Stocking Up, Are We?

Kiyohara turned off the tap, quickly dried himself with a towel, and changed into clean shinobi clothes.

When he opened the door, he found Kurenai Yuhi standing outside the courtyard gate, while Genma Shiranui leaned against the doorframe with a senbon needle in his mouth.

"Kurenai, Genma, what are you doing here?"

Kiyohara was somewhat surprised.

Kurenai blinked her distinctive red eyes and said,

"I heard you were taking part in the Chunin Selection Exam today. Genma and I happened to be free, so we came by to see just how much you've been hiding."

Genma Shiranui shifted the senbon to the other corner of his mouth and said indistinctly,

"Yeah. Lord Minato praised you to the skies before. We all wanted to see what you could do for ourselves."

"Then let's go together. Don't be late."

The three of them headed toward the selection exam venue.

There were gradually more pedestrians along the way, many of them shinobi or related personnel headed for the same destination.

As they walked, Kiyohara began speaking with Renegade Kiyohara.

"About the 'Last Words Book'..."

"You mentioned before that, while you were still alive, you also received last words from other 'possibilities,' right?"

"That's right."

Renegade Kiyohara replied.

"The first time was when I was helping Orochimaru escort some documents. I happened to run into an attack from another village, and after escaping with severe injuries, it suddenly appeared in my consciousness."

There was a hint of reminiscence in Renegade Kiyohara's voice.

"The future version I encountered was a believer of the Jashin Cult. You could call him Believer Kiyohara. His only final wish was to experience profound pain.

"So I fulfilled it through self-harm. Unfortunately, he had no abilities at all. It only increased my mental energy somewhat."

Renegade Kiyohara added slowly.

"So that's how it is."

Understanding dawned on Kiyohara, and he continued,

"Does that mean I might also receive last words from a future version with a Kekkei Genkai?"

This was something he cared about deeply.

If the Last Words Book was anchored to every possibility of Kiyohara's existence, then theoretically, any Kiyohara who possessed special talents or a Kekkei Genkai due to different origins or experiences could become a source of power for him.

Renegade Kiyohara fell silent for a moment, seemingly searching his memories. After quite a while, he finally spoke.

"In theory... it's possible. But I never figured out the mechanism myself. Based on my experience, the two Last Words Books appeared about a month apart. I don't know what pattern governed that.

"The next one might come quickly, or there might not be one for a long time. After receiving the second one, I never encountered a third before I died, because the final wish at the time had not yet been completed."

"I see. There can only be one Last Words Book at a time."

Kiyohara stroked his chin.

Renegade Kiyohara paused, then continued,

"Probably. And even if you receive one, what you inherit is random. It could be part of their combat experience, an insight into a certain chakra nature, or a portion of their chakra reserves. What I inherited back then was mostly scattered techniques that that 'me' had possessed before dying."

"As for Kekkei Genkai..."

There was a trace of uncertainty in Renegade Kiyohara's voice.

"I've never encountered a future version with a Kekkei Genkai, so I can't say for certain. But even if that future version had one, whether it could be inherited through the Last Words Book, and how much could be inherited, are both unknowns."

Kiyohara silently absorbed this information.

It seemed that while the Last Words Book was miraculous, it was not an omnipotent wishing machine without limits.

It was more like a treasure chest that opened at random. What it contained depended entirely on luck.

For now, Renegade Kiyohara's legacy was already more than enough for him to digest for a long time, and it could provide tremendous help.

Otherwise, after the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, Konoha's memorial stone might have gained the weightless name "Kiyohara," and Kakashi would have come to visit his grave.

"I understand."

Kiyohara nodded slightly.

No matter what, this experience from the "future" was priceless.

"Then what will happen to you after I complete it?"

Kiyohara asked an important question.

"Based on my observations, my consciousness will disappear and sink into the Ash Box, unable to come out again. The Ash Box will also continue dissipating until it vanishes completely."

Renegade Kiyohara said,

"The Ash Boxes in my mind are all gone now. As for whether there's any way to slow it down, I don't know."

Faced with Renegade Kiyohara, who knew nothing about it, Kiyohara could only plan to figure it out bit by bit himself.

After all, Renegade Kiyohara had died too soon after obtaining it and had never fully understood the Last Words Book.

I can't die that early. At the very least, I need to live until Boruto.

Kiyohara thought to himself.

Living until that ridiculous sequel would at least let him experience all the exciting milestones of the Ninja World. It would not make his arrival here a waste.

Of course, if he could avoid dying, Kiyohara would definitely choose not to die. He did not want to become some other timeline's "old grandpa."

I'll wait until a month after the final wish is completed and see whether I can receive another Last Words Book.

With that thought in mind, Kiyohara looked up at the building ahead.

Renegade Kiyohara had long since retreated into the Ash Box. Whenever he had nothing to do, he would enter it to reduce consumption.

In that state, he could neither see the outside world nor hear Kiyohara's inner thoughts.

Unless Kiyohara deliberately tapped on the Ash Box with his thoughts, Renegade Kiyohara would not sense anything.

"That's where the Chunin Selection Exam is being held. There are quite a few people."

Kurenai Yuhi looked ahead.

She had come here last year and successfully become a Chunin.

"Is that so?"

Kiyohara nodded.

Fortunately, the Third Shinobi World War was still ongoing, so there was no need to forcibly tie applicants into teams like in Naruto's era.

Otherwise, Kakashi could never have become a Jonin on his own.

"Ah, memories."

Genma Shiranui took the senbon from his mouth, since his uncle was also serving as an examiner here.

Whenever his uncle saw him with something in his mouth, he would get scolded for never looking presentable.

"What's there to miss?"

Kurenai Yuhi shook her head.

The building ahead had been temporarily designated as the Chunin Selection Exam venue.

Because it was wartime, everything had been simplified. The written test and team missions had been canceled, and the participants' overall abilities would be judged directly through sparring matches.

Every Genin recommended here had either performed brilliantly on the battlefield or been deemed by their Jonin captain to possess Chunin potential.

"Let's go in first."

Kiyohara said.

He noticed that more than a dozen Genin had already gathered there, and the atmosphere was somewhat tense.

After all, they were all competitors, and the number of available positions was limited.

Some would pass, while others would not.

That meant there was a conflict of interest between them, so there was no way the atmosphere could be particularly friendly.

"Then Genma and I will head to the stands."

Kurenai Yuhi said softly, her voice clear and pleasant.

"Go on. Remember to get me something to eat. You're about to watch my performance, so you don't mind paying for a ticket, right?"

Kiyohara smiled faintly.

He was reluctant to spend his own money.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Hmm, three bags of chips, two bottles of zenzai, and three skewers of dango if possible."

Kurenai Yuhi's eyes widened at that.

How shameless.

Were you here to stock up or something?