"I understand. I'll return to the Land of Grass with sensei."
Kiyohara nodded.
The matter with Iwa would most likely become the signal for Hiruzen's resignation.
Because even if Iwagakure truly surrendered, Hiruzen would not demand compensation from them.
And the responsibility he would bear for that decision would be stepping down and allowing the election of the Fourth Hokage.
After all, as the defeated side, Iwagakure should theoretically have been required to pay war reparations.
However, after voluntarily making concessions, Hiruzen directly signed a peace treaty with Iwagakure.
In order to answer to the Konoha shinobi who had sacrificed their lives during the war, and under pressure from both the Fire Daimyo's court and Konoha's upper leadership, Hiruzen made this choice.
Of course, his reasoning was that he did not wish to sacrifice even more of the village's shinobi in exchange for material benefits.
"Then we'll leave tomorrow."
Tsunade spoke.
"Alright."
Kiyohara nodded.
Afterward, he remained inside the command tent, continuing his conversations with the shinobi stationed there.
An hour later, he left the tent together with Tsunade.
The next day, Kiyohara departed with Tsunade and the troops.
After spending several days traveling to the Land of Grass, they began conducting patrols throughout the region.
While Iwagakure's shinobi clans were still making movements, they had also chosen to contract their forces.
They only dispatched small squads to harass and wear down their enemies, avoiding large scale confrontations.
And with Kiyohara stationed there, more than twenty days passed in the blink of an eye.
He had no objections to it.
After all, war was war no matter where it was fought.
What Kiyohara truly cared about was the "Will."
His Sharingan and bloodline seemed to have reached the point right before another transformation.
In other words, they were approaching the threshold of a qualitative change.
At present, Kiyohara only lacked a single opportunity.
"Sage Art: Sensory Perception."
Kiyohara entered Snake Sage Mode.
His hearing spread outward through the surrounding environment.
Like a radar, it continuously scanned the terrain.
At the same time, information flowed endlessly into his mind.
The rolling hills stretching into the distance.
The rapidly flowing streams.
Even the fish swimming beneath the water and the tiny shrimp hidden among the rocks were all clearly reflected within Kiyohara's perception.
He swept his senses through the entire area and confirmed that no Iwagakure forces were nearby.
"No abnormalities."
He stood up and brushed the grass clippings from his clothes.
The green chakra surrounding his body gradually dissipated as well.
Kiyohara had discovered something interesting.
He could use Toad Sage Arts together with the Curse Mark.
He could also use Snake Sage Arts together with the Curse Mark.
However, trying to use all three simultaneously would be considerably more difficult.
Kiyohara suspected that solving this problem might require mastering the Sage Arts of Shikkotsu Forest.
He was extremely curious.
If the Sage Arts of the Three Great Holy Lands were combined and then supplemented with the Curse Mark, how would that compare to Six Paths Sage Arts?
How much of the power of Six Paths Sage Arts could it replicate?
"As expected, Iwagakure shinobi are crafty."
Kakashi commented.
Because of Obito's death, Kakashi had never held much goodwill toward Iwagakure shinobi.
In his eyes, if not for those stone shinobi back then, Obito would never have sacrificed himself.
"It can't be helped. They don't dare confront Konoha head on anymore. They're probably looking for opportunities to launch sneak attacks."
Kiyohara shook his head.
Iwagakure's current style of warfare was completely different from the early stages of the war, which was perfectly normal.
Their numbers were limited, and Konoha had cut off their crucial supply lines.
They had long since become exhausted.
The only reason they could continue holding out was because the Land of Earth's geographical conditions were somewhat better than those of the Land of Wind.
That was why they remained obsessed with tearing off a piece of another country's territory.
The Second Great Shinobi War had erupted because of economic imbalance among the major countries.
The Third Great Shinobi War was not much different.
Relations between the nations had already become tense.
Then came the disappearance of the Third Kazekage and Kumogakure's support for military expansion.
As a result, the hardline factions within every nation gained influence, and war became inevitable.
Kiyohara then instructed everyone to rest where they were for a while.
Nearby, Rin and Kurenai were chatting quietly.
"Rin, your water jutsus seems to have improved again since last time."
Kurenai's voice carried a trace of envy.
"That's because Kiyohara teaches well."
Rin smiled.
A stream of water condensed in her palm.
The flowing water gradually changed shape under her control, eventually forming a one meter long azure blade.
The blade was translucent.
Faint ripples of flowing water could be seen moving inside it.
A soft green glow shimmered along the edge, evidence of Yang Release chakra being infused into it.
"Water Release: Water Flow Blade."
It was a variation of the Water Release medical ninjutsu Kiyohara had taught her.
By combining medical chakra with offensive Water Release techniques, it could both kill and heal.
"It's beautiful."
Kurenai leaned closer to examine it.
The chill radiating from the water blade made her instinctively shrink her neck.
"My genjutsu aren't nearly this pretty."
"Your genjutsu are much more impressive."
Rin dispersed the water blade and dried her hands.
"The last time we encountered those stone shinobi, you only had to say a few words and they froze on the spot."
Kurenai pursed her lips and smiled.
She had gained considerable mastery over sound based genjutsu.
Then she secretly glanced toward Kiyohara.
He stood beside the stream.
Several strands of his black hair fluttered in the wind, revealing the smooth line of his neck.
Beneath his black shinobi attire, the outline of the chainmail armor underneath could faintly be seen.
Her heartbeat suddenly skipped.
"Let's move farther ahead. There's nobody here."
After resting for a while, Kiyohara spoke.
The others immediately voiced their agreement.
The group then continued heading north.
Their mission was simple.
Find the scattered Iwagakure squads and eliminate them.
Kiyohara had already dispatched other teams to search different regions.
His deployment had created a massive encirclement network, with squads sweeping outward in a carpet search for stone shinobi.
"Someone's there."
More than ten kilometers later, just as Kiyohara had been preparing to return, he suddenly spoke.
Within his sensory range, someone had appeared.
At his words, Rin, Kurenai, and Kakashi instantly entered combat readiness.
Water condensed once more into Rin's palm, forming a blade.
Kurenai took a deep breath as Yin Release chakra gathered in her throat.
"Let's go. Otherwise they'll run away again."
Kiyohara said.
He accelerated his pace, and the others quickly followed.
Not long afterward, they spotted an Iwagakure squad.
At the front stood a shinobi with a fierce and intimidating expression.
The moment they saw Kiyohara's group, their pupils contracted.
"Konoha's..."
Before he could finish speaking, Kurenai moved.
Her crimson lips parted slightly as she uttered a string of faint syllables.
The sound was not loud.
Yet it possessed astonishing penetrating power.
It drilled directly into the ears of all five stone shinobi.
Punches could be dodged.
Sound was far more difficult to avoid.
Even covering one's ears with both hands could not completely block it out.
Demonic Illusion: Sound Bind!
All five froze simultaneously.
Their eyes became unfocused.
The expressions on their faces stiffened.
They stood motionless like stone statues.
Rin had already rushed forward.
Her speed was astonishing, the result of Kiyohara's relentless training over this period.
The azure blade left a streaking afterimage through the air.
Its edge swept across the throat of the first stone shinobi.
Blood did not even have time to spray outward.
The flowing water within the blade sealed the wound momentarily, only allowing blood to seep out after the blade had passed.
Thud.
The corpse collapsed.
Rin spun gracefully.
The water blade swept horizontally.
The second stone shinobi's head flew into the air.
As for the remaining enemies, Kakashi dealt with them.
A flash of white light streaked from the short blade in his hand.
The next instant, it pierced through the remaining opponents.
Thud.
Thud.
The White Fang's kenjutsu had regained its vitality within Kakashi's hands.
Enhanced by the Power of the White Snake and further amplified by the Sharingan, it had become more formidable than ever.
"Excellent."
Kiyohara walked over and patted Rin's shoulder.
"Your movements are much cleaner now."
A faint blush appeared on Rin's face.
"Th... that's because Kiyohara-kun taught me well..."
"And you too, Kurenai."
Kiyohara turned toward her.
"That Sound Bind is much more stable than last time. Its duration has increased as well."
Kurenai pressed her lips together in a smile.
Her eyes curved into crescent moons.
"However, one of them escaped."
Kiyohara suddenly added.
His gaze shifted toward the dense bushes on the left.
The branches there were still trembling slightly.
A chakra signature was rapidly moving away.
"Kakashi."
Kiyohara called out.
Kakashi nodded immediately.
The moment chakra flowed into his short blade, it began vibrating faintly.
Pale purple lightning appeared along the edge.
Lightning Release: Purple Lightning.
Kakashi vanished from his position.
A moment later, a muffled groan sounded from deep within the bushes.
Then came the noise of a body collapsing.
Soon afterward, Kakashi returned, dragging an Iwagakure Chunin behind him.
The man's legs had been struck by Purple Lightning.
They were charred black and completely incapable of movement.
Kakashi threw the prisoner onto the ground and stepped back.
"Brought him back."
Seeing this, Kiyohara approached the captive and crouched down.
There was no need for him to personally handle disposable enemies like these.
However, when it came to interrogation, he remained the most skilled among them.
After all, Kiyohara's genjutsu abilities surpassed everyone else's.
He reached out and forcibly pulled open the prisoner's tightly shut eyelids.
Scarlet eyes illuminated the area.
Three tomoe slowly rotated.
Sharingan!
The prisoner's eyes instantly lost focus.
The pain on his face froze in place.
Then it gradually transformed into an empty, emotionless numbness.
...
"What are you doing near the Land of Grass?"
"...Reinforcements."
The prisoner's voice was hollow and lifeless.
"Lord Kitsuchi... ordered us... to reinforce... the front lines."
"What mission?"
"...Surround... Konoha patrol units... capture... alive..."
A slight frown appeared on Kiyohara's face.
"Capture them alive?"
"Lord Kitsuchi... wants intelligence... interrogation..."
"What is the specific plan?"
"Three days from now... main force... will encircle from the east, west, and north..."
Kiyohara continued asking several more questions. After confirming that there was no additional useful information, he released his grip.
The prisoner's eyes became unfocused once again.
His consciousness completely faded away.
Kiyohara stood up and looked toward Kakashi.
"Take care of him."
"Understood."
Kakashi drew Yamamaru.
A flash of steel appeared.
The corpse fell to the ground.
"Kitsuchi is capturing people alive."
Kiyohara looked toward the distant camp.
"What exactly is he trying to learn?"
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Kitsuchi was the Tsuchikage's son.
In terms of status, he was even more important than Asuma.
Unlike Asuma, who possessed background and identity but had not yet truly matured, Kitsuchi was already a seasoned veteran who had been famous for many years.
According to the Jin no Sho, his Earth Release techniques could tear apart the earth and shake mountains. The rock covered fist he wielded could send enemies flying with a single punch.
As the commander of ten thousand shinobi, he inspired his comrades and displayed his strength before the entire shinobi world, earning considerable fame.
However, Kiyohara did not believe Kitsuchi was stronger than him.
Inside the Konoha camp's main tent.
After listening to Kiyohara's report, Tsunade's brows knitted together tightly.
"Capturing people alive..."
She stood up and walked over to the map, staring at the marked enemy and allied positions.
"Iwagakure has indeed been contracting their defensive lines recently. But Kitsuchi suddenly increasing troop numbers while simultaneously capturing prisoners alive..."
She paused.
"They're probably gathering intelligence and trying to determine the true state of our forces."
"If he confirms that our main army is here, he likely won't act recklessly."
"But if he comes to believe our defenses are weak..."
She did not continue.
Yet everyone present understood the implication.
Iwagakure would gamble everything and launch an all out assault.
"I'll take a squad and investigate."
Kiyohara said.
"The Hyuga reinforcements should arrive tomorrow, correct?"
"More or less."
Tsunade nodded.
Increasing the number of Hyuga clan shinobi would greatly improve their reconnaissance capabilities.
The following day.
The Hyuga reinforcements arrived.
Kiyohara immediately selected several Hyuga shinobi to accompany him.
When he looked over them, he unexpectedly saw an old classmate.
Hyuga Natsu.
The future maid of Hanabi Hyuga.
For a member of the branch family, that was already considered a respectable position.
After all, Hanabi was the youngest daughter of the Hyuga clan leader.
Compared to Hinata, who was viewed as a disappointment by many within the clan, Hanabi undoubtedly received much more attention.
"K... Kiyohara-kun."
Natsu looked at him.
Several years had passed since their graduation from the Shinobi Academy.
Yet Kiyohara had already become a powerful shinobi possessing tremendous status and strength.
The contrast left her somewhat dazed.
"Natsu, it's been a long time."
Kiyohara greeted her casually.
Then he turned his attention toward the other Hyuga members.
There were both branch family and main family members present.
To Kiyohara, however, there was little difference.
What he wanted was simply a larger search radius.
"Alright, let's move."
Kiyohara said.
Besides the additional Hyuga shinobi, he also brought Rin, Kakashi, and the others.
This time, Kiyohara chose the eastern front.
According to the prisoner's information, Kitsuchi's main force had gathered in a hilly region roughly one hundred li east of the camp.
The Hyuga shinobi conducted searches on the ground.
Meanwhile, Kiyohara flew directly into the sky.
The winds at high altitude were fierce, causing his cloak to flap loudly.
Looking downward, he searched for signs of Iwagakure's base.
After some time, he frowned.
He had discovered a location that appeared to be concealed behind a barrier.
Without hesitation, he descended.
"Did you find something, Kiyohara?"
Rin asked.
"Yes. But I'll need the Byakugan."
Kiyohara replied.
He then explained the situation to Natsu and the other Hyuga shinobi.
"I'll take a look, Kiyohara-kun."
Natsu responded.
Veins immediately bulged around the corners of her eyes.
Byakugan!
The penetrating vision of the Byakugan pierced directly through the hidden barrier.
"There are roughly over two hundred stone shinobi inside."
Natsu made a quick estimate.
"That many?"
Kiyohara raised an eyebrow.
Now that was a sizeable catch.
At that exact moment, the ground suddenly trembled.
Rumble!
The hills beneath their feet shook violently.
Two enormous earthen walls rose from the earth.
Like gigantic hands closing together, they surged toward them from both sides.
Earth Release: Sandwich Technique!
Kiyohara immediately recognized the jutsu.
It was one of Iwagakure's signature jutsu.
By creating two massive hemispherical masses of earth that closed in from both sides, the technique completely immobilized its target.
Against a human, it could crush them into a bloody paste.
Against a Tailed Beast, it could suppress their movements.
It was one of the highest level restraint techniques.
The speed of the earthen walls was astonishing.
In the blink of an eye, they were already upon them.
Several Hyuga shinobi immediately used Eight Trigrams Air Palm.
Powerful shockwaves erupted outward, blasting apart portions of the advancing earth.
"The range of this technique is enormous."
Even Kakashi was shocked.
His hands moved into seals as he prepared to unleash Purple Lightning.
"I'll handle it, Kakashi."
Kiyohara said.
All of this occurred within mere moments.
Dark green chakra flowed across Kiyohara's body.
It formed a cloak around him.
His pupils instantly transformed into golden vertical slits.
Green markings appeared around his eyes.
Behind him, a gigantic phantom serpent materialized.
The snake coiled around him.
Every scale was distinct and lifelike.
Its dark green tongue flickered menacingly.
On Kiyohara's forehead, a single horn became faintly visible.
Snake Sage Mode!
"That appearance..."
Natsu froze briefly as she stared at Kiyohara's transformed state.
This was completely different from the rumors describing the blackened form he usually entered.
Was this another power he had mastered?
Curiosity filled her heart.
"Sage Art..."
Kiyohara raised his right hand.
The enormous phantom serpent behind him simultaneously lifted its head and opened its mouth.
"Lightning Release: Great Serpent Lightning!"
Azure lightning gathered in Kiyohara's palm.
Crackle!
The lightning condensed into two gigantic serpents in midair.
Each thunder serpent charged toward one of the dozens of meter tall earthen masses closing in from either side.
BOOM!
The lightning serpents collided with the earth.
Cracks instantly spread across the giant earthen structures.
Then they shattered completely.
Far away, Kitsuchi, who had been hidden while controlling the attack, never expected his technique to be broken so easily.
This was a jutsu personally taught to him by his father, the Third Tsuchikage.
It was the product of more than a decade of relentless training and refinement.
Even Tailed Beasts could be temporarily restrained by it.
He had witnessed countless enemies fall into despair beneath this technique.
Yet that leaf shinobi...
Only needed a single attack.
A single bolt of azure lightning shaped like a serpent had torn his mountain apart.
Kitsuchi swallowed unconsciously.
He stared at the distant figure surrounded by dark green chakra.
What kind of technique was that?
Senjutsu?
Why had he never seen anything like it before?
Was it another unknown power like that strange curse mark, something the shinobi world had never previously encountered?
No.
This was not the time to think about such things.
Kitsuchi took a deep breath.
Chakra rapidly gathered in his right arm.
No matter how powerful that Konoha youth was, he would still...
Before the thought could finish.
A figure appeared directly in front of him.
Kitsuchi had not even seen how he arrived.
One moment Kiyohara was hundreds of meters away.
The next moment he was standing before him.
Too fast!
However, Kitsuchi's body reacted faster than his thoughts.
His right arm swung forward instantly.
Earth Release: Fist Rock!
A stone like coloration spread from his shoulder to his fist.
His entire arm hardened in an instant.
Its weight increased several times over, carrying enough force to shatter massive boulders.
The punch roared toward Kiyohara.
Then Kitsuchi saw Kiyohara raise his left hand.
That hand was fair and slender.
Its fingers were long and well defined.
It calmly caught the punch.
Boom!
A violent shockwave exploded outward from the point of impact.
The ground beneath them cracked and sank.
Broken stones flew everywhere.
Kitsuchi's eyes widened.
His rock fist...
Had been stopped with one hand?
That hand had not even trembled.
Kiyohara's fingers tightened around his fist.
Crunch.
The sound of stone shattering echoed.
Kitsuchi's pupils shrank to their limit.
He saw Kiyohara's right hand curl into a fist.
The muscles beneath the chainmail armor tightened into smooth, powerful lines.
Then the punch came.
It was so fast that Kitsuchi could not evade it.
He could only barely raise his left arm to block.
Bang!
A dull impact rang out.
That power...
That power was completely beyond what a human should possess!
Kitsuchi's left arm bent backward at a horrifying angle.
The bones of his forearm shifted out of place near the elbow.
White bone fragments pierced through flesh.
Blood sprayed into the air.
He did not even have time to feel the pain.
Because in the next instant, a hand had already seized his throat.
Five fingers tightened.
His breathing was instantly cut off.
His face turned bright red.
Veins bulged across his forehead.
He opened his mouth.
He wanted to speak.
He wanted to struggle.
Yet he discovered that the flow of chakra throughout his body had completely stopped.
Then he saw those scarlet eyes.
Three tomoe rotated within his vision.
Faster and faster.
Deeper and deeper.
As though they were dragging his soul into a bottomless abyss.
Sharingan.
Kitsuchi's eyes gradually lost focus.
Pain.
Unwillingness.
Humiliation.
Every emotion faded away.
Only hollow numbness remained.
Kiyohara released his grip.
'The Tsuchikage's son is still a little weak.'
Kiyohara thought to himself.
The Tsuchikage's son?
Nothing more than a chicken and a dog.
He truly felt that Kitsuchi was nowhere near enough to challenge him.
Kitsuchi was Onoki's son.
He was also the future father of the famous "Leg Kage," Kurotsuchi.
Kiyohara did not even know whether Kurotsuchi had been born yet.
"Dust Release would have been interesting."
Kiyohara shook his head.
Unfortunately, neither Kitsuchi nor Kurotsuchi had inherited Onoki's Dust Release.
(End of Chapter)
TN: I don't know if I call these Iwagakure shinobi rock shinobi the whole time but I only realized it just now that it's supposed to be stone shinobi. I use village name + shinobi when they refer to themselves and stone, sand, etc. when others refer to them as like a slur. I know it's not but I did them the whole time and so I just keep doing it.