After getting close to Yakumo, Kiyohara was able to sense an exceptionally pure Yin Release chakra within her.
He remembered the Kurama Yakumo from the anime. She had once created a monster called "Ido" through the power of her own mind alone.
That monster was also the embodiment of her inner demon.
Even so, this was the first time Kiyohara had ever witnessed someone capable of creating a Yin Release construct using nothing but pure spiritual energy.
"Hokage-sama."
Yakumo lowered her head and gave him a respectful bow.
Walking over to her, Kiyohara asked, "What are you painting?"
"A tree."
"I know it's a tree."
He nodded.
"What I'm asking is this. Are you painting the tree that's standing in front of you... or the tree that's inside your heart?"
Yakumo frowned slightly, as though the question had caught her completely off guard.
She lowered her head and looked at the gray, lifeless tree on her canvas before raising it again to look at the brilliant golden ginkgo tree standing before her in reality.
"They're different."
"How are they different?"
"The colors. I can't paint those colors."
Kiyohara stood and walked over to the easel, lowering his gaze to the painting.
Her technical skill was excellent.
The composition was well balanced, and her handling of light and shadow was already remarkably mature, far beyond what someone her age should normally possess.
Yet the entire painting lacked one essential quality.
Life.
To put it simply, it felt as though an oppressive, gloomy filter had been placed over the entire picture, leaving it heavy, bleak, and devoid of vitality.
Yakumo's father, Soun, glanced at his daughter's painting and let out a helpless sigh.
This style of painting was, in truth, a reflection of the darkness that filled his daughter's heart.
Yakumo possessed astonishing talent for genjutsu.
The entire Kurama Clan regarded her as the hope that would one day restore the clan's former glory.
Yet fate had played a cruel joke on them.
Her body was so frail that she could not even complete the most basic physical training required of a shinobi, cutting off her path before it had even begun.
In a shinobi village, someone who could not become a shinobi had little value, no matter how extraordinary their talent for genjutsu might be.
Even as her father, he had struggled to accept such a cruel reality.
How much harder must it be for his young daughter, who had to endure it herself?
"Is it because you can't become a shinobi that you can't paint those colors?" Kiyohara asked.
Yakumo's mental resilience had never been particularly strong.
In the anime, the birth of Ido had been the result of all her unwillingness, despair, resentment, and countless negative emotions erupting at once.
That tragedy had eventually driven her to accidentally kill her own parents.
It had become one of the saddest incidents surrounding the Kurama Clan.
"...Something like that."
The question brought a bitter smile to Yakumo's pale little face.
She truly wanted to become a shinobi.
But she simply lacked the physical qualifications.
"It has always been nothing more than a dream."
She shook her head gently.
"I'll never become a shinobi."
"Even painting makes me tired."
"I've never even traveled very far."
"And shinobis have to leave the village to carry out missions."
She honestly believed that even if she somehow became a shinobi, she would probably become the first shinobi in history to die from exhaustion simply from traveling.
"That isn't an unsolvable problem."
Kiyohara looked directly at her.
"...!"
The little girl froze in shock.
Could there really be a way to overcome the predicament that had tormented her for so many years?
Kurenai also looked at Kiyohara suspiciously.
She had never heard him mention any method capable of treating Yakumo's illness.
Then she suddenly remembered who he was.
Kiyohara was Tsunade's most outstanding disciple.
Yakumo had been brought to Konoha Hospital countless times, yet every visit had ended in disappointment.
Her condition was congenital.
Like a bloodline disease, it was extraordinarily difficult to cure.
But if it were Kiyohara...
Perhaps he truly could do it.
"Hokage-sama... do you really have a solution?"
Kurama Soun's eyes widened instantly.
His mouth hung open.
Even his voice trembled slightly, uncertain whether he had heard correctly.
"Yes."
Kiyohara nodded.
"If you're willing."
"We're willing!"
The words burst out of Soun's mouth almost immediately.
Only afterward did he realize he had overreacted.
He coughed awkwardly and tried to steady his voice.
Then, as if recalling something, he sighed.
"Hokage-sama's kindness is something the Kurama Clan will never forget."
"But Yakumo has already been examined by countless doctors."
"This illness... perhaps it truly cannot be cured."
They had even sought Tsunade's help before.
However, Tsunade had long since stopped performing surgeries herself, choosing instead to guide her subordinates.
Coupled with the constant demands of wartime over the past years, there had simply never been an opportunity.
As time passed, even Soun himself had abandoned any hope.
"That's only true for everyone else."
Kiyohara shook his head.
"Yakumo."
"Would you be willing to become my disciple?"
Yakumo froze.
"Hokage-sama..."
"Are you serious?"
Hope filled her eyes as she asked.
"Of course."
Kiyohara nodded.
"I'm the Hokage."
Yakumo lowered her head and stared at her own hands.
"I..."
"I'm willing."
Her voice caught in her throat with emotion.
Beside her, Soun stood there with his mouth hanging open, unable to close it for a very long time.
The Hokage...
Wanted to accept his daughter as a disciple?
"Hokage-sama!"
He suddenly dropped to both knees.
His knees struck the stone pavement with a heavy thud.
"The Kurama Clan..."
"The Kurama Clan has no way to repay this kindness..."
His voice shook violently.
His eyes had already turned red.
"From this day forward, the Kurama Clan is willing to devote ourselves entirely to Hokage-sama!"
"Please stand."
Kiyohara effortlessly helped him back to his feet with one hand.
"There's no need for that."
He reached into his robes and withdrew a small glass vial.
Inside was half a tube of pale green liquid that shimmered faintly beneath the sunlight.
"This is...?"
Soun stared blankly at it.
"Medicine for Yakumo."
Kiyohara handed him the vial.
"It can strengthen her life force and compensate for her body's deficiencies."
"After drinking it, her complexion won't remain so pale."
Yakumo accepted the vial and looked quietly at the liquid inside.
She did not hesitate.
Removing the stopper, she raised it to her lips and drank every drop.
The liquid slid down her throat.
Although it had been ice cold, it soon became scorching hot inside her body.
The warmth flowed from her throat to her chest before spreading throughout every cell in her body.
She could feel herself becoming... full.
As though something that had always been missing was finally being restored.
The unhealthy paleness of her face faded before everyone's eyes.
A healthy rosy complexion quickly appeared.
"It really worked..."
Yakumo slowly raised her hand and looked at her palm.
Those hands were no longer cold.
They were warm.
She lowered her gaze to her chest.
Her heartbeat had become faster.
But this wasn't the weak, fragile heartbeat she was used to.
It was stronger.
Steadier.
More powerful.
"Thank you..."
"Hokage-sama."
Yakumo spoke gratefully.
Kiyohara smiled gently and reached out, softly rubbing her little head.
"You're still calling me Hokage-sama?"
"...Sensei."
She immediately corrected herself.
"Mm."
Kiyohara nodded with satisfaction.
"Study hard from now on."
"I'll make the arrangements with the Shinobi Academy."
He withdrew his hand and stood up.
"As long as you don't engage in excessive taijutsu training, ordinary daily training won't be a problem."
"I'll deliver medicine to you regularly to maintain your physical condition."
Yakumo nodded vigorously.
"I definitely..."
"I definitely won't disappoint you, Sensei!"
Kiyohara smiled before turning toward Soun.
"I'll take responsibility for Yakumo from now on."
"Yes... yes!"
Soun nodded repeatedly before bowing once again.
"Thank you very much, Hokage-sama."
"Yakumo is in your care."
His waist bent so deeply that his forehead nearly reached his knees.
Yakumo's mother, Kurama Rin, also stepped forward and stood beside her husband, bowing just as deeply.
"No need for such formalities."
Kiyohara raised a hand, signaling for them to stand.
"Yakumo is my disciple now."
"Taking care of her is only natural."
He turned to Yakumo.
"When I have time, I'll personally teach you ninjutsu."
"And at the Shinobi Academy, make sure you study diligently."
Yakumo nodded firmly.
"I will."
Her voice was noticeably louder than before, as though she were trying her hardest to prove herself.
"I definitely won't bring shame to you, Sensei!"
Kiyohara smiled.
"Good."
Turning around, he began walking back the way he had come.
Kurenai followed beside him.
After taking a few steps, she turned around and waved toward Yakumo.
Yakumo enthusiastically waved back, her tiny hand swaying beneath the warm sunlight.
Her parents remained standing where they were, quietly watching the two figures disappear into the distance.
Only after Kiyohara and Kurenai had completely vanished beyond the end of the stone path did Yakumo's mother finally lose control of herself.
She crouched down, wrapped her daughter tightly in her arms, and burst into tears.
"M... Mom..."
Yakumo was startled.
Flustered, she hurriedly patted her mother's back.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm fine..."
"I'm fine..."
Her mother sniffled before lifting her head to look at her daughter's face.
For the first time in years, it was no longer deathly pale.
Healthy color had finally returned to her cheeks.
"I'm just..."
"I'm just so happy."
Soun stood nearby with his head tilted toward the sky.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the clouds and gently fell upon his face.
It felt wonderfully warm.
He slowly let out a long breath.
It was as though the enormous weight that had burdened his heart for so many years had finally been lifted.
After leaving the Kurama residence, Kurenai walked beside Kiyohara.
"Will this really be alright?"
She turned to look at him.
"Her body..."
"Can it really withstand being a shinobi?"
"It can."
Kiyohara nodded.
"The medicine can compensate for her lack of life force."
"As long as she doesn't undergo intensive taijutsu training, ordinary daily training won't be an issue."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Besides, Yakumo's case is very unique."
"What she truly needs isn't taijutsu."
"What she needs is guidance in Yin Release."
"And that..."
He smiled faintly.
"...is something I can teach."
Kurenai nodded thoughtfully, finally understanding what he meant.
"That's good to hear. That child truly possesses extraordinary talent."
"She certainly does."
Kiyohara withdrew his gaze.
"That's precisely why I accepted her as my disciple."
If Yakumo had not possessed such exceptional talent, Kiyohara would have done no more than heal her. By doing so, he could still earn the loyalty of the Kurama Clan, but he would never have taken her as his student.
He suddenly asked, "Do you know about the Spirit Transformation Technique?"
Kurenai's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"You mean... Kato Dan's technique?"
"That's right."
Kiyohara nodded.
"That technique doesn't require its user to possess a powerful body. What it requires is overwhelming spiritual strength. It allows the user's soul to leave their physical body, ignore the limitations of distance, infiltrate another person's consciousness, and can even directly seize control of another person's body."
He paused before turning toward Kurenai.
"Yakumo's spiritual power is incredibly strong, so strong that her own body can't withstand it. If she can master the Spirit Transformation Technique, she'll never need to engage enemies in close combat. She can simply remain in a safe location and fight using nothing but her spirit."
Kurenai fell silent for a moment.
"But... hasn't the Spirit Transformation Technique been lost?"
"No."
Kiyohara shook his head.
"It hasn't disappeared."
"Shizune should still have a copy of it. Besides, it's also recorded inside the Scroll of Seals."
Kurenai was momentarily stunned before a smile spread across her face.
"So now that you're Hokage, you can just learn whatever you want?"
"Not whatever I want."
Kiyohara corrected her.
"I've simply gained the qualifications to study it."
Kurenai laughed softly and shook her head.
"Doesn't that count as abusing your authority for personal gain?"
"No."
Kiyohara replied without the slightest hesitation.
"This is called making the best use of the right people."
When they reached a fork in the road, Kurenai stopped walking.
"I'm heading this way."
"Alright."
Kiyohara nodded.
After taking several steps, Kurenai suddenly turned around again.
"Are you coming to my house tonight?"
"We'll see."
Kiyohara answered.
"I might be a little late."
"Alright then."
...
The Hokage Tower.
Kiyohara returned to the Hokage's office.
An ANBU shinobi emerged silently from the shadows and knelt on one knee.
"Hokage-sama, the arrangements for the trip to the Land of Lightning have all been completed. You can depart the day after tomorrow."
Kiyohara sat down behind his desk.
"I understand."
He nodded.
There was still the matter of discussing the exchange of prisoners with Kumogakure.
Konoha had already delayed the negotiations for quite some time.
After the ANBU shinobi departed, another knock soon came from the office door.
"Come in."
Kiyohara spoke calmly.
The door opened.
Minato hurried inside, his expression carrying an unmistakable trace of anxiety.
"Kiyohara."
He stopped in front of the desk.
"Kushina may be going into labor."
Kiyohara's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Isn't the due date still some time away?"
"It's earlier than expected."
Minato's voice carried a rare hint of nervousness.
Normally, even when facing an entire enemy army by himself, he never felt fear.
But now...
The thought that he was about to become a father filled him with an indescribable sense of unreality.
At the same time, he could not stop worrying about Kushina.
After all, she was the Nine Tails' jinchuriki.
Childbirth was the weakest and most dangerous period of a jinchuriki's entire life.
"It'll probably happen tonight... or tomorrow..."
Kiyohara raised his hand, stopping him.
"I see."
"I'll make the necessary arrangements."
After a brief pause, he continued.
"Minato."
"Go back and stay with Kushina."
"You don't need to concern yourself with anything else."
Minato was taken aback for a moment before bowing deeply.
"Thank you very much, Hokage-sama."
Straightening himself, he quickly left the office.
The door quietly closed behind him.
Kiyohara immediately summoned back the ANBU shinobi who had just left and instructed him to notify Kumogakure that the diplomatic visit to the Land of Lightning would be postponed.
"Postponed?"
The ANBU operative looked up in confusion, his eyes visible beneath the mask.
"Yes."
Kiyohara leaned back against his chair.
"Inform Kumo that Konoha has encountered an urgent internal matter."
"The visit will be delayed."
"The new date will be announced later."
"Understood."
Just as the ANBU shinobi prepared to leave, Kiyohara added,
"Also."
"Tell Kakashi to come see me."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
The ANBU disappeared back into the shadows.
A few moments later, another knock sounded.
"Come in."
Kakashi pushed open the door.
"Kiyohara."
His face was filled with curiosity, wondering why he had suddenly been summoned.
Kiyohara looked directly at him.
"Kushina is about to give birth."
"For the next two days, you'll be responsible for all security."
"Understood."
Kakashi nodded immediately.
"Increase the number of personnel."
"Especially around Kushina."
Kiyohara paused deliberately before emphasizing one particular point.
"Pay special attention to threats involving space time ninjutsu."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You mean..."
"It's only a precaution."
Kiyohara offered no further explanation.
"...Understood."
Kakashi accepted the order without asking any more questions.
"Oh, right."
Kiyohara changed the subject.
"How is your Lightning Release Chakra Mode progressing?"
Ever since his body had been strengthened by the Power of the White Snake, Kakashi's physique had improved dramatically.
Not only could he comfortably withstand the chakra consumption of his Sharingan, but he also possessed enough stamina to develop the full body Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
"I've basically mastered it."
Kakashi shook his head.
"But I can't maintain it for very long."
"However..."
"If Yamamaru absorbs chakra for me at the same time, I can keep it active for a much longer period."
Yamamaru had dramatically increased his endurance in battle.
"That's a good approach."
Kiyohara nodded approvingly.
"If you succeed, your Lightning Release will possess even greater penetrating power than ordinary Lightning Release techniques."
"It'll also be far more effective against chakra armor."
He himself had once considered similar ideas.
For example, layering additional nature transformations on top of Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
Such as combining it with Black Lightning.
"The difficulty is quite high."
"Take your time. There's no need to rush."
After chatting with Kakashi for a little while longer, Kiyohara dismissed him so he could begin making preparations.
...
The sun rose.
The moon set.
Time slipped by unnoticed until the third day arrived.
Night.
A full moon hung high above the sky.
Silvery moonlight poured across the streets of Konoha, covering everything with a pale white glow.
Inside the village...
Everything appeared peaceful.
Quiet.
Serene.
Yet outside the village...
The atmosphere was completely different.
Kakashi and the others stood guard around a hidden cave deep within the mountains.
To prevent the Nine Tails from rampaging if something went wrong during childbirth, Kushina's delivery naturally could not take place inside Konoha itself.
Standing atop a tree stump, Kakashi slowly surveyed his surroundings.
ANBU operatives had been deployed everywhere.
Some openly patrolled the perimeter.
Others remained hidden among the darkness, silently watching every possible approach.
Everything...
Was quiet.
Too quiet.
Kakashi frowned.
For reasons he couldn't explain, a strong feeling of unease welled up inside him.
Just as he prepared to relocate to another observation point...
The air ahead suddenly began to twist and distort.
Ripples spread through space itself.
A figure slowly stepped out from the warped void.
A spiral tiger striped mask.
A black cloak.
Only a single crimson eye remained exposed.
Kakashi's pupils contracted violently.
"Enemy..."
Before he could finish shouting the warning...
Obito had already moved.
His right hand shot upward.
A pitch black chain burst from his sleeve with terrifying speed, leaving behind only an afterimage as it hurtled directly toward Kakashi.
Kakashi instantly twisted his body aside while simultaneously gripping Yamamaru at his waist.
Clang!
Blade and chain collided violently.
Brilliant sparks exploded into the night.
The chain immediately coiled around the sword and tightened with immense force.
Kakashi pulled hard.
The chain didn't move even a fraction.
With a twist of his wrist, Obito loosened the chain from the blade.
Like a living serpent, it curved sharply through the air before lashing toward Kakashi's back.
Kakashi vanished from where he stood.
In the next instant...
He appeared beside Obito.
Purple lightning wrapped around Fangmaru's blade.
Purple Lightning!
The sword slashed downward.
Obito's body suddenly became intangible.
The blade passed straight through him as though cutting through nothing more than an illusion.
The very next moment...
Obito's fist was already swinging toward Kakashi.
Bang!
Kakashi raised his arm to block.
The armored guard protecting his wrist was instantly dented inward by the impact.
His entire body was blasted backward, tumbling several times across the rooftops before finally managing to regain his footing.
"Enemy attack!"
Kakashi's shout finally rang through the night.
ANBU shinobi surged toward the battlefield from every direction.
"Protect the village!"
"Stay alert!"
"Notify the Hokage immediately!"
At the same time...
On the opposite side of the forest...
Might Guy was leading another squad of ANBU on patrol.
Their route had been carefully planned in advance.
They would circle the surrounding area, confirm that nothing unusual had occurred, and then immediately return to reinforce the temporary delivery site where Kushina was giving birth.
(End of Chapter)