As things were drawing to a close, Kiyohara hesitated for a moment before speaking up, "Lady Tsunade, may I borrow the laboratory equipment here for a bit? There are some personal things I'd like to verify."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Laboratory equipment? What are you planning to test?"
"Some… medicinal components. A secret medicine from my family. I want to confirm its safety."
Kiyohara's explanation was vague, but his attitude was sincere. Tsunade stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly recalled that the first time she met Kiyohara was right after he had taken out a loan and bought a large quantity of medicinal herbs.
She waved her hand dismissively. "Go ahead and use it. The basic testing setup on the left is fine, just don't break anything. It's expensive."
She didn't seem particularly interested in what Kiyohara wanted to test, or rather, she respected that shinobis had their own secrets. Clan techniques and secret medicines were a shinobi's foundation; prying too deeply would be crossing the line.
"I'll go have a drink on the rooftop. Come find me when you're done," Tsunade said.
She had lost quite a bit of money these past few days and planned to let the rooftop breeze cool her head.
"Thank you, Lady Tsunade."
After Tsunade left, Kiyohara walked over to the testing bench. The equipment here was comprehensive: microscopes, centrifuges, chakra reaction testers, various reagents, and culture dishes. Back in shinobi school, he had studied basic science and medical knowledge, and coupled with his preliminary exposure in Orochimaru's laboratory, he already had a decent grasp of how to operate this equipment.
He first took out a test tube containing a pale white liquid from a sealing scroll—it was the vial of "Power of the White Snake" that Orochimaru had given him.
Instead of starting immediately, Kiyohara tapped the urn and summoned Steel Release Kiyohara.
"Future me, help keep watch. Pay special attention to any abnormal chakra surveillance."
"Orochimaru's stuff, huh? It's good to double-check," Steel Release Kiyohara said.
The moment he appeared, he understood what Kiyohara intended to do. If it were him, he would have done the same. After all, Orochimaru's alignment was hard to judge, so being cautious was always the better choice.
Once the surroundings were confirmed to be safe, Kiyohara began the procedure. He drew a single drop of the white liquid and placed it onto a glass slide, then observed it under the microscope.
At a thousandfold magnification, countless tiny, semi-transparent, cell-like structures could be seen suspended within the liquid. They seemed to retain a low level of activity, slowly wriggling within the fluid.
"Living cells…" Kiyohara murmured.
He then carried out a series of basic tests: pH testing, chakra affinity testing, chemical reaction tests with common toxins… The entire process lasted nearly an hour.
The results showed that the primary component of the agent was a highly concentrated bioactive fluid—essentially, pure White Snake cells.
'It seems that what Orochimaru-sama gave me this time really is a gift,' Kiyohara thought to himself.
At this point in time, Orochimaru was likely still researching the Curse Mark and hadn't achieved concrete results yet. Including the "Power of the White Snake," everything should still be in the refinement stage.
Of course, that didn't mean it was completely harmless, any substance that forcibly enhanced physical abilities carried risks but at the very least, the most malicious possibilities had been ruled out.
"How else do you get stronger without drugs?"
That phrase surfaced again in Kiyohara's mind. Aside from the forbidden drug given to him by Missing-nin Kiyohara last time, injecting the "Power of the White Snake" would probably count as his second use of a forbidden medicine.
At least when it came to extracting beneficial substances from the White Snake's body through such a refined separation process, Orochimaru was likely the only one in all of Konoha capable of it.
After carefully cleaning and returning all the testing equipment, Kiyohara thanked Tsunade and took his leave. Tsunade merely waved to indicate she understood, then eagerly took the money Kiyohara had given her earlier and headed straight for the casino.
…
That evening, at home.
Three cages sat before him, each containing a white mouse. He had bought them from a pet shop near a shinobi tools store on his way back—occasionally, the shop sold animals used for shinobi training.
He conducted even more cautious live-subject experiments. The first mouse was injected with an extremely small dose of "Power of the White Snake." After half an hour of observation, not only did the mouse show no abnormalities, it appeared more energetic, and its fur even became glossier.
The second mouse was injected with half a drop. After an hour of observation, it was likewise in good condition and even performed better in reaction-speed tests.
The third mouse was left untreated as a control.
"Safety shouldn't be an issue," Kiyohara concluded as he watched the first two mice hopping around their cages.
Kiyohara sat down cross-legged and poured the entire contents of the test tube into his mouth. The liquid was slightly cool as it slid down his throat.
For the first few seconds, there was no sensation at all.
Then, a warm current rose from his stomach and rapidly spread through his limbs and body. It wasn't ordinary heat, but a warmth that seeped deep into his bones, penetrating every cell.
Kiyohara could clearly feel that power roaming within him. Wherever it passed, his muscle fibers and bones tingled faintly, as though their density was increasing. His meridians seemed to widen, able to accommodate more chakra.
The warmth intensified, gradually turning into a restless heat. His skin flushed red, large beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and his breathing grew heavy.
He clenched his teeth, guiding the foreign power to merge with his own. The yang-aspected life force within his body seemed to rejoice, as if encountering kindred energy, eagerly rushing forward and intertwining with the "Power of the White Snake."
Kiyohara could feel his vitality being replenished and strengthened; cellular activity and regenerative ability were steadily improving.
The transformation lasted a full two hours.
When the last trace of heat finally receded, Kiyohara slowly opened his eyes. His entire body was soaked in sweat, yet he felt better than ever before.
He clenched his fist. The sense of strength was more solid than before, continuously nourishing his body, even faintly accelerating the natural recovery of his chakra.
Stepping into the courtyard, Kiyohara formed hand seals and refined chakra.
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"
This was a ninjutsu he had just obtained from Orochimaru. A thin, razor-sharp arc of wind flew silently from his palm, slicing through a stone pillar in the courtyard as thick as a bowl.
The stone split cleanly in two, the cut surface smooth as a mirror.
Kiyohara carefully sensed the chakra consumption and recovery. Casting this Wind Release technique consumed about ten percent less chakra than before. And after the expenditure, the chakra recovery speed… was clearly faster.
If chakra recovery used to be like water dripping from a dropper, now it was like a thin stream flowing steadily. Though it wasn't instant replenishment, this kind of sustained recovery boost was hugely significant in prolonged battles.
"Both health and Chakra recovery speed are enhanced…"
Feeling the warm energy slowly circulating within him, Kiyohara was delighted. The Power of the White Snake primarily strengthened his physical foundation, and because it was highly compatible with his yang attribute, it granted additional vitality and accelerated chakra recovery.
It was like reinforcing the very base of his body.
"Next stop, the Land of Rain."
…
Three days later, early morning. The sun had just risen, and the air still carried a chill. A light drizzle fell from the sky, and a thin layer of mist shrouded the gates of Konoha.
Kiyohara arrived early, a newly purchased shinobi tool pouch hanging at his waist. A chainmail vest clung tightly to his body beneath a dark gray, rainproof cloak. He checked his equipment once more—ample reserves of sand iron and explosive tags, sealing scrolls packed full of soldier pills and emergency medicine.
He had also spent a high price on a larger-capacity sealing scroll, currently empty, intended for storing spoils of battle.
Kiyohara then glanced at the village gate. In fact, this gate had a name—the "Meeting Gate."
"Kiyohara!"
A clear voice called out. Kurenai emerged from the mist, also wearing a rain cloak, her long black hair tied neatly into a ponytail. Beside her was Genma, who was adjusting his hood with a gloomy expression.
Of all days, it just had to rain when they were heading out. Thinking about how it would likely rain for several days in the Land of Rain, Genma felt uncomfortable. He didn't like rain.
"You guys are early," Genma yawned. "I heard it's pouring over in the Land of Rain… really don't want to go."
Just as Kiyohara was about to respond, he saw several more figures emerge from the mist. Rin was carrying a medical pack, purple markings on her cheeks. Beside her stood Kakashi, wearing a black mask and sporting silver hair, and a tall, broad-shouldered man with short blond hair and a sunny smile, Minato Namikaze.
"Lord Minato?" Kiyohara was surprised.
"Yo, Kiyohara," Minato greeted with a smile. "We're heading the same way. We have an escort mission near the Land of Rain's border and will be traveling alongside Orochimaru-senpai's team for part of the route."
Kakashi nodded at Kiyohara. "Congratulations. You'll be a jōnin soon."
Seeing his friend on the verge of promotion made Kakashi happy for him, yet beneath that joy, he felt a subtle pressure. Being around geniuses always brought more pressure to one's peers. Kakashi, hailed as a genius himself, had never felt this before—but now, from Kiyohara, he sensed a faint… pressure.
Rin waved cheerfully. "Kiyohara, congratulations!"
"Thank you," Kiyohara replied.
Kurenai stepped closer, looked him over carefully, then whispered, "Kiyohara, you seem… a bit different. Your skin looks fairer, and you look especially healthy."
Kiyohara's heart stirred. Was the effect of the Power of the White Snake really that obvious? He touched his face. "Maybe I've just been resting better lately."
"Is that so…" Kurenai sounded unconvinced, but she didn't press the issue.
From within the mist, a slender figure approached. Orochimaru wore his shinobi attire beneath a black cloak, his golden slit pupils gleaming like those of a cold-blooded creature in the morning fog. His gaze swept over everyone, lingering on Kiyohara for a brief moment as a faint smile curled at his lips.
"Everyone's here," Orochimaru said hoarsely. "Minato, you'll be accompanying us for a while?"
"Yes, Orochimaru-senpai," Minato replied respectfully.
Orochimaru was Jiraiya's fellow disciple, both students of Hiruzen Sarutobi. As Jiraiya's student, Minato was, in theory, Orochimaru's junior.
"Our mission site is thirty kilometers east of the Land of Rain's border. We can travel together until your destination village," Minato added.
"Then let's depart," Orochimaru said.
They headed out through the gate, where a transport caravan waited not far away. The caravan used horse-drawn wagons loaded with goods. At a glance, Kiyohara knew this journey would be a long one—after all, horses were no match for shinobis. Even the most basic D-rank Body Flicker Technique allowed at least five meters of high-speed movement in an instant.
In the shinobi system, jutsu range was roughly divided into three tiers: over ten meters was "long range," five to ten meters was "mid-range," and five meters or less was "close range." Of course, these weren't absolute—everything depended on the shinobi's understanding and chakra. Some could unleash close-range techniques with effects surpassing long-range ones, but such cases were rare, a privilege of the strong.
"Lord Orochimaru, Lord Minato, what a surprise to have both of you together," said a man waiting outside, delighted. With two powerhouses present, what could possibly go wrong?
"What's your name? How many people are in your caravan?" Orochimaru asked.
"There are thirty-six of us. My name is Jirobo, I'm the leader of this caravan," the man replied.
"Please, this way," Jirobo said, calling someone over to prepare two wagons. They were large enough to hold seven or eight people, and everyone climbed aboard together.
"It's slower, but at least we don't have to run," Kiyohara remarked as he sat inside, watching the scenery retreat outside the window.
"The Land of Earth doesn't have as much flat land as the Land of Fire," Steel Release Kiyohara floated beside him. Most of the Land of Earth was rugged mountains, and since shinobis rarely engaged in production, large-scale development was difficult.
"That's why the Land of Fire gets attacked so often, everyone wants a slice of the fat meat," Kiyohara shook his head. War meant death, and aside from extremists, most people hated it. The endless cycle of shinobi wars ultimately boiled down to resource distribution. Why should the people in the Land of Wind be born to face deserts and water shortages, while civilians in the Land of Fire lived so comfortably? Over time, war became inevitable.
"Is this your first time riding a wagon, Kiyohara-kun?" Orochimaru asked, noticing how he occasionally examined the interior.
"Yes," Kiyohara nodded. In both his past life and this one, it was his first time. In the shinobi world, technology was advanced yet uneven. Many daimyō and nobles still used traditional conveyances like wagons and palanquins, while villages already had refrigerators and televisions. Even airships had existed years ago in the now-destroyed Land of Sky, and the frigid Land of Snow also possessed vehicles and airships.
"The first time I rode a wagon, I was about your age too," Orochimaru said conversationally.
Kurenai and Rin sat together, occasionally chatting about girlish topics. "Kiyohara is amazing," Rin whispered. "He can talk to legendary shinobis like the Sannin without changing expression."
"He's always been amazing," Kurenai nodded in agreement. By now, she firmly regarded Kiyohara as a genius—deep down, she even felt he might be stronger than Kakashi.
(End of Chapter)