His control over the jutsu had become far more precise and efficient.
"So this is what stacked talent feels like, huh?"
Kiyohara rubbed his chin.
No wonder Orochimaru went to such lengths to swap bodies. Sometimes, it really is just different.
He clenched his fist, feeling the strength still humming in his body.
All that stamina could be turned into chakra at any time.
The old Kiyohara would never have had this much in reserve.
He'd need some time to really get used to and digest this new power.
"Mm… hope the next future me is a taijutsu specialist," he murmured.
More spiritual energy was great for boosting chakra, but if it far outpaced physical energy, problems would crop up.
Like Yakumo Kurama, Kurenai's student. The Kurama clan had a Yin Release–type bloodline limit; their mental power was too strong, and it ended up crushing the body instead.
Yakumo's spirit was monstrous, but her body was frail.
Only when mind and body grow together can chakra really increase in a healthy way.
Kiyohara even suspected Hashirama might have died early because of an imbalance between his physical and spiritual energy—after he thought he'd killed his closest friend, Madara, he collapsed inward and burned out.
The reasoning is simple: the shinobi world has this thing called "vitality."
Hashirama's cells had absurd life force. Most major villains treated them like sacred relics, scrambling to graft them into themselves.
If the fragments were that incredible, how ridiculous must the original body have been?
And yet, someone like that died in his fifties or sixties…
Of course, it might have been overexertion in that final battle against Madara.
Or maybe Asura's chakra, thinking his brother's reincarnation had died, decided to punch out too.
There were a lot of possibilities—but the core puzzle stayed the same:
Hashirama did die way too early.
"My next mission will probably be in a few days. I should get this weapon forged first," Kiyohara decided.
As for the loans—he'd drag them out as long as he could.
"And it won't be long before Iwa can't hold on," he suddenly remembered.
Hiruzen would choose to step down and pick a Fourth Hokage.
Not because he was old—but because he was stepping down in "atonement."
For what?
Simple: the Kannabi Bridge mission cut Iwa's crucial supply line.
Minato and Konoha's forces slaughtered most of the thousands of Iwa shinobi who'd pushed into Grass.
Seeing themselves on the verge of collapse—
Before Iwa could even react, Hiruzen rushed forward as Konoha's representative to ask for a ceasefire.
He acknowledged all of Iwa's actions and waived all claims for reparations.
It was like having a massive lead, one push away from smashing the enemy's "Nexus," and then Hiruzen suddenly hits surrender and pressures everyone else to surrender too.
Even Danzō lost it, raging that countless allies had died on that front—wasn't this making their sacrifice meaningless?
Hiruzen insisted it was all his fault, resigning as Third Hokage to atone.
It's bizarre, but that is what happened in the original.
"After this, they'll consolidate forces against Kiri," Kiyohara thought.
Madara's next big move was in the Hidden Mist.
He'd have to be careful on future missions.
...
A few days later.
Hokage Building.
Evening. The Hokage's office was brightly lit.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind his broad desk, pipe in his mouth. White smoke curled upward, making his stern face look a bit hazy.
There was a light knock on the door, then it swung open.
Minato stepped in, just back from the border.
"Lord Third," he said with a small bow.
"Here is the detailed report. Also… news from the front. The Iwa forces on the Grass front have retreated 15 kilometre."
"Oh?"
Hiruzen set down his pipe and took the scroll, relief flickering over his face.
"Good work, Minato. That's very good news. If we can resolve the Iwa crisis, we can focus our main strength on handling pressure from Kumo and Kiri."
He skimmed the report quickly and nodded, clearly pleased.
"You always seem to bring good news."
His eyes drifted to another document on the desk—the final list of successful chūnin candidates from a few days ago.
He picked it up, paused briefly on the name "Kiyohara," then handed the sheet to Minato.
"Have a look. Kiyohara—the one you recommended—beat an Uchiha in the exam."
Minato blinked, taking the list.
"Kiyohara… he took the selection?" he said, a bit surprised.
He scanned down and found the name.
"I thought, with what he did at Kannabi Bridge, he'd be promoted directly. But proving himself in the exam has its merits too."
Hiruzen raised his pipe again, clearly ready to indulge himself. Like a veteran smoker, he took a slow drag and exhaled.
Minato, naturally, sat there breathing in secondhand smoke.
No one visited the Hokage's office and left without getting at least a little of it.
Minato idly wondered how much tax revenue cigarettes brought into the Fire Country.
"Direct promotion would've worked, yes," Hiruzen said. "But putting him through the selection makes it easier to see his potential, temperament, and how he adapts against different opponents.
"No matter how glowing a report reads, it's not the same as seeing it yourself. And now, it seems your praise in that recommendation wasn't exaggerated."
Minato immediately understood.
This wasn't doubt. It was careful cultivation.
In wartime, Konoha had lost too many good shinobi—especially the mid-tier backbone of chūnin and jōnin.
Kiyohara, a civilian-born ninja whose parents had both died for the village, was pure Konoha stock.
Add in a solid talent, and he was exactly the kind of young asset the village desperately needed to foster.
The Third clearly wanted a more complete picture of Kiyohara's value, to match him with the right resources and future position.
"I understand, Hokage-sama," Minato said, nodding with a hint of emotion.
"Kiyohara really does have a lot of potential. Most importantly, he has a firm will to protect his comrades. In times like these, that's rare," he added, thinking of Rin's report about Kiyohara staying behind alone to hold off Taiseki.
"Good background, strong ability, and a solid heart…"
Hiruzen's gaze dropped back to the list.
"A promising seedling. Minato, you know him better than I do—keep an eye on his growth," he said.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Minato replied, solemn.
He already thought highly of Kiyohara; with the Hokage's explicit blessing, he was more than willing to give the boy extra guidance—and opportunities.
~~~
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