A title was not given lightly; it was earned through an extraordinary specialty that left a profound impression on enemy nations, often summarized as a shorthand for tactical targeting.
The word "Flash" alone told the world that his speed was paramount. After all, Kiyoshi was the only shinobi besides the "Yellow Flash" who could wield the [Flying Thunder God Technique].
"Duy, take Guy and the others and leave first," Kiyoshi said plainly.
He didn't mind offering Might Duy a favor. Given the personalities of this father and son, should he ever ask for guidance on taijutsu—even the training methods for the [Eight Inner Gates Formation]—they would likely not refuse him.
"Guy, are you guys okay?"
Only now did Kakashi catch up from behind.
"Kakashi, you came too," Might Guy said, looking at his rival with concern. Rin Nohara was still in the rear; Guy knew Kakashi would never retreat while she was in danger.
"No, I will stay here," Might Duy declined Kiyoshi's suggestion.
Kiyoshi, Guy, and the others were at the age where their "Flames of Youth" burned most brilliantly. His own youth had burned long enough; it was time for the leaves to fall. Before he withered into autumn leaves, he wanted to burn his life one last time.
"As soon as you arrived, you chose to let us leave while staying behind to face the Seven Ninja Swordsmen alone. Such 'Will of Fire' is truly moving," Duy said, flashing a thumbs-up.
Kiyoshi came from the Land of Lightning, but he hadn't been tainted by the bandit-like nature of those ninjas. That black lightning was like a dark "Will of Fire"—restrained and deep, yet ready to stand forth in the critical moment.
"Fine. Then the rest of you go deal with the Jinchuriki and save Rin," Kiyoshi commanded.
Madara Uchiha could infiltrate and influence the Mist, but he couldn't control every single faction. Why was the Three-Tails being implanted into Rin instead of the Six-Tails? According to the master plan, using the Six-Tails to destroy Hidden Leaf would be more effective. The answer was simple: the current Jinchuriki's control over the Three-Tails was pathetic.
Duy, Kakashi, and the others nodded solemnly.
"Hey, kid, you're treating us like we don't exist," Ameyuri Ringo said, raising her dual blades. She had a deal with Kiyoshi and usually faked their fights, but this was too arrogant. He was casually coordinating with his allies right in front of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
"You should all just stay right here."
The electrical arcs on Kiyoshi's body took on a pale green tint. The luminous flow wrapped around him, forming a [Senjutsu Shroud].
Sage Mode!
With a flick of his hand, the translucent green spirit snakes formed from [Sage Chakra] expanded, encircling the immediate area.
*POOF!*
Kiyoshi used a [Summoning Jutsu] to bring the White Snake from his sleeve to the ground. He did this specifically because if a summoned beast takes too much damage, the contract breaks and they return home—ensuring the snake's life was protected.
*Rumble!*
The White Snake's massive form instantly crushed and snapped the surrounding trees.
In the next moment, Kakashi charged toward Rin. The others followed suit. Whenever the Swordsmen tried to intercept, Kiyoshi's spirit snakes lashed out with blinding speed, creating an opening for Kakashi's team.
"Die!" Jinin Akebino roared. He swung the [Blunt Sword: Kabutowari]... no, it was Jinpachi Munashi who struck first with the [Blastsword: Shibuki].
The blade, shaped like a giant scroll and covered in specialized [Explosive Tags], acted like an automatic detonator. Every swing created an explosion in the direction of the enemy.
*BOOM!*
Kiyoshi tilted his head, the roar of the explosion ringing in his ears.
"He dodged such a wide-range blast? Blastsword Technique: Exploding Death Roll!"
Jinpachi's single eye locked onto Kiyoshi, unraveling the scroll on the blade to trigger a chain reaction of explosions.
*BOOM BOOM BOOM!*
The concussive force was relentless. Yet, every time a blast was about to hit, Kiyoshi's heightened perception sensed the shifting air currents. His [Yang Release Active Body (Purple)] gave his skin a subtle tingling sensation, instinctively guiding him away from danger.
Amidst the continuous roar of fire, Kiyoshi moved with fluid, lethal grace.
"Attack now! He can't maintain this state for more than a few minutes!" Juzo Biwa shouted. He had seen Kiyoshi drop out of this mode before; he knew it was his window of weakness.
The fierce battle erupted. Kiyoshi vs. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen! Only Ameyuri Ringo held back, summoning a few token lightning bolts to maintain appearances.
***
"Is Kiyoshi fighting them all alone?"
Rin Nohara, paralyzed by the seal, looked up at the figure suspended in the air, clashing with the legendary swordsmen using [Senjutsu]. She saw Kakashi racing toward her.
"Damn it, why is Kiyoshi Uchiha everywhere?" Mei Terumi gritted her teeth. She was beginning to develop a psychological shadow regarding him. No matter what she did, as soon as she made progress, he would strike her down from the clouds. This man was her natural enemy.
As Mei focused intensely on Kiyoshi, Rin could see cold sweat beading on the back of Mei's neck.
'Is she... afraid of him?' Rin watched Kiyoshi fight one-against-seven and decided that fearing him was probably the only rational reaction.
"Rin!" Kakashi screamed, electricity gathering in his palm with a high-pitched *chirp!* With the Sharingan, the fatal flaw of the [Chidori]'s speed was gone. He tore through the Mist Anbu like a lance of lightning, blood and limbs flying into the air.
If Rin died, how could he face Obito in the Pure Land? Would he have to tell him he used his gift to witness her death in high quality?
"Stop them!" the Three-Tails Jinchuriki commanded, his face pale and covered in sealing formulas. The first step was extracting the beast from himself and forcing it into Rin.
"Now is the time for youth to burn!" Might Guy erupted with a green aura, mirroring the blue aura starting to emanate from his father. This wasn't chakra, but sweat being evaporated by intense body heat.
"Hidden Lotus!" Guy's speed spiked, pummeling a Mist Anbu before slamming them into the earth.
"Daytime Tiger!" Might Duy formed a unique hand seal, compressing air and releasing it in the shape of a white tiger-shaped shockwave, blowing Mist ninjas through the trees.
***
"White guy, how is Rin? And Kakashi?"
"It's looking quite bad. Kakashi and Guy are fighting a horde of masked ninjas, but the fiercest fight is that Kiyoshi Uchiha. His aura... it feels familiar to me."
Tobi's voice was uncharacteristically confused. Zetsu were artificial constructs of the Gedo Statue and Hashirama's cells. They could share emotions like a radio. For some reason, Kiyoshi Uchiha felt "familiar" and "friendly" to them. But he was supposed to be human.
"White guy?" Obito pressed when Tobi went silent.
"Just hurry. Your friends are surrounded. If you don't get there, they'll all be dead. Head South."
Obito sprinted through the forest, pushing his limits. "Where is Minato-sensei?"
"On another mission," Tobi replied.
"At a time like this... again!" Obito gritted his teeth. At Kannabi Bridge, Minato wasn't there. Now, he was missing again. Where exactly was the "fastest man in the world" when people needed him?
"Rin!"
***
"This is too slow."
Kiyoshi glanced toward Rin. As a whistling sound approached, he kicked Kushimaru Kuriarare in the face, shattering his mask.
He dodged Juzo's blade, spat a fireball to force Jinin Akebino to use his hammer, and parried a kunai from Fuguki with Samehada—slicing a chunk of meat from the man's arm in the process.
"Don't let Rin be implanted with the charm," Kiyoshi noted. If the Forbidden Individual Curse Tag was placed in her heart, her life would belong to Madara. Kiyoshi couldn't revive people yet—unless he forced Ryuzetsu to use [Reanimation Regeneration], which was a life-for-a-life trade.
"I'm going to start accelerating now. I hope you can keep up."
The dazzling arcs of lightning flowing over Kiyoshi began to merge, taking on a physical, solid Shape.