"You heard my question."
Kiyohara pulled his gaze back without the slightest change in expression.
A true shinobi never let his thoughts show on his face.
"It was for you, Sensei."
Tsunade paused.
"For me?"
"Yeah."
Kiyohara nodded.
"The Strength of a Hundred Seal already has a youth-preserving effect, but that's really just a side effect of storing chakra."
He paused for a moment.
"If that effect could be separated out and turned into its own technique, it would use less chakra and probably work even better."
"You already use the seal to stay youthful, Sensei, but if you could get a better result with less chakra, wouldn't that be ideal?"
Tsunade blinked.
She genuinely hadn't considered that angle before.
"You mean… taking the anti-aging effect out of the Strength of a Hundred Seal and turning it into a dedicated beauty-preserving jutsu?"
"Exactly."
Kiyohara nodded.
"The principle shouldn't be too hard. You'd isolate the portion of chakra within the seal that handles the youth-preserving function, then turn it into an independent sealing cycle."
"It would only need a small amount of chakra for upkeep in daily use, but it could still match—or even surpass—the cosmetic effect of the Strength of a Hundred Seal."
As Tsunade listened, her eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"Now that's interesting…"
If something like that could be widely taught, she could already imagine how wildly popular it would be with female shinobi.
Removing the seal's large-scale chakra storage function would strip away one of its defining traits, but it would also lower the barrier to learning it quite a bit.
Then, all of a sudden, she stood and walked over to him.
Kiyohara looked up.
Tsunade bent down and braced both hands on the low table at his sides.
Her face was close—close enough for him to see the curve of her lashes, close enough to feel the warmth of her breath.
From this angle, the line of her posture was right there in front of him.
Beneath the black sleeveless top, pale skin pressed into a deeper outline.
"Kid."
Tsunade's voice came from very close by.
"Do you really want to make me prettier, or are you just looking for an excuse to stare?"
Kiyohara lifted his eyes and met those golden-brown ones.
"Of course I want to make you prettier, Sensei."
His expression stayed perfectly calm.
"As for what I'm staring at… if you're willing to let me look, then I'll look."
Tsunade burst into laughter, shoulders shaking.
"You little—"
Straightening up, she flicked his forehead with her finger.
It didn't hurt much. It just itched a little.
"Smooth talker."
Kiyohara rubbed his forehead and smiled.
"It's the truth."
Tsunade gave a small huff and walked back to her seat, sitting down again.
But there was no hiding the smile at the corner of her mouth.
"Alright, we'll deal with the beauty-jutsu idea after this is over."
She waved a hand.
"For now, get ready. We leave tomorrow."
"Got it."
Kiyohara stood and headed toward the tent flap.
But when he reached the entrance, he suddenly stopped.
"Sensei."
"Hm?"
"You're already beautiful as you are."
With that, he lifted the tent flap and walked out.
Tsunade froze in place.
A moment later, she snapped back to herself and shouted after him,
"You brat, cut the sweet talk!"
His laughter drifted back from outside, growing fainter and fainter.
Tsunade sat there, but the corners of her mouth still couldn't help curling upward.
"That little brat…"
she muttered under her breath, though something about the feeling in her chest was different from before.
That brat really had the nerve to push it that far and flirt with his own teacher.
And strangely enough, Tsunade didn't hate it.
If Jiraiya had tried that, she'd have punched him already.
…
Night fell.
The camp gradually quieted down, with only the occasional footsteps of the patrol shinobi breaking the silence.
Kiyohara lay on his bedroll with his eyes closed.
He was getting used to the Byakugan.
In the darkness, those pale white eyes faintly glowed, seeing straight through the canvas of the tent.
The camp outside, the shinobi on patrol, even the movements of nocturnal animals in the forest farther away—everything was perfectly clear.
After inheriting Hyuga Kiyohara's legacy during the day, the Byakugan had fused completely with him.
The sensation was strange, as though he had been born with it.
He could open or close it at will, control the level of x-ray vision, and even vaguely perceive the flow of chakra.
That was the Hyuga clan's kekkei genkai.
Just as he was thinking about it, his brows moved slightly.
Someone was outside.
And the chakra signature felt very familiar.
He opened his eyes and sat up.
The tent flap was gently lifted open just a crack.
A figure slipped inside, moving furtively.
In the moonlight, Kiyohara saw her face.
Kurenai.
She was wearing a thin light-red night robe, her long hair loose over her shoulders.
"Kurenai?"
Kiyohara raised a brow.
"It's late. What are you doing here?"
Kurenai stood inside the tent with both hands twisted together, her eyes darting around.
"I… I…"
She stammered for a long time without managing to finish a sentence.
"Want to sleep beside me?"
Kiyohara thought female shinobi these days were surprisingly direct.
Kurenai took a deep breath, as if gathering all her courage.
"I want to sleep with you."
Kiyohara looked at her.
In the moonlight, that thin sleep robe traced the outline of her figure.
The slender curve of her waist, the gentle rise of her body, and those pale bare legs beneath the hem.
"You mean that?"
he asked.
Kurenai nodded.
"Yeah."
Her voice was soft.
"I… I can't sleep. I just… want to be near you."
Kiyohara was silent for two seconds.
Then he reached out and lightly wrapped an arm around her waist.
Kurenai let out a small cry as he drew her into his arms.
"Then… let's sleep together."
he murmured against her ear.
Warm breath brushed against her skin, and Kurenai shivered.
She lifted her eyes and met the smile in his.
Then she rose on tiptoe and kissed him first.
"Then let's sleep together."
Kiyohara didn't mind having another warm body to hold onto for the night.
If they weren't supposed to leave for Iwagakure the next day, he might have been tempted to take things further.
…
The next morning.
Kiyohara was already packed and ready.
"What are you thinking about?"
Tsunade's voice came from behind him.
As she walked closer, Kiyohara caught the faint scent of medicinal herbs.
"I was thinking you look especially good today, Sensei."
Tsunade raised a brow and lifted a hand as if to smack his forehead.
"Cut the sweet talk. Let's go."
Kiyohara leaned aside and dodged, then followed after her toward the edge of camp.
At the camp gate, Kakashi was already waiting.
He still had that lazy look about him, one hand holding his little orange book.
Behind him stood Kitsuchi, bound by sealing techniques.
The Tsuchikage's son had his head lowered, face ashen, the arm he'd injured earlier still in a cast.
There were several other Iwa prisoners there as well.
Since a ceasefire was being discussed, exchanging prisoners was naturally part of the process.
Although shinobi were rarely taken alive—more often they were killed on the spot—there were still some who couldn't simply be abandoned.
In this era, when shinobi were increasingly scarce, every single one was precious manpower to their village.
"Let's move."
Tsunade gave the order with a wave of her hand.
"Yes!"
The group left camp and began the journey to Iwagakure.
…
After several days of travel, they reached the yellow-earth highlands.
The wind there was even harsher than expected.
Kiyohara walked at the front of the group, his gaze sweeping across the rolling earthen hills on both sides.
Wind peeled away fine grains of dirt from the slopes, exposing rock layers of different colors beneath.
Before long, they arrived at Iwagakure.
The land and customs here were completely different from those of the Land of Fire.
"The Tsuchikage's building is just ahead."
An Iwa shinobi assigned to guide them pointed toward a cluster of stone buildings visible in the distance.
Those structures had been built directly into the mountain, blending into it so completely that from afar the whole place looked like a giant fortress.
Kiyohara narrowed his eyes.
The scene in his vision sharpened.
Iwagakure was ringed by towering mountains, giving it natural defensive terrain that made it easy to hold and hard to attack.
But by the same token, that geography also made communication with the outside world difficult, and trade inevitably underdeveloped.
Not just Iwagakure, but most of the nearby towns and settlements were tucked between mountains the same way.
Kiyohara wasn't using the Byakugan. He was simply observing with his normal sight.
Even so, he could tell there were plenty of Iwa Anbu hidden in the shadows.
…
At the entrance to the Tsuchikage's building, a short figure was already waiting for them.
It was only when Onoki saw his son Kitsuchi that he finally let out a breath of relief.
Then his gaze shifted past Tsunade, who led the group, and settled on Kiyohara behind her.
That young man…
Onoki had seen countless geniuses in his lifetime, but few like this one.
Kiyohara stood tall, with sharp features and a striking presence. In any crowd, eyes would naturally land on him first.
But what truly caught Onoki's attention were his eyes.
They reminded him far too much of Uchiha Madara.
"Princess Tsunade. It's been a long time."
Onoki took the initiative and stepped forward.
"You've gotten even older, Onoki."
"Haha. That's what happens when you get old."
Onoki smiled, then let his eyes sweep over the group behind her.
"That 'Yellow Flash' fellow… didn't come?"
"Minato is occupied with other matters."
Tsunade replied evenly.
"Oh…"
Onoki nodded, then let his gaze settle on Kiyohara.
"So you're Kiyohara?"
Kiyohara gave a slight nod.
"Tsuchikage-sama."
Onoki stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly let out a sigh.
"Kiyohara-kun… you entered our sight a long time ago."
Tilting his head back, he studied him.
"You were there at Kannabi Bridge too, weren't you?"
If he had to point to a turning point in Iwa's war fortunes, it would undoubtedly be the battle at Kannabi Bridge.
That battle marked the moment Iwa truly lost the momentum of the war and began its steady decline.
Now, given the situation, a ceasefire was no longer optional. It was urgent.
"I was there."
Kiyohara nodded.
"A hero born young indeed."
Onoki sighed again, then led them inside.
Tsunade followed him into the building.
Kiyohara and Kakashi remained outside, while Kitsuchi was taken away by Iwa shinobi.
The wind of the highlands swept through, carrying the dry scent of earth.
Kiyohara leaned against a stone pillar by the entrance and let his gaze drift over the surroundings.
Iwa shinobi moved back and forth everywhere. Some cast curious glances their way, only to quickly look away.
Kakashi stood beside him. At some point, he had already put away his orange book.
This was a formal setting, after all. Definitely not the time to have it out.
"Kiyohara."
"Hm?"
"That old man… is strong."
Kiyohara turned his head to look at him.
Kakashi's brow was faintly furrowed.
"I felt it in the way he looked at you just now."
"Of course. Onoki possesses a Kekkei Tota."
Kiyohara said.
Two chakra natures combined formed a kekkei genkai. Three formed a Kekkei Tota.
All seven chakra nature transformations fused together created a Kekkei Mora.
Kekkei Mora was essentially something only Six Paths–level beings could use. By comparison, the fact that Onoki wielded Kekkei Tota was already overwhelming enough.
And the old man could fly too. His biggest weakness was his chakra reserves, and the brief charge-up needed to release Dust Release.
"Yeah."
Kakashi nodded.
He was curious what Onoki's Dust Release looked like. According to rumor, it could disintegrate any matter—but Kakashi had never seen it for himself.
The two fell silent.
Time passed quietly.
Then Kiyohara's brow twitched.
He sensed something off.
Was Iwa planning to make a move on them?
No. Impossible.
He immediately dismissed the thought.
Iwa had to know he could use Flying Thunder God. At any moment he could take Tsunade and the others and vanish.
If that happened, Iwa would only drag itself into a much deeper war with Konoha.
Onoki wouldn't take that kind of risk.
Which meant this was most likely the work of some individual shinobi within Iwa acting on their own.
The hardline faction?
As he thought that over, Kiyohara rubbed at his eyes as if casually tired, but in reality he was using the Byakugan's vision through his hand.
And in that vision, he saw something.
About three hundred meters away, in an alley beside the building, a small figure was crouched there suspiciously fiddling with something.
It was a child.
At a glance, he looked no older than six or seven. He had messy short blond hair sticking up everywhere and a gray short robe stained all over with clay and dirt.
He was crouched by the wall, holding a lump of white clay and kneading it with intense concentration.
Kiyohara's sight pierced through the wall, through the child's clothes, and he could see the chakra moving inside him.
Earth Release chakra.
But the way the child was shaping it… was strange.
The boy molded the clay into an odd shape, then formed hand seals.
Kiyohara focused on the change in the clay.
Chakra flowed into it, and the clay shifted and warped until it finally became a palm-sized…
Spider?
The boy held up the clay spider and looked toward the Tsuchikage's building in the distance.
The corner of his mouth lifted into a smug grin.
Then he set the spider down.
It began crawling.
Straight toward the Tsuchikage's building.
Kiyohara's eyelid twitched.
Because he realized there were already quite a few of those spiders on the building—not just one.
He turned to Kakashi.
"I'll be back in a second."
Kakashi blinked.
"What's wrong?"
Kiyohara didn't answer.
His figure vanished from the spot.
Leaving only Kakashi and the other Konoha guards staring at one another.
The Iwa shinobi nearby immediately grew alert.
Some hurried after Kiyohara, while others moved toward Kakashi to question him.
…
Deidara was excited.
Today was the first time he was going to show his art to outsiders.
Those clay bombs were something he had spent a long time developing.
As long as they crawled beneath the building, then—
"Boom!"
he thought to himself, eyes shining.
Art is an explosion!
That was the ultimate ideal he pursued.
The clay spider was still crawling now, almost at the base of the building.
Then a hand reached in from the side.
It was pale, slender, with long fingers and distinct joints.
That hand lightly picked up the spider.
Deidara froze.
He looked up.
A young man was standing in front of him.
Kiyohara was studying the spider in his hand.
"…Who are you?"
Deidara asked instinctively.
The young man didn't answer. He just kept looking at the spider.
After a moment, he finally said,
"A clay bomb?"
Deidara's eyes went wide.
"You… how do you know that?"
"You're a Konoha shinobi?"
Only then did Deidara notice the forehead protector Kiyohara was wearing. The symbol on it was Konoha's.
It was completely different from Iwa's.
"That's right. I'm a Konoha shinobi."
It really was Konoha?
Deidara blinked.
The village everyone kept talking about… the one at war with Iwa?
"You…"
He had just started to say something when he saw the young man's hand tighten slightly.
The spider crumbled into dust in his palm.
"What are you doing?!"
Deidara panicked.
"That took me forever to make!"
"It's too dangerous."
Kiyohara shook his head.
"And you picked the wrong place to set it off."
He lifted a hand, and several clay bombs that had already crawled onto the building were caught in a current of wind and swept high into the sky.
Boom!
The explosion burst overhead.
Inside the Tsuchikage's building, everyone at the negotiating table looked up at the same time.
Tsunade frowned.
Onoki's face stiffened slightly.
In an instant, a whole crowd of Iwa shinobi rushed out.
Kakashi and the others also moved to protect Tsunade, and both sides nearly came to blows on the spot.
Iwa thought Konoha had launched an attack.
Konoha thought the exact same thing of Iwa.
Onoki frowned deeply.
He raised a hand, signaling the Iwa Anbu to calm down.
"What happened?"
he asked.
An Iwa Anbu rushed in, dropped to one knee, and reported,
"Tsuchikage-sama, outside the building… someone detonated bombs!"
"Clay bombs?"
Onoki's frown deepened even more.
He had already guessed a little of what was going on.
Could it really be his student Deidara pulling some idiotic stunt again?
That brat had always loved causing miniature terrorist incidents around the village ever since he was a child.
If he didn't grow out of it in a few years, Onoki was going to have no choice but to send him off to live somewhere remote.
"Where were they detonated?"
"In… in the sky. The bombs were moved into the air by Wind Release. No casualties."
The Anbu hesitated briefly, then added,
"We apprehended the suspect…"
"Was it Deidara?"
"…Yes. It was Deidara."
The Iwa shinobi answered after a pause.
Onoki's old face showed a trace of helplessness as he rubbed his large nose.
"…That brat."
He sighed and waved a hand.
"Take him back."
The Anbu nodded, saluted, and withdrew.
Tsunade raised a brow and looked at Onoki.
"Your student?"
"Yeah. A disappointing one."
Onoki shook his head.
His student was undeniably a genius, incredibly gifted in Earth Release.
But his temperament was wild, and he never gave anyone a moment's peace.
"That kid's been obsessed with clay bombs since he was little, always messing with bizarre things. Sorry you had to see that."
A faint smile curved Tsunade's lips.
"That's pretty interesting."
She paused.
"But are you sure it's just childish play? What if one day he doesn't blow up the sky—but this building instead?"
Onoki's expression stiffened.
He was pretty sure that had been exactly what Deidara intended—only the bombs had been redirected into the sky.
"…I'll discipline him properly."
He placed both hands back on the negotiating table and cleared his throat.
"Let's continue."
…
Outside the building, Deidara was being dragged home by the back of his collar by an Iwa Anbu shinobi.
His head drooped, messy blond hair hanging down to cover his face.
But his eyes kept sneaking glances backward.
Kiyohara was still standing there.
Deidara pulled his gaze back, but he couldn't stop wondering—
How did that guy react so fast?
…
The negotiations went surprisingly smoothly.
Konoha dropped all demands for compensation and asked only for a ceasefire.
Iwa, naturally, couldn't have been happier to accept.
By that same evening, the treaty was signed.
Onoki personally escorted Tsunade and the others out of the building.
"Princess Tsunade, why not stay in the village tonight?"
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 120 Chapters Ahead of Others!