"Is Steel Release essentially just another form of chakra? If so, can it be reshaped beyond simply coating the body?"
Kiyohara posed the question to Steel Kiyohara.
He wanted to know if his future self had explored more advanced applications.
For example—could steel spikes erupt from his skin? Could the chakra leave his body and form steel drills or needles to attack from a distance? Could it be fused with other releases?
"Of course. I even developed a way to channel Steel Release hardening into weapons," Steel Release Kiyohara replied with pride.
He began to explain.
When a ninja infuses chakra into a weapon or other object, it's called "chakra flow."
Fire-style coating, lightning-style coating, wind-style edge sharpening—at the core, they're all chakra nature transformations.
His kekkei genkai, Steel Release, was no different.
It could be applied to certain objects to temporarily harden them—for instance, picking up a leaf and making it sturdy enough to use as a throwing knife or melee weapon.
"Ah, I see…"
Kiyohara was slightly disappointed. When applied to external objects, the steel chakra's effect was significantly weakened—barely reaching true metal hardness.
Still, he thought, if Steel Kiyohara had ever met Swordsman Kiyohara, they'd probably get along well.
That guy had spent his life pursuing the ideal of "everything is a weapon"—able to grab any twig off the ground and fight.
"But you probably can't do that yet," Steel Kiyohara said. "What you've inherited isn't complete."
"Yeah," Kiyohara nodded.
Still, each future self had their own specialty, developing unique uses. It was just like the old saying: there are no useless kekkei genkai, only useless ninja.
In the following days, Kiyohara continued refining his newly-learned Lightning Release jutsu.
His Steel Release training, however, was kept highly secret. He always had Steel Release Kiyohara's spirit stand watch during practice.
Meanwhile, scouting reports showed Kirigakure's probing attacks becoming more frequent.
The pressure inside the base was building. There were more and more reports of supply lines being harassed, and patrols increasingly encountered small groups of Mist ninja.
One day, Kiyohara saw Tsunade, Shizune, and a group of medical and logistics staff being evacuated inland under ANBU escort.
Clearly, the higher-ups believed the eastern coastal front was in growing danger, and relocating medical assets was the logical move.
—
Inside Orochimaru's tent…
A Root shinobi stood before him, relaying Shimura Danzo's message.
"Lord Danzo requests that you persuade Kiyohara to join Root."
The masked agent wore the standard attire of Root, which fell under the broader ANBU structure.
"…Danzo…"
Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils narrowed.
So that old snake had noticed Kiyohara too.
But Orochimaru had bigger plans now.
He needed to build his own faction—not just rely on Root operatives.
And Kiyohara was different from all the other ninja he'd met.
He—wasn't a monkey.
"I understand. Tell Danzo not to bother me for a while. I'll deliver the experiment results he wants soon enough."
He licked his lips and dismissed the agent.
He'd already had subordinates monitor Kiyohara's activity the past few days.
The result? All he did was train.
Orochimaru respected that. Only those who could endure tedious, repetitive training could go far.
Still, he was curious:
In the shinobi world, geniuses usually came in two types:
Those with powerful bloodlines.
And those who relied on intelligence.
Back when Kiyohara hadn't awakened his Magnet Release, Orochimaru had classified him as the second type.
But now that he had a kekkei genkai, Orochimaru wondered—would he change?
As for Root…
He had no intention of handing talent over to Danzo.
If he ever wanted to become Hokage, he'd need his own team, or else he'd just be a puppet.
—
"Kiyohara! Why haven't you let me visit the past few days?"
Kurenai stood in his path, hands on her hips.
"How's your jutsu coming along?"
"It's done," Kiyohara nodded.
He'd finally gotten "Lightning Release: Fury Thunder Arrows" under control.
"So when are you going to train with me?"
Kurenai looked expectant.
She'd spent the past few days mastering a new genjutsu her father, Yuhi Shinku, had taught her.
"In a few days."
A real Sigma male must resist temptation.
Training with Kurenai might be pleasant, and genjutsu exchanges were valuable—
—but not right now.
His focus was on mastering Steel Release.
The pressure at the coastal base was suffocating. If someone told him Kirigakure would launch a sneak attack that very night, he'd believe it.
How could he sleep peacefully?
After all, Steel Kiyohara had died when his chakra ran dry and he could no longer use his kekkei genkai.
That's why Kiyohara was racing to strengthen himself, then planned to seek out an Iwagakure Steel Release user.
In the original story, Hiruko had kidnapped one for his experiments after defecting.
"Alright, then…" Kurenai gave a small nod.
"Asuma hasn't been bothering you?"
"He tried, but apparently he's leaving the entire eastern front soon—today or tomorrow."
"Hokage's orders?"
"Medical division's, I heard."
"…Ah," Kiyohara understood.
It must've been Asuma's mother pulling strings again.
Everyone now knew this front was about to explode—and odds of victory weren't great. They were quietly withdrawing valuable personnel to avoid heavy casualties.
"Best stay safe," Kiyohara said, handing Kurenai a scroll.
She opened it to find a collection of his notes.
Mostly foundational genjutsu, but written from unique perspectives.
Her heart warmed. He was always nowhere to be found, but at least he did decent things once in a while.
"There's other ninjutsu in there too," he added.
The truth was—genjutsu wasn't worth pursuing unless you had the bloodline to back it up.
Even a lifetime of effort didn't compare to a Uchiha unlocking their Sharingan.
And genjutsu could be dispelled by allies, making it unreliable in team battles—unless you caught everyone at once.
"Still, learning more jutsu is always a good thing."
He didn't want anything bad to happen to Kurenai.
They were close—nearly to the point of knowing everything about each other.
And with every increase in his strength, the butterfly effect would only grow.
For example, since Ao died by his hand, then in the future, Terumi Mei might never uncover the genjutsu controlling Yagura.
—
"Kurenai's hanging around Kiyohara again…"
Far off, Asuma watched the scene unfold.
Tch!
So what if he was handsome and good at genjutsu?
He was learning too! One day, he'd blow everyone's minds with his own genjutsu!
Asuma clenched his fists.
"Come on, Asuma," said his teammate, Inuka-shi.
A black dog perched on Inuka's head.
All Inuzuka ninja formed pacts with dogs—their secret techniques relied on teamwork between human and canine.
"I'll go say goodbye to Kurenai," Asuma said.
Inuka glanced at Kurenai and Kiyohara… and immediately understood.
Honestly, the guy thought, they really do look like a perfect couple—talented guy, beautiful girl.
"Asuma… don't stop here. Your journey's just beginning."
He patted Asuma on the shoulder.
Licking boots only ends in tragedy, after all.
"…Huh?"
Asuma gave him a confused look, sensing something strange in his teammate's eyes.
—
Later that night, just as Kiyohara was about to take his shirt off and wash up—
A pale man was standing silently in his tent.
Kiyohara's scalp tingled.
Orochimaru.
He hadn't sensed a thing.
"Lord Orochimaru."
"No need to be tense, Kiyohara-kun. I just have a few questions."
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
He always had more patience when dealing with geniuses.
"According to my intel," he continued, "you're proficient in wind, earth, and lightning chakra transformations. Two is all that's required for a jōnin…"
The implication was clear: Kiyohara already had the qualifications to take the jōnin exam.
It was just a matter of time.
Orochimaru's eyes swept over Kiyohara's body, noting the lean muscle definition.
Kiyohara calmly adjusted his shirt.
"What does Lord Orochimaru wish to ask?"
"You understand chakra nature transformations quite well—wind, earth, lightning… and now Magnet Release. But I'm curious, Kiyohara-kun—what drives you to pursue power so relentlessly?"
Kiyohara fell silent.
He had asked himself this before.
"At first, it was just to survive."
His voice was calm.
"On the battlefield, strength is the currency of life. But later…"
He paused, gathering his words.
"Later I began to wonder… why does chakra manifest as fire, water, lightning, wind, and earth? Why can it combine into kekkei genkai? What's the principle behind it all? I started thinking that maybe—just maybe—exploring these questions might lead me toward some kind of truth."
He dressed it up, of course.
Say what people want to hear.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen had asked the question, he would've said: "For the Will of Fire! To protect the village!"
"Truth, huh…"
Orochimaru's lips curved into a smile.
"It might just be wishful thinking," Kiyohara said.
"I simply believe that a force as mysterious as chakra shouldn't be used only to kill or be killed. It must be capable of revealing something deeper. That's why I study all kinds of techniques."
The tent fell quiet for a few seconds.
Then Orochimaru chuckled.
"Fufufu… how interesting. Kiyohara-kun, you're different from nearly every ninja I've met. Most pursue power for missions, for the village, for revenge, or to protect something. But you—you, like me—seek truth itself."