The two of them crossed paths again and again in the training ground.
Kakashi used the dynamic vision of his three-tomoe Sharingan to track Kiyohara's speed.
What puzzled him was this: Kiyohara also had a three-tomoe Sharingan, so why did it always feel like, even with the same setup, Kiyohara was somehow still one step faster?
Was having two really that much better than having one?
While Kakashi was thinking about that, Ganmaru's blade scraped across Samehada's surface, and part of the Lightning Release chakra Kakashi had infused into Ganmaru was suddenly absorbed.
When he looked up, he saw that Samehada had swallowed that portion of chakra.
"As expected…"
Kakashi pulled back half a step, widening the distance.
"The original's ability is still stronger than a clone like Ganmaru."
"It's already pretty good."
Kiyohara gave Samehada a light flick.
"It's still just a prototype. Once I improve it further, it should keep getting stronger."
After all, not everyone had Samehada and could use it the way Kiyohara did.
Later, when Kakashi fought other enemies, that would be when he'd use Ganmaru to absorb their chakra instead.
"True enough."
Kakashi said that, but his movements didn't stop. He slashed diagonally.
Kiyohara blocked, then knocked Ganmaru's short blade upward.
Just as the two were about to clash again, a middle-aged man suddenly appeared nearby.
"Excellent swordsmanship."
Maruboshi Kosuke's voice came from the edge of the field.
Kiyohara and Kakashi turned at the same time.
A shinobi in an old brown outer coat and chainmail undershirt was standing beneath a tree before either of them had even noticed.
He looked to be in his forties, wore an eyepatch over his left eye, and kept his right eye half-narrowed, a gentle smile on his face.
On his back he carried a large cooking pot and a pack, making him look more like some logistics genin than anything else.
But Kiyohara's Sharingan could see the chakra flowing inside the old man's body.
That chakra reserve was unmistakably jonin-level.
And among jonin, it belonged to the stronger kind.
Kiyohara recognized him immediately.
This middle-aged man was Konoha's eternal genin—Maruboshi Kosuke.
And also the future Kiyohara's teacher.
The solid base Kiyohara had in swordsmanship had been inherited from that future self, which meant a lot of Kosuke's influence was still there.
After all, in that future, they had been master and student.
Kakashi clearly didn't recognize the man, and a trace of confusion flashed through his eyes.
When had this shinobi appeared?
He hadn't sensed him at all!
Kiyohara, meanwhile, lowered Samehada and gave the old man a small respectful bow.
"Kosuke-senpai."
Kosuke raised a brow.
"Oh? You know this old man?"
"I've been fortunate enough to hear of your deeds, senpai."
Don't let the genin rank fool you—Kosuke's true strength far exceeded that of most elite jonin.
"It's said that you were one of the Second Hokage's trusted shinobi, survived all three great ninja wars, possess unfathomable strength, and yet chose to remain a genin for life because of a vow. That kind of character is worthy of admiration."
Hearing that, the surprise in Kakashi's eyes deepened even further.
The Second Hokage's era?
Didn't that make this old man a contemporary of the Third Hokage?
And on top of that… his strength was "unfathomable"?
Kosuke burst out laughing, open and hearty.
"What character? Nothing that grand. It's just atonement."
Then he looked at Kiyohara, a sharp light flashing in his one visible eye.
"But you, young man… those sword techniques just now were rather interesting. I feel like I've seen that style somewhere before."
Kosuke scratched his head.
He had a strange feeling.
Why did Kiyohara's swordsmanship seem to carry traces of his own?
And yet he shouldn't have had any contact with Kiyohara, let alone taught him swordsmanship.
Kiyohara's heart stirred slightly.
"You have a sharp eye, senpai."
He answered openly.
"My swordsmanship really is a mix of many schools. Part of it comes from Konoha-style swordsmanship."
"Konoha-style swordsmanship?"
Kosuke nodded at that.
Just like Konoha-style taijutsu, Konoha-style swordsmanship was something anyone could learn.
How much you mastered was entirely up to you.
After all, it was only basic swordsmanship to begin with.
"Ah, enough of that. What's the point of fussing over it? I was only passing by, and the sparring was so interesting that I couldn't help interrupting. That was rude of me."
Kosuke waved a hand and turned as if to leave.
"Please wait, senpai."
Kiyohara suddenly spoke up.
"Hm?"
"Would this junior have the honor of asking for some guidance?"
Kiyohara planted Samehada into the ground.
"Your mastery of swordsmanship is far above mine."
This was actually a good chance to "cleanly legitimize" Konoha Style: Willow.
As long as Kosuke was willing to use it in front of him, Kiyohara would have a legitimate reason to say he copied it.
The technique's power was genuinely excellent, especially now that Kiyohara's Yin Release talent was also very high.
Using this kind of illusion-based sword technique would be far more efficient in his hands.
Kosuke turned back around.
"Guidance? This old man is just a genin. You're a jonin—the hero who cut down the Mizukage in battle. What qualifications do I have to guide you?"
"Strength has nothing to do with official rank."
Kiyohara shook his head.
"If senpai is willing to teach me, I would be deeply grateful."
Kakashi finally couldn't help speaking.
"Kiyohara, this senpai is…"
"Kakashi."
Kiyohara cut him off, still keeping his eyes on Kosuke.
"Kosuke-senpai's strength is top-tier even among jonin. He simply… chose not to be promoted."
The smile on Kosuke's face faded slightly.
He looked deeply at Kiyohara.
"You seem to know a lot, young man."
"Only a little."
After a long moment, Kosuke nodded.
Truthfully, he had long since hidden his name and identity away. He didn't go around advising village shinobi anymore and had simply been carrying out missions quietly all this time.
Now that he thought about it, Kiyohara was Tsunade's student.
Tsunade's great-uncle had been Tobirama Senju, and Kosuke had once received Tobirama's favor himself. Giving Kiyohara a little guidance felt only natural.
With that in mind, Kosuke set down the large pot and pack from his back.
Then he drew an utterly ordinary-looking ninja sword from his waist. The blade showed wear, and the cloth around the hilt had already yellowed with age.
"Since you put it that way…"
Kosuke took his sword in hand, and his whole aura changed instantly.
The gentle, slightly stooped middle-aged man from moments ago vanished.
In his place was a drawn blade.
"Then this old man will exchange a few moves with you."
A sharp light gleamed in Kosuke's one eye.
"If there's ever anything you don't understand in the future, you can come ask me too."
"Thank you, Kosuke-senpai."
Kiyohara lifted Samehada again.
He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. He had thought it would take more convincing.
This really was the power of connections.
The network of people behind you would appear when you actually needed help.
If Kiyohara hadn't become Tsunade's student and were instead just an ordinary Uchiha, things probably wouldn't have gone nearly this smoothly.
Kakashi stepped back to the edge of the field, his Sharingan fixed tightly on the two of them.
He wanted to see for himself what kind of strength this man—whom Kiyohara claimed was extraordinarily strong even among jonin—actually possessed.
The next instant, Kosuke blurred forward and swung.
A simple horizontal slash.
So simple it looked like one of the first basic motions a beginner learned when training with a sword.
Lightning flashed beneath Kiyohara's feet as he activated Lightning Release: Lightning Body Flicker and shifted three meters to the left.
'Fast!'
Kosuke inwardly thought, No wonder he's Tsunade's student.
Then the two clashed, weapons meeting again and again in rapid succession.
Samehada thrust forward toward Kosuke, then halfway through abruptly changed direction and slashed upward toward his throat.
Kosuke blocked—but nearly had his sword knocked flying.
'Even his strength is just as outrageous.'
Kosuke had originally thought Kiyohara genuinely wanted guidance, but now he was starting to sweat a little.
This kid's swordsmanship was already excellent.
The reason he probably wanted to fight Kosuke was more to adapt to a different style.
Otherwise, in terms of sword technique alone, Kosuke felt he might already have lost.
After all, Kiyohara's speed and strength both exceeded his own. With physical stats like that, plus such solid swordsmanship, Kosuke would have a hard time holding him off.
Once he realized that, Kosuke decided he might as well focus on feeding him techniques instead.
A trace of flowing water appeared along his blade.
Water Release: Flowing Water Slash!
Kosuke swung a crescent-shaped blade of water toward Kiyohara.
Kiyohara watched the move, his Sharingan clearly seeing the Water Release chakra flowing along the sword.
Then water appeared along Kiyohara's blade too.
He used the same technique—Water Release: Flowing Water Slash.
But Kiyohara's water blade was far larger, directly splitting Kosuke's in half and continuing toward him.
Kosuke gave a couple of sounds of admiration, then followed up with more sword techniques one after another.
Kakashi, watching from the side, was nearly dazzled.
Suddenly, he remembered that his father had once mentioned there really was a ninja in Konoha whose swordsmanship was extraordinarily strong and yet who kept an extremely low profile.
If that was true, then this Maruboshi Kosuke must be that man.
Finally, Kosuke unleashed a slash and infused it with Yin Release chakra.
That single cut turned into countless slashes drifting like willow fluff.
Those slashes moved with the wind and could bind the target.
And Kosuke himself hid within the curtain of blade-light, preparing the true strike.
But none of that could escape Kiyohara's eyes.
He already knew Konoha Style: Willow—it had been one of the first S-rank sword-and-genjutsu techniques he ever acquired.
There was no way he would fall for it now.
Kiyohara swung Samehada, and suddenly countless images of Samehada appeared.
Konoha Style: Willow!
Kiyohara's move directly forced Kosuke out of hiding.
Looking at Kiyohara, Kosuke could only smile bitterly.
"Kids these days are incredible. Let's stop here."
Kosuke shook his head.
Konoha Style: Willow was one of his trump cards, and Kiyohara had learned it from a single look. What was the point of continuing?
At this rate, the only thing Kiyohara didn't know would be the color of his underwear.
"Sorry, I…"
"It's fine, it's fine. If this technique can help you, then use it."
Kosuke didn't mind Kiyohara having copied it.
After all, copying was the Sharingan's most basic ability. It was practically a passive effect.
He had used that technique in front of many Uchiha before, but Kiyohara was the only one who had ever actually learned it.
That only proved Kiyohara had the skill for it—and, in a sense, had carried the technique on.
"Though there's not much I can teach you, if you ever have questions later, come find me."
Kosuke waved a hand and picked his big pot and pack back up.
"Your talent is extraordinary, and your comprehension is excellent. You're going to accomplish a great deal in the future."
"Would Kosuke-senpai like to stay and have a meal?"
Kiyohara asked.
"No, I should get going. I still need to deliver supplies to the mission division."
He waved again and slowly shuffled toward the edge of the training ground with his slightly hunched back.
Just as he reached the exit, he suddenly turned and shouted back at Kiyohara:
"Next time you want some guidance, remember to treat me to a good bottle of sake!"
The moment the words fell, his figure had already disappeared into the woods.
Kakashi walked over to Kiyohara's side and looked toward the direction Kosuke had gone, thinking after a long while that Konoha truly was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
…
At Tsunade's house.
Tsunade sat cross-legged on the tatami in the living room, several newly delivered medical department files spread out in front of her, while she absentmindedly sipped at a cup of sake.
Shizune sat across from her, organizing paperwork, and Tonton was dozing on her lap.
"Where did that brat Kiyohara run off to again?"
Tsunade glanced at the clock on the wall.
"It's already noon. Didn't he say we were going to inspect the newly approved project site together this afternoon?"
"Kiyohara-kun went to Training Ground Three early this morning."
Shizune didn't even look up.
"Again?"
Tsunade clicked her tongue.
"He spends all day training and never knows when to rest. Sure, his strength's growing fast, but he shouldn't go and wreck his body in the process…"
She complained, though only verbally.
Shizune looked up, a little puzzled.
"It feels like Tsunade-sama's been especially concerned about Kiyohara-kun lately."
And when the thought occurred to her, she felt just a tiny bit sour.
After all, she had been Tsunade-sama's first student. So why had Tsunade never shown that same level of concern for her?
"Have I?"
Tsunade raised a brow.
"I'm just doing my duty as his teacher."
"Right, right."
That was all Shizune could say.
"Then when Kiyohara-kun gets back, Tsunade-sama better not drag him to the casino again."
"Hey!"
Just as the two of them were joking around, the sound of the door opening came from the entryway.
Kiyohara was back.
"Oh? So you're back?"
Tsunade swirled her cup lightly.
"How did the training go?"
"Not bad."
Kiyohara sat down by the low table and took the tea Shizune handed him.
"Though I did meet an interesting senpai."
"Senpai?"
"Kosuke Maruboshi."
The hand holding Tsunade's cup paused.
"Old man Kosuke?"
A flicker of surprise appeared in her eyes.
"How did you run into him?"
"At the training ground, by chance."
Kiyohara gave her a brief version of what happened.
"Kosuke-senpai's swordsmanship is incredibly advanced. He gave me quite a few ideas."
Tsunade fell silent for a moment, then slowly set her cup down.
"Kosuke really is… an impressive shinobi."
She said quietly.
"My great-uncle admired him a lot back then. He said Kosuke carried chains in his heart, but freedom in his sword. It's just a shame…"
She didn't finish the thought, only shook her head.
Shizune asked curiously,
"Is Kosuke-san really that strong?"
"Strong?"
Tsunade smiled.
"Let me put it this way: back then, he had the chance to jump straight from genin to jonin, but he refused. He also learned techniques from both my great-uncle and the old man, and a lot of his Water Release jutsu are extremely strong."
She shook her head.
Then she explained to Shizune that Tobirama Senju himself had once personally taught Kosuke Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
Even Kirigakure ninja usually had to honestly go through all forty-four hand signs for that technique. It was practically one of the slowest-starting techniques there was.
But Kosuke Maruboshi had simplified it down to just six signs, greatly increasing its efficiency.
At that, Shizune finally understood why he deserved to be called a senpai.
"Enough about that."
Tsunade waved a hand and changed topics.
"The land for the project got approved. It's on the west outskirts of the village, near that stretch of wasteland by the Forest of Death. Plenty of space."
She pulled out a map from the pile of documents and spread it on the table.
Kiyohara leaned in to look.
The marked area was roughly the size of five soccer fields. It was surrounded by woods on three sides, with water nearby on the fourth, making it an ideal location.
And since it was far from residential areas, even if some accident occurred during experiments, it wouldn't easily harm civilians.
"What about the budget?"
Kiyohara asked.
"The old man approved an initial thirty million ryo."
Tsunade tapped the budget sheet beside the map.
"Anything after that depends on results. But…"
She leaned closer, her eyes sparkling.
"You're the project manager, and you've got the authority over the budget, so…"
"The consulting fee for your teacher can't be lacking, right?"
Kiyohara couldn't help laughing.
"Don't worry. Your proper share won't be short by a single coin."
"That's more like it."
Satisfied, Tsunade leaned back against the cushion again. Then something seemed to occur to her.
"Oh, right. Shizune's interested in Water Release medical ninjutsu too. Remember to teach her as well."
Tsunade glanced at Shizune as she said it.
"No problem."
Kiyohara answered.
"Then I'll be counting on you, Kiyohara."
Shizune smiled immediately.
"Pui~"
Tonton woke up from the noise and let out a couple of snorts.
Tsunade picked up her sake again.
"But really, haven't you been pushing yourself too hard lately? Training, research, managing a whole project… don't work yourself into collapse."
"I understand, Sensei."
Kiyohara took a sip of tea.
His current strength was good.
But only good.
Against the Ōtsutsuki, it still wasn't enough.
The greatest enemies in the ninja world were not the shinobi visible in the open.
They were the Ōtsutsuki lurking in the shadows of the world—including those still on their way from the heavens, like Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki, Kinshiki Ōtsutsuki, and Urashiki Ōtsutsuki.
And even closer, there were the Ōtsutsuki on the moon, like Toneri.
They wanted to use the power of the Tenseigan to destroy the lower world and reset the peaceful world created by Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, making themselves the founders of a new human era.
Those weren't just delusions—they truly had the power to make it happen.
The Tenseigan alone had enough power to split the moon in half with a single strike.
Put simply, without Ōtsutsuki blood, in the ninja world you were basically just a beggar with a bowl.
After chatting for a little longer, Kiyohara returned to his room.
At that moment, he suddenly felt the urn belonging to White Snake Kiyohara inside his mind tremble faintly.
Then a pale spirit—visible only to him—floated out of the urn and coiled around his shoulder.
"Hiss… my past self."
White Snake Kiyohara's voice sounded directly in his mind.
"There's movement from Ryūchi Cave…"
Kiyohara's pupils shrank slightly.
"What kind of movement?"
"It seems like the White Snake Sage has noticed you."
A trace of seriousness flashed through White Snake Kiyohara's slit pupils.
"I can sense Ryūchi Cave chakra already in Konoha. Most likely one of the three great snake princesses."
Kiyohara's heart tightened.
The White Snake Sage had noticed him?
Because he had been trying to train Ryūchi Cave sage arts?
Or because of the white snake cells mixed into his body?
Or because he had inherited some of the white snake bloodline?
"They want to make a move on me?"
Kiyohara frowned.
What was this, some kind of anti-piracy mechanism from Ryūchi Cave?
Then again, why had they never gone after Mitsuki? He hadn't learned Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode through the proper method either.
"Probably not."
White Snake Kiyohara shook his head.
"The White Snake Sage may be capricious, but she hasn't left Ryūchi Cave in centuries…"
He paused.
"But you should accelerate your trip to Ryūchi Cave. You need to avenge Garaga's grudge, and you also need to obtain the complete Ryūchi Cave sage arts inheritance. The sooner both are done, the better.
Otherwise, if the White Snake Sage changes her mind or something else happens, it'll be troublesome."
Kiyohara was silent for a moment.
"I understand."
~~~
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