"Let's head out first."
Kiyoshi turned and stepped over the broken door frame, entering the pale yellow grassland outside. Uzumaki Karī followed behind him, her movements cautious and somewhat restrained.
"Hey, how are you handling these guys?" Ringo Ameyuri pointed toward the three Grass ninjas whom Kiyoshi had frozen with a [Sharingan Genjutsu].
"You know what to do," Kiyoshi said without looking back.
He gazed out at the dense forests and rolling mountains in the distance. The Land of Grass was a vital theater in this war, serving as the primary buffer and battlefield between the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire. Though a small nation, its strength was not to be underestimated; among minor powers, it was one of the closest to the Great Nations.
The Hidden Grass Village even maintained its own international diplomatic business. Using their status as a neutral middleman, they had established a specialized prison on a small island near the village to house criminal ninjas from all over the world.
This "International Prison" was located in the northern sea of the Land of Waterfall. The island was named [Hozuki Castle]—Blood Prison—after the "Ground Cherry" fruits that grew there.
The castle's lords were traditionally members of a clan capable of controlling the [Celestial Prison] seal. If branded with the [Fire Style: Celestial Prison], even someone with Naruto's massive chakra reserves would be suppressed to the point of only being able to manifest a single Shadow Clone.
"We'll set the location near the border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Waterfall," Kiyoshi decided.
He intended to visit [Hozuki Castle] eventually. The setting persisted from the movie *Naruto: Blood Prison* through *Boruto*. Hidden within [Hozuki Castle] lay the greatest ambition of the Land of Grass: the [Box of Ultimate Bliss].
Legend said it dated back to the era of the Sage of the Six Paths, a thousand years ago, and could grant the opener a single wish. The Grass had once opened it and supposedly came within a hair's breadth of world domination before suddenly falling into decline.
Since then, the village had split into two factions: the "Grass Fruits," who sought to revive their glory through war, and the "Grass Flowers," who opposed it. Their enthusiasm for running an international prison served two purposes: to hide the [Box of Ultimate Bliss] and to use the prisoners' chakra to research how to reopen it. Of course, the box actually just consumed the opener and turned them into the monster "Satori."
Nonetheless, it was a fascinating subject for study. It represented a fundamental transformation of life, turning an ordinary ninja into a creature capable of overpowering Sage Mode Naruto.
Furthermore, the Land of Grass held the [Ryuzetsu Clan], possessing a Kekkei Genkai called [Dragon Life Resurrection], which allowed them to share their life force with others—a highly valuable ability.
"Hmph, you really know how to order people around," Ringo muttered as she emerged from the conical house. Inside, three lives had quietly ended.
Karī, with her excellent sensory abilities, felt the change immediately. She lowered her head silently, offering no protest. Had those ninjas returned, they would have brought trouble for her and Kiyoshi alike.
"Alright, time for a change of scenery."
Judging the sun's position, Kiyoshi confirmed his bearings. He grabbed Karī with his left hand and Ringo with his right. Before either could react, Kiyoshi took off into the sky.
Bolts of lightning crackled around him as he streaked across the horizon. Hearing the roar of the wind, Karī tucked her head into Kiyoshi's chest in terror. They were easily several hundred meters in the air. She didn't dare open her eyes.
"He... he must be an incredible ninja," Karī thought. Her parents had told her that neither the Whirlpool nor the Leaf had many ninjas capable of flight. To fly required either a unique Kekkei Genkai or extraordinary chakra control and reserves. It was likely the most difficult type of technique outside of space-time ninjutsu.
Unlike the terrified Karī, Ringo remained relatively composed. She had seen Kiyoshi pull out strange things like [Moryo's power] before; she knew he was a ninja who didn't play by the rules.
"We aren't going to fall to our deaths when your chakra runs out, are we?" Ringo didn't fear death, but she didn't want to die in such a ridiculous way.
"Of course not," Kiyoshi smiled.
The White Snake in his sleeve deftly held several food pills in its mouth and fed them to Kiyoshi. Ringo's mouth twitched. Was this guy really not afraid of overloading his body and bursting from the pills?
...
By evening, Kiyoshi identified a secluded location. He slammed his hands onto the ground, carving an entrance into the mountain rock.
*Rumble...*
The deep tunnel continued to expand inward. This was the beauty of Earth Style—it was incredibly efficient for building bases, rivaling Wood Style. Ninjutsu truly made life easier.
Kiyoshi first expanded a fifty-square-meter space to serve as a temporary base. His high-speed travel using Lightning and Wind Style had drained a massive amount of chakra. He had some food pills left, but he needed to reserve enough chakra for the [Flying Thunder God] to return to the Land of Fire.
Crossing two countries would cost an astronomical amount of energy. However, this high-intensity use allowed his understanding of the jutsu to skyrocket, helping him optimize the formula and minimize consumption.
"Here are some supplies." Kiyoshi handed a storage scroll to Karī. It contained a week's worth of rations, a simple tent, a sleeping bag, a water canteen, an iron pot, and other essentials.
"...Thank you," Karī said politely. The exhaustion on her face had lessened slightly, her short red hair swaying as she nodded. Her temperament was more refined than Karin's would eventually be—likely because she had seen the world rather than being raised as a mobile blood bag. Her only flaw was being underweight from years of living in hiding.
"Ringo Ameyuri, as one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, you should have some independent time, right?" Kiyoshi turned to Ringo, who was inspecting the earthen walls.
"I have that much authority," Ringo nodded. It was exactly why so many fought to join the Seven Swordsmen; even the Mist ANBU often had to follow their orders.
"Then stay here for a while." With that, Kiyoshi gave his final instructions and vanished using [Flying Thunder God].
"Hey!" Ringo shouted, but he was already gone. "That guy... he totally treats me like a common laborer." She puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.
"He... he seems to be gone," Karī said, looking cautiously at the intimidating Ringo.
"I can see that!" Ringo snapped, trying to look fierce. Karī flinched at the sight of the rows of shark-like teeth. Though an Uzumaki, Karī lacked formal ninja training. Her strength was at most that of a Chunin, and that was only if she used [Adamantine Attacking Chains], the only offensive sealing art she knew.
"Hurry up and set up the beds. I want to sleep," Ringo said, tossing a paper-wrapped bundle to Karī. The faint scent of meat wafted from it. Karī blinked; this was much better than the dry rations Kiyoshi had provided. She wasn't a picky eater, but she appreciated the gesture. Her impression of Ringo shifted—the woman seemed to be someone who was "all bark and no bite."
"That Uchiha... Kiyoshi, is he the same?" Karī wondered. He said he wanted to research her, but he acted like an absentee landlord. This place was less an experimental base and more a sanctuary.
...
After the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, the Hidden Stone's logistics were crippled. Since the Lands of Earth and Fire do not share a border, the Stone's best route was through the Land of Grass. With the destruction of that key node, the Stone ninjas on the front lines lost their supply chain, and the tide turned instantly.
Jiraiya led forces to handle the Land of Earth, while ninjas with high scouting abilities, like the Hyuga clan, went south to watch the Land of Water. With the war showing signs of slowing down, the Leaf finally had room to breathe.
By the time Kiyoshi returned, Kakashi was already in the Leaf Hospital. All members of the Minato and Mikoto squads were hailed as heroes. Even the Uchiha, whom the higher-ups usually tried to keep out of the spotlight, received accolades. The village leadership used their tale of sacrifice and duty to inspire students at the Ninja Academy.
At the Academy, Hiruzen Sarutobi finished his speech: "On the day of Kannabi Bridge, three heroes with the Sharingan were born to the Leaf. One has his name carved on the Memorial Stone; the other two continue to contribute to the village."
The students were fired up, the "Will of Fire" burning bright in their hearts. Kiyoshi listened from the back with a calm expression. He needed to file his mission reports, including his activities in the Grass, which he had already falsified. Not finding the Hokage in his office, Kiyoshi followed a tip to the Academy graduation ceremony.
"Look, here is one of those heroes, Kiyoshi," Hiruzen said, pointing toward him.
Kiyoshi's neutral face shifted into a warm smile. "It was only our duty, Lord Hokage. We are all inheritors of the Will of Fire. Where the leaves dance, the fire burns."
Hiruzen beamed at the quote. Even Koharu and Homura behind him showed faint smiles. The only one missing was Danzo, likely brooding in some dark corner.
"Is that Kiyoshi-senpai?" Uzuki Yugao stood on her tiptoes, looking toward the distant figure.
"Cough... yes, it is," Gekko Hayate coughed. He remembered the older boy who had once used medical ninjutsu to help his frail health. To Hayate, Kiyoshi was a great person.
"Amazing," Hayate sighed.
"Hmph, one day I'll be praised like that too," Anko Mitarashi huffed. Her master was Orochimaru! With such a mentor, she was sure she wouldn't fall behind Kiyoshi.
In another corner, Atsui watched Kiyoshi speak, his fists clenched. The Third Raikage had died fighting ten thousand Stone ninjas, and Kiyoshi had been the one to leak that intel, causing Cloud's plans to be disrupted.
Yet, the new Fourth Raikage, Ay, still insisted they try to recruit him. As Atsui grew older, he realized his spy life in the Leaf was getting more complicated. He had a feeling his sister Samui was being taken advantage of whenever she met Kiyoshi, but he had no proof.
After the ceremony, Hiruzen pulled Kiyoshi aside. "The future of the village depends on young people like you."
"The Hokage is still in his prime; we still have much to rely on you for," Kiyoshi replied modestly.
Hiruzen was indeed powerful at this stage. Years later, Orochimaru would admit that if Hiruzen were ten years younger, Orochimaru would have died during the "Hidden Leaf Crush." Right now, Hiruzen was a master of all five elements in his peak years. Kiyoshi, however, wasn't moved by the rhetoric; "glory" was just a tool used by superiors to motivate subordinates.
"Haha, I'm old, I'm old," Hiruzen puffed his pipe. They discussed the aftermath of the mission and Obito's death. "By the way, Kakashi wants to join the ANBU. Since you're already a member, take him through the process."
"Understood," Kiyoshi nodded.
He needed to visit the hospital anyway. It was time for the final act of the Kannabi Bridge incident. How much would Rin Nohara sacrifice for Kakashi's Sharingan? With Kiyoshi's presence, the Uchiha's reputation for producing geniuses was soaring.
The clan was growing proud, believing in a return to glory. This meant they would inevitably challenge the existence of a non-Uchiha possessing the Sharingan.
...
At the hospital, Kiyoshi knocked on the door. Kakashi was sitting up, his left eye wrapped in bandages like Danzo's. Transplanting an eye was a high-difficulty surgery, especially under battlefield conditions.
"Kiyoshi," Kakashi said, his voice hollow. He looked exhausted. The constant drain on his chakra from the un-deactivatable Sharingan was already taking its toll.
"How's the body?" Kiyoshi asked, setting down a gift.
"Fine," Kakashi replied shortly.
"When you're discharged, I'll take you through the ANBU induction," Kiyoshi said.
"Thanks," Kakashi muttered.
Kiyoshi wasn't surprised by his state. Without Hashirama cells to balance the power, Kakashi's chakra pool was effectively halved just to keep the eye from killing him.
"Kiyoshi, are you here to see Kakashi?" Rin Nohara entered with lunch boxes, her face as weary as Kakashi's.
Kiyoshi gave a subtle smile. The pressure on Kakashi would eventually bleed onto Rin; she was too kind to let him suffer alone. "Yeah. I'll be going now."
He left quickly. Rin's situation needed time to ferment, but it wouldn't take long.
Inside the room, Rin opened the food. "Kakashi, what were you two talking about?"
"Nothing. It's classified," Kakashi said coldly. He didn't want her involved in the darkness of the ANBU. He had learned the meaning of "bonds" from Obito's death, and he had promised to protect Rin. To him, protecting her meant keeping her away from the blood and filth he was about to enter.
"Classified... I see." Rin's eyes welled with tears, which she quickly wiped away. Ever since they returned, Kakashi had been keeping a deliberate distance from her. They had been close when discussing Lightning Style before, but now there was a deep, cold distance between them.
"Kakashi..." Rin started, wanting to say the words she had kept in her heart for years.
"Rin... Obito liked you. He liked you very much... he cherished you..." Kakashi cut her off, realizing what she was about to say.
Rin lowered her eyes. Shouldn't love be free? Didn't she have the right to pursue the person she liked? Just because Obito might have liked her, she couldn't be with Kakashi?
"I... I have to go," Rin said quickly after Kakashi finished eating, gathering the boxes and rushing out.
"Rin..." Kakashi reached out in pain, then pulled his hand back. This was the result of his actions. He had to atone.