Even though Kiyoshi's eyes were black normally and red when the Sharingan was active—never leaning toward "blue"—prophecies were notoriously obscure. If one were to deconstruct the word, "blue" didn't just refer to green or blue eyes; it wasn't impossible to interpret it as "clear and pure."
"Matatabi, do you know Kiyoshi?"
Yugito was flabbergasted as she listened to the proposal Matatabi had put forward. Shouldn't the natural course of action be for the Tailed Beast and the Jinchuriki to work together to take down this loathsome invader, Kiyoshi Uchiha?
"Fine," Kiyoshi nodded, accepting the challenge.
Without the interference of the Two-Tails, he was practically guaranteed to defeat Yugito. The reason he had invoked Matatabi's name in the first place was to bluff her. It seemed the effect was quite successful. People in the Shinobi world placed immense weight on the effects of prophecy—especially obsessionists like Jiraiya, who spent his entire life on the road searching for the "Child of Prophecy."
In a world where the true Child of Prophecy, Naruto, had yet to be born, others had no way of determining whether he was the real deal or not.
"Hmph."
Yugito Nii let out a light snort and opened her mouth to spit out a fireball of ghostly blue flames, which looked as though it contained a black mouse within.
[Fire Rat Ball]!
In nearly an instant, it arrived before Kiyoshi. The gale brought by the scorching flames blew Kiyoshi's black hair wildly about, swaying behind him. His robes snapped and fluttered in the wind.
"Not bad. To achieve this level without even borrowing the Tailed Beast's power," Kiyoshi evaluated.
Yugito's attainment in Fire Style was quite impressive; it was clear she had put in hard work. After becoming a Jinchuriki, a ninja gained more than just a massive chakra reserve. They could even use the Tailed Beast's chakra to aid their training—much like Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki of the Stone Village. Roshi had the Four-Tails within him since childhood and traveled constantly to control its power; during his wanderings, he used the beast's chakra to fuse the natures of Fire and Earth, creating Lava Style.
Yugito appeared to have done something similar, using Matatabi's power to master that unique brand of flame.
"Unfortunately, it's still lacking a bit."
Kiyoshi's throat surged, his chest swelling slightly as a long stream of scorching flames erupted from his mouth.
[Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique]!
The flames intertwined within the dark space, letting out a roaring sound. The shallow water beneath their feet vaporized, sending countless ripples outward. With just one exchange, Yugito instantly realized Kiyoshi was also a Fire Style expert.
That previous attack had used a large portion of her chakra; for any other Jonin, even if they reacted to the [Fire Rat Ball], they likely wouldn't have escaped the subsequent explosion and would have been burned to a crisp on the spot.
"Then..."
*Crackle!*
Kiyoshi's figure rapidly broke through the steam ahead, electric arcs surfacing on his arms. Yugito pulled back to create distance. Keeping her eyes closed, she released several more jutsu in succession, but Kiyoshi pursued her relentlessly, keeping her entangled.
When Yugito, exhausted from defending, opened her eyes just a fraction, she saw light. An intense, blinding glare blocked her vision. Hailing from the Cloud Village, Yugito's expression changed drastically as she realized it was a Lightning Style Genjutsu, but it was already too late.
"Is it over?"
The massive demon cat stared with bestial pupils larger than a person as she watched the battle between Kiyoshi and Yugito. Yugito's Taijutsu attainment was clearly inferior to Kiyoshi's. If it weren't for the fact that she had also studied the Cloud Village's Lightning Style Nintaijutsu, she likely would have been left with aching muscles after only a few exchanges. Even so, Yugito quickly fell into a disadvantage.
When Kiyoshi seized a single opening to use his Genjutsu, Matatabi knew the matter was settled.
"Hmm?" She let out a sound of confusion. Why was Yugito trembling? Had she seen something terrifying within the Genjutsu?
Matatabi thought for a moment; the most terrifying thing for Yugito should be failing to gain the recognition of her village and her comrades.
*Splash!*
In the dark space, the shallow water below remained fixed in its position as always, seemingly unaffected by the battle. But at this moment, the ripples on the surface increased significantly. This was because another stream of water, injected by a different Water Style technique, caused the surface to heave with wave after wave, continuously spreading outward.
Having lived for a thousand years, Matatabi had seen many strange occurrences. She thought that only the fact that Kiyoshi Uchiha was likely the promised Child of Prophecy could cause a shift in her state of mind today. She hadn't expected to have another surge of emotion so soon.
A thousand years. A full thousand years. Matatabi had never seen a ninja use Genjutsu like this! Genjutsu can control a person's five senses, which means it can give a ninja sensations that are indistinguishable from reality. It can reach the point of deceiving the brain. Once the brain is deceived, the body instinctively reacts as if it were truly happening.
"So hot... what did you do to me?"
Yugito's clear eyes became vacant. The focus of her eyes drifted, becoming hollow and devoid of any highlight. She felt as though she had ascended to the vague, ethereal clouds. Her body was tense, as if enduring immense intensity. A hint of pink appeared on her fair face, and her unfocused eyes rolled back.
This was the reaction the human body only has when subjected to massive stimulation.
"I win," Kiyoshi said with a light smile.
The ocular power in his eyes throbbed, and the progress in his right eye was rising. It wouldn't be long before he could achieve three-tomoe Sharingan in both eyes. Kiyoshi looked forward to it: how strong would he be at that time?
Matatabi looked at Kiyoshi, who was actually able to smile, and felt that he, much like his ancestor Indra, was a bit off. Or rather, his mental state wasn't quite normal. Matatabi reconsidered; the Sage of the Six Paths had also said the Child of Prophecy would bring either destruction or reform to the Shinobi world. This meant either outcome was possible, depending on how the individual was guided.
"...You win."
Matatabi knew Yugito was mostly fine, just overstimulated. From beginning to end, she followed the promise and did not intervene.
In the next moment:
Kiyoshi returned to reality. The mountain breeze and the scent of damp earth rushed into his nose once more. Yugito's consciousness was still silent within the mental space, so Matatabi took over her body, putting on an act of rampaging chakra.
*Roar!*
The Tailed Beast's roar shook heaven and earth, causing leaves to fall and birds to scatter in fear.
"The Two-Tails... the Two-Tails is rampaging!"
"Lady Yugito seems to have fainted!"
"Sealing team! Is there anyone here who was in the sealing team?"
"Damn it, what on earth did that guy do to Lady Yugito?"
The Cloud ninjas were thrown into complete chaos. A Tailed Beast is a double-edged sword; if you tame it, it can fight your enemies, but if you don't, it will backfire. A rampaging Tailed Beast makes no distinction between friend and foe!
"Heh heh. Using Genjutsu to provoke the Tailed Beast into a frenzy?"
A flash of admiration crossed Orochimaru's eyes. He no longer concealed his form, arriving before Kiyoshi and the others like a slithering snake.