dmims Chapter 216, Zhangcun Village: The Deep Distance Between Nohara Rin and Kakashi (
Chapter 216, Zhangcun Village: The Deep Distance Between Nohara Rin and Kakashi (
Chapter 216 Returning to the Village, the Deep Distance Between Nohara Rin and Kakashi (6k)
"Then let's go out first."
Kiyoshi turned and stepped over the dilapidated door frame, reaching the pale yellow grass outside.
Uzumaki Karin followed Kiyoshi somewhat reservedly.
"Hey, what should we do with these people?"
Ringo Ameyuri pointed to the three Kusagakure ninjas who were immobilized by Kiyoshi's "Sharingan Genjutsu".
"You know that."
Qing Si didn't say much.
Looking out into the distance, one sees dense forests and rolling mountains.
The Land of Grass is an important battleground in this war, serving as the battlefield for the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire.
Although it is a small country, it is not weak.
Among the many small countries, it is one of the closest to being a major power.
Even the Hidden Grass Village in the Land of Grass has its own diplomatic affairs.
Acting as intermediaries, they established a prison on a small island near Kusagakure specifically for detaining criminal ninjas.
It can be seen as an international prison, where prisoners from various countries are held.
The island is surrounded by the sea and located in the northern part of the Land of Waterfalls. It is named "Hozuki Castle" because it is covered with a type of sour berry called "Hozuki".
The city lord has always been a member of a clan that controls the "Heavenly Prison".
If Naruto were implanted with "Fire Release: Heavenly Prison," even his chakra reserves would be suppressed to the point where he could only use one shadow clone.
"Let's set it near the border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Waterfalls."
Kiyoshi decided on the location of the experimental base.
Kiyoshi will have to make a trip to the location of "Hozuki Castle" sooner or later.
Both Naruto Shippuden: Blood Prison and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations continued this setting.
The "Hozuki Castle" hides the greatest ambition of the Grass Country. Legend has it that in the era of the Sage of Six Paths, a thousand years ago, there was a "Box of Elysium" that could grant one wish to whoever opened it.
Kusagakure once opened it, and it is said that he almost used it to control the world.
Then, one day, Kusagakure was suddenly defeated.
Since then, two opposing forces have emerged in Kusagakure: the pro-war faction "Kusa no Mi" who want to revive Kusagakure, and the anti-war faction "Kusa no Hana".
The reason why the Land of Grass is so enthusiastic about building international prisons for various countries is twofold: first, to hide the "Box of Elysium," and second, to use the prisoners' chakra to research methods to reopen the "Box of Elysium."
Of course, this thing will actually only absorb the person who opens it, turning them into the monster "Wu".
Even so, it is still something very worthy of study, after all, it realizes the transformation of life form, turning an ordinary ninja into a monster that can easily defeat Sage Naruto.
Furthermore, the Land of Grass also has the "Dragon Life Clan," who possess a bloodline limit called "Dragon Life Reincarnation," which allows them to share their life force with others.
This is also a very good ability.
In the Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Blood Prison, after Sage Mode Naruto was killed, Ryusei used this technique to revive him.
"Hmph, they really know how to order people around."
Ringo Yuri muttered to herself as she came out of the cone-shaped house.
Three lives were lost quietly inside.
With her excellent perception, Uzumaki Karin immediately sensed the change, silently lowered her head, and said nothing.
These grass ninjas will not only cause trouble for her after they return, but also for Kiyoshi.
"Okay, let's go somewhere else."
By observing the position of the sun in the sky, Kiyoshi determined their location, grabbed Uzumaki Karin with his left hand, and Ringo Ameyuri with his right.
Before the two women could react, Qing Si soared into the sky.
It flew towards the distant horizon, its body crackling with lightning.
Hearing the whistling in her ears, Uzumaki Karin was so startled that she snuggled into Kiyoshi's arms.
The distance below must be several hundred meters.
Uzumaki Karin didn't dare open her eyes, and could only listen to the sound of the wind.
"He... must be a very skilled ninja."
Whirlpool Pear Tree Secret Passage.
I once heard my parents say that there were very few ninjas who could fly, whether in Uzushio Village or Konoha.
To fly, one must either rely on a unique bloodline limit or possess extraordinary chakra reserves and chakra control skills.
It is probably the most difficult technique besides space-time ninjutsu.
Compared to Karin Uzumaki's secret alarm, Yuri Ringo appeared much calmer.
She had seen Kiyoshi pull out strange things like "Mouryou Power" before, and already knew that Kiyoshi was a ninja who didn't play by the rules.
"We won't die from the fall after you run out of chakra, will we?"
Ringo Amuri wasn't afraid of death, but she didn't want to die so inexplicably.
"Of course not."
Kiyoshi smiled slightly.
The white snake in the sleeve deftly carried several ration pills and fed them to Qing Si.
Seeing this, Ringo Ameyuri's lips twitched slightly. Was this guy really not afraid of overloading himself with the soldier rations and dying from overeating?
……
By evening, Kiyoshi had located a secluded spot.
He slapped his hands on the ground.
An opening was carved out of the mountain rock.
Rumble...
The cave entrance is deep and dark, and construction is still ongoing.
This is the advantage of Earth Release ninjutsu: it allows for very fast base construction, comparable to Wood Release ninjutsu.
Other techniques like "Wind Release," "Fire Release," "Lightning Release," and "Water Release" are not as convenient as "Earth Release."
Ninjutsu changes lives.
Kiyoshi realized this once again.
Qing Si first expanded a space to a size of fifty square meters to serve as a temporary base.
I used a lot of chakra when I was traveling using Lightning Release and Wind Release ninjutsu.
Only a portion of the soldier's rations remained; he still needed to save the chakra required to use the "Flying Thunder God Technique" to return to the Land of Fire.
Crossing two countries would consume an astronomical amount of chakra.
There are advantages and disadvantages. With such high-intensity use of the "Flying Thunder God Technique," Kiyoshi's understanding of this ninjutsu will continue to improve.
Optimize the defects as quickly as possible and minimize chakra loss.
"These marching supplies are for you."
Kiyoshi took out a sealing scroll and handed it to Uzumaki Karin.
Inside were a week's worth of dry rations, a simple tent, a sleeping bag, a water bottle, an iron pot, and other basic supplies.
"……Thanks."
"That's what Uzumaki Karin said politely."
The weariness on her pretty face lessened a bit, until the short red hair under her chin swayed gently as she nodded.
She has a better temperament than Karin, perhaps because she has seen the world, unlike Karin who was treated like a walking blood bank from a young age.
The only drawback is that Karin Uzumaki is a bit too thin.
It's probably because of the long period of hiding and living in fear.
"Ringo Ameyuri, as one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, you should have your own independent time, right?"
Kiyoshi turned to look at Ringo Ameyuri, who was examining the earthen wall.
"They still have this right."
Lin Yuyu nodded.
Otherwise, why would so many people be scrambling to join the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?
The Kirigakure Anbu even have to obey the orders of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen in many situations, and they are only one step away from the Kirigakure high command.
It is a symbol of power and glory.
"Then you can stay here for a while."
After saying this, Kiyoshi hurriedly finished his instructions and left using the "Flying Thunder God Technique".
"Hello!"
Ringo Amori tried to call out to Seiji, but Seiji had already disappeared.
"This guy is treating me like a handyman."
Ringo Yuri puffed out her cheeks in anger.
"He... seems to have left."
Uzumaki Karin cautiously observed Ringo Ameyuri, who was not easy to get along with.
"Didn't I know he was gone?"
Ringo Yuri pretended to be fierce and said.
Uzumaki Karin was startled when she saw her row of shark-like teeth.
Although she was a member of the Uzumaki clan, she unfortunately did not receive proper ninja training.
With his abilities, he's at most a Chunin.
This is excluding the "Diamond Lockdown" technique, which is the only offensive sealing technique she knows.
Other sealing techniques are too useless.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been controlled by others for so long.
They had long since left the war-torn Land of Grass and gone to the Land of Iron, where there were no ninjas, only samurai.
"Hurry up and make the bed, I want to sleep soon."
Ringo Ameyuri tossed an oil-paper package into her bag and gave it to Uzumaki Karin.
A faint aroma of meat wafted from inside.
Uzumaki Karin was slightly taken aback; this stuff was much easier to swallow than the dry rations Kiyoshi had given her.
She's not a picky eater, but she can eat well, so why doesn't she eat well?
This changed Karin's impression of Ringo Ameyuri somewhat, making her think that she was a person who was tough on the outside but soft on the inside.
"That Uchiha... Kiyoshi, he must be someone like that too."
Uzumaki Karin thought to herself.
Kiyoshi said he was going to study her, but he ended up just shirking his responsibilities.
This place is less of an experimental base and more of a safe haven for her.
"When...how long will it take for Kiyoshi to return?"
"Who knows?"
Lin Yuyu shook his head.
Next time I see Kiyoshi, I must extort some benefits from him.
…………
Following the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, Iwagakure's logistics were severely impacted.
The Land of Earth and the Land of Fire do not share a border. If the Land of Earth wants to send troops to Konoha, the best solution is to go through the Land of Grass.
After the Kannabi Bridge, a crucial node, was destroyed by Konoha, the Iwa ninja on the front lines could not receive timely logistical support, and the situation suddenly reversed.
Jiraiya, who was guarding other fronts, led his ninjas to deal with the Land of Earth.
The Hyuga clan and other ninjas with strong reconnaissance abilities traveled south to be wary of the Land of Water.
The Land of Water and the Land of Fire are separated only by a coastal sea. The isolated island between them, the Land of Whirlpools, has long been destroyed.
Even ninjas from the Land of Water occupied that isolated island, using it as a transit point to continuously send troops to the mainland.
After the Kannabi Bridge incident, Konoha was given a chance to catch its breath.
Signs of improvement have emerged along the major defense lines.
The war has shown signs of easing.
When Kiyoshi returned, Kakashi was already lying in Konoha Hospital.
All members of the Minato Squad and the Mikoto Squad were awarded the title of hero.
Even though the Konoha leadership wanted to conceal the achievements of the Uchiha clan, they still received so-called honors.
The Konoha leadership also conveyed this dedication and the fearless spirit in the face of arduous tasks to the students of the Ninja Academy.
Ninja Academy.
"On the day of the Kannabi Bridge, three heroes with Sharingan were born in Konoha. One of them had his name engraved on the memorial stone, while the other two continued to contribute to the village."
Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking to the students below.
The students listened with great enthusiasm, feeling the "Will of Fire" burning within them.
Kiyoshi listened from the rear with a calm heart.
Upon returning to Konoha, he needs to hand over his mission, including a record of his actions in the Land of Grass.
He had already disguised these things.
Kiyoshi, unable to find anyone at the Hokage Building, was prompted by his Anbu colleagues to go to the Ninja Academy where a graduation ceremony was being held.
"Look, this is Kiyoshi, one of the heroes."
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly pointed towards the rear, in the direction of Kiyoshi.
Kiyoshi's calm face turned into a gentle smile.
"This is what we should do, Hokage-sama. We are all inheritors of the 'Will of Fire.' Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire will never die."
Kiyoshi uttered Hiruzen Sarutobi's favorite quote.
As expected, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled upon hearing this.
Behind him, Koharu Tsubasa and Homura Mitokado, who were also holding a graduation ceremony for the new generation, also had faint smiles on their faces.
The only person Kiyoshi didn't see was Shimura Danzo.
Who knows where that old guy is hiding in some dark corner.
"Is that Kiyoshi-senpai?"
Uzuki Yugao, standing below, tiptoed and looked at the figure in the distance, speaking to Gekko Hayate.
"Ahem... It's Kiyoshi-senpai."
Moonlight Gale coughed twice.
He always remembered his older brother, Qing Si.
When Kiyoshi saw that he wasn't feeling well, he used medical ninjutsu to temporarily alleviate his condition.
Moonlight Gale has always believed that this is a very good person.
His childhood friend, Uzuki Yugao, shared the same thoughts.
"That's amazing."
Moonlight and Gale sighed.
"Hmph, one day I, Hongdou, will be praised like that too."
Mitarashi Anko hummed and hawed.
Her master was one of the legendary Sannin, the infamous Orochimaru!
With such a strong faculty, it will certainly not be inferior to the Qing Dynasty in the future.
Recently, Orochimaru-sensei has been talking about the power of cursed seals, saying that he would arrange a set for her if given the chance.
Seeing that Kiyoshi was always highly regarded by Orochimaru, Mitarashi Anko felt somewhat inferior.
Now that he realizes he will soon have even greater power, he can't wait to show it off to Kiyoshi.
"Yotsuki Seiji..."
In another corner of the graduation ceremony, Atsui watched Kiyoshi speaking.
He silently clenched his fist.
The Third Raikage fought against 10,000 Iwa ninja and ultimately died.
Kiyoshi also passed on this intelligence.
This caused many of the Cloud Village's deployment plans to be disrupted by Konoha, catching them off guard.
However... the newly appointed Fourth Raikage, Ai, still tasked them with winning over Yozuki Seiji.
As she grew older, Atsui found herself unknowingly spending several years as a spy in Konoha.
I'm learning more and more.
He always had a feeling that every time his sister Samui went to see Kiyoshi, she would be taken advantage of.
But this is ultimately just speculation, without any concrete evidence.
After the graduation ceremony, Hiruzen Sarutobi called out to Kiyoshi.
"The future of the village depends on you young people."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, smoking his pipe, patted Seiji on the shoulder, a whiff of smoke emanating from him.
"The Hokage is still as sharp as ever; we will have to rely on him a lot in the future."
Qing Si said modestly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi is indeed quite strong now.
In the future, the more experienced Orochimaru will carry out the "Konoha Crush Plan". During his battle with Hiruzen Sarutobi, he said to himself that Hiruzen Sarutobi was too old. If he were ten years younger, he would have died there.
There is still a long time before we reach the original timeline.
It means that Hiruzen Sarutobi was in his prime, and he was also proficient in all five elemental ninjutsu!
Kiyoshi was not interested in the promises made by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
So-called glory is nothing more than a value tool for superiors to motivate their subordinates.
This is the core of the "Will of Fire".
The more sacrifices are needed in a place, the more this will be promoted.
"Haha, I'm getting old, I'm getting old."
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke and began talking to Kiyoshi.
They said that Obito was already dead, but those who were alive should look forward and not let Obito's death be in vain.
"By the way, Kakashi wants to join the Anbu. Since you're already an Anbu member, go and help Kakashi complete the process."
Hiruzen Sarutobi brought up this matter.
"it is good."
Kiyoshi nodded.
Kakashi is still in the hospital, and he's going there anyway.
This concerns his awakening of the three-tomoe Sharingan.
This is the conclusion of the Kannabi Bridge.
What price would Rin Nohara pay for Kakashi's Sharingan?
It's worth noting that with his presence this time, the Uchiha clan's reputation for producing geniuses has only grown stronger.
Many members of the clan felt their egos inflated to varying degrees, believing that the Uchiha would continue to produce countless geniuses and achieve glory for the Uchiha.
Then they will inevitably come to question the existence of this Sharingan.
"Farewell, Hokage-sama."
Kiyoshi's figure vanished.
He disappeared from the spot using the "Flying Thunder God Technique".
"Like Minato, have you mastered this technique very well?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his cigarette.
"Keep an eye on the Uchiha clan's recent movements."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke into the empty corridor.
The issue of Kakashi's Sharingan is very sensitive and needs to be treated with caution.
Kakashi is the son of White Fang; we cannot afford to further alienate the other ninja clans.
Similarly, it is also necessary to maintain a balance with the Uchiha.
In this moment when the war situation is somewhat calmer, anything can have far-reaching consequences, leading to complete defeat.
Even now, no major power dares to say that it is not facing the crisis of annihilation.
The scale of this battle far surpasses that of the previous two Shinobi World Wars!
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
From the shadows in the corner, a faint reply from the underworld could be heard.
…………
Konoha Hospital.
"Kakashi."
Kiyoshi knocked on the door of the ward and came in from outside.
Kakashi sat half-upright on the bed, covered with a blanket, wearing a blue and white hospital gown.
His left eye, like Danzo Shimura's, was wrapped in white bandages, while his only remaining right eye gazed out the window.
Eye transplant surgery is actually a very difficult procedure, requiring the resolution of issues such as immune rejection and regeneration of severed tissue.
Moreover, the optic nerve is a nerve bundle that extends directly from the brain, with a diameter of about one millimeter. It needs to be precisely connected to more than one million nerve fibers, as well as the meridian system in the eyeball.
Even with medical ninjutsu, a near-omnipotent healing technique, Rin Nohara, who doesn't have the Sharingan, can't guarantee that she won't suffer from any aftereffects.
Moreover, since it was a hasty operation performed in the wild with the constant threat of enemy attacks, Kakashi still needs to be hospitalized for observation.
"Kiyoshi."
Kakashi's dejected look intensified, his salty eyes appearing lifeless and somewhat haggard.
"How are you feeling?"
Kiyoshi put down the gifts he had brought.
"fine."
Kakashi nodded.
"I'll take you through the process of joining the Dark Division after you're discharged from the hospital in a few days."
Kiyoshi spoke.
Joining the Dark Side will grant you a set of Dark Side equipment, and you'll also need to get a red flame tattoo on your arm.
With Kiyoshi's current medical ninjutsu, he could easily wash the ink off the tattoo.
"This is troublesome."
Kakashi's voice was hoarse, and he still looked somewhat dazed.
Kiyoshi wasn't too surprised by this. After transplanting the Sharingan, the user needed to constantly suppress it.
When Shimura Danzo transplanted the Sharingan, he even specially prepared "Hashirama cells" to balance the power.
Kakashi had nothing and could only tough it out, which directly reduced his maximum chakra level.
It would be strange if he were in good spirits.
"Kiyoshi, have you come to visit Kakashi?"
Nohara Rin came in from outside carrying several boxes of lunch.
Her face looked as haggard as Kakashi's.
Upon seeing this, Kiyoshi revealed a subtle smile.
Kakashi's pressure will eventually pass on to Rin Nohara, after all, Rin is such a kind person.
"Um."
Kiyoshi nodded.
"I see."
Nohara Rin put down the lunchbox and was about to turn around and get one for Kiyoshi as well.
"No need, I'll leave right away."
Kiyoshi shook his head, exchanged a few casual pleasantries, and then took his leave.
The matter of Nohara Rin needs to ferment, and fermentation takes time.
This process won't take too long, just a few days.
Qing Si was not in a hurry.
"Kakashi, what are you guys talking about?"
After Kiyoshi left, Nohara Rin opened the lunchbox and asked Kakashi about it.
"It's nothing, it's confidential."
Kakashi said calmly.
The matter of joining the Dark Division cannot be revealed casually.
Otherwise, if everyone knew the identity of the Dark Division, wearing a mask would be meaningless.
Kakashi didn't actually know much about the Anbu, and his father rarely mentioned the Anbu before he died.
The only thing that's clear is that the Dark Side is a bloody and dark place!
When Obito gave his Sharingan as a Jonin congratulatory gift and died to save him, Kakashi realized what "bonds" were.
I also realized that fools who don't value their comrades are trash among ninjas.
This is what Obito taught him with his life, but unfortunately, he realized it too late.
Therefore, Kakashi did not want Rin to get involved in these matters. Obito entrusted Rin to him, so Kakashi had to fulfill his promise to Obito, "to protect Rin," even at the cost of his life.
"Confidential...?"
Nohara Rin's eyes welled up with tears of sorrow. She rubbed her eyes casually, pretending to be nonchalant, and quietly wiped away her tears.
Since Kakashi returned, she has been deliberately keeping a certain distance from him.
The atmosphere between Kakashi and I was quite good when we were discussing Lightning Release earlier.
Now we're back to the original progress, and there's even a deep sense of distance.
"Kakashi..."
Nohara Rin hesitated, as if she wanted to say what she had kept buried in her heart all these years.
"Rin... Obito likes you a lot, he likes you a lot... he values you a lot..."
Kakashi realized what Rin Nohara wanted to say and spoke first.
"..."
Nohara Rin lowered her eyes.
Shouldn't love be a matter of freedom?
Doesn't she have the right to pursue the person she likes?
Because Obito might like me, so I can't be with Kakashi?
"I...I'm leaving now."
After Kakashi finished eating his lunchbox, Nohara Rin packed it up and quickly headed outside.
"Lin..."
Kakashi reached out his hand in pain, then quickly withdrew it.
This is the result of his own actions, and he must atone for it.
(End of this chapter)