Kiyohara was organizing his equipment in front of his tent. Hearing approaching footsteps, he raised his head and saw Kakashi walking over, followed by a tall figure wearing an ANBU mask.
The ANBU uniform clung tightly to the man's well-built physique, outlining powerful muscles. His shoulders were broad and his back straight. At first glance, he really did carry the steady and reliable aura of an elite ANBU operative.
"You're here?"
Kiyohara spoke.
Kakashi nodded and stepped slightly to the side, his voice coming through the mask.
"Guy, say hello."
"Alright."
Might Guy nodded.
"Take off the mask. There are no outsiders here," Kiyohara said.
Guy raised his hand, gripping the edge of the mask before slowly removing it.
Beneath the standard ANBU animal mask appeared a face with thick eyebrows and bright, wide eyes.
Without that eye-searing green jumpsuit, Might Guy actually looked unexpectedly serious at this moment.
"Captain Kiyohara!"
Guy spoke, his voice booming like a bell.
"ANBU member Might Guy reporting for duty!"
That single shout instantly wiped away half of the elite composure he had just displayed.
"…."
Kiyohara looked at Guy for a moment before continuing, "Do the clothes fit?"
Guy rolled his shoulders, then looked down at himself. "To be honest, I'm not used to it. This fabric is too tight. It feels restrictive when I move."
As he spoke, he flashed his signature wide, gleaming grin.
"My training suit is still more comfortable! That is what youth should wear!"
Kakashi rolled his eyes at the side.
Of course, with the mask covering his face, no one could see it, but the sense of helplessness radiating from him made it obvious enough.
"You'll get used to it," Kiyohara said as he walked to the small table inside the tent and pulled out several scrolls, spreading them open.
"ANBU is different from regular forces. There are rules you need to understand. Let's start with the basics."
For the next half hour, Kiyohara explained in detail the operational principles of the ANBU.
How to exchange intelligence without leaving traces, how to use ANBU-exclusive coded language for encrypted communication, the format and taboos of mission reports, and under what circumstances one could reveal their identity or must remain hidden.
Might Guy listened attentively, nodding from time to time.
"The most important thing is…"
Kiyohara looked at him.
"ANBU emphasizes concealment. Your taijutsu style may need some adjustment. I'm not asking you to change how you fight, but for certain missions, you'll need to restrain yourself a bit."
Guy straightened his back, his chest rising as he took a deep breath. "I understand. When it's time to burn with passion, I will burn with passion. When it's time to remain hidden, I will remain hidden. This is the duality of youth, like day and night, light and shadow!"
Kiyohara and Kakashi exchanged a glance, both seeing the same thought in each other's eyes.
Hopefully, this guy could actually pull it off.
"By the way," Kiyohara suddenly remembered something.
"Has your ANBU codename been decided?"
"Not yet."
Guy shook his head.
"Kakashi said you would decide it, Kiyohara."
Kiyohara thought for a moment.
"Let's go with 'Black Beast of Konoha.' It can be shortened to 'Black Beast' as well. It fits the style of ANBU codenames and matches your characteristics."
"Black Beast…"
Guy repeated it, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
"Good. Outside the ANBU, my title is 'Blue Beast.' Within the ANBU, I can be called 'Black Beast.'"
He was very satisfied. The shortened form sounded simple and concise.
However, Guy clearly preferred the full name "Black Beast of Konoha." With his current black outfit, he really did resemble a black beast.
Kakashi coughed lightly. "Don't be too loud. ANBU needs to stay low-key."
"Yes, low-key passion!"
Kiyohara rubbed his temples, already feeling that his squad might become rather… distinctive in the future.
By evening, Kiyohara first went to the medical area to check on the injured, then turned and headed toward an isolated tent at the back of the camp.
Uzumaki Kyoko's tent was located in a relatively quiet area, with simple soundproofing barriers set up around it.
Lifting the curtain, warm yellow light spilled out, illuminating the simple interior.
Kyoko was sitting cross-legged on a mat, several old fuinjutsu scrolls spread out in front of her. The pages were yellowed, the edges worn, clearly showing their age.
Hearing footsteps, she raised her head, her short red hair falling to her shoulders.
When she saw Kiyohara, a gentle smile appeared on her face.
"Kiyohara-kun, perfect timing."
"Sister Kyoko."
Kiyohara sat down across from her.
"Do you have questions about sealing techniques?"
Kyoko asked.
Kiyohara was handsome and also her savior, so Kyoko had always treated him very kindly.
"I do have some."
Kiyohara nodded.
Kyoko herself was a member of the Uzumaki clan and had studied under Kushina for a period of time. Being sent out to handle sealing in a situation like Rin's rampage proved that she was far from ordinary.
In the future, Karin would possess abilities such as the Adamantine Sealing Chains, the Mind's Eye of Kagura, and the Heal Bite. As her mother, Kyoko's abilities in these areas were naturally not weak either.
Moreover, from what had been shown, she already possessed the Heal Bite ability, indicating the purity of her bloodline.
At the very least, it was much purer than someone like Naruto, who, as a mixed blood, only inherited vitality and chakra.
"What is it?"
Kyoko asked curiously.
So Kiyohara voiced some of his questions.
Kyoko answered them one by one.
After more than ten minutes of discussion, Kiyohara asked, "I wonder if Sister Kyoko knows a sealing technique that can break a summoning contract?"
He lifted his eyes to look at her, clearly curious.
"You're talking about the Contract Seal. There are several similar techniques, but the most commonly used is indeed the Contract Seal," Kyoko said.
The Contract Seal could seal the contract between a summoner and their summoned creature, thereby severing the connection between them.
It was an extremely useful fuinjutsu, though quite difficult to learn.
However, it was especially effective against shinobi who relied on summoned beasts.
For example, in the past, Hanzo of the Salamander would have had his strength affected if someone had used the Contract Seal to cut off his connection with his salamander summon.
"Mm."
Kiyohara nodded.
That was exactly the technique he meant. Minato also knew this technique.
It was precisely through the Contract Seal that Minato severed Obito's connection with the Nine-Tails.
"It's actually quite simple. I can teach you."
Kyoko's personality was somewhat similar to Mikoto's, both being gentle in nature.
She then explained the method of the Contract Seal.
Kiyohara was slightly stunned. He had not expected her to really teach him.
He immediately began learning with great eagerness.
Thanks to his strong mental energy, Kiyohara memorized everything after hearing it just once.
"Did you really remember it?"
Kyoko looked a bit doubtful, her delicate face showing confusion.
"I really did."
Kiyohara assured her that his memory was exceptional.
"I see."
Kyoko nodded.
Then she suddenly said, "Kiyohara-kun, could you please bite me?"
"?"
Meeting Kiyohara's puzzled gaze, Kyoko began to explain.
"Just a light bite is fine, you don't need to use much force."
"These past few days, I've been studying my own body. I discovered that my blood and cells seem to have a special healing effect. Earlier, a female injured person was in too much pain and accidentally bit me, and I noticed her recovery speed increased. I want to verify whether, if you are injured, my blood can help you recover quickly."
Kiyohara suddenly understood.
The Uzumaki clan possessed a unique constitution. In the original story, Karin was able to heal others simply by being bitten.
It seemed that Uzumaki Kyoko had already begun to realize the true application of her ability, an instinctive kind of awakening.
However, she had not yet fully confirmed this power, namely what could be called "Heal Bite."
Kiyohara speculated that even within the Uzumaki clan, not everyone possessed this ability.
Kushina, for example, had never demonstrated anything like a Heal Bite.
"I understand."
This request was not a big deal, and he did not mind helping.
Still, Kiyohara offered a reminder, saying, "Sister Kyoko, it would be best if you do not reveal this ability to others. Only use it for those close to you. If it becomes known, you will have a constant stream of injured people coming to you every day."
His gaze grew serious.
Even someone like Sakumo had been hurt by the very comrades he saved, let alone Uzumaki Kyoko, who possessed such an ability.
If Kyoko became too exhausted and wanted to rest, those people would very likely pressure her morally into continuing.
After all, this ability was almost too effective.
Just by biting her skin, one could rapidly restore chakra and heal injuries, either for oneself or for others.
Tsunade, who had once been split into two halves, was able to recover immediately after being bitten by Kyoko.
Uzumaki Kyoko thought about it and found his reasoning sound.
"I will not go around telling people. It is enough for close companions to know."
She spoke seriously.
"That is good."
Kiyohara nodded.
At the same time, he understood that Kyoko already regarded him as a close companion. Revealing such information was itself a sign of trust.
"Then where should I bite?"
Kiyohara stroked his chin thoughtfully.
He was curious whether biting different parts of the body would produce the same recovery effect.
From a biological perspective, the areas with the most fat and softness should be the easiest to bite.
"The hand."
Kyoko's face flushed slightly as she rolled up her sleeve, revealing her fair arm.
Her skin was pale and smooth, almost like polished jade.
She extended her arm toward Kiyohara. "Try it."
Seeing this, Kiyohara took out a kunai and made a small cut on the back of his hand. Then he gently bit down on Kyoko's arm.
The texture was soft.
That was the only evaluation Kiyohara could give.
"Mm…"
Being bitten on the arm, Kyoko felt a strange sensation.
Earlier in the day, when the injured female shinobi had bitten her, she had not felt anything unusual. But now, looking at Kiyohara, a strange feeling rose within her.
Right after that, Kiyohara noticed that the wound on the back of his hand was rapidly healing.
In just a few blinks of an eye, it looked as if the injury had never existed.
Seeing this, Kiyohara could not help but marvel at how miraculous it was.
No wonder Sasuke always brought Karin along wherever he went.
"The effect is excellent."
Kiyohara released his bite and showed her the back of his hand.
Kyoko sensed it for a moment and realized that a portion of her chakra had been depleted.
That portion of chakra had likely flowed through the point of contact into Kiyohara's body, repairing his injury.
Afterward, Kiyohara stayed a while longer, chatting with her. Only when the night had grown deep did he stand up and leave.
At midnight, the camp was quiet except for the footsteps of patrolling guards and the suppressed groans of the injured.
Upon returning, Kiyohara had just finished his "Soft Physique Modification" training. After special stretching, his joints emitted faint cracking sounds, and his flexibility had clearly improved.
He wiped away sweat with a towel and was just about to rest when a sharp alarm suddenly rang out in the distance.
The sound tore through the night sky.
Immediately after came the hoarse shouts of reconnaissance shinobis.
"Enemy attack! Southeast direction! A large number of Sunagakure forces!"
Almost at the same moment the alarm sounded, an ominous green light appeared on the distant horizon.
That was the phenomenon caused by dozens of large-scale Wind Release techniques tearing through the air.
The green hurricanes formed several kilometers away, like giant serpents awakening from myth, sweeping toward the Konoha camp.
Before the winds even arrived, the oppressive pressure already caused tents in the camp to flap violently, ropes tightening to their limits. Some poorly secured tents were directly overturned, their contents swept into the sky.
"All units, defend!"
Jiraiya's voice spread across the entire camp through an amplification technique, instantly stabilizing some of the panicked shinobis.
"Jonin, assemble! Construct a combined Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!"
Kiyohara immediately threw on his outer garment and rushed out of the tent.
Outside was already in chaos. Shinobis poured out from every tent. Some were disheveled, some held only kunai, and some were still tying their forehead protectors.
The first dozen jonin quickly gathered on the southeastern side of the camp, forming hand seals in unison.
"Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!"
Dozens of thick earthen walls rose from the ground, each five to six meters high, connecting together under the guidance of chakra.
In an instant, a massive wall twenty meters tall and three meters thick stretched across the front of the camp.
This was an A rank defensive technique formed by combining multiple B rank Earth Releases, the Earth Release: Earth Style Rampart.
Its effect far exceeded that of a single shinobi casting it alone, enough to withstand most conventional ninjutsu attacks.
However, Sunagakure's assault far exceeded expectations.
The moment the first wave of Wind Release struck the wall, harsh tearing sounds filled the air.
Green wind blades, like countless invisible knives, slashed at the wall from all directions. Stones flew, dust filled the air.
Cracks spread across the surface of the wall at a visible speed, like a spiderweb expanding outward from the center.
"The second wave is coming! Reinforce it!"
A jonin shouted.
But it was too late.
The second and third waves of Wind Release followed immediately, with almost no interval between them.
The violent currents, mixed with blade-like wind, continuously battered the already strained wall.
Finally, when the fourth wave struck, the massive rampart developed its first breach.
BOOM!
The wall collapsed from the middle. The upper half shattered into countless fragments, crashing down, while the lower half trembled as cracks rapidly spread.
"Retreat! Take cover!"
"Medical team, there are injured here!"
Debris rained down like a storm. Some pieces were as large as millstones, others as small as fists.
Konoha shinobis who could not dodge in time were struck, their screams rising one after another.
Some had arms broken, others suffered head injuries. Blood looked especially stark under the moonlight as it seeped into the soil, staining the ground red.
At this moment, Kiyohara also arrived.
Black markings spread across his body, crawling over his skin.
Cursed Seal, State One.
At this moment, all of Kiyohara's physical attributes were enhanced to a certain degree.
"Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!"
This time, the earthen wall that rose before him was completely different.
It stood over ten meters tall, two meters thick, and far more solid than an ordinary Earth Style Wall.
The massive wall surged upward like an indestructible shield, standing firmly at the very front of the camp, blocking the gap where the defensive line was about to collapse.
Almost at the same moment, Suna's fifth wave of Wind jutsus roared in.
Green wind blades tore through the air with shrill sounds, slamming into Kiyohara's wall.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Dull impacts echoed continuously, yet the wall did not move at all, leaving only shallow dents on its surface.
"That is…"
"Kiyohara! It is Jonin Kiyohara!"
Some shinobis recognized him.
Rumors about this young genius had been circulating in the camp recently, but seeing it with their own eyes was far more shocking than any rumor.
That unshakable wall standing firm against the storm was the best proof.
"What are you standing around for!"
Jiraiya shouted without turning his head.
"Do not stop!"
His voice snapped everyone back to their senses. More jonin reacted, suppressing their shock as they formed hand seals one after another.
One wall after another rose behind Kiyohara's, connecting together.
Just as the new defense was about to be completed, Sunagakure's sixth wave arrived.
This time, the Wind Release was even denser. The green light nearly illuminated half the sky, as if dozens of wind dragons were roaring at once.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Finally, when the last wave of wind blades dissipated, the wall still stood.
"Kiyohara!"
Kurenai and Rin ran over from the side. Both were fully equipped, their forehead protectors tied tight, shinobi tool pouches secured at their waists for easy access.
Kakashi followed closely behind, his exposed eye scanning the surroundings vigilantly, a kunai in his hand.
"Are you alright?"
Rin asked with concern, her gaze quickly sweeping over Kiyohara to confirm there were no obvious injuries.
Kiyohara shook his head.
"The main force of Sunagakure has not appeared yet. What we saw just now was a joint ninjutsu attack by many of their shinobi. They are testing our defensive strength and exhausting our chakra and stamina."
Before he could finish speaking, dense footsteps and battle cries came from the forest outside the camp.
"Prepare to engage!"
Jiraiya's command echoed across the battlefield, now carrying killing intent.
At that moment, a black figure flashed out from behind.
He charged straight toward the first Sunagakure squad emerging from the forest.
It was Might Guy.
He had not even had time to change out of his ANBU uniform.
"The Black Beast of Konoha has arrived!"
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
With a loud shout, Might Guy kicked the leading Sunagakure shinobi into the air.
The kick was powerful and heavy. At the moment it struck the chest, the sound of bones cracking could be heard.
The man was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing through three trees as thick as bowls before finally stopping, limp and unmoving on the ground.
Guy immediately spun, driving force through his waist as his leg swept out.
Two more Sand chunin were struck in the side, the sound of ribs breaking clearly audible as they screamed and fell.
"What kind of speed is that?!"
"ANBU? Konoha's ANBU has this kind of taijutsu user?"
"Be careful! He might be a user of the Eight Gates. Do not take him head on!"
The Eight Gates was not a secret in the shinobi world. This taijutsu that could unleash immense power in a short time had already gained fame after the battle between Might Duy and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
However, the further one progressed, the more difficult it became to master, and very few people were capable of truly wielding it.
(End of Chapter)