"I... Kiyohara... senpai."
When Izumi saw Kiyohara, she greeted him in a quiet voice.
Kiyohara felt that her voice was soft and sweet, making it especially pleasant to hear.
He could not help sighing inwardly. As expected, the Uchiha Clan truly produced handsome men and beautiful women.
"You're still calling me senpai? Shouldn't you be calling me sensei now?"
Kiyohara raised an eyebrow as he asked.
Hearing that, Izumi nervously pinched the corner of her clothes before softly calling out once more.
"Sensei..."
Only then did Kiyohara nod in satisfaction.
"Come down. Let's head to the backyard."
Kiyohara led Izumi into the rear courtyard.
The backyard was not large, but it was kept exceptionally tidy.
Along the wall grew a row of unknown flowers and plants, their tiny white blossoms blooming quietly in the sunlight. The center of the yard was paved with bluestone slabs, while several wooden training posts stood around the edges for practice.
Standing in the middle of the courtyard, Izumi straightened her tiny body with all her effort.
Today, she was wearing the traditional attire of the Uchiha Clan, a brand new outfit that her mother had specially prepared for her.
"Sensei."
Izumi spoke first.
"I wanted to ask you something about a fire jutsu."
"What is it?"
Kiyohara asked.
"Well..."
She hesitated before taking out a small notebook from inside her clothes and opening it to one of the pages.
"I've tried many times, but I just can't perform Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique properly. The fireballs are always too small, and..."
She bit her lower lip before lowering her head in embarrassment.
"Sometimes they scatter apart too. I can't control them."
Kiyohara accepted the notebook and glanced through it.
Inside were neatly written notes detailing the technique's key points, along with elegant handwriting recording her observations during practice. Several pages had obviously been erased and rewritten many times, showing just how much she had struggled with the technique.
"I'll demonstrate it for you once."
Kiyohara formed a series of hand seals.
"Watch carefully."
As soon as he finished speaking, his chest expanded slightly before he opened his mouth.
Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!
Countless tiny fireballs surged from his mouth, scattering through the air like flower petals cast by a celestial maiden.
The blazing spheres danced through the sky like swarms of lively fireflies, flying in every direction while maintaining perfect control.
Izumi's eyes widened in amazement.
There were simply too many fireballs.
So many that she could not even count them.
Every single one was roughly the size of a baby's fist, each burning with a pure orange-red flame.
The fireballs floated in midair for about two seconds before extinguishing simultaneously, dissolving into countless glowing embers that drifted gently downward.
Kiyohara withdrew his chakra and looked toward her.
"Did you see it clearly?"
Izumi nodded vigorously, her eyes shining with admiration.
"That's... amazing..."
she murmured unconsciously, her small hands clenching into fists.
"So many fireballs... and they're all so big..."
Kiyohara walked over and gently rubbed the top of her head.
"The trick to this technique is learning how to evenly divide your fire chakra."
He crouched down until they were eye level.
"When many people use this jutsu, they distribute their chakra unevenly. Some fireballs become large, some become small, and some fail to form altogether."
He raised his right hand, palm facing upward.
"You can also store more fire chakra inside your throat."
He demonstrated as he spoke.
"Like this."
A mass of chakra condensed within his palm, compressing into a tiny point of light.
A moment later, that tiny point divided into dozens of even smaller points of light hovering above his hand.
"Can you feel the difference?"
Izumi blinked before thoughtfully nodding.
"I... I'll try."
She stepped back two paces, inhaled deeply, and puffed out her cheeks just as Kiyohara had done.
Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!
Several tiny sparks shot from her mouth.
Calling them fireballs would have been an exaggeration.
They were closer to mere sparks.
The largest one was only about the size of a fingernail, while the smallest was almost invisible.
They floated less than half a meter before burning out completely, leaving behind only thin wisps of white smoke.
Izumi's face instantly turned bright red.
"I... I..."
She lowered her head, her voice becoming softer and softer.
Kiyohara walked over beside her and gently rubbed her head again.
"You've already done well."
He smiled.
"This technique requires a tremendous amount of practice. Besides, it's already a C-rank ninjutsu."
Izumi looked back up.
There was still a trace of grievance shimmering in her dark eyes, but they had regained some of their brightness.
"Really?"
she asked cautiously.
"Really."
Kiyohara nodded.
"The way you distributed your chakra just now was actually quite good. You simply didn't store enough of it beforehand."
After thinking for a moment, he crouched again and lightly placed one finger against her throat.
"Here."
He spoke gently.
"Let your chakra stay here a little longer. Wait until enough has gathered before releasing it."
Izumi could feel the warmth of his fingertip through her skin.
She focused carefully, trying to understand the sensation he was describing.
"I understand."
She stepped backward once more and inhaled deeply.
This time, she intentionally let the chakra remain inside her throat a little longer.
Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!
The fireballs she released this time were noticeably larger.
The biggest one had grown to about the size of her thumb, while even the smallest was roughly as large as a soybean.
They floated nearly a full meter through the air before finally burning out.
Izumi's eyes lit up.
"I did it!"
She turned toward Kiyohara with an excited smile spread across her face.
The sunlight shone across her cheeks.
Her little face was slightly flushed with excitement, and the beauty mark beneath the corner of her eye seemed to dance gently along with her smile.
Kiyohara smiled faintly.
"Not bad."
Izumi pursed her lips as she smiled, unable to hide the tiny sense of pride sparkling in her eyes.
"There's also an advanced application."
Kiyohara continued.
"It's called Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson. You conceal shuriken inside the fireballs, making them almost impossible for your opponent to defend against."
Izumi blinked.
"Isn't... isn't that a B-rank ninjutsu?"
she asked softly, sounding uncertain.
"It seems really difficult..."
Kiyohara nodded.
"You can start by hiding only one shuriken inside a fireball instead of several. That lowers the difficulty considerably."
Izumi nodded thoughtfully.
"I'll remember that."
Kiyohara continued teaching her several methods for improving chakra control.
Izumi listened attentively throughout the lesson, nodding frequently and occasionally asking one or two questions whenever something confused her.
Time passed before either of them realized it.
"Let's stop here for today."
Kiyohara glanced toward the sky.
"Thank you, Sensei!"
Izumi bowed gratefully.
Looking at her, Kiyohara reminded her,
"Remember to keep practicing after you go home, but don't overwork yourself."
Izumi nodded enthusiastically.
"I will!"
Then, as though suddenly remembering something, she asked,
"Tomorrow... can I come again tomorrow?"
A faint smile appeared on Kiyohara's face.
"Of course."
Izumi's face immediately blossomed into a bright smile.
"Then I'm off!"
She waved happily before turning around and running out of the courtyard.
Kiyohara remained where he stood, quietly watching her small figure disappear around the corner of the alley.
After Izumi left, Kiyohara returned upstairs and resumed studying Strength of a Hundred Seal and Yin Seal for a while.
Teaching Izumi did not require much of his time.
She possessed excellent talent.
Once he demonstrated something a few times, she could remember it herself and continue practicing independently.
'The fusion is progressing quite well.'
Kiyohara thought to himself.
Recently, he had been researching a method of combining the Yin Seal with cursed seals.
From the current results, this path clearly was not a dead end.
With further refinement, it would undoubtedly become a very worthwhile technique.
Kiyohara intended to perfect it as soon as possible.
When he finally came downstairs, he discovered that neither Tsunade nor Shizune was home.
He guessed that Tsunade had probably taken Shizune out to buy alcohol before heading to the casino.
After all, gambling and drinking were among Tsunade's greatest pleasures in life.
After considering it for a moment, Kiyohara decided to visit Kurenai instead.
...
At Kurenai's home.
When Kiyohara entered the house, the living room was completely empty.
Only the cat lay lazily on the windowsill, stretching before letting out a long yawn.
The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom.
Kiyohara sat down on the sofa and casually picked up one of Kurenai's genjutsu notebooks from the table in her bedroom, flipping through it while he waited.
Not long afterward, the sound of water stopped.
A moment later, the bathroom door opened.
Kurenai walked out.
Since she was home alone, she had only wrapped herself in a white bath towel after finishing her bath.
Her long, damp hair rested across her shoulders, droplets still falling from the ends and soaking the edge of the towel.
Beads of water slid down her fair neck, traced across her delicate collarbone, and disappeared beneath the towel that concealed her figure.
The steam from the hot bath had left a faint blush upon her cheeks, while tiny droplets still clung to her eyelashes, slipping away each time she blinked.
She opened the bedroom door and was surprised to discover that Kiyohara had somehow arrived without her noticing.
Her crimson eyes blinked in confusion before curving into crescents.
"You've sneaked in again without making a sound."
Kurenai said with a smile.
Kiyohara set down the notebook and looked at her.
"Next time, you can wait for me before taking a bath."
Kurenai rolled her eyes at him.
"You appear without making a sound. How am I supposed to know when you'll show up?"
As she spoke, she walked over to the wardrobe with her back facing him and casually untied the towel without the slightest embarrassment.
The white towel slipped to the floor.
Sunlight streamed through the narrow gap in the curtains, illuminating her graceful figure.
Her fair shoulders, the elegant line of her back, the slender curve of her waist, and the soft, rounded silhouette below were all bathed in warm golden light.
She bent over slightly to take out a light red undergarment from the wardrobe.
That posture made her graceful curves even more pronounced, swaying gently with her movement.
Kiyohara stepped forward, reached out, and pulled Kurenai gently into his embrace.
Kurenai naturally settled onto his lap.
Kiyohara lightly caressed her smooth thigh.
Her legs were long and perfectly shaped, their skin so delicate and flawless that not even the slightest pore could be seen.
Kurenai wrapped both of her arms around Kiyohara's neck as her crimson eyes gazed into his.
"Did you miss me?"
Kiyohara rested his hands on her slender waist, clearly feeling the warmth radiating from her body.
"What do you think?"
Kurenai pursed her lips into a smile.
"Wait a moment."
She suddenly stood up and walked to the corner of the room before quickly forming a series of hand seals.
Chakra surged outward.
A faint barrier slowly rose from every corner of the room, enveloping the entire bedroom.
This was a barrier technique Kurenai had learned from Kiyohara, one that also belonged to the category of sealing techniques.
"Now we don't have to worry about any sound escaping."
She turned around and smiled mischievously.
"Even though I'm the only one home, it's still daytime. If someone happened to walk past downstairs and heard anything..."
While Kurenai was speaking, Kiyohara lowered his head.
He noticed that the front of his pants had been dampened by droplets of water that had fallen from her still-wet body.
Following his gaze, Kurenai looked down as well.
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks, but she did not shy away.
"What are you staring at?"
she muttered quietly before walking over to the wardrobe to search for something.
A moment later, she put on a pair of black stockings.
The stockings were as thin as cicada wings, clinging tightly to her legs.
Beginning at her ankles, they wrapped snugly around her slender calves, passed over her knees, and extended all the way to the middle of her thighs.
The tops of the stockings were decorated with delicate lace, pressing gently into the fair flesh of her thighs.
"What are you putting those on for?"
Kiyohara asked.
"It makes things more interesting."
Kurenai leaned close to his ear, her warm breath brushing lightly across it.
"I've noticed that you like them."
Kiyohara placed a hand on her leg.
Through the thin layer of fabric, he could still clearly feel the warmth and elasticity of her smooth skin beneath it.
"What Gate have you reached in the Eight Gates Technique?"
Kiyohara suddenly asked.
Kurenai blinked in surprise.
"The Second Gate."
She looked at him curiously.
"Why?"
"Open the First Gate."
She looked puzzled.
"Why?"
Kiyohara met her gaze.
"Your senses will become one hundred percent sharper."
When the First Gate was opened, the brain's natural limitations on the body were released, allowing the user to utilize one hundred percent of their physical potential.
Naturally, that enhancement also affected the senses.
Touch.
Smell.
Hearing.
Everything became dramatically more acute.
The moment he explained it, Kurenai immediately understood exactly what Kiyohara was thinking.
"You... you..."
She wanted to complain.
But when she met the smile hidden within his eyes, the words caught in her throat.
"...You're awful."
she muttered softly.
Yet the playful glimmer inside her own crimson eyes only became stronger than before.
Taking a deep breath, she circulated her chakra.
First Gate: Gate of Opening... Open!
In that instant, the entire world changed.
The light around her became brighter.
Every sound became astonishingly clear.
Even the slightest touch became incomparably more vivid.
Her breathing gradually became uneven.
The watery sheen within her crimson eyes deepened more and more.
"I can't..."
she whispered softly.
"We haven't even started yet."
Kurenai glared at him.
Although calling it a glare was hardly accurate.
It was closer to a coquettish pout than genuine annoyance.
She bit her lower lip, doing her best to remain composed.
Time quietly slipped by.
Eventually...
She surrendered.
Kiyohara lowered his head and looked at her.
"The First Gate's effect really is impressive."
Kurenai looked back up at him.
"You... you did that on purpose..."
Kiyohara simply smiled without denying it.
Kurenai let out a soft snort before burying her face against his chest.
"Next time... next time I'll definitely beat you..."
Her voice was muffled.
Kiyohara gently rubbed the top of her head.
"Alright."
TN: Dang, they're kinky huh.
...
At the same time.
Outside Tsunade's house in Konoha.
A graceful woman stood quietly before the entrance.
She wore a black cloak.
Her short blue hair rested lightly upon her shoulders, and a paper flower was tucked beside her hair.
It was Konan.
She looked up at the house before taking a slow, deep breath.
Then she raised her hand and knocked on the door.
A moment later, the door opened.
Shizune stood there holding Tonton in her arms.
Seeing the unfamiliar woman before her, she froze briefly.
"Excuse me... who are you looking for?"
"I'm here to see Kiyohara."
Konan's voice was gentle.
"Is he here?"
Shizune blinked.
"Kiyohara?"
She carefully observed the woman standing before her.
She was undeniably beautiful.
Not the dazzling, eye-catching kind of beauty, but a cool, quiet elegance.
Within those brown eyes lingered an unmistakable trace of exhaustion.
"So you're Miss Konan."
Shizune recognized her.
"Please come in. Kiyohara hasn't returned yet, but you can wait inside."
Konan nodded and entered the house.
Shizune led her to the living room before pouring her a cup of tea.
"Kiyohara should be back soon."
Unable to suppress her curiosity, Shizune asked,
"Did something urgent happen?"
Holding the teacup with both hands, Konan remained silent for a moment.
"...Yes."
She nodded softly.
"It's something very important."
She did not try to deny it.
Seeing her expression, Shizune wisely chose not to ask further questions.
Only Tonton poked his little head out from her arms and let out two curious snorts.
Time passed little by little.
Then the sound of the front door opening echoed from the entrance.
Kiyohara walked into the house.
When he saw Konan sitting in the living room, his footsteps paused ever so slightly.
Konan stood up.
"Kiyohara."
Kiyohara looked at her.
It had been some time since they had last met.
She seemed even more beautiful than before.
However, she also looked noticeably more worn and weary.
"Konan."
Kiyohara greeted her.
"What happened?"
He silently considered the reason she would come all the way here.
Konan took a deep breath.
"Nagato... is getting weaker and weaker."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"He recently went out on a mission."
"When he returned..."
She paused, unconsciously clenching her hands together.
"His limbs began to atrophy. Now he can only move with the help of mechanical puppet devices."
Kiyohara's brows knitted together slightly.
"Excessive chakra consumption... along with excessive loss of vitality?"
Konan nodded.
"That's what I think too."
"But... I don't know how to treat him."
She raised her eyes and looked directly at Kiyohara.
"Can you?"
Kiyohara stroked his chin thoughtfully.
He did not even need to think very hard.
The cause was obviously Nagato's overuse of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
That power was a double-edged sword.
After all, Nagato was not the true owner of the Rinnegan.
He was merely able to wield it because of his own bloodline.
But such overwhelming power always carried a price.
"I'll have to examine him personally before I can be certain."
A trace of hope immediately appeared in Konan's eyes.
"Then..."
"I'll go."
Kiyohara interrupted her.
"But not right now."
Konan was stunned.
"Why?"
"Because treating him will consume life force."
Kiyohara looked directly at her.
"And Nagato has already suffered considerable damage to his vitality."
Konan's face gradually turned pale.
She knew he was telling the truth.
No one understood the burden placed upon Nagato by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path better than she did.
"Then... what should we do?"
Kiyohara answered calmly.
"First, I'll examine him."
"Once we determine the exact cause, we'll figure out a solution."
Konan fell silent.
After a long while, she slowly nodded.
"Alright."
She stood up and removed a folded sheet of paper from inside her cloak.
An address was written on it.
"This is our new base in the Land of Rain."
"When you're ready, you can come at any time."
Kiyohara accepted the paper, glanced over the address, and tucked it into his pocket.
"I'll come."
"Thank you."
Konan expressed her gratitude.
After exchanging a few more polite words, she hurriedly departed.
The living room once again became quiet.
Only Kiyohara and Shizune remained.
Shizune held Tonton in her arms.
"Kiyohara, are you really going over there?"
She asked out of curiosity.
Kiyohara withdrew his gaze.
"Yeah."
"I'll go take a look."
As he spoke, he found himself wondering what the Akatsuki had become now.
Obito and Black Zetsu certainly would not have given up on manipulating Nagato.
Shizune blinked but did not ask any further questions.
...
In the backyard.
Konan's visit was merely a brief interruption.
Kiyohara quietly looked over the flowers growing there.
Standing before the flowerbed, he slowly extended one hand.
Chakra flowed out from his palm and seeped into the blossoms.
A white flower bud immediately began blooming before his eyes.
Its petals unfolded layer after layer, gradually revealing pale yellow stamens hidden within.
The entire process lasted only a few breaths.
Kiyohara withdrew his hand and quietly observed the fully blossomed flower.
He could clearly feel that his influence over plant life was becoming stronger and stronger.
At first, all he had been able to do was encourage seeds to sprout.
Now...
He could make flower buds bloom instantly.
This ability was beginning to resemble...
"Kiyohara!"
A familiar voice suddenly called out from behind him.
Kiyohara turned around.
Tsunade was standing at the entrance to the backyard, staring at him with her eyes opened wide.
Those golden-brown eyes were filled with astonishment.
"Wha... what are you doing?"
She hurried over, her gaze fixed firmly on the flower that had just bloomed.
"This... this is..."
She slowly reached out and gently touched one of its petals.
The petals were soft.
They even carried a faint warmth.
It was a real flower.
(End of Chapter)