Uchiha Madara slowly closed his eyes, withdrawing his gaze as he continued to receive intel from White Zetsu.
In his old age, he had to remain connected to the Gedo Statue at all times just to stay alive.
Meanwhile, the battlefield was heating up.
In a relatively safe corner, Rin Nohara stood ready to provide support at any moment.
The two Hyuga were locked in close combat with advancing Mist shinobi.
Shiranui Genma relentlessly launched senbon, each one amplified by ninjutsu for wide-range impact, but his ninja tool supply was visibly dwindling.
Yūhi Kurenai, having barely subdued one enemy for Rin to finish off, had exhausted over half her chakra.
There were no less than ten enemy Mist shinobi—and the most intense battle was undoubtedly between Kiyohara and Ao.
From a distance, Terumi Mei watched the duel, her emerald eyes locked on Kiyohara.
"Impossible… He's just a Chūnin. How can he possibly match Ao's swordsmanship?!"
She had initially thought he was just a good-looking Konoha ninja with some tricks up his sleeve, but now, she realized—he was a genius.
His earlier trap—those nearly invisible copper wires—hadn't been luck.
Elsewhere, Hyuga Ginka and Hyuga Nobuhiko fought against the remaining Mist forces.
But without access to their Byakugan, they were like eagles with blindfolds.
They relied on muscle memory to execute basic Gentle Fist forms.
Ginka's twin palms created a fluttering barrier of strikes, forming a reliable defense—even if far from optimal.
Meanwhile, Ao's expression darkened.
He'd noticed Kakashi had disappeared.
'If Kakashi finds and eliminates Aimaru, the Red Eye's disruption will vanish—and then the Hyuga will regain their Byakugan.'
'If that happens… I'll be surrounded by three elite fighters. It's only a matter of time before I lose.'
Making a decision, Ao pulled out a black pill—a forbidden soldier pill—and swallowed it whole.
Immediately, a surge of violent chakra exploded from his body. His skin flushed an unnatural red, veins bulging.
"Out of my way!"
He roared, slamming his chakra-laden foot into Nobuhiko's chest.
CRACK!
The sound of bones breaking rang out as Nobuhiko was sent flying, landing hard.
"Nobuhiko!" Ginka cried out in alarm.
Ao followed up with lightning-fast hand seals—
"Water Style: Wild Water Wave!"
A powerful surge of water crashed toward Ginka like a tidal wave.
She dodged, but the edge of the wave clipped her. Her white ninja uniform soaked through, leaving her disoriented and vulnerable.
'Now!'
Seeing the momentary opening, Future Kiyohara struck!
With a lunge, he controlled the right arm, slashing through the mist with his blade, aiming for Ao's unguarded side.
Ao turned to block—but too late.
Slice!
The blade cut through his side, blood bursting from a deep gash on his waist.
"Grrr—!"
Ao stumbled back, panting, eyes darting between Kiyohara, Mei, and the injured Ginka.
He made a snap decision.
'The mission has failed.'
Kiyohara was too unpredictable, too strong.
If he hadn't been part of this equation, the plan would've succeeded.
They could've disabled the Hyuga and wiped the rest.
But reality doesn't care about hypotheticals.
Now the priority was clear—preserve Mist's future.
"Mei! Take Aimaru and retreat! The rest of you—cover their escape!"
Ao's growl was quiet, but final.
Terumi Mei bit her lip so hard she nearly drew blood.
But she understood—this was the right choice.
She looked at Kiyohara one last time, burning his face into memory.
"…We're leaving."
She turned and dashed toward where Aimaru was hidden.
The Mist shinobi, though clearly frustrated, obeyed.
Orders are absolute.
Ginka lifted her head just in time to see Kiyohara drawing Ao deeper into the forest.
'He…'
He was trying to protect the rest of them by pulling the strongest enemy away.
Rin also saw it.
"Kiyohara!"
She panicked, heart pounding.
Not again… Not like Obito…
Deep in the forest, in a wide stream-clearing where the roar of water masked battle sounds—
Ao skidded back, putting space between them.
His one visible eye gleamed with predatory confidence.
"You're strong, brat. Forced me to use forbidden pills… but this ends here. This is a riverbank. My domain."
The surrounding mist thickened, responding to his chakra.
Kiyohara stood firm, blade in hand, chest heaving from fatigue.
The body's near its limit.
But instead of fear, a smile tugged at his lips.
"No… you're wrong."
"This… is my domain."
He had never dared use this move before—not with others watching.
The origin of Leaf-Style Swordsmanship: Willow was too hard to explain.
But now—there were no allies to worry about.
No need to hide.
"Arrogant brat!"
Ao surged forward, condensing chakra into a spinning blade of high-pressure water:
Water Style: Water Fang Blade!
It roared in his hand like a sawblade made of water.
"Now."
Kiyohara exhaled—and surrendered full control.
Future Kiyohara took over, now in full possession of the body.
He raised the blade slowly.
"You're not even at your prime… but killing you will satisfy me all the same."
He couldn't use his full power in this weak body, but this… this would be enough.
'One last strike.'
Chakra flowed into the blade.
If only he had this weapon in life… maybe he wouldn't have lost.
No—he had lost because of arrogance.
"Leaf-Style Swordsmanship: Willow!"
Ao lunged forward—his water fang blade sliced through the mist—and right through Kiyohara's body!
Except…
'No impact?'
'What?!'
That wasn't a substitution jutsu.
He turned—
And froze.
Kiyohara stood behind him. His blade shimmered with afterimages.
The air around him was filled with drifting spectral blades.
He moved like a willow in the wind—untrackable, ethereal.
Ao couldn't even tell when it had happened.
Then—
'Slice…'
A thin, red line appeared across Ao's neck.
His eyes widened in horror.
'When did—'
He opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was a choked, gurgling gasp.