"One step at a time," Kiyohara murmured, watching the white smoke dissipate as the chameleon disappeared. His goals were now clear:
First, quickly gather enough merit points to exchange for a B-rank Lightning Release jutsu. That would fulfill Steel Kiyohara's first wish.
Second, keep an eye out during missions—there might be a lone Iwagakure shinobi with Steel Release he could defeat.
That night.
Two figures darted across a wide clearing at the edge of the camp—an open training ground set up for temporary use.
Kiyohara and Kakashi were in the middle of a night spar.
Fine, black iron sand hovered around Kiyohara in a cloud-like mist.
He swiftly formed hand seals.
"Lightning Style: Lightning Current!"
Crackle—!
Instead of charging a weapon, the electrical current surged through the suspended iron sand.
Sparks danced across the magnetic mist like blue fireflies—popping and crackling with intensity.
"Magnet Style: Iron Sand Drizzle."
With a sweep of his hand, the electrified mist rushed toward Kakashi like a swarm of lightning-charged bees.
The coverage was massive—blocking nearly every conventional escape path.
Kakashi calmly pushed his forehead protector up, revealing his scarred Sharingan.
The two tomoe spun rapidly.
His dynamic vision tracked each particle of iron sand—analyzing their speed, angles, and density.
The moment before impact, he moved.
Twisting and weaving, Kakashi danced through the narrowest of gaps in the oncoming storm, retreating fluidly as electrified particles skimmed his uniform, filling the air with the faint scent of scorched fabric—but never reaching skin.
"Sharingan's insight really is a pain," Kiyohara muttered, but didn't look discouraged.
Instead, he focused further, adjusting the iron sand's formation midair.
Kakashi mirrored him, utterly focused.
At the edge of the field, Rin Nohara sat quietly atop a stone, hands propping up her chin.
The moonlight traced soft outlines across her face.
The scene was familiar—like a memory.
Just like before...
Rin remembered those days.
She used to sit just like this, watching Obito challenge Kakashi again and again, always full of energy and determination, even when he got knocked flat every time.
But now… Obito was gone.
And the boy standing there was quiet, precise, and incredibly sharp.
Kiyohara… he's nothing like Obito.
She thought silently.
He's stronger.
And… more handsome, too.
Her face flushed lightly at that last thought, and she shook her head quickly to clear it.
After sparring for over ten minutes and burning through most of their chakra, the two finally paused, panting.
"You've gotten way too strong, too fast," Kakashi said, pulling his headband back down to cover his Sharingan.
"I just spent more time training, that's all," Kiyohara replied.
Kakashi nodded—he knew Kiyohara had both talent and discipline.
"I'm heading back to rest."
Kakashi turned, but Rin caught up to him.
"Kakashi—wait," she called out.
"I wanted to ask you something."
He turned, quiet.
"…Why don't you train with me anymore? Ever since Obito… you've been distant."
They had always been a team—Rin, Kakashi, Obito.
Even when Kakashi was focused on developing Chidori, they'd been close.
She thought things would go back to normal once that was done.
But then Obito had stayed behind… and died.
And Kakashi had grown more and more silent.
"Because Obito entrusted you to me," Kakashi said simply. "Even if I die… I'll protect you."
"…But—"
"Rin, Obito loved you. Truly. Deeply."
She flinched.
She didn't know how to respond.
What did that have to do with him not spending time with her?
"I… I'm just the guy who abandoned you once for a mission. That's who I am."
Kakashi shook his head bitterly.
He still couldn't forgive himself for choosing the mission over Rin.
Even if she never blamed him, he never forgot.
It was a weight that never left.
Rin stood there silently, watching him walk away.
Her lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to call out—but in the end, she couldn't.
She sighed quietly, a look of disappointment crossing her face.
Why did losing Obito have to leave such a rift between us? she wondered.
"Love triangle drama," Kiyohara muttered.
Even without prior knowledge, it was obvious what was going on.
He recovered some chakra, then resumed drawing magnetic energy to detect more iron sand in the area.
Some would go into training stock—some, he could sell.
Iron sand, after all, was still a metallic resource.
As he searched, Rin unexpectedly returned.
"I'll help," she said softly.
She crouched down and began separating black iron particles from the grass with practiced hands.
"…Thanks."
Kiyohara didn't turn her away.
He could tell—Rin just needed something to take her mind off things.
They worked in silence for a while.
Eventually, Rin broke it.
"…Kiyohara, do you think Kakashi will ever forget Obito?"
Kiyohara paused, glancing at her.
In the moonlight, she had her head bowed, long lashes casting shadows over her eyes.
So that's what it is.
He understood.
She had feelings for Kakashi…
But those feelings never had a chance to bloom.
Because Kakashi… was emotionally made of reinforced steel.
"Don't be sad, Rin," Kiyohara said gently.
"Kakashi… probably hasn't fully moved on. That Sharingan—it's not just power. It's a burden. A memory. A promise.
Whenever he looks at you, he probably remembers Obito's dying wish. It's… complicated."
"I-I'm not sad!"
Kiyohara smiled and pointed to her face.
"You kind of are. And besides—about Kakashi's Sharingan and Obito's last words… it's not hard to connect the dots."
"…Am I that easy to read?" she muttered, touching her cheek.
Kiyohara paused, then said with a teasing but sincere tone:
"A girl like you—kind, smart, and beautiful—it's only natural that people notice. And when people notice, they start to understand."
The words caught her off guard.
The gloom in her chest lightened just a little.
Kakashi might not care…
But someone does.
Rin looked up at Kiyohara's face.
She'd seen Kakashi without his mask before.
But honestly?
Kiyohara was just a little more… handsome.
Kiyohara saw her flustered reaction and knew his words had done the job.
He didn't press the moment.
"Alright, enough moping. Want to go over some medical ninjutsu again? I've been meaning to review what you taught me."
"…Mhm."
She nodded softly.
Meanwhile, back at the tent…
Kakashi sat alone, leaning against the canvas.
He stared at the ceiling, deep in thought.
After wrestling with himself for over an hour, he sighed and stood up.
I should go check on Rin.
He just didn't want her to be sad because of him.
He just wanted them to stay… friends.
But when he pulled back the flap and stepped out—
he saw Rin walking side by side with Kiyohara, the two of them quietly talking.
Moonlight lit them gently.
She was smiling.
He was listening.
Kakashi stood there.
Then quietly went back inside.
Looks like she's okay, he thought. Thanks, Kiyohara.
Obito… I'll keep my promise.
The next day.
Kiyohara got up early.
He'd packed last night's gathered iron sand into a sturdy cloth sack.
The grains were uniform and dark—solid quality metal ore.
He planned to use his morning break to sell it in the nearby transfer town.
Navigating like a local, Kiyohara found a merchant from the relevant supply chain.
The man inspected the goods and gave him a fair price.
40,000 ryō.
Not bad.
Not bad at all.
This was only a portion of his iron sand.
He kept the rest sealed in his thermos gourd.
Iron sand wasn't a rare mineral—modern metallurgy had advanced quite a bit in the ninja world.
So the price wasn't high.
If he really wanted to get rich…
He had to follow in Rasa's footsteps.
Kiyohara's desire to meet the Fourth Kazekage grew stronger by the day.
He desperately wanted to know how Rasa controlled gold dust with Magnet Release.
If he could master that…
He'd never have to scrape together iron sand again.
"Still safer than missions, though," Kiyohara muttered.
Finding iron sand just required time and chakra.
Safer than getting ambushed or assassinated.
Back at camp, he found a quiet corner and began counting his money.
He was thinking about buying new armor.
His old gear was starting to wear thin.
If an enemy struck now, it might break on impact.
That was when the light suddenly dimmed.
Two large shadows loomed over his face.
A faint scent of alcohol drifted in.
Kiyohara looked up.
And found his entire field of view blocked by two towering, snow-capped peaks.
"…Whatcha staring at?"
Tsunade's voice came down from above.
Kiyohara blinked—then realized…
He forgot to turn off his auto-aim.
Without changing expression, he calmly shifted his gaze.
Took one subtle step backward.
Only then did he tilt his head and meet her eyes.
There she was—lazily peering down at him, golden hair tousled, her expression a mix of sleepiness and mild suspicion.