Kurenai's face was filled with confusion as well.
The conflict between the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan was something that many shinobi clans knew about. How could someone possibly possess the bloodline limits of both clans at the same time?
Or could it be that an Uchiha was also capable of mastering the power of Wood Release?
"Did you get a clear look at what he looked like?"
Tsunade's voice came from not far away.
Because there was blood all over the ground, she had kept her eyes shut the entire time.
"He was wearing a mask. The only thing exposed was a single Sharingan."
Kiyohara released Kurenai's hand before turning toward Tsunade.
More and more people gradually gathered inside the camp.
The Hyuga clan's shinobi activated their Byakugan and carefully scanned the surrounding forest, making sure no other enemies were hiding nearby.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha clan's shinobi fixed their eyes on Kiyohara.
"Kiyohara... that person's Sharingan... what exactly did it look like?"
Uchiha Tekka could not help asking.
Kiyohara thought for a moment.
"It was a Mangekyo Sharingan."
The moment those words left his mouth, Tekka's eyes widened.
The Mangekyo Sharingan.
The legendary eyes of the Uchiha Clan.
Only a handful of people throughout the clan's history had ever awakened them.
Yet that mysterious man possessed not only the Mangekyo Sharingan, but Wood Release as well.
"The techniques he used were also incredibly diverse."
Kiyohara continued.
"He used Fire Release, Wood Release, and even Space-Time Ninjutsu. More importantly, he combined them seamlessly. It wasn't like someone who had only recently obtained those powers."
"..."
"Space-Time Ninjutsu?"
Kakashi suddenly spoke.
"What kind of ability?"
"He could make his body intangible and pass through any attack."
The entire camp fell into silence.
Everyone was digesting the shocking information.
A mysterious individual possessing both the Mangekyo Sharingan and Wood Release had suddenly appeared near Konoha's encampment, only to be driven away by Kiyohara.
What exactly did that imply?
"Everything that happened here stays here."
Kiyohara glanced at the surrounding shinobi. Fortunately, not too many people had gathered yet, so he immediately issued a gag order.
Soon afterward, at dawn the following morning, the report reached Konoha.
....
Inside the Hokage Tower.
Hiruzen sat behind his large office desk, his smoking pipe frozen halfway to his mouth.
Spread out before him were two scrolls.
One contained Kiyohara's battle report.
The other contained ANBU's preliminary investigation.
"A Sharingan... and Wood Release..."
His brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
The office door was suddenly pushed open.
Koharu and Homura hurried inside, both wearing solemn expressions.
"Hiruzen, I heard about last night..."
"Hm."
Hiruzen interrupted her and pushed the scrolls toward them.
"Read them yourselves."
The two leaned closer and quickly read through the reports.
A moment later, Koharu looked up.
"Someone possessing both the Sharingan and Wood Release... could it be one of the experimental subjects from back then?"
"It's possible."
Homura nodded.
"Although the official records state that only Kinoe survived the Wood Release experiments, who knows whether there were any other survivors that were kept secret?"
Hiruzen quietly puffed on his pipe again, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
Only after a long silence did he finally speak.
"Seal off all information regarding this incident."
"Then summon Danzo back."
...
At the same time.
Inside a hidden cave somewhere.
Obito lay sprawled across the cold stone floor.
Blood was still seeping from the stump of his severed right arm.
Although the White Zetsu cells had temporarily sealed the wounds that pierced his left shoulder and chest, every single breath still sent agonizing pain tearing through his body.
"I was almost killed."
White Zetsu emerged from his shoulder.
For once, the white face was no longer wearing its usual cheerful grin.
"Kiyohara really doesn't hold back."
Obito silently performed Medical Ninjutsu on himself, gradually healing his injuries.
"You never should have tested him."
Black Zetsu's voice echoed from the shadows as the black-and-white figure slowly emerged.
"Kiyohara's rate of growth has already exceeded our expectations. There is no point confronting him head-on now."
"So how long are we supposed to wait?"
Obito frowned.
"Until he becomes Hokage?"
"Until he grows even stronger?"
He had grown thoroughly sick of waiting.
"We wait until he lets his guard down."
Black Zetsu answered calmly.
"Your greatest advantage is Kamui."
"Make proper use of that advantage and focus on the things you're supposed to do."
Black Zetsu stared at Obito.
The thousand-year plan he had painstakingly orchestrated could not be allowed to go wrong because of Obito's recklessness.
Now that Madara had awakened the Rinnegan, the next step was simply to gather the chakra of all nine Tailed Beasts.
Then, by using the seal required to become the Ten-Tails' jinchuriki, everything would proceed according to plan.
Furthermore, the Rinnegan possessed the ability to suppress the Ten-Tails.
Once that happened, the vessel needed to resurrect Mother would finally be complete.
"Focus your attention on Kiri instead."
"Although Yagura has already been implanted with Kiyohara's power, as long as we're careful, he can still be used."
"Take control of Kirigakure first."
"Pull back our strength."
"Accumulate our power slowly."
"When Madara's plan truly begins, there will be more than enough opportunities to deal with Kiyohara."
Hearing those words, Obito glanced at Black Zetsu.
Another White Zetsu then rose from the ground.
Without hesitation, Obito struck downward with a knife hand, severing White Zetsu's arm before attaching it to the stump of his own.
Sizzle...
White steam immediately rose into the air.
Obito flexed the fingers of his new arm, testing its movement.
"I understand."
...
Two days later.
Konoha.
The Hokage Tower.
When Danzo pushed open the office door, he still wore a somewhat relaxed expression.
He had only just returned from another battlefield.
Although he had traveled day and night and was covered in dust from the journey, he was in an unusually good mood.
After storming off in anger because of Kiyohara that day, Danzo had gone to another combat zone to search for opportunities to distinguish himself.
Then, out of nowhere, an ANBU operative had appeared and informed him that Hiruzen was urgently summoning him back.
Danzo immediately assumed there must be some extremely important mission awaiting him.
Without wasting a second, he rushed back at full speed.
The more important the mission...
The greater the chance of earning military achievements.
And he could conveniently arrange for Orochimaru to carry it out.
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became.
"Hiruzen."
Walking up to the desk, Danzo looked at his old friend with his single visible eye.
"You called me back in such a hurry. What's happened?"
Hiruzen simply looked at him in silence.
The unusually gloomy expression on Hiruzen's face caused Danzo's heart to sink ever so slightly.
Could it be...
Had his previous actions finally been exposed?
No.
That should be impossible.
Danzo forcibly calmed himself.
"Danzo."
Hiruzen had already noticed every subtle change in Danzo's expression.
Only then did he finally speak.
"I have something to ask you."
"I want an honest answer."
"What is it?"
"Back during the Wood Release experiments..."
"Other than Kinoe, was there a second survivor?"
Danzo's pupils suddenly contracted.
Just as expected.
Hiruzen already knew everything!
"No."
Danzo answered without the slightest hesitation.
"I disposed of every experimental subject."
"Kinoe was the only successful survivor."
"Is that so?"
Hiruzen's voice carried no discernible emotion.
"Then how do you explain the person who attacked Kiyohara?"
"He possessed both the Sharingan and Wood Release."
"What?"
When did Kiyohara get attacked?
A Sharingan and Wood Release?
Danzo frowned.
Several days earlier, there had indeed been some sort of disturbance in the area under Kiyohara's command.
But Danzo had not been anywhere near that battlefield.
He realized that he knew absolutely nothing about the incident.
More importantly...
What in the world was this combination of Wood Release and the Sharingan?
He himself had not even completely mastered that technology yet!
"Hiruzen, you know me."
"I have devoted my entire life to Konoha."
"How could I possibly send someone to assassinate Kiyohara?"
Danzo shook his head.
Hiruzen continued staring directly at him.
The unwavering gaze made Danzo increasingly uncomfortable.
After thinking about it, Hiruzen actually did know about his previous attempts to target Kiyohara.
Just as Danzo was preparing to make up an excuse, Hiruzen spoke again.
"Danzo."
"You truly don't know anything?"
"I really don't know!"
Danzo immediately felt unbearably wronged.
What a joke.
If he actually possessed someone that capable, he would have long since mastered the power of Wood Release himself.
This really was a case of sitting quietly at home while blame suddenly fell from the heavens.
If carrying the blame had rankings, then Danzo felt he could already be crowned the Scapegoat Hokage.
"Hiruzen..."
"You suspect me?"
Hiruzen's eyes remained locked on Danzo.
"For experiments like these..."
"Besides you and Orochimaru..."
"Who else in Konoha would even conduct them?"
Danzo's expression changed immediately.
"Those experiments were led by Orochimaru!"
He hurriedly shifted the responsibility elsewhere.
"I merely provided some resources. He was the one in charge of every detail."
"What about the Sharingan you've secretly stockpiled?"
Hiruzen suddenly asked.
"Where did that person's Mangekyo Sharingan come from?"
Danzo clenched his fist.
"I have never secretly stockpiled any Sharingan!"
He flatly denied it.
"Hiruzen, don't let Kiyohara's one-sided story fool you."
"He's an Uchiha."
"Of course he'd want to pin every bit of dirty water on me."
For perhaps one of the few times in his life, Danzo's expression looked utterly righteous.
After all, this really was not his doing.
There was no way he was going to accept blame for something he had never done.
Hiruzen found himself unable to reach a conclusion for the moment.
"Danzo... how many years have we known each other?"
Danzo was silent for a brief moment before answering.
"Since the Shinobi Academy. It has been... several decades."
"Several decades..."
Hiruzen nodded slowly.
"Over all these years, it is not as though I have been unaware of the things you've done. I simply chose not to pursue them for the sake of our old friendship."
He raised his head and looked directly at Shimura Danzo.
"But this time is different. A shinobi possessing both the Mangekyo Sharingan and Wood Release... if you were truly the one who cultivated such a person, then what exactly are you planning?"
"I already told you, it wasn't me!"
Danzo's voice carried unmistakable anger.
Hiruzen actually didn't believe him?
"Hiruzen... you don't trust me?"
Danzo asked bluntly.
Hiruzen remained silent for a long while.
To be honest, someone like Danzo, who already had such an extensive record of secret dealings, was indeed difficult to trust.
"You may leave."
Hiruzen waved his hand.
"I'll have people investigate the whereabouts of that masked man. During this period, stay out of trouble."
Danzo remained standing where he was, his face dark as iron.
Finally, he let out a cold snort before turning and striding away.
The office door slammed shut behind him with a loud bang.
Once outside, the more Danzo thought about it, the angrier he became.
At the same time, he was deeply puzzled.
Where had this Uchiha with both the Sharingan and Wood Release suddenly come from?
Could it possibly be...
That person from back then?
Danzo suddenly recalled that, when Kiyohara had still been living by himself in Konoha, he had once been attacked by an unknown Uchiha. In the end, Kiyohara's house had collapsed, forcing him to move into Tsunade's residence.
...
The following day.
The former site of Uzushiogakure.
Kiyohara stood quietly along the shoreline, gazing across the desolate land before him.
The once prosperous Land of Whirlpools, the homeland of the Uzumaki Clan, had been reduced to nothing more than broken walls and shattered ruins.
Wild grass had overrun every corner.
The sea breeze wailed mournfully through the empty remains.
Occasionally, a few seabirds flew overhead.
Kiri had indeed withdrawn.
After surveying the area, Kiyohara found that the place had become completely deserted.
The only traces of human activity were several temporary structures that Kirigakure had abandoned during their retreat.
"So this is the Land of Whirlpools now..."
The spiritual form of Uzumaki Kiyohara emerged from within his body and floated quietly beside him.
His eyes rested upon the endless ruins.
He remained silent for a very long time.
"It has changed so much."
Uzumaki Kiyohara slowly shook his head.
"When I died back then... this place was still bustling with life."
Kiyohara did not interrupt him.
He simply stood quietly at his side, patiently waiting.
Only after a long while did Uzumaki Kiyohara withdraw his gaze.
"Thank you for bringing me back here."
"We haven't even started yet."
Kiyohara smiled faintly and shook his head.
"Let's first take a proper look around."
He took out a sealing scroll and infused it with chakra.
With a puff of smoke, a small clay bird appeared in the palm of his hand.
The little bird flapped its wings before soaring into the sky, overlooking the entire stretch of ruins.
Kiyohara closed his eyes and synchronized his vision with the clay bird.
The terrain.
The topography.
The remaining buildings.
The shape of the coastline.
Everything was reflected clearly within his mind.
After a while, he opened his eyes again.
"Once the traces of the war are cleaned up, the beach to the east would make an excellent harbor."
"The western hills are suitable for planting forests."
"The flatlands to the south are perfect for building residential areas."
He paused before continuing.
"If we're going to develop tourism, we'll need roads first. Between the Land of Fire and the Land of Whirlpools lies an entire stretch of sea."
"A bridge?"
Uzumaki Kiyohara raised an eyebrow.
"Something along those lines."
Kiyohara nodded.
"The Land of Fire and the Land of Whirlpools are actually quite close to one another. With ninjutsu available, building the necessary infrastructure isn't especially difficult."
"And I'm also planning to introduce airships and trains."
"The technology from the Land of Snow?"
Uzumaki Kiyohara asked curiously.
"That's right."
Kiyohara nodded.
"The Land of Snow already possesses mature technology."
"The airships they manufacture are capable of long distance travel and can transport both passengers and cargo."
"As for the railway, we'll first need to construct tracks along the eastern coast of the Land of Fire until they reach the shoreline. From there, ships can handle the sea crossing."
Listening to the explanation, Uzumaki Kiyohara slowly nodded.
"That sounds entirely feasible."
"I'll make a trip to the Land of Snow first."
Kiyohara stored the clay bird back inside the sealing scroll.
The instant he finished speaking, his figure vanished from the spot.
...
The Land of Snow.
Royal Palace.
The Daimyo of the Land of Snow was sitting inside his study reviewing official documents when the surrounding space suddenly distorted slightly.
He looked up.
Kiyohara had appeared before him out of thin air.
"Kiyohara?"
The Daimyo immediately stood up in surprise.
"Y... you... how did you..."
"I've come to discuss a business deal."
The Snow Daimyo froze for a moment before breaking into a broad smile.
"Please, have a seat."
He personally invited Kiyohara over to the tea table and even poured him a cup of tea himself.
"What kind of business?"
"Airships and trains."
Kiyohara accepted the teacup.
"I need a fleet of airships for developing the Land of Whirlpools."
"As for the railway, I want the complete technical blueprints along with all the necessary equipment."
The Daimyo blinked.
"The Land of Whirlpools?"
"Yes."
"The former homeland of the Uzumaki Clan."
Kiyohara made no attempt to conceal his intentions.
"I plan to build a tourist city there."
"For that, transportation is indispensable."
The Snow Daimyo fell silent for a while.
"Kiyohara-kun..."
"Your ambitions certainly aren't small."
He chuckled.
"I can provide the airship technology."
"However, manufacturing them will require some time."
"As for the railway, both the blueprints and equipment are already available."
"But the price..."
"Money isn't an issue."
To Kiyohara, earning wealth had never been particularly difficult.
This could simply be treated as the first small goal.
The Snow Daimyo listened to Kiyohara's wealthy and confident declaration before quickly realizing that this proposal would benefit both parties.
The thing the Land of Snow lacked most right now...
Was money.
After all, completing the unfinished Climate-Warming Generator required an amount of funding so enormous that it resembled a bottomless pit.
"Excellent!"
The Daimyo slapped the table decisively.
"I'll have everything prepared immediately!"
...
After leaving the Land of Snow, Kiyohara traveled to several small fishing villages along the eastern coastline of the Land of Fire.
He found the village chief and proposed purchasing the barren land behind the village.
The chief was an elderly man in his fifties.
Years of sea wind had tanned his skin until it was nearly black, while his cloudy eyes still carried the shrewdness of someone experienced in life.
"My lord, that wasteland is practically worthless."
"What do you intend to use it for?"
"Building a harbor."
"And laying railway tracks."
Kiyohara answered honestly.
There was no point hiding it.
Once construction began, everyone would see it anyway.
"If everything goes according to plan, your village can gradually shift toward tourism."
"You'll earn far more than by fishing."
The village chief was momentarily stunned.
Then a bright smile spread across his face.
"My lord... are you serious?"
"Of course."
Kiyohara placed a cloth bag onto the table.
"This is the deposit."
"As for the specific terms of cooperation, we can negotiate them slowly."
The village chief opened the bag.
The moment he saw the glittering placer gold inside, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"Wonderful! Wonderful!"
He nodded repeatedly.
"Whatever my lord says, we'll do exactly that!"
...
After settling everything, Kiyohara made another trip into the deserts of the Land of Wind.
Using his abilities, he refined another large batch of placer gold.
Only after night had fallen did he finally return to the military encampment.
As he arrived, he happened to run into a newly assigned logistics unit.
Leading the group was a rather thin shinobi wearing round glasses.
The instant he saw Kiyohara, his expression immediately brightened.
"Kiyohara-sama!"
Kabuto hurried over with excitement written all over his face.
"Kabuto."
Kiyohara nodded.
"You applied for early graduation?"
Kiyohara had long ago arranged for Kabuto to enter Konoha's Shinobi Academy.
Although he had started much later than the other students, Kabuto's outstanding talent meant he surpassed many academy trainees with ease.
"I did."
Kabuto nodded.
"I've been assigned to the logistics division and am currently responsible for distributing medical supplies."
As he spoke, he took a small notebook from inside his clothes.
" Kiyohara-sama, I've been studying Medical Ninjutsu recently."
"There are several questions I'd like to ask you..."
"No rush."
Kiyohara interrupted him.
"Come with me."
He turned and walked toward his own tent.
Kabuto was momentarily surprised before quickly following after him.
...
Inside the tent, Kiyohara motioned for him to sit down.
"So you're currently serving in the logistics unit?"
"Yes."
Kabuto nodded.
"The captain said I'm still young, so he wants me to become familiar with the battlefield through logistics work first."
"That works out perfectly."
Kiyohara said calmly.
"I have a mission for you."
Kabuto's eyes immediately lit up.
"What mission?"
"I want you to go to the orphanage."
"Work together with Director Nono to conduct research."
Kiyohara intended for Kabuto to join Nono in studying White Zetsu as well as Hashirama's cells.
After all, Nono still possessed the White Zetsu limbs that Kiyohara had previously given her.
If they could uncover the principles behind them, they might be able to develop limb regeneration technology without side effects.
They might even discover a method of reducing the burden placed upon the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Considering Kabuto's exceptional talent, if he devoted himself entirely to the research, there was a real possibility that he would achieve results much earlier than he had in the original story.
"Seeing Director Nono again..."
Kabuto's heart filled with joy.
He had never expected to receive such an opportunity.
It had already been quite some time since he last returned.
If he could remain by the director's side while carrying out research, it would undoubtedly be an excellent arrangement.
At the same time, he would also be able to help take care of the orphanage.
"I absolutely won't disappoint Kiyohara-sama's trust!"
Kiyohara looked at him, the corners of his lips rising into a faint smile.
"There's no need to rush."
He motioned for Kabuto to remain seated.
"Since you're already here, I'll teach you some of my experience with Medical Ninjutsu."
Kabuto immediately straightened his posture.
He quickly took out his small notebook again, looking every bit the earnest student.
Kiyohara began his lesson.
Starting from the precise control of chakra.
Moving on to the essential principles of Medical Ninjutsu.
Then continuing into the treatment methods for various unusual and complicated medical cases.
Kabuto listened with complete concentration.
From time to time, he lowered his head and carefully recorded every important point into his notebook, afraid that he might miss even a single word.
(End of Chapter)