The Sharingan Had to Kneel Too

"That looked exhausting. This kind of training method... was pretty unusual."

Nohara Rin watched Kiyohara's bangs, soaked through with sweat, and felt that this training method was somewhat similar to that strange guy from their class, Might Guy.

"It was fine. You'd get used to it."

Kiyohara tried to make his tone sound normal. Without drawing attention to it, he shifted slightly so the stone rod's shadow no longer fell directly across Nohara Rin's face.

"This is a... well, a method for training core strength and exertion techniques. It lets you unite your waist and stance."

Kiyohara explained casually. In truth, he felt it was more about building endurance and stamina first.

As for the techniques of using swordsmanship, Young Kiyohara would probably tell him later.

"I see..."

Nohara Rin nodded as if she understood, then saw the layer of sweat on Kiyohara's handsome face and took out a handkerchief for him.

"Right, it's time for our mission. We need to transport supplies to another outpost ten kilometers away."

"I heard Kirigakure activity over there has been frequent."

Nohara Rin said.

"I understand."

Kiyohara nodded slightly to show that he understood.

Although he and Nohara Rin's group had not originally been on the same team, for the sake of efficiency and covering a wider area, the original teams were often split apart to carry out different missions.

After tidying up, Kiyohara placed the rare stone rod in his tent and prepared to head out on the mission with Nohara Rin and the others.

By the time Kiyohara arrived, the others had mostly gathered as well.

"Kiyohara, how was your Lightning Release ninjutsu training going?"

While the others checked the supplies, Kakashi came over to talk to him.

"Not bad. I've more or less mastered it."

Kiyohara nodded.

Kiyohara had already learned the "Lightning Release: Lightning Current Technique" Kakashi had taught him.

Not only that, he had also learned the "Wind Release: Gale Palm" Namikaze Minato had given him during this period.

"That's good. We'll definitely run into Kirigakure attacks this time, so it'd be best not to let your guard down."

Kakashi said to Kiyohara.

Before Kiyohara could say anything, Kakashi immediately continued.

"Those who don't know how to protect their comrades are trash. I've already prepared myself for that."

Seeing Kakashi looking as though he had attained great enlightenment, Kiyohara increasingly felt like he had become a substitute in some melodramatic story.

Oh no, he hasn't really projected his guilt over Obito onto me, has he?

"Ahem. My ninja way is protecting my comrades too."

Kiyohara said.

"We should go."

Nohara Rin walked over and said.

Kakashi was actually the Jonin leading this mission.

Because Kakashi was the only Jonin among them.

Seeing this, Kakashi could only glance at Kiyohara once more before turning around and telling the others to prepare to depart.

Soon, a transport squad darted through the forest.

"By the way, if I went to learn 'Konoha-Style Kenjutsu: Willow,' how long would it take?"

While they traveled, Kiyohara asked Young Kiyohara.

Though this move had merely been developed by an old man like Maruboshi Kosuke, it was actually S-rank and a composite sword technique combining Genjutsu and swordsmanship.

If he learned it, it would be a very powerful sword technique as well.

"Your spiritual power is strong, which means your Yin Release talent will be excellent. Learning this will yield twice the result with half the effort."

Young Kiyohara's spirit form appeared.

"Is that so?"

Kiyohara knew this was surely thanks to fusing with Renegade Kiyohara. Otherwise, in the past, he would definitely have been evaluated as having mediocre spiritual power.

"However, I also received a 'Last Words Book,' so my spiritual power was somewhat stronger than ordinary people's. If you inherited this part of my talent, you could probably rise to another level."

Young Kiyohara continued.

"Then how long would it take before that?"

Kiyohara only wanted to know exactly how long it would take.

"With my guidance, two months."

Young Kiyohara said.

When necessary, he could possess Kiyohara and let him experience it firsthand, so he would learn quickly.

"That was a little long..."

Kiyohara frowned slightly.

It was not that he had become overly ambitious, but this was a battlefield. A two-month gap could very well get him killed in some unexpected disaster.

"I need to earn more money first."

Kiyohara thought to himself.

He had already saved up some money. If he looted a little more during missions, he would find a craftsman to forge a ninja sword, fulfill a wish, and get a round of boosts first.

Half a day's journey passed amid their tense rush.

The team ventured deep into the forest. The light around them seemed somewhat dim due to the canopy overhead, and the air grew damp as well.

Along the way, Kiyohara occasionally discussed swordsmanship with Young Kiyohara and asked him about certain techniques.

"Something's wrong. Three o'clock."

Suddenly, Young Kiyohara stopped discussing their previous topic and looked ahead.

As a swordsmanship Jonin, his perception of danger was far stronger than Kiyohara's.

"Someone's there."

Hearing that, Kiyohara spoke up and made the others stop.

The others immediately looked around warily, observing their surroundings.

The entire team came to a halt at once, their gazes cautiously sweeping the area.

"Which direction?"

Kakashi asked.

His sensory abilities could only be considered average.

He was stronger than Chunin like Genma Shiranui, Nohara Rin, and Kurenai Yuhi, but weaker than those experienced Jonin.

"Over there."

Kiyohara followed the direction Young Kiyohara pointed.

Almost the moment his words fell, the air around them began growing damp and hazy at a visible speed.

Wisps of milky-white fog spread from nowhere, rapidly thickening as they coiled around the tree branches and obscured everyone's vision.

Within barely a dozen seconds, visibility plummeted from dozens of meters to less than ten, and it was still dropping.

"Hidden Mist Technique."

Kiyohara frowned slightly.

"Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique" could be considered the signature ninjutsu of Kirigakure shinobi.

Moreover, this technique could weaken one's senses. In the original story, Zabuza Momochi had even earned the title of "Demon of the Hidden Mist" with this technique.

"Damn it, I can't see anything."

The Senbon in Genma Shiranui's mouth stopped swaying, and his expression turned ugly.

If the enemy was hidden while they were exposed, they would be at an extreme disadvantage.

"I'll try Wind Release."

Kiyohara said.

Then he rapidly formed hand seals.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

A powerful whirlwind burst from his mouth and swept toward the dense fog ahead.

Wherever the gale passed, the white mist was forcibly torn apart, temporarily clearing an area with relatively better visibility.

However, before anyone could breathe a sigh of relief, fog from farther away surged in again as though it were endless.

In merely two or three seconds, the area that had just been cleared was swallowed by even denser white fog, and visibility became worse than before.

"Didn't work..."

Kiyohara frowned slightly.

But he was not panicking inside.

He still had the Third Eye—his future self!

"Useless!"

A cold voice seemed to come from every direction, echoing through the thick fog and making it impossible to determine its exact location.

"You fools from Konoha, this is a position carefully arranged by Kirigakure. Do you think a mere C-rank Wind Release can disperse it? Even the Sharingan would become blind in this dense fog!"

The Kirigakure shinobi's tone was clearly mocking.

Before the "Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique," even an Uchiha with the Sharingan had to kneel!