"Also, you shouldn't use that technique again. Your technique just now seemed to concentrate all its power into a single point for a charge. It was indeed destructive and fast, but because you moved too quickly, you wouldn't be able to see through an enemy's counterattack..."
Namikaze Minato precisely pointed out the flaw in Kakashi's technique.
Kakashi remained silent.
He understood those shortcomings, but they were difficult to resolve.
He was also considered a civilian ninja. He merely had a family inheritance, not a bloodline limit.
How could the perception of a pair of ordinary eyes compare to those ninjas who possessed ocular techniques?
"Before we part ways, I'll say this one last time: to a ninja, 'teamwork outweighs everything.'"
"Alright, let's move out."
After saying that, Namikaze Minato had the group continue forward.
The sky had already darkened. After resting for the night, he would leave.
After quickly setting up the tents, everyone rested in silence.
Only the sound of chewing food continued to ring out.
So that's how it is. This Lightning Release ninjutsu has to be cast this way.
Kiyohara thought to himself.
At the moment, he was communicating with Renegade Kiyohara, discussing ninjutsu.
Though he appeared to be resting, he was actually grinding away.
At Kiyohara's age, knowing that he only possessed the strength of a Chunin made it impossible for him to sleep.
Thinking of that, Kiyohara could not help glancing toward Obito.
Namikaze Minato had just privately told Obito some things about Kakashi's father, asking him to understand Kakashi better so the two would not cause any conflicts.
After learning that Kakashi's father had chosen suicide following the failure of a mission, Obito finally understood why Kakashi had become so obsessed.
Then... he went to sleep.
How could you possibly sleep at this age?
Kiyohara shook his head.
He finished the dry rations in his mouth, chose a secluded spot, and prepared to train for a while.
Namikaze Minato's sensory abilities could extend over a great distance. There were no enemies in this area anymore, so Kiyohara chose to expend chakra on training without worrying about alerting anyone.
Lightning Release: Ground Flash!
After refining his chakra, Kiyohara formed hand seals with both hands. Numerous azure arcs of electricity immediately appeared over a patch of ground before him.
"Not bad. Once you completely absorb my talent, you'll probably become even stronger."
Renegade Kiyohara nodded.
Kiyohara's own talent had fused with part of Renegade Kiyohara's talent. He had gone from utterly unremarkable to somewhat clever.
Together with Renegade Kiyohara's personal guidance, Kiyohara learned very quickly.
"Why do you seem to be getting more transparent?"
Kiyohara looked at Renegade Kiyohara's spirit body, worried about whether he could hold on until Kiyohara attained the rank of Chunin and fused with the rest of his talent.
"If you're going to disappear, I hope you disappear a little more slowly."
"..."
Renegade Kiyohara glared at Kiyohara.
This guy really was himself.
When he had still been alive and obtained the Last Words Book, he had said the same thing to the spirit bodies of other futures.
"Don't worry. I can last until then."
Renegade Kiyohara shook his head.
Having died once, he had actually come to terms with many things.
"Kiyohara, you're secretly training."
Kurenai Yuhi emerged from behind him, her ruby-like beautiful eyes looking at Kiyohara.
"Kurenai, have you ever seen Konoha at four in the morning?"
Kiyohara asked.
Though it was currently eight at night.
"Four in the morning?"
Upon hearing that, Kurenai Yuhi covered her mouth with one small hand, unable to believe it.
Did Kiyohara really get up that early every day to train?
Come to think of it, she had never gotten up at four in the morning to train.
At most, she woke up in the middle of the night when there was an urgent mission.
"That's right."
Kiyohara nodded.
So he had never seen Konoha at four in the morning either. That was why he was secretly grinding for a while at eight in the evening.
"Then I'll train with you for a while too."
Kurenai Yuhi looked at Kiyohara's handsome face and suddenly became a little dazed.
Kiyohara was already working so hard. How could she possibly slack off?
So Kurenai Yuhi began practicing Genjutsu beside Kiyohara.
Kiyohara was not particularly talented in Genjutsu, so he continued training Lightning Release ninjutsu.
I hope there'll be a Kurama Kiyohara or an Uchiha Kiyohara in the future.
Kiyohara thought.
That way, his weak point in Genjutsu would be filled in as well!
The next day.
The sky had only just begun to brighten when Namikaze Minato had already packed up the tents.
"Starting today, we'll split into three groups here. Everyone, do your best."
Namikaze Minato continued:
"Yesterday's enemy happened to be scouting alone. What comes next will be group battles, so don't let your guard down."
Namikaze Minato's expression was somewhat grave.
Kiyohara, Kakashi, and the others nodded.
Seeing this, Namikaze Minato told them to disperse.
He himself began heading toward the battlefield at the front line.
Kakashi led Nohara Rin and Obito as they continued advancing toward Kannabi Bridge.
Meanwhile, Kiyohara took Kurenai Yuhi and Genma Shiranui in another direction, planning to deliberately trigger the vigilance of Iwagakure's ninjas and draw their attention.
Afternoon.
"This is the place. There are one or two Chunin and two Genin inside. It should be the weakest point."
Renegade Kiyohara's spirit body floated back from the distance.
Kiyohara thus obtained intelligence about the area ahead.
"This should be the weakest location."
Kiyohara nodded and briefly repeated the information to the other two behind him.
The Iwagakure ninja they had kept for interrogation yesterday had still revealed quite a bit of useful intelligence.
But what he said had been vague, so they still needed to verify the specifics themselves.
"How did you know, Kiyohara?"
Kurenai Yuhi wiped the fine sweat from her forehead and asked.
The bamboo forest was stiflingly hot, and the journey had made Kurenai Yuhi sweat.
"I sensed it."
Kiyohara replied without so much as a change in expression.
"Sensory abilities..."
That was impressive.
Kurenai Yuhi thought.
To sense the strength of enemies from so far away, Kiyohara truly was outstanding.
"Alright, this is a small outpost. Let's get some practice first."
Kiyohara said.
There were also outposts nearby guarded by more than ten ninjas, but Kiyohara planned to start with something less difficult.
"Genma, lie in ambush along the direction the enemy might flee. Kurenai and I will go in and draw their attention."
Kiyohara said.
To attract Iwagakure's attention, destroying their outpost was the best choice. Kiyohara could also use the opportunity to loot a few things.
"Alright."
Kurenai Yuhi and Genma Shiranui nodded at the same time. Kiyohara was the captain now, so naturally they had to listen to him.
The next moment, Kiyohara and Kurenai Yuhi quietly slipped inside.
"Enemy attack!"
An Iwagakure Chunin suddenly detected Kiyohara and Kurenai Yuhi's traces and hurriedly cast Genjutsu on Kiyohara.
"Kurenai, don't come over. Watch me."
Kiyohara stared directly at the Genjutsu, yet his body was completely unaffected.
He began calling for Renegade Kiyohara.
The principle of Genjutsu was to disrupt the nerves in the brain. One had to throw off the flow of chakra within one's body to make the enemy's Genjutsu fail as well.
But...
The Iwagakure Chunin had used Genjutsu to control Kiyohara's body. What did that have to do with Renegade Kiyohara?
Renegade Kiyohara directly possessed part of his body, ignored the stiffness caused by the Genjutsu, and controlled Kiyohara's body as it walked over.
The Iwagakure Chunin's face was filled with shock.
Before you continue