Meanwhile, in Konoha—Hokage Tower.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window, holding an urgent frontline report that had just been delivered. The ember in his pipe flared and dimmed at his lips.
A meeting had already been held in the conference room moments ago, focused mainly on the incident at the Land of Grass border.
The matter of the Three-Tails' jinchūriki had to be handled with extreme caution.
After discussion, they decided to have the sealing team apply a temporary reinforcement to the seal on Nohara Rin first.
Then she would be brought back to Konoha, where Kushina Uzumaki would use Uzumaki clan sealing techniques to reinforce it again.
As the only surviving Uzumaki in Konoha, Kushina's sealing skills were clearly a cut above everyone else's—especially since she could use abilities like the Adamantine Sealing Chains, which required inherited Uzumaki blood.
Once the main issues were settled, the next topic became Kiyohara's Sharingan.
"Sharingan…"
Hiruzen murmured, exhaling a ring of smoke.
He wasn't unfamiliar with Kiyohara.
The boy was gifted, steady-minded, and had stood out among his peers. After graduation, he'd grown rapidly in the war, recently revealing the rare Magnet Release bloodline limit, and had already been placed on the list for close observation.
Hiruzen's original plan was to cultivate Kiyohara into an Anbu elite directly under the Hokage—someone with a clean background, exceptional talent, and proper Will of Fire education was exactly the kind of fresh blood Anbu needed.
He had even drafted the transfer order, intending to summon Kiyohara the moment he returned from the front.
But the Sharingan's appearance disrupted everything.
"Uchiha blood…?"
Hiruzen returned to his desk and pulled Kiyohara's file from a drawer.
Both parents: ordinary shinobi, killed on mission.
The record was clean—too clean.
There were two possibilities.
One: Kiyohara's parents really were Uchiha, but for some reason concealed their identity and operated under the name of ordinary shinobi.
Two: Kiyohara's blood came from a more distant ancestor—during the Uchiha clan's migrations and dispersal, someone might have been left behind, married outside the clan, and after generations of drift, the bloodline resurfaced and "reverted" in Kiyohara's generation.
Either way, it meant Kiyohara had an unbreakable blood connection to the Uchiha.
And even if Anbu investigated, there was nowhere to investigate.
Before the village era, who knew what happened?
Back then, the great clans fought for themselves; only when "villages" emerged did clans and commoners band together for survival.
"A headache…"
Hiruzen rubbed his brow.
The Uchiha clan's relationship with the village had always been delicate.
The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha founded Konoha together—but Madara's defection and the battle at the Valley of the End planted seeds of suspicion between the two clans.
The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, created the Konoha Military Police Force and put the Uchiha fully in charge. It looked like power—but in practice, it kept them out of the village's core decision-making circle.
By Hiruzen's generation, the divide had only worsened.
The Police Force's authority was gradually hollowed out, the Uchiha's political standing became increasingly marginal, and voices inside the clan grew louder—calls to "restore Uchiha glory."
Conflicts between the Police and Anbu flared from time to time.
As Hokage, Hiruzen knew the Uchiha's combat strength was crucial to Konoha.
The Sharingan was a battlefield terror, and the proportion of jōnin among the Uchiha was far higher than in other clans.
But at the same time, he feared their power.
And the Uchiha truly could revolt.
After Madara's defection, he had attempted several times to invade Konoha before being suppressed by Hashirama.
There were also famous hawks like Uchiha Setsuna—men who claimed to inherit Madara's will, who had advocated violent reclamation of "clan sovereignty" even in Tobirama's era, secretly stoking rebellion.
In the end, Setsuna had been arrested by Anbu under the Second Hokage and imprisoned for years, only recently released.
Even Hiruzen found these political remnants a burden.
"If only there were a bridge…"
Hiruzen's gaze returned to Kiyohara's name.
This boy possessed Uchiha blood, yet had grown up entirely within Konoha's system, raised on the most orthodox Will of Fire.
If Kiyohara embraced the village's ideals while also being accepted by the Uchiha…
He might become the crucial link between Konoha and the Uchiha.
A figure with influence inside the clan, yet loyal to the village—someone who could ease tensions, even guide the Uchiha back into Konoha's collective.
That was far more refined than simple suppression or confrontation.
His old friend Uchiha Kagami had once played that role.
But Kagami had died young.
Hiruzen knocked out his pipe and made his decision.
He summoned Anbu.
"Send word to the Land of Grass front. Kiyohara's unit and Kakashi's unit are to return together—Anbu will escort them personally."
"Yes."
The Anbu vanished in a Body Flicker.
Hiruzen sank back into his chair and stared at the Hokage Rock outside the window.
In the Hokage's office, only the soft tap-tap of his pipe remained.
…
At the same time, in the Uchiha district.
Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku sat in his room, holding a brief sent directly from the Hokage's office.
Its contents largely matched what Hiruzen had read—highlighting, in particular, Kiyohara's awakened Sharingan.
Fugaku's expression remained as stern as ever, his brows drawing together.
"Kiyohara… that kid with Magnet Release?"
He muttered.
He'd heard of Kiyohara—active on the battlefield, recently revealing the rare Magnet Release bloodline, seemingly being cultivated by the village.
Now he'd learned the boy also carried Uchiha blood.
"A troublesome matter."
Fugaku set the brief down and rubbed his temples.
To the Uchiha, the Sharingan was a weapon. For them, Kiyohara was an outsider who happened to wield that weapon.
In essence, he wasn't that different from Kakashi—except one could turn it off, and the other could not.
But they couldn't simply ignore Kiyohara.
If a bloodline slipped away like that…
Would it not effectively become the seed of a "new Uchiha clan" outside their control?
Just imagining it, Fugaku knew the clan would argue endlessly.
Some would accept him. Some would reject him. Opinions would split sharply.
Even worse was Kiyohara's own stance.
He was already in his teens, with his values and identity set.
He'd grown up under Konoha's system—would he even feel any belonging to the Uchiha?
Fugaku stood and went to the window, looking out at the child practicing shuriken in the backyard.
His eldest son, Uchiha Itachi, was four this year—already showing frightening talent.
Fugaku had planned to take Itachi to the battlefield this year, to let him see the "real shinobi world."
He believed that was the only way to fully draw out his son's potential.
But Kiyohara's sudden emergence disrupted that plan.
He had to deal with this unexpected clansman first.
"Fugaku?"
His wife, Uchiha Mikoto, entered the tatami room carrying tea. Seeing his heavy expression, she asked softly.
"A message from the Hokage."
Fugaku handed her the brief. Since the clan would learn soon anyway, there was no point hiding it.
Mikoto skimmed it quickly, her pupils tightening.
"Sharingan… this child…"
"The clan will know very soon," Fugaku said. "Then we'll have another round of arguments. And what Kiyohara himself wants is still unknown."
Mikoto set the tea down and spoke gently.
"Either way, the Sharingan appearing is fact. The clan should approach him first and understand his wishes.
If he wants to return, we should welcome him. If he doesn't… at least we must build a good relationship."
She paused, then added:
"After all, he seems close to Orochimaru. Making an enemy of him won't help the clan."
Fugaku nodded. Mikoto's thinking matched his.
As clan head, he had to balance internal factions while also considering the clan's relationship with the village.
Kiyohara was a delicate pivot point.
Handled well, he could improve the Uchiha's standing.
Handled poorly, he could ignite worse conflict.
"By the way," Mikoto remembered. "You said you'd take Itachi to the front…"
"Postponed," Fugaku decided at once.
He looked out at his young son practicing.
Mikoto visibly relaxed.
Itachi was gifted and mature beyond his years—but he was still only four.
Was it really good to expose him to the brutality of the battlefield so early?
That kind of cruelty could leave a lifetime of scars—or worse, twist him.
"Then tonight…"
"I have to handle affairs. The Police Force has a pile of work too. I won't be home for dinner."
Fugaku carried two heavy roles: clan head and head of the Konoha Military Police Force.
And with the world at war, Mikoto being left alone was simply unavoidable.
The clan was working hard. He had to show the same resolve.
"I'm leaving."
Fugaku gathered his things and went out, already drafting notices for the elders.
Kiyohara's matter required a clan meeting.
Before that, he needed more information on Kiyohara—and a plan for how to approach him.
…
Three days later.
At the Land of Grass border camp, near the river.
Kiyohara was practicing the elemental transformation of Fire Release chakra.
Perhaps Uchiha Kiyohara's fire affinity was particularly strong—because even with only a partial inheritance, Kiyohara's progress was fast.
He spread his hands, palms up.
Refined chakra circulated through his pathway system, gradually transforming into a scorching Fire nature.
The temperature in his palms rose steadily.
He could see the skin beneath his palms reddening—an external sign of Fire chakra.
"The temperature still isn't uniform. You're overheating in spots," Uchiha Kiyohara's spirit instructed beside him.
"Fire chakra control hinges on output that's stable and sustained."
Kiyohara adjusted his breathing, slowed his output, and tried to make the heat field across his palms more even.
It was the most basic foundation.
Familiarity with Fire chakra's behavior now would determine how quickly he could learn actual Fire ninjutsu later.
"Besides Fireball Jutsu, what other Fire techniques do you know—preferably outside the Uchiha clan's standard set?" Kiyohara asked.
Uchiha Kiyohara's spirit nodded.
"There are some. Like Fire Release: Small Flame Bullet. Low chakra cost—good for practice."
He possessed Kiyohara briefly to demonstrate the hand signs, then blew out a fist-sized fireball.
It struck the river, bursting into steam.
"This is a basic Fire technique. The power is limited, but the learning curve is low. It helps you learn the routing of Fire chakra through the mouth, throat, and lungs."
Kiyohara memorized the signs and tried.
At first, only sparks came out.
Then a fireball formed and burst near his lips, scorching them red—fortunately, with his medical foundation he quickly repaired the mild burn with chakra.
With repetition, he improved.
By the time sunlight began to slant low, Kiyohara finally produced a stable fireball—only apple-sized, but it flew straight and burst the river surface with impressive spray.
"Good. Next, practice rapid consecutive shots, and adjusting size and speed," the spirit said.
Kiyohara was about to continue when he sensed someone approaching.
He turned and saw Yūhi Kurenai walking out from the riverside woods above, her hair wet—she'd clearly washed upstream.
"You're secretly training again," Kurenai puffed her cheeks. She sat on a flat stone by the river, gathering her wet hair to one side and slowly towel-drying it.
Watching her struggle with the long wet hair, Kiyohara suddenly had an idea.
"Kurenai—need help?"
"Huh?"
Kurenai turned, blinking those ruby eyes.
Kiyohara stepped behind her and raised a hand.
"My Fire chakra control just reached the point where I can stabilize temperature. I might be able to dry your hair."
Kurenai's cheeks flushed.
Letting a boy dry your hair… that was way too intimate.
But seeing Kiyohara's calm expression, she felt she was overthinking it.
He probably just wanted to help—and use it as chakra control practice.
"Th-then… I'll take you up on it," she said softly, handing him the towel.
Kiyohara didn't use the towel immediately. He first held his palm above her wet hair.
He activated the Sharingan; his perception sharpened.
He released Fire chakra through the tenketsu in his palm.
A wave of warmth flowed through the air.
Heat brushed through her hair; moisture evaporated quickly.
At the same time, he used the towel to gently comb and separate strands, allowing the warm airflow to reach evenly.
Kurenai felt warmth at her back. Kiyohara's fingertips occasionally grazed the nape of her neck, sending a faint, involuntary shiver.
"You can use Fire Release like this?" Kurenai stared.
This level of chakra control… no wonder Kiyohara could do medical ninjutsu.
Medical techniques demanded far more control than ordinary ninjutsu.
Kurenai stole a glance at Kiyohara's reflection on the river's surface.
Her heartbeat sped up.
This kind of closeness wasn't common among shinobi.
Even teammates kept distance.
This… felt like something a married couple might do.
That thought calmed her nerves a little—but her face only grew hotter.
Meanwhile, Kiyohara was treating her hair as a training tool.
His output was small, so there was little risk.
Drying hair sounded simple, but the uniform temperature requirement was high.
Too low: slow drying. Too high: damage the hair. Uneven: patches of over-dry or still-wet.
It was far harder than hurling fire at rocks—but it improved control much more efficiently.
When Kiyohara lowered his gaze, he could see her pale neck… and the early curve of her developing figure.
Three minutes later, Kurenai's hair was completely dry.
"Okay… done," Kiyohara said, giving her head a light pat.
"You touched my head again!" Kurenai protested.
But this time she didn't sound angry—only red-faced.
"I was checking if it dried evenly," Kiyohara withdrew his hand and deactivated the Sharingan.
Kurenai touched her hair. It really was dry through and through—no scorching, no roughness.
"Let's go back. It's getting late," Kiyohara said, glancing at the sky.
Kurenai nodded, and they walked back toward camp together.
At camp, they ran into Nohara Rin.
Rin had been released from isolation. After two days of seal reinforcement and confirmation that she posed no immediate risk, she was allowed back among the others.
Jinchūriki stability also depended on mental state—pressuring her too hard could backfire.
Rin still looked pale, but her spirits were decent.
When she saw Kiyohara and Kurenai arriving together, she greeted them.
She'd only been released that morning after almost three days isolated.
"Kurenai, weren't you washing your hair? Why is it dry… and why is your face red?" Rin asked curiously.
The weather was cold, and river water was colder. Dry hair was one thing, but why was Kurenai still flushed?
There was no hair dryer in camp.
Kurenai's heart jumped. The memory of Kiyohara drying her hair so intimately made her panic.
"Ah—uh… maybe I just got warm walking back, so it dried faster…" she blurted.
"Ohhh." Rin nodded like it made sense.
"Rin, how are you feeling?" Kiyohara asked.
"Much better," Rin smiled faintly. "Thanks to you again, Kiyohara-kun. You saved me again."
"We're teammates. It's what I should do," Kiyohara said.
"Anbu are coming," Rin pointed toward the front. "I saw them earlier."
Because Anbu wore masks, they were easy to recognize.
As Rin spoke, the Anbu actually headed straight toward them.
"You're Kiyohara, Yūhi Kurenai, and Nohara Rin, correct?" the Anbu said.
"Yes," Kiyohara answered.
"The Hokage has ordered us to escort you back."
The Anbu who spoke was tall. Three others stood behind him.
Two were familiar to Kiyohara—Uzuki Yugao and Gekkō Hayate.
Kiyohara remembered Yugao was a few years younger than Kakashi; she was probably still "provisional" rather than fully confirmed.
Kakashi had entered Anbu with full assignment immediately, whereas Yugao was formally promoted later. Kakashi was older and had seniority, which was why she called him "senpai."
~~~
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