"Let me try it."
The Swordsman Spirit looked at the blade like an addict seeing a fresh fix.
Kiyohara relaxed his mental guard.
'Be my guest.'
A cool, fluid sensation washed over his right arm. The Spirit took the wheel.
The hand grasped the hilt. It wasn't a clumsy grab; it was a handshake with an old friend.
Swish.
The blade cut the air. The sound was a whisper, not a howl.
"Chakra," the Spirit commanded.
Kiyohara pushed a pulse of energy into the hilt.
BUZZ~!
The blue ripple patterns on the steel lit up. The chakra flowed without resistance, coating the edge in a hum of power. Unlike standard steel that resisted the flow, this metal welcomed it.
"Good sword," the Spirit sighed with longing. "If I had this back then..."
"Why didn't you?" Kiyohara asked internally. "You were a Sword Master. You couldn't afford a decent blade?"
"I believed strength shouldn't rely on external objects," the Spirit said haughtily. "A true master can kill with a twig."
"..."
Kiyohara rolled his eyes.
'Arrogant,' he thought. 'Even Madara used a Scythe and a Fan. Sasuke used a Kusanagi. Fighting with a twig just means you die faster.'
"Also," the Spirit added quietly, "I spent all my money on secret sword scrolls. Nine out of ten were fake. I got scammed a lot."
Kiyohara face-palmed.
'So my future self is a gullible martial arts nerd.'
As the Spirit withdrew, a ball of light separated from him and merged into Kiyohara's chest.
Warmth.
It flooded his meridians like a hot spring. His fatigue vanished. His muscles felt denser, more elastic.
Kiyohara realized the implication immediately.
'This fixes my Medical Ninjutsu problem.'
He now had the Yin (Mental) from the Rogue Ninja and the Yang (Physical) from the Swordsman. He was now a perfect candidate for Rin's training.
Next came the Knowledge.
It wasn't the S-Rank Willow technique yet. It was the foundation.
Grip pressure. Footwork. Distance management. The kinetic chain.
Twenty years of muscle memory downloaded in an instant.
Kiyohara gripped the sword.
Ram. Snake. Tiger.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Flow!"
CRACKLE!
Blue arcs danced along the blade.
He swung.
Diagonal slash. Thrust. Upward cut.
It wasn't perfect, but it was solid. The power didn't come from his shoulder; it came from the floor, traveling up his legs, through his hips, and snapping at the wrist.
Waist and Horse as One.
"Excellent," the Shop Owner exclaimed, genuine surprise in his eyes. "That form... you've trained for years."
Kiyohara sheathed the blade.
"Just basics," he smiled, paying the remaining balance.
A few days later.
Back at the Logistics Base.
A new mission directive came down: Reconnaissance.
Sector: The foggy borderlands.
Objective: Locate Hidden Mist infiltration routes.
Kiyohara's heart stirred.
'Mist territory. This is Ao's hunting ground.'
This was the opportunity to fulfill the Second Dying Wish (Revenge) and unlock the full Swordsmanship inheritance.
The team assembled.
Kakashi, Rin, Genma, and Kiyohara.
But this time, two specialists were added.
"These are reinforcements from the Hyūga Clan," Kakashi introduced them.
* Hyūga Nobuhiko: Male, 20s. Stern face.
* Hyūga Ginka: Female, late teens. Nervous.
Kiyohara looked at their foreheads. Neither wore a headband to cover a seal.
Kiyohara's internal alarm bells started ringing.
The Caged Bird Seal protects the Byakugan. If a Branch member dies, the eye is sealed.
But Main Family members? Their eyes remain active after death. They are walking loot boxes for the enemy.
'Why send Main Family members to the front lines?' Kiyohara wondered. 'Unless the situation is desperate... or they are arrogant.'
He looked at the foggy horizon.
Somewhere out there, Ao was waiting.
And now, Kiyohara knew exactly what Ao was hunting for.
'He's not just going to kill them,' Kiyohara realized. 'He's going to steal an eye.'
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