"Of course it is true."
Kushina nodded. "You saved Kyoko, so you are a friend of the Uzumaki clan. And with your talent, you should learn sealing techniques very quickly."
As she spoke, Kushina turned and ran toward the inner room.
"Wait here, I will find a scroll suitable for beginners!"
Watching her energetic figure rush off, Kakashi lowered his voice and said to Kiyohara, "You are quite lucky. Kushina-senpai's mastery of sealing techniques ranks among the very best in Konoha."
"Mm." Kiyohara nodded.
Of course he knew that.
In the original story, Kushina could easily use sealing techniques to instantly subdue two Anbu, and after several more years of growth, she could even suppress the Nine-Tails with her sealing techniques.
The reason she still had to remain within the barrier now was simply because she had not yet reached her peak.
Her proficiency in sealing techniques was still improving year by year.
Soon, Kushina returned, holding a scroll in her hand.
"Here, this is a sealing technique called 'Single-Light Formation.'"
She handed the scroll to Kiyohara.
Kiyohara looked at it carefully.
"Single-Light Formation" was an E-rank technique, a basic barrier fuinjutsu. Once cast, it would create a barrier centered on both the user and the target, restricting the opponent's ability to move. Even someone like Iruka could use it.
However, the shinobi academy had not yet included this technique in its curriculum.
It would likely only become part of formal instruction during the Boruto era.
At present, obtaining this sealing technique still required certain connections or opportunities.
"This is a very practical sealing technique. Start learning from this. If there is anything you do not understand, you can come ask me."
Kiyohara accepted the scroll solemnly.
"Thank you, Kushina-senpai. I will study it seriously."
"No need to be so polite." Kushina smiled and patted his shoulder.
"Alright, breakfast is ready. Everyone, come and eat. Kyoko, help me bring the dishes."
The breakfast was very rich, with miso soup, grilled fish, tamagoyaki, natto, rice, and pickled vegetables.
Everyone sat around the table, and the atmosphere was lively.
During the meal, Kushina talked about the Uzumaki clan. Kyoko listened quietly, and from time to time, a trace of nostalgia and sadness flickered in her eyes.
At times, Kyoko and Rin also chatted about medical ninjutsu, the two of them getting along quite well.
Although Kakashi did not speak much, he occasionally joined in.
Kiyohara ate while observing everyone.
He could sense that the Nine-Tails inside Kushina was still restless, yet firmly suppressed.
Kiyohara suspected that this was due to his enhanced spiritual energy, which had strengthened his perception.
As a result, his Yin Release power had also grown significantly.
After breakfast, Kushina clapped her hands lightly and said gently to Rin, "Rin, come with me to the inner room. We need to do a check."
The stability of the Three-Tails' jinchuriki was critically important, both for Rin's own safety and for Konoha.
"Yes, Kushina-senpai." Rin immediately stood up, the relaxed expression on her face disappearing as she grew slightly tense.
She had always felt a certain fear toward the creature inside her.
Right now, she hoped Kushina could further reinforce the seal.
Kyoko gently patted Rin's shoulder in comfort, then stood up and began clearing the table.
Kiyohara and Kakashi also helped carry the dishes into the kitchen.
Just as Kiyohara was wiping the table, Kakashi suddenly spoke, "Kiyohara, over here."
He tilted his head slightly toward the balcony outside the living room.
Kiyohara was a bit surprised, but he set down the cloth and followed Kakashi out.
Kakashi walked onto the balcony, leaning against the wooden wall with his hands in his pockets.
"What is it, Kakashi?" Kiyohara asked, sensing that he had something to say.
Kakashi raised his eyes to look at him.
"I have received the official order."
"Order?"
"Yes, an Anbu assignment."
Kakashi lowered his voice further.
"Next, I will be entering Anbu Squad Six."
Kiyohara immediately understood.
It seemed that Minato and the Third Hokage were moving quickly.
As a well-known prodigy who had already made a name for himself, and after experiencing the Kannabi Bridge battle and Obito's "sacrifice," Kakashi's strength and mentality were both considered sufficient to take on Anbu responsibilities.
"Congratulations," Kiyohara said.
"The Anbu is a place where elites gather. It will greatly help your growth."
Kakashi shook his head, seemingly unconcerned with the praise.
After all, compared to Kiyohara, such achievements did not feel particularly significant.
He had gotten to know an Anbu senior who could be considered half a mentor.
That senior had privately told Kakashi that aside from him, there would soon be another very young shinobi recruited into the Anbu, someone who had caught the attention of the Hokage and several high-ranking officials.
That person was Kiyohara.
"Kiyohara, I know you are also joining the Anbu, that is why I am telling you this."
Hearing Kakashi's words, Kiyohara nodded slightly.
Since they would both be Anbu members, there was no need to worry about secrecy between them.
"That is right. It is me. I will be reporting to the Anbu soon."
Kiyohara stated the date of his assignment.
"That means your date is the same as mine. We might have a chance to be assigned to the same squad, or at least have someone we can talk to among our peers in the Anbu," Kakashi said.
He was genuinely pleased at the possibility of continuing to carry out missions alongside Kiyohara.
"Indeed. If we have someone familiar with us, coordination during missions will be smoother. However, I have heard that Anbu squad assignments and mission distributions are highly confidential. We can only wait for orders."
"True."
Kakashi looked out into the distance.
The two did not say anything more and returned to the living room together.
Not long after, Kushina and Rin also came out of the inner room.
Rin's complexion looked more rosy, and it seemed the reinforcement process had gone smoothly. She bowed deeply to Kushina.
"Thank you very much, Kushina-senpai. It feels much more stable now."
"You are welcome. This is what I should do." Kushina smiled and ruffled Rin's hair.
"Just come regularly so I can check on it."
Seeing this, Kiyohara and Kakashi took the opportunity to say their farewells.
After leaving Kushina's house and walking along Konoha's morning streets, Kakashi and Rin went to report to Minato, while Kiyohara planned to return home to study the "Single-Light Formation" scroll Kushina had given him.
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
Shisui draped a towel over his sweat-soaked shoulder and tilted his head slightly upward.
He had just returned from the border, still carrying the dust and fatigue of travel, yet his expression was relaxed.
That was because he enjoyed sparring with Itachi, and for him, it was a form of relaxation.
Itachi stood opposite him, hands braced against his knees, his chest heaving violently.
Four hours of running at full speed was difficult even for a well-trained shinobi.
His bangs were soaked, clinging to his pale skin. Each breath he took expelled hot white vapor, and his shoulders trembled continuously with his breathing.
The park was empty, with only the faint sound of kunai clashing from a distant training ground, making this corner seem especially quiet.
"How have you been lately?"
Shisui spoke.
Itachi did not answer immediately.
He slowly straightened up, wiped away the sweat that was about to drip from his chin, and lifted his gaze to meet Shisui's.
In those dark eyes was reflected Shisui's smiling face, along with a trace of unwillingness.
Shisui's breathing had already steadied, and only the slight redness on his neck and his soaked Uchiha robe showed that he too had gone through the same exertion.
Itachi pressed his lips together before speaking in a low voice.
"Training with you is far more useful than staying with those in the clan who are my age or a few years older."
Shisui smiled.
It was a bright smile, even carrying a hint of playful teasing.
"After your birthday, your way with words has improved quite a bit."
He thought about yesterday, about the sudden flare signal that rose along the border, about how he had gripped his kunai and looked toward Konoha, letting out a quiet sigh in his heart.
There was no helping it. Military orders were absolute.
A shinobi's foremost duty was to obey orders, and moreover, only by winning on the battlefields against other nations could Konoha have a future.
Birthdays were often missed, yet the child in front of him had never truly minded such things.
"I have not changed."
Uchiha Itachi shook his head, his tone carrying that stubborn persistence unique to him.
"You have always been like this."
Shisui stepped closer and reached out, ruffling Itachi's sweat-soaked hair.
"You are clearly still just a child, yet the way you speak and act always feels like that of a little adult. Many in the clan who are older than you cannot compare."
As he said this, his gaze settled on Itachi's still youthful face, where sharpness was already beginning to emerge.
Even the way the boy frowned had long shed the carefree looseness of childhood.
The Uchiha clan had never lacked geniuses, but someone like Itachi was still rare.
Itachi was indeed one of the most gifted individuals Shisui had ever seen.
Of course, that was excluding the existence of one particular person.
That person was Kiyohara.
Itachi did not respond.
"Could it be that aside from Kiyohara, there is someone else?" Shisui asked in surprise.
His hand was still resting on Itachi's head, while Itachi simply shook his own.
"I do not know how others are."
Itachi lowered his eyes, looking at the tips of his dust-covered shoes.
"I do not know about others, but when I observe everyone in the clan, there is not a single person who makes me feel admiration."
"In other words, you only look at yourself?"
Perhaps it was just as Shisui had said.
Itachi did not place much importance on many of the children within the clan.
What position should he take?
What should he do to become a shinobi superior to everyone else?
These were questions he had been thinking about since he was very young.
He had no spare energy to think about others.
"I can guarantee that among those in the clan who are about your age, there will not be anyone stronger than you."
Shisui rubbed Itachi's head back and forth, shaking it lightly.
"Stop."
Itachi brushed his hand away.
"As long as you are here, the future of the Uchiha will be secure."
After saying this, Shisui smiled.
He was very clear about the current situation between the clan and the village.
And he also had a premonition that among Konoha's higher-ups, there were definitely those who held prejudice against the Uchiha.
However, none of that could be allowed to affect the greater picture.
If internal conflict were to break out between the Uchiha clan and the village because of such issues, it would only give other hidden villages an opportunity.
"I heard Kiyohara has also returned. Let us invite him to train together tomorrow."
"Alright."
Itachi nodded.
The next day—
Today was also the day Kiyohara would report to the Anbu.
He had just finished his morning training and was about to study the sealing technique scroll Kushina had given him when a light knock sounded at the door.
He opened it and saw an Anbu shinobi wearing an animal mask standing outside.
"Kiyohara, at two in the afternoon today, please go to the underground level of the Hokage Building to collect your equipment."
The Anbu shinobi's voice was calm, but the gaze beneath the mask carried a hint of scrutiny.
He had heard of Kiyohara's reputation, but this was his first time seeing him in person.
"I understand. Thank you."
Kiyohara nodded.
The Anbu shinobi said nothing further and disappeared in an instant using the Body Flicker Technique.
"Two in the afternoon…"
Kiyohara rubbed his chin. It was only around nine in the morning, so there was still plenty of time.
After returning from Kushina's place yesterday, he had been practicing the "Single-Light Formation."
Fortunately, the Anbu aspect within him also understood a bit of sealing techniques. With one person and one spiritual entity discussing together, his progress had been rapid.
In just one night, he had already managed to use it, albeit barely.
With more practice, he would soon be able to attempt learning more advanced sealing techniques.
Still, Kiyohara felt a slight sense of regret.
If he had the bloodline of the Uzumaki clan, he could directly use the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
Even if the Nine-Tails appeared, it would have to think twice before breaking free.
After all, even in a state where the tailed beast had just been extracted, severely injured, and after childbirth, Kushina had still been able to bind the complete Nine-Tails with the Adamantine Sealing Chains. That alone demonstrated just how powerful the technique was.
It could only be said that all tailed beasts had two natural counters.
One was the Sharingan, and the other was sealing techniques.
After thinking it over, Kiyohara decided to stay home and continue training today.
As for Tsunade, she was still fast asleep.
Shizune was at home studying medical scrolls.
Kurenai had not come to find him these past few days and seemed to be training on her own.
As for Rin and Kakashi, one was helping out at the Konoha Hospital, while the other had recently become obsessed with reading novels.
When Kiyohara had returned yesterday, he had happened to glimpse the book Kakashi was reading.
Although it was not one of Jiraiya's works like Icha Icha, it was still essentially no different from a risqué novel.
Regarding that, Kiyohara could only conclude that Kakashi truly was the reserved type.
Just as Kiyohara was heading out to buy some supplies for maintaining his shinobi tools, someone called out his name on the street.
"Kiyohara!"
Shisui called out.
"I knew I would run into you. I heard from people in the clan that you were seen returning yesterday."
"Shisui."
Kiyohara stopped walking.
"Do you need something from me?"
"Yes."
Shisui nodded.
"I heard you came back to the village, so I wanted to find you. I was wondering if you have time today. I would like to invite you to the training grounds for some sparring practice."
He paused briefly before adding,
"Itachi also wants to see you again. He still remembers losing to you before. Although he has not said anything, he has been training even harder than before. I think if you come and train with us, it will be a great motivation for him."
Hearing Shisui's invitation, Kiyohara thought to himself that the timing could not have been better.
He needed an appropriate setting to reveal the techniques he had obtained from the spiritual remnant of Uchiha Kiyohara, those Uchiha-style techniques and Fire Release jutsu that carried the Uchiha signature, in a reasonable manner.
Sparring openly with Shisui would undoubtedly be the best way to justify it.
"Sure."
Kiyohara agreed readily.
"I was just thinking of stretching my muscles a bit. Where are we going?"
"To Itachi's house. Aunt Mikoto said she wanted to see you. After that, we can go to Training Ground Three. If I remember correctly, you quite like the environment there."
Shisui spoke, clearly familiar with Kiyohara's preferences.
"That is right. Then it is settled."
The two walked side by side toward the Uchiha clan compound.
Soon, they arrived in front of a residence that was not particularly luxurious but was very elegant.
Shisui stepped forward and knocked on the door, which was quickly opened.
The one who answered was a beautiful woman.
She appeared to be in her twenties.
Her features were gentle and refined, her skin fair, and her gaze soft like water, completely lacking the faint arrogance or distance often seen among many Uchiha clan members.
This was Itachi's mother, Uchiha Mikoto.
"Shisui, you are here."
As soon as she spoke, her gaze fell on Kiyohara, and a trace of appreciation flashed in her eyes.
"Kiyohara-kun, this is our second time meeting, is it not? Please, come in."
She spoke warmly.
The last time, Fugaku had invited Kiyohara over, so Mikoto had already met him once.
"Thank you for having me, Lady Mikoto."
Kiyohara bowed politely.
Mikoto's beauty and gentle temperament naturally inspired goodwill, completely different from the rigid impression often associated with the Uchiha clan.
Mikoto was indeed the most normal member of Itachi's family.
Perhaps Sasuke's ability to endure pressure had more to do with inheriting her traits.
"There is no need to be so formal. Just call me Aunt."
Mikoto stepped aside to let them in and casually closed the door.
"Itachi is practicing shuriken in the backyard. I will go call him. You two sit in the living room first, I will prepare some tea."
"Thank you, Aunt Mikoto."
Shisui was clearly very familiar with the place. He led Kiyohara through the entryway and into the living room.
The room was furnished with traditional tatami mats and a low table. In one corner, a vase held several fresh lilies, giving off a faint, pleasant fragrance.
Mikoto soon brought over a tea set.
She knelt beside the low table and prepared the tea.
"Please enjoy."
Mikoto placed two cups of emerald-green tea in front of Kiyohara and Shisui, her smile warm and gentle.
"I heard from Fugaku that you are very remarkable. Not only do you possess the Sharingan, but you have also mastered a bloodline limit like Magnet Release. That is truly impressive."
Mikoto looked at Kiyohara as she spoke.
"Lord Fugaku overpraises me," Kiyohara shook his head lightly.
"So, I would like to ask you for a favor." Mikoto blinked softly as she looked at him.
"What kind of favor?" Kiyohara asked with curiosity.
"That child Itachi used to think he was fairly outstanding among his peers, but after losing to you, he has become more focused on training. That is a good thing. In the future, I hope you and Shisui can guide him a bit more."
"I see. That is no problem." Kiyohara nodded.
After all, one becomes influenced by the people around them.
In the eyes of others, both he and Shisui were considered geniuses.
Training alongside geniuses would naturally bring better results.
In other words, Kiyohara had now become the standard example of "someone else's exceptional child."
"Aunt Mikoto, Itachi's talent is very high, and he works extremely hard. His future is limitless," Kiyohara said as he lifted his teacup, taking a sip before offering polite praise in return.
Not long after, Itachi walked in from the backyard. He was wearing a dark blue short-sleeved shirt and matching pants, with fine beads of sweat still on his forehead, clearly having just finished training.
"Kiyohara-senpai, Shisui-niisan."
"Itachi, you look energetic," Shisui said with a smile.
"Are you ready? Let us head to Training Ground Three," Kiyohara set down his teacup and said to Itachi.
Itachi nodded firmly. "I am ready."
After bidding farewell to Mikoto, the three of them left the Uchiha compound and headed toward Training Ground Three at the edge of Konoha.
Training Ground Three was a comprehensive training area, featuring forested sections, open clearings, and a small stream. The terrain was relatively complex, which made it one of Kiyohara's preferred places.
When they reached an open grassy field, Shisui stopped and turned to face Kiyohara, his eyes shining with anticipation.
"Kiyohara, we have not had the chance to spar properly since your last mission. This time, I want to see your true progress."
Kiyohara's expression also became serious. "I have been wanting to test the results of my recent training as well. Shisui, please guide me."
Itachi consciously stepped back under a large tree to watch.
Between the two of them, who was stronger now?
He pondered.
A person's strength was never static. What they experienced and what techniques they learned could all influence their power.
Now, both Kiyohara and Shisui had clearly grown.
So who had improved more?
In the field, the two stood facing each other and formed the Seal of Opposition.
In an instant—
Their figures vanished from where they stood, and in the next moment, they collided at the center of the field.
Neither used ninjutsu at first. It was purely a contest of Uchiha-style taijutsu, but the speed was astonishing, their fists and kicks clashing with heavy, dull thuds.
Itachi immediately widened his eyes, trying his best to follow their movements.
Even in his vision, their actions were so fast that they were almost impossible to track clearly.
So this was Uchiha-style taijutsu.
His heart surged with excitement.
He could tell that the foundation of their techniques came from the same source, both utilizing the distinctive force application and footwork of the Uchiha style, yet their handling of details revealed different personal styles.
Itachi had learned these as well, but he was clearly not yet at their level.
'So fast,' he thought in shock.
Even with full concentration, he could barely keep up, and this was without either of them enhancing their speed with chakra.
On the field, Kiyohara seized a subtle moment of hesitation in Shisui's sidestep and launched a swift, powerful straight punch.
Shisui remained calm. His left hand turned into a palm, pressing against Kiyohara's wrist and deflecting it outward, while his right hand formed a blade-like shape and thrust toward Kiyohara's ribs.
Kiyohara seemed to have anticipated this. He dodged the strike while sweeping his left leg like a whip toward Shisui's lower body.
Shisui leapt lightly into the air, twisting midair while rapidly forming hand seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A blazing fireball burst from his mouth, over three meters in diameter, surging toward Kiyohara with scorching heat.
Is Kiyohara going to use the same technique?
Itachi stared intently at Kiyohara's hand seals.
Kiyohara remained composed. Almost at the same moment Shisui completed his seals, his own were finished as well.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Another massive fireball erupted from Kiyohara's mouth, significantly larger than Shisui's.
The two blazing fireballs collided violently in midair.
Boom!
The explosion roared, flames and heat waves sweeping outward. A large patch of grass was instantly scorched black, and the hot wind made Itachi's hair whip wildly as his cheeks burned from the heat.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Shisui immediately followed up with another technique.
Before the flames had even dissipated, countless small fireballs, like the seeds of a phoenix flower, shot out in various arcs, covering Kiyohara's position.
These scattered fireballs were far more difficult to dodge than a single straight attack.
Yet Kiyohara moved fluidly through them, his Sharingan appearing as he tracked their trajectories and evaded in advance.
At the same time, his hands did not stop.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
An equally dense barrage of fireballs surged from his side, intercepting part of Shisui's attack while counterattacking in return.
Itachi was shocked to discover that Kiyohara's fireballs seemed superior in speed, quantity, and control.
Shisui's three-tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly as he dodged and blocked within the barrage, surprise appearing in his eyes.
When had Kiyohara's mastery of fire techniques reached such a level?
This was not something that could be achieved merely by copying with the Sharingan. It required deep understanding of chakra nature transformation and extensive practice.
"It seems I cannot hold back any longer."
Shisui's gaze sharpened. While evading, he formed hand seals again and simultaneously flicked several shuriken from his pouch.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson!"
This time, instead of scattered fireballs, a denser wave of flames erupted, attaching themselves to the previously thrown shuriken.
The shuriken instantly transformed into flaming projectiles, their power greatly enhanced.
A B-rank technique.
Itachi's heart tightened.
This move was far more difficult and powerful than the previous C-rank Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu.
However, Kiyohara's response once again exceeded expectations.
Instead of using the same technique, he chose Magnet Release.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Drizzle!"
With a low shout, the gourd at his waist trembled, and iron sand poured out like a black river, intercepting the flaming shuriken.
Clang, clang!
Hiss, hiss!
The iron sand collided with and adhered to the shuriken, disrupting their trajectories while using its mass and magnetism to strip them of accuracy. The attached flames were scattered and largely extinguished.
At the same time, Kiyohara moved. His hand seals were even faster than Shisui's at that moment.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson!"
Flames burst forth once again, blooming like a phoenix flower, attaching themselves to the shuriken between his fingers.
And as he threw them, a subtle layer of magnetism was applied.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The flaming shuriken, guided by magnetic force, flew even faster than Shisui's version.
Shisui's pupils contracted sharply.
His three-tomoe Sharingan spun as he tracked each projectile.
Too fast.
And the faint magnetism allowed the shuriken to curve unpredictably, making their trajectories extremely difficult to predict.
"Hah!"
Shisui let out a low shout and instantly drew the short blade from his back.
The blade was immediately coated in dense fire chakra, transforming into a flaming weapon.
"Uchiha Style: Sword Leap Flame!"
He moved rapidly, leaving afterimages as his blade formed a crimson curtain of light.
Clang, clang, clang!
The sound of metal clashing rang out continuously.
With his kenjutsu and Sharingan perception, Shisui deflected, knocked aside, and split the incoming flaming shuriken.
Sparks flew around him, and the air shimmered from the heat.
His movements were noticeably more hurried than before.
After finally blocking the barrage, before he could even catch his breath, Kiyohara had already closed the distance.
Once again, it was Uchiha-style taijutsu, but the power and pressure behind each strike were even greater than at the start.
Shisui immediately countered with his blade, sword light and fist shadows intertwining.
However, he soon sensed something was wrong.
Kiyohara seemed able to predict his blade movements half a step in advance, either redirecting them with skillful strikes or disrupting his force.
Even more alarming, the grappling and throwing techniques Kiyohara occasionally used carried a strong Uchiha style, yet some of the refined variations were unfamiliar even to him.
When had he become so proficient?
Shisui stared deeply at Kiyohara, his mind in turmoil.
These techniques either required guidance from elders or long periods of real combat and exceptional talent to master.
Kiyohara had not grown up within the Uchiha clan. How long had he been exposed to these?
Copying alone could never achieve this level, as if he had trained in it for years.
The only explanation was that Kiyohara's talent was terrifyingly high.
In such a short time, he had not only replicated the techniques but improved upon them.
The pressure continued to mount.
For a moment, Shisui almost suspected that Kiyohara had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan and was hiding it just as he himself did.
Yet Kiyohara's Sharingan clearly showed only two tomoe, not even three, making that impossible.
Shisui himself had once tried to suppress his three-tomoe Sharingan back to two, only to find it impossible.
As time passed, Shisui realized that his proud speed and technique seemed consistently half a step slower than Kiyohara's, leaving him completely suppressed.
And he knew that Kiyohara still had stronger abilities, such as Magnet Release and Lightning Release, yet to be used.
Meanwhile, aside from his Body Flicker Technique and Mangekyo Sharingan, he had nearly exhausted his standard arsenal.
Bang!
After another fierce clash, the two separated again, standing more than ten meters apart.
Shisui's breathing had grown heavier, sweat forming at his temples, and the hand gripping his blade felt slightly numb.
Kiyohara, on the other hand, appeared completely unbothered.
From the side, Itachi frowned deeply.
Kiyohara had, for the most part, been using the same techniques as Shisui.
Did he truly believe that alone was enough to deal with Shisui?
What kind of confidence, and what level of strength, was this?
(End of Chapter)