Arranging a marriage for Kiyoshi should be handled as soon as possible.
Various thoughts flashed through Mikoto's mind, but on the surface, she maintained a gentle smile and said, "Kiyoshi, you indeed have the aptitude to learn [Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame]. I happen to know this jutsu, so I will teach it to you."
"Thank you, Mikoto-nee."
Kiyoshi handed over a blank scroll and a brush.
Mikoto took a small sip of her tea and glanced at Kiyoshi with curiosity. What kind of person proactively carries these things around? It was as if he had already anticipated being given a ninjutsu.
However, Mikoto didn't dwell on it, assuming Kiyoshi simply liked using these scrolls for drafts. A blank scroll wasn't much different from ordinary paper, except for being slightly more resistant to corrosion.
Mikoto spread the scroll out and began writing on the table.
"Thank you, Mikoto-nee."
...
Inside the tent.
Kiyoshi looked at the scroll in his hands and read through it once. He was already capable of attempting to learn a B-rank Fire Style ninjutsu scroll.
[You have comprehended the Trait: Fire Style Chunin (Blue).]
[Trait: Fire Style Chunin (Blue)]
[Requirement: You are now able to easily learn C-rank Fire Style ninjutsu and have begun advancing toward the Jonin level.]
[Progress: (Completed).]
[Effect: You have met the minimum requirements for developing ninjutsu. Your resistance to Fire Style chakra has increased by 40% based on your original foundation.]
[Note: Can be further upgraded in the future.]
'The judgment criteria for the Trait panel might be different from a standard 'Chuninn',' Kiyoshi thought, raising an eyebrow at the panel that popped up after suddenly meeting the requirements.
Undoubtedly, his current strength had already exceeded the scope of an ordinary Chunin. He specified "ordinary" because the ninja world contained too many strange and bizarre bloodlines. Take the Kurama clan's bloodline, for instance; Yakumo Kurama was physically extremely weak, yet her Genjutsu could alter reality.
A moment later, Kiyoshi closed the panel. After memorizing the Fire Style ninjutsu, he began to circulate the Lightning Style within his body. Chakra control was universal across all ninjutsu; the only difference lay in the refinement of specific nature transformations. His current set of Genin-level Traits would likely all be unlocked one by one in the near future. When that time came, he might even be able to synthesize his first Purple Trait!
Blue Traits offered other effects in addition to basic attribute bonuses. For example, [Fire Style Chunin (Blue)] stated that Kiyoshi now had the ability to attempt developing his own ninjutsu. An ordinary Chunin wanting to develop ninjutsu? That was wishful thinking. In the entire Hidden Leaf, only Kakashi had done it. Even a genius like Minato took three years to develop the A-rank [Rasengan], and how old was he back then?
Crackle!
The candlelight in the tent flickered unsteadily, casting a shifting black shadow. Kiyoshi's muscles rippled slightly, becoming increasingly firm and condensed, as if carved from a marble statue.
His muscular strength, neural reflexes, and chakra capacity were all rising slowly. Yet, his skin remained smooth and fine, showing no signs of calluses. This was the advantage of Lightning Style body tempering.
...
The next day.
"Obito, are you feeling any better?" Rin waved her small hand.
"I'm... I'm fine," Obito squeezed out a smile. The shadow cast by the Hidden Mist the previous night was a bit too large. He had finally gathered the courage to face the enemy, only for the battle to end. It left Obito feeling restless.
Rin offered a few more words of comfort before heading toward Kiyoshi's tent.
"Rin, are you going to see Kiyoshi?" Obito frowned slightly.
"Yeah..." Rin nodded.
Obito's lips moved as if to say something, but in the end, nothing came out. One only regrets their lack of knowledge when it's time to use it. He blamed himself for not studying seriously; he couldn't even understand the topics Rin discussed with Kiyoshi.
Watching Rin's lighthearted departing figure, Obito could only clench his fists. He needed to find Kakashi immediately and ask for a book to read.
"Huh? Make-Out Paradise?" Obito saw Kakashi reading a book with a heart on the cover.
"Kiyoshi recommended it," Kakashi said, inconspicuously putting the book away and replacing it with 'A Discussion on Lightning Style and Chakra'. That book seemed to be something Kiyoshi had written in his spare time, a short work of about a hundred thousand words. He claimed to have written it in two days and originally intended to sell it for money, but later said he met a rich woman and didn't need to anymore.
The contents, however, had greatly astonished Kakashi. It directly opened the door to a new world. When Obito said he wanted to borrow a book, Kakashi's lazy eyes widened in surprise. Had Obito undergone a change in personality?
...
"Kiyoshi, are you free?" Rin walked in.
What met her eyes was Kiyoshi's powerful physique, his chainmail clinging to the contours of his muscles due to sweat.
"I am." Kiyoshi let out a long breath and looked at Rin. He patted the edge of the bed, gesturing for her to sit. Rin quickly lowered her eyes and sat beside him.
"Come here," Kiyoshi said, reaching out his hand.
Rin nodded and reached out her own. Kiyoshi's chakra spiraled over the surface of Rin's skin, some of it even permeating inside. The tingling, numbing sensation became increasingly apparent. Seeing Rin lower her head, too embarrassed to look at him, a smile played across Kiyoshi's lips.
Everything was moving according to his established track. He had found an opening to connect with Mikoto, and Rin was gradually adapting to his chakra. Once the transaction with Ringo Ameyuri was complete, Kiyoshi would use Moryo's power to make his strength leap forward again and accelerate the encroachment on Rin. Sometimes, the body is more honest than the person themselves.
"Ngh..." Rin closed her eyes, her palms leaking fine beads of sweat.
Perhaps because these currents were affecting Rin's internal bioelectrical cycles, her physical development had also accelerated significantly. She was half a head taller than Obito now, though still shorter than Kiyoshi.
Time ticked by. Obito had flipped through the entirety of 'A Discussion on Lightning Style and Chakra', feeling only a severe dizziness. Kakashi had left after giving him the book, leaving Obito crouching there alone.
"Why have they been talking for so long?"
There was nothing to do today as the defensive works had been completed; they only needed to stand guard. Obito kept glancing toward Kiyoshi's tent. After waiting for about another half hour—until his legs were nearly numb from crouching—he finally saw Rin emerge, drenched in sweat.
"Rin..." Obito wanted to go up and say hello.
"I'm going to take a bath first," Rin said, hurrying away.
Since the ninja world possessed sealing scrolls, facilities like bathrooms could be constructed in the wild. Watching Rin walk away with a flushed face, Obito scratched his head.
"Forget it, I'll find Rin tonight." As long as Rin wasn't with Kiyoshi, it was fine. Rubbing his numb legs, Obito felt the wait hadn't been in vain.
...
Arriving at the bathroom, Rin took off her clothes and prepared a clean set of garments.
Splash...
The showerhead sprayed fine droplets of water over Rin's body.
"What's going on..." Rin noticed she was sweating a lot. Could it be that summer had arrived recently?
***
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