Immediately afterward, he felt that something new had appeared deep within his mind—a brand-new urn.
Kiyohara instantly focused his consciousness inward.
Every time an urn appeared, it signified that yet another unfortunate future had acquired a new way to die.
"Hm?"
Kiyohara noticed that the exterior of this urn bore the emblem of Konoha, shaped like a leaf.
Moreover, the urn appeared to be carved from dark brown wood. Along its edges were intricate flame-like engravings, delicate and precise.
'The mark of Konoha…'
Kiyohara's heart stirred slightly.
That meant the future contained within this urn most likely belonged to a shinobi of Konoha.
As he pondered this, the lid of the urn suddenly emitted a faint sound.
Click.
The lid slowly opened a crack, and a hand grasped its edge.
Then, a figure pushed the lid fully open from within.
Kiyohara watched the scene unfold.
To be honest, he always felt that these so-called urns resembled coffins far more than containers for ashes.
Under his gaze, the lid was gradually lifted aside, revealing the illusory silhouette within.
The new future Kiyohara wore an animal mask upon his face. There was a small crack over the position of the left eye.
Judging from the red markings painted across the mask, it seemed to represent a fox.
He was dressed in tight black shinobi attire, with gray armor layered over it.
A katana was strapped across his back, its scabbard also gray in color.
"ANBU… or Root?"
Kiyohara murmured softly to himself.
In Konoha, attire like this unmistakably belonged to either the ANBU or Root.
The new Kiyohara seemed to hear his voice and slowly raised his head.
Though he wore a mask, Kiyohara could distinctly feel that "he" was looking at him.
Then, the new Kiyohara did something entirely unexpected.
Instead of speaking immediately, he flickered in motion and silently drifted to the entrance of the tent, vigilantly observing the outside surroundings.
Afterward, he swiftly circled the exterior perimeter of the tent, as if checking for hidden enemies or eavesdroppers.
Kiyohara raised an eyebrow.
This future version of himself… seemed to have quite a distinct personality.
The previous futures had all spoken immediately upon appearing.
This one, however, inspected the surroundings first before uttering a word.
Several minutes later, the spirit returned to the tent and nodded toward Kiyohara, signaling that it was safe.
Only then did he finally speak.
His voice sounded young, yet carried a composed steadiness.
"I am not Root."
He said it plainly.
"Then you're ANBU?"
Kiyohara asked.
That left only one possibility.
"Correct."
ANBU Kiyohara inclined his head slightly, the fox mask bobbing along with the motion.
"I am ANBU. Codename: Night Fox. Assigned to Konoha ANBU Third Squad. And you are… a different timeline younger version of me?"
Kiyohara nodded.
"Seems so. When did you die, and how?"
ANBU Kiyohara fell silent for several seconds. The voice beneath the fox mask carried a complex undertone.
"Year 54 of Konoha. Autumn. Died on a mission… killed in a counterattack by the target."
"Counterattack?"
Kiyohara frowned faintly.
"The target of an ANBU mission managed to kill you?"
Although he did not know exactly how strong this "ANBU Kiyohara" had been, joining the ANBU already implied a significant level of strength.
Moreover, ANBU missions were high-difficulty by nature. A target capable of counter-killing an ANBU operative…
ANBU Kiyohara seemed to sigh, though as a spirit, there was no actual breath.
"The target… was special. His name was En Oyashiro. A survivor of the Chinoike Clan."
The Chinoike Clan?
Kiyohara's mind rapidly searched through his memories.
He remembered that clan. They were famous for blood manipulation techniques and a dōjutsu. Once nobles of the Land of Lightning, they had later been exiled due to the jealousy of a feudal lord's wife.
The Uchiha Clan had once served as their jailers.
Their clan possessed a unique kekkei genkai known as the Ketsuryūgan the Blood Dragon Eye—one of the rare ocular abilities capable of casting powerful genjutsu.
"Wasn't the Chinoike Clan already in decline?"
Kiyohara asked.
In the original storyline, only two members were said to remain.
"They were. But En Oyashiro was an exception."
ANBU Kiyohara replied.
"In my timeline, he seemed to have formed a collaboration with Orochimaru. As a result, the Ketsuryūgan was further developed, along with numerous secret techniques. When my squad accepted the mission, our intelligence severely underestimated his strength."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"He manipulated the blood of everyone inside the entire estate. My teammates all fell within thirty seconds. I managed to hold out for five minutes… but in the end, I still died at his hands."
He did not elaborate further, but Kiyohara understood.
"So your last will is…"
Kiyohara prompted.
ANBU Kiyohara lifted his head.
"A last will hmm…"
"Yes. Kill En Oyashiro. Not only did he kill me, he slaughtered seventeen innocent servants in that estate and used their blood to amplify his power. A man like that does not deserve to live."
Kiyohara nodded.
"Agreed."
It seemed that this future version of himself leaned toward lawful good.
"Is there anything else?"
Kiyohara continued.
Generally, there were two last wills. So far, he had never encountered one with only a single last will.
"There is."
This time, ANBU Kiyohara answered much more quickly.
"On the day I died, I had just accumulated enough credentials to be promoted from an ANBU operative to the captain of Third Squad."
He extended his hand, the translucent palm closing faintly in the air, as though trying to grasp something invisible.
"The appointment letter was still in my shinobi pouch. I hadn't even opened it yet. And the captain's insignia for my ANBU uniform… I hadn't had the chance to replace it."
Kiyohara understood immediately.
To fall at the very moment of achievement and recognition—
Such regret was indeed heartbreaking.
Truly tragic.
Kiyohara realized that none of his futures had ever ended well!
But upon further thought—if the future were good, would it even be packaged and delivered here?
"So your second last will is for me to join the ANBU?"
Kiyohara ventured.
"Yes. And become captain."
ANBU Kiyohara said solemnly.
Kiyohara stroked his chin thoughtfully.
From later events in Shippuden, En Oyashiro had become a weapons merchant.
The only clear display of his strength was that he had single-handedly killed every remaining member of the Chinoike Clan except his own daughter.
There was something faintly reminiscent of Itachi about him.
In the end, much like Itachi, he cleared his daughter's name and ensured she successfully joined Kiri, no longer wandering aimlessly, but becoming part of the village system—a branch of one of the many shinobi clans within Kirigakure.
"What abilities do you have?"
Kiyohara asked.
"As for me… I suppose it would be 'Cursed Seal.'"
ANBU Kiyohara replied calmly.
"Cursed Seal? Which type?"
Kiyohara's interest was piqued.
There were two general types of cursed seals: binding-type seals and Sage Transformation seals.
Binding types included seals such as the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, the Self-Cursing Seal, and other common restraining marks. The Sage Transformation Cursed Seal, however, was Orochimaru's specialty.
Orochimaru had researched the cells of Jūgo's clan and uncovered their secret of absorbing natural energy.
Put simply, Orochimaru likely never fully mastered the true Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave. Instead, after discovering Jūgo's clan near Ryūchi Cave, he engineered a high-quality imitation of Sage Mode.
"I know quite a few techniques."
ANBU Kiyohara seemed to smile; though his expression was hidden, there was a trace of amusement in his voice.
"For example… this one."
He reached out and removed the bracer on his right arm.
Upon his translucent arm, a peculiar tattoo could faintly be seen—a ring of black curse markings located on the back of his hand, resembling three slender tomoe encircling one another.
"This is…?"
Kiyohara felt it looked vaguely familiar.
"To be precise, it is the Cursed Seal of Earthl."
ANBU Kiyohara began explaining its origin.
He described it as his greatest reliance during life. Even State One alone provided a significant boost.
As he finished speaking, the black curse markings suddenly began to boil and shift, turning crimson like interwoven grid patterns. They rapidly spread, crawling up his entire arm and extending toward his shoulder and chest.
An aura reminiscent of a wild beast emanated from him.
Cursed Seal—State One.
As he demonstrated, he continued explaining.
"The side effect is mild mental erosion. Extended use may cause irritability or heightened aggression. But if properly controlled, it is a highly practical ability."
Kiyohara carefully observed the markings.
He recognized them. This was the cursed seal system developed by Orochimaru.
It seemed that in this timeline, his future self had encountered Orochimaru—and perhaps even obtained the cursed seal directly from him.
"What about State Two?"
Kiyohara asked.
State One of the Cursed Seal alone was not particularly overwhelming.
The truly formidable transformation was Cursed Seal—State Two.
When a user transitions from State One to State Two of the Cursed Seal, they must pass through a phase known as "death." During that process, the user experiences agony akin to actually dying, while their physical body undergoes severe erosion and reconstruction.
For that reason, reaching State Two is extremely difficult. It requires the assistance of a special medicinal pill known as the Mind Awakening Pill, as well as supplementary techniques such as the Four Black Fog Formation and the Dark Sealing Method to accelerate the transformation.
Once the user endures that harrowing period, their strength, speed, and chakra reserves all increase dramatically compared to before the transformation.
At the same time, their physical appearance undergoes certain changes.
"Yes, I have that as well."
ANBU Kiyohara nodded.
"Between the two Cursed Seals, which one is stronger?"
Kiyohara asked.
He was referring to the Cursed Seal of Heaven and the Cursed Seal of Earth.
Among the many Sage Transformation Cursed Seals developed by Orochimaru, these two were considered the most outstanding variants.
"They're roughly equal."
ANBU Kiyohara replied.
"I once fought someone who bore the Cursed Seal of Heaven. Like Sasuke, he grew wings. As for me, I manifested a tail."
"I see…"
Kiyohara nodded slightly.
If he remembered correctly, Kimimaro's Cursed Seal of Earth also manifested as a tail.
There likely wasn't a hierarchy between the two; they were more parallel than superior or inferior.
One developed toward the sky. The other toward the earth.
'Is there a chance to combine them?'
The thought suddenly occurred to Kiyohara.
In the original storyline, no one seemed to have attempted merging the power of both Cursed Seals.
Sasuke had his Cursed Seal removed due to Itachi's interference. Later on, Sasuke never regained that power. Even when fighting Six Paths Obito, he merely had Jūgo transfer Cursed Seal chakra into his Susanoo rather than restoring it directly to himself.
"What about the binding-type seals?"
Kiyohara continued.
"Yes, those as well. For example, the Curse Binding Technique, which forms black curse-mark chains to restrain enemies. There's also the Curse Poison Technique, which converts the corrosive nature of the curse mark into toxin. And…"
He proceeded to explain seven or eight different curse-related techniques in detail, and Kiyohara memorized each one carefully.
These were invaluable inheritances.
Moreover, these abilities conveniently filled a current weakness in Kiyohara's arsenal.
The Sharingan provided perception and genjutsu. Magnet Release offered offensive power and mobility. Steel Release granted defense. Lightning Release Chakra Mode supplied speed and explosive force.
Now, the Cursed Seal added further amplification along with an entire combat system of its own.
Kiyohara's methods of dealing with opponents would become far more versatile.
Some enemies were immune to genjutsu—those who fought with their eyes closed and relied entirely on sensory abilities, for instance. In such cases, the Cursed Seal would prove highly effective.
"A very practical ability."
Kiyohara commented.
"But… you're so cautious. How were you still counter-killed?"
The curse markings on the spirit gradually receded, returning him to his original state.
"It was an intelligence failure. The mission briefing stated that En Oyashiro was merely an ordinary Chinoike exile, at most Chūnin-level. In reality… he was extremely strong. And he deliberately feigned weakness to lure us into a trap he had prepared."
"So, carelessness."
Kiyohara summarized.
That was understandable. The original work never clearly displayed just how strong En Oyashiro truly was.
"Yes. Carelessness."
The spirit admitted calmly.
"That's why I want to remind you—no matter how simple a mission appears, never lower your guard. The waters of the shinobi world are deeper than you imagine."
Kiyohara nodded.
"I'll remember that."
"By the way, since your Cursed Seal was implanted by Orochimaru, is there any of his chakra residue left within you?"
"No. I inherited it through a 'Last Will' from another future."
ANBU Kiyohara answered.
"The future you mentioned—where did his Cursed Seal come from?"
"He was 'Yakushi Kiyohara.' He became Orochimaru's assistant and served as one of the earliest experimental subjects."
"I see…"
Kiyohara nodded slowly.
He had been concerned about potential remnants of Orochimaru's chakra lingering within the seal.
"I am nothing more than a spirit now. Aside from my own pure power, nothing else remains."
ANBU Kiyohara shook his head gently.
All of Kiyohara's concerns were ones he had once shared himself.
"That's good."
Only then did Kiyohara feel reassured.
......
The next day.
Kiyohara rose early in the morning.
Today was a mission day, though departure would be at noon.
That meant the entire morning belonged to him.
After washing up and finishing a simple meal, Kiyohara decided to find a secluded place so ANBU Kiyohara could teach him one of the Cursed Seal techniques.
Inheritance was random when it came to ninjutsu, so Kiyohara had developed the habit of recording every technique known by his alternate futures.
That way, even after they dissipated, he could continue studying.
Since obtaining the three-tomoe Sharingan, his learning speed had increased significantly.
At that moment, he spotted a figure ahead.
It was Rin.
She stood alone in an open area at the edge of the camp, hands forming seals, brows tightly furrowed as she practiced ninjutsu.
Rin inhaled deeply and completed the hand signs for Fire Release.
"Fire Release…!"
She opened her mouth, attempting to exhale flames.
But the fire failed to take shape. Only a tiny flicker emerged from her lips, wavering briefly before extinguishing itself, replaced by a puff of black smoke.
"Cough, cough…"
Rin choked on the smoke, her small face turning red.
Unwilling to give up, she formed another set of hand seals—this time for Water Release.
"Water Release: Water Turbulence!"
She struck the ground with her palms as chakra surged.
Yet only a small puddle formed, barely enough to dampen the earth.
Rin stared at the puddle and bit her lower lip.
Although she felt her affinity for Water Release was slightly better than for Fire Release… it still seemed inadequate.
"Rin."
Kiyohara approached and called out.
Rin startled and spun around. Upon seeing it was him, she exhaled in relief.
"Kiyohara-kun… you're up so early."
Her voice sounded subdued, her gaze evasive—as though she did not want him to witness her earlier failures.
Kiyohara stepped closer and glanced at the damp patch on the ground.
"Practicing Fire and Water Release?"
"Mm…"
Rin lowered her head.
"I've more or less mastered medical ninjutsu. I want to try learning more offensive techniques like Kurenai does to improve my ability to protect myself."
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with anticipation.
"Kiyohara-kun is good at Fire Release, right? Could you… teach me?"
He met her gaze.
Rin's eyes were beautiful—clear amber, now shining with hope.
Her cheeks were flushed from practice, and a few strands of brown hair clung to the purple markings on her face. She looked slightly disheveled, yet undeniably adorable.
"Sure."
Kiyohara nodded.
"But this isn't the right place. Follow me."
He turned toward a more open clearing beyond the camp, shielded by rocks so as not to disturb others.
Rin hurried after him.
When they arrived, Kiyohara positioned her in front of him.
"If you want to learn, we'll start with the basics. A D-rank Fire Release technique—Fire Release: Flame Bullet. Its power is modest, requires no oil assistance, consumes little chakra, and is easy to grasp."
He stepped back and demonstrated the hand seals.
"Watch closely. The seals must be steady. Refine chakra from the lungs, and control the temperature carefully as it passes through your throat—neither too fast nor too slow."
He formed the seals and exhaled.
A fist-sized fireball shot forward and struck a nearby tree trunk, leaving a charred mark.
"Not very powerful, but sufficient against ordinary opponents. Your turn."
Rin nodded vigorously, imitating his hand signs and drawing a deep breath.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
This time, the flame formed successfully.
Though only bowl-sized and wobbling off-course, it was undeniably a proper fireball.
It flew forward, hit the ground, and burst into a small scatter of sparks.
"I did it!"
Rin exclaimed in delight, turning toward Kiyohara with sparkling eyes.
But just then, an accident occurred.
Perhaps she was too excited. Perhaps her chakra control was still unstable. A thin wisp of flame failed to fully exit her mouth and instead curled back, burning the tip of her tongue.
"Ah!"
Rin cried out, clutching her mouth as tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
Kiyohara immediately stepped forward.
"Open your mouth. Let me see."
Rin endured the pain and complied.
He saw that the tip of her tongue was reddened with a small blister forming.
Not severe—but certainly painful.
"I—I can handle it myself…"
Rin mumbled, intending to use medical ninjutsu on herself.
But Kiyohara had already raised his hand, pale green chakra glowing at his fingertips.
"Let me try. I haven't treated a patient's mouth before."
He said calmly.
Consider it clinical practice.
Rin blinked and watched him quietly.
Kiyohara gently lifted her chin with one hand. With the other, he extended his fingers into her mouth, touching the soft surface of her tongue.
Soft green chakra flowed from his fingertips, gradually healing the burn.
Mystical Palm Technique.
Rin felt a cool wave spread across her tongue, the pain rapidly fading, replaced by a gentle tingling sensation.
After several seconds, Kiyohara withdrew his hand.
"All better."
Rin instinctively ran the tip of her tongue lightly over the place she had burned.
It no longer hurt.
The blister had disappeared, and the patch of skin that had been scalded red had already returned to its normal color, smooth and unblemished as before.
"Th-thank you, Kiyohara-kun…"
Rin said softly.
Kiyohara looked at her flushed face and understood the reason for that redness in an instant, yet he chose not to comment on it.
"Be more careful next time you practice. Fire Release is the easiest to injure yourself with, especially when you're just starting out. Don't rush for speed. First, make sure you properly grasp chakra control."
"Mm…"
Rin nodded obediently.
After that, she resumed her Fire Release training, and Kiyohara remained there for a while longer, watching quietly.
When he judged that the time was about right, he bid Rin farewell and turned to leave.
By the time he was nearing the entrance of the camp, he could already see Tsunade standing there from quite a distance away.
Shizune stood at her side. This time she was not carrying Tonton; instead, a rather large military pack was slung over her shoulder.
Kurenai arrived slightly later than the others. Her curled black hair had been tied up into a neat and efficient ponytail, and she wore the standard Konoha shinobi uniform, which accentuated the slender curve of her waist.
When she saw Kiyohara, her eyes visibly brightened, and she lifted her hand to wave at him.
"Is everyone here?"
Tsunade swept her gaze across the three of them.
"Everyone's here."
Kiyohara nodded.
"Then we depart."
With a broad wave of her hand, Tsunade turned and led the group toward the depths of the snowy forest.
Her strides were long and swift, each step leaving a distinct footprint in the snow, though the prints were quickly swallowed by windblown powder.
Against the boundless white forest, the team of four appeared especially small and insignificant.
On the way, Kurenai took the initiative to walk beside Kiyohara.
"Kiyohara, I heard that Genma finished handling matters at home and has been reassigned to the eastern front."
Kiyohara nodded.
"I see."
When Genma returned to duty, he must have joined up with another unit and been transferred directly. Kiyohara was not surprised by this in the slightest.
"He originally wanted to spar with you," Kurenai said with a smile. "After the news of you defeating Toroi spread, quite a few people in the camp wanted to challenge you. But Lady Tsunade gave an order forbidding anyone from troubling you outside of missions."
Kiyohara raised an eyebrow.
That, he truly had not known.
"It's just as well that Genma didn't come," Kiyohara said calmly. "This side is more dangerous."
Kurenai nodded in agreement.
Genma specialized in swift assaults and senbon techniques—excellent for small squad operations, as well as harassment and assassination on open battlefields.
The eastern front faced Kiri, where naval and island combat required precisely that kind of mobility and adaptability.
The team continued forward.
After leaving the borders of the Land of Iron, the scenery beneath their feet gradually began to change.
The snow thinned little by little, revealing the dark brown frozen soil beneath.
The forest shifted from pure coniferous woods to mixed growth—pines, cedars, and hardy broadleaf trees growing together in uneven harmony.
The air was no longer so dry and biting; instead, it carried a faint trace of moisture.
"We're almost at the Land of Waterfalls," Tsunade said, stopping and pointing ahead. "Do you see that mist? The Land of Waterfalls is filled with cascades, and the air is perpetually thick with vapor."
Indeed, along the distant horizon, white plumes of mist could be faintly seen rising into the sky.
Even farther away, a low, continuous rumble could be heard—the distant thunder of waterfalls crashing down.
Over the next several days, the team traveled through the forests and mountains of the Land of Waterfalls.
The scenery here was entirely different from that of the Land of Iron.
Moist moss and ferns were everywhere, enormous fronds rising taller than a grown person.
Waterfalls appeared at every turn—some as thin as silver threads, others wide as draped curtains—roaring as they fell, filling the air with spray.
During their journey, Kiyohara made use of spare moments to summon ANBU Kiyohara and learn curse mark techniques from him.
At noon on the third day, while the team rested beside a stream, Kiyohara spotted a small wild boar.
It had gray bristles and long ears and was drinking quietly at the water's edge.
A thought stirred in Kiyohara's mind, and black curse markings silently emerged along his right wrist.
"Curse Binding Technique."
He murmured softly, fingers tightening slightly in the air.
The small boar suddenly froze.
Shadow-like black chains of cursed script appeared along the ground, binding its four limbs.
It struggled desperately, but its body refused to obey, able only to emit frightened squeals.
"Kiyohara, what are you doing?"
Kurenai came closer, curiosity plain on her face.
"Practicing a new technique," Kiyohara replied, carefully controlling the strength of the Curse Binding Technique.
The little boar lay sprawled on the ground with its limbs stretched out, looking somewhat comical.
"So pitiful…"
Kurenai gazed at its watery, pleading eyes. "You're not planning to eat it, are you?"
Kiyohara glanced at her.
"What do you think?"
"Pigs are so cute—how could you eat a pig?"
Kurenai puffed out her cheeks in protest.
Kiyohara said nothing. Instead, he calmly took a small knife, some seasonings, and a small iron pot from his shinobi pouch.
Ten minutes later.
Over the campfire, the iron pot simmered with fresh pork soup, its fragrance rich and irresistible.
Kurenai cradled a bowl in both hands, sipping in small mouthfuls, her cheeks flushed with satisfaction.
"It smells so good…"
Kiyohara smiled faintly.
"And who was it that said she wouldn't eat?"
"I—I was protecting animals!"
Kurenai protested, though she did not lower her bowl in the slightest. "But since it's already… well, we can't waste it."
Tsunade accepted a bowl as well. After tasting a spoonful, her eyes brightened slightly.
"Not bad at all."
Every time she went on a mission with Kiyohara, it felt as though she had brought along a military chef-nin.
Among shinobi, there was indeed a type devoted to the culinary arts—known as cooking shinobi.
"I'm glad you like it, Sensei."
In his previous life as an overworked salaryman, he had learned quite a few cooking skills to save money; he had never expected they would prove useful in the shinobi world.
With the Sharingan's power of copying and keen perception, Kiyohara had even learned techniques by secretly observing many street vendors in Konoha.
Skills that the proud Uchiha clan might disdain were things Kiyohara willingly studied.
The more one mastered, the more situations one could handle.
This mountain boar had been prepared expertly, without any gamey odor.
Pride, after all, was the foremost of the seven deadly sins.
Beyond being targeted by Danzō and thus somewhat isolated within the village, the Uchiha clan's own stubborn arrogance had offended many people as well.
Shizune sipped her soup quietly and, without drawing attention, ladled herself another spoonful.
Delicious, she thought inwardly.
"Kiyohara…"
Tsunade set down her bowl and fixed her gaze on his face.
"That technique you used just now… it was a curse mark, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
Kiyohara did not deny it.
"Orochimaru has always liked researching such things. Where did you learn it?"
Tsunade asked with curiosity.
Kiyohara had long prepared an explanation.
"While cleaning the battlefield earlier, I found a scroll on a fallen Cloud shinobi. It recorded some basic knowledge about curse marks and a few techniques. I tried practicing them—and unexpectedly, it worked."
This was a lie.
But there was no way to prove otherwise.
After Minato and the others had retreated last time, Kiyohara had indeed returned to the battlefield.
The Cloud shinobi had been too preoccupied dealing with the Two-Tails to collect their comrades' bodies.
As for Minato and his group, they had withdrawn hastily, wary of being caught in the blast of a Tailed Beast Bomb, and thus chose to leave quickly.
In the end, all of it had benefited Kiyohara, enriching his spoils.
The curse marks had truly been learned from his "future self," but attributing them to a fallen Cloud shinobi was the safest explanation. In the chaos of war, who could know which shinobi carried which scroll?
"Be careful. Some shinobi place traps on their scrolls," Tsunade warned.
"I understand."
Kiyohara nodded.
That night, the team stayed in a cave.
Shizune spread out the sleeping bags and said to Tsunade, "Lady Tsunade, the bedding is ready."
"You all sleep first. I'll take the first watch."
Tsunade stretched lazily, the taut fabric of her pants growing even tighter around her long, shapely legs.
"I'll take it."
Kiyohara volunteered.
Recently he had felt his energy growing more and more abundant; he suspected it was due to improvements in both physical and spiritual energy.
Tsunade glanced at him, then nodded.
"Very well. You take tonight. I'll switch with you tomorrow."
Tsunade and Shizune each entered their tents. Kurenai, however, did not go in immediately. Instead, she walked over and sat beside Kiyohara.
"I'll keep you company for a while."
Kiyohara glanced at her but did not refuse.
The two sat at the cave entrance, gazing up at the night sky beyond.
"Kiyohara, do you think we'll find members of the Uzumaki clan this time?"
Kurenai asked curiously.
In the village, she had only ever seen Kushina as a member of the Uzumaki clan.
"I don't know."
Kiyohara shook his head.
There were many red-haired people in the shinobi world—Gaara, for example.
One couldn't simply claim that Gaara was an Uzumaki.
Red hair was the most distinctive trait of the Uzumaki clan, but that did not mean every redhead belonged to them.
"But if the intelligence is accurate, we should have a chance."
"What if they're unwilling to come to Konoha?"
"Then we respect their choice."
Kiyohara paused before continuing. "Sensei said it herself—we can't force them."
Of course, Kiyohara suspected that was largely due to Tsunade's own feelings.
Tsunade could be considered half Uzumaki, carrying the blood of her grandmother, Mito Uzumaki.
She also knew Kushina personally; it was unlikely she would be overly harsh toward the remnants of the Uzumaki clan.
If anything, the clan's destruction likely left Tsunade with complicated emotions.
"I see."
Kurenai nodded thoughtfully.
As the night deepened, Kiyohara noticed Kurenai beginning to nod off and gently told her to return inside.
He himself remained outside, continuing his cultivation beneath the quiet canopy of stars.
(End of Chapter)