The sky had already completely darkened.
When Kiyohara returned to the camp, most of the tents were already lit with lamps.
The medical area was still busy, but compared to the daytime, it had grown much quieter.
He first went back to his own tent and changed into a clean set of clothes. After thinking for a moment, he turned and headed toward Tsunade's command tent.
Inside the tent, the light was on, but it was very quiet.
Kiyohara lifted the curtain and the scene he saw made him pause slightly.
Tsunade was lying sideways on a folding chair, fast asleep.
The simple folding chair had been adjusted into a reclining position. The backrest was laid flat, and she lay on her side, one hand tucked beneath her head while the other hung naturally down.
Her long golden hair was spread out, somewhat messy, draped over the chair and spilling onto the ground.
Because of her posture, her top was pulled tight, outlining the slender curve of her waist beneath the fabric. The rounded contours of her hips and thighs were clearly visible through the material.
One leg was slightly bent while the other stretched out straight. The long lines of her legs extended from her thighs down to her calves, ending at her bare ankles and a pair of fair, delicate feet.
Kiyohara's gaze fell on the coat covering her. It was the one he had left behind a few days ago.
The coat was a bit small for her, barely covering her upper body, while her lower half was completely exposed to the chill of the night.
The temperature inside the tent had already dropped.
Kiyohara watched quietly for a few seconds, then turned and left.
He returned to his own tent and pulled out a spare thin blanket from his camp bed.
It seemed that Tsunade had simply treated this command tent as her personal room and fallen asleep here.
That was normal, though. In Tsunade's area, anyone who wanted to enter had to report in advance.
The only ones who could come and go freely were probably just Kiyohara himself and Shizune.
When he returned to the command tent with the blanket in his arms, Tsunade was still fast asleep, her posture unchanged.
Kiyohara unfolded the blanket and gently draped it over her.
The blanket was large enough to cover her completely from her shoulders down to her ankles.
After covering her, he carefully tucked in the edges to make sure no cold air could get in.
Once he finished, he prepared to leave.
But at the moment he turned around, he noticed Tsunade's eyelids move slightly.
Kiyohara paused, waited for a moment, and seeing that she did not wake, he quietly stepped out of the tent.
The sound of the curtain falling back into place was very soft.
Inside the tent, Tsunade slowly opened her eyes.
In truth, she had already woken up when Kiyohara was covering her with the blanket.
Years of life on the battlefield had made her extremely alert. Even in deep sleep, she would react to any presence approaching her.
But she had not opened her eyes immediately and instead continued to pretend to sleep.
Only after Kiyohara left did she finally open her eyes and lower her gaze to the blanket that had appeared over her.
This was not hers.
Only she and Shizune had permission to enter this tent, and Shizune was on night duty in the medical tent tonight and would not be coming back.
So then—
Tsunade reached out and touched the fabric of the blanket, then brought it closer and sniffed lightly.
As expected, it was Kiyohara.
The scent was the same as the coat.
Tsunade pulled the blanket up a little higher, wrapping herself more tightly.
The blanket still carried the warmth from Kiyohara's tent, radiating a gentle heat that drove away the chill of the night.
She closed her eyes again, and this time, a faint smile curved at the corners of her lips.
"Meddlesome brat…"
She muttered softly, and soon sank back into sleep.
The next day, at the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen sat behind his desk, a pipe in his hand with thin wisps of white smoke rising from it.
Two reports were spread out before him. One was the latest update from the front lines, while the other was an assessment record that had just been sent back through a summoned creature.
The door was pushed open, and Sarutobi Shinnosuke walked in. He had already changed out of his ANBU uniform and was now dressed in ordinary shinobi attire.
He had traveled quickly, using the Reverse Summoning Technique from time to time, and had finally arrived in Konoha.
Even so, it had taken him an entire day.
"Father."
Shinnosuke spoke.
Unlike the rebellious Asuma, Shinnosuke at this time was like a more mature version of Asuma from more than a decade later.
"Sit."
Hiruzen gestured to the chair opposite him.
"You've been traveling all day. You must be tired."
"Not really. I relied on Enro and the others to coordinate with me."
Shinnosuke replied.
The Reverse Summoning Technique required a great deal of coordination. It was not something he could accomplish alone. It needed prior arrangements and the right conditions to be prepared.
Moreover, the difficulty of the Reverse Summoning Technique was far greater than that of the Summoning Technique. Combined with the fact that shinobi battles often broke out suddenly, there was rarely an opportunity to prepare in advance.
Because of that, very few shinobi used this technique.
Shinnosuke sat down, his expression complicated.
"I lost."
"Oh?"
Hiruzen's expression did not change much.
Since Kiyohara had been able to capture Pakura alive, it was not difficult to understand that he might be stronger than his eldest son.
"Although it was only a spar, he truly has the ability to defeat me."
Shinnosuke went on to describe the battle in detail.
If he had not retreated early, he probably would have lost right there.
"His use of the Sharingan is masterful, and the combination of multiple nature transformations flows without the slightest hesitation."
He paused for a moment.
"He is like you were in your youth, Father. And I can feel that what he showed was not even his full strength."
Hiruzen slowly took a puff from his pipe, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.
Kiyohara's rate of growth was indeed astonishing.
What exactly was this child's limit?
"Do you think he is suitable to serve as a squad captain?"
Hiruzen asked.
"Suitable."
Shinnosuke answered without hesitation.
"He has sufficient strength, excellent judgment, and can calmly analyze the situation in battle. Although he is young, that kind of composure is rare."
Hiruzen nodded and gently tapped his pipe against the edge of the ashtray.
"Then it is decided. Tomorrow, the official appointment will be issued. Kiyohara will be promoted to captain of the first new ANBU squad. For now, he will oversee four teams, each consisting of four members."
The group led by Shinnosuke represented the old ANBU.
These numerical designations were merely code names and did not carry any special meaning.
Above the squad captains were positions such as overall commander and deputy commander.
"Yes."
Shinnosuke responded.
"Additionally,"
Hiruzen added, "regarding Tsunade's hemophobia… do you have any thoughts?"
Shinnosuke fell silent for a moment.
"It's difficult. That is psychological trauma, not something ordinary medical ninjutsu can cure. Unless there is a major stimulus or turning point, otherwise…"
"I understand."
Hiruzen let out a sigh.
"You should go and rest."
But in his mind, he was considering whether Kiyohara might be able to try treating Tsunade's fear of blood.
After all, a doctor cannot treat themselves, but Kiyohara had learned under Tsunade and was proficient in her medical ninjutsu. From an outsider's perspective, he might find it easier to treat her.
If Tsunade could recover her strength, Konoha would gain an even greater advantage.
Two days passed.
Kiyohara also received the official ANBU appointment.
A new set of ANBU uniform was delivered to him, with certain subtle details that distinguished it from the standard ones.
There was also a corresponding document, essentially something like a certification or diploma.
What surprised Kiyohara was that Kakashi had actually been assigned under him.
"You… became a squad captain?"
When Kakashi received the news, he was completely stunned.
How had Kiyohara suddenly become a squad captain?
Hadn't they all reported in on the same day?
Yet in the blink of an eye, Kiyohara had become his direct superior.
"Ahem, just do your best."
Kiyohara patted Kakashi on the shoulder.
At the same time, he was already thinking about how to recruit more capable people to become his… slaves.
No, no, his capable subordinates.
Kiyohara suddenly thought of Might Guy, and that seemed like a good option.
Although in the original story he had been rejected by both Hiruzen and Danzo, Kiyohara did not mind at all.
As everyone knew, Kakashi's so called assassinations usually involved him charging forward with Chidori, accompanied by the sound of thunder.
The secrecy mechanism of the ANBU was only truly effective before contact.
Once ninjutsu was used, most identity information would essentially be exposed. As long as there were survivors who made it back, the enemy's information from that battle would be recorded.
Just like how Kakashi still earned the nickname "Kakashi of the Sharingan," some things could not be hidden no matter how hard one tried.
So even if he recruited Guy into the ANBU, Kiyohara felt there was no issue.
At the same time, he was also quite curious what Guy would look like if he put on an ANBU uniform.
Of course, Guy lacked the temperament for darkness, and there were many methods he likely would not be able to accept.
But as a squad captain, Kiyohara could assign him tasks that were not so dark.
"Kakashi, go ask Guy if he is willing to join the ANBU and work under me."
Kiyohara said.
Kakashi and Guy were close friends. In the original story, the core motivation for Guy joining the ANBU was because of Kakashi.
If Kakashi persuaded him, the chances would be high.
"Me?"
Kakashi pointed at himself.
"That's right. This difficult mission is the first task I am assigning to you."
Kiyohara declared that as the squad captain of the first new ANBU unit, his authority within the squad was absolute.
"This… fine."
In the end, Kakashi could only nod.
To be honest, he was also a little curious what Guy would look like if he changed out of that eye scorching outfit.
After Kakashi left, Kiyohara immediately returned to his tent.
At the same time, a semi transparent figure slowly appeared.
It was the spirit of ANBU Kiyohara.
He was dressed in ANBU attire, his mask already removed, revealing a face that resembled Kiyohara by seventy to eighty percent, but more mature.
"Now it is settled, right?"
Kiyohara showed him his credentials and his new uniform.
"You have become an ANBU squad captain and walked the path I could not finish."
ANBU Kiyohara nodded.
After all, he had only just become a squad captain before he died.
If he had not stumbled at En Oyashiro, he would not have ended up being sent back to this version of himself like this.
"Sigh, I suppose this counts as resolving a lingering obsession."
ANBU Kiyohara seemed far more at ease than the several future selves Kiyohara had encountered before.
His body began to glow, transforming into countless points of light.
The light did not dissipate. Instead, it flowed toward Kiyohara and merged into his body.
Kiyohara felt a warm current pour down from the top of his head, spreading along his spine and into his limbs.
At the same time, his body began to change.
More of ANBU Kiyohara's techniques regarding infiltration, assassination, and poisoning were inherited by him.
This time, it was even more complete than before.
For Kiyohara, this was perfect.
He had just become the captain of the first new ANBU squad, and now he could use these techniques to train his subordinates.
He could even use them to cultivate a personal force that belonged solely to him.
As he absorbed all of this, he also felt his spiritual energy rapidly increasing. It was as if a new door had opened in his mind. His thinking speed, sensory range, and memory all improved.
The network of meridians within his body was widened, and his chakra flowed more smoothly.
His chakra reserves rose once again.
Kiyohara's current chakra level had reached around 9.5 units, and once his body finished transforming, it would likely increase slightly further.
In other words, his chakra amount was equivalent to about 9.5 Kakashis with Sharingan.
"If it reaches 10, I wonder if I can touch the level of a Kage."
Kiyohara stroked his chin.
Although above jonin there was Hokage or various official positions, what people often referred to here was strength. For example, while there was no official title of elite jonin, such a level clearly existed.
"Kage" was also a term representing strength.
Every member of the Akatsuki possessed at least Kage level power.
They were either monsters in raw stats or monsters in unique abilities.
That was why they were able to capture numerous tailed beasts and become an S rank missing nin organization.
Kiyohara did not continue that line of thought. He could feel that something had changed at the location of his curse mark.
Lowering his head, he saw that the pattern of the curse mark had become darker than before.
He had a feeling that with a single thought, the power within it would surge out.
He stood up and stretched his limbs.
"The curse mark also has many more techniques now."
Kiyohara closed his eyes and carefully experienced the new knowledge.
He now possessed the complete method of using the Cursed Seal of Earth, from State One to State Two in full detail.
There were also some additional methods of using other curse marks, though most of them were recorded in scrolls.
He would still need to learn those himself. What he inherited was only a portion, not everything.
However, for Kiyohara, the most valuable part was the Cursed Seal of Earth.
"Let's try it."
Kiyohara walked outside and arrived at the place where he had fought Sarutobi Shinnosuke a few days ago.
This place was far from the main camp, and no one would come here at night.
He found a secluded rock wall, took a deep breath, and began to mobilize the power hidden within his body.
"Curse Mark Activation, State One."
Black patterns spread out, crawling across his entire body.
Those markings appeared on the surface of his skin like blood vessels, crisscrossing everywhere.
But this was not enough.
Kiyohara closed his eyes and continued to draw on that power.
"State Two… activate!"
A far more intense transformation occurred.
The black markings rose from the surface of his skin. Along his back, in the area of his spine, his bones made faint cracking sounds as segments of vertebrae protruded upward, forming a distinct ridge.
At his tailbone, flesh and chakra merged and condensed, and a thick tail slowly grew out.
The tail was about two meters long, covered in a dark gray keratin layer, with a sharp, spear like tip.
It swayed flexibly, cutting through the air with a whistling sound.
Kiyohara stepped in front of the rock wall. Without using his hands, he simply willed it.
The tail lashed out like a whip, smashing heavily into the rock face.
Boom!
Fragments of stone scattered as a crater formed in the wall.
Cracks spread outward from the impact point like a spider web.
Kiyohara withdrew his tail and carefully examined the damage.
The power of that strike far exceeded his normal punch.
The structure of the tail, both bone and muscle, seemed optimized for force, allowing it to unleash astonishing instantaneous strength.
He then tried controlling the tail to perform more delicate actions, picking up stones from the ground, writing on the earth with the tip, and even mimicking hand seals.
Although it was not as flexible as his hands, it could perform most basic functions.
"Let's try coating it with Steel Release."
Kiyohara infused steel release chakra into the tail.
A black metallic sheen appeared on its surface, and its hardness increased significantly.
Another strike!
This time, the sound was no longer a blunt impact but a clean cut. The hardened tail sliced into the rock wall like a blade, easily cutting off a large chunk of stone, leaving a surface as smooth as a mirror.
He struck the wall again, this time using only seventy percent of his strength, yet the damage was even greater than before, and the tail itself remained completely unharmed.
"Very good."
Kiyohara deactivated the curse mark. The tail retracted back into his body, and the markings on his skin gradually faded.
Aside from consuming some chakra, there were no side effects.
The combination of Steel Release and Curse Mark State Two created a perfect balance of offense and defense. It could serve as a powerful weapon or as an additional limb for movement and support.
This was truly a life saving trump card.
The enhancement from Curse Mark State Two far surpassed the early gates of the Eight Gates, and it did not place such a heavy burden on the body.
Of course, the nature of the two was different. The Eight Gates removed limitations, while the curse mark borrowed external power. But in terms of immediate combat strength, Curse Mark State Two was already extremely formidable.
"If I had the Shikotsumyaku bloodline, this curse mark would probably be even stronger."
Kiyohara thought to himself.
From this perspective, Orochimaru's decision to give Kimimaro the Cursed Seal of Earth and Cursed Seal of Heaven Mark had not been without reason.
The Cursed Seal of Earth Mark greatly enhanced the Shikotsumyaku. Many of Kimimaro's techniques required entering Curse Mark State Two.
Of course, if Kimimaro had been given the Cursed Seal of Heaven Mark instead, Kiyohara felt he might have turned into something like a fighter jet.
Flying through the air while firing bone bullets created by Shikotsumyaku.
When Kiyohara returned to the camp, it was already late at night.
Most of the tents had gone dark, with only patrol squads and sentries still active.
He quickly returned to his tent and fell into a deep sleep.
More than half a month passed.
There seemed to have been some Sunagakure scouts near the border, but at that time, Minato happened to pass by.
The Sunagakure forces immediately withdrew.
After Minato left, the Sunagakure forces began to stir restlessly again.
Kiyohara knew that this battle would happen sooner or later.
For now, Sunagakure was observing, waiting for a moment when Konoha showed a weakness.
If Minato had not happened to pass by, the fighting would likely have already begun.
This situation actually benefited Kiyohara, giving him more time to develop.
Chakra quantity alone did not determine everything.
Kaguya had more chakra than Six Paths Madara, yet she still lost.
If Kaguya's chakra were reduced to the level of an ordinary jonin, whether she could even defeat one would be uncertain.
After all, her abilities required an enormous amount of chakra to sustain.
At a normal jonin's level, she might not even be able to use a single ocular technique.
"Kiyohara, if you don't use the Sharingan this time, I will definitely beat you."
In a secluded forest clearing, several people had gathered, including Kurenai and Rin.
At this moment, Kurenai stood confidently, planning to spar with Kiyohara using the genjutsu she had recently learned.
Of course, both of them would only use newly learned techniques.
The rule was that they could not use anything outside of what they had just learned, otherwise it would be too unfair.
"Is that so."
Kiyohara nodded slightly.
The sky was clear, the rain had stopped, and Kurenai once again felt like she was on top of the world.
(End of Chapter)