'…Is he even human?'
That was the only thought in Sarutobi Asuma's head.
With speed like that, if this were the battlefield, he'd already be dead.
"Hand over the jutsu to me. Body Flicker doesn't have an element, so can I pick a Water Release jutsu instead?" Kiyohara said.
Water Release was what he still lacked. He hadn't seen anything worth spending merit on, so he'd held off. Now Asuma was kindly delivering it to him.
"…Fine." Asuma gritted out. "But you'll have to wait until tomorrow. I'll bring it to you."
"Works for me." Kiyohara waved a hand.
Most shinobi didn't carry scrolls for jutsu they couldn't use anyway.
"Try harder next time." Kiyohara patted Asuma on the shoulder.
Kurenai, standing nearby, added, "Asuma, don't be discouraged. Losing to Kiyohara is normal."
To Asuma, that felt like a follow-up stab.
"I know." he said bitterly.
But he wasn't the type to quit. He'd be back.
After Asuma left, Kurenai asked, "So—still going to eat barbecue?"
"Of course." Kiyohara said. "You said you're treating."
Kurenai smiled. "Let's go!"
...
The next day.
In the afternoon, Kiyohara arrived on the first floor of the Hokage Tower.
"Everyone's here." Tsunade said.
When she wasn't drunk, she always looked sharp—confident, heroic, an edge of steel in her brows.
"Starting today, I'm your squad's temporary leader. Your original teammate, Genma, had something happen at home—he can't deploy for now."
Kiyohara blinked. "What happened to Genma?"
Shizune lowered her voice. "His father… died on the front line. He's handling the funeral and he's in a bad place. He requested time off."
Kiyohara fell silent.
That was war: death could drop on anyone at any time.
And in that state, no one should be forced into missions.
"So," Tsunade continued, "Genma's slot will be filled by Shizune. She's strong enough, and her medical ninjutsu will be useful support. Any objections?"
Kiyohara and Kurenai both shook their heads.
Shizune was young, but as Tsunade's assistant, her strength and medical level were solid.
Tsunade then pulled out a mission scroll—freshly assigned by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
They were to coordinate with Minato's team and head to a country on the edge of the Land of Wind: the ancient kingdom of Roran.
"According to Anbu intel, Roran's minister, Anrokuzan, has been building some kind of puppet weapon behind their queen's back. It could affect the war. We need to confirm what he's doing," Tsunade said. "Ideally, we seal the Dragon Vein—something that dangerous shouldn't be left alone."
She handed the scroll to Kiyohara, Shizune, and Kurenai.
Roran?
Kiyohara's heart jumped.
Wasn't this the plot of the movie Naruto Shippuden: The Lost Tower?
In canon, Naruto, Sakura, Yamato, and Sai went after the Sand deserter "Mukade." During the fight, Mukade triggered a sealing setup Minato had placed over a decade earlier, destabilizing the Dragon Vein chakra and sending Naruto back in time—where he met Minato and his team on an active mission.
Mukade was the first to time-travel, became Roran's minister Anrokuzan, and used the Dragon Vein to build puppet soldiers.
Just then, Minato arrived with Kakashi and Rin.
"Tsunade-sama," Minato greeted.
Kiyohara stared—had the future changed?
In the movie, Minato's teammates were Kakashi, Aburame Shibi, and Akimichi Chōza. But since Rin hadn't died here, she'd filled the slot.
But… Rin had the Three-Tails sealed inside her now.
Why would Konoha's higher-ups arrange this?
Kiyohara mulled it over.
"Minato, you're early," Tsunade said.
"I just found out we're partnering with Tsunade-sama's squad," Minato replied calmly.
Rin, following behind Minato, wasn't wearing her nurse outfit today—she had on her usual mission gear.
"I… is it really okay for me to take this mission?" she asked quietly, still haunted by the last time she'd lost control.
"Don't be afraid," Tsunade said, patting her shoulder. "Minato has Flying Thunder God."
From Tsunade's perspective, Rin—like Kushina—was a pitiful child.
A jinchūriki had another name: the power of sacrifice.
And everyone knew what "sacrifice" implied.
Floating unseen beside Kiyohara, Uchiha Kiyohara's spirit spoke in his mind: "They're probably doing two things—letting her build real combat experience, and testing whether the Three-Tails' seal stays stable away from Konoha."
Kiyohara found that plausible.
With Minato present, even if the Three-Tails flared up, it could be contained.
"Rin's coming too?" Kurenai blurted.
She couldn't hear Kiyohara's silent exchange.
"Yes," Minato said gently. "Her medical ability is useful on missions. And she needs more experience."
He didn't say the rest.
Everyone involved had been ordered to keep Rin's jinchūriki status secret.
"Trust Minato-sama and Sensei," Kiyohara said to Kurenai.
"…Okay." Kurenai nodded.
Kakashi didn't speak, but his gaze was steady—clearly determined to protect Rin.
So it was decided.
Two squads, departing for Roran in three days.
...
After leaving the Hokage Tower, Kiyohara didn't return to Tsunade's right away.
He told Tsunade and Kurenai he needed to buy some ninja tools, then slipped off alone.
He found a secluded blacksmith shop with little foot traffic.
It was scorching inside. The forge roared, and hammer strikes rang nonstop.
A shirtless middle-aged smith was forging a kunai, sweat streaming down his solid muscles.
"What do you want?" the smith asked without looking up.
After confirming no one else was nearby, Kiyohara pulled a shard from a sealing scroll.
It was a fragment of the Executioner's Blade—premium material for crafting tools.
"I want this remelted and reforged."
He described what he needed: heat above 2000°C to slowly soften the metal, then reshape it—no extra embellishments.
He wanted it in a "shuttle" shape: a thickened spike or weaving needle, with spiral grooves along the surface.
That would minimize air resistance and reduce turbulence at the sound barrier.
The smith stopped hammering and stared at the shard.
"Chakra metal… and not ordinary stuff."
He picked it up, examining the grain.
"This texture, these lines… Where'd you get it?"
"War loot." Kiyohara answered.
The smith didn't ask again.
In the shinobi world, the less you knew, the safer you were.
"The shape is doable, but the craftsmanship is demanding," the smith warned. "This metal melts hot. And your 'shuttle' needs perfect balance—off by a hair and your throwing accuracy will suffer."
"Can you do it?" Kiyohara asked.
The smith grinned and held up three fingers.
"Three hundred thousand ryō. Pick it up in two days."
Kiyohara nodded. "Deal."
He paid a deposit—but didn't leave.
He stepped closer, eyes turning crimson as his single-tomoe Sharingan spun.
He wanted insurance.
He also called Uchiha Kiyohara's spirit to layer a stronger genjutsu using three-tomoe visual power.
The smith stiffened, eyes going blank.
"You'll craft these shuttles to the highest standard," Kiyohara commanded softly. "And you won't remember I was here. You won't remember where the metal came from. You only accepted a normal custom order, with common chakra metal provided by the customer."
The smith nodded woodenly. "Normal custom order… common material…"
Kiyohara closed his Sharingan and left.
He wasn't doing this to dodge payment—he'd already paid.
It was for secrecy.
The Executioner's Blade was a symbol of the Mist's Seven Swordsmen. If people learned he had fragments, it could invite trouble.
These "shuttles" were meant for Magnet Release.
Iron sand was powerful, but shape-changing took time. Pre-forged shuttles could be fired instantly with electromagnetic acceleration—another hidden trump card.
...
Three days passed in a blur.
Before dawn, Kiyohara woke early to pack.
He'd already picked up the finished "shuttles" yesterday.
When he opened his door, he saw the kitchen lights on downstairs.
Shizune was making breakfast: porridge simmering, eggs frying, milk warming.
Tonton sat on a little stool nearby, staring hopefully.
"Shizune, you're up early," Kiyohara said as he came down.
She jumped, nearly dropping the spatula.
"K-Kiyohara-kun? Why are you awake? It's still early—you could sleep more."
"Couldn't." He paused at the kitchen doorway. "Need help?"
"No, no—almost done," Shizune said, flipping the eggs with practiced ease. "Tsunade-sama's picky. If breakfast isn't good, her mood is awful all day."
Kiyohara watched her for a second, then said, "Let me try."
He took the spatula, opened his Sharingan, and cooked.
With enhanced dynamic vision and precision, he controlled the timing perfectly.
He wasn't even the first to think of it—Itachi once made dozens of eggs with Sharingan just to get a "perfect" one for Sasuke.
A moment later, Kiyohara plated the egg: crisp edges, set whites, a half-runny yolk like a tiny sun.
Shizune stared at the egg, then at him.
"Sharingan… can do this too?"
"To be honest, it's just control," Kiyohara said. "Heat, timing, coordination—Sharingan helps you observe and replicate all of it."
When breakfast was ready, Tsunade finally came downstairs.
Loose white sleepwear, blonde hair a mess, eyes half-open.
"Breakfast…" she mumbled, then sniffed the air and woke up a little.
"Oh? The eggs are good today."
She took a bite—and froze.
After a few seconds, she looked up at Kiyohara.
"You made this?"
"Yeah. Sharingan." Kiyohara pointed at his eye.
Tsunade: "… "
She finished the egg, drank half her porridge, set down her chopsticks.
"I'm going upstairs to change. Ten minutes—meet at the gate."
Halfway up the stairs she looked back.
"Eggs again tomorrow."
Kiyohara smiled. "Sure."
Ten minutes later, Tsunade came down changed—ponytail tied, sharp and composed.
If Kiyohara hadn't known she'd been drinking half the night, he might've believed she lived a clean, healthy schedule.
Then they headed for the village gate.
...
Minato arrived right on time—so punctual it was almost scary—bringing Kakashi and Rin.
Kurenai showed up too, stepping in beside Kiyohara.
"Everyone's here," Minato said with a warm smile. "Then let's go."
...
Days of travel later, the scenery shifted from green mountains to endless yellow sand.
Heat haze warped the horizon. Wind whipped grit into their faces.
Roran lay at the edge of the Land of Wind—technically inside its borders, but politically independent from both the Wind daimyo and Sunagakure.
It was a tiny nation—so small it had only a single city.
"This is the Land of Wind," Minato said. "From here on, be careful. Sand patrols roam everywhere."
He handed out scarves.
"Cover your face. It'll help with the sand, and it reduces how easily enemies can identify you."
Kiyohara wrapped the scarf, leaving only his eyes exposed. Everyone followed suit.
Rin walked beside him and whispered, "Kiyohara-kun… how's your arm?"
"Already healed." He flexed his right arm. "Medical ninjutsu works."
"That's good." Rin smiled, eyes crescent-shaped.
Kakashi glanced over but didn't comment.
"Alright. Move out," Minato said, leading them into the desert.
Even Tsunade draped a light veil, suddenly looking like an exotic beauty.
...
In the Land of Wind desert, day and night were opposites.
Daytime: brutal sun, temperatures easily over forty degrees. Blinding glare off sand. Heat waves twisting the air.
Nighttime: temperatures plunging below freezing, wind sharp enough to cut.
For shinobi, it was harsh.
For Suna shinobi, it was home—and one more reason Land of Fire's fertile land felt like a feast they could never stop craving.
That evening, they camped behind a rocky ridge, using a half-open cave to block the wind.
Tsunade checked everyone's condition with medical chakra—especially Rin, watching for seal instability under extreme conditions.
"The seal's stable for now," Tsunade said firmly. "But watch your emotions. Anger, fear, grief—those can trigger leakage."
Rin nodded seriously. "I understand."
Kiyohara lit a fire and started boiling water.
Water was precious, but Minato's sealing scroll carried enough to last half a month.
When it boiled, Kiyohara lifted the kettle and poured from high above the cup in a smooth arc, barely splashing.
Kurenai watched curiously. "Why pour like that?"
"Desert tea has rules." Kiyohara said, then nodded toward the fine foam on the surface. "High pouring aerates it and pulls out grit. Desert wind gets sand everywhere—skim the foam and you get clean tea."
He added a small spoon of sugar and a few mint leaves.
"Sugar keeps your energy up. Mint clears your head and helps with the temperature swings. At night, everyone should drink at least two cups—keeps you warm and steady."
Tsunade took a sip and her eyes brightened slightly.
"Not bad." she approved.
Minato added calmly, "Suna survival gear is the most complete of the Five Great Villages—salt-sugar pills, sand masks, heat cloaks. They grow up in this."
He glanced at Kiyohara, clearly noting how well-prepared he was.
Kakashi drank silently, listening.
Kurenai cradled her cup and murmured, "You know so much."
"Read it." Kiyohara replied.
Night fell completely.
The desert sky was shockingly clear—stars like spilled diamonds, the Milky Way a glowing ribbon.
But the cold was vicious. The fire was their only warmth.
They ate simple rations, traded a few quiet words.
Rin sat near Kiyohara, asking him about medical techniques. He answered, and their low conversation looked peaceful in the firelight.
Kakashi stared into the flames, unreadable.
Kurenai tried to stay awake, but eventually her head dipped and leaned against Kiyohara's shoulder.
Kiyohara didn't move. He let her rest.
Minato and Tsunade discussed the route and hazards for tomorrow. Shizune watched the fire.
...
Moonset. Sunrise.
After a night's rest, their destination appeared on the horizon—and everyone stopped.
A steel city.
Tall towers stabbed into the sky, metal shells reflecting sunlight like blades.
It looked like a modern metropolis.
But around its perimeter was a ring of trees—clearly planted to fight back the desert's advance.
"That's probably Anrokuzan's doing," Minato said, staring. He'd been to Roran before, and it hadn't been anything like this.
"Let's move," Tsunade said, glancing up at the scorching sun.
They slipped into Roran in secrecy.
Inside were towering spires, clocks, gears everywhere—machinery woven into the city's bones.
"This whole city…" Kiyohara said quietly, "is built on puppets."
And those puppets, inevitably, were fueled by Dragon Vein chakra.