"Five days…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly walked into the yard, stepping over the charred splinters left by the lightning-blasted stake.
"In just five days, you mastered the Lightning Release: Thunder Roar I gave you."
Kiyohara shook his head.
"It's because the scroll you gave me was so detailed, Hokage-sama. I just practiced according to the method written on it."
He wore an impeccably humble expression.
His talent was real, but it also owed a lot to Uchiha Kiyohara's spirit guiding him. Uchiha shinobi were specialists when it came to lightning and fire techniques—put the two together and the progress was naturally terrifying.
Even Kakashi hadn't learned lightning techniques as fast as Kiyohara was learning now.
"No need to be modest."
Hiruzen looked at Kiyohara's humility and, for a moment, didn't know what to say.
When he was young, he'd shown brilliance early—so Tobirama Senju had taken him in as a student. Later, as someone who mastered all five basic chakra natures, he'd learned the overwhelming majority of Konoha's techniques. People even exaggerated and called him someone who "knew every jutsu and forbidden technique in the village."
That was overstating it—but aside from a handful of rare techniques, he really had learned almost all of them.
And yet…
He was old now.
Even if he was only middle-aged at the moment, in a few more years his strength would begin to slip rapidly.
Looking at Kiyohara's youthful face, Hiruzen couldn't help feeling slightly dazed.
In Kiyohara, he saw his own past.
And in Kiyohara, he also saw Orochimaru's shadow.
No wonder Orochimaru and Kiyohara are so close, Hiruzen thought.
He already knew Kiyohara had become Orochimaru's assistant. Now he understood even more clearly why Orochimaru valued him.
After all, his eldest student was an arrogant man at heart. When he wasn't on missions, he was buried in experiments. People who tried to curry favor with him often couldn't even find where he was.
But…
Hiruzen's brows knit as a darker thought surfaced.
Orochimaru had grown too close to Danzō as well.
That was not a good sign.
Hiruzen didn't want Orochimaru to go down the wrong path.
"Please sit, Hokage-sama."
Kiyohara went inside and brought out a stool for him, then sat down himself.
Originally, his home only had one stool. But the day Rin came over to cook, she left behind a set of kitchen tools—and an extra stool, too.
Kiyohara's words pulled Hiruzen out of his thoughts.
Hiruzen coughed lightly, refocused his gaze on Kiyohara, and sat down.
He lit his pipe, drew in a long breath, and exhaled a thin ribbon of white smoke.
"I know exactly how this technique was developed. Even with a detailed scroll, an ordinary jōnin would need a month—often several months—just to grasp the basics."
He studied Kiyohara carefully.
"Your lightning chakra's nature transformation is already more refined than many jōnin who specialize in Lightning Release."
Kiyohara fell silent for a moment before answering.
"I'm just… more hardworking."
Hiruzen laughed.
Anbu intelligence had already reported that Kiyohara's Wind Release was excellent as well. And that he frequently used Earth Release: Earth Spear, a notoriously difficult B-rank earth technique.
One chakra nature alone might be explained by hard work. But multiple natures at this level?
Hard work could reach great heights—given time.
Talent shortened that time dramatically.
And Kiyohara was still so young.
Hiruzen slowly turned the pipe in his palm.
"This isn't something effort alone can explain. You have a shinobi's gift."
"Maybe," Kiyohara nodded.
He did have talent—just… talent stacked on top of talent, over and over.
"Kiyohara—have you tested your chakra affinities?" Hiruzen asked.
"I'm probably missing Water," Kiyohara replied.
Missing Water…
Hiruzen sighed inwardly.
The five natures nourished and opposed each other—he had even created a technique like Five Releases: Great Combo, and in his youth gained the hollow reputation of "the strongest Hokage."
But Hiruzen knew his own limits. Compared to someone like Hashirama Senju—the true "God of Shinobi"—he was still far behind.
Hashirama was the real monster. Even Madara with the Nine-Tails had fallen to him.
"Six chakra attributes is already powerful," Hiruzen said, patting Kiyohara's shoulder.
Kiyohara carried Uchiha blood, so he naturally had Yin. And he'd studied medical ninjutsu, which implied Yang.
That meant he was only missing one basic nature.
A shinobi who truly had all seven—five plus yin-yang—was extremely rare. Only a few like Kakashi managed it.
Wait…
Hiruzen's mind shifted again.
Going from zero to learning a new affinity was difficult, yes—but for someone like Kiyohara, who already had deep mastery across several natures, maybe he could draw parallels and break through faster than common sense allowed.
Still… that was only theory. A projection of potential.
Reality was fickle.
Hiruzen had seen plenty of geniuses bloom early, then fade into mediocrity.
"Greed leads to choking," Kiyohara said. "I plan to refine what I already have first."
"Good."
Hiruzen nodded.
Steady. Not arrogant.
"Seeing talent like yours… I honestly don't want you on the battlefield," Hiruzen admitted.
Kiyohara looked up and met his eyes.
"War devours too many things," Hiruzen's voice lowered. "Including geniuses."
Then he sighed again.
"But I also understand—flowers raised in a greenhouse never truly grow. Even my son Asuma is on the battlefield right now."
The message was clear: even the Hokage's son had no special privileges.
If you were a shinobi, you fought.
"I understand, Hokage-sama," Kiyohara said.
That was only natural. Otherwise the other shinobi would resent it, and morale would collapse.
A leader had to set the example.
Hiruzen was still in his prime years, still driven.
As for whether he'd rot with age and become addicted to power… that was a question only time could answer.
At least for now, Asuma really was at war—just not on the most dangerous front.
Hiruzen took another pull from his pipe. After exhaling, he asked casually, as if it were an afterthought:
"By the way… I heard you visited the Uchiha district a few days ago?"
"Yes."
Kiyohara answered without hesitation.
"Fugaku-sama invited me."
"Oh? And what did he say?"
"He said I carry Uchiha blood, and the clan would welcome me back at any time."
Kiyohara repeated it plainly—no embellishment, no omissions.
Hiruzen nodded, the pipe's ember glowing faintly in the night.
"And what do you think?"
"I've never lived with the Uchiha. I'm more comfortable staying in the village."
That answer clearly pleased Hiruzen.
He nodded again.
"No rush. It's something that should take time. Shisui was with you, wasn't he?"
"Yes. Shisui brought me in."
"I see…"
Hiruzen had once intended to use Shisui as a bridge between the village and the Uchiha.
But now… Kiyohara might be an even better candidate.
Even if Kiyohara later built bonds with the clan, he'd never be as close as those born and raised inside it.
Most Uchiha would still see him as an "outsider."
And sometimes, that kind of identity could be a useful blade—someone who could connect both sides without fully belonging to either.
"Work hard," Hiruzen said at last, giving Kiyohara's shoulder one final pat before turning to leave.
"You depart for Kikyo Pass tomorrow. Sleep early tonight."
"Safe travels, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen's silhouette vanished into the night, leaving only the faint smell of secondhand smoke behind.
Kiyohara stood in the yard, staring at the shattered wood debris.
That old man was probably testing my loyalty, Kiyohara thought.
When those three Uchiha came knocking earlier, Hiruzen had probably received the report immediately.
"I'll have to be even more careful with my training going forward," Kiyohara murmured.
Hiruzen's Telescope Technique could spy on people.
When testing new jutsu or training, Kiyohara needed to avoid revealing anything suspicious.
At least now, Danzō won't dare do anything too blatant, Kiyohara thought.
And now that Hiruzen had openly labeled him a "genius," his "genius" persona was basically locked in.
Even if he revealed more techniques later, it would be… believable.
A shinobi who loved learning—given access—could master many jutsu.
Orochimaru and Hiruzen themselves each had an absurd catalog. Even Kakashi would later be the same.
Kiyohara began cleaning the yard and preparing for tomorrow's mission.
At the same time, Hiruzen was walking home.
Anbu shadows followed across rooftops, but his expression didn't change—he'd long since grown used to constant protection.
His home was near the center of Konoha.
When he pushed open the gate, lights were already on inside.
"Why are you home so late?"
A woman's voice—slightly reproachful—came from within.
His wife, Biwako Sarutobi, stood at the entryway with a cleaning rag still in hand.
She was middle-aged, but well cared for; her brows were drawn together, clearly unhappy with his late return.
"Something held me up," Hiruzen said, removing his Hokage robe and hanging it.
"Shinnosuke waited for you for a long time," Biwako sighed. "He just went back."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Hiruzen's eldest son, was an Anbu Captain now—steady and reliable, trusted by Hiruzen.
"He said there was an Anbu report, but you weren't in your office."
"I'll see him tomorrow," Hiruzen replied, heading into the living room.
The living room window faced the direction of Hokage Rock.
At night, the carved faces were lit by lamps, quietly watching over the village.
Biwako brought tea and set it down in front of him.
"What are you thinking about? You look troubled."
Hiruzen took the cup but didn't drink immediately. He stared toward Hokage Rock and spoke slowly.
"Today I met a child. A very gifted child."
"To make you say that… he must be something else," Biwako said, sitting across from him.
"He's almost like me when I was young," Hiruzen said with a bitter smile. "No—Biwako… he might be even more talented than I was. I mastered five natures back then, but I didn't have a bloodline limit."
"What's his name?"
"Kiyohara."
Biwako fell silent for a moment, then asked softly, "Are you worried about him?"
"Worried… and hopeful," Hiruzen said, taking a sip at last.
"A genius like that, if guided well, can become the pillar of Konoha's future. But if he walks the wrong road…"
He didn't finish, but Biwako understood.
"And Orochimaru?" she asked. "I heard that child is close to him."
Even as the Hokage's wife, Biwako was aware of internal currents.
"The problem is Orochimaru's gotten too close to Danzō," Hiruzen said.
Orochimaru's behavior had become harder and harder to read. His "research" looked like it served Konoha on the surface, but Hiruzen couldn't shake the sense that something was off.
"Enough," Biwako said, standing.
"The food is still warm. I'll bring it out. And try to come home earlier."
…
The next day at noon, Kiyohara met up with Genma and Kurenai at Konoha's gate.
Their mission was to escort a batch of medical supplies to the Kikyo Pass front—C-rank, but with the war, it could escalate at any time.
"Let's move," Kiyohara said, checking the roster.
Several teams were transporting supplies, but they wouldn't all depart together. They'd stagger their movements.
Once he confirmed Genma and Kurenai were ready, Kiyohara gave the order.
Orochimaru wasn't here—so Kiyohara was the leader.
Kurenai stood beside him and stole a glance.
Today, Kiyohara wore a deep-black shinobi outfit, three large scrolls strapped across his lower back.
Genma yawned, a senbon still in his mouth.
"Let's hurry. The sooner we get there, the sooner we're done."
He also had a massive sealing scroll on his back—pre-packed supplies, the core of their escort target.
"I'll double-check," Kurenai said quietly.
After each of them verified their equipment, the trio set out.
They didn't move especially fast or slow as they traveled through the forest.
In group travel, the pace was always set by the slowest member.
If Kiyohara were alone, he could go much faster—but then Genma and Kurenai wouldn't be able to keep up.
…
The first day passed quietly.
By dusk, they made camp in a wooded area.
Kiyohara used shuriken and copper wire to set simple alarm traps.
Technically, silver conducted electricity better than copper…
But silver wire was too expensive.
In the end, it all came back to one thing: being broke.
"Same rotation as usual," Kiyohara said, looking at the night sky. "We'll do three shifts. I'll take the first."
Leaving someone on watch was the only safe way.
"I'll take the middle," Kurenai said, biting into her rations.
Rations were never as good as real food, but on missions, you ate what you had.
"Alright. I'm sleeping," Genma said, yawning again.
He found a spot and, the moment he lay down, faint snoring started almost instantly.
After a full day of travel, Genma was exhausted.
Kurenai sat by the campfire, feeling the fatigue too.
Long, monotonous travel wore down both body and mind.
She wanted to chat with Kiyohara to pass the time—
Only to find him looking perfectly normal, with none of the drained, weary look she felt after a day's march.
Not only that—Kiyohara walked alone to a treetop nearly a hundred meters away, climbed up, and began keeping watch from the canopy.
Kurenai stared at his back, hesitating.
She glanced down at her bare wrist—smooth and pale, but it felt like something was missing.
She remembered the delicate bracelet Rin wore, supposedly a gift from Kiyohara.
"Hmph. How come that guy never says anything about giving me a gift?" Kurenai puffed quietly. "I knew him first…"
But she quickly shook her head and tossed the petty thought aside.
This was a mission. She couldn't let herself get distracted.
Turning emotion into fuel, Kurenai began practicing her genjutsu instead.
She didn't want to fall too far behind Kiyohara.
Meanwhile, Kiyohara also decided to train a little.
He was on watch for the first two hours, but that didn't stop him from training at the same time.
The night sky was clear. A bright moon hung overhead, pouring down silver light.
Kiyohara lifted his face toward the moonlight.
A thin layer of dark coloration spread across his skin, like black paint.
Steel Release.
As his control grew more refined, he started thinking: could he extend the hardening beyond the surface—deeper, into the organs and bones?
"Steel Release mainly resists cutting," Kiyohara thought. "But against blunt force and internal trauma, its defense is limited."
He remembered Cloud's Lightning Release Chakra Mode—
A technique that infused lightning chakra into every cell, stimulating the body's vitality. It didn't just boost speed; it boosted defense too.
"But Konoha doesn't seem to have anything like Lightning Release Chakra Mode," he mused. "Even Kakashi's Chidori is only in the hand…"
Kiyohara raised a finger. The black sheen faded, replaced by a tiny crackle of lightning at his fingertip.
Carefully, he guided that lightning chakra into the muscles of his palm.
Not externally—internally.
He wanted to use the current to stimulate the muscle, strengthening it through controlled "training."
It demanded absurdly precise control.
Lightning chakra was violent—like a wild horse. One mistake and he could damage muscle tissue, even cause permanent injury.
Kiyohara closed his eyes, focusing everything on his right palm.
Muscle fibers. Blood vessels…
Lightning chakra slipped between tissues like tiny serpents of electricity, stimulating in a controlled, rhythmic pattern.
Zzz…
A nearly inaudible current buzzed inside the palm.
He could feel the muscle fibers trembling under the stimulation, as if performing thousands of microscopic contractions.
After a moment, he opened his eyes and looked at his hand.
"If I can train this way, I can strengthen muscle more efficiently… boost results faster."
"Yeah. The true limit on growth is always the body's ceiling."
The logic was simple—ordinary people even used electrical stimulation devices.
But in practice it was brutal.
A double-edged sword: too much stimulation could cause tissue damage, weakness, even atrophy.
To do it safely, he needed:
1. extreme chakra control,
2. deep understanding of lightning nature transformation,
3. large chakra reserves to maintain the process,
4. medical knowledge to avoid harming key tissues.
All four were non-negotiable.
Kiyohara suddenly realized: this might be the underlying principle behind Cloud's Lightning Release Chakra Mode—just far more systematized, refined, and improved.