"Bee!"
The Fourth Raikage's shout rang out from behind the Eight Tails.
"Retreat!"
The Fourth Raikage immediately realized that continuing this battle was meaningless.
Their objective had already been accomplished. This time, he had not brought a large army, only a group of elite shinobi.
If they continued fighting until Konoha's reinforcements arrived, the losses would only become even greater.
"Everyone, withdraw!"
Upon hearing the order, the Cloud shinobis immediately began pulling back.
Killer B reverted to his human form, and under the effects of the Tailed Beast's chakra, the wounds covering his body rapidly healed.
Even so, his eyes never left Kiyohara.
That guy...
Just what kind of monster was he?
The Kumogakure forces retreated, leaving behind a battlefield littered with corpses and wounded soldiers.
Only then did Kiyohara release the Seventh Gate.
For him, opening the Seventh Gate was not an especially great burden. The biggest cost was simply the enormous amount of chakra it consumed.
If Guy had used it instead, however, the Seventh Gate would have left hidden internal injuries that would require time to recover.
After all, the essence of the technique was to push the body beyond its normal operating limits, forcing it to endure a far greater load than usual in exchange for explosive power.
"We won!"
"Captain Kiyohara, long live!"
"Long live Konoha!"
Kakashi sheathed his short blade and walked over to Kiyohara.
Might Guy staggered toward him as well. His body was covered in wounds, and he had already deactivated the Eight Gates Formation.
"Kiyohara!"
He grabbed Kiyohara's hand with both of his.
"That... that technique just now... what exactly was it?!"
Guy's eyes were practically glowing with excitement.
"What kind of taijutsu was that?! I've never seen anything like it before!"
Kiyohara looked at him calmly.
"It's called Eight Heavenly Vacuum Strikes."
"I developed it myself."
The techniques within the Eight Gates Formation had never stopped evolving.
Just like Night Guy, which was very likely a technique that Guy himself had eventually created.
When Might Duy entered the Eight Gates state, the manifestation he produced was merely a blood-red tiger, something much closer to an enhanced version of Daytime Tiger.
Hearing Kiyohara's explanation, Guy first let out a sigh before his fighting spirit immediately reignited.
"My youth... still has a very, very long road ahead of it!"
Rin hurried over and stopped in front of Kiyohara, carefully examining him from head to toe.
"Kiyohara-kun... you're not hurt, are you?"
Her voice was filled with unmistakable concern, and her brown eyes reflected nothing but his figure.
Kiyohara reached out and gently rubbed the top of her head.
"I'm fine."
A faint blush appeared on Rin's cheeks.
She lowered her head but made no attempt to avoid his touch.
Not far away, Kurenai watched the scene, her brows knitting together slightly.
She quickly walked over, casually positioning herself directly in front of Kiyohara.
Although she and Rin were close friends, when it came to Kiyohara, Kurenai could not help but feel a sense of possessiveness.
Rin also noticed Kurenai's subtle reaction, but she looked rather confused.
She still had no idea that Kurenai had already crossed that final line with Kiyohara, placing her far ahead in their silent competition.
"Get some rest, Kiyohara. The burden of the Eight Gates is tremendous."
Kurenai spoke softly.
"I'm alright."
Kiyohara shook his head.
With the bloodlines of the Yotsuki Clan, the White Snake, and others flowing through him, his cellular regeneration had long surpassed that of an ordinary human.
And that was without actively using any medical ninjutsu.
At this rate, it was entirely possible that one day he would master Hashirama's signature ability of healing without hand seals.
In fact, Kiyohara already possessed some of the effects of that ability.
He simply had not reached Hashirama's absurd level yet.
"Start cleaning up the battlefield."
Kiyohara issued the order.
Several ordinary shinobi around him immediately acknowledged the command and hurried off.
As the battlefield commander, Kiyohara naturally possessed the authority to direct everyone present.
He then continued giving orders, strengthening the surrounding defenses while dispatching two reconnaissance squads to secretly trail the Kumogakure forces in case they attempted a surprise counterattack.
"I'll go check on my teacher."
Once everything had been arranged, Kiyohara spoke to Kurenai, Rin, and the others.
....
Meanwhile on the Kirigakure defensive line.
Karatachi Yagura sat alone inside his command tent.
A document lay open before him, but his gaze remained fixed in empty space rather than on the paper.
The lingering pain from his missing left eye made it impossible for him to concentrate.
He slowly raised a hand and unconsciously touched the hollow beneath the bandages.
The wound itself had long since healed.
Yet the agonizing pain of having his eyeball violently gouged out, along with the image of those scarlet eyes, had become permanently engraved into the depths of his memory.
That masked man...
Yagura lowered his hand, his expression darkening.
Ever since Kiyohara's attack, he had become extraordinarily sensitive to any sudden presence nearby.
At that moment...
The surrounding air twisted slightly.
Almost instinctively, Yagura entered a combat stance while reaching toward the shinobi tools at his waist.
A figure stepped out of the distorted space.
A tiger-striped mask concealed his face, leaving only a single crimson eye exposed.
"Not bad."
Obito's voice echoed from behind the mask.
Yagura frowned.
Damn it.
Why is it another Uchiha ambushing me?
He immediately realized that this masked man's voice was different from the one who had attacked him previously.
But both shared the same characteristics.
A mask.
And a Sharingan.
His body reacting purely out of stress, Yagura completed a string of hand seals almost instantly.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
An enormous water dragon condensed out of thin air, roaring as it charged toward the masked man.
However, the eye beneath Obito's mask revealed the distinctive pattern of the Mangekyo Sharingan.
He remained standing exactly where he was, allowing the enormous water dragon to pass directly through his body before smashing apart the wall behind him.
Water exploded everywhere.
Broken rocks scattered across the ground.
Yet the masked man remained completely unharmed.
It was as though he existed on an entirely different plane.
"A space-time ninjutsu...?"
Yagura frowned deeply as he stared at the unbelievable sight.
His hands immediately formed another series of seals.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Towering waves burst into existence out of nowhere, instantly tearing apart the command tent and flooding the surrounding area.
Yagura wanted to test exactly how long Obito's mysterious technique could be maintained.
But the masked figure remained perfectly still.
The enormous waves continued passing straight through him, crashing farther into the distance.
"It's useless."
Obito slowly shook his head.
"Your Water Release can't touch me."
Unless Yagura maintained that level of chakra output continuously for five full minutes, hurting him was simply impossible.
The moment Yagura hesitated...
Obito activated his Mangekyo Sharingan's genjutsu.
Yagura's pupils gradually lost their focus.
His hands froze in midair.
"From this moment onward..."
"You are my pawn."
The last trace of awareness disappeared from Yagura's eyes.
He stood there motionlessly.
Like a lifeless puppet.
...
The Mountains' Graveyard.
The enormous head of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path hung low.
The life-support tubes remained connected to the withered old body beside it.
Uchiha Madara sat upon his wooden seat with his eyes closed.
Space suddenly twisted.
Obito stepped out from within the distortion.
Behind him followed Yagura, expressionless and empty-eyed like nothing more than a marionette.
"Madara."
Obito spoke, unable to hide the satisfaction in his voice.
"The Kiri plan can now begin."
Madara slowly opened his eyes.
The scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan flashed with a crimson gleam in the darkness.
His gaze settled upon Yagura.
It lingered there for a moment.
Then his brows furrowed ever so slightly.
"Idiot."
"Someone has already left ocular power inside him."
Obito frowned in confusion.
He had no idea why Madara had suddenly insulted him or what he meant by ocular power.
"Yagura already contains the chakra of another Sharingan."
Madara looked directly at Obito.
"You were one step too late."
Obito froze.
He suddenly turned to look at Yagura.
The Mist shinobi with the vacant expression now seemed strangely glaring in his eyes.
Sharingan power?
Whose?
Obito carefully thought it over.
In the end, only one conclusion remained.
The only person capable of secretly tampering with Yagura without anyone noticing was, in all likelihood, Kiyohara, the man who possessed the Flying Thunder God Technique.
That guy...
Had he already been here?
"Impossible."
Although reason told Obito that this was the most likely explanation, emotionally he refused to accept it.
He had prepared for this operation for a very long time.
He had planned every step.
How Yagura would assume control.
How he would interact with Kirigakure's officials.
What policies he would implement after taking power.
Everything had already been arranged.
"There is still a trace of Rinnegan power remaining within my body."
Madara spoke calmly.
"It allows me to detect the foreign chakra inside Yagura. If you use him now, Kiyohara could reverse your control at any moment."
Even Madara believed the culprit was Kiyohara.
Obito slowly clenched his fists.
"Can't it be removed?"
"It can."
Madara answered indifferently.
"But it will take time. Kiyohara's ocular power is exceptionally strong."
"And he may have left behind other hidden contingencies as well."
He paused before meeting Obito's eyes.
"Do you have that much time?"
Obito fell silent.
No.
He didn't.
The war on the Kumogakure front was rapidly approaching its final decisive battle.
Meanwhile, if they failed to seize control of Kirigakure now, it would become far more difficult to interfere once the war came to an end.
"Then I'll use someone else."
Obito's voice turned ice cold.
"Genji."
The elder of Kirigakure possessed tremendous prestige within the village.
He controlled vast resources and an extensive network of influence.
Controlling him could achieve the same objective.
As for Yagura...
"Keep controlling him for now."
"Once we've dealt with Kiyohara's ocular power, we'll make use of him slowly."
Madara gave a slight nod.
"Go."
Obito turned around.
Taking Yagura with him, he disappeared into the twisting space once more.
Silence once again descended upon the Mountain's Graveyard.
Only the occasional low rumble of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path transferring chakra echoed through the darkness.
Madara remained seated alone.
His Rinnegan gazed into the endless abyss before him.
"Kiyohara..."
He quietly repeated the name.
Had he really anticipated even this move?
No.
Impossible.
Madara slowly shook his head.
Perhaps...
It was merely a coincidence.
But there had simply been far too many coincidences.
...
Meanwhile...
Inside the Konoha camp.
Both sides of the long conference table were filled with jonin.
Present were the Hyuga Clan Head, Hyuga Hiashi, the Uchiha Clan Head, Uchiha Fugaku, representatives from Konoha's major clans, and Danzo Shimura, who had only just arrived.
Orochimaru leaned casually against the window, his golden slit pupils slowly sweeping across everyone gathered inside the command tent.
Minato unfolded a newly updated battlefield map across the long table. Several red markings had been added, indicating the Kumogakure outposts and supply routes that had recently been identified through reconnaissance.
"Although this battle began with Kumogakure launching a surprise attack..."
Minato pointed at several of the red markers.
"...that assault also allowed us to clearly gauge the enemy's true situation. According to our scouts, Kumogakure's forces have become seriously scattered, and their logistical supply lines are on the verge of collapse."
He paused before continuing.
"If we launch an offensive now, our chances of victory are extremely high."
Across the table, Fugaku sat with his arms folded over his chest.
"Minato."
Fugaku finally spoke.
"You said earlier that the one who held back the Fourth Raikage and the Eight Tails Jinchuriki..."
His eyes shifted toward Kiyohara.
"...was Kiyohara?"
Minato nodded.
"That's right."
"Kiyohara held off the Fourth Raikage by himself. Lady Tsunade and Kakashi provided support, and together they successfully stopped the enemy's advance."
Fugaku's eyebrows rose slightly.
He looked toward the young man seated on the opposite side of the table.
Kiyohara simply sat there calmly, his expression as tranquil as if the discussion had absolutely nothing to do with him.
Fugaku quietly withdrew his gaze, but inwardly, he could not suppress his thoughts.
Holding back the Fourth Raikage alone...
And together with Tsunade, forcing him into retreat?
That level of strength...
Like Minato, he had not personally witnessed the battle. Both of them had rushed over from different sections of the battlefield afterward, leaving them only able to piece together the events through the accounts of others.
This young man...
Was even stronger than he had imagined.
Beside Kiyohara, Tsunade sat with one leg crossed over the other.
"Since the opportunity is sitting right in front of us..."
"What exactly are we hesitating for?"
"Let's finish this in one decisive push."
She had long grown tired of this endless war.
If it could end sooner, then it should end sooner.
The instant her words fell...
Someone voiced an objection.
"No."
Everyone turned simultaneously toward the speaker.
Danzo slowly stood up, his single exposed eye coldly sweeping across the room.
"Launching an offensive now would be far too reckless."
Walking over to the map, he pointed at several marked locations.
"Although Kumo's forces are scattered, their main strength still exists. You've all seen the power of the Fourth Raikage and the Eight Tails Jinchuriki yourselves. Charging in carelessly will only lead to unnecessary casualties."
His tone became increasingly solemn.
"We should proceed gradually."
"Continue wearing them down first, then launch the final offensive."
The command tent fell silent.
It was an unusual kind of silence.
Several shinobi exchanged strange looks.
Danzo...
What exactly was he saying?
The Danzo who had always advocated aggressive action...
The same Danzo who constantly argued for annihilating enemies completely in order to maximize Konoha's interests...
Was now advocating caution?
Leaning against the window, Orochimaru narrowed his golden eyes ever so slightly.
Naturally, he understood exactly what Danzo was thinking.
If the war ended too quickly...
Danzo's military achievements would not amount to much.
And if the war concluded now...
The position of the Fourth Hokage...
Orochimaru lowered his eyes without saying a word.
Danzo noticed the strange looks everyone was giving him.
Even so, his expression remained perfectly composed.
He turned toward Tsunade.
"Tsunade."
"What do you think?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"Me?"
She smiled before casually patting Kiyohara's shoulder beside her.
"As for my opinion..."
"I'll leave that to my disciple."
She paused briefly.
"Kiyohara is also one of the commanders responsible for this front."
"He currently commands nearly a thousand shinobi."
"He has every right to make this decision."
Once again...
Everyone's eyes gathered upon Kiyohara.
"My opinion..."
He spoke calmly.
"...is that we should strike while the momentum is ours."
"Kumogakure's surprise attack failed."
"They've suffered considerable losses, and their morale has inevitably been damaged."
"At this point, they only have two choices."
"They can either retreat..."
"...or stake everything on one final battle."
"Knowing the Fourth Raikage's personality..."
"He'll never choose to retreat."
"So their next move will undoubtedly be one final desperate offensive."
Danzo frowned deeply while listening.
This brat...
Kiyohara paid absolutely no attention to Danzo's expression and calmly continued.
"Rather than waiting for them to finish preparing..."
"We should strike first."
"We'll gradually eliminate their outposts, sever their supply lines, and by the time they realize what's happening..."
"They'll already have no road left to retreat."
"You're recklessly pursuing military merit!"
Danzo snapped.
"Recklessly pursuing merit?"
Kiyohara looked directly at him.
"Lord Danzo."
"I've remained on this battlefield much longer than you have."
"Compared to someone who's been sitting safely in the rear, I believe I have a much clearer understanding of the current situation."
Danzo choked on his words.
Taking a slow breath, he forcibly suppressed the anger rising inside him.
"I'll have Root cooperate with the battlefield."
"Root?"
Kiyohara smiled disdainfully.
"With that handful of people?"
"What exactly are they supposed to accomplish?"
"Bullying ordinary civilians?"
Danzo's face turned dark green at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Root indeed did not have many members.
But every single one of them was an elite among elites.
Yet in Kiyohara's mouth...
They had become nothing more than "that handful of people."
Even worse...
Danzo suspected Kiyohara was deliberately mocking him for using Root to gather talented civilian children and raise them into shinobi.
After all...
It had been Kiyohara himself who had destroyed Root's secret base.
"You..."
Danzo pointed furiously at Kiyohara, nearly unable to speak.
"Lord Danzo."
Kiyohara interrupted him before he could continue.
"I am the commander of this battlefield."
Danzo slowly clenched his fist.
His knuckles turned white from the force.
Ignoring him entirely, Kiyohara looked around the room.
"Those in favor of launching an immediate offensive..."
"Please raise your hands."
Tsunade was the first.
Her fair, slender hand rose high into the air without the slightest hesitation.
Seeing Danzo's face alternating between green and white, she almost burst into laughter.
Fortunately, considering the occasion, she barely managed to suppress herself.
Even so...
Danzo had already noticed.
His fist tightened even further.
Fugaku hesitated briefly.
In the end...
He slowly raised his hand as well.
No matter what...
Kiyohara was still an Uchiha.
Hiashi silently observed the two men.
His gaze shifted from Kiyohara...
To Danzo.
One stood at the peak of his influence.
The other was already beginning to decline.
One had just earned tremendous merit on the front lines.
The other had remained safely behind the scenes while criticizing those actually fighting.
After a long silence...
Hiashi slowly raised his own hand.
Danzo might possess deep roots within Konoha's leadership...
But Kiyohara...
Was still incredibly young.
Young enough that his future held limitless possibilities.
Thinking of the Hyuga Clan resting upon his shoulders, Hiashi knew he had to consider where the clan should stand in the future.
In the end...
The Hyuga Clan made its choice.
Behind Kiyohara stood the Hokage's faction.
Clearly...
That future held far greater promise.
Having reached his conclusion, Hiashi spoke.
"I support Kiyohara's proposal."
After him...
The representatives of Konoha's major clans began raising their hands one after another.
Then came the jonin who had fought and bled on the battlefield.
More and more hands rose into the air.
Some genuinely agreed with Kiyohara's strategy.
Some had already recognized which direction the political winds were blowing.
Others simply had no desire to offend a genius whose influence was rapidly reaching its peak.
Danzo remained standing where he was.
Silently watching all of those raised hands.
"Hmph."
He let out a cold laugh.
"You'll regret this, Kiyohara!"
With a violent motion, he threw open the tent flap and strode outside.
The curtain fell shut behind him.
His gloomy figure disappeared from sight.
Silence lingered inside the tent for several moments.
Kiyohara calmly withdrew his gaze.
If Danzo wanted to leave...
Then let him leave.
Whether he remained or not would hardly affect anything.
"Let's continue."
Kiyohara pointed back toward the battlefield map.
"Now..."
"Let's discuss our specific route of attack."
Orochimaru glanced once toward Danzo's departing back.
After a brief moment of consideration, he decided it would be wiser to stay and hear the remainder of the battle plan.
Without Danzo constantly interrupting the discussion...
The meeting proceeded remarkably smoothly.
By the time it concluded...
It was already deep into the night.
...
Kiyohara and Tsunade walked side by side back toward their tent.
Moonlight bathed the military camp, stretching their shadows long across the ground.
Tsunade carried a bottle of sake in one hand.
Every few steps, she tilted her head back and took another long drink.
"That felt satisfying."
She lowered the bottle, unable to hide the smile tugging at her lips.
"You should've seen that old bastard Danzo's face."
"Tsk."
"It was so green it looked like he'd swallowed a fly."
Kiyohara smiled faintly.
"Sensei seems very happy."
"Of course I'm happy."
Tsunade took another large gulp.
"That old dog has been making my life miserable for years."
"Every time I see him, I want to punch him."
"Watching him suffer today felt even better than winning a fortune gambling."
As she spoke...
Her steps suddenly wavered.
Kiyohara reached out and caught her arm.
"Sensei."
"You've had too much to drink."
"I'm not drunk."
Tsunade brushed his hand away and steadied herself.
"This amount is nothing."
She continued walking forward.
Even so...
Her footsteps had clearly become somewhat unsteady.
When they finally returned to the tent...
She dropped heavily onto the cushion beside the low table before setting the bottle down with a loud thud.
"Come on."
"Drink with me."
Kiyohara sat across from her.
"I don't drink."
"How boring."
Tsunade curled her lips in dissatisfaction.
She poured herself another cup and emptied it in a single swallow.
A thin stream of liquor slipped from the corner of her lips, sliding down her chin before disappearing into the collar of her clothes.
She casually wiped it away with the back of her hand before pouring another cup.
Kiyohara quietly watched her.
The dim yellow light inside the tent cast alternating bands of brightness and shadow across her face.
Because of the alcohol, a faint crimson blush spread across her cheeks, extending all the way to her ears and down her graceful neck.
Her amber-brown eyes now shimmered with a hazy, intoxicating moisture.
She gently set down her wine cup.
A trace of liquor still lingered upon her soft, full lips.
Beneath the warm glow of the lantern, they glistened with a moist sheen, every delicate line of her lips clearly visible.
(End of Chapter)