"You?"
"I can concentrate better when I'm standing."
Kiyohara replied.
Seeing this, Kakashi could only sit down first, then continued explaining the Lightning Release ninjutsu he had just mentioned.
The name of this Lightning Release technique was Lightning Release: Lightning Current Technique.
Its principle was to coat weapons with Lightning-nature chakra.
"So, it's chakra flow."
Kiyohara immediately understood what Kakashi meant.
Chakra Flow was a rather advanced technique. Chakra without nature transformation could easily cling to the human body or an object, but once chakra carried a nature change, attaching it became significantly more difficult.
Otherwise, every ninja would infuse their kunai with their chakra nature before drawing it—essentially enchanting it before every fight.
For example, the technique Uchiha Shisui often used, Uchiha Style: Dance of the Sun Halo, relied on a special ninjutsu that coated his short blade with a layer of Fire Release chakra. When swung, it created an arc of flame.
Previously, when Kiyohara infused his shuriken with Wind Release chakra, the principle was similar.
But that was merely direct chakra injection, not chakra that had been transformed through a formal ninjutsu.
"That's right. Once you activate Lightning Release: Lightning Current, the lightning arcs are much stronger."
Kakashi said.
As he spoke, he pulled a kunai from his pouch and performed the technique right in front of Kiyohara.
Crackle!
In the next moment, faint arcs of electricity danced across the kunai. Azure sparks flickered along its surface.
As expected, its power was clearly far greater than simply injecting raw Lightning chakra.
"This scroll contains the method. You can study it more thoroughly."
Kakashi said, taking out a scroll—the Lightning Current Technique.
Just as Kiyohara was about to ask why Kakashi carried it with him, Kakashi proactively explained:
"I've also been researching ninjutsu in this area, so I kept the scroll on me. It was left behind by my father. It's only a C-rank ninjutsu."
Kakashi said calmly.
Hearing this, Kiyohara remembered.
Kakashi really did master something similar in the future—Lightning Cutter. He would channel the full current of Raikiri into a kunai, granting it the cutting power of Raikiri, and even allow it to be thrown.
"Thank you, Kakashi."
Kiyohara accepted the scroll and patted him on the shoulder.
So loyal and generous—what else could he say?
"It's nothing."
Kakashi shook his head.
Discussing ninjutsu with Kiyohara was also helpful for him. Besides, it was only a C-rank jutsu. Kakashi believed Kiyohara would eventually be able to learn it anyway.
As the two continued to exchange insights on Lightning Release, an Anbu member approached the house.
The Anbu ninja delivered the time and location for the upcoming Chūnin Selection.
"In that case, Kiyohara, you should make full use of the next few days to train."
Kakashi said, then waved goodbye and left.
"Chūnin Selection, huh…"
Kiyohara touched his chin.
Time wasn't an issue.
For them, there would be no written exam—they only needed to spar against other genin.
And if things became too dangerous, he could always rely on Missing-nin Kiyohara to take over his body.
Kiyohara truly doubted that any current-era genin could stand up to a jōnin-level opponent.
The only reason he survived his previous mission so many times was because, at critical moments, Missing-nin Kiyohara had taken control.
Unless someone had the absurd protagonist-level plot armor of Naruto or Sasuke, no normal genin could bridge that kind of gap.
…
Two days later…
Time flew by in an instant.
During these two days, Kiyohara poured nearly all his energy into mastering Lightning Current and combining it with Guided Current Manipulated Shuriken Technique.
With Missing-nin Kiyohara's experience guiding him, his progress was astonishingly fast.
After all, having a personal mentor available twenty-four hours a day meant his efficiency was completely maxed out.
Aside from sleep, meals, and bathroom breaks, Kiyohara never set foot outside.
Kakashi didn't disturb him either—he knew Kiyohara needed to prepare for the exam.
Though he had yet to achieve perfect, seamless control, the techniques were more than ready for real combat.
At last, the day of the Chūnin Selection arrived.
…
In the bathroom
"So today's the day,"
Kiyohara murmured.
He splashed water over his face, slicking his black hair back from his forehead. The shower rained warm water onto his back.
The heated stream flowed along the faint but defined muscles of his torso, dripping down to the floor.
"Still a bit too thin. I need to practice some taijutsu."
Kiyohara lowered his gaze to study his physique.
Almost all shinobi possessed developed muscles—only those who had grown complacent would ever become overweight.
Thinking of that, Kiyohara suddenly remembered Anko Mitarashi.
In Boruto, she had gone from a seductively hot black-stockings beauty to a full-figured auntie—the infamous "Anko Mitarashi Sweet Potato."
"I wonder if there's a future version of me who trained taijutsu… or perhaps one who even awakened a physical-type kekkei genkai."
Kiyohara thought silently.
If a future version of himself appeared with a natural gift for physical strength—such as a Yotsuki Kiyohara or a Senju Kiyohara—his taijutsu would improve twice as fast with half the effort.
According to the Last Will System, Kiyohara was the anchor point from which infinite future possibilities branched out.
Like a tree whose roots supported countless branches and leaves.
Missing-nin Kiyohara was just one such branch—one that happened to closely resemble the timeline he currently lived in, with both being born as civilians.
But that didn't mean everything else remained fixed.
Other versions of Kiyohara could exist—ones with clan bloodlines, kekkei genkai, or radically different upbringings.
After all… he was a transmigrator.
His birth wasn't predetermined. He could have been born anywhere, under countless possibilities.
This meant the future was not based on a linear model, where his life progression was:
Civilian → Future 1 (Missing-nin) → Future 2 (Taijutsu Specialist)…
Instead, the future operated on a Probability Model—a superposition of possible outcomes from parallel timelines.
In this structure, what they called "future" was more accurately a branch of possibility.
In simple terms:
The Last Will System "anchor point" might not be the current physical body he inhabited—
but Kiyohara's very existence itself.
The Last Will System's power allowed Kiyohara to remain in the present while reaching out to pluck the "fruits" of any branch of the great tree.
Because fundamentally, all versions of Kiyohara shared the same root—the transmigrated soul from which all possibilities sprung.
"But… I still need more proof."
Kiyohara thought quietly.
Everything was merely speculation.
To confirm his theories, he needed to acquire more urns left behind by his alternate selves.
He had a feeling that once he fulfilled Missing-nin Kiyohara's final wish, he might soon obtain the next Last Will message.
Because Missing-nin Kiyohara had been gradually fading, and only by staying near his own urn could he avoid dispersing entirely.
But what would happen after they fused?
Kiyohara had no idea.
Missing-nin Kiyohara might vanish completely…
Or he might continue "living" in a different manner.
"Kiyohara, it's your Chūnin Selection day—why aren't you gone yet?"
A familiar voice drifted faintly through the small bathroom window—the voice of Kurenai Yuhi.
(End of Chapter)