Obito explained everything in painstaking detail.
He emphasized Kiyohara's strength, saying he could already treat the Nine-Tails like a toy.
Even when Obito had used the Nine-Tails as a summoned beast, he had still failed.
"Why didn't you just leave with the Nine-Tails?"
Uchiha Madara interrupted Obito.
In Madara's eyes, Obito's continued attempt to take revenge on Konoha was simply foolish.
The task he had left Obito was to collect the nine tailed beasts.
Once the strongest one, the Nine-Tails, had been secured, the rest would only be a matter of time.
"Well…"
For a moment, Obito did not know how to explain.
Was he supposed to say that he had gotten emotional and acted on impulse?
"Hmph."
Madara cursed him as an idiot in his heart.
He had told Obito to capture a tailed beast, yet somehow there was always either wind or rain getting in the way.
"Continue."
Madara eventually allowed Obito to keep speaking.
So Obito continued explaining.
In a single night, Kiyohara had uprooted Root's bases, exposed all of their crimes to the public, and thoroughly purged Konoha's internal opposition.
Kumogakure had even signed a military-base agreement with Konoha. A significant portion of the Land of Lightning's mineral veins now essentially belonged to Konoha.
Kusagakure's "Box of Ultimate Bliss" had also been taken by Kiyohara, and the lord of Hozuki Castle had become one of his pawns.
"So Kiyohara can use Wood Release?"
After listening, Uchiha Madara realized this was the point he needed to pay the most attention to.
"That's right."
Obito nodded.
Obito also told Uchiha Madara that Kiyohara had dealt with people from the moon and had combined a gigantic Thousand-Armed Buddha with Susanoo.
"A Susanoo Buddha?"
Uchiha Madara raised his brow slightly.
That was quite creative.
When he had fought Hashirama back then, he had covered the Nine-Tails with Susanoo.
He had also considered Wood Release.
Unfortunately, he had only mastered that power in his old age, after fully integrating Hashirama's cells.
"Interesting."
Uchiha Madara began pacing, his red armor clattering softly.
"If Hashirama were still alive, he'd probably want to fight that kid."
He turned around, his Mangekyō Sharingan fixed on Obito.
"What about the people from the moon?"
"They escaped, but Kiyohara didn't pursue them."
"Why?"
"Because there's a weapon on the moon."
Obito said with clear apprehension.
"A white beam of light descended from the sky. A single strike severely injured Nagato. Its power far surpassed a Tailed Beast Bomb. Kiyohara took it head-on and only suffered minor injuries, then recovered within a few breaths.
"The reason Kiyohara didn't chase them was probably because he was wary of a second strike from that weapon."
A hint of surprise flashed through Uchiha Madara's eyes.
A strike far beyond a Tailed Beast Bomb, yet Kiyohara had only suffered minor injuries and recovered instantly.
At the same time, this was also the first time he had learned that the people on the moon were that powerful.
Back when he had summoned the Gedo Statue, he had sensed something strange.
If he used Reverse Summoning, a strong warning would tell him that the distance was extremely far.
For safety's sake, the elderly Madara at the time had not taken the risk of trying it.
"What are his Mangekyō abilities?"
Uchiha Madara asked.
Obito shook his head.
"One of them should be able to draw out fear. Another seems to be an eye technique that can affect space."
"I see."
Uchiha Madara withdrew his gaze and walked to the wall of the chamber, where an old map hung.
He reached out and traced his fingertip across the map, starting from Konoha and moving north along the Land of Fire's border.
"Kumogakure, Kusagakure, Hozuki Castle… Konoha's sphere of influence is already larger than it was in Hashirama's time."
He turned around and looked at Obito.
"You were right. Kiyohara is indeed worth taking seriously."
Or rather, when Madara had still been alive, he had already taken Kiyohara seriously.
He had tried to overestimate Kiyohara as much as possible, yet it seemed he had still underestimated him.
"If he possesses both the Sharingan and Wood Release, then he should already have mastered the power of all creation."
Uchiha Madara said.
What he feared was that Kiyohara had also transplanted Hashirama's cells. If that was the case, he might awaken the Rinnegan as well.
Uchiha Madara knew better than anyone how powerful the Rinnegan truly was.
That sense of danger actually stirred a fighting spirit in the dead Madara.
Although his body had been created by Impure World Reincarnation, his spirit still longed for a true battle.
"I thought this world would become utterly boring after my death. I didn't expect a junior like him to appear.
"After Hashirama died, I never met another opponent who could make me fight seriously. This Kiyohara… perhaps he can let me experience that feeling again."
"However, based on what you've said, in a one-on-one fight, I may not be certain of victory in my current state."
Uchiha Madara said.
He paced back and forth in the chamber a few times.
"Is the Gedo Statue still there?"
Uchiha Madara suddenly asked.
"It is."
Obito nodded.
"Then this is simple."
Uchiha Madara stopped and turned to look at Orochimaru.
"You. Reanimate Senju Hashirama as well."
Orochimaru's pupils shrank slightly.
"Senju Hashirama? Are you certain?"
"Of course I'm certain. Hashirama is the only opponent I ever acknowledged, and he is the strongest shinobi in this world. If he and I join forces, then…"
Uchiha Madara did not finish the sentence, but his meaning was already clear.
If the two men who had once stood at the peak of the ninja world joined hands, then no opponent would be beyond them.
"I'll find a way."
Orochimaru licked his lips.
"But I don't have many of Hashirama's cell samples on hand. I'll need more time and materials."
Ever since he defected from Konoha, his resources were no longer what they used to be.
Many experimental materials were difficult to obtain, and supply channels had to be rebuilt from scratch.
"We have time."
Uchiha Madara said indifferently. Then he turned to Obito.
"Bring me my gunbai and scythe."
Obito nodded.
His Mangekyō Sharingan spun, and his body was pulled into a spatial vortex.
A moment later, space twisted again, and he emerged from the vortex with a massive Uchiha gunbai and a scythe in his hands.
Uchiha Madara took the Uchiha gunbai, running his fingers over its surface.
He gripped the handle and casually swung it.
A fierce gust erupted, instantly blowing out the candles in the chamber. But after the wind passed, the flames reignited.
Uchiha Madara nodded in satisfaction. He fastened the scythe at his waist, carried the gunbai on his back, then turned and walked toward the chamber door.
His figure disappeared into the shadows.
Orochimaru stood where he was, a fine layer of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
He could feel it. When Uchiha Madara walked past him, the pressure was like a mountain pressing down on his shoulders.
Although Madara was currently in an Impure World Reincarnation body, and Orochimaru had set control formulas inside that body, Orochimaru knew very well in his heart.
Those formulas had no binding effect on Uchiha Madara at all.
"Heh… so this is Uchiha Madara?"
Orochimaru muttered, an unprecedented wariness flashing through his golden snake eyes.
"The Impure World Reincarnation Technique… really is an extremely dangerous technique that could turn against the caster at any moment."
He lowered his head and looked at his slightly trembling fingers.
Those hands, which always seemed to have everything under control, were trembling faintly.
A long-lost sense of powerlessness.
It was just like when he had first opened the scrolls filled with forbidden techniques in Konoha's forbidden library and saw formulas beyond his understanding.
He held them in his hands, yet could not control them at all.
Orochimaru took a deep breath and clenched his trembling fingers.
Interesting.
Too interesting.
This world truly was still full of unknowns.
And the unknown was exactly what he had spent his life pursuing.
A few days later, in Konoha.
Kiyohara waited at the entrance of the Ninja Academy.
Today, Uchiha Itachi and the others had applied for early graduation together.
There had been no suspense in the results. All of them had passed.
Uchiha Itachi held his new ninja forehead protector and tied it around his forehead. His black hair was pressed down beneath the protector, revealing his dark eyes.
Uchiha Izumi stood beside him, also holding a forehead protector.
She turned it around and tied it around her neck. The silver metal plate rested against the fair skin at the back of her neck, while her black hair fell down, hiding the edge of the protector.
"We finally graduated."
Uchiha Izumi took a deep breath.
Uchiha Itachi nodded slightly.
Uchiha Izumi stood on tiptoe and looked around the crowd. Soon, she found Kiyohara.
Beside him stood two girls.
They were Guren and Kurama Yakumo.
Kurama Yakumo stood next to Kiyohara, a gentle smile on her face.
"Kiyohara-sensei!"
Uchiha Izumi ran over and stopped in front of Kiyohara. She looked up and showed him the forehead protector around her neck.
"I graduated!"
"I saw."
Kiyohara reached out and rubbed her head.
"I called you all here because there's something I need to tell you."
Kiyohara withdrew his hand and looked over Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Itachi.
"There's no rush regarding the Chūnin Exams. With your current strength, passing the Chūnin Exams is only a matter of time. But what you need to truly become independent ninja isn't an exam. It's real combat."
"So I intend to take you on a mission."
Uchiha Izumi's eyes instantly filled with anticipation.
"Really? Where are we going?"
"The Land of Water."
Kiyohara said.
"There are some matters in Kirigakure that need to be handled. Taking you along will also count as training."
"The Land of Water? On the sea? I want to go!"
Guren raised her hand.
"I want to go too."
Kurama Yakumo said softly.
Kiyohara looked at them and nodded.
"Guren, Yakumo, you'll come along too. I couldn't take you on the last mission, so I'll make up for it this time."
Guren was so excited she nearly jumped.
Kurama Yakumo did not show it as openly, but the corners of her lips also curved upward.
"However."
Kiyohara's tone changed, and his gaze became serious.
"A ninja cannot have only one teacher. Every ninja has a jōnin leader.
"The jōnin leader is responsible for your daily training and guiding you during missions, helping you complete them. I've tested you before. Now it's time to assign you your jōnin leaders."
Kiyohara said.
The ninja world did not have only one kind of teacher. Just like Naruto had Kakashi as his jōnin leader, but also had Jiraiya as his teacher.
The children all quieted down at once.
Kiyohara raised his hand and clapped lightly.
A figure slowly walked out from the woods.
Her features were delicate. Her black hair was tied into a high ponytail, revealing cold, pretty brows and eyes.
Uchiha Hikaru.
"Her name is Uchiha Hikaru. She is an elite ninja of the Uchiha clan. Starting today, she will be your jōnin leader."
The children all turned their gazes toward Uchiha Hikaru.
Uchiha Hikaru stopped in front of them, holding a skewer of dango she had gotten from somewhere.
She took a bite, chewed, swallowed, and only then slowly spoke.
"I'll teach you how to survive in real combat."
Uchiha Hikaru said.
After this period of adjustment, she had also learned how to survive in the ninja world a hundred years later.
But no matter how times changed, the duty of a ninja was still to kill.
So Uchiha Hikaru could still be active in the ninja world.
Uchiha Izumi blinked, a strange feeling rising in her heart.
She was also from the Uchiha clan, but she had never seen this woman in the clan before.
Uchiha Hikaru's aura was completely different from other Uchiha.
Other Uchiha more or less carried arrogance and sharpness, but Uchiha Hikaru had none of that.
"Are you from the Uchiha clan?"
Uchiha Izumi asked curiously.
Uchiha Hikaru glanced at her. There was no fluctuation in those black eyes.
"Something like that."
After saying that, she took another bite of dango.
Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Itachi looked at each other and did not ask further.
Kiyohara beckoned to Guren and Kurama Yakumo.
"Guren, Yakumo, your jōnin leader is Kurenai Yūhi."
Guren followed his gaze and saw the red-haired woman standing not far away.
Kurenai Yūhi wore a dark red ninja outfit, her slightly curled long hair falling over her shoulders.
She walked to Guren and Kurama Yakumo, bent down, and gave them a gentle smile.
"I'll be in your care from now on, Guren, Yakumo."
Guren warily looked Kurenai over several times, then gave a soft huff, accepting it.
Kurama Yakumo bowed seriously.
"Please take care of me, Teacher Kurenai."
Kiyohara watched as the children each found their jōnin leaders.
Shion was not here this time. She was in the shrine maiden village in the Land of Demons.
Kiyohara intended to let her become an independent shrine maiden of the Land of Demons and inherit Miroku's mantle.
Furthermore, the sealing arts of the Land of Demons and the shrine maiden inheritance were unique cultivation resources for Shion. Staying in Konoha would instead limit her growth.
After some time, he would take her to Ryūchi Cave to train.
Senjutsu chakra had a natural amplification effect on the sealing arts of the Land of Demons. If she could master it, Shion's strength would undergo a qualitative leap.
The next day.
Uchiha Itachi stood at the main gate. His ninja pouch was packed full of shuriken and kunai, and his forehead protector was tied around his forehead.
In front of him stood a tiny figure.
Uchiha Sasuke looked up, his dark eyes fixed on his older brother, his small face full of reluctance.
He could already speak, though his pronunciation was still not very clear. But it was enough for him to express himself.
"Brother, when are you coming back?"
Sasuke's voice was soft.
Uchiha Itachi bent down and reached out, placing his hand on Sasuke's head.
"I'll be back soon."
"You're lying. Mom said you're going somewhere very, very far away."
"Mom is right, but I'll come back as soon as I can."
Sasuke lowered his head, his little mouth pouting.
Uchiha Itachi looked at him and stretched out a finger, lightly poking Sasuke's forehead.
"When I come back, I'll teach you shurikenjutsu."
Sasuke's eyes immediately lit up.
"Really?"
"Really."
The corners of Uchiha Itachi's lips curved slightly.
Sasuke waved his tiny hand and said goodbye to Uchiha Itachi.
Uchiha Itachi straightened, gave Sasuke one last look, then turned and walked toward the airship.
Behind him, Sasuke's little hand kept waving until the door closed and that figure completely vanished from sight.
Soon, Uchiha Itachi arrived at Konoha's gate.
When he got there, he found that everyone else had already arrived, so he quickly went over.
An airship was parked at Konoha's gate.
After Kiyohara saw Uchiha Itachi board, he had Kakuyoku Fubuki begin piloting the airship into the sky.
Rumble.
Uchiha Izumi pressed herself against the porthole, watching Konoha grow smaller below, and let out an amazed sound.
Even though this was not her first time riding one, she still found it magical.
"So high!"
Guren squeezed in beside her and also pressed herself against the porthole to look down.
Kurama Yakumo sat behind them. Although she was not as excited as the two of them, she could not help turning her head to look at the clouds outside.
The airship passed over the Land of Fire. Beneath them were endless forests and mountains.
The sun rose and the moon set. After several days, the scenery outside the porthole began to change.
The forests gradually thinned, replaced by glittering lakes and rivers.
A faint salty scent drifted through the air. It was the smell of seawater.
"Look, the sea!"
Kurama Yakumo pointed outside the window, her eyes full of wonder.
Because of her previous health, she had never traveled far. Even after her body improved, that had not changed.
She had only ever seen something like the ocean in books.
The surface of the sea glowed gold and crimson under the setting sun. Waves surged toward the shore layer by layer, crashing into white foam against the reefs.
The airship crossed the coastline and flew deeper over the sea.
Night fell, and the airship descended onto the surface of the water.
Kakuyoku Fubuki shut down the propulsion devices. The bottom of the airship touched the sea, floating steadily like a boat.
"We'll rest here tonight."
Kiyohara stood up and pushed open the hatch.
The sea breeze blew in, carrying a salty scent.
"Everyone get down. We'll set up camp near the Land of Water's coastline. There may be patrol ninja from the Land of Water nearby, so stay alert."
Kiyohara began assigning tasks.
Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Izumi were responsible for setting traps around the campsite. Guren and Kurama Yakumo helped pitch the tents.
Uchiha Hikaru and Kurenai Yūhi patrolled the perimeter.
Mei Terumī stood beside Kiyohara, gazing at the coastline.
The waves gently slapped against the beach, making soft splashing sounds.
She did not understand why Kiyohara had brought this group of genin along.
"Mei Terumī."
Kiyohara suddenly spoke.
Mei Terumī turned her head.
"Help me gather information about Ice Release ninja."
Mei Terumī frowned slightly.
"Ice Release? You mean the Yuki clan? They were massacred during the Land of Water's internal turmoil. There hasn't been any news of them for many years."
"What about surviving clan members?"
Mei Terumī was silent for a moment before speaking.
"There was indeed a tragedy recently. In a village near the snowy mountains, a woman hid her kekkei genkai, married, and had a child. But the child was born with the ability to use Ice Release."
"The villagers killed the woman. When they were about to kill the child, the child awakened Ice Release in terror and killed everyone present. After that, the child disappeared. No one knows where he went."
After hearing this, Kiyohara turned his head and looked at her.
"Why didn't Kirigakure do anything?"
A trace of bitterness flashed across Mei Terumī's face.
"Right now, Kirigakure doesn't care about kekkei genkai outside the village. The orders from the Elder's side are that all resources are to be transported outward first. As for those orphans outside the village, no one has time to care about them."
Kiyohara was silent for a moment.
He had already guessed the child's identity.
Haku.
A descendant of the Yuki clan, a boy with the Ice Release kekkei genkai.
In the original timeline, he was taken in by Zabuza and became Zabuza's most loyal tool.
After Zabuza died, Haku also lost his reason to live.
But at this point in time, Haku was likely still wandering through the streets and alleys of the Land of Water.
"Find that child first. Then we'll go to Kirigakure."
Kiyohara said.
Mei Terumī froze.
"Find that child? The Land of Water is so large, and so much time has passed. How could we possibly find him?"
"As long as we have the general direction, it's enough."
Mei Terumī frowned and thought for a moment, then told him the approximate location of that snowy mountain village.
"It should be in the northern mountain region of the Land of Water, near the snow peaks. That village was very small and isn't even marked on maps. I can only give you a rough direction."
"That's enough."
Kiyohara reached out and wrapped an arm around Mei Terumī's waist.
Mei Terumī's body stiffened violently, and she instinctively tried to break free.
"What are you doing?!"
"I'm taking you flying. We'll search from the sky. You just point the way."
Mei Terumī bit her lower lip, embarrassment and irritation flashing in her reddish-brown eyes.
But since she was the one asking Kiyohara for help, she eventually gave up struggling and stood stiffly beside him.
A current of air rose beneath Kiyohara's feet. Their figures lifted off the ground and flew into the sky, shooting toward the northern part of the Land of Water.
Moonlight spilled across the sea, making the waves glitter. Mei Terumī was held by the waist, her body stiff as a board.
"Relax. You won't fall."
Kiyohara's voice came from above her.
Mei Terumī said nothing, only biting her red lips.
Kiyohara's sensory ability spread from his body like an invisible net, covering an area hundreds of kilometers wide.
They flew over the strait, over plains, over continuous snowy mountains.
After a while, a faint chakra fluctuation finally appeared within Kiyohara's perception.
The fluctuation was weak, but very distinct.
Kiyohara followed that chakra fluctuation and landed on the outskirts of a small town covered in heavy snow.
The streets of the town were blanketed in thick snow, and long icicles hung from the eaves.
Moonlight shone on the snow, reflecting a silvery-white glow.
"Haku, huh."
Kiyohara thought for a moment, then flew back with Mei Terumī.
He intended to train Uchiha Izumi and the others.
"Why aren't we going over?"
"Tomorrow."
Kiyohara shook his head.
He had sensed that Haku was not in any life-threatening danger.
Kiyohara was not in a hurry right now. Instead, he could continue adapting to the Eight-Tails' chakra.
After the Eight-Tails' chakra, Kiyohara would try adapting to the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Once that happened, he would have adapted to half of the tailed beasts' chakra.