"Thanks, Rin."
With Nohara Rin's guidance, Kiyohara finally got the hang of Antidote Technique, which he'd almost mastered already.
"I didn't expect you to be interested in this kind of thing too, Kiyohara," Rin said with some surprise.
Aside from Kiyohara, who'd just started practicing medical ninjutsu, she was the only one here who could use it.
"Did you register at Konoha Hospital as a medical ninja too, Kiyohara?" she asked.
"No," he shook his head, then explained, "I learned these from Tsunade-sama."
"Tsunade-sama!"
Rin let out a small gasp.
No medical ninja doesn't know Tsunade. She stood at the very peak of the medical world and was exactly the kind of person Rin admired and aspired to be.
Seeing the worship in Rin's eyes, Kiyohara instantly knew she was one of those people who didn't know the real Tsunade. He thought about it, then decided not to crush her idol filter with the brutal truth.
"By the way, Rin, which chakra points do you use when you cast Antidote Technique?" Kiyohara asked.
Controlling chakra as it exits the chakra points is no easy task; even most jōnin can only push it from their hands, feet, or general body surface. That's why you usually see jutsu coming from the mouth or the hands—not, say, a random fireball bursting out of a forehead or a knee.
The Uchiha's Sharingan actually counts as another outlet for casting techniques.
Only Byakugan users can release chakra from every point in the body. Techniques like Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven, which blast chakra from all over for massive defense, are nearly impossible without a Byakugan. That's why Gentle Fist ended up as the Hyūga clan's exclusive style—without Byakugan, most people just punch hard with Strong Fist.
"Mmm, I use these…"
Rin held out her hand, bringing it close so Kiyohara could see as she showed which chakra points she used.
Listening alone still left him a little confused, so he took Rin's hand and used a finger to tap along her palm.
Being grabbed startled Rin for a second.
Kakashi was right there.
But watching Kiyohara's completely absorbed expression as he listened, she realized she was overthinking it.
To a doctor, patients don't have a gender. Talking medical ninjutsu shouldn't either.
Ignoring the strange feeling of his fingers on her palm, Rin continued her explanation.
"What are you two talking about?"
Obito, seeing Rin chatting with Kiyohara for so long, finally couldn't sit still and ran over to butt in.
"We're talking about academic stuff. You wouldn't get it, Obito," Rin said, shaking her head gently to indicate that what she and Kiyohara were discussing was beyond him.
"I–I wouldn't get it?!" Obito was instantly offended.
What could Kiyohara possibly understand that Uchiha Obito didn't? Was the gap really that big?
Once he awakened his Sharingan, what couldn't he master with ease?
"Huh?"
Only then did Obito notice that with her back to him, Rin still had her hand in Kiyohara's.
"Rin, why is your hand in Kiyohara's?" he blurted, eyes going wide.
"Don't misunderstand, Obito," Kiyohara said calmly. "We're just working on medical ninjutsu."
He was just "studying foreign languages," nothing more—no need for Obito to overthink it.
Obito stared in disbelief. Since when did medical ninjutsu require holding hands? His theory was bad, sure, but not that bad.
"Idiot. Kiyohara's checking Rin's chakra points," Kakashi said, shaking his head.
Obito really was hopeless. How had the elite Uchiha clan produced someone like him?
"Exactly, Obito. What are you imagining?" Kurenai looked confused too.
Kiyohara looked so upright—how could he be "touching Rin's hand" in that way? He was clearly just studying her chakra points.
"Sensei, I…" Obito, unsure what to think anymore, looked to Minato for help.
"They're right, Obito," Minato nodded.
Now even Obito began doubting himself.
Did I really misread it?
"Alright, time for us to move on," Minato said, standing after the short rest.
Time was precious now—every second mattered.
"Yes," everyone replied, packing up.
Only Obito sounded distracted. He'd never held Rin's soft, fragrant hand even once—and somehow Kiyohara had gotten there first. The more he thought about it, the more wronged he felt, like watching someone stand up and pedal off on the bicycle you couldn't bring yourself to ride.
"I'll walk with you to the border. After that, I'll break off to head to the front. Kiyohara and Kakashi will each lead a squad—Kiyohara, your team will draw Iwa's attention; Kakashi, you proceed toward the objective," Minato reiterated.
Kiyohara's sensing ability was sharper than Kakashi's, making him perfect for spotting enemies first and taking the opening move. Once they disrupted the enemy, they could withdraw.
"Understood," Kakashi said.
They resumed their march.
After about half an hour, Kakashi suddenly stopped and signaled everyone behind him to hold position.
Watching this scene echo canon, Kiyohara knew they'd encountered Iwagakure's scout: jōnin Mahiru.
Mahiru specialized in swordsmanship, was very fast, and knew Shadow Clone.
Kiyohara sorted Mahiru's intel in his head.
"Mahiru, huh…" Rogue Kiyohara stared at the jōnin ahead, something surfacing in his memory.
"What is it?" Kiyohara asked him silently.
"I've fought him. In my timeline, he didn't die here—he got away. I killed him later, but never managed to pry his sword techniques out of him," Rogue Kiyohara said.
"I see."
Mahiru's swordsmanship, huh? Kiyohara wasn't too keen on diving into kenjutsu right now. Even with Rogue Kiyohara's coaching, it would be a long-term project. For now, the cost-benefit ratio was far better for ninjutsu and shuriken work.
"So they've been noticed by those two, huh. Not bad," Mahiru thought from behind a tree.
He'd sensed two shinobi adjust their breathing, smoothing it out—that was a clear sign they were preparing for combat.
He risked a glance back.
One was a handsome black-haired boy; the other a white-haired youth with a short blade on his back.
"That one is… impossible…" Mahiru's eyes shifted to their lead jōnin, and cold sweat ran down his cheeks.