Kazuma wasn't dead.
Writhing on the ground, he let out a guttural scream. The agony from his shattered arms left him drenched in cold sweat, his face pale as ash.
Kitazawa strode over and silenced him with a single punch, knocking him out cold.
Kazuma couldn't die yet. He was Kitazawa's chosen vessel for the Imitation Technique.
Straightening, Kitazawa cast a glance toward Kurenai, Kabuto, and the others. Their fight was still raging. He thought for a moment, then deliberately held back.
They needed this experience. He couldn't shield them from every danger forever.
Kurenai and Torune's opponent was a Jonin level kunoichi —
a young woman with long black hair, striking makeup, and a dangerous aura.
Earth Release: Flying Sand and Crushing Rocks!
The ground split with a crack, sending stones flying in all directions, cloaking her in a dense dust cloud.
Kurenai instinctively fell back, but quickly realized the jutsu wasn't meant to harm—
It was meant to blind.
Fuka vanished into the haze.
The ground beneath Kurenai suddenly heaved, transforming into a spear-like rock pillar that shot upward, aiming to skewer her.
Rasengan!
Kurenai had anticipated the ambush. Chakra whirled in her palm, and with a thunderous crack the rock pillar shattered into fragments.
Without pause, she blurred away with a Body Flicker, widening the gap.
As the dust thinned, the enemy's silhouette flickered faintly.
Kurenai hurled a rain of kunai.
Earth Release: Rock Pillar!
A massive slab of stone rose before Fuka, catching every kunai and blocking her view.
That was all the opening Kurenai needed.
She flickered straight in front of the barrier, driving her Rasengan forward.
Boom!
The wall crumbled, a hole torn clean through.
The enemy's eyes went wide. She had no time to move before the world around her went black.
Panic crept in. Darkness smothered her senses. She couldn't see, couldn't hear, and couldn't even feel where her enemy was.
Fear tightened her grip on her kunai.
A sound—behind her.
She whipped around, flinging her blades—
but Torune was already at her side.
A simple touch of the Torune's hand was enough.
The enemy let out a scream before collapsing unconscious.
Kurenai exhaled slowly, relief washing over her.
The enemy had been strong, Jonin level, but certainly not an elite jonin. Her mastery of Earth Release disrupted sightlines, indirectly countering Genjutsu. If not for the combination of Bringer of Darkenss, Rasengan, and Torune's help, the fight would have dragged on.
Her lips curved faintly. Since being with Kitazawa, her strength had grown by leaps and bounds. If she could master sealing techniques, she would finally step into the rank of a true Jonin.
Seeing Kurenai's victory, Kitazawa shifted his gaze to Kabuto and Izumi. They too had defeated their opponent. Izumi using Sharingan genjutsu and Kabuto using chakra scalpel and wind release jutsus. Normally two new chunin against a jonin-level shinobi would be certain death. But Kitazawa's team is just that unpredictable with their skill sets.
"Torune's poison insects… they're terrifying," Kabuto murmured in awe.
"Strong enough to kill even a Jōnin," Kitazawa said evenly, retracting his hand. "Patch up what remains of your injuries yourself. I'll check on Izumi."
"Yes, Sensei." Kabuto nodded. His lightning burns had already been mostly healed, leaving only minor wounds.
"Izumi, how are you?" Kitazawa crouched before her, resting his hand gently on her forehead. A pale green chakra flowed from his palm, washing into her.
Unlike Kabuto, whose damage was external, Izumi's abdomen had taken a direct blow, and her internal organs rattled.
"I'm sorry, Sensei… I slowed everyone down." Izumi's voice wavered, her cheeks flushed with shame.
Kabuto and Torune had been decisive in their battles. She alone had been incapacitated after a single strike using only genjutsu to help.
Before Kitazawa could respond, the familiar chime of the system rang in his mind.
Mission: Student Uchiha Izumi feels her strength is insufficient. As her teacher, help her improve.
Objective: Help Uchiha Izumi become an outstanding Chūnin.
Reward: Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change.
Kitazawa's brows lifted slightly. A welcome surprise.
That Genjutsu—a Sharingan technique capable of instantly reflecting enemy illusions—was the bane of all non-Sharingan illusionists.
His eyes lingered on Izumi as he thought. The surest way to elevate her strength was awakening her Two-Tomoe Sharingan. Unlike Sasuke's erratic path, Izumi's would follow the more traditional route. But in canon, she only reached her full potential—the Three Tomoe—after the Uchiha massacre.
Stimulating her Sharingan now would be… tricky. Still, he could strengthen her Fire Release and refine her Genjutsu.
"Torune and Kabuto are Root orphans. Their training was merciless, so their strength is ahead of yours," Kitazawa said as his healing chakra mended her. "Once this mission is done, I'll personally teach you Fire Release and Genjutsu. You'll grow stronger, Izumi. I promise."
"Thank you, Sensei!" she said earnestly, relief softening her eyes.
Kitazawa only gave a faint smile. "It's my duty as your teacher."
Even without the mission, he would have guided her.
When her injuries were stable, he turned to the group. "You all did well. Kazuma's two subordinates have been dealt with perfectly."
Kurenai smirked. "That's because you already handled the most difficult one. If we couldn't even manage his lackeys, it would've been shameful."
Kitazawa chuckled and, ignoring the others, pinched her cheek twice. She shot him a glare that promised retribution later.
Kabuto, Torune, and Izumi all wisely lowered their heads, pretending to notice nothing.
"Yuhi," Kitazawa's voice grew serious, "take them to Asuma."
"What about you?" she asked, a slight crease forming between her brows.
"I'll take Kazuma's place," Kitazawa replied calmly. "I'll lure his Guardian Ninja allies into assassinating the Fire Daimyō. You and Asuma will already be on guard. When the attack comes, you'll step in and save him."
Her frown deepened. "But those remaining Guardian Ninja are all Special Jōnin level. Won't they see through it?"
"I have a technique—Imitation. They won't know the difference."
Though still uneasy, she chose to trust him. "Be careful."
"If Asuma asks," Kitazawa added, "tell him I'm monitoring Kazuma. I'll reveal myself when the time comes."
Kurenai nodded, then guided Kabuto and the others away.
Left alone, Kitazawa looked over the corpses of the Guardian ninjas. After a short pause, he conjured fire and reduced them to ash. Their corpses had little value—just low-level pawns, not worth hauling back to Konoha.
Finally, he turned to the unconscious Kazuma.
Forming hand seals, he pressed his palm down.
Imitation Technique!
Chakra wrapped his body, and Kitazawa's form shifted, reshaping into Kazuma's likeness.
A flood of Wind and Earth Release techniques rushed into his mind.
"This jutsu… it really is broken," Kitazawa muttered, flexing his new hands. His mastery felt real—fluid, complete. But he knew it was temporary. Once the technique wore off, the knowledge would vanish like mist.
Pity. If it lasted, he could master endless ninjutsu in days.
With a sigh, he seized the real Kazuma's body and disappeared into the night.
Capital of the Land of Fire.
"What did you just say?" Asuma's face darkened. "Kazuma plans to assassinate the Daimyō? Has he lost his mind?"
"There's no time to waste," Kurenai said gravely. "Gather Chiriku and the others. We'll set up an ambush. Kazuma's plan will fail."
"You're right." Asuma clenched his fists. At last, Kazuma had made a mistake.
But a thought struck him, making his heart lurch. Kitazawa had mentioned sowing discord between Kazuma and the Daimyō. Was this… his true strategy?
No time to dwell. Asuma rallied Chiriku and the Guardian Ninja, leading them to the Daimyō's palace.
He didn't warn the Daimyō directly. Instead, he set an ambush around the palace. Kurenai, Kabuto, and the others joined him as hidden support.
Evening fell.
Four figures appeared at the palace gates.
At their head—Kazuma.
"He really came…" Asuma's breath caught.
He had been half-convinced this was Kitazawa's ruse, but the three Guardian Ninja trailing Kazuma were sharp-eyed Special Jōnin. No transformation technique could fool them.
Then Kazuma struck.
Earth Release: Stone Pillar Prison!
Dozens of towering rock pillars erupted from the ground, sealing the palace in a stone cage.
"Kazuma-sama, what are you doing?!" the palace guards shouted, rushing forward.
Wind Release: Petal Scatter Dance!
Kazuma flicked his hands, conjuring a violent whirlwind that sent the guards flying.
"Ka… Kazuma, you—!"
The palace doors slammed open. A trembling middle-aged man stumbled out.
The Daimyō of the Land of Fire.
"Daimyō!" Kazuma's voice boomed. "Since you refuse to support me, I'll replace you with someone who will!"
"Asuma!" The Daimyō's eyes widened in desperation. "Asuma, save me!"
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