After searching for a while, Kiyohara found five shuriken, two kunai, a map, and something resembling a compass.
"It's encrypted."
Kiyohara examined the various symbols and markings on the map.
This was also one of the essential skills ninjas had to learn.
If things were written directly onto a map, it would be easy for enemies to obtain intelligence and exploit it against them.
"Encryption?"
Namikaze Minato stroked his chin.
"Kurenai, you know Genjutsu. Try interrogating him."
Namikaze Minato said.
Unfortunately, there were no Yamanaka Clan ninjas around.
The Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques were best suited for extracting intelligence from enemies, but Genjutsu would work as well.
Among those present, only Kurenai Yuhi specialized in Genjutsu.
Genjutsu users were well suited for interrogating targets.
"All right, I'll try."
Kurenai Yuhi nodded.
She formed hand seals and began using Genjutsu on the Iwagakure ninja Kakashi had captured.
As the Genjutsu infiltrated his mind, the Iwagakure ninja revealed some information.
They were merely one squad among many.
To properly protect the crucial node that was Kannabi Bridge, Iwagakure had established numerous hidden outposts.
Each outpost could watch over the others, expanding the range of their vigilance.
The moment Kannabi Bridge came under threat, the others would immediately rush over to provide support.
No wonder the Iwagakure forces surrounded Kakashi so soon after he transplanted the Sharingan and dealt with the enemy, Kiyohara thought.
In the end, Kakashi had exhausted too much chakra and fainted. Only Namikaze Minato's timely arrival had allowed Kakashi and Nohara Rin to survive.
As for why Namikaze Minato had been able to reach Kakashi at just the right moment, the reason was simple: Namikaze Minato had given Kakashi a specially made kunai.
Using the Flying Thunder God mark on it, Namikaze Minato had rushed over.
This also meant... Namikaze Minato had known Kakashi's group's whereabouts from beginning to end.
"By the way, today is the first mission you're carrying out after officially becoming a Jonin, Kakashi. This is my gift to you."
Namikaze Minato took the pack from his back and pulled out a specially made kunai engraved with the words "Sword of Shinobi Love." It was shaped like a trident.
"It's a little heavy and a little crooked, but once you get used to it, you'll find it surprisingly comfortable to handle. Take this with you on this mission."
Namikaze Minato placed his index finger through the ring beneath the kunai's grip and demonstrated the special kunai to Kakashi.
Then, he handed the special kunai to Kakashi.
Here it comes, Kiyohara thought.
He had just been thinking about this when a scene from the original story unfolded before him.
"I have something for you too, Kakashi."
Smiling, Nohara Rin took out a specially made medical kit. Holding it in both hands, she offered it to Kakashi.
This was Nohara Rin's personally customized medical kit. Everything in it had been improved and was easy to use.
"Thanks."
Kakashi accepted it, then looked at Obito and held out his hand.
The meaning was self-evident. He was clearly asking Obito for a gift.
"Wha... what does that hand mean? I don't have anything I want to give you."
Obito grumbled noisily.
Kakashi waved a hand and said,
"Forget it. It probably wouldn't be anything worthwhile anyway. Giving me something useless would just be extra baggage."
Obito immediately refused to accept that, declaring that he was an Uchiha and would definitely surpass Kakashi in the future.
Kiyohara stroked his chin.
Unfortunately, Kakashi would never get the chance to return the favor. Obito and Nohara Rin would remain Chunin forever.
Come to think of it, once he returned, he should be promoted to Chunin as well.
So should he accept a few gifts too?
Kiyohara considered it.
"By the way, when you were promoted to Chunin, did anyone give you gifts?"
Kiyohara asked Renegade Kiyohara.
"I didn't have as much idle time as you. Improving my own strength was the proper thing to do."
Renegade Kiyohara shook his head.
He pursued power more than most, otherwise he would not have defected with Orochimaru.
"All right, all right, stop arguing. We're about to enter the Land of Grass."
Namikaze Minato said.
At the end of this grassland lay the towering ancient trees of Mushroom Forest.
The mushrooms there grew on the trees, each one larger than a house.
"Rest for a while. I'll be accompanying you today, but I'll have to leave tomorrow."
Namikaze Minato said.
The situation on the front lines was far from optimistic, and he had to provide support as soon as possible.
"Yes."
Everyone answered in unison.
After finding another concealed spot and resting, Kiyohara began practicing the Detoxification Jutsu and Hemostasis Jutsu.
Hemostasis Jutsu was simple. It was essentially stitching wounds closed.
First, he used sutures to stitch together the wound on his skin. Then, during battle, he gathered chakra at the wound to keep excessive movement from tearing it open.
The other technique, Detoxification Jutsu, was somewhat more difficult. It required using chakra to separate toxins from the blood.
Generally, people practiced by pouring two liquids of differing densities into a cup.
Kiyohara used coffee and milk.
To make marching easier, he had brought only a small amount.
After mixing the coffee and milk in a cup, Kiyohara began using chakra to control the liquid inside.
Huff...
The liquid spun continuously, somehow creating a sensation like plasmolysis.
Renegade Kiyohara stood behind Kiyohara, watching him practice.
Kiyohara had obtained both techniques from Tsunade, so he had gotten a bargain.
"Hey, Kiyohara, you know Medical Ninjutsu too?"
Nohara Rin, who had been resting, turned her head and noticed Kiyohara's movements.
"Yeah, I just started learning."
Kiyohara nodded.
Nohara Rin was a medical ninja, which meant she had done all of this before.
"Kiyohara, if you do it like this, you should be able to do it faster..."
Seeing this, Nohara Rin walked over to Kiyohara and explained the trick to him.
Kiyohara listened attentively, occasionally making adjustments according to Nohara Rin's instructions.
After taking the forbidden drug, his chakra reserves had doubled from their original amount.
Thus, the strain on his chakra had eased somewhat, and it did not matter if he used a portion of it for training.
It'd be nice if I could get a few more forbidden drugs, Kiyohara thought.
Naturally, endlessly stacking forbidden drugs was impossible, but by taking several different kinds, it should still be possible to raise his chakra reserves to the level of a Kage or an elite Jonin.
According to Renegade Kiyohara, there were several more such forbidden drugs. They could completely unleash the body's potential while having minimal side effects.
That should have been the combination Sasuke used.
The only pity was that Renegade Kiyohara did not know the formulas either. He had not been important enough within the organization.
This reminded Kiyohara of the fitness world from his previous life, where bad news surfaced every so often.
Straight into Nine-Dragon Body Tempering, ascending to the steroid planet.
If you wanted to build a body full of muscle, you had to take drugs.
Coming to the Ninja World was really no different.
The Ninja World's most legendary drug user was Yakushi Kabuto. He chugged bag after bag of forbidden drugs and even injected Orochimaru's cells into himself, gaining Orochimaru's power.
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