Hiding in the sand, splitting into many places, starting with Arkham

Kōka City, the Uesugi Manor.

"Come, Kiyomizu, little brother, try this. It's shark fin soup that I made myself."

A long-haired woman in a kimono gently ladled a bowl of shark fin soup for Kiyomizu.

"Arigato, Onee-san, Yuki."

Kiyomizu accepted the bowl with both hands, expressing his gratitude.

This woman was his cousin, Uesugi Yu's eldest daughter, Uesugi Yuki, seventeen years old, and a standard Yamato Nadeshiko type of woman.

Uesugi Yu was nearly forty years old. Besides Uesugi Yuki, he also had an infant son in his wife's arms.

"This is a home banquet specially to entertain Kiyomizu, so don't be restrained."

Uesugi Yu held a cup of sake in his hand and spoke to Kiyomizu in a deep voice.

"The things you asked for, I've already had people prepare them. However, there are quite a few things, can you carry them all by yourself?"

"Ah, Uncle, could you have someone send these things to Momoyama?"

The former Sound Pillar, Kuwajima Jigorō, retired and secluded himself in Momoyama, serving as a trainer for the Breath of Thunder, cultivating swordsmen.

Kiyomizu was going there next to learn the Breath of Thunder.

"Hmm, is there anything else you need? Tell us all at once. No one in the family has ever walked the path you've chosen. Apart from some money and supplies, the help we elders can give is really limited."

"There is indeed one thing that I need Uncle and Great Uncle to investigate together."

After saying this, Kiyomizu smiled apologetically at Uesugi Yuki and the others.

"The pork bone soup should be ready. I'll go check in the kitchen."

Uesugi Yuki immediately understood, even though she didn't know why her father said that her cousin was walking a path that no one in the family had ever walked.

Being a police officer, wasn't her Great Uncle the Superintendent General of the Shiga Police Headquarters?

Madam Uesugi also immediately reacted and said, "The child must be hungry. I'll go take him to drink milk."

After the three of them left, Kiyomizu took out a map.

"Although I haven't contacted many people in this month, I have read a lot of information about the Demon Slayer Corps. Based on the family history and other historical books and records that I could collect, I discovered a clue that may have a significant impact on the Demon Slayer Corps."

Kiyomizu drew a range on the map.

"The foundation of the Demon Slayer Corps' supernatural combat power is Breathing Techniques, with five Breathing Techniques as the core. However, the most primitive and most powerful Breathing Technique has been lost. According to my investigation, within this range, someone should have passed down the original Breathing Technique in some way."

"You want to find this original Breathing Technique and use it as an opportunity for promotion within the Demon Slayer Corps?"

Uesugi Yu asked.

"Not entirely. Within the Demon Slayer Corps, status is linked to the achievements of killing demons, and achievements are often linked to strength.

Coincidentally, this Breathing Technique is very strong, perhaps the strongest Breathing Technique. If I can learn it, I might be able to become a high-level member of the Demon Slayer Corps faster. According to some clues I found, this original Breathing Technique later evolved into a folk dance called Hinokami Kagura. I need you to help me find a family with the surname Kamado. The location should be within this range. They are related to the ancestor swordsman who created the Breathing Technique. If anyone has passed down the Hinokami Kagura, their family is the most likely."

Uesugi Yu didn't ask why Kiyomizu investigated so thoroughly.

"I understand."

Kiyomizu nodded slightly.

… …

… …

A month is enough to change many things.

The avatar in the Demon Slayer world mastered the Breath of Wind and embarked on the path to Momoyama to learn the Breath of Thunder, while Kiyomizu in the Naruto world had completely mastered the nature transformation of Wind Release—the time he announced to the public was one month, but in reality, it was seven days.

There was no way around it. The fastest other geniuses took two or three months, or even longer. Kiyomizu's one month was already a shocking achievement.

At the same time, Yōkai was just beginning to cut through water currents, and Maki was still struggling with leaves.

These two people's Wind Release talent was already top-notch.

If he really said seven days, Kiyomizu believed that Sunagakure wouldn't go so far as to capture him for dissection, but if this matter spread, then similar organizations in other ninja villages, such as Root, would definitely assassinate him at all costs.

Without a single mistake, a single shot, a single content, a single appearance, all in one glance!

"Now that you have learned the nature transformation of Wind Release and have also become proficient in Puppet Technique, able to control three puppets, then I will put you on this batch's special Jōnin promotion list and submit it to the Third Kazekage."

In the camp tent, Chiyo looked at Kiyomizu with a gratified expression.

"But... Chiyo-sensei, my war merits seem to be a bit lacking, right?"

Kiyomizu asked Chiyo.

Chiyo smiled slightly, shook her head, and took out Kiyomizu's ninja file.

"Your current mission count is: D-rank 68 times, C-rank 23 times, B-rank 63 times, A-rank 0 times, S-rank... 2 times."

Kiyomizu was slightly stunned.

The required mission indicators for Jōnin promotion are 60 B-rank or higher missions and two A-rank or higher missions, proving that the ninja has the ability to participate in mid-to-high-level missions.

Kiyomizu had previously mixed into an S-rank mission during the White Fang incident, but how did this second one come about?

"Chiyo-sensei, this..."

"Speaking of this matter, I still have to thank you and Sasori."

Chiyo handed Kiyomizu a document with the words "Top Secret" printed on the surface and explained:

"Do you still remember Reina, whom I promoted in the village's medical team? I didn't expect her to be a spy sent by Konoha, and I didn't expect you to see through Reina's flaws and secretly cooperate with Sasori to find out her background."

So that's how it was.

Kiyomizu flipped through the document and roughly understood the beginning and end of this incident.

Hatake Sakumo was injured by the Third Kazekage in last year's battle, and his injuries had healed at least two months ago.

Konohagakure attempted to have Reina, as a spy, reveal the personnel transfer data of Sunagakure and the information of the Third Kazekage and other high-level officials, seeking an opportunity for Hatake Sakumo to lead a team to set an ambush and assassinate the Third Kazekage.

This matter was discovered by Sasori, who secretly told Ebizō, so they used a counter-strategy, trying to take this opportunity to eliminate the great enemy, Hatake Sakumo, in one fell swoop.