Chapter 34: Embers of Discipline
After finishing his meal, Kiyoshi placed the exact amount of ryo on the counter and nodded his thanks to Teuchi. He cast one last glance at the father-son duo beside him.
With a quiet exhale, he turned and stepped out of the shop, the warm glow of the lanterns fading behind him as he walked into the cool Konoha night.
The lanterns' glow contrasted with the soft hues of the evening sky. The sun hung low, casting long shadows over the streets as the village settled into the final hours of daylight.
As Kiyoshi arrived home, the fading sunlight cast warm orange hues across the wooden floor. He immediately noticed something near his doorstep—a neatly wrapped bento box with a small note attached.
Curious, he picked it up and unfolded the note.
"Eat everything in it. You can come eat with us whenever you want. – Sayaka"
For a moment, he simply stared at the words.
Something about them… felt warm.
He had spent training, planning, and thinking about the future that he rarely stopped to enjoy small moments like this. A quiet feeling settled in his chest—not quite nostalgia, but something close.
"This… doesn't feel too bad," he thought, a small smile forming. "Maybe this is the life I always wanted…"
After silently thanking the bento, he carried it inside and set it aside for later. There was still training to do.
Kiyoshi stepped outside again, pushing aside any lingering thoughts as he resumed his Tree Climbing and Leaf Concentration training. Maintaining chakra control was essential, and he was determined to refine it further. Step by step, he climbed higher, forcing himself to adjust and improve.
Once satisfied with his control, he moved on to practicing the Great Fireball Technique. Forming the correct hand seals, he took a deep breath, channeling chakra into his lungs before releasing a powerful burst of flames. The fire roared into the evening air, its heat radiating across the clearing.
He repeated the technique several times, refining the power and control behind it. By the time his chakra reserves ran low, the sky had darkened completely—night had fallen.
Kiyoshi exhaled, glancing up at the moon. It shone brightly against the deep blue sky, casting a pale glow over the village.
"Still not enough," he muttered before turning back toward the house.
Stepping inside, Kiyoshi wasted no time washing off the sweat and dirt from training. Once refreshed, he retrieved the bento from earlier, reheated it, and began eating.
Each bite carried a warmth that training couldn't provide. It was a simple meal, but it was made for him.
He finished quickly, washed the dishes, and set everything aside before leaving the kitchen.
Now, there was one last thing he wanted to do before sleep.
Studying the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
He grabbed the scroll he had set aside earlier, unrolling it and carefully reading through the instructions again. The technique itself was powerful, but mastering the mechanics—the correct hand seals, chakra distribution, and pathway flow—was the real challenge.
He practiced forming the seals, ensuring his hands moved smoothly, then attempted to mold his chakra accordingly.
Still nothing.
Kiyoshi exhaled. No frustration, no irritation. He simply put the scroll away, knowing this would take time.
"Tomorrow, then," he thought.
With that, he climbed into bed, letting exhaustion finally take over.
When morning arrived, Kiyoshi was already prepared to train—determined to make it a habit for the future. The early air was crisp, and the village was still quiet as he stepped outside, stretching his limbs.
Without wasting time, he began practicing the Great Fireball Technique again. His hands moved smoothly through the seals as he took a deep breath, channeling chakra into his lungs. A moment later, he expelled a burst of flames, the fire roaring into the sky before dissipating.
He repeated the technique, refining his control, pushing himself to improve. Just as he was preparing for another attempt, a sudden knock at his door pulled him from his focus.
Frowning slightly, he turned toward the house and walked over to answer.
When he opened the door, Kenshiro-sensei stood before him, his usual calm expression in place. The man regarded Kiyoshi for a moment before speaking in his steady voice.
"Training Ground No. 8. Be there within ten minutes."
Kiyoshi gave a small nod. Straight to the point as always.
"Understood," he replied, turning back inside to gather his ninja gear.
As he strapped on his equipment, something made him pause. A strange, lingering feeling. Slowly, he turned back toward the door—only to find Kenshiro-sensei still standing there, silently watching him.
Their eyes met for a brief moment before the man gave a small nod… and then suddenly dissipated.
Kiyoshi blinked. A shadow clone?
Realization struck him. So, it was waiting to see if I had anything to relay to the real Kenshiro-sensei… but since I was already getting ready, it didn't need to stay.
He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head.
With that, he finished grabbing his gear, locked the door behind him, and set off toward Training Ground No. 8—ready for whatever came next.
Kiyoshi moved swiftly through the village streets, weaving past early risers and market vendors setting up their stalls. His feet barely touched the ground as he picked up speed, leaping across rooftops whenever possible.
After some time, he reached Training Ground No. 8, just as another figure appeared in his peripheral vision.
Mikoto.
She had arrived at almost the exact same time. Their eyes met briefly, and they exchanged a simple nod before stepping forward together.
As they entered the clearing, a sight made both of them pause.
Ryota was already there, sitting under a tree with his arms crossed.
Kiyoshi and Mikoto exchanged looks before walking up to him.
"How is he here before us?"
"Oi, Ryota," Kiyoshi called out, "how'd you get here so fast?"
At this, Ryota scowled, rubbing his temples in frustration.
"Tch. The moment Kenshiro-sensei's clone disappeared, my parents kicked me out of the house and told me to get going. Like, no hesitation at all."
Mikoto suppressed a small laugh, while Kiyoshi smiled wryly.
"That explains it."
Just as they were chatting, a sudden movement above caught their attention.
A shadow leaped down from the tree branches, landing silently behind Ryota.
Kenshiro-sensei.
Ryota, caught in the middle of his rant about how unfair his parents were, stiffened immediately when he noticed Mikoto and Kiyoshi looking past him instead of at him.
A sinking feeling hit his stomach.
Slowly—very, very slowly—he turned his head.
Kenshiro-sensei stood there with his usual calm yet unreadable expression.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then, realization struck Ryota like a kunai to the chest.
Oh no.
He had just spent the last few minutes grumbling about Kenshiro-sensei's early morning summons—loudly.
A bead of sweat rolled down his temple.
Did… did he hear all of that?
Ryota immediately straightened his back, cleared his throat, and forced a poker face as if nothing had happened.
Kiyoshi and Mikoto, meanwhile, exchanged amused glances.
Not wanting to delay further, all three of them stood at attention and greeted their instructor in unison.
"Good morning, Kenshiro-sensei!"
Kenshiro-sensei simply nodded.
"Enough talking. Let's begin.