When Kiyohara stepped out of the Hokage Tower, the sunlight was just right.
Standing at the top of the stairs, he looked into the distance at the familiar scenery before him.
On the Hokage Rock, the faces of the First, Second, and Third Hokage stood in order.
Before long, a fourth face would be added there.
"Kiyohara."
A voice called out from the side.
He turned his head.
Tsunade was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, her golden brown eyes fixed on him.
"What did the old man say?"
"Nothing much. He just told me to wait for the results."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"That's it?"
"..."
She walked over to him and patted him on the shoulder.
The force wasn't heavy, but it carried her usual bold and straightforward personality.
"Come on, go to the casino with me."
"Shouldn't we celebrate today? We ought to relax a little."
Kiyohara looked at her.
The sunlight danced across her golden hair, casting faint shadows over her beautiful face.
"Alright."
Over the next month, Konoha remained immersed in the joy of victory.
One celebration followed another. Every tavern was packed from morning until night, and drunken shinobi could be found staggering through the streets everywhere.
Compensation for the families of the fallen and rewards for the participants were distributed in an orderly manner. The relatives of those who had died received generous pensions, while the wounded enjoyed the best medical treatment available.
Negotiations with Kumo were also underway.
Kumogakure had sent a diplomatic delegation, and their attitude was more humble than ever before.
After all, the Fourth Raikage, the Eight Tails' jinchūriki, and the Two Tails' jinchūriki were all prisoners in Konoha's hands.
Kumogakure had absolutely no room to bargain.
Kiyohara did not involve himself in any of these affairs.
With his current strength and status, there was no need for him to personally deal with such trivial matters anymore.
He slept until he woke naturally every day before heading to the training grounds to train. Occasionally, he accompanied Kurenai on shopping trips, and from time to time he went to the casino with Tsunade to lose a bit of money.
His days passed leisurely.
One morning, after finishing breakfast, Kiyohara left Konoha.
The former Land of Whirlpools.
When he arrived at the shoreline, the scene before him caused his eyebrows to rise slightly.
In just a single month, the place had already transformed dramatically.
The original ruins had been completely cleared away, replaced by rows upon rows of newly built wooden houses.
The outline of a harbor had already taken shape. Workers bustled about carrying timber, driving piles into the seabed, and constructing embankments.
A simple dirt road stretched inland from the docks, with young saplings planted neatly along both sides.
"Lord Kiyohara!"
Someone called from the distance.
Turning around, Kiyohara saw a dark-skinned middle-aged man hurrying toward him with a flattering smile.
He was the foreman overseeing the workers, a merchant named Tanaka who specialized in contracting all kinds of civil engineering projects.
"Lord Kiyohara, you've arrived."
Tanaka stopped before him and bowed respectfully.
"How's the progress?"
Kiyohara asked.
"Fifty percent faster than expected!"
Tanaka answered excitedly.
"Following your instructions, we've mobilized two thousand workers and kept construction going day and night. The harbor will be finished in another half month. As for the road..."
He pointed toward the dirt road extending into the distance.
"Give us another month, and it'll connect to the highway on the opposite shore."
Kiyohara nodded.
"Double the payment."
He spoke calmly.
"Finish it ahead of schedule."
The initial investment of one hundred million ryō had merely been the beginning.
The remaining labor and construction costs would likely consume several hundred million more.
After all, the Land of Whirlpools had once been an entire country, even if it had only been a small island nation.
Kiyohara had no intention of rebuilding the nation in its entirety.
Instead, he planned to develop it into a tourist destination.
There would be docks, observation platforms, simple inns, snack shops, public restrooms, fresh water facilities, basic electrical infrastructure, and even a railway stretching across the sea.
The railway would naturally be the most expensive portion of the entire project.
As for tourism itself, the Uzumaki Clan's ruins, shattered walls, remnants of fuinjutsu techniques, seaside ruins, and the remains of shrines would all be preserved.
The place had already been thoroughly plundered several times over.
There was nothing valuable left to steal.
Only the scenery and historical remains remained.
As a result, there was no reason for other villages to become wary or suspicious.
Doing the math in his head, Tanaka's eyes widened.
"..."
Kiyohara looked at him.
"Can you do it?"
Tanaka swallowed hard.
Double the payment...
That meant his profits would...
Taking a deep breath, he nodded vigorously.
If there was a ten percent profit, there would be business opportunities.
At twenty percent, merchants would actively pursue them.
At fifty percent, they would willingly take risks.
"...Double?"
The price Kiyohara had originally offered was already the highest market rate.
Now he was doubling it.
For a merchant whose only concern was profit, that level of return would be enough to make even smuggling seem worthwhile.
"We can! Absolutely!"
"Please don't worry, Lord Kiyohara! I'll make arrangements immediately. We'll divide the workers into three shifts and have them work around the clock. We'll definitely finish ahead of schedule!"
Kiyohara nodded faintly.
"Go."
Tanaka immediately turned and sprinted away, running even faster than when he had arrived.
Standing where he was, Kiyohara gazed over the land that was gradually regaining its vitality.
"Earth Release: Earth Style Wall."
His chakra surged.
The ground began to tremble violently.
A massive earthen wall rose from beneath the earth, extending forward along the planned route.
The wall stood three meters high, thick and sturdy enough to serve as the road's foundation.
The workers all stopped what they were doing, staring in astonishment at the miraculous sight before them.
"Keep working. I'll assist with my ninjutsu as well."
Kiyohara's voice echoed from ahead.
The workers quickly snapped out of their daze and hurried back to work.
With Earth jutsu assisting the project, the construction speed more than doubled.
In just half a day, more than half of the roadbed that would originally have taken a month to complete had already been finished.
By evening, Kiyohara finally stopped.
Looking over the construction site, which had already begun taking shape, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad."
The following day, he headed to the Uchiha Clan compound.
Walking down the long streets, he arrived at the entrance to the district.
The two Uchiha guards standing watch stiffened the moment they saw him before simultaneously bowing deeply.
"Lord Kiyohara!"
Their attitude was so respectful that it bordered on reverence.
Kiyohara gave a slight nod and walked inside.
Along the way, every Uchiha he encountered stopped what they were doing to bow respectfully.
Some looked at him with awe.
Others gazed at him with open admiration.
Kiyohara paid none of it any attention.
He walked directly to Shisui's house.
Raising his hand, he knocked on the door.
A moment later, it opened.
Shisui stood in the doorway, still dressed in casual clothes.
Because his father suffered from a leg disability, Shisui was responsible for earning the family's income, and he also handled many of the household affairs himself.
"Kiyohara?"
Shisui stepped aside.
"Come in."
Kiyohara entered and sat beside the low table.
Shisui poured him a cup of tea and slid it across.
"What brings you here today?"
Picking up the teacup, Kiyohara took a sip.
"There's something I need to remind you about."
Shisui's expression became slightly more serious.
"What is it?"
"Be careful of Danzo."
Shisui froze.
"Lord Danzo?"
"Yes."
Kiyohara placed the teacup back onto the table and looked directly at him.
"He's after your eyes."
Shisui's expression immediately changed.
His lips parted as though he wanted to say something, but no words came out.
After a long silence, he finally asked,
"How do you know?"
"I'm only telling you to be careful."
Kiyohara stood up.
He genuinely hoped that, after receiving this warning, Shisui wouldn't make such a foolish mistake.
There was only one outcome if Shisui revealed the true abilities of his Mangekyō Sharingan to Danzo.
Danzo would attack him immediately and steal his eyes.
The power of Shisui's Mangekyō was simply too dangerous.
Even someone as cautious as Danzo wouldn't feel comfortable allowing Shisui to leave alive after learning of it.
Even Kiyohara himself remained constantly vigilant against Shisui's ocular abilities.
The instant he sensed any unusual fluctuation in Shisui's eye power, he would react immediately.
With his immense spiritual energy, his perception in these matters was extraordinarily sharp.
"Just remember what I've told you."
Leaving those words behind, Kiyohara turned and walked toward the door.
Shisui remained seated inside, deep in thought.
After leaving Shisui's house, Kiyohara headed for Fugaku's home.
The person who answered the door was Uchiha Mikoto.
She wore a simple kimono suitable for relaxing at home, while her long hair was loosely tied behind her head, revealing her fair, graceful neck.
She looked every bit the gentle and elegant mature beauty.
The moment she saw Kiyohara, her eyes brightened.
"Kiyohara-kun?"
"Lady Mikoto."
Kiyohara nodded politely.
"Is Itachi here?"
"He is."
Mikoto stepped aside.
"Please come in."
Kiyohara entered.
Inside the living room, Itachi was sitting quietly.
He was wearing a green skintight training suit.
The corner of Kiyohara's mouth twitched slightly.
"Sensei."
Itachi stood up and walked over.
His skin had indeed become considerably darker than before, but he was also much stronger and more muscular than he had once been.
"Let's go. To the training ground."
Kiyohara turned and walked toward the door.
Itachi immediately followed behind him.
Standing in the doorway, Mikoto silently watched the two of them leave.
Her gaze lingered on Kiyohara's back for a while before finally looking away.
'Kiyohara really has become Konoha's hero.'
That was what she thought.
Training Ground Three.
Kiyohara stood in the open field, looking at Itachi standing opposite him.
"How well have you mastered Fire Release?"
Itachi took a deep breath.
His hands rapidly formed seals, preparing to demonstrate his progress.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive sphere of blazing fire burst from his mouth, roaring toward the sky.
Kiyohara raised an eyebrow slightly.
Not bad.
For someone of Itachi's age, being able to produce a Great Fireball of that size was already quite impressive.
"That's enough."
He nodded in approval.
"But your chakra control still needs to become more refined."
Itachi listened attentively, memorizing every word.
At that moment, Kiyohara's expression shifted ever so slightly.
He turned toward the forest.
Hidden behind one of the trees was a tiny figure peeking over with obvious curiosity.
"Come out."
Kiyohara spoke calmly.
The little figure stiffened.
A moment later, a small head slowly emerged from behind the tree.
It was a little girl, about the same age as Itachi.
Her features were delicate and exceptionally pretty. Even at such a young age, it was easy to imagine that she would grow into an extraordinary beauty.
The beauty mark beneath the corner of her right eye added a subtle charm to her appearance.
Although she was still too young for that alluring quality to fully bloom.
"I... I was just passing by..."
The little girl spoke in a tiny voice.
Kiyohara beckoned to her.
"Come here."
She hesitated briefly before slowly walking over.
Standing in front of him, she tilted her head up to look into his eyes.
His figure was reflected clearly in her pupils.
"What's your name?"
"Uchiha... Izumi."
Kiyohara's eyebrows rose slightly.
Uchiha Izumi.
He remembered that name.
In the original story, she had been Itachi's childhood friend.
In the anime, she died at Obito's hands.
In the official novel, she died by Itachi's own hands.
No matter which version it was, she never escaped her tragic fate.
"Izumi. That's a beautiful name."
Kiyohara smiled.
He remembered that Izumi had awakened her Sharingan even earlier than Itachi.
Her talent truly was astonishing.
"Are you interested in learning ninjutsu?"
Izumi blinked.
"I am!"
A faint smile appeared on Kiyohara's face.
"Then you can learn together with him."
Izumi froze.
She looked at Kiyohara, then at Itachi standing beside him.
A joyful smile gradually spread across her face.
"Really? Is that really okay?"
"Of course."
Kiyohara reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
Izumi's cheeks immediately flushed red.
Lowering her head, she softly replied,
"Thank you, Kiyohara-senpai..."
The truth was that Izumi had recognized Kiyohara immediately.
Over a month ago, when everyone in Konoha had been praising their heroic savior, she had managed to catch a glimpse of him from afar.
That brief look had left an unforgettable impression.
So today, the moment she saw him, she recognized him at once, which was why she had secretly been watching from outside.
She was also acquainted with Itachi.
Walking over to her, Kiyohara took out a small paper bag and handed it over.
Originally, he had intended to bring these to Kurenai later.
Giving a portion to Izumi instead was no problem at all.
"Here."
Izumi accepted the paper bag.
Opening it, she discovered three colorful dango inside.
"Thank you!"
She immediately took one out and bit into it.
The soft, chewy texture melted pleasantly in her mouth.
She narrowed her eyes in complete satisfaction.
Standing nearby, Itachi secretly watched her eating the dango.
There was an unmistakable hint of longing in his gaze.
Kiyohara naturally noticed.
"You want one?"
Itachi hurriedly shook his head.
"N... No..."
Kiyohara chuckled.
"Then perform well during training."
"I'll give you some afterward."
Itachi nodded firmly.
"I'll work hard!"
"Good."
"Then let me see how much you've improved."
The two of them walked into the open training field.
Izumi remained standing on the sidelines, still holding her unfinished dango while staring into the field without blinking.
"Begin."
The instant Kiyohara finished speaking, Itachi disappeared from where he stood.
In the next moment, he twisted his body.
Leaf Whirlwind!
His leg swept across, barely grazing Kiyohara's cheek.
Kiyohara raised an eyebrow.
As expected.
Might Guy had taught him that technique.
Come to think of it, although Kiyohara was Itachi's teacher in name, Guy actually spent much more time personally training him.
Almost simultaneously, Kiyohara's right hand reached Itachi's back.
Itachi reacted astonishingly quickly.
He immediately withdrew his attack and crossed both forearms in front of him.
Bang!
A dull collision echoed across the training ground.
Itachi staggered backward three consecutive steps.
Each step left a deep footprint in the ground.
He raised his head and looked at Kiyohara.
Kiyohara had deliberately restrained his strength throughout the exchange.
"Not bad."
He nodded approvingly.
"Your reactions are much faster than last time."
Taking a deep breath, Itachi rushed forward once more.
This time he was even faster.
His movements flowed together more naturally than before.
Fire Release.
Shuriken techniques.
Taijutsu.
He continuously switched between different forms of attack.
Yet Kiyohara calmly dealt with every single one of them without the slightest sign of panic.
Watching from the side, Izumi was completely dazzled.
She could vaguely tell that Kiyohara still wasn't using his full strength.
"So amazing..."
She whispered unconsciously.
The sparring continued.
Itachi's breathing gradually became ragged.
Fine beads of sweat formed along his forehead.
Yet his movements never slowed.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Dozens of small fireballs erupted from his mouth, scattering through the air like blooming phoenix flowers.
Each fireball traced an intricate trajectory as they converged on Kiyohara from every direction.
Kiyohara remained where he stood.
He simply raised his right hand.
Then struck forward with a single palm.
BOOM!
An enormous shockwave exploded from his palm.
Every fireball was blown apart instantly.
The remaining force of the shockwave continued unabated, crashing directly into Itachi.
His entire body was launched backward through the air.
He flipped once before barely managing to land on his feet.
Dropping to one knee, he breathed heavily.
Looking up, he gazed at Kiyohara.
"Sensei..."
Kiyohara walked over and extended a hand.
"You alright?"
Itachi grabbed his hand and pulled himself upright.
"I'm fine."
Kiyohara nodded.
"We'll stop here for today."
Reaching into his robe, he took out another paper bag and handed it to Itachi.
"Your reward."
Itachi accepted it.
Looking inside, he saw colorful dango.
After hesitating briefly, he picked one up and took a bite.
Izumi immediately ran over to stand beside him.
"Itachi, you're incredible!"
she said softly.
"N... Not really..."
Itachi shook his head modestly.
"You are!"
Izumi insisted.
Then she turned toward Kiyohara with eyes full of admiration.
"Kiyohara-senpai, you're even more amazing!"
Kiyohara smiled before gently rubbing the top of her head again.
"I'll teach you a fire jutsu next time."
He felt that recruiting Izumi into his future Anbu squad would actually be a very good idea.
After all, her natural talent was exceptional.
Izumi's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Really."
Kiyohara nodded.
"Would you be interested in becoming my disciple?"
He looked at her thoughtfully.
He was genuinely curious.
If Izumi did not die young as she had in the original story, would she eventually awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan?
"I... I have to ask my mother first."
Izumi looked conflicted.
"That's fine."
"Go ask her."
Kiyohara nodded.
Izumi's mother was Uchiha Hazuki.
She did not currently live inside the Uchiha compound but resided elsewhere.
Only after the Nine Tails Incident would the mother and daughter move back into the Uchiha district.
"Oh, and one more thing."
Kiyohara spoke before leaving.
"We'll continue tomorrow."
"The two of you should both come."
As soon as he finished speaking, his figure vanished into the forest.
Only Itachi and Izumi remained at the training ground.
Still holding her unfinished dango, Izumi stared in the direction where Kiyohara had disappeared.
"Itachi."
"Hm?"
"...Kiyohara-senpai..."
"He's so handsome."
Itachi glanced at her.
"...Yeah."
Over the following month, Kiyohara's daily routine settled into a comfortable rhythm.
Every other morning, he taught Itachi and Izumi.
In the afternoons, he visited the Land of Whirlpools to inspect the construction progress while using Earth Release to accelerate the work.
By evening, he usually spent time with Rin and Kurenai.
At night, he headed over to Tsunade's place.
His days were surprisingly fulfilling.
As for the reconstruction project in the Land of Whirlpools, once the money was in place, the construction speed truly increased by far more than double.
The workers operated in three rotating shifts without stopping day or night.
Combined with Kiyohara's frequent use of ninjutsu to assist them, the progress became astonishingly fast.
A month later, the harbor had been completed.
The roads had been connected.
The first batch of buildings had also been finished.
Standing beside the docks, Kiyohara gazed over the completely transformed landscape before him.
The ruins that had once covered the island were gone.
In their place stood orderly streets, brand new houses, and bustling construction sites filled with life.
Although there was still much work left before the project was complete, the foundations of a thriving town were already clearly visible.
"That should be enough."
Kiyohara thought quietly.
Closing his eyes, his consciousness sank into the depths of his mind.
The spirit of Uzumaki Kiyohara slowly emerged from his body, floating quietly beside him.
His spectral eyes silently surveyed the rebuilt land.
For a long while, he said nothing.
"...It's changed so much."
Uzumaki Kiyohara finally spoke.
Kiyohara looked at him.
"Would you say your last will has been fulfilled?"
The spirit turned to face him.
"It has."
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
"Thank you."
"My younger self."
The instant those words fell, his entire body began glowing with a warm light.
One of the luminous spheres separated from his spirit.
It slowly drifted toward Kiyohara before merging into his body.
At that very moment, Kiyohara began receiving the inheritance left behind by Uzumaki Kiyohara.
(End of Chapter)