After leaving the Hyuga Clan, Kiyohara found himself deep in thought.
"Is there an order to how the reincarnated chakra appears?"
He stroked his chin contemplatively.
Perhaps because Indra was Asura's older brother, Sasuke had been born before Naruto. In the original story, Sasuke's birthday was July 23, while Naruto's was October 10, separated by nearly three months.
Meanwhile, Hashirama had been born on October 23, while Uchiha Madara was born on December 24.
Of course, whether they had actually been born in the same year was impossible to know.
"No... that's not right. Hashirama and Madara's ages are fixed history, but because of my influence, Sasuke and Naruto's births should no longer match the original timeline."
Kiyohara suddenly realized this.
The reason he had become so preoccupied with this question was because he wondered how Asura's chakra would perceive him.
Would it treat the portion of chakra inside him as merely another fragment of itself that had scattered throughout the world, allowing the Asura chakra within the shinobi world to reside inside his body instead?
If that happened...
Would Naruto still become Asura's reincarnation?
"It should only be a matter of a few more months."
Kiyohara shook his head.
Sooner or later, the answer would reveal itself.
There was an indescribable connection between reincarnated chakras.
After Pain's invasion, Naruto had vaguely sensed that he and Sasuke shared an extraordinary bond.
In reality, that feeling had been completely accurate.
Otherwise, throughout the thousand-year history of reincarnation, each reincarnation would not have inevitably become enemies with the other, endlessly repeating their cycle of conflict.
Naruto and Sasuke had also fought.
Only after Sasuke lost did he finally become convinced enough to accept Naruto's famous Talk no Jutsu.
...
When Kiyohara returned to his room and prepared to rest, Konan suddenly jumped in through the window.
"There's a door. Why don't you use it?"
Kiyohara asked.
"Aren't all of Konoha's ANBU fond of entering this way?"
"..."
"..."
For a moment, Kiyohara found himself speechless.
Thinking about it carefully, ANBU really did seem to prefer climbing through windows instead of walking through the front entrance.
In that sense...
Konan was simply adapting to the local customs.
"So, what did you come to see me about?"
Kiyohara asked.
"How much longer will Nagato's research take?"
Konan got straight to the point.
She couldn't stay in Konoha forever.
Nagato's physical condition weighed on her heart like an enormous stone.
His emaciated body, nothing but skin stretched over bones, made anyone who saw him think of a terminally ill patient.
It looked as though he might stop breathing at any moment.
"I still need to study Nagato's cells for a while before I can figure out a way to develop medicine capable of healing him."
Kiyohara replied.
Nagato's cells were extraordinarily valuable research material.
He was a hybrid of the Uzumaki Clan and the Senju Clan.
It should be remembered that the Senju Clan had never actually gone extinct.
Rather, they had dissolved as a clan and integrated themselves into Konoha.
Even Itachi Shinden mentioned that many instructors at the Shinobi Academy had once been members of the Senju Clan.
If Madara had wanted to find a vessel capable of bearing the Rinnegan, he would have had countless options.
The fact that he had entrusted both Rinnegan to a child only a few years old like Nagato was enough to demonstrate just how much potential Nagato possessed.
"Alright."
Although Konan was anxious, she knew this was the best course of action.
"If you're really worried, you can write letters. I'll apply for a shinobi hawk for you later. However, I'll need to review every message before it's sent."
Kiyohara said.
Shinobi hawks were incredibly fast.
More importantly, they could travel virtually anywhere.
Even places unreachable by communication devices or communication ninjutsu.
"Thank you."
Konan nodded.
That would allow her to stay in contact with Nagato or Yahiko.
...
Over the following days, Kiyohara honored his promise and continued researching Nagato's cells.
Inside the laboratory at Konoha Hospital, he quietly studied the data displayed on the instruments.
Konan stood beside him.
Beneath her mask, her face carried a bewildered expression.
She clearly had no idea what any of the numbers meant.
Kiyohara picked up a brush and wrote several lines onto a scroll.
"The vitality of these cells has already been completely overdrawn. Excessive depletion causes chakra refinement efficiency to decline..."
Kiyohara explained.
The human body had limits.
When subjected to prolonged wear and tear, the upper limit of one's chakra reserves would gradually decrease.
Because of that, even if Nagato never used the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path again, restoring his body to its original condition would still be extremely difficult.
"I see..."
Konan frowned.
"Mhm."
Kiyohara nodded.
"His body is like a bucket with a hole in it. His life force keeps leaking away. Repairing that hole will require both time and the proper materials."
"And..."
"He'll continue using the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."
Konan fell silent.
She knew Kiyohara was telling the truth.
Nagato would never abandon the Demonic Statue.
It was their greatest trump card.
It was also the power that protected the Land of Rain.
"Then we'll repair it slowly."
Konan finally spoke.
"We'll restore however much we can."
"I understand."
Kiyohara withdrew his gaze.
"During this period, I'll continue developing a treatment plan."
The best solution was naturally to transplant Hashirama's cells.
Considering Nagato's compatibility, Kiyohara estimated the surgery would proceed remarkably smoothly.
However...
Doing so would alert Obito.
It might even increase Nagato's control over the Rinnegan.
After all, transplanting eyes also transplanted the unique ocular abilities attached to them.
Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan was the perfect example.
Both Danzo and Itachi had successfully used Kotoamatsukami.
Perhaps...
The unique techniques of the Rinnegan could also be inherited in the same way.
Currently, both Obito and Nagato could only utilize the Rinnegan's basic abilities.
But if strengthening Nagato somehow allowed him to awaken Limbo: Border Jail...
That would become an enormous problem.
Without possessing either the Rinnegan or Six Paths Senjutsu, no one could even perceive, much less resist, that technique.
Against ordinary opponents, it was practically the ultimate one-sided massacre.
"During this time, you can also help me make more explosive tags."
Kiyohara said.
"Why?"
Konan couldn't understand what explosive tags had to do with Nagato's illness.
"Medical expenses."
"...Alright."
Konan nodded.
...
By evening, Kiyohara left Konoha Hospital.
The experiments had been progressing smoothly.
All that remained now was repeated testing and continuous adjustments.
Just as he was about to reach Tsunade's house, he encountered someone.
Orochimaru's pale face wore a faint smile.
"Kiyohara-kun."
Kiyohara paused slightly.
"What a coincidence, Orochimaru-sama."
He looked at Orochimaru.
He hadn't run into him once during this entire period.
This was their first meeting in quite some time.
"I wonder whether Kiyohara-kun has some free time?"
Orochimaru invited him.
"Does Orochimaru-sama need my assistance with some research?"
"No."
Orochimaru shook his head.
"I want to spar."
"Spar?"
Kiyohara's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"Mhm."
Orochimaru nodded.
"I'd like to see just how strong you've become."
Kiyohara looked into those golden, slit-shaped pupils.
There was genuine seriousness hidden within them.
"Sure."
He accepted without hesitation.
...
The Forest of Death.
Orochimaru was still wearing his green shinobi flak jacket, though now a thick purple rope was tied around his waist.
His arms hung naturally at his sides as his golden vertical pupils remained fixed on Kiyohara.
"Kiyohara-kun."
He spoke calmly.
"I've heard that you're now able to freely use the Eight Branches Technique that I gave you."
"Thanks to Orochimaru-sama's scroll."
Kiyohara did not deny it.
There was no point.
Too many people had already witnessed him using it.
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"That was only a prototype."
He corrected him.
"The fact that you perfected it..."
"...is entirely your own accomplishment."
Orochimaru said.
Precisely because of that, Kiyohara's talent appeared even more astonishing.
"Show me."
"I want to see how far you've perfected it."
The instant Orochimaru finished speaking, his figure vanished from where he stood.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared directly before Kiyohara.
His hands flashed through seals.
"Multiple Striking Shadow Snakes!"
Dozens of venomous snakes burst from his sleeves through a summoning technique.
Opening their poisonous fangs, they lunged toward Kiyohara.
The snakes were astonishingly fast.
They reached him almost instantly.
Kiyohara remained standing where he was.
He didn't dodge.
The snakes bit into his body.
Their fangs stabbed toward his skin.
But in the very next second...
Orochimaru's pupils contracted slightly.
He saw the snake fangs strike Kiyohara's skin.
Instead of piercing through...
A crisp metallic clang echoed through the forest.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks exploded in every direction.
The snakes' fangs...
Had shattered on impact.
"This is..."
Orochimaru frowned.
He knew Kiyohara possessed a hardening technique.
He had specifically prepared venom designed to counter Earth Release hardening-type ninjutsu.
So why...
Could it still not penetrate his defense?
Naturally, Kiyohara had no intention of explaining that he also possessed Steel Release.
His body trembled slightly.
Every snake wrapped around him was instantly blasted away, scattering in all directions.
Orochimaru withdrew his arm and retreated several steps.
Looking at Kiyohara, a trace of solemnity flashed through his golden snake-like eyes.
"Kiyohara-kun..."
"You're even more interesting than I imagined."
he murmured softly.
Then the two immediately exchanged blows at incredible speed.
Slash!
Orochimaru's arm was cut open by Kiyohara.
Blood splattered across the ground.
Orochimaru frowned.
This time...
He abandoned ninjutsu entirely.
His body twisted and distorted while still in midair.
In the blink of an eye...
A gigantic white serpent appeared in the clearing.
Its enormous body stretched for dozens of meters, covered from head to tail in pale white scales.
Opening its gigantic jaws, it revealed rows of terrifying white fangs before lunging toward Kiyohara.
Kiyohara remained where he stood.
Watching the massive white serpent rushing toward him...
The three tomoe within his Sharingan slowly began to rotate.
Then, Kiyohara's body began to change as well.
In the blink of an eye, an even larger white serpent appeared in the clearing.
Its enormous body was covered in pale white scales, far thicker and vastly more imposing than the one Orochimaru had transformed into.
Eight gigantic serpent heads rose proudly into the air.
Each one opened its enormous jaws, revealing rows of gleaming white fangs.
The Eight Branches Technique.
The eight massive heads looked down upon the white serpent that Orochimaru had become from eight different directions.
Orochimaru raised his head.
He stared at the eight colossal serpent heads towering above him.
Eight pairs of golden vertical pupils gazed back at him simultaneously.
"The effect is even better than when I use the Eight Branches Technique myself..."
Kiyohara's voice echoed from within one of the serpent heads.
"Orochimaru-sama, shall we continue?"
Orochimaru remained silent.
He looked at the eight serpent heads.
He looked at the enormous body.
He looked at the scales, each one wrapped in Sage Chakra.
"...No."
His voice slowly rang out.
"I've lost."
Orochimaru shook his head.
The version of this technique that he possessed was still only an incomplete prototype.
Against Kiyohara's perfected version, there was simply no point in continuing the battle.
The gigantic white serpent began to twist and deform.
An instant later, Orochimaru had returned to his human form and landed lightly upon the ground.
He stood there, looking up at the eight massive heads staring down at him, and at the overwhelming figure that dominated the clearing.
"Kiyohara-kun."
He spoke quietly.
"You truly..."
"...are a genius."
Kiyohara also reverted to his human form and landed gently on the ground.
"You flatter me, Orochimaru-sama."
Orochimaru simply shook his head.
"I'm not flattering you."
"If Orochimaru-sama wants it, I can give you the optimized version."
As he spoke, Kiyohara took out a scroll containing many of his own insights and improvements regarding the technique.
Of course, the greatest reason he could achieve such terrifying results was still his White Snake bloodline and his enormous chakra reserves.
Even if Orochimaru followed every note written in the scroll exactly, he still wouldn't be able to reproduce Kiyohara's level of power.
"Then I shall gratefully accept it. Thank you, Kiyohara-kun."
Orochimaru had not expected such an unexpected reward and immediately expressed his thanks.
...
At Tsunade's house.
When Kiyohara pushed open the door, Kurenai was already sitting in the living room.
As she had grown increasingly familiar with both Kiyohara and Tsunade, she had also begun visiting much more frequently.
"Who were you fighting just now?"
Kurenai immediately noticed the traces of battle on Kiyohara's clothing.
Kiyohara shook his head.
"It was only a spar."
He sat down across from Kurenai.
She looked at him thoughtfully.
"The person just now..."
"...was that Lord Orochimaru?"
Kiyohara nodded.
"I see."
Kurenai understood immediately.
These days, the only people qualified to serve as Kiyohara's opponents were probably individuals on the level of the Legendary Sannin.
"So..."
"Did you win?"
she asked curiously.
A faint smile appeared on Kiyohara's face.
"It was only a spar. There wasn't any winner or loser."
Naturally, that was merely a polite response.
If he had actually fought with his full strength, Orochimaru would never have stood a chance of defeating him.
However, there was one thing Kiyohara genuinely admired about Orochimaru.
His ability to survive.
Among all the powerful shinobi in the shinobi world, Orochimaru's capacity for preserving his own life was undoubtedly among the very best.
Kurenai looked at him for another moment before asking no further questions.
She already had her own answer.
In her heart...
She believed Kiyohara had won.
...
Not long after Kurenai left, Kiyohara returned to his room and took out another glass vial.
Inside it was a small amount of blood.
Konan looked at him curiously.
Kiyohara didn't bother hiding anything and immediately began examining it.
After a while, Konan walked over.
This time, she had entered through the front door.
"Orochimaru's blood?"
Konan had also accompanied Kiyohara to the Forest of Death earlier, though she had remained hidden in the shadows while carrying out her duty as his bodyguard.
"Of course."
Kiyohara nodded.
"Orochimaru's cells are extremely interesting."
"Isn't Orochimaru just an ordinary civilian?"
Konan asked curiously.
She wasn't referring to his social status.
She meant his bloodline.
After all, Orochimaru possessed neither a Kekkei Genkai nor any inherited clan secret techniques.
"That's true."
Kiyohara nodded.
"But being born an ordinary person doesn't mean you can't change yourself afterward."
He shook his head.
As the saying went, the rich relied on technology, while the poor relied on mutation.
Orochimaru had relied upon science to transform himself.
And those scientific achievements were far from useless.
Many of Orochimaru's accomplishments were genuine breakthroughs.
His research extended into both the soul and the physical body.
"The vitality of his cells is extremely strong."
"They're far more active than those of ordinary shinobi."
He paused before continuing.
"And..."
"His cells contain characteristics belonging to snakes."
Konan frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"He modified himself."
Kiyohara answered.
"He integrated snake genes into his own body."
Konan immediately recalled the gigantic white serpent Orochimaru had transformed into during their battle.
"Why would he do something like that?"
she asked.
Kiyohara looked at her.
"For immortality."
He explained calmly.
"Immortality?"
Konan looked at him with obvious suspicion.
"Snakes shed their skin."
Kiyohara explained.
"Every time they molt, it's like being reborn."
"He transformed himself into a snake because he wanted to obtain that kind of ability."
He paused before adding another explanation.
"Though that's more symbolic than literal. In reality, what he truly sought was extraordinarily powerful regenerative abilities."
"Then..."
"Have you modified your own body as well?"
Konan remembered that Kiyohara could also transform into an enormous White Serpent.
"No."
Kiyohara smiled.
How could he possibly turn himself into some half-human, half-monster abomination?
When he had injected himself with the Power of the White Snake in the past, all it had done was greatly strengthen his cells' regenerative abilities.
He would never alter himself like Orochimaru had, completely abandoning his human form.
It was no different from Sasori transforming himself into a puppet.
In Kiyohara's opinion, both paths had gone astray.
...
At the same time...
Deep within the Mountains' Graveyard.
The enormous body of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path occupied more than half of the dimly lit cavern.
Its gigantic head hung low.
Several chakra receivers extended from its body like withered vines, connecting themselves to the shriveled figure seated upon a stone throne.
Madara had not moved for a very long time.
So long...
That sometimes even he himself could no longer distinguish whether he was still alive...
...or had already died.
The chakra of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path slowly flowed through the receivers into his body, maintaining the final traces of life within his decaying shell.
Yet...
That sensation was becoming weaker and weaker.
It no longer possessed the effectiveness it once had.
Madara slowly opened his eyes.
He slowly raised one hand.
It was shriveled like a dead branch.
Loose skin clung to brittle bones, while dark bluish veins stood out clearly beneath the surface.
He quietly stared at his own hand for a very long time.
Then...
He slowly clenched it into a fist.
He could feel it.
With every passing day...
With every single breath...
He was taking another step toward death.
The Demonic Statue's chakra was becoming less effective with every passing moment.
Even though those receivers remained embedded within him...
Even though the statue continued sustaining him with its chakra...
He would eventually die.
That was an unavoidable reality.
Birth.
Aging.
Sickness.
Death.
Those were immutable laws of nature.
Even awakening the Rinnegan could not allow someone to escape them.
It did not grant additional lifespan.
However...
Compared to that...
There was something else that troubled him even more.
The feeling was strange.
It was as though...
Something inside him was gradually being drawn away.
He couldn't explain exactly what it was.
But he could clearly sense...
Something was leaving him.
...
Hidden within the darkness, Black Zetsu silently observed Uchiha Madara.
His yellow eyes narrowed slightly, as though contemplating something.
Indra's chakra...
...was leaving Madara.
Black Zetsu silently muttered to himself.
He could clearly perceive that mass of chakra slowly separating from Madara's body.
Like a wisp of smoke...
It drifted away into the world.
Black Zetsu narrowed his eyes.
That could only mean one thing.
Somewhere...
A new member of the Uchiha bloodline had awakened the resonance of Indra's chakra.
A new reincarnation...
...was about to appear.
Uchiha Madara had lived for far too long.
Even Black Zetsu had never encountered such a situation before.
After all...
Madara was the only reincarnation who had ever awakened the Rinnegan.
At the same time, he was also the only reincarnation who had prolonged his life by using the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to keep himself alive.
Throughout the past thousand years...
Whenever a reincarnation died...
The reincarnated chakra that had accompanied them throughout their life would disappear together with them.
Then...
Those chakras would once again wander throughout the shinobi world, searching for their next reincarnation.
Suddenly...
A thought flashed through Black Zetsu's mind.
If Madara died...
If Obito failed...
Then...
Could Kiyohara also become the vessel?
After all...
Whether Madara existed or not was never truly important.
What truly mattered...
...was possessing the Rinnegan.
As long as someone carrying the Rinnegan successfully became the Ten Tails' jinchuriki...
Everything else could proceed as planned.
Once the Ten Tails' jinchuriki existed...
He would only need to complete the final step.
Then...
His mother, Otsutsuki Kaguya, would awaken once more within the body of the Ten Tails' jinchuriki.
From Black Zetsu's perspective...
Kiyohara, who possessed numerous bloodline limits...
...might very well be the most suitable vessel of them all.
(End of Chapter)