Kakashi's gaze shifted toward Kiyoshi.
A C-rank mission that suddenly spiked to A-rank or higher—a ninja like Kiyoshi, who could complete a mission under those circumstances, was the kind of person who truly belonged on his team. It was hard to imagine that a dead-last like Obito shared the same surname and clan as Kiyoshi.
"It was mainly because Lady Tsunade is incredible," Kiyoshi said.
This wasn't mere humility. Without Tsunade summoning Katsuyu to buy time, escaping would have been several times more difficult. If Tsunade had seen blood and collapsed on the spot, Kiyoshi would have had to carry three people while making his getaway.
"Kiyoshi, I've already been able to refine a bit of that chakra nature. When you have time, please continue to guide me," Rin Nohara suddenly interjected.
Aside from medical ninjutsu, what she studied most now was Lightning Style. She could now barely refine Lightning Style chakra, though it was extremely thin—not even enough to cast the weakest Lightning Style technique.
"Of course, no problem."
Kiyoshi gave Rin Nohara a meaningful look. There was no reason for him to refuse something delivered to his doorstep. He viewed this as a form of salvation—saving Rin Nohara from her tragic fate of death. Thinking of such a heroic deed, his ocular power actually increased by a tiny fraction. Even the bottleneck of Kiyoshi's chakra capacity nudged upward slightly.
'Once I master Moryo's power, it should help Rin Nohara adapt faster,' Kiyoshi thought.
Even if one does not naturally possess a certain chakra nature, they can still use that style of ninjutsu. The price is a greatly diminished power. However, through post-natal training, one can continuously increase that affinity until it matches a natural-born talent.
Giving Rin Moryo's power would inevitably shorten the time required for this process. Correspondingly, Rin Nohara would become accustomed to the stimulation of Lightning Style.
Just like wet cement, once it is placed inside a mold and solidifies, it takes the shape of that mold. What shape will Rin become? Kiyoshi looked forward to it. He now had yet another reason to master Moryo's power quickly.
...
Somewhere outside the stronghold.
"Lord Raiga Kurosuki, the Leaf ninjas have already stationed themselves ahead," Ringo Ameyuri reported to a man.
The man had long green hair, thick lips, and a mouth full of sharp, jagged teeth.
"What about the other Seven Ninja Swordsmen?" Raiga Kurosuki glanced casually at Ringo Ameyuri.
This woman coveted his Lightning Blade: Kiba intensely. That was nothing unusual; the blades of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were extremely rare among ninja tools and served as symbols of honor and status within the Hidden Mist.
"They are on their way and will arrive tomorrow."
"Good."
Raiga Kurosuki, carrying two uniquely shaped blades on his back, walked toward the Hidden Mist camp. Those Uchiha staying here would become a nuisance; they had to launch a surprise attack before the stronghold was fully constructed.
After Raiga Kurosuki left, Ringo Ameyuri looked at the two blades on his back with burning eyes.
"Heehee, in a little while, I'll snatch his blades away."
Ringo Ameyuri flashed a smile. She was extremely eager to become one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. In the Hidden Mist, challenging a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was not considered a crime; it was a matter of the capable taking what they wanted.
After all, the policy of the Blood Mist Village was the survival of the fittest. Ringo Ameyuri, who initially didn't fit into these rules, had now begun to actively embrace them.
...
The following afternoon.
"Fugaku Uchiha's side encountered a surprise attack..."
Kiyoshi listened as an Uchiha Jonin informed the people in the stronghold about the situation at the front line. A group of ninjas with decent strength was drawn from the base. Kiyoshi, usually outstanding, was among them. He quickly prepared his gear and followed the reinforcement unit.
"Lord Fugaku is actually in a deadlock with the enemy at the front," Tekka Uchiha's scalp felt numb. He didn't know exactly how strong the enemies ahead were. Weren't they just heading there to be slaughtered?
"Relax, Tekka. Isn't Senior Kiyoshi here? Senior Kiyoshi is much stronger than you," Emi Uchiha waved her hand.
"Whose teammate am I exactly? Yours or Kiyoshi's?" Tekka Uchiha strongly condemned Emi Uchiha's behavior of siding with an outsider.
"Things change rapidly in war; no one can guarantee they will stay alive," Kiyoshi shook his head.
The group of more than ten people, all Uchiha, continued their journey. The Hyuga clan was guarding the vicinity of the front line and the strongholds; they would merge once they arrived.
Boom!
While crossing a small stream, a water dragon erupted from the peaceful forest. Immediately, an Uchiha who failed to dodge was smashed to pieces by the impact of the water. Blood from the shredded flesh splattered into the air.
Obito jolted in fear, nearly falling to the ground. Kakashi, who had seen many bloody scenes, appeared much calmer as he drew his short blade from his back.
"Enemy attack!"
The Uchiha Jonin leading the team narrowed his eyes as they turned scarlet, three tomoe spinning within them.
"Aha, so you're here," Raiga Kurosuki grinned savagely.
Several of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were currently clashing with powerful ninjas like Fugaku Uchiha and Hizashi Hyuga. He had intentionally avoided the Byakugan and circled to the rear to strike where they least expected. Behind him, Hidden Mist ninjas emerged one after another.
"You are... Kiyoshi Uchiha?"
Raiga Kurosuki scanned the group of Uchiha and found only two familiar faces. One was Minato Namikaze, whose reputation as the Yellow Flash had been growing recently. The other was Kiyoshi Uchiha.
The Hidden Mist recorded intelligence on the genius ninjas of enemy nations specifically to strangle them in the cradle when encountered, thereby weakening the enemy's power.
Raiga Kurosuki knew a bit about a special figure like Kiyoshi Uchiha. It was said he had been among the top in the Chunin Exams and had survived the pursuit of the Hidden Sand.
That brat Mei Terumi had been brooding over Kiyoshi Uchiha, as if he had left her with some kind of psychological shadow.
Thinking of this, Raiga Kurosuki licked his lips. What he loved most was strangling these geniuses—the rarer, the better. A genius with a Bloodline like Kiyoshi was practically begging to be killed by him.
"Lord Raiga Kurosuki, he is indeed Kiyoshi Uchiha."
In the next moment, Raiga Kurosuki drew his twin blades and plunged them into the ground.
Boom!
Blue currents, spreading like creeping branches, surged forward, rapidly attacking the group. Minato Namikaze threw a special kunai, whisking away Obito and Kakashi, who were closest to the lightning. Kiyoshi spat a fireball at the ground, blasting through the area where the current was spreading.
Jonin Horikawa Uchiha's eyes flashed with a hint of admiration. Kiyoshi's reaction had already far exceeded the scope of a Chunin! He first spat out a Fire Style technique and then threw several shuriken.
Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Purple Claw!
Flames attached to the flying shuriken, causing them to scatter like phoenix flowers across the sky, laced with searing heat. Ringo Ameyuri opened her palm, and dense, arrow-shaped currents flew out.
Boom!
The scene instantly descended into chaos.
***
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