Tsunade had clearly wrapped up her business at the forward base.
Which meant… her gambling itch was flaring up again.
Rubbing her fingers, feeling her palms itch, she instinctively reached for her wallet—only to find it emptier than a dead mouse's grave.
Frustrated, her eyes caught sight of Kiyohara in the corner, crouched like a little hamster, counting money from a very plump pouch.
Her eyes lit up immediately.
She walked over.
Clearing her throat and putting on her best smile, she said, "Ahem, hey boy—counting your mission earnings?"
Kiyohara stood up and dusted off his knees. "This is from the iron sand I collected using Magnet Release. Just sold it off."
"Magnet Release, huh?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. Her eyes sparkled.
Right… Magnet Release meant he could mine iron sand—basically a mobile ore refinery.
That meant a long-term, stable source of income.
She coughed again—louder this time—then leaned in slightly, the snowy mountains of her chest forming a deep ravine as she bent over.
Putting on her "You just hit the jackpot" voice, she said, "Sooo… I'm kinda short on funds lately. Wanna lend me a little something? Don't worry—I'll totally pay you back!"
Kiyohara looked at the beautiful face marred by the unmistakable aura of gambling withdrawal… and the memory of her notorious bad luck and worse debt record. His eye twitched.
"…Tsunade-sama, it's not that I don't trust you—"
He paused, then added tactfully, "I'm just worried it'll be like throwing meat buns at a dog… never to be seen again."
Vein pop.
Tsunade twitched, a vein pulsing on her forehead.
She flicked him on the forehead—not hard, but enough to sting.
"Yup. That's the Tsunade of the Legendary Sannin," Steel Kiyohara commented, floating into view.
"I remember the first time I met her… she almost killed me with a punch. Steel Release doesn't stop internal injuries."
"Well, you were from Iwagakure," Kiyohara replied mentally. "She probably had a reason."
"I'm not the type to borrow and not pay back!" Tsunade huffed. "How about this: you lend me some money, and in return, I'll give you one full day of training. Ask me anything you want—chakra control, medical ninjutsu, taijutsu—whatever!"
Kiyohara froze. That was a hell of an offer.
Even a few minutes of Tsunade's teaching was rare—an entire day was unheard of.
For any genin, chūnin, or even jōnin, this was an opportunity worth its weight in gold.
After a pause, Kiyohara said thoughtfully, "I'm very tempted by your offer, Tsunade-sama. However…"
He jiggled the coin pouch. "Next time, for sure. I need to hold on to some funds for emergencies. Once I sell another load of iron sand, I'll lend you a portion."
He was buying time—keeping the training door open while securing the funds for gear.
Tsunade looked disappointed at first—but then perked up. "Fine, fine. Just don't forget next time, got it?"
She walked away, humming a cheerful tune—likely already imagining her next bet.
Kiyohara watched her go, sighing as he stashed the pouch.
They'd received notice: the forward HQ needed time to assess intel and formulate the next phase.
In the meantime, their squad was to remain stationed at the base for about a week.
Patrols and recon would continue—just as vital during downtime.
Kiyohara made up his mind.
He'd take on some missions this week, rack up more merit points, and exchange them for a B-rank Lightning Release jutsu.
That would fulfill Steel Kiyohara's first wish—and grant him the bloodline limit.
Steel Release was no joke.
Sometimes, defense was the difference between life and death.
Most ninja were glass cannons—hit hard, but broke even faster.
Before Kiyohara could apply for a mission, one came down from above.
Their team was ordered to investigate the mountainous region thirty kilometers east of the camp—checking for signs of Iwagakure or other enemy forces.
"The objective: recon the mountain range ten kilometers north of the base and scout for enemy presence," Kakashi summarized.
The three departed, disappearing into the dense forests beyond the perimeter.
Their destination was in the north of the Land of Fire.
Everything went smoothly—no chameleon ambushes, no rogue ninja.
"Any progress with your chameleon?" Rin asked during the journey.
"She's almost broken in," Kiyohara replied casually.
It was basically the hawk-taming method: summon her, beat her, repeat.
Instill the idea that resistance was pointless.
"That's how it is with wild summons," Kakashi noted.
He mentioned that his eight ninken were raised from puppies—gifted by the Inuzuka clan and raised by hand.
Kiyohara rolled his eyes internally.
Easy for Kakashi to say—he had the White Fang for a father.
Elsewhere…
A ninja stirred.
He had six arms, dark skin, and an arachnid-like appearance.
Spiders scurried up his body and whispered intel in his ears.
"A Konoha squad, huh? Wonder how much they'd fetch if I sold them…"
Kidohyou.
He grinned viciously.
Ninja—dead or alive—were valuable.
His intel said it was a jōnin and two chūnin.
With a surprise attack, even that wouldn't be a problem.
He'd already killed two jōnin—one from Iwa, one from Konoha.
Back in the forest…
Kiyohara noticed something strange.
There were more spider webs on the trees.
More spiders on the ground.
But the ninja hounds hadn't reacted.
Suddenly, Steel Kiyohara appeared.
He didn't float out like the others—he just stood still behind Kiyohara, calmly sensing.
"Two kilometers to the left. A ninja is approaching fast," he reported.
Kiyohara's eyes narrowed.
That fast… and we didn't even hear him?
"You can sense that well?"
Steel Kiyohara nodded. "My release is Earth + Yang. And Yang enhances sensory abilities."
That explained it.
Most sensor ninja relied on chakra-based perception—and Yang nature was key.
Yamanaka Ino, Namikaze Minato, Senju Tobirama—they all had strong Yang attributes.
Kiyohara smiled.
If he inherited this bloodline, he'd also gain Earth and Yang affinity—upgrading his perception significantly.
No more relying on speed and luck.
He wouldn't have to bluff about being a sensor—he'd actually become one.
"They're here."
Steel Kiyohara spoke again.
Kiyohara formed hand seals.
"Lightning Style: Ground Surge!"
Crack!
Electric arcs raced across the ground, frying something unseen.
Kakashi and Rin immediately tensed.
No doubt—an enemy was near.
Sure enough, countless spiders emerged from the trees, bushes, and grass.
A six-armed ninja stood atop a massive spider.
"…What the hell is that?" Rin's face turned pale.
She hated bugs.
Kakashi's expression didn't change. Lightning sparked in his hand—
"Chidori!"
He blitzed a nest of spiders, vaporizing them instantly.
Kiyohara shook his head.
Ever since Kakashi learned Chidori, he'd become a one-trick pony.
Ambush? Chidori.
Straight fight? Chidori.
At this point, Kakashi was turning into Chidori itself.
But Kiyohara knew better.
Kakashi would eventually become Konoha's most versatile technician—"Copy Ninja Kakashi," master of a thousand jutsu.
…Whether he could use all thousand was another matter.
Splat!
Kidohyou puffed his cheeks and spat out white webbing.
His six arms moved like a loom, weaving a massive web and hurling it toward them.
Rin couldn't dodge in time and got one arm stuck to a tree.