suffer in the future?
"Whatever."
Tsunade shook her head, then spoke to Kiyohara.
"There's an escort mission I need you to handle."
She pulled a file from inside her clothes, and that heavy burden of hers gave a little bounce.
Kiyohara's eyelid twitched, but he kept his attention on the file.
"Kiyohara's going over there on a mission?"
Rin asked curiously.
"He applied for it himself."
Kurenai answered for her.
She knew a little about it already.
"Huh? But why…"
"Because things are too quiet over here. Feels like they're brewing up something bigger."
Kiyohara said it plainly.
"Yeah. Lately, even the Hyuga haven't spotted any major movement from the Mist. They're probably still lying low, so while things are calm, we may as well go check what Cloud is doing."
Tsunade's reasoning was simple.
The Mist might really be trying to distract them here, then launch a lightning campaign through the inland sea route into the Land of Rivers and seize the interior.
But it was also possible they'd made some kind of under-the-table deal with Kumogakure.
After all, every ninja village understood the basics of shifting alliances.
Konoha could ally with Suna, so other villages could form alliances too.
The odds might be low, but they weren't zero.
"I see…"
Rin more or less understood now.
"You choose your own people for this one."
Tsunade said it lightly.
Kiyohara nodded.
He already had a few names in mind.
After a few more words, everyone left Tsunade's tent.
"Kurenai, come with me this time."
Kiyohara said to her.
"Me?"
She clearly hadn't expected that.
"Yeah. You're a good fit."
Kiyohara said.
It would be good experience for her.
As for Rin, there was no real need for her to go.
She was better off staying here.
"Is it just us?"
"No. Kakashi too."
Kiyohara planned to bring Kakashi as well.
Kakashi was pretty much the ideal teammate.
Quick, quiet, efficient.
And he never complained.
"All right. Then it'll be the two of us heading to the Cloud front."
Kurenai sounded strangely disappointed.
What she'd really wanted was for it to be just the two of them.
"You're going to the Cloud front too?"
Asuma came over.
He'd overheard them talking about it on the way.
"You too?"
Kiyohara asked casually.
"Yeah. Tōdō, Shi, and I are heading there too."
Asuma nodded.
His teammates right now were Akimichi Tōdō and Inuzuka Shi.
Their jonin leader was Yamanaka Isui, though Isui wasn't on this front at the moment.
He was already stationed over on the Cloud side, so this trip would basically be a regrouping for Asuma too.
"Come with us, Kiyohara."
Asuma called out, though his eyes kept drifting toward Kurenai.
"You're coming too?"
Kurenai frowned slightly.
"Of course. Safer that way."
Asuma smiled.
Tōdō and Shi were standing nearby, and Shi's ninken barked twice.
Kurenai didn't answer. She just looked at Kiyohara.
Kiyohara nodded.
"Fine. We'll go together."
Going as a group actually meant less trouble.
And Inuzuka clan ninja had extremely sharp noses, as did their dogs.
If there were enemies nearby, they could detect them early and save time by avoiding them.
Kiyohara's real objective wasn't the escort mission anyway.
It was completing Yotsuki Kiyohara's lingering wish.
After that, Kiyohara and Kurenai walked a little farther together before he said he needed to go notify Kakashi and split off from her.
The next day, Kiyohara didn't head straight to the rendezvous point.
Instead, he stopped by a nearby village to buy a few things.
With flight jutsu, he could save a lot of time on travel as long as he had enough chakra.
He came back carrying two large paper bags.
One smelled sweet and fresh, and from inside it you could catch a glimpse of bright red strawberries.
The other smelled distinctly of freshly fried tempura.
The camp had only just started waking up, and plenty of ninja turned to look.
Luxury food like this showing up on the front lines was… unusual.
Kiyohara walked through the camp without changing expression and stopped in front of the main tent, handing the bags to Rin and Shizune, who had also just gotten up.
It was his way of thanking them for helping these past few days.
If he'd done the Samehada-cloning experiment alone, even with research materials to guide him, it would have taken a very long time.
"Huh? Kiyohara, where did you get these?"
Rin looked genuinely surprised.
"There's a fishing village about twenty ri from here. They had a morning market."
Kiyohara explained briefly.
"The strawberries were the last two boxes. The tempura was just fried, so eat it while it's hot."
Rin took the bag, and her fingers brushed against his hand.
His skin was warmer than she'd expected.
She looked up and noticed a little dew still caught in his eyelashes, which meant he must have left very early.
"Thank you, Kiyohara-kun…"
She said it quietly, her cheeks warming.
Shizune thanked him too.
While the two girls started eating, Kiyohara headed into Tsunade's tent.
This time, he pulled out a smaller paper parcel and handed it to her.
"What's this?"
"Grilled fish. Local specialty."
Kiyohara said.
"Haven't you been complaining about camp food lately, Sensei?"
Tsunade took the parcel and opened it.
Inside were three small fish, grilled to a crisp golden brown and dusted with salt and spices. The smell was incredible.
She blinked, then smiled and smacked Kiyohara lightly on the shoulder.
"At least you've got some conscience, brat."
She tore off a piece of fish and put it in her mouth, her eyes narrowing in satisfaction.
Then she looked back at him, her tone turning serious.
"The situation on the Cloud front is more complicated than the Mist front. Since the Third Raikage died, the Fourth has been much more aggressive. Be careful."
That was Tsunade's warning.
Kumogakure was built around the Raikage in a way that resembled a mafia structure more than an ordinary village.
In simple terms, it was basically a giant criminal organization.
They revered brute strength—whoever had the biggest fist was the boss.
Everyone else fell in line behind the boss.
Because of that, Cloud ninja tended to be far more united than those from most other villages.
Cases like the Gold and Silver Brothers betraying the Raikage were extremely rare.
And afterward, even their clan had faced partial punishment.
"And… the Eight-Tails jinchūriki, Killer B, is troublesome. From what I hear, he's fully mastered the beast's power. If you run into him, avoid conflict if you can. Our enemy right now is the Mist, not the Cloud."
"I know."
Kiyohara nodded.
He really didn't plan to clash with Killer B.
At least, not right now.
But Samui and Darui were different.
He needed to meet them.
One was tied to Yotsuki Kiyohara's lingering wish.
The other was necessary if he wanted to learn black lightning.
And by the time he came back from Cloud territory, his new sword should be finished too.
On the day he got the Executioner's Blade and Samehada back, Kiyohara had immediately handed the Executioner's Blade over to Tsunade.
Tsunade then sent it back to Konoha and commissioned a smith to reforge it.
That included Kiyohara's usual ninja blade, as well as the chakra metal Asuma had given him.
So for now, Kiyohara had to put the experiment on hold and make do with Samehada.
And he didn't need to provide a design sketch.
He wanted the traditional Uchiha straight sword.
The style Sasuke used was basically just a classic design anyway, and village smiths had made that sort of weapon before.
Only something on the level of the real Kusanagi was in the realm of rare treasures Orochimaru happened to acquire.
Modern smiths could barely make anything close.
If Orochimaru hadn't given Sasuke that kind of weapon, Kiyohara figured Sasuke would probably have ended up using an ordinary katana or even just a kunai like Naruto.
The supply-escort mission to the Cloud front was scheduled to depart at dawn the next day.
"I'm worried you're too flashy."
Tsunade said it bluntly.
"You killed two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen on the Mist front. Once that news spreads, the Cloud is definitely going to pay special attention to you. They worship strength—but they also hate people acting arrogant on their turf."
Tsunade said it while eating her fish, studying Kiyohara.
This brat was getting harder and harder to understand lately. His strength was skyrocketing, and now even his experiments were starting to get real results.
She didn't say it aloud, but she knew perfectly well that Kiyohara had already grown far beyond the level of maturity anyone his age should have had.
Kiyohara smiled faintly.
"I'll be careful."
"I hope so."
Tsunade sighed and reached out to ruffle his hair.
That gesture was getting harder for her lately.
He'd gotten taller again, and she had to rise onto her toes just to do it.
Kiyohara let her hand rest there for a moment, then turned and left the tent.
Outside, Kurenai was already waiting.
"Where's Kakashi?"
Kiyohara asked.
"He said he'd wait for us at the east gate of camp."
Kurenai said it while glancing across his face.
"Asuma and the others should be there too."
Kiyohara nodded and handed her one of the things he'd bought.
It was a steamed bun.
Kurenai's eyes lit up, and she thanked him quickly.
Kiyohara took out one for himself too and started eating.
There'd been plenty to buy in the fishing village, so he'd picked up extra.
Kakashi was already waiting at the east gate of camp.
His black mask covered the lower half of his face, leaving only those sleepy dead-fish eyes and his white hair visible.
When he saw Kiyohara and Kurenai, he lazily lifted a hand.
"Morning."
"Morning."
Kiyohara replied.
Asuma arrived with his squad too.
Akimichi Tōdō still had that same simple, honest look about him, while Inuzuka Shi was crouched on the ground feeding his ninken.
It was a brown tracking dog with a wet nose.
"Everyone's here, so let's move."
Asuma spoke first, though his eyes kept drifting toward Kurenai.
Kiyohara opened the mission scroll and skimmed over the route and instructions.
They'd start from the coastal camp in the Land of Rivers, loop back into the Land of Fire, then pass through a stretch of hilly country before finally reaching Konoha's stronghold on the Cloud front.
The trip would take about four days total, and along the way they'd pass through several zones where rogue ninja were known to appear.
"Let's go."
Kiyohara rolled up the scroll and stepped forward.
The group left camp and entered the dense forest.
At first, the journey was peaceful. Only their footsteps and the occasional birdcall broke the silence.
As he walked, Kiyohara silently circulated chakra within his body.
Training in Lightning Release Chakra Mode couldn't be interrupted. A technique that fused lightning with flesh needed long-term adaptation and refinement.
Ever since Yotsuki Kiyohara's spirit had started giving him occasional guidance, Kiyohara could feel that his control over lightning chakra had improved significantly.
By dusk, the group made camp beside a stream.
Kiyohara picked out a level clearing.
Kakashi went around setting up simple warning traps.
Kurenai gathered firewood.
Asuma cleared the campsite.
Akimichi Tōdō unpacked cooking gear from a sealing scroll, while Inuzuka Shi sent his ninken out on patrol.
A campfire was soon lit, its orange-red flames driving away the chill of night.
A simple meat soup simmered in the pot, and the smell drifted through the air.
The group sat around the fire, chatting now and then, while the crackle of burning wood and the bubbling of the broth filled the silence.
Kiyohara stirred the soup from time to time.
Above them, stars glittered through the gaps in the treetops, the Milky Way stretching overhead like a blurred river of light.
According to the watch order, Kiyohara was on first watch tonight, and Inuzuka Shi would take over later.
"In theory, is flight using Lightning Release actually possible?"
Kakashi asked.
"In theory, yes. If you convert lightning chakra into electromagnetic force, you can generate thrust or lift. But it takes a huge amount of chakra, and the control is extremely difficult."
Kiyohara ladled out a bowl of soup and handed it to Kurenai, who'd been looking at it hopefully for a while now.
"Thanks."
Kurenai took it.
"Harder than flying with Magnet Release?"
Kakashi asked curiously.
"Different principle."
Kiyohara explained.
"With Lightning Release flight, you have to keep maintaining a very complex chakra transformation the whole time. If you lose focus even a little, it'll collapse."
Kakashi nodded thoughtfully.
"If we're talking about flight using ninjutsu, I'd say Earth Release is better."
Asuma cut in.
"True. Like the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki."
Inuzuka Shi followed up.
Ōnoki's Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique was famous, and it was also a flight technique.
At the mention of flying, Kurenai—who'd been quietly drinking soup—lifted her head.
Her thoughts went right back to the time Kiyohara had flown while holding Hyuga Ginka.
Kiyohara served himself a bowl too, then handed the ladle to Kakashi.
The others each helped themselves.
By the time dinner was over, the sky had gone fully dark.
The moon had come out, but was quickly covered by clouds.
"I'm going to train for a bit."
Kiyohara stood up.
He walked deeper into the forest and found a relatively open clearing about fifty meters from camp.
Crackle.
Pale blue arcs of electricity appeared over his body.
At first they were only scattered points, but they quickly spread and linked together, forming a dense cloak of lightning.
The light flickered over his skin with a faint crackling sound, pushing back the darkness in a small halo around him.
Kiyohara could feel every cell in his body rejoicing.
Lightning chakra seeped into his muscle fibers, stimulating his nervous system and reinforcing the strength of his body.
He raised his right hand, index and middle fingers together.
More chakra gathered at the tips of his fingers, and the electric light shifted from pale blue to bright white.
Lightning Release: Lightning Finger.
Shoo!
He stabbed the fingers forward without touching anything, yet a fine bolt of lightning shot from his fingertips, piercing the air and striking a tree trunk ten meters away.
Thud.
A thumb-sized hole appeared in the trunk, its edges charred black and trailing smoke.
But it didn't stop there.
The bolt punched through the first tree, then pierced three more behind it before finally fading after leaving a shallow pit in the fifth.
Kiyohara looked at his fingers, then at the neat line of holes in the trees.
Good power.
All he had really done was thrust his fingers forward. The lightning had launched itself automatically.
He thought of the Third Raikage's Hell Stab: One-Finger Nukite, the so-called strongest spear.
If he could master that too…
By the time Kiyohara finished training, the campfire had burned low, leaving only deep red embers.
The camp was quiet now, filled with the even breathing of sleeping ninja.
Kiyohara sat down by the fire, added a few more logs, and the flames rose again, driving back the chill of late night.
Then he heard a soft set of footsteps.
Kurenai emerged from her tent.
She looked half-awake, her hair slightly messy, and one cheek still held the faint mark of her pillow.
When she saw Kiyohara sitting by the fire, she paused for a moment, then quietly walked over.
"Did I wake you?"
Kiyohara asked.
"No. I sleep lightly anyway."
Kurenai sat down beside him, hugging her knees.
"I couldn't really sleep, so I came out for some air."
The firelight danced across her face, turning her smooth skin warm orange.
For a while, neither of them said anything. Only the crackle of the fire filled the silence.
"Kiyohara."
Kurenai spoke suddenly, her voice very soft.
"When you flew with Hyuga Ginka before… what was it like?"
Kiyohara turned his head toward her.
Kurenai wasn't looking at him. She was staring at the flames, but the tips of her ears were slightly red.
"You want to try it?"
Kiyohara asked.
Kurenai bit her lower lip, then nodded in the end.
"Yeah. I… I want to see what it looks like from the sky too."
There was cautious anticipation in her voice—and a faint thread of envy.
Envy of Hyuga Ginka.
Kiyohara understood the feeling. It was like when a child saw someone else with a new toy and wanted to try it too.
"Okay."
Kiyohara stood and held out a hand.
Kurenai placed her hand in his.
Her hand was noticeably smaller than his, fingers slender, palm soft and warm.
The next second, chakra exploded beneath Kiyohara's feet.
The two of them shot upward.
"Ah!"
Kurenai cried out and instinctively grabbed tighter onto his hand.
The ground fell away rapidly, the trees shrinking below them into a dark green sea.
Night wind rushed at them, carrying the clean scent of the forest. Strands of Kurenai's hair whipped across Kiyohara's face, tickling lightly.
They stopped about twenty meters above the ground—high enough to clearly see the entire camp, but low enough that they wouldn't be easily noticed from below.
Of course, if someone happened to step out of a tent and look up at the exact right moment, they'd still be visible.
"Look down."
Kiyohara said.
Kurenai lowered her gaze, and her breath caught slightly.
From above, the camp was just a tiny point of light. The forest spread outward in every direction like black velvet.
Farther away, the hills could be seen in silver-gray outlines under the moonlight.
"It's beautiful…"
Kurenai whispered.
A mischievous thought suddenly struck Kiyohara.
He used chakra strings to guide Kurenai's hands together in front of her chest, then made her bow deeply.
Of course, so she wouldn't just fall out of the air, Kiyohara also used Wind Release to keep her supported.
"Thank you, Kiyohara-sama."
The words slipped out of Kurenai's mouth against her will, and the moment she heard herself say them, she froze. Then her face exploded red.
Kiyohara couldn't help laughing.
"Y-you did that on purpose!"
Kurenai was mortified and annoyed, but her body was still being guided by Kiyohara's chakra strings, so she couldn't even stamp her foot.
"Sorry."
Kiyohara said it, but the amusement in his eyes hadn't faded at all.
"Still, now that you've already said it once, want to say it again?"
"No!"
Kurenai tried to shake her head, but even that was fixed in place, so all she could do was glare at him.
Kiyohara stopped teasing her and released the chakra strings.
The moment she regained control of her body, the first thing Kurenai did was smack him on the shoulder.
Not hard, of course.
"Idiot~!"
~~~
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