"Let's head back and take a look."
Kiyohara spoke calmly.
Then he called for Rin and Shizune, and the group quickly returned to the camp.
"What took you so long?"
Inside the tent, Tsunade crossed her arms and raised a brow as she looked at the group that had finally returned.
"Did you volunteer yourselves as free labor for that brat again?"
"No, Lady Tsunade!"
Rin hurriedly explained.
"We volunteered on our own. The experiment had reached a critical stage..."
"Lady Tsunade, it really was voluntary."
Shizune nodded as well.
Usually, she had been eating all the delicious meals Kiyohara cooked, yet she had barely helped him with anything.
Because of that, Shizune had always felt a little guilty, so this time she had finally gotten the chance to help him out.
"Is that so?"
Tsunade looked suspiciously at the two girls.
Then she lifted her brown golden eyes and glanced toward Kiyohara.
She had realized that this brat was surprisingly skilled when it came to dealing with women.
Who knew how many girls would suffer because of him in the future.
"Whatever."
Tsunade shook her head.
Then she spoke to Kiyohara.
"There's an escort mission that needs you."
As she spoke, Tsunade pulled a file from inside her clothes, and the heavy burden on her chest bounced slightly with the motion.
Kiyohara's eyelid twitched at the sight, but his attention quickly returned to the document.
"Kiyohara is going over there for a mission?"
Rin asked curiously.
"He applied for it himself."
Kurenai answered Rin's question.
She knew a little about the matter.
"But... why?"
"It's too quiet here. Feels like something big is brewing."
Kiyohara answered.
"Mhm. Recently, even the Hyuga clan's shinobi haven't discovered any major movements from Kirigakure. They're probably still lying low, so we might as well probe the situation on Kumogakure's side too."
Tsunade's reasoning was simple.
Kiri might launch a diversionary tactic and carry out a lightning assault through the inland sea into the Land of Rivers, directly seizing the inland territory.
But it was also possible that they had reached some kind of secret agreement with Kumo.
After all, alliances and political maneuvering were basic strategies every shinobi village understood.
Konoha could ally with Suna, so naturally other villages could form alliances too.
Even if the possibility was low, it still existed.
"I see."
Rin finally understood a little.
"This time, you choose your own team."
Tsunade parted her red lips slightly as she spoke.
Kiyohara nodded.
He already had a rough idea of who he wanted.
After chatting for a few more moments, everyone left Tsunade's tent.
"Kurenai, come with me this time."
Kiyohara said to Kurenai.
"Me?"
Kurenai clearly had not expected him to choose her.
"Mhm. You're suitable for it."
Kiyohara replied.
It would also be a good opportunity to train Kurenai a bit.
As for Rin, there was no need for her to go.
It was better for her to remain here.
"Will it only be us?"
"No. Kakashi's coming too."
Kiyohara planned to bring Kakashi along as well.
Kakashi was basically the perfect teammate.
Worked fast, talked little.
And never complained.
"Alright then. So the two of us are going to the Kumogakure front."
Kurenai felt inexplicably disappointed.
What she had actually hoped for was to travel alone with Kiyohara.
"You're going to the Kumogakure front too?"
Asuma walked over.
He had overheard them mentioning the Kumogakure front earlier on the road.
"You're going too?"
Kiyohara casually asked.
"Yeah. Toudou, Shi, and the others are heading there too."
Asuma nodded.
His teammates now were Akimichi Toudou and Inuzuka Shi.
Their current jonin leader was Yamanaka Kaisui.
However, Yamanaka Kaisui was not stationed at this battlefield at the moment and was instead over at the Kumogakure front.
So Asuma's trip there also counted as regrouping with his captain.
"Let's go together, Kiyohara."
Asuma called out to him, though his gaze remained fixed on Kurenai the entire time.
"You're tagging along too?"
Kurenai frowned slightly.
"Of course. It's safer together."
Asuma smiled.
Beside him stood Akimichi Toudou and Inuzuka Shi.
Shino's shinobi dog barked twice.
Kurenai said nothing and instead looked toward Kiyohara.
Kiyohara nodded.
"Then let's go together."
Traveling together would actually reduce trouble.
After all, the Inuzuka clan's sense of smell was extremely sharp, and so were their shinobi hounds.
If enemies appeared, they could detect them in advance and avoid unnecessary conflict, saving time.
Kiyohara's goal was not merely escorting supplies.
His true objective was to fulfill Yotsuki Kiyohara's last wills.
Afterward, Kiyohara continued walking alongside Kurenai. Only after they had gone some distance did he say he needed to inform Kakashi, causing the two to split up temporarily.
The next day.
Kiyohara did not head to the gathering point immediately.
Instead, he went to a nearby village to buy some things.
With his flying jutsu, as long as he had enough chakra, he could save tremendous amounts of travel time.
He carried two large paper bags in his hands.
A tempting aroma drifted from them. Inside the bag on the left, bright red strawberries could faintly be seen. The bag on the right released the distinctive fragrance of freshly fried tempura.
The shinobis in the camp, who had only just woken up, all turned to stare.
Luxuries like this appearing on a wartime frontline camp felt incredibly out of place.
Without changing expression, Kiyohara walked through the crowd and stopped before the main tent, handing the paper bags respectively to Rin and Shizune, who had also just gotten up.
This was his way of thanking them for helping over the past few days.
If Kiyohara had handled the Samehada cloning experiment entirely by himself, even with all the reference materials, it would still have taken an extremely long time.
"K... Kiyohara, where did you get these?"
Rin's small face was filled with surprise.
"There's a fishing village twenty li from here. There's a morning market."
Kiyohara explained simply.
"The strawberries were the last two boxes. The tempura was freshly fried, so eat it while it's hot."
Rin accepted the paper bag, and her fingertips brushed against Kiyohara's hand. His temperature was warmer than she had imagined.
She looked up and noticed traces of dew still clinging to his eyelashes. Clearly, he had left before dawn.
"Thank you, Kiyohara-kun..."
She spoke softly, her cheeks growing slightly warm.
Shizune also thanked him.
While the two girls ate, Kiyohara headed toward Tsunade's tent once more.
From his clothes, he pulled out another small paper package and handed it to Tsunade.
"What's this?"
"Grilled fish. A local specialty I brought back today."
Kiyohara answered.
"Haven't you been complaining about the camp food lately, Sensei?"
Tsunade accepted the package and opened it.
Inside were three small fish grilled to a crispy golden brown, sprinkled with fine salt and spices. The aroma was irresistible.
She froze for a moment before laughing and patting Kiyohara on the shoulder.
"At least you brat still have some conscience."
She tore off a piece of fish and placed it in her mouth. Her eyes narrowed slightly as a satisfied expression appeared on her face.
Then Tsunade looked at Kiyohara again, her tone becoming serious.
"The situation on the Kumogakure side is more complicated than Kirigakure. Ever since the Third Raikage died, the Fourth Raikage's methods have become even more aggressive. Be careful."
Tsunade warned him.
Kumogakure was an organization structured entirely around the Raikage, almost like a mafia organization in ordinary society.
In simpler terms, a criminal syndicate.
There, they worshipped primitive violence, meaning whoever had the strongest fists became the boss.
Everyone else naturally became followers under that leader in a very straightforward hierarchy.
Because of this, Kumo's shinobis were actually far more united than those of ordinary shinobi villages.
Examples like the Gold and Silver Brothers betraying the Raikage were extremely rare.
And afterward, even their clan had suffered partial purges.
"And one more thing. The Eight Tails jinchuriki, Killer B, is a troublesome figure. Rumor says he has already completely mastered the power of the tailed beast. If you run into him, avoid conflict whenever possible. Right now our enemy is Kirigakure, not Kumogakure."
"I know."
Kiyohara nodded.
He truly had no intention of clashing with Killer B.
At least, not for now.
But Samui and Darui were people he absolutely needed to meet.
The two last wills had to be fulfilled.
And he also needed to learn Black Lightning jutsu.
Besides, by the time he returned from Kumogakure, his new sword should probably be finished as well.
Back when Kiyohara had recovered the Executioner's Blade and Samehada, he had immediately handed the weapon over to Tsunade.
Tsunade had then sent it back to Konoha and hired craftsmen to reforge it.
Naturally, this also included the shinobi blade Kiyohara frequently used, along with the chakra metal Asuma had gifted him.
So for the moment, Kiyohara could only pause the experiment and temporarily use Samehada as a substitute.
As for the blueprint, there was no need for Kiyohara to provide one.
Because the design was simply the traditional straight sword style of the Uchiha clan.
Sasuke's sword style was actually just a classic retro design, and the village craftsmen had forged that type before.
Though legendary weapons on the level of the Kusanagi Sword were things only Orochimaru could collect.
Nowadays, very few craftsmen could still forge something like that.
If Orochimaru had not given Sasuke the Kusanagi, Kiyohara suspected Sasuke probably would have ended up carrying around a kunai or an ordinary katana just like Naruto.
The mission to escort supplies to the Kumogakure frontline was scheduled to depart at dawn the following day.
"I'm worried you're being too high profile."
Tsunade spoke bluntly.
"You killed two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen on the Kirigakure front. Once that news spreads, Kumogakure will definitely pay special attention to you. They respect the strong, but they also hate outsiders acting arrogantly on their turf."
As she ate the grilled fish, Tsunade continued staring at Kiyohara.
This brat had become harder and harder to figure out lately. Not only was his strength increasing at an absurd speed, but even his experiments were starting to produce actual results.
Although she never said it aloud, Tsunade understood very clearly in her heart that Kiyohara had already surpassed the level of maturity someone his age should possess.
Kiyohara smiled faintly.
"I'll be careful and know my limits."
"I hope so."
Tsunade sighed softly and reached out to rub his hair.
Recently, this simple action had become harder for her than before.
Because Kiyohara had grown taller again, forcing her to rise onto her tiptoes.
Kiyohara allowed her hand to rest on his head for a moment before turning and leaving the tent.
Outside, Kurenai was already waiting.
"Where's Kakashi?"
Kiyohara asked.
"He said he'd wait for us at the eastern gate of the camp."
As Kurenai spoke, her gaze swept across Kiyohara's face.
"Asuma and the others are probably there already too."
Kiyohara nodded, then took something out and handed it to Kurenai.
It was one of the steamed buns he had bought earlier.
Kurenai's eyes immediately brightened, and she thanked him repeatedly.
Kiyohara took another bun out for himself and began eating as well.
The nearby fishing village sold quite a variety of things, so he had simply bought extra.
At the eastern gate of the camp, Kakashi was already waiting.
His black mask covered the lower half of his face, leaving only a pair of dead fish eyes and his white hair visible.
When he saw Kiyohara and Kurenai approaching, he lazily waved a hand.
"Morning."
"Morning."
Kiyohara responded.
Asuma arrived with his squad as well.
Akimichi Toudou still looked as honest and simple as ever, while Inuzuka Shi crouched on the ground feeding his shinobi hound.
It was a brown tracking dog with a damp nose.
"Everyone's here, so let's move out."
Asuma was the first to speak, though his eyes unconsciously drifted toward Kurenai again.
Kiyohara unfolded the mission scroll and quickly scanned through the route map and precautions.
Their route would begin from the coastal frontline camp in the Land of Rivers, return through the Land of Fire, pass across a hilly region, and finally arrive at Konoha's stronghold near the Kumogakure battlefield.
The entire journey would take roughly four days, and along the way they would pass through several areas where rogue shinobi were known to appear.
"Let's go."
Kiyohara put away the scroll and stepped forward.
The group departed from the camp and entered the dense forest.
At first, the journey was peaceful. Only the sound of footsteps and the occasional bird call broke the silence.
As he walked, Kiyohara silently circulated chakra through his body.
The training of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode could not be interrupted. This technique, which fused lightning with the physical body, required constant adaptation and refinement over a long period of time.
He could clearly feel that ever since Yotsuki Kiyohara's spirit occasionally appeared to guide him, his control over lightning nature chakra had improved significantly.
By evening, the group set up camp beside a stream.
Kiyohara selected a flat clearing. Kakashi went off to lay simple warning traps around the surrounding area, Kurenai gathered firewood, and Asuma cleaned up the campsite.
Akimichi Toudou pulled cooking pots out from a sealing scroll, while Inuzuka Shi sent his shinobi hound to patrol nearby.
The campfire was soon lit, and the orange red flames drove away the chill of the night.
A simple meat soup simmered in the pot, its aroma gradually spreading through the air.
Everyone sat around the fire chatting. From time to time came the crackling sounds of burning wood and the bubbling noises of boiling soup.
Kiyohara occasionally stirred the broth.
Above them, stars flickered through gaps in the treetops, while the Milky Way stretched across the sky like a hazy band of light.
According to the watch schedule, Kiyohara would take the first half of the night shift, while Inuzuka Shi would take the latter half.
"Is flying with Lightning Release theoretically possible?"
Kakashi suddenly asked.
"In theory, yes. By converting lightning nature chakra into electromagnetic force, you can generate propulsion or lift. But it requires an enormous amount of chakra, and the control difficulty is extremely high."
Kiyohara filled a bowl of meat soup and handed it to Kurenai, who had been staring at it eagerly the entire time.
"Thank you."
Kurenai accepted the bowl.
"Harder than flying with Magnet Release?"
Kakashi asked curiously.
"The principles are different."
Kiyohara explained.
"With Lightning Release flight, you need to continuously maintain an extremely complicated chakra nature transformation. The slightest lapse in concentration can cause you to lose control."
Kakashi nodded thoughtfully.
"If you ask me, flying with Lightning Release is inferior to flying with Earth Release."
At that moment, Asuma joined the conversation.
"That makes sense. Just like the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki."
Inuzuka Shi followed up.
The Third Tsuchikage's Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique was extremely famous and also counted as a flight technique.
When the topic shifted to flying, Kurenai, who had been quietly drinking her soup, raised her little head.
As she looked at Kiyohara, she remembered the time he had flown together with Hyuga Ginka.
Kiyohara served himself another bowl of soup before passing the ladle to Kakashi.
Everyone filled their own bowls.
After dinner, the sky grew darker.
The bright moon revealed itself for a short while before clouds concealed it once more.
"I'm going to train for a bit."
Kiyohara stood up.
He walked deeper into the forest and found a relatively open clearing.
It was about fifty meters away from the camp.
Crackle.
Pale blue arcs of electricity emerged across the surface of his body. At first there were only scattered sparks, but they rapidly spread and connected together, eventually forming a dense cloak of lightning around him.
Electric light danced across his skin with tiny crackling sounds, pushing back the surrounding darkness in a glowing halo.
Kiyohara could feel every cell in his body cheering.
Lightning nature chakra seeped into his muscle fibers, stimulating the speed of his neural reactions and strengthening the toughness of his body.
He raised his right hand, pressing his index and middle fingers together.
More chakra gathered at his fingertips, and the lightning shifted from pale blue into a dazzling white brilliance.
Lightning Release: Lightning Finger.
Whoosh!
His two fingers thrust outward. They did not touch anything, yet a thin streak of lightning shot out from his fingertips, piercing through the air and striking a tree trunk ten meters away.
Puchi.
A thumb sized hole appeared in the trunk. The edges were scorched black and faint white smoke rose from it.
But it did not stop there.
After penetrating the first tree, the lightning beam continued forward, punching through the trunks of three more trees in succession before finally leaving a shallow crater in the fifth tree and dissipating into the air.
Kiyohara looked at his fingers, then at the neat row of holes in the trees.
The power was impressive.
In reality, all Kiyohara had done was casually point his fingers forward. The electric arc had attacked on its own.
He thought about the Third Raikage's Hell Stab: One Finger Nukite.
The technique known as the strongest spear.
If he could master that move as well...
By the time Kiyohara finished training, the campfire had burned much lower, leaving only dark red embers glowing faintly.
Steady breathing came from the camp. Everyone else had already fallen asleep.
Kiyohara sat beside the fire and tossed in a few more branches. The flames quickly reignited, driving away the cold of the deep night.
At that moment, he heard a faint set of footsteps.
Kurenai crawled out from the tent.
She seemed to have only just woken up. Her long hair was slightly messy, and faint pillow marks still lingered on her face.
When she saw Kiyohara sitting by the fire, she froze briefly before quietly walking over.
"Did I wake you?"
Kiyohara asked.
"No. I've always been a light sleeper."
Kurenai sat beside him, hugging her knees.
"I couldn't sleep anyway, so I came out for some fresh air."
The firelight flickered across her face, turning her delicate skin into a warm orange glow.
The two sat in silence for a while, accompanied only by the crackling of burning firewood.
"Kiyohara."
Kurenai suddenly spoke, her voice very soft.
"When you... took Hyuga Ginka flying before, what did it feel like?"
Kiyohara turned his head toward her.
Kurenai avoided his gaze and instead stared into the dancing flames, though the tips of her ears had already turned slightly red.
"You want to try it too?"
Kiyohara asked.
Kurenai bit her lower lip, but eventually nodded.
"Mhm. I... I also want to see what the world looks like from high above."
There was cautious anticipation in her tone, along with a trace of envy that was difficult to conceal.
It was envy toward Ginka.
Kiyohara could understand that feeling. It was just like seeing another child with an exciting new toy when you were young and wanting to play with it yourself.
"Alright."
Kiyohara stood and extended a hand toward her.
Kurenai placed her hand into his palm.
Her hand was noticeably smaller than his, her fingers slender, her palm soft and warm.
The next instant, chakra erupted beneath Kiyohara's feet.
The two of them shot upward into the sky.
"Ah!"
Kurenai cried out instinctively and tightly grabbed onto Kiyohara's hand.
The ground rapidly distanced itself from them, while the trees below shrank into a vast dark green ocean.
The night wind rushed against them carrying the fresh scent unique to forests. Kurenai's long hair fluttered wildly in the breeze, and several strands brushed across Kiyohara's face with a faint ticklish sensation.
They stopped at a height of around twenty meters above the ground, just enough to clearly see the outline of the entire camp while remaining difficult for people below to notice.
Of course, if someone happened to come out of their tent and look upward, they could still be seen.
"Look down."
Kiyohara said.
Kurenai lowered her gaze, and her breathing paused slightly.
Viewed from above, the camp looked like nothing more than a tiny point of light, while the surrounding forest stretched endlessly in all directions like black velvet.
Farther away, the outlines of distant hills could faintly be seen, glowing silver gray beneath the moonlight.
"So beautiful..."
Kurenai murmured absentmindedly.
Suddenly, Kiyohara had the urge to play a prank.
He manipulated chakra threads, causing Kurenai's hands to clasp together in front of her chest before making her bow deeply.
Naturally, to keep her from simply falling out of the sky, Kiyohara also used Wind Release to support her body temporarily.
"Thank you, Lord Kiyohara."
Kurenai's voice escaped uncontrollably. The moment the words left her mouth, even she froze, and her cheeks instantly turned crimson.
Kiyohara could not help laughing.
"Y... you did that on purpose!"
Kurenai was both embarrassed and annoyed, but her body was still restrained by Kiyohara's chakra threads, leaving her unable even to stomp her feet.
"Sorry."
Kiyohara suppressed his laughter, though the amusement in his eyes had not disappeared.
"But since you already said it once, how about saying it again?"
"No!"
Kurenai tried to shake her head, but even her head was fixed in place, leaving her only able to glare at him.
Kiyohara finally stopped teasing her and released the chakra threads.
The moment Kurenai regained control over her body, the first thing she did was raise her hand and lightly punch Kiyohara on the shoulder.
Of course, she did not use any force.
"You bad guy~!"
(End of Chapter)