In the past, most people loved to compare Kiyoshi to Kakashi Hatake, the son of the White Fang. But now, it seemed Kiyoshi's talent was comparable to that of Minato Namikaze.
Minato had also spent a few years in obscurity after learning forbidden techniques from the Scroll of Seals, only to explode into fame during this Great War, his name shaking the nations.
Kiyoshi Uchiha might very well be the next one.
The Hyuga clan needed to make a corresponding gesture toward such a figure. After all, no one knew what adjustments the next Hokage would make to the major clans or if the current balance of power could be maintained. The two great dojutsu clans, Uchiha and Hyuga, ought to stand together.
"Yes," Natsu Hyuga nodded quickly, her heart heavy with complex emotions.
The more Kiyoshi was valued by the higher-ups, the safer she became. Even on the battlefield, she could seek his protection. But... this also highlighted that the Main House never cared for her personal will.
No matter what she achieved, she was just a member of the Branch House—a tool to be utilized. Fortunately, she had a glimmer of hope for true liberation. Kiyoshi... possessed the power to potentially undo the [Caged Bird Curse].
"Natsu..."
Hitoshi Hyuga stole a glance at Natsu with his white eyes. He felt a suffocating sense of frustration and helplessness. He had been in the same class as Kiyoshi, graduating only slightly later.
Now, one was hailed as a legendary genius, while the other wallowed in mediocrity. Even the girl he liked was being ordered by the Clan Head to get close to Kiyoshi, and he had no power to stop it.
'am i even a man?' Hitoshi clenched his fists, jealousy and envy swirling in his gut. Eventually, he just lowered his head, his body trembling slightly.
'Power... I must make a name for myself on the battlefield and make everyone look at me differently,' he vowed. Only then would he have the confidence to propose to Natsu, and Lord Hiashi wouldn't have to send her to "recruit" Kiyoshi just because they were classmates.
'It won't be long...' Hitoshi thought of a line he'd seen recently. On the battlefield, he often saw Kakashi reading a small yellow book called *Icha Icha Paradise*. Kakashi wouldn't reveal the author, but Hitoshi had glimpsed a surprisingly stirring sentence inside its pages:
"Thirty years to the east, thirty years to the west; do not bully a ninja for being poor!"
(T/N:- what in the xiao yan is this 🤣)
***
Ichiraku Ramen.
"Old man Ichiraku, one bowl of Tonkotsu ramen!" Asuma was the first to order. He then scratched his head, realizing he'd been too impulsive, and turned to Kurenai with a "warm" smile. "Kurenai, what do you want? My treat."
Hearing Asuma's intentionally lowered, "manly" voice, Kurenai shook her head.
"Thank you, Asuma, but I have my own money." She ordered a signature bowl for herself. Then, she looked at Kiyoshi.
"Kiyoshi, what would you like? I can treat you."
"Kurenai, why treat Kiyoshi and not me?" Asuma blurted out, looking heartbroken.
"Kiyoshi lives alone and just adopted a little girl. His finances might be a bit tight," Kurenai explained. Asuma realized the logic in that, but it still didn't feel right. Kurenai was too polite; she always refused when he offered to pay, and as a "gentleman," he could never let her foot the bill.
To this day, he hadn't even eaten a snack bought by her. He felt a twinge of regret but didn't want to show it, so he buried his face in the menu.
"Sure, I'll have the same as yours," Kiyoshi didn't refuse. There was a trick to closing the distance between people: reciprocity. Refusing a kind gesture out of "politeness" often created distance and estrangement.
Asuma, in his obsession with Kurenai, was too cautious, terrified of doing anything that might lower his favorability in the eyes of his "perfect goddess."
"Coming up!" Ichiraku placed two bowls on the table. A third was carried out by a small girl.
"Here you go," little Ayame said softly.
"Thank you," Kiyoshi smiled. Ayame thought this big brother had such a bright, sunny smile. After praising Ayame's hard work, Ichiraku sent her off to play with his wife.
'The new generation is coming into the world,' Kiyoshi mused. Not just Ayame, but Shisui Uchiha was around too! He was a few years old now, the son of Kagami Uchiha. Kiyoshi had seen him a few times in the compound, but Shisui was still too young to have developed complex thought, so they hadn't interacted much. 'I should find time to 'educate' him early and see if I can set him on the right path.'
Kiyoshi was very interested in Shisui's Mangekyo ability, [Kotoamatsukami]. Not because he wanted to use it on others, but because he wanted to immunize himself against such mind-control techniques.
In the *Boruto* era, there was an even more terrifying technique—Ada's [Omnipotence], inherited from Shibai Otsutsuki. While not literally omnipotent, it could rewrite reality on a planetary scale. It had swapped the lives of Boruto Uzumaki and Kawaki, making Boruto a rogue ninja while Kawaki became the "true" son of Naruto.
It was the reason Sarada awakened her Mangekyo—she couldn't stand seeing Boruto suffer such injustice while the rest of the world's memories were rewritten. Kiyoshi knew he had to plan ahead to guard against such reality-warping powers.
"I need to use the restroom," Asuma said suddenly. He'd eaten too much cold food the night before. He tried to act casual as he walked away, but once out of Kurenai's sight, he clutched his stomach and scrambled for the door.
Kurenai turned her head to look at Kiyoshi, her pale neck exposed in his line of sight.
"Kiyoshi... what kind of mission did you actually go on?" She took a bite of ramen, her face flushing slightly. A mission that secretive had to be incredibly difficult.
"You'll find out soon enough. The village won't let me talk about it yet." Kiyoshi shared some general travel anecdotes but omitted the Third Raikage and the ten thousand Stone ninjas.
"I see..." Kurenai looked down, disappointed but understanding.
"Why? Are you worried about me, Kurenai?" Kiyoshi teased, reaching out to brush his fingers against the back of her hand.
"I... it's normal to worry about a teammate," Kurenai stammered, her eyelashes fluttering as she instinctively pulled her hand back. Her face grew even redder—it was hard to tell if it was the steam from the ramen or Kiyoshi's words. The shyness in her eyes was unmistakable.
Kiyoshi felt a surge, his ocular power rippling with the sensation. The "teenage" Kurenai was coming along nicely. Her future "mature" and "homely" forms were also full of potential—forms he intended to help her achieve himself.
Kurenai, seeing Kiyoshi go quiet, quickly turned back to her noodles, her heart thumping. She didn't dare look at him anymore.
"Phew, still hot! Glad it didn't turn into a clump," Asuma said, returning from the restroom.
"Kurenai, why are you eating so fast?" He was surprised; wasn't she usually more ladylike? Now she seemed distracted, just going through the motions.
"I think it's delicious," Kurenai replied, stealing a glance at Kiyoshi.
"Oh," Asuma nodded. He thought it was good too. Kiyoshi's smile didn't fade throughout the peaceful afternoon.
***
Afternoon.
Kiyoshi brought Guren to his home and assigned her a room.
"This scroll contains the method for refining chakra," he said, handing it to her. Regardless of the Kekkei Genkai, the underlying fuel was chakra. She needed to refine it and increase her reserves before she could effectively use her abilities.
"Yes," Guren took the scroll nervously. After coming to the Leaf, she felt a massive gap in her understanding of the world. Her old, tiny village couldn't compare to this prosperity. The sights of the Leaf made her feel a sense of impending loss; she was terrified that Kiyoshi's rescue was a dream, or that he would discard her once he grew bored.
"Don't worry. This is your home now." Kiyoshi ruffled her hair, remembering his own sense of aimless anxiety when he first arrived. "Now, try meditating."
As he stepped out into the hallway, he saw a familiar figure lingering near the gate: Natsu Hyuga. Kiyoshi's eyes darkened with meaning. He knew the Hyuga clan had sent her to win him over. But he was thinking of something else—Ginka Hyuga. That thread had never been cut; it just needed the right moment to be pulled.
"Classmate Natsu, please come in," Kiyoshi said, inviting her inside.
***
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