Chapter 47: Before Dawn

Chapter 47: Before Dawn

After sealing the letter for Tsunade, Kiyoshi turned his attention to the mission ahead. He methodically packed his supplies—rations, weapons, medical essentials—ensuring he was fully prepared for the long-term assignment. Satisfied with his preparations, he glanced outside. There was still time before lunch.

Deciding to make the most of it, he left the house and headed toward the riverside where he had trained that morning. The area was quieter now, with only a few civilians passing by. Without hesitation, Kiyoshi began practicing his Earth Release techniques, refining the jutsu he had learned. He shaped the terrain, testing his precision and efficiency before moving on to his Fire Release training. Flames roared to life as he executed his jutsu, pushing himself to control their intensity and spread.

When his stomach finally reminded him of the time, he wrapped up his session and made his way to Ichiraku Ramen. The familiar scent of broth and spices filled the air as he took a seat and ordered his meal. As he was finishing up, he noticed Kakashi walking by. The silver-haired boy gave him a nod in greeting, which Kiyoshi returned with equal brevity. Neither saw the need for conversation, and with that, Kiyoshi stood and left.

Back home, he shifted into his next phase of training. He began with Elemental Meditation, strengthening his connection to his affinities. Sitting near a controlled flame, he focused on synchronizing his chakra with the fire, feeling its warmth, its movement, its nature.

From there, he moved on to Elemental Endurance Training, exposing himself to extreme conditions to build resistance. He stood in the sweltering heat, testing his limits, pushing his body and chakra control.

Finally, he attempted Small-Scale Manipulation, aiming to produce a controlled flame in his palm without forming hand seals. At first, nothing happened. He concentrated, feeling the flow of his chakra, urging the heat to manifest. A faint warmth built up, but no visible flame. Despite the failure, Kiyoshi didn't allow frustration to take hold—he could already feel the progress.

As the evening set in, he decided to visit Shigeru's house for dinner, craving a home-cooked meal. Upon arrival, he found only Shigeru, Sayaka, and Emiko present. Rika was absent.

"Where's Rika?" he asked, noticing the empty seat.

Emiko glanced up from setting the table. "She's on a mission right now," she replied simply.

Kiyoshi nodded, taking his place at the table.

At the dining table, Emiko was setting out dishes, her movements quick and practiced. Sayaka sat nearby, sipping tea, while Shigeru leaned back with his arms crossed, looking as if he was contemplating the mysteries of the universe—or just really hungry.

"You're just in time," Emiko said, glancing up as Kiyoshi took his seat. "I made extra, so eat as much as you want."

"She made extra for you," Sayaka teased, smirking over her tea. "Honestly, if she fed you any more, I'd start charging you rent."

Emiko, mid-motion of serving Kiyoshi an absurdly large portion, froze for half a second before clearing her throat. "Mom."

"What?" Sayaka said, feigning innocence. "I'm just saying, you don't even serve your father this much."

Shigeru, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke, his tone thoughtful. "It's true. My plate is suspiciously… average-sized."

"Because you can serve yourself," Emiko shot back, quickly shoving more food onto Kiyoshi's plate as if that would end the conversation.

Kiyoshi, wisely staying out of whatever this was, simply accepted the extra food and started eating.

Sayaka leaned forward, her grin widening. "You know, Kiyoshi, if you ever decide to settle down, this could be your future every night."

Emiko nearly choked on air. "Mom!"

Kiyoshi, not looking up, calmly chewed his food. "Free meals? Sounds like a solid deal."

Sayaka burst out laughing, while Emiko turned an alarming shade of red and shoved an entire dumpling into her mouth to avoid responding.

Shigeru exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Ah, youth," he muttered. "So much energy. So little awareness."

Emiko groaned, but despite her embarrassment, the warmth of the moment settled between them. It was rare for Kiyoshi to relax like this, and for a little while, he could pretend there wasn't a mission looming over him in the morning.

For now, it was just dinner, family, and Sayaka's endless teasing.

---

After dinner, Shigeru led Kiyoshi outside, where the night air was cool and crisp. The two stood in the backyard, the soft glow of lanterns casting long shadows as Shigeru adjusted his stance.

"Raw strength and jutsu proficiency will only get you so far," Shigeru said, gesturing for Kiyoshi to mimic his posture. "Experience—that's the real teacher. The key is understanding when to press forward and when to hold back."

Kiyoshi listened intently as Shigeru demonstrated subtle shifts in movement, how to bait an opponent into revealing weaknesses, and how to exploit small openings. The session wasn't about physical exertion but rather absorbing the wisdom of someone who had lived through countless battles.

After a while, Shigeru clapped a hand on Kiyoshi's shoulder. "That's enough for tonight. Get some rest—you'll need a sharp mind more than just sharp reflexes for tommorow."

Kiyoshi bowed slightly in appreciation before heading off.

His next stop was Tsunade's residence. He approached quietly, ensuring he wasn't drawing any attention. The house was dark.

Finding a suitable place for the letter took a moment—he didn't want it buried under a pile of paperwork or lost in a drunken mess. Eventually, he settled on placing it on the table, weighed down with a small, empty sake cup. Somewhere she would definitely see it when she comes back.

Satisfied, he turned on his heel and left.

Upon reaching home, Kiyoshi wasted no time. He unrolled several Fūinjutsu scrolls, eager to deepen his understanding of sealing techniques. The symbols and patterns, complex and layered, demanded his full attention. He traced the markings with his fingers, mentally deconstructing their meanings, testing theoretical applications in his mind.

Time passed unnoticed until his vision blurred slightly from exhaustion. He leaned back, exhaling slowly. The scrolls were neatly placed to the side as he lay down, allowing sleep to finally claim him.

Tomorrow, his mission would begin.