Feeling the obvious surge in the total amount of chakra within his body, along with that continuous, overflowing force that seemed to have shattered some invisible shackle. Kiyohara couldn't help but let the corner of his lips curl into a faint smile.
His chakra capacity, physical endurance, and even the speed of his neural reactions had all risen once again the moment Magnet Release Kiyohara fused into him.
This kind of power growth—so immediate, so tangible—filled him with genuine delight.
If he had relied only on his own step‑by‑step training, how many years, how many decades would it have taken to reach this level? He might have eventually walked the same path as Missing-nin Kiyohara, following Orochimaru in pursuit of power.
But now, using the Last Will System, he could stack the efforts and achievements of his future selves again and again.
With this method, no bloodline limit in the world could compare to his potential.
Of course, the prerequisite was simple—he needed to stay alive.
As long as Kiyohara lived long enough, the snowball would only grow larger and larger.
Even if he only collected "Ordinary Civilian Kiyoraharas," dozens or even hundreds stacked together would inevitably create a qualitative transformation through sheer accumulation.
At the same time, fragments of Magnet Release ninjutsu knowledge surfaced in his mind: Magnet Release: Iron Sand Burial and Magnet Release: Iron Sand Needles.
He inherited both of these Magnet Release techniques—each one a jutsu that had once appeared in the anime.
The first technique allowed one to envelop the enemy in sand iron and suffocate them.
The second compressed sand iron into high-density, razor-sharp spears capable of skewering a target in an instant.
A control-type jutsu and an offensive-type jutsu.
"I thought you only knew how to use Magnet Release: Magnetic Field Rotation. Didn't expect you to also use normal Magnet-Release jutsu."
Kiyohara spoke to Magnet-Release Kiyohara within his mind.
While Magnetic Field Rotation had tremendous potential, Kiyohara had previously felt it was a bit inconvenient and awkward to use.
Fortunately, Magnet-Release Kiyohara knew the orthodox Magnet-Release techniques—those that involved manipulating sand iron.
"It's still in the development stage. And later on, your speed will become astonishingly fast, and every aspect of your body will be enhanced. Previously, you never truly mastered Magnet Release. You were only using it because I helped you activate it."
Magnet Release Kiyohara explained calmly.
"…So it's because I hadn't inherited Magnet Release yet?"
Kiyohara was no longer surprised by the bizarre thought process of this future version of himself.
If he had fought Kaguya Masaru using proper Magnet Release techniques, the battle might have gone a bit smoother.
"Forget it…"
Kiyohara didn't continue speaking. Instead, he focused on carefully sensing all the changes occurring inside his body, while staying alert for any sudden ambush.
Even in his current state, if someone attacked a vital point, he could still die.
"I… have become stronger."
Kiyohara could feel his body continually transforming—rapidly shedding its old limits and slowly growing stronger.
"You! Who are you?!"
A Sand Anbu shouted sharply, raising his kunai and pointing it straight at Kiyohara.
Kiyohara wasn't wearing the green vest of the Leaf's standard uniform, and the ninja forehead protector on his head was hidden beneath his hair.
"Be careful. This enemy seems to have jōnin-level strength. We should handle him with sealing techniques."
While speaking, a Sand kunoichi, who looked somewhat like Rin, stepped forward holding a massive cloth scroll in her arms.
Her cheeks were painted with the purple facial markings typical of Suna shinobi, and she wore the distinctive headscarf of the Sand Village, covering her hair completely.
"A sealing technique unique to the Sand Village, huh…"
Kiyohara glanced at the sealing cloth behind her, feeling a sudden urge to study it.
Unlike Konoha, which inherited the Uzumaki clan's sealing systems, the Sand Village had developed its own style of sealwork—one that relied heavily on cloth.
Such as Cloth Binding Technique and Cloth Concealment Technique.
And Kiyohara also happened to know something else—the girl in front of him was none other than Pakura's… disciple.
Now things had become far more interesting.
Kiyohara had not forgotten that Magnet Release Kiyohara's second last will was to defeat Pakura.
In that case, keeping a hostage for interrogation did not sound like a bad idea.
He planned to capture this kunoichi alive.
A little questioning might reveal useful information about Pakura.
As his body continued rapidly transforming, he observed the Sand shinobi.
"Hmph. Leaf shinobi, surrender now. At least then you'll have the honor of being taken prisoner. Otherwise…" snarled another Sand shinobi, scarred at the eye, hands locked in seals, ready to unleash jutsu."
"Be careful! They're Sand Anbu—their strength is far above that of ordinary shinobi!" warned Uzuki Yugao, her delicate face hidden beneath her mask, still shaken from her near‑death.
Her eyes were fixed on Kiyohara.
Moonlight filtered through the gaps of the leaves overhead and happened to illuminate half of his face.
A handsome young visage—sharp features, a tall straight nose, and thin lips. She felt she had seen him somewhere in the village before, but couldn't recall when or where.
The only impression that remained was… handsome.
Beyond that, she had no memory at all.
"Surrender?"
Kiyohara flicked away the blood on his blade, calmly retrieved the copper wire, and picked up the Fūma Shuriken he had thrown earlier.
"It seems there's something you're all failing to understand."
His hand slipped into his tool pouch, gripping a smaller sealing scroll.
"?"
The girl, Maki, watched warily.
The remaining Sand shinobi were equally confused.
Even if he was a jōnin, they had the advantage—one jōnin, two ANBU, plus several chūnin.
By all logic, victory should be theirs.
So why was this guy acting so arrogantly?
Seeing their mix of suspicion and arrogance, Kiyohara shook his head, pitying their blindness.
"I listened to all the nonsense you people said for so long," he said, voice laced with mockery.
"You didn't actually think I was standing still because I enjoyed hearing you talk, did you?"
Kiyohara withdrew his hand from his tool pouch and unfurled the small scroll.
A burst of white smoke erupted—dozens upon dozens of shuriken and ninja tools scattered onto the ground.
At the same time, Kiyohara infused them with magnetic force.
"I'm waiting to become stronger. What are you all waiting for?"
He was inheriting power—chakra, talent, reflexes—all breaking past old limits, strengthening every second.
Every moment, his other self's inheritance poured strength into him, raising his ceiling.
He was… becoming stronger.
Kiyohara moved.
In the next instant, both his arms blurred into afterimages—
Shuriken poured out in a torrential storm, an overwhelming barrage so dense and numerous that it covered every possible angle the Sand shinobi could use to dodge!
"Over sixty thrown at once? Is his hand speed even human?!"
A Sand Anbu cried out involuntarily.
The Sand shinobi were horrified.
The injured one dove for cover. Another gritted his teeth and tried to form the seals to unleash a Wind Release to blow the projectiles away.
But Kiyohara's assault had only just begun.
As the storm of shuriken was about to engulf the two Sand shinobi, Kiyohara's fingers twitched again—this time laced with Wind-nature chakra.
The previously chaotic volley of shuriken was suddenly linked by countless nearly invisible copper wires.
Under Kiyohara's control, these wires drew taut in mid-air—instantly weaving themselves into a massive, deadly web.
"Manipulated Shuriken Technique: Iron Web!"
Shhhhhh!
With his enhanced reflexes, Kiyohara could now manipulate far more threads simultaneously.
Combined with magnetic force, he could even direct the trajectory of the shuriken to match his will.
And so, he created this technique.
Under the moonlight, the copper threads shimmered coldly, their edges sharpened by the Wind Release coursing along their surface.
The web contracted.
Shuriken and wind-infused wires cut through everything within range—grass, rocks, tree trunks—shredding them as if they were nothing.
Falling leaves drifting through the air were sliced cleanly into smooth, perfect squares the moment they brushed the threads.
"AHHH!!"
The injured Sand shinobi failed to dodge in time—
A copper wire flashed past.
His arm was severed cleanly at the shoulder.
Blood sprayed violently as he screamed in agony.
"So strong…"
This was the only thought running through Yugao's mind.
(End of Chapter)