As long as he could successfully get through these five days, he should be able to step into a brand-new future.
"Hmph, Asuma, I told you so—Kiyohara was going to win."
Kurenai turned her head and spoke to Asuma behind her.
Asuma's expression immediately became rather awkward.
Those Uchiha had talked themselves up to the skies, each one boasting endlessly.
And yet they still lost to Kiyohara?
Losing was one thing—but they had even made him lose face in front of his goddess!
He felt like he was about to sink into depression.
"Bloodline limits really are amazing things."
Genma spoke up. Today, he wasn't holding a senbon in his mouth—rarely giving his lips a day off.
"Before Kiyohara revealed his kekkei genkai, you didn't think he was all that impressive either," Kurenai said.
Genma choked on his words.
Thinking about it carefully, he really couldn't find a good way to refute that.
Kiyohara had already been outstanding before, and now with Magnet Release, it was simply strength stacked on top of strength.
While the group chatted, Shizune stood farther back, holding Tonton, who was making soft snorting sounds. The surprise in her eyes was impossible to hide.
Not only was his speed incredible, but his grasp of the battlefield and his ability to adapt were also exceptional. No wonder Lady Tsunade thought so highly of him.
Shizune silently raised her evaluation of Kiyohara by several more notches.
Seeing that the sparring had ended, Shizune quietly turned around, cradling Tonton as her figure melted into the night, heading toward Tsunade's tent.
When she returned, a strong scent of alcohol immediately washed over her.
Tsunade was sitting casually by a low table, her cheeks flushed with an alluring rosy hue, her eyes slightly unfocused—clearly having drunk quite a bit already.
Several empty liquor bottles were placed in front of her, and she still held a cup of strong alcohol that she hadn't finished.
"Oh, Shizune, you're back?"
Tsunade lazily lifted her eyelids.
"So, how was it? That brat didn't get beaten too badly, did he? The Uchiha's Sharingan isn't that easy to deal with."
In truth, Tsunade hadn't thought Kiyohara's chances of winning were very high.
Shizune walked over and gently set Tonton down.
"Lady Tsunade, you guessed right. It was Kiyohara who—won."
"He won?"
Tsunade's hand holding the cup paused slightly.
"You're saying he beat that Uchiha Shisui?"
Confusion rose in Tsunade's heart.
She had deliberately guessed against Kiyohara—yet he really won?
"Yes."
Shizune nodded firmly, then briefly explained the course of the battle, as well as how Shisui had voluntarily admitted being slightly inferior.
After listening, Tsunade froze for a moment, then tilted her head back and drained the remaining liquor in her cup in one go. Letting out a breath scented with alcohol, she said, "Tch—who would've thought that brat actually had some real ability. I just said it casually, and he actually won?"
She smacked her lips, her face showing a helpless expression.
"If only this kind of luck could be shared halfway at the gambling table…"
"..."
Hearing Tsunade's muttering, Shizune didn't know how to respond.
Tsunade's debts were already piled sky-high. Shizune truly couldn't understand why Tsunade still wanted to gamble—and even believed she could pay off her debts through gambling, claiming she would quit once they were cleared.
"Lady Tsunade, please really gamble less," Shizune could only advise her once again.
"I know, I know."
Tsunade waved her hand dismissively.
She rubbed her still slightly throbbing brow, her tone growing irritated. "Sunagakure's offensive has intensified again recently. The poisons they're using are extremely troublesome—quite a few shinobi have already been affected.
Further analysis and improvement of the antidotes require more precise instruments. We'll need to return to the village, or go to a laboratory set up farther to the rear, to complete that."
She pondered, her fingers tapping lightly against the tabletop.
Traveling to the laboratory would require an escort. Given her current identity and condition, moving alone carried the risk of encountering enemies.
The probability was low—Land of Fire territory was relatively safe right now—but if something did happen, it would be bad. Having guards was simply an added layer of insurance.
Moreover, it would be best if there were only one or two guards. Too many would attract unnecessary attention.
Watching Tsunade frown in thought, Shizune offered a timely suggestion. "Lady Tsunade, if you need escorts, Kakashi and Kiyohara might be good choices. Kakashi is the White Fang's son, and Kiyohara's Body Flicker is extremely fast. His reactions are sharp as well—he performed outstandingly in the battle just now."
"That Kiyohara brat? Him?"
Tsunade instinctively wanted to refute it. Just a chūnin kid—how useful could he be?
But the words stopped at her lips.
Chūnin was just a rank, after all.
Someone who could fight back and forth with a genius of the Uchiha clan, even forcing the opponent to activate the Sharingan and still making him admit being slightly inferior—how could such strength belong to an ordinary chūnin?
At the very least, he had jōnin-level strength.
Leaning back against her chair, Tsunade's ample chest rose and fell slightly with her breathing as she rapidly filtered through the available candidates in the camp.
Someone good at defense?
Someone good at tracking?
But when it came to instantaneous movement speed and on-the-spot adaptability, there really weren't many in this camp more suitable than Kiyohara.
This kid—
His growth rate truly was astonishing.
Tsunade had to admit it inwardly.
Perhaps bringing him along really would save a lot of trouble.
If she added one or two more shinobi, the security would be even more assured.
"Hmmm—I understand."
Tsunade didn't make an immediate decision, only waving her hand.
"Let me think it over a bit more. You should go rest first."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
Shizune responded and withdrew from the tent.
At the same time, on the other side of the camp—
Inside a brightly lit tent, the sharp-eyed Uchiha Yakumi was bent over a desk, writing.
He was a senior Uchiha shinobi and also a trusted aide of Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku, responsible for handling certain external affairs and compiling intelligence for the clan.
At that moment, the tent flap was lifted, and Uchiha Tekka walked in with a hint of unease.
He had only just returned with Shisui when he was informed that Yakumi wanted to see him, making his heart pound nervously.
After all, their spar with Kiyohara had ended in defeat.
"Lord Yakumi, you were looking for me?" Tekka asked respectfully.
Uchiha Yakumi didn't lift his head, the tip of his brush still scratching across the paper as he spoke calmly. "I heard that you and Shisui went to spar with that shinobi named Kiyohara earlier?"
"Yes."
Tekka's heart tightened. He honestly recounted everything that had happened, including Shisui's voluntary admission of inferiority, his own handing over of the custom-made shuriken, and Kiyohara's final words.
After hearing Tekka's account, Uchiha Yakumi finally stopped writing and looked up at him. "Being able to uphold the honor of the Uchiha and keep your word—this is good."
He first gave a word of affirmation, but then his tone shifted, carrying a subtle pressure.
"However, losing—doesn't that also tarnish the reputation of our Uchiha clan?"
A wave of invisible pressure seemed to descend upon Uchiha Tekka. A faint sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead.
He opened his mouth, wanting to argue that Shisui hadn't gone all out, but in the end, he still lowered his head. "Y—yes… I failed to consider things thoroughly."
Seeing Tekka's nervous state, the stern look on Uchiha Yakumi's face softened slightly, his tone becoming more meaningful. "That said, this Kiyohara—despite being a non-Uchiha and yet possessing such strength at this age, he truly is a rare genius worth befriending."
He picked up the letter he had just finished writing and gently blew on the still-wet ink. "In the future, you should have more contact with him. Spar, exchange ideas, and improve together. Don't be stingy with money or some shinobi tools. Maintaining a good relationship will bring no harm—to the clan, or to you personally."
"Yes, Lord Yakumi."
Uchiha Tekka hurriedly responded, though inwardly he couldn't help but complain:
Don't be stingy with money, easy for you to say. That's all my money!
Naturally, he didn't dare let any of that show on his face.
"Mhm, you may go," Uchiha Yakumi waved his hand.
After Tekka left, the tent returned to silence.
Yakumi carefully sealed the letter, his gaze passing through a gap in the tent as he looked out into the heavy night, murmuring softly, "The Third Hokage… is already old. Once this war ends, Konoha's upper ranks will inevitably face a new reshuffle. The position of Hokage may not be something we can't contend for."
His eyes carried the unique pride and ambition of the Uchiha clan. "If we want Lord Fugaku to take another step forward, relying solely on Uchiha strength won't be enough. We need to draw in more supporters within the village—those with potential and influence.
This talented boy with the Magnet Release bloodline limit is undoubtedly a target worth investing in and winning over. Perhaps he seems insignificant now, but who can say what the future holds?"
The next day, as the morning mist had yet to fully dissipate, in a quiet open area at the edge of the camp, Kiyohara was already engaged in his morning training.
There were four days left until the arrival of the "Last Will" of his another future self.
He wasn't practicing high-intensity taijutsu or ninjutsu clashes. Instead, he sat cross-legged on a flat rock, holding an old, slightly worn scroll in his hands.
Unrolled on the scroll were detailed explanations of fine chakra control, as well as the C-rank medical ninjutsu "Regeneration Technique."
At that moment, the sound of light footsteps approached from afar.
"Kiyohara?"
A gentle female voice rang out.
Kiyohara raised his head and saw a short-haired girl with black hair standing not far away, a perfectly measured smile on her face.
"Shizune, good morning."
Kiyohara put away the scroll and stood up.
He noticed that Shizune seemed to have come with a purpose.
"Good morning, Kiyohara."
Shizune stepped closer, her gaze unintentionally sweeping over the scroll he had been studying.
Studying this early in the morning?
Not only talented, but also diligent—
Shizune then explained her reason for coming.
"Here's the situation. Lady Tsunade needs to go to a laboratory in the rear to handle some research related to Sunagakure's poisons. The journey requires three escorts. Lady Tsunade believes your Body Flicker and adaptability are quite good, so she wanted to ask whether you'd be willing to take on this mission."
Kiyohara thought for a brief moment, then nodded. "No problem. It would be my honor to serve Lady Tsunade."
He also wanted to use this opportunity to improve his relationship with Tsunade. Even if he could gain some insight into medical ninjutsu just from her words, it would be worthwhile.
Seeing how readily Kiyohara agreed, Shizune's gaze once again fell on the medical scroll, and she couldn't help asking, "How is your study going? This section places extremely high demands on chakra control. Many shinobi who specialize in combat find it very difficult to even get started."
(End of Chapter)