Thud.
Ao's body hit the mud, his spiky blue hair matting with blood. He stared up at the canopy, his single eye wide with unwillingness.
But death is absolute. His life force flickered and went out.
Kiyohara regained control.
"Hoo..."
He dropped to one knee, propping himself up with the Tachi.
Pain shot through every nerve. His muscles screamed. His meridians burned.
Using the S-Rank "Willow" technique with a Chunin-level body was like running a Ferrari engine in a Corolla.
'Proxy overuse risk,' Kiyohara noted grimly. 'If I let the Spirit go 100%, I'll tear myself apart like the Eight Gates.'
But he didn't rest.
He pulled a Kunai.
Thwack.
He embedded it in Ao's skull.
'Always double-tap. Zombies and fake deaths are common in this world.'
"It's finally over."
The Spirit of Young Kiyohara appeared behind him, fading like a ghost in the sun.
"My revenge is done. But... it feels hollow."
He looked at Ao's corpse.
"This Ao isn't the one from my time. I just killed a ghost of a ghost."
"My past self," the Spirit said, his voice clearer than the Rogue Ninja's. "The saying 'No sword in hand, a sword in heart' is bullshit. If you can afford a weapon, get the best one."
"I know," Kiyohara agreed.
Even his new Chakra Conduction Tachi felt slightly lacking after channeling the S-Rank jutsu.
'I need a Kusanagi,' Kiyohara decided.
The Kusanagi Sword wasn't a single blade; it was a class of legendary weapons (Orochimaru's, Sasuke's). He needed that level of durability.
"I hope you don't get packaged away in the end," the Spirit smirked.
He waved his hand.
The phantom dissolved into motes of light. They surged into Kiyohara's chest.
System Integration Complete.
1. Knowledge Download:
The essence of Konoha-Style: Willow.
Countless hours of drilling.
Tactical insights on spacing, timing, and parrying.
It wasn't just memory; it was instinct. Kiyohara felt a natural affinity for the blade, as if he had been born holding one.
2. Spiritual Cleansing:
His mind felt cool and sharp. The exhaustion from the battle vanished. His mental processing speed increased.
3. Chakra Surge:
The floodgates opened.
His reserves, depleted by the fight, began to refill rapidly.
Not just refill—expand.
'My capacity has increased,' Kiyohara realized, clenching his fist.
If Kakashi was 1.0 Unit of Chakra, Kiyohara was now 1.5 Units.
He wasn't a Tailed Beast, but he was no longer a civilian scrub.
'Two lifetimes of accumulation,' Kiyohara marveled. 'I'm stacking stats faster than Obito unlocks eyes.'
Kiyohara stretched his limbs. He felt powerful.
But a problem arose.
The Willow Technique.
It was Maruboshi Kosuke's signature move. Kosuke was a hidden legend, taught by the Second Hokage. If Kiyohara started using it publicly, Hiruzen Sarutobi would ask questions.
"I can't explain this," Kiyohara muttered. "I can't say I 'developed' an S-Rank Kenjutsu overnight."
'It's a trump card,' he decided. 'Only for life-or-death situations. Or when there are no witnesses.'
"I need a cover."
He needed a legitimate, high-level sword style he could learn from the Village Archives.
With the merit of killing a Mist Jonin (Ao), he could apply for access to the Forbidden Scroll Library.
"I'll trade Ao's head for a legitimate technique. Then I can blend the Willow style into it later."
"Kakashi..."
Kiyohara looked toward the forest.
Kakashi had gone to hunt the Red Eye user.
"I should loot quickly."
Kiyohara sheathed his sword and crouched over Ao.
He searched the body with practiced efficiency.
Money. Soldier pills. Intel scrolls.
And the bent sword.
'Every Ryo counts.'
He pocketed the loot and stood up.
His Chakra was recovering. He was ready to move.
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