"Also, you shouldn't use that jutsu again," said Namikaze Minato. "From what I saw, your technique concentrates power into a single-point thrust—great speed and destructive force, yes, but you're moving so fast you can't perceive your opponent's counterattack..."
He had precisely diagnosed the core flaw in Kakashi's technique.
Kakashi fell silent.
He was well aware of these weaknesses—but fixing them was the hard part.
He was a civilian-born shinobi, after all. While he had inherited some techniques, he wasn't blessed with any kekkei genkai.
And two ordinary eyes could never rival those born with dojutsu.
"Before we part ways," Minato added, "I'll say it one more time: For a shinobi, teamwork is everything."
"Now, let's move out."
The group pressed on.
By then, dusk had settled over the land. They would make camp for the night, and Minato would leave the next morning.
After a simple setup of tents, the team rested in silence.
Only the quiet sound of chewing broke the stillness.
"So that's how that Lightning Release jutsu works..."
Kiyohara mused to himself, sitting cross-legged in the shadows.
On the outside, he looked like he was resting—But in truth, he was quietly grinding. Again.
He was communicating with Rogue Kiyohara, discussing ninjutsu.
At his current age, knowing he already had chūnin-level strength, how could he sleep?
Kiyohara cast a glance at Obito.
Minato had privately pulled Obito aside earlier, explaining the real reason behind Kakashi's personality—That his father had committed suicide after a failed mission.
Having learned this, Obito had finally started to understand Kakashi a bit more...And then promptly went to sleep.
'How the hell can you sleep at a time like this?!' Kiyohara shook his head.
He popped the last bit of rations into his mouth, then moved to a more secluded spot to train.
Minato's sensory range covered the area well. Since there were no nearby enemies, Kiyohara felt safe burning some chakra on practice.
"Lightning Release: Ground Surge!"
After refining chakra, Kiyohara formed the hand seals. Azure-blue arcs of lightning danced across the ground before him.
"Not bad," said Rogue Kiyohara. "Once you fully absorb my talent, you'll be even stronger."
Thanks to fusing part of the rogue's talent with his own, Kiyohara had gone from average to genuinely clever.
And with a personal mentor like this, his learning speed was fast.
"Why do you look more... transparent?" Kiyohara asked, eyeing Rogue Kiyohara's ghostly figure with concern.
Could he hold on until Kiyohara officially reached chūnin and absorbed the rest of his power?
"If you're gonna disappear, at least fade slowly."
"..."
Rogue Kiyohara shot him a look.This guy... no wonder he was me.
He had said the exact same thing to the other future ghosts back when he got the will system.
"Relax. I'll last long enough," he said calmly.
Death had taught him how to let go.
"Kiyohara, training in secret again?"
A voice drifted from behind him. It was Kurenai Yuhi. Her ruby-like eyes shimmered in the moonlight.
"Kurenai, have you ever seen Konoha at four in the morning?" Kiyohara asked solemnly.
...Even though it was clearly 8 PM.
"Four in the morning?" Kurenai gasped, covering her mouth in disbelief.
So Kiyohara always got up that early to train?
She herself had never trained at 4 AM before—Only during emergency missions did she ever wake up at that hour.
"That's right."Kiyohara nodded with deep gravitas.
He'd never actually seen Konoha at 4 AM either. But training at 8 PM counted as effort, right?
"Then I'll train with you too!"
Kurenai looked at Kiyohara's calm, handsome face and felt slightly dazed.If he was working that hard, how could she slack off?
She sat beside him and began quietly practicing her genjutsu.
Kiyohara, not particularly gifted in genjutsu, continued with his Lightning Release training.
'One day,' he thought, 'Maybe I'll meet Kurama Kiyohara... or a Uchiha Kiyohara.'
Then he'd finally patch that genjutsu-shaped hole in his skillset.
Next morning.
Just after dawn, Minato finished packing up camp.
"Starting today, we split into three teams. Everyone, stay sharp."
He added, "Yesterday's enemy was a lone scout. From now on, expect group encounters. Do not get careless."
His expression was heavy.
Kiyohara, Kakashi, and the others all nodded in agreement.
With that, Minato gave the signal—and parted from the group.
Kakashi took Rin and Obito and headed toward Kannabi Bridge.Kiyohara led Kurenai and Genma in the opposite direction—to draw out the enemy's attention.
Afternoon.
"This is it. Two chūnin, two genin—weakest spot in their formation."
Rogue Kiyohara's soul floated back from reconnaissance.
Kiyohara now had the intel.
"This looks like the best entry point."
He turned to Kurenai and Genma, relaying a simplified version of the plan.
The Iwagakure ninja they captured yesterday had spilled some vague info, but Kiyohara needed to verify it firsthand.
"How did you know this spot was weakest?" Kurenai asked, wiping the sweat from her brow.
The bamboo grove was stuffy and hot. The long march had left her glistening with sweat.
"I sensed it," Kiyohara replied without blinking.
"...Sensory-type?"
Kurenai was impressed.
To detect enemy strength from this distance?That was amazing.
"Alright. It's just a minor outpost. Let's warm up a little."
There were a dozen other strongholds nearby with even more guards—But Kiyohara wanted to start with something manageable.
"Genma, you'll hide in the direction they might try to flee. Kurenai and I will go in and draw their attention."
Breaking enemy strongholds was the best way to provoke Iwagakure.And if he got lucky, Kiyohara could loot a little on the side too.
"Got it."
Both Kurenai and Genma nodded. Kiyohara was the team leader now—they'd follow his lead.
Moments later, Kiyohara and Kurenai stealthily crept toward the target.
"Enemy assault!"
One of the Iwa chūnin spotted them and instantly cast a genjutsu on Kiyohara.
"Kurenai, stay back. I've got this."
Kiyohara stared the illusion down.But his body didn't freeze.
Because at that moment, he mentally called out:
"Rogue me—your turn."
Genjutsu disrupted the nervous system by interfering with chakra flow.To break it, you had to scramble your own chakra.
But...Controlling Kiyohara's body with genjutsu had absolutely nothing to do with Rogue Kiyohara.
Rogue Kiyohara simply partially possessed his younger self's body, ignoring the illusion entirely.He moved Kiyohara's limbs freely—like the genjutsu didn't exist.
The Iwa chūnin stared in complete disbelief.