"Utakata, that chakra... it gives me a feeling that I can't quite breathe."
Inside him, the Six-Tails, Saiken, let out a low, muffled growl. It was an extremely rare sense of suppression. Aside from the Uzumaki clan with their mastery of sealing jutsu, the only one who had ever made them feel such a dangerous level of constraint was Hashirama Senju.
His [Sage Art: Gate of the Enlightened] was a technique left behind by the Sage of the Six Paths, but the pink chakra released by Uchiha Kiyoshi was something entirely unheard of. It was alien yet divine, carrying a purifying aura that transcended common logic. If one had to describe it, it possessed the ethereal quality of a Priestess.
"Suppressing a Tailed Beast?" Utakata's first thought was the Uzumaki. But Kiyoshi had jet-black hair and bore the Uchiha crest; he looked nothing like an Uzumaki. He watched Kiyoshi with heightened vigilance.
"I'll have to make another trip to the Land of Demons eventually," Kiyoshi thought.
The light from his ninja blade intensified. The Priestess's chakra from the red stone swirled around the edge, flickering with a pinkish-purple hue as it intertwined with Kiyoshi's own energy. The "Demon-Slaying" property within his chakra was activated, glowing fiercely.
At that moment, the [Gluttonous Maw (Blue)] Trait surged, releasing the energy Kiyoshi had accumulated by consuming Food Pills, reaching peak absorption efficiency. Under [Sage Mode], the phantom spirit snakes surrounding him gradually took on the same color as his blade, filled with an inexplicable rhythm.
"Sage Art: Phantom Snake Sealing!"
With a light shout, the spirit snakes suddenly lengthened. Their heads turned hideous and their bodies thickened, crossing dozens of meters in an instant to bite into Saiken's massive form.
As a millennium-old clan, the Uchiha possessed various inheritances regarding sealing jutsu. To enter the secret room beneath the Naka Shrine, one had to use a sealing technique to move a massive square stone. Drawing parallels from his existing knowledge, Kiyoshi could now create his own jutsu.
Earlier, there was the [Sage Art: Electric Net]. This new move was a combination of [Genjutsu], [Senjutsu], and [Sealing Jutsu], using [Senjutsu] as the primary vessel.
The feedback from his ocular power and the Trait bonuses constantly raised Kiyoshi's talent, giving him the ability to absorb various styles and extract their essence. What seemed impossible for others was mere routine for him.
*Roar!*
Utakata manipulated the Tailed Beast's body, trying to tear the snakes apart, but in the next heartbeat, a cold, invisible ocular power poured into him.
Sharingran!
*Clang!*
Utakata's body stiffened. His chakra flow was obstructed, and he felt as if he were locked in invisible shackles. Under the combined weight of these factors, he found himself unable to move. The phantom snakes bit down fiercely, binding the Six-Tails; each snake was the size of one of his tails.
"So... so powerful," Kurenai muttered, watching in a daze. The ability to make chakra manifest in a near-physical state was terrifying. Her father was a Jonin, so she knew a lot about elite shinobi; very few among them could achieve what Kiyoshi was doing.
"Quick, get to Juzo Biwa," Kiyoshi spoke. His voice wasn't fast, but it carried a crushing authority. Even though his ocular power far exceeded a Three-Tomoe, he hadn't reached the threshold of the Mangekyo, so restraining the Six-Tailed Saiken was still a strain.
A beast's power was largely determined by its number of tails—half of the Nine-Tails alone could match any other beast besides the Eight-Tails.
While Kiyoshi held the line, Hizashi Hyuga handed the injured Hiashi to another clan member and rushed to support Uchiha Fugaku. With Utakata restrained and Ringo Ameyuri essentially "slacking off" during the fight, the Leaf forces, possessing superior numbers, began to gain a decisive advantage.
"I got it!"
Juzo Biwa was momentarily caught off guard. Hizashi shattered his clothing with a strike, and the sealing scroll tumbled to the ground, where Hizashi swiftly snatched it.
"...It's all because of that Uchiha Kiyoshi." Juzo grit his teeth, his chest heaving. Victory had been within their grasp, only to be forcibly reversed by this one Uchiha. This was the closest Mist had ever come to obtaining the Byakugan bloodline, and it was ruined.
Without hesitation, Juzo made a split-second decision. He hoisted his Executioner's Blade and bolted into the distance. Juzo was an ambitious man; he would not allow himself to die here.
"Lord Juzo is retreating! Pull back!"
"All units, retreat!"
A Mist ninja's shout acted like a lit fuse, and the forces began to flee in a rout. Just like a landslide, once the first retreated, the second and third followed. A war between ninjas was essentially the same as one between civilians—the only difference was that ninjas possessed more power for destruction. Humans still felt the same hesitation, fear, and herd mentality.
"Mei, are you okay?"
During the retreat, Meru saw Mei Terumi collapsed in a puddle. Her lips were cracked and her face was pale, showing signs of severe dehydration. Had Mei not twitched occasionally, Meru might have thought she had died on the battlefield. Meru quickly hoisted Mei onto her back.
"Meru...?"
Light returned to Terumi Mei's hollow eyes, and a voice like a mosquito's hum drifted from her throat. By the end, her body had become unresponsive due to extreme dehydration. She barely had the strength to speak. She looked at the person carrying her and had a faint memory—Meru was a member of Kisame Hoshigaki's squad.
"Did we lose?"
"Lord Utakata is temporarily sealed. The others are attacking him, but given a Tailed Beast's power, he'll break free soon. They can't hurt him," Meru said, glancing back. If they didn't leave before the mist fully cleared, there would be zero chance. Lord Utakata could escape on his own, but they would certainly be captured.
"I see..." Mei thought silently. Using the corner of her eye, she looked back at Kiyoshi suspended in the air. The greenish mantle on his body extended several phantom snakes to bind the Six-Tails.
That's right. It was because she was too weak. Because the person involved was weak, every time a comrade died, her body was desecrated by those deaths. Kiyoshi was strong, and she was weak, hence the current outcome. Doing as one pleases is the right of the strong!
Mei finally understood this painful truth. Thinking of the shameful experience from moments ago, her cheeks flushed. She couldn't tell if it was anger or shame, but the desire for power was now incredibly vivid.
It wasn't she who was wrong, but this world! One day, she would correct this mistaken world, just as she planned to correct the "Bloody Mist." And Kiyoshi was the person she absolutely had to "correct."
Meru, carrying Mei, had no idea of the storm brewing in Mei's heart. She only felt that Mei was sticky, dampening her back. As the cold wind blew, she felt a chill, prompting her to pick up her pace.
At the next base, powerful members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen like Fuguki Suikazan, Jinpachi Munashi, and Kushimaru Kuriarare would be there. Her teammate Kisame would be there as well.
"You... very well. I will remember you."
After the Mist ninjas had retreated, Utakata realized the situation was hopeless. He gave Kiyoshi a deep look, knowing Leaf would soon have a rising star. It was a pity he hadn't had the chance to erase Kiyoshi in the cradle, allowing him to grow this much. To deal with him, one would need to prepare in advance.
"Six-Tails!" Utakata roared. The chakra in his body exploded like a mountain flood. The massive Tailed Beast body rapidly shrunk and transformed, turning a dark blue. Like a winding, twisted small serpent, he quickly disappeared into the distance.
"Is that a unique ability of the Six-Tails?" Kiyoshi didn't pursue him. No one else chose to, either. The mission was already a massive success—they had prevented the bloodline leak and effectively captured the base. By now, the few remaining Mist ninjas in the buildings were fleeing.
"The Byakugan wasn't recovered." Hizashi Hyuga frowned as he looked at Nobuhiko. Nobuhiko had no eyeballs, only empty sockets. The stolen Byakugan was still in the right eye of the Jonin, Ao.
The other eye would likely be transplanted into another ninja. Mist would have two Byakugan users, which was not good news for the Hyuga. Not only was the eye gone, but his brother was seriously injured.
"Medical ninja!" Hizashi shouted. Two medics ran over to give Hiashi emergency treatment.
Before long, Uchiha Fugaku began ordering ninjas to take over the Mist base. Looking at the devastated land, he sighed. Several Uchiha ninjas had died.
If he hadn't hidden his strength, perhaps the casualties wouldn't have... No, if he didn't do this, the Uchiha would be feared. That power had to be saved for the end. He would just have to distribute more compensation money when they returned.
Fugaku's gaze shifted to Kiyoshi. Perhaps he could prop Kiyoshi up as the public-facing combat power. With one in the light and one in the shadows, the Uchiha clan could continue to walk forward safely.
"Kiyoshi, if your new jutsu weren't so difficult, I'd want to learn it," Kurenai said, running over and handing him her water bottle. Kiyoshi's clothes were tattered from the fierce battle, inadvertently revealing the outline of his strong muscles. Kurenai couldn't help but swallow.
Kiyoshi took a drink.
"Wait, hold on..." Kurenai suddenly thought of something. Wouldn't that be an indirect kiss?
"What's wrong?" Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow. Wanting to tease her, he took another sip.
"Ah, it's nothing." Kurenai's head shook frantically. Since Kiyoshi was taller, he could easily look down on her. He saw that her ears beneath her curly black hair were bright red. Not only that, but the fine hairs on her white neck were flushed too—it was quite cute. Kurenai was currently very "Red."
"If you want to learn, there might be a way in the future," Kiyoshi said after a moment of teasing.
The three traditional [Sage Modes] and the [Cursed Seal] all carried risks, but the latter could be continuously improved. For instance, Anko's flawed [Cursed Seal of Heaven] became a more perfect version when applied to Sasuke. Kiyoshi's research into [Senjutsu] would eventually surpass Orochimaru's.
After all, no matter how much Orochimaru researched, he never truly mastered the power; only someone who experienced it personally, like Kiyoshi, could research it deeply. When the time came, he might be able to plant a [Cursed Seal] on Kurenai.
That way, Kiyoshi would have another means of survival. Theoretically, as long as the [Cursed Seal] and his living cells existed, he could be resurrected from it, just as Orochimaru did.
He didn't want to use that method unless absolutely necessary, but it was a good backup plan.
...
After leaving a portion of ninjas behind, the rest of the force began to retreat to their original base. While chatting with Kurenai, Kiyoshi noticed Nobuhiko's two dark hollows and the haggard face of Hyuga Ginka. A smile played on the corner of his mouth.
In the original story, Mist only stole one Byakugan; under his butterfly effect, it had become two. This meant Ginka would be under more pressure, making her easier for him to manipulate.
"Kiyoshi?" Kurenai noticed his smile.
"It's nothing. We should get going."
"Okay." Kurenai nodded and quickly followed him.
...
After the mission was complete, Kiyoshi and the others began their journey back to the village. Divided into three groups, Kiyoshi happened to be in the first batch. They hurried back from the southern border of the Land of Fire.
The country was still in chaos, and Kiyoshi saw many refugees. These refugees, with no one to vouch for them, couldn't go to leaf or other large village. They could only drift to small villages, eventually encountering bandits and being forced to wander again.
"Sigh." Uchiha Tekka sighed. This was just how the world was now. Even Uchiha clansmen who weren't ninjas faced danger when traveling for business.
"There seems to be an orphanage ahead."
During the journey, they stopped at a town for supplies. From the villagers' conversation, the group learned of a famous local orphanage that took in many children. The director was a retired ninja, so no bandits dared to raid it. It was said they had recently taken in Leaf ninjas, providing medical treatment in exchange for money.
Hearing this, Kiyoshi immediately realized where they were in the orphanage's timeline. Danzo Shimura had begun to apply pressure. Nono Yakushi, worried about money, had even exposed her past as a ninja to make a living through medical ninjutsu. She also taught the children basic chakra refinement and simple medical jutsu so they could assist her.
"Let's go take a look. We might run into some our comrades," Kiyoshi suggested, finding an excuse.
"Alright." Everyone had witnessed Kiyoshi's strength on the battlefield, and they had unconsciously begun to view him as a superior. His words carried an inexplicable weight that made people want to follow.
Uchiha Yakumi shook his head inwardly. For a moment, he actually felt a desire to obey Kiyoshi—this kid he had picked up from the Land of Lightning.
"If there are Leaf comrades there, there might be a place for us to stay. It would be better than resting in the town," Yakumi said. Ninjas were mercenaries and elites; they were far fewer in number than ordinary soldiers. Even Hidden Leaf couldn't know every inch of the vast Land of Fire, and there were bound to be infiltrations by enemy nations.
After a quick resupply, the group headed toward the orphanage.
...
The shack area next to the orphanage.
A simple large tent stood on the dull earth, filled with the sounds of wailing. Every half-meter, a faded square sheet was spread out, with injured ninjas lying on them, occupying the entire space.
*Hum...*
The tent was filled with flickering pale green light—proof of medical ninjutsu in use. Orochimaru watched the child treating him and thought of someone. Even Orochimaru, who called himself a genius, felt a bit overshadowed by that other genius's light.
Uchiha Kiyoshi! It was hard to imagine what level he would reach in the future or what achievements he would have.
"Wait a moment, it'll be done soon," Kabuto Yakushi said, looking up.
"That amount of time is reasonable," Orochimaru's voice was raspy.
"Kabuto, can you keep going?" Nonō Yakushi looked at Kabuto's pale face and the sweat on his brow, her voice filled with worry. "Why don't you go rest for a bit?"
"It's okay, Director!" Kabuto stood up straight with a determined smile. "I can continue!"
Watching the children work so hard, Nonō sighed. Did she want to make these kids work? Currently, the village had no money, the country had no money, and her small orphanage certainly had none.
So many orphans needed food, water, clothes, and education; they couldn't be left illiterate. All these expenses added up to a large monthly cost.
The money Kiyoshi had given her was long gone. Prices had recently begun to rise despite being stable for a long time. The villagers said there were bandits, but Nonō could smell something unusual. As the former "top ace" of the Root's intelligence division, she was familiar with these tactics.
Danzo Shimura. Nonō vaguely sensed that man was behind this; Danzo was someone who would use any means to achieve his goals. Hidden Leaf... was short on people.
While Nonō was lost in thought, Urushi nearby couldn't help but complain to Kabuto: "Even though we're this busy, the money is pitifully low." He glanced around at his exhausted comrades who were grit their teeth while performing jutsu or carrying the wounded.
"Even if it's for the orphanage, this is too much..." he muttered.
"The Director said that to gain something, you must give something. Even a few coins is money—how much flour can that buy?" Kabuto quoted Nonō's words. Urushi could only nod. He was just venting; everyone saw how hard the Director worked for them and wanted to help her.
"To think you can use such jutsu without being a formal medical ninja..." Orochimaru looked at Nonō, seeing her expression remain calm, and continued: "If you were to become a medical ninja, I think you would become a powerful shinobi."
Kabuto smiled slightly, a hint of helplessness in his tone: "I have no such plans. I just want to earn a little money for the orphanage and stay here to help the Director. She's so good to me, yet I haven't even been able to give her a proper gift in return."
Orochimaru's lips curled. He extended his unusually long tongue to lick his lips and said coolly, "Is that so... what a pity."
"There's nothing to be pity about." Nonō sent Kabuto to take care of other patients and personally treated Orochimaru. Above a three-centimeter wound on Orochimaru's arm, a rich green light appeared.
"Heh, you, known as the 'Walking Priestess,' are actually looking after these children." Orochimaru spoke with a hint of irony.
"Lord Orochimaru, I think children are quite nice," Kiyoshi's voice drifted from the tent entrance.
"Kiyoshi-kun..." Orochimaru's pupils constricted slightly. When did Kiyoshi arrive? Why hadn't he noticed? Was [Senjutsu] subtly improving Kiyoshi's strength? Or was it something else?
"Kiyoshi?" Another surprised voice rang out. Nonō saw Kiyoshi, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, and a look of joy appeared on her face. Then she remembered their last fruitless discussion.
She hadn't been able to correct him properly, leaving him with a distorted affection for her. That was wrong. Nonō sighed internally.
"Nonō-sensei, I'm back," Kiyoshi said with a smile. Having not seen her for a long time, Nonō didn't look old; rather, her saintly aura of compassion had grown even stronger. This was likely the result of her long tenure as the orphanage director.
"There are so many injured here." Kurenai's head popped out from behind Kiyoshi as she entered the tent.
"Lord Orochimaru, you're here too." Because of the teacher-student relationship between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru, Asuma was quite familiar with him. Or rather, he was familiar with all the Sannin, who were legends to everyone else.
"We were part of this..." Uchiha Yakumi entered to explain their purpose to Orochimaru. Behind him were various ninjas—Uchiha, Hyuga, and commoners. Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, held command over a unit, which was the same unit Nonō was treating.
"Heh, I see. You can set up another shack area nearby," Orochimaru said. Yakumi immediately led the group out to arrange temporary tents. With Orochimaru's troops nearby, it would be much safer. Most of the people left, but Kiyoshi stayed behind.
"Nonō-sensei, let me help you." He moved closer to her.