"Also, you shouldn't use that jutsu anymore.It concentrates all your power into a single point for attack.
Yes, it has great destructive power and speed — but because of how fast it moves, you can't really see or react if the enemy counters."
Minato precisely pointed out the flaw in Kakashi's jutsu.
Kakashi remained silent.
He understood these defects, but they were hard to resolve.
He was essentially a civilian ninja, just one with a family inheritance, not a Kekkei Genkai ninja.
How could the perception of ordinary eyes compare to ninja who possessed ocular jutsu?
"Before we split up, I'll say this one last time: for ninja, 'teamwork is more important than anything else.'"
"All right, let's move out."
After speaking, Minato had everyone continue forward.
The sky had already darkened. After resting for the night, he would leave.
After quickly setting up tents, everyone rested in silence.
Only the sound of chewing food could be heard continuously.
"So that's how it is. This Lightning Release technique is released like this."
Kiyohara thought to himself.
He was currently communicating with Rogue Kiyohara, discussing ninjutsu.
Though he appeared to be resting, he was actually grinding away at training.
At his age, and with only chūnin-level strength, Kiyohara simply couldn't bring himself to sleep.
Thinking this, Kiyohara couldn't help but glance in Obito's direction.
Just earlier, Minato had spoken to Obito in private about Kakashi's father, asking him to be more understanding so the two wouldn't end up in conflict.
After learning that Kakashi's father had failed a mission and taken his own life, Obito finally understood why Kakashi had become so fixated and strict.
And then… he just went to sleep.
How can someone sleep so easily at that age?
Kiyohara shook his head.
After finishing the ration in his mouth, he picked a secluded spot and prepared to get some training in.
Minato's sensing ability could extend very far.
There were no enemies in this area, so Kiyohara felt safe spending chakra on training without worrying about the enemy detecting anything.
"Lightning Release: Electromagnetic Murder!"
After refining his chakra, Kiyohara formed hand seals. On a section of ground just above the surface, many pale blue electrical arcs suddenly appeared.
"Not bad. Once you've fully absorbed my talent, you'll probably be even stronger."
Rogue Kiyohara nodded.
Kiyohara's own talent, fused with a portion of his talent, had already gone from utterly ordinary to somewhat clever.
Combined with his personal guidance, Kiyohara's learning speed was quite fast.
"Why do you look like you're fading even more?"
Kiyohara stared at Rogue Kiyohara's spirit form, worried that he might not last long enough for him to reach chūnin rank and fuse with the remaining talent.
"If you're going to disappear… at least let it be slow."
"..."
Rogue Kiyohara glared at Kiyohara.
This guy really was himself, no doubt about it.
When he'd been alive and received the Legacy Scroll, he'd said the same thing to other spirits from different futures.
"Don't worry, I can hold on until then."
Rogue Kiyohara shook his head.
Having died once, he'd actually come to terms with a lot of things.
"Kiyohara, you're secretly training."
Kurenai emerged from behind. Her ruby-like eyes gazed at Kiyohara.
"Kurenai, have you ever seen Konoha at four in the morning?"
Kiyohara said.
Even though it was currently eight PM.
"Four in the morning?"
Hearing this, Kurenai covered her mouth with her small hand, incredulous.
So Kiyohara got up this early every day to train?
Come to think of it, she'd never gotten up to train at four in the morning.
At most, she'd wake up in the middle of the night if there was an emergency mission.
"That's right," Kiyohara said with a nod.
He had never actually seen Konoha at four in the morning, so he trained in secret at eight in the evening instead.
"Then I'll train with you for a while too."
Looking at Kiyohara's handsome face, Kurenai felt somewhat dazed.
If Kiyohara was working this hard, how could she slack off?
So Kurenai also began training in genjutsu beside Kiyohara.
Kiyohara's talent in genjutsu wasn't great, so he continued training in Lightning Release techniques.
"Hopefully in the future there'll be a Kurama Kiyohara or an Uchiha Kiyohara."
Kiyohara thought to himself.
That way, the weakness in genjutsu would also be filled!
...
The next day.
The sky had just begun to brighten when Minato had already packed up the tents.
"Starting today, we split into three groups here. Everyone do your best."
Then Minato continued:
"Yesterday's opponent was just out on a solo reconnaissance. From now on, it'll be full team battles. Stay alert."
Minato's expression was somewhat grave.
Kiyohara, Kakashi and the others nodded.
Seeing this, Minato said "Dismissed."
He himself began heading toward the front-line battlefield.
Kakashi led Rin and Obito to continue advancing toward the Kannabi Bridge.
Kiyohara took Kurenai and Genma in another direction, planning to actively trigger the Iwagakure ninja's alert and draw their attention.
...
Afternoon.
"This is the place. Inside there's one... two chunin and two genin. This should be the weakest point."
Rogue Kiyohara's spirit form floated back from the distance.
Through this, Kiyohara obtained intelligence about what lay ahead.
"This should be the weakest spot."
Kiyohara nodded, turning to briefly repeat the information to the two behind him.
The Iwagakure ninja they'd captured and interrogated yesterday had revealed quite a bit of useful intelligence.
But everything he'd said was vague. They still needed to verify it in person.
"How do you know, Kiyohara?"
Kurenai wiped the fine sweat from her brow and asked.
The bamboo forest here was very stuffy, and the journey had made Kurenai sweat a bit.
"I sensed it."
Kiyohara spoke without missing a beat.
"Sensing..."
That was pretty impressive.
Kurenai thought to herself.
To sense the enemy's strength from such a distance, Kiyohara was truly outstanding.
"All right, this is a small outpost. Let's use it for practice."
Kiyohara said.
There were also places nearby with a dozen or so ninja guarding an outpost, but Kiyohara planned to start with something on the easier side.
"Genma, you ambush the direction the enemy might flee toward. Kurenai and I will go in and draw their attention."
Kiyohara said.
To draw Iwagakure's attention, destroying their outposts was the best choice. Plus, Kiyohara could take the opportunity to loot some things.
"All right."
Kurenai and Genma nodded simultaneously. Right now Kiyohara was the squad leader, so naturally they'd listen to him.
The next moment, Kiyohara and Kurenai quietly snuck in.
"Enemy attack!"
An Iwagakure chunin suddenly noticed Kiyohara and the others, then hurriedly cast a genjutsu at Kiyohara.
"Kurenai, stay back. Watch me."
Kiyohara stared straight into the illusion, yet his body showed no reaction at all.
He began calling out to Rogue Kiyohara.
Genjutsu worked by disrupting the nerves in the brain. To counter it, you had to disturb your own chakra flow and break the illusion from within.
But...
The chunin was using genjutsu to control Kiyohara's body. What did that have to do with the Rogue-nin Kiyohara?
Rogue Kiyohara simply slipped into a partial possession, ignored the paralysis, and guided Kiyohara's body forward.
The Iwagakure chunin's expression twisted into pure shock.