The figures of the two men crossed back and forth within the training ground.
Kakashi used the dynamic vision of his three tomoe Sharingan to capture Kiyohara's speed.
What made him suspicious was that Kiyohara also possessed a three tomoe Sharingan, yet despite having the same configuration, Kiyohara always seemed able to move one step ahead of him.
Could it really be that having a pair was simply stronger than having a single eye?
While Kakashi was still thinking, the blade of his short sword, Yamamaru, scraped across Samehada's surface. The lightning nature chakra attached to Yamamaru was suddenly absorbed away in part.
Looking up, he saw Samehada swallowing that chakra greedily.
As expected.
Kakashi retreated half a step and widened the distance between them.
"The original one really is stronger than a clone like Yamamaru."
"It's already pretty good."
Kiyohara casually swung Samehada.
"After all, it's still only a prototype. Once it gets further improvements, it should continue getting stronger."
Kiyohara spoke calmly.
Not everyone possessed Samehada and could use it the way he did to devour chakra.
But when Kakashi faced other enemies in the future, it would become his turn to use Yamamaru to absorb the chakra of other shinobi.
"That's true."
Even while speaking, Kakashi's movements did not stop. He slashed diagonally toward Kiyohara.
Kiyohara blocked the attack and flicked Kakashi's short blade upward.
Just as the two were about to clash again, the figure of a middle aged man suddenly appeared nearby.
"Excellent swordsmanship."
Maruboshi Kosuke's voice came from the edge of the training ground.
Kiyohara and Kakashi turned their heads simultaneously.
Under the shade of a tree stood a shinobi wearing an old brown coat over chainmail armor. No one knew when he had appeared there.
He looked to be in his forties. His left eye was covered with an eyepatch, while his right eye narrowed slightly with a gentle smile on his face.
A large pot and a travel pack were strapped to his back, making him look like nothing more than a logistics genin.
But through his Sharingan, Kiyohara could clearly see the flowing chakra inside the man's body. It was unquestionably the level of an elite jonin.
And even among jonin, he belonged to the very strongest category.
Kiyohara recognized him instantly.
This middle aged man was Konoha's eternal genin, Maruboshi Kosuke.
He was also the teacher of Young Kiyohara, one of his earliest future selves.
The solid foundation of kenjutsu Kiyohara possessed had been inherited from that version of himself, and naturally carried many traces of Maruboshi Kosuke's style.
After all, in that other timeline, the two of them had been master and disciple.
Kakashi, however, clearly did not recognize the old man. A trace of confusion appeared in his eyes.
When had this shinobi appeared?
He had not sensed him at all.
Kiyohara sheathed Samehada and bowed slightly toward the old man.
"Senior Kosuke."
Kosuke raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? You know this old man?"
"I have been fortunate enough to hear of Senior's deeds."
Kiyohara replied.
Despite being only a genin in rank, Maruboshi Kosuke's true strength far surpassed the majority of elite jonin.
"I heard that Senior was a trusted shinobi during the era of the Second Hokage, that you survived all three great shinobi wars, and that your strength is unfathomable. Yet because of a vow, you willingly remained a genin for life. Such integrity is truly admirable."
Hearing this, the shock in Kakashi's eyes deepened.
The era of the Second Hokage?
Didn't that mean this old man belonged to the same generation as the Third Hokage?
And on top of that… unfathomably strong?
Kosuke burst into hearty laughter.
"What integrity? It's nothing more than atonement. But you, young man…"
He looked toward Kiyohara, and a sharp glint flashed within his lone eye.
"The kenjutsu you just displayed was quite interesting. That style… I feel like I've seen it somewhere before."
Kosuke scratched his head.
He had a strange feeling.
Why did Kiyohara's kenjutsu carry traces of his own style?
But he should never have had any contact with Kiyohara, nor had he ever taught him kenjutsu.
Kiyohara's heart stirred slightly.
"Senior truly has sharp eyes."
Kiyohara answered frankly.
"My kenjutsu is indeed a fusion of many schools. Part of it comes from Konoha's Leaf-Style Willow."
"Leaf-Style kenjutsu?"
Kosuke nodded.
Just like Leaf-Style taijutsu, Leaf-Style kenjutsu was something anyone could learn.
As for how much one could master, that depended entirely on the individual.
After all, they were only basic kenjutsu techniques.
"Forget it, forget it. Why bother dwelling on this? I was only passing by. I saw such an exciting sparring session that I couldn't help interrupting. That was rather rude of me."
Kosuke waved his hand and turned to leave.
"Please wait, Senior."
Kiyohara suddenly called out.
"Hm?"
"I wonder if this junior might be fortunate enough to receive some guidance from Senior?"
Kiyohara planted Samehada into the ground.
"Senior's attainments in kenjutsu are far above my own."
Kiyohara spoke earnestly.
This was actually a perfect opportunity to justify the existence of the Leaf-Style Willow technique.
As long as Senior Kosuke demonstrated it before him, Kiyohara would have a legitimate reason to claim he had copied it.
The technique itself was indeed extremely powerful, especially since Kiyohara's Yin Release talent was now exceptionally high.
Using this kind of genjutsu type kenjutsu would produce twice the result with half the effort.
Kosuke turned around again after hearing his request.
"Guidance? This old man is only a genin, while you are a jonin and the hero who slew the Mizukage in battle. What qualifications would I possibly have to guide you?"
"A shinobi's rank has nothing to do with true strength."
Kiyohara shook his head.
"If Senior is willing to teach me, I would be deeply grateful."
Beside them, Kakashi could not help speaking up.
"Kiyohara, this senior, he…"
"Kakashi."
Kiyohara interrupted him while still looking directly at Kosuke.
"Senior Kosuke's strength belongs among the very top even among jonin. He simply… refuses promotion."
The smile on Kosuke's face faded slightly.
He stared deeply at Kiyohara.
"You seem to know quite a lot of things, young man."
"Only a little."
Kiyohara replied calmly.
After a long silence, Kosuke finally nodded.
In truth, he had hidden his identity for many years already. He rarely guided younger shinobi anymore and merely carried out missions quietly in the shadows.
Now that he thought about it, Kiyohara was Tsunade's disciple.
Tsunade's second grandfather had been Senju Tobirama, and he himself had once received kindness from Tobirama.
Giving Kiyohara some pointers was only natural.
Thinking of this, Kosuke removed the large pot and pack from his back and gently placed them on the ground.
Then he drew an ordinary looking sword from his waist. The blade was somewhat worn, and even the cloth wrapped around the hilt had already yellowed with age.
"Since you insist…"
Kosuke gripped the sword, and the aura around him suddenly transformed.
The gentle, somewhat hunched middle aged man from before vanished entirely.
In his place stood a sharp sword that had just left its sheath.
"This old man will exchange a few moves with you."
A bright light flashed in his single eye.
"If there's anything you don't understand in the future, you can come ask me as well."
"Thank you very much, Senior Kosuke."
Kiyohara pulled Samehada back up.
He had not expected things to go so smoothly. He originally thought he would need to spend much more effort persuading him.
It seemed this was the effect of status.
The connections accumulated behind one's identity would appear when help was needed.
If Kiyohara had not become Tsunade's disciple and were merely an ordinary Uchiha, things likely would not have gone this smoothly.
Kakashi stepped back to the edge of the training ground, his Sharingan fixed tightly upon the two of them.
He also wanted to see exactly how powerful this man was, the one whom Kiyohara claimed to be extraordinarily strong even among jonin.
The next moment, Maruboshi Kosuke's figure flashed forward.
He raised his blade and slashed horizontally.
The motion was so simple that it resembled nothing more than a beginner practicing the most basic sword swing.
Lightning suddenly burst beneath Kiyohara's feet as Lightning Release: Lightning Body Flicker activated. His figure shifted three meters to the left instantly.
'So fast!'
Kosuke inwardly thought that he truly was worthy of being Tsunade's student.
The weapons collided as the two exchanged blows at astonishing speed.
Samehada thrust straight toward Kosuke, but midway through the strike, the blade suddenly changed direction and slashed upward toward his throat.
Kosuke blocked the attack, yet the force behind it nearly sent him flying away entirely.
Even his physical strength was frighteningly similar.
At first, Kosuke believed Kiyohara genuinely needed guidance from him. But now he realized cold sweat was beginning to form on his forehead.
This brat's kenjutsu was incredibly strong.
The reason he probably wanted to spar with him was simply to adapt to different fighting styles.
Otherwise, in terms of kenjutsu alone, he might already have lost.
After all, Kiyohara's speed and strength both exceeded his own. Combined with such solid kenjutsu fundamentals, resisting him was extremely difficult.
Once he realized this, Kosuke decided to focus purely on feeding Kiyohara techniques.
Water like ripples appeared along his katana.
Water Release: Flowing Slash!
Kosuke swung out a crescent shaped water blade toward Kiyohara.
Kiyohara carefully observed the technique. His Sharingan could clearly see the water nature chakra flowing across the sword.
A moment later, water currents also appeared along Kiyohara's blade.
He used Water Release: Flowing Slash as well.
However, Kiyohara's water blade was vastly larger. It instantly split apart Kosuke's attack before continuing toward him.
Kosuke praised him repeatedly while continuing to unleash more sword techniques one after another.
Watching from the side, Kakashi was completely dazzled.
He suddenly remembered that before his father died, Sakumo had indeed once mentioned a shinobi in Konoha who possessed extraordinary kenjutsu yet remained extremely low profile.
Now it seemed that person had been Maruboshi Kosuke all along.
Finally, Kosuke swung another slash toward Kiyohara while infusing Yin Release chakra into it.
That single slash instantly transformed into countless willow catkin like sword strikes.
The attacks drifted with the wind and possessed the ability to bind whoever they touched.
Meanwhile, Kosuke himself concealed his true body within the endless barrage of slashes, preparing to launch the real killing strike.
However, before Kiyohara's eyes, none of those attacks could remain hidden.
He already knew the technique "Leaf-Style Willow." It had been one of the earliest S Rank kenjutsu and genjutsu techniques he had ever obtained, so how could he possibly fall for it again?
Kiyohara swung Samehada.
In an instant, countless phantom images of Samehada appeared everywhere.
Leaf-Style Willow!
Kiyohara's counterattack directly forced Kosuke's hidden figure out into the open.
Looking at Kiyohara, Kosuke could only smile bitterly.
"Young people these days are truly incredible. Let's stop here for today."
Kosuke shook his head helplessly.
Leaf-Style Willow was one of his trump card techniques, yet Kiyohara had learned it after seeing it only once. What was even the point of continuing the fight?
At this rate, the only thing Kiyohara did not know about him was the color of his underwear.
"Sorry, Senior. I acted on impulse for a moment…"
"It's fine, it's fine. If this technique can help you, then use it."
Kosuke forgave Kiyohara for secretly learning his technique.
After all, this was simply one of the basic abilities of the Sharingan. It was essentially passive.
He had used this move in front of many Uchiha before, yet Kiyohara was the only one who had managed to learn it.
That could only mean Kiyohara himself was exceptionally talented, and in a way, it also meant this technique would continue to be passed down.
"Although there isn't much I can teach you, if there's ever anything you want to ask in the future, feel free to come find me."
Kosuke waved his hand and picked up the large pot and travel pack once again.
"You possess astonishing talent and excellent comprehension. In the future, you will definitely achieve great things."
"Senior Kosuke, would you like to stay for a meal?"
Kiyohara asked.
"I should get going. I still need to deliver supplies to the mission squad."
He waved casually and slowly walked away from the training ground with his back slightly hunched.
When he reached the entrance, he suddenly turned around and shouted toward Kiyohara.
"If you want guidance next time, remember to treat me to some good sake!"
As soon as the words fell, his figure disappeared deep into the forest.
Kakashi walked over to Kiyohara's side and stared in the direction Kosuke had left. After a long silence, he could not help sighing inwardly at just how many hidden experts Konoha truly possessed.
Meanwhile, at Tsunade's house.
Tsunade sat cross legged on the tatami floor in the living room. Several freshly delivered medical department documents were spread out in front of her, yet she merely held a cup of sake in her hand and took lazy sips from it from time to time.
Shizune sat across from her organizing paperwork while Tonton lay on her lap taking a nap.
"Where did that brat Kiyohara run off to now?"
Tsunade glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.
"It's already noon. Didn't he say we'd go inspect the land allocated for the new project this afternoon?"
"Kiyohara-kun went to Training Ground Three early this morning."
Shizune answered without even raising her head.
"He went there again?"
Tsunade curled her lips.
"All he does every day is train. He never even thinks about resting. Sure, his strength is increasing quickly, but he shouldn't train himself into exhaustion…"
She complained aloud.
Shizune raised her head with a somewhat puzzled expression.
"Lady Tsunade seems especially concerned about Kiyohara-kun lately."
When Shizune thought about it carefully, she even felt slightly jealous.
She was Tsunade's very first disciple, so why had Tsunade never shown this level of concern for her?
"Am I?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"I'm merely fulfilling my responsibility as a teacher."
"Yes, yes, of course."
Shizune could only answer like that.
"Then when Kiyohara-kun comes back later, Lady Tsunade better not drag him to the casino again."
"Hey!"
Just as the two of them were joking around, the sound of the front door opening came from the entrance hall.
Kiyohara had returned.
"Oh, you're back?"
Tsunade swirled the sake in her cup.
"How was your training?"
"Not bad."
Kiyohara sat down beside the low table and accepted the tea Shizune handed him.
"Though I did meet a rather interesting senior."
Kiyohara spoke calmly.
He had successfully legitimized "Leaf-Style Willow," Maruboshi Kosuke did not mind him using it, and he had also obtained several Water Release related kenjutsu. The gains this time had truly been enormous.
"A senior?"
"Maruboshi Kosuke."
The hand holding Tsunade's cup paused immediately.
"Old Man Kosuke?"
A trace of surprise flashed through her eyes.
"How did you end up meeting him?"
"We happened to run into each other at the training ground."
Kiyohara briefly explained what had happened.
"Senior Kosuke's attainments in kenjutsu are incredibly high. He gave me quite a bit of inspiration."
Tsunade fell silent for a moment before slowly setting down her cup.
"Kosuke really is an extraordinary shinobi."
She spoke softly.
"My second grandfather admired him greatly back then. He once said that although Kosuke's heart was shackled, his sword remained free. It's just a pity…"
She did not continue speaking and merely shook her head lightly.
Shizune asked curiously, "That Mr. Kosuke… is he really that strong?"
"Strong?"
Tsunade smiled faintly.
"Let me put it this way. Back then, he had the chance to jump directly from genin to jonin, but he refused. He also learned ninjutsu personally taught by my second grandfather and the old man. Many of his Water Release techniques are extremely powerful as well."
Tsunade shook her head while explaining further to Shizune.
Back then, her second grandfather had personally taught Kosuke the technique "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique."
Even shinobi from Kirigakure needed to honestly form forty four hand seals to use that technique. It was considered one of the ninjutsu with the longest startup time imaginable.
Yet Maruboshi Kosuke had managed to simplify it down to only six hand seals, greatly improving its efficiency.
At that moment, Shizune finally understood why Kiyohara had addressed him as "Senior."
"Enough about that."
Tsunade waved her hand and changed the topic.
"The project land has already been approved. It's located in the western outskirts of the village near the Forest of Death. The area is large enough."
She pulled a map out from the stack of documents and spread it across the table.
Kiyohara leaned closer to examine it.
The marked area on the map was roughly the size of five football fields. It was surrounded by forest on three sides and bordered by water on the fourth, making it an ideal location.
Furthermore, it was far from residential areas, so even if some kind of accident occurred during experimentation, innocent civilians would not easily be affected.
"What about the construction funds?"
He asked.
"The old man approved an initial budget of thirty million ryo."
Tsunade pointed toward the budget sheet beside the map.
"Additional funding will depend on the project's results later on. However…"
She leaned closer to Kiyohara, her eyes sparkling brightly.
"You're the project manager, and the authority to approve spending is also in your hands. So…"
She grinned.
"You definitely can't skimp on your teacher's consultant fee, right?"
Kiyohara could not help laughing.
"Don't worry. I won't leave out the share you deserve."
"Now that's more like it."
Satisfied, Tsunade leaned back against the cushion before suddenly remembering something.
"Oh right, Shizune is also interested in Water Release medical ninjutsu. Remember to teach her."
After glancing at Shizune, Tsunade spoke to Kiyohara.
"No problem."
Kiyohara nodded.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Kiyohara."
Shizune immediately smiled brightly.
"Pui~"
Tonton was woken up by the noise and snorted twice in annoyance.
Tsunade picked up her sake cup again.
"But seriously, haven't you been pushing yourself too hard lately? Training, research, managing projects… don't wear yourself out."
"I understand, Sensei."
Kiyohara took a sip of tea.
His current strength was indeed quite good.
But only quite good.
Against the Otsutsuki, it still was nowhere near enough.
The greatest enemies in the shinobi world were not the shinobi standing openly in the light.
The true threats were the Otsutsuki lurking in the shadows of the shinobi world, including Otsutsuki Momoshiki, Otsutsuki Kinshiki, and Otsutsuki Urashiki, who were still traveling through outer space toward this world.
Even closer than them were the Otsutsuki living on the moon, such as Otsutsuki Toneri.
Those people intended to use the power of the Tenseigan to destroy the lower world and rebuild the peaceful world created by the Sage of Six Paths, turning themselves into the founders of a new human era.
Such insane ambitions were not merely fantasies.
They genuinely possessed the power to achieve them.
The power of the Tenseigan alone was capable of splitting the moon in half with a single sword strike.
To put it bluntly, without Otsutsuki bloodline power, one was practically no different from a beggar in the shinobi world.
After chatting for a while longer, Kiyohara returned to his room.
At that moment, he suddenly felt a slight vibration from within his mind.
It came from the urn that belonged to White Snake Kiyohara.
Immediately afterward, a pale spirit body visible only to him floated out from the box and coiled around his shoulder.
"Hiss… my young self."
White Snake Kiyohara's voice echoed directly inside his mind.
"There's movement… from Ryuchi Cave."
Kiyohara's pupils contracted slightly.
"What kind of movement?"
"It seems the White Snake Sage has noticed you."
A trace of solemnity flashed through White Snake Kiyohara's vertical pupils.
"I can sense chakra from Ryuchi Cave arriving in Konoha. It should be one of the Three Great Snake Princesses."
Kiyohara's heart tightened instantly.
The White Snake Sage had noticed him?
Was it because he had attempted to cultivate Snake Sage Mode?
Or because of the White Snake cells mixed into his body?
Or perhaps because he had inherited some traces of White Snake bloodline power?
"They want to deal with me?"
Kiyohara frowned.
Could Ryuchi Cave possibly have some kind of anti piracy awareness?
But then why had they never gone looking for Mitsuki?
After all, Mitsuki had not mastered Snake Sage Mode through orthodox training either.
"Probably not."
White Snake Kiyohara shook his head.
"Although the White Snake Sage has a rather eccentric temperament, she hasn't left Ryuchi Cave for hundreds of years…"
He paused briefly.
"Still, you should speed up your plans to head to Ryuchi Cave. You need to settle the score with that one eyed snake, Garaga, and you also need to obtain the complete inheritance of Ryuchi Cave Sage Arts. The sooner these things are completed, the better."
"Otherwise, if the White Snake Sage changes her mind or some other unforeseen situation arises, things could become troublesome."
Kiyohara remained silent for a moment.
"I understand."
(End of Chapter)
TN: Changed Ryuchi Cave Sage Mode to Snake Sage Mode and probably also gonna change Mount Myoboku Sage Mode to Toad Sage Mode starting this point.