Before heading to the battlefield, Kiyoshi paid a visit to Rin Nohara.
"Rin, you're heading out tomorrow. I have a gift for you."
Kiyoshi handed over a kunai. Its surface was etched with black formula markings.
"This is..."
Rin's eyes narrowed slightly. She realized that this kunai looked very similar to the one Sensei Minato had given to Kakashi. However, Minato's was a custom three-pronged kunai, while Kiyoshi's was shaped like a standard one, appearing quite ordinary.
"I've placed a [Flying Thunder God Technique] formula on it. As long as you carry this, I can track your space-time coordinates and come to your aid at any moment."
Kiyoshi hooked his index finger through the ring of the kunai, gave it a nimble spin, and tossed it with a flick. It landed with pinpoint precision, sliding perfectly into the holster strapped to Rin's thigh. The sharp blade didn't even graze her trousers; she felt nothing but a slight chill.
"Can that jutsu be used from such a long distance?"
Rin realized Kiyoshi had grown stronger again. This level of control—if applied to shuriken—would likely mean a hundred percent accuracy.
Perhaps this was the true strength of the Uchiha clan. She recalled seeing many Uchiha throw several shuriken at once, making them collide mid-air to change trajectory or accelerate in ways that defied physics.
"Of course it's not too far, Rin. Sensei Minato's [Flying Thunder God Technique] is probably more refined than mine; otherwise, how do you think he arrived at Kannabi Bridge so much faster than anyone else? Even Mikoto-san couldn't make it in time."
Hearing this, Rin's eyes flickered. The "Mikoto-san" Kiyoshi mentioned was an Elite Jonin of the Uchiha clan, possessing formidable strength. With her travel speed, it should have been impossible for her to be slow.
Yet, Minato Namikaze arrived first, while Mikoto arrived much later. This proved that Minato had indeed relied on the [Flying Thunder God Technique] to bridge the distance instantly.
Then...
Feeling the cold touch of the kunai against her leg, Rin began to piece things together. Minato had given the same kind of gift to Kakashi.
Considering the terrifying reputation of the "Yellow Flash"—where enemies were ordered to abandon missions on sight—any Hidden Stone Village ninja would have fled the moment they spotted Minato.
They were likely... bait.
A dark realization of the shinobi world's reality unfolded before Rin in that moment. Perhaps it wasn't the absolute truth, but she couldn't think of a more logical explanation.
Seeing Rin lost in thought, Kiyoshi patted her shoulder, putting on a comforting facade.
"This is the fate of a ninja. But I believe the 'Will of Fire' shouldn't be so cold. I hope you survive this, Rin."
As he spoke, a stream of black formula markings surged from Kiyoshi's hand. Without Rin noticing, they seeped through her shoulder and settled onto her pale skin. Gradually, they wove together into the two characters for "Kiyoshi."
When Minato Namikaze fought Obito or the A-B duo, he could plant a [Flying Thunder God Mark] through mere touch without them ever knowing. Kiyoshi could do the same. Senju Tobirama's mark was a unique circular pattern, and Minato's was the four characters for "Sword of Shinobi Love." For Kiyoshi, he had rewritten it into his own name.
The [Flying Thunder God Technique] was, at its core, just a ninjutsu. Once mastered, the user could implement certain modifications. Much like other jutsu where a beginner requires complex hand signs that cannot be skipped, as one's understanding of "Shinobi" ascends, one can reduce the number of signs or even improve the signs themselves.
No jutsu is set in stone. Ninjutsu is effectively an executable program written by a programmer. The code inside can be modified according to the programmer's will—provided their understanding is deep enough.
"Thank you, Kiyoshi," Rin said earnestly.
She was exhausted from running around for Kakashi's sake. After witnessing the darkness of the ninja world, feeling Kiyoshi's kindness moved her deeply. Truly, Kiyoshi was... a very good person.
***
The next day.
Rin Nohara and Kakashi had already answered the call and departed for the battlefield. Kiyoshi continued his daily training routine, steadily and surely increasing his power.
The upcoming incident could be divided into three parts: Rin being captured and turned into the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, Kakashi killing Rin, and Obito rushing over to witness the scene. Once Rin was captured, that would be his window to operate.
As for a reason to go to the front lines? There were far too many. A manpower-starved Hidden Leaf Village would be more than happy to have a ninja give up their rare rest period to go kill enemies.
[You have obtained the Trait: Continuous Vitality (Blue)]
[Trait: Continuous Vitality (Blue)]
[Requirement: Long-term exhaustion.]
[Progress: (Completed).]
[Effect: Your physical body has become accustomed to these changes and adapted. Your stamina is increased by 40% based on your original stats.]
[Note: Can be further evolved.]
[Evolution Path: Integrate "Beast Instinct (Blue)," "Gluttonous Maw (Blue)," "Spring of Earthly Vitality (Blue)," and "Chakra Nature Transformation Master (Blue)" to evolve into "Yang Release Active Body (Purple)."]
"A long-awaited evolution," Kiyoshi thought, rubbing his chin.
His main body was training, while his puppet clones were accumulating experience around the clock. Kiyoshi was indeed living an exhausting life; a normal person would have collapsed or suffered permanent internal injuries long ago.
It was only thanks to his powerful physique that he could hold on. Now, he was receiving his reward, triggering a new trait that could merge with his previous blue traits.
"Evolve," Kiyoshi said quietly.
In the next moment, amidst the numerous entries on the [Trait] panel, a new one appeared.
[Trait: Yang Release Active Body (Purple)]
[Requirement: Physical strength and stamina reach the minimum standard.]
[Progress: (Completed).]
[Effect: After thousand-fold tempering, your physical energy has grown robust. Your "Yang Release" talent is increased by 100% based on your original stats.
Your stamina can cycle endlessly, reaching a startling recovery speed, increased by 100% based on your original stats.
Your muscles can memorize a vast number of difficult movements and repair themselves through instinct to achieve optimal power delivery.
"The cicada senses the autumn wind before it blows." Even while unconscious, your muscles maintain a perception of danger and a vague premonition, instinctively counterattacking the moment you are targeted.]
[Note: Can be further evolved.]
The muscles beneath Kiyoshi's skin began to writhe, and every cell trembled. From the deepest parts of his being, power surged forth, filling every corner of his body. His muscles expanded rapidly, turning a deep, intense red as if gorged with blood.
From the outside, Kiyoshi's frame seemed to grow larger, his massive muscle groups resembling rolling mountain ranges. The terrifying erector spinae ran down his back like a coiled, menacing python.
After reaching the limit of expansion, his body began to shrink back to its original size. The process was like a forceful compression of the muscles; his body emitted deep, dull pops as it became more compact and solid.
Sweat seeped from his skin, only to be instantly evaporated by his high internal temperature. At this moment, Kiyoshi looked like a demon god radiating white steam.
"Has it reached a qualitative change?"
Kiyoshi felt as though his body had crossed a major threshold. The Lightning Style techniques he usually ran through his body now required a much stronger electrical arc to produce the same intensity of stimulation.
This meant his body... had become incredibly strong. The quantitative changes he had accumulated were finally showing signs of qualitative transformation.
The Third Raikage could train his body to the point of brawling with the Eight-Tails. Kiyoshi's ever-increasing talent limits had long since surpassed common men, allowing him to train his body to an even more terrifying degree.
All he lacked was the tempering of time. One day, even if the nine Tailed Beasts fired their [Tailed Beast Bombs] together, they wouldn't even be able to break Kiyoshi's skin.
After slowly adjusting, Kiyoshi casually threw a palm strike. The resulting air pressure caused the large trees in the courtyard to sway violently, sending leaves flying.
He then turned back to the [Trait] panel. He could test the specific strength on the battlefield later; for now, he wanted to examine the detailed effects.
"The last ability is quite good," Kiyoshi noted.
Everyone has reflexes that trigger without thinking, which are often faster than conscious action. If someone were to ambush him with genjutsu, would it trigger this effect? Kiyoshi pondered.
Shisui's [Kotoamatsukami] and Itachi's [Tsukuyomi] were incredibly powerful genjutsu. Could he react and dodge the moment they activated their abilities?
In the official history, Shisui and Itachi had planned to use [Kotoamatsukami] to ambush Fugaku and change his mind about the coup. Had Danzo not interfered, Fugaku's mind might have been rewritten without anyone ever knowing.
For a person, having their mind changed is no different from being killed. A command like "Protect the Leaf" sounds noble, but what if the command was "Be a slave"?
Such genjutsu weren't exclusive to Itachi and Shisui. Ninjutsu was just a crude imitation of "Shinjutsu." In the future, the Otsutsuki would wield Shinjutsu, and their genjutsu-type Shinjutsu would be several times stronger than ordinary techniques.
One had to be prepared. If this trait truly allowed him to react to genjutsu, his mental protection would be greatly enhanced.
"I'll find some time to have Kurenai test her genjutsu on me."
Kiyoshi closed the [Trait] panel, removed his clothes, and walked his robust body toward the bathroom.
***
A few days later.
Kiyoshi received an order to head to the Hokage Building. He had a feeling it was about the upcoming incident. The Hidden Mist Village being able to seal the Three-Tails into Rin meant that the previous Three-Tails Jinchuriki had also arrived on the battlefield.
Madara's base was near the border of the Land of Grass and the Land of Fire, which was why Obito could rush out and find Rin and Kakashi so quickly.
Sure enough, upon entering, he saw several high-ranking officials of the Hidden Leaf Village with grim expressions.