Farther away, Yugito was bound by black curse-mark patterns, being watched by one of Kiyohara's shadow clones.
It was obvious that this strike had swept up all of Kumogakure's main forces in one net.
The remaining Cloud shinobi, now leaderless, weren't likely to stir up much trouble anymore.
If anything, this might even trigger internal strife in Kumogakure.
Every generation of Raikage inherited the name "A." At the very least, the First through Fourth all had.
But now that the Raikage had been captured, and Kumogakure hadn't yet chosen anyone qualified to inherit the title, chaos was bound to follow for a while.
Even if they still had several thousand shinobi left, they wouldn't be able to bring that strength to bear effectively.
"Retreat!"
Some of the smarter Cloud shinobi had already chosen to withdraw.
Only by preserving their remaining strength did they have any hope of rescuing the Raikage.
For a while, large numbers of Cloud shinobi began pulling back.
A portion of them were intercepted by Konoha forces, but many still managed to escape.
The Konoha shinobi slowly closed in, still wearing expressions of disbelief.
They'd won?
Just like that… they'd won?
"We won!"
Someone shouted it aloud.
"We won! Konoha won!"
"We won!"
The cheers exploded.
Kiyohara also returned to his normal state.
The chakra in his forehead seal was empty now and would need to be replenished.
He estimated it would take several more days to build it back up.
Just then, Tsunade walked over.
Her mask was stained with blood.
But since it had no eyeholes, she couldn't actually see the blood outside, so she could still move freely.
Sensing that Kiyohara's chakra was nearly bottomed out, she came over and supported him herself.
Kiyohara could feel something soft pressing against him, and when he turned his head, he realized it was Tsunade helping hold him up.
"I'm fine, Sensei."
Kiyohara shook his head.
He was just running low on chakra. He wasn't actually injured.
"Don't push yourself."
Tsunade shook her head.
Then she had Katsuyu come over and transfer chakra into him.
After receiving the chakra, Kiyohara looked a bit better.
Then he looked into the distance.
The Cloud shinobi who could run had run, the ones who could be captured had been captured, and the Konoha shinobi were all cleaning up the battlefield now.
"The Cloud didn't have time to pull out their stores. There should still be a lot of military supplies left."
Kiyohara said.
That was good stuff.
"Definitely."
Tsunade lowered her voice, her eyes brightening a little.
"We did the most work here. No matter what, we should be able to skim off a little."
The moment money came up, Tsunade perked right up.
"Let's head back first."
Kiyohara said.
…
At the Konoha camp, when Kiyohara was helped back in by Tsunade, what greeted him was a tidal wave of cheers.
"Kiyohara is a hero!"
"Long live Captain Kiyohara!"
Shinobi from every direction crowded in, their faces lit with the joy of surviving.
Kiyohara stood where he was and gave a slight nod.
He didn't say anything. His gaze just passed over those excited faces, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
"Kiyohara!"
A figure broke out of the crowd and threw herself straight into his arms.
Kurenai hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Kiyohara could feel the cloth over his chest quickly being soaked by warm tears.
"It's alright."
He raised a hand and gently rubbed the top of her head.
"I'm fine."
Kurenai didn't answer. She just held him tighter.
Not far away, Rin stood with both hands clasped in front of her chest, her brown eyes fixed on Kiyohara.
She came first.
Hm?
No, wait.
Rin thought about it carefully. It seemed like Kurenai had actually gotten close to Kiyohara before she did.
That realization dimmed her eyes a little.
After thinking for a moment, she took a breath and walked over.
"Kiyohara-kun."
Rin stood in front of him, wearing a gentle smile.
"You worked hard."
Kiyohara looked up at her.
"You too, Rin."
Rin pressed her lips together, then suddenly reached out and lightly patted his arm.
"Um… tonight I'll make you something good for recovery."
Her voice was soft, full of careful hope.
Kurenai lifted her head from Kiyohara's chest and glanced at Rin.
For the first time, she felt a genuine sense of danger from the "main wife" seat.
Though she had no proof.
Not far away, Tsunade stood with her arms folded, watching the whole thing.
The corner of her mouth lifted with amusement.
"This brat…"
She shook her head and turned toward her own tent.
After taking a few steps, she stopped.
"Oh, right."
Without looking back, she said,
"The prisoners have all been secured. The Raikage and the two jinchūriki are being held separately under multiple sealing layers. Go deal with them once you've rested."
"Got it."
Kiyohara's voice came from behind her.
Tsunade nodded and kept walking.
Her steps were lighter than usual.
…
Later, bonfires were lit all throughout the camp.
Konoha's shinobi sat around them, drinking heavily, tearing into meat, and celebrating a hard-won victory.
The Uchiha clan members were gathered together, but every so often, all of their eyes drifted toward the figure sitting off by himself in a corner.
Shisui Uchiha.
He was leaning against a tree, wrapped all over in bandages.
Tekka Uchiha walked over, crouched beside him, and lowered his voice.
"Shisui… what was that thing with the arrows you fired?"
Shisui looked up at him.
His eyes had already returned to normal black.
"…An application of Susanoo."
Shisui said.
"It's the Uchiha clan's… 'third power.'"
…
Late at night.
The noise in camp gradually died down.
Inside Fugaku Uchiha's tent, candlelight flickered.
Shisui had only just managed to get a little time to rest. After dealing with the clan members who kept coming to see him, he then received a summons from Fugaku.
Fugaku was the clan head. Shisui couldn't refuse.
So he came to Fugaku once again.
"When did you awaken the Mangekyō?"
Fugaku asked the question he cared about most.
"A while ago."
Shisui replied.
Fugaku watched him.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
Shisui lifted his eyes to meet his gaze.
"Fugaku-sama, you should understand better than I do what the Mangekyō Sharingan really means."
Fugaku's brow tightened slightly.
"Power?"
"No. Trouble."
Shisui shook his head.
"If the clan knew I had the Mangekyō, what would they think? What would they do?"
"They'd think the Uchiha could become even stronger."
Shisui continued,
"They'd think we shouldn't keep enduring like this."
"They'd start walking down that road."
Fugaku: "…"
Silence fell in the tent.
The candlelight swayed, throwing both their shadows against the tent walls.
After a long while, Fugaku finally spoke.
"You did the right thing."
…
At the same time, the ripple effects of Kiyohara and this victory were still spreading.
Inside Shikaku Nara's tent, several people sat gathered together.
"You all saw what happened today."
Shikaku said.
Chōza Akimichi nodded, his face serious.
"That kid Kiyohara… he's too strong."
"It's not just that he's strong."
Inoichi Yamanaka picked up the thought.
"His war merit has already surpassed Orochimaru's."
Silence fell in the tent.
Shikaku's fingers tapped lightly on the table.
"The candidates for Fourth Hokage are already pretty clear now."
Shikaku said slowly.
"Kiyohara. Minato Namikaze."
"As for Orochimaru…"
He paused.
"There are probably still a few other possible candidates too."
Chōza scratched his head.
"So who do we support?"
Shikaku looked at him.
"What do you think?"
Chōza thought it over.
"Minato, I guess. He's well liked, he's strong, and…"
He glanced at Shikaku.
"He's easier to deal with."
Inoichi shook his head.
"Kiyohara isn't bad either. He's Tsunade's disciple, and he has support from the Hokage's faction."
"More importantly, he's young."
Shikaku was silent for a while.
"So we keep both sides happy."
He raised his eyes.
"We don't offend either side, we show goodwill to both, and when the outcome is clear, then we make our position known."
Chōza and Inoichi exchanged a look and nodded together.
"That works."
…
At the Hokage Tower, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his broad desk, pipe frozen halfway to his mouth.
"The Fourth Raikage captured… the Eight-Tails jinchūriki captured… the Two-Tails jinchūriki captured…"
After a long while, he set the report down and slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.
The war was finally about to end.
Even Hiruzen couldn't help showing a rare trace of joy.
"Send the order down."
He called in an Anbu shinobi.
"Spread news of this victory as widely as possible."
"Yes."
The Anbu operative in the shadows accepted the order and vanished.
…
In Iwagakure, inside the Tsuchikage's office, Ōnoki sat in his broad stone chair, clutching a freshly delivered report.
The report was short.
"The Fourth Raikage captured. The Eight-Tails and Two-Tails jinchūriki captured. Kumogakure's main force routed."
He read the lines aloud, and his aged face only grew graver with each word.
After a while, he lowered the report and let out a long sigh.
"Konoha…"
he muttered.
"They've produced another terrifying figure."
…
In Sunagakure, inside the Kazekage's office, Rasa stood by the window looking out at the endless yellow sand.
A report was in his hand.
"Kiyohara…"
Rasa frowned.
That shinobi who had once stood before him with such sharp presence—had he really grown to this level already?
He remembered the time he had faced off against Kiyohara directly.
Back then, Kiyohara had been impressive, but still within the realm of comprehension.
"Send the order."
Rasa called in a Sand Anbu operative.
"Strengthen the border watch. And go open talks with Konoha about fully restoring the Chūnin Exams."
"Yes."
The shinobi behind him accepted the order and departed.
Rasa remained standing at the window, looking out over the sand.
"Konoha…"
he murmured.
"It's going to rise to strength again."
…
In Kirigakure.
It was deep night.
Mei Terumi walked up a long staircase and arrived outside Genji's residence.
She knocked.
"Come in."
An old voice came from inside.
Mei pushed the door open and stepped in.
Genji sat beside a low table with a map spread out before him.
He looked up at her.
Those cloudy old eyes reflected her slender figure.
"It's late. What is it?"
Mei sat down across from him.
"It's about the external war…"
She paused.
"We've really decided to withdraw?"
Genji looked at her and nodded.
Months ago, they had already fully withdrawn from the old site of the Land of Whirlpools.
They had been shrinking their external military presence ever since.
"That's right. We're done fighting."
Mei froze.
"Done?"
"Yes."
Genji nodded and lifted the pipe from the table, taking a slow drag.
"We can't afford to keep going."
Mei's brow furrowed slightly.
"But—"
"There is no but."
Genji cut her off.
"Kiri has already lost enough. If we keep fighting, all we'll do is send more shinobi to their deaths."
He set the pipe back down and looked at her.
"That's the decision."
Mei fell silent.
She looked at his old face, those cloudy eyes, and suddenly felt that something was off.
But she couldn't put her finger on it.
"…Understood."
She stood and turned to leave.
At the doorway, she stopped.
"Genji-sama."
"Yes?"
"Now that peace is coming, about the Chūnin Exams…"
In the past, because of the Land of Fire's location, many countries had chosen to hold Chūnin Exams there.
So besides holding their own local promotion exams, shinobi from other villages could also go to Konoha to take the Chūnin Exams.
Of course, the shinobi permitted to travel abroad were always stronger than average.
After all, once they left the village, they represented the pride of the village behind them.
It was also a way for villages to promote themselves, earn the trust of more employers, and receive more missions.
"When the time is right, we'll reopen talks with Konoha."
Genji's voice came from behind her.
Mei nodded and stepped out.
The hallway was empty.
She stood there, looking out into the night, and a certain figure surfaced in her mind.
"Live on in ugliness."
Her fists clenched.
"Kiyohara…"
She thought of that maddening expression of his.
She thought about how she might one day wipe away that humiliation.
…
After Mei left, the air in Genji's room warped slightly.
A figure wearing a tiger-striped mask stepped out of the void.
"She's gone?"
Obito's voice came from behind the mask.
"She's gone."
Genji's old face was blank now, his eyes empty.
It was clearly Sharingan genjutsu.
Obito withdrew his gaze and turned toward the window.
Outside, the night was thick and dark.
"Kiyohara…"
he murmured the name.
That hand of his clenched unconsciously.
The knuckles turned white.
He drew in a deep breath and suppressed the emotions inside him.
Then his figure began to twist and fade into the void.
Soon, only Genji remained in the room.
He sat motionless at the low table, eyes empty, face expressionless.
…
At Root headquarters.
Bang!
Another loud crash rang out.
Danzo Shimura's fist smashed into the table, splitting the solid wood apart and sending splinters flying.
"Kiyohara… Kiyohara… Kiyohara!"
He ground out the name through clenched teeth, the rage in his one eye almost seeming ready to burst free.
The Root shinobi around him all kept their heads down, hardly daring to breathe.
"Danzo-sama."
A hoarse voice came from behind him.
Danzo turned around.
Orochimaru was leaning against the doorway, a faint smile on his pale face.
"No need to get so angry, is there?"
"Angry?"
Danzo let out a cold laugh.
"Do you have any idea what happens once this war ends? The seat of the Fourth Hokage will be decided."
"That brat Kiyohara already has more war merit than you!"
Orochimaru's smile didn't change.
"I know."
"And you can still smile?"
Danzo's voice rose sharply.
"You still have the mood to smile?"
Orochimaru looked at him, a deep gleam passing through his golden slit pupils.
"Danzo-sama… do you really think the Hokage's seat is that important?"
Danzo froze.
"What do you mean?"
Orochimaru didn't answer right away.
He walked over to the shattered table and looked down at the broken pieces.
"The thing I've always wanted was never the Hokage's seat."
he said softly.
"What I want… is immortality."
Danzo's brow tightened.
"What are you trying to say?"
Orochimaru turned to face him.
"Kiyohara's body… is very unusual."
There was a faint heat in his voice now.
"If I could obtain that body…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
But Danzo understood.
His one eye narrowed slightly.
"You want his body?"
Orochimaru nodded.
"And Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan."
He licked his lips.
"Those eyes… are very special."
Danzo fell silent for a while.
"You think you can pull it off?"
Orochimaru looked at him.
"No."
he said frankly.
"But it's worth trying."
Danzo thought it over.
After a long pause, he finally nodded.
"Then… wait for the right moment."
Orochimaru smiled.
"Of course."
He turned and started walking toward the door.
At the entrance, he suddenly stopped.
"Danzo-sama."
"Yes?"
"Kiyohara… really is special."
His voice echoed through the empty underground base.
"There are a great many secrets hidden inside that body."
…
The next day.
Inside Kiyohara's tent.
He sat leaning against the bedding, eyes closed, restoring his chakra.
Once the Strength of a Hundred Seal ran empty, the sensation was like a part of his body had gone missing.
But it was refilling quickly.
At this rate, in three days at most, it would be full again.
"Kiyohara."
The tent flap lifted.
Tsunade walked in holding a small pot.
Steam rose from it, rich with fragrance.
Kiyohara opened his eyes.
"Sensei?"
Tsunade set the pot down on the small table in front of him and handed him a bowl and chopsticks.
"Drink some soup. Build yourself back up."
Kiyohara looked down into the pot.
Chicken soup.
It had been simmered to a rich golden color, with a few red dates and goji berries floating on top.
He picked up the spoon and scooped some out.
The temperature was just right.
He took a sip.
It was rich and savory, with a faint herbal note.
"Tastes good."
Tsunade sat down across from him, folding her arms.
"Of course it does. I spent the whole morning making it."
Then, after a pause, she suddenly asked,
"I heard you're developing the old site of the Land of Whirlpools?"
Kiyohara's movement paused slightly.
He looked up at her.
"How do you know that, Sensei?"
"I have my sources."
Tsunade crossed one leg over the other.
"Well? What's going on?"
Kiyohara set the spoon down.
"I just don't want it to stay abandoned forever."
he said.
"The Land of Whirlpools was once one of Konoha's allies. Now it's become that. Someone should do something."
That was the excuse.
What Kiyohara truly cared about was Uzumaki Kiyohara's final wish.
He was just using a roundabout method to revive that land.
After all, the sealing arts of the Uzumaki had already been collected by Konoha, and whatever other nations could plunder, they already had.
All that remained now was a war-scarred wasteland.
To shinobi, that had almost no value—unless another war began and someone wanted to use the islands of the Land of Whirlpools as a staging point to attack the Land of Fire.
Tsunade watched him.
"Just because of that?"
"Yeah."
Kiyohara nodded.
"And because there's a chance to make a lot of money."
Tsunade's eyes lit up instantly.
"A lot of money?"
"Yeah."
Kiyohara said.
"Tourism isn't very developed in the ninja world yet, but in the future there's definitely a market for it. The Land of Whirlpools has a great location, and the scenery's good. If it's developed properly, it could draw in a lot of visitors."
Tsunade listened carefully.
"So how much have you put in already?"
Kiyohara thought for a moment.
"I started with a small goal."
Tsunade blinked.
"A small goal? How much is that?"
~~~
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