Two days later, the box of paradise was carried into the ANBU Base under heavy guard.
Kitazawa wasted no time. He immediately summoned every renowned blacksmith and ninja tool craftsman in Konoha—eighteen in total.
Among them were two familiar faces:
Tenmura, Tenten's father and one of the village's finest weaponsmiths.
And Neko-baa, supplier of specialized weapons and intelligence to the Uchiha Clan.
Kitazawa gestured toward the ominous black box sitting in the center of the room.
"I want this box dismantled and reforged into new ninja tools," he said. "Thirty million ryō to whoever can accomplish it."
The room exploded into murmurs.
Thirty million ryō was the kind of number only chakra-metal-infused masterpieces commanded—not reforged tools. Kitazawa's offer shattered every expectation.
But Kitazawa wasn't known for wasting money.
If he offered thirty million, there was a reason.
"Lord Kitazawa," Tenmura said, stepping forward. "May we examine the box first?"
"Please."
The group crowded around the artifact like moths circling a lantern. Whether for profit or to earn favor with a rising Konoha powerhouse, none of them intended to miss this opportunity.
Kitazawa folded his arms and watched their reactions. Thirty million wasn't a random number—the box of paradise was a nightmare to work with, and even he wasn't sure reforging it was possible.
"This material… feels strange," a middle-aged craftsman murmured.
Tenmura placed his palm on the box—and instantly stiffened as a cold, piercing chill shot through his arm. He recoiled lightly.
"This is… unlike anything I've ever touched."
Neko-baa tapped it with her pipe and nodded. "It's not metal I know. Not wood. Not stone. Something else entirely."
"You don't need to identify the material," Kitazawa reminded them. "Just confirm whether it can be dismantled and reforged."
Tenmura stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"As long as it can be taken apart, reforging it is definitely possible."
Kitazawa leaned slightly forward.
"How many ninja tools can you make from it?"
"That depends," Tenmura replied. "What does Lord Kitazawa wish to forge?"
"Bows," Kitazawa said.
The room blinked.
"Bows?" Tenmura echoed, momentarily thrown. Hardly any ninja used bows—the style was rare and required exceptional precision.
Neko-baa inhaled from her pipe, studying the structure with sharp eyes.
"If it's bows you want… the material might yield four."
Tenmura examined it again and nodded.
"Four sounds correct."
Kitazawa suppressed a flicker of surprise.
Four bows?
The system mission only required two Yin Release bows—he had assumed the box contained enough material for only that many.
Four was a windfall.
One for Hinata.
One for Neji.
One for himself.
The last… perhaps Hanabi, once she grew older.
Of course, a bow was only half the equation. The arrows needed to be forged from Yin Release Chakra itself—extracted from sealed Yin monsters like Satori. At present, he only had Satori, though adding the Zero-Tails later would be ideal.
Kitazawa straightened.
"You may begin dismantling," he said. "The first four who succeed will each receive one bow to forge."
"Yes, Lord Kitazawa!" the craftsmen replied in unison.
"If you need anything, contact me through ANBU. I'll leave it in your hands."
He turned and left the base. Even with dozens of skilled smiths working together, a project of this magnitude would take at least a month or two. There was no point hovering over them.
On his way back to the Ninja Academy, glowing text suddenly appeared in his mind's eye:
[Current Mission: Covertly control Kusagakure and become its master.]
[Mission Reward: Eight Trigrams Sealing Style]
[Host has completed the mission—reward issued.]
Kitazawa couldn't help but smile.
So Itachi and the ANBU had already wrapped it up. Efficient as always.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Kiba came sprinting toward him.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me you already mastered Earth Release: Earth Fang Bullet?"
Kitazawa raised an eyebrow. By his calculations, Kiba was at least two months away from pulling that off.
"No—no way!"
Kiba bent over, panting heavily.
"Then what's the hurry?" Kitazawa asked.
"It's my sister!" Kiba finally blurted out. "Is she… is she really graduating in March?"
Ah. So that was it.
Hana had originally been a fifth-year student before joining the Genius Class—so this year was naturally her graduation year. And she wasn't the only one. Several fifth- and sixth-year students were in the same situation.
"Kitazawa-sensei."
Hana herself arrived moments later, breath steady despite chasing her younger brother.
Kitazawa understood instantly.
"You're planning to stay in the Genius Class?" he guessed. But the tension on Kiba's face didn't match that. If she wanted to stay, Kiba would've been thrilled, not frantic.
Hana shook her head.
"Sensei, I want to apply for graduation."
"What?" Kiba whirled toward her, betrayed. "But the Genius Class is great! Why would you leave now?"
"It is great," Hana replied calmly. "But I'm at graduation age, and I need to start working toward my real goal."
Kitazawa thought back to their earlier conversations.
"You said you wanted to be a veterinarian?"
"Mm." Hana nodded firmly. "After graduation, I'll join the veterinary course."
Kitazawa wasn't surprised. In the original timeline, Hana became one of Konoha's top veterinary specialists, even treating Akamaru's serious injuries multiple times. And if the timeline held, Akamaru would be born next year.
"I can't teach you veterinary medicine," Kitazawa admitted. "But after graduation, you're welcome to continue joining the Genius Class for combat training."
Hana's eyes brightened.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei."
After all, she had grown enormously under his guidance—strong enough to reach Chunin level immediately upon graduating. Becoming a Jonin might still be a stretch, but Special Jonin was now well within reach.
Kiba finally sagged in defeat.
"Alright, alright…"
"I'm not leaving Konoha," Hana reassured him, patting his shoulder. "You can visit me anytime."
"…that's true," he muttered, scratching his cheek. "But you still better come train with us when you have time!"
"I will," Hana laughed softly. "But it's still early. Graduation's in March."
"Get back to training, both of you," Kitazawa said, giving Kiba's shoulder a light pat.
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei!"
Hana and Kiba jogged back to rejoin the class.
Kitazawa watched them for a moment, then moved to an empty area to resume his own training.
He intended to completely master Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence before March—no later.
Itachi returned to the village.
And the new Ninja Academy semester officially began—short, just under three months.
As soon as Sakura entered the classroom, she scanned the seats like a hawk.
"Where's Sasuke-kun?!"
"He took extended leave," Neji replied.
"What?!" Sakura panicked. "Is he hurt? Did something happen?!"
"It's good news," Neji said calmly. "Sasuke activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan. He's staying home to get used to controlling it."
"That's amazing! When he gets back, I'm definitely challenging him to a youthful battle!"
Naruto flashed a thumbs-up, eyes sparkling.
He remembered—painfully well—how he'd been completely crushed by the Satori-possessed Sasuke. But instead of discouragement, it only fired him up.
"The Three-Tomoe Sharingan?"
Kiba froze mid-step as he entered. "You're kidding, right?"
"Isn't Three-Tomoe supposed to be Jonin level?" Hana added, equally stunned.
"Hinata, Naruto, and I were all there," Neji said. "It's real."
He sighed inwardly.
He himself was considered a genius… and yet the distance between him and Sasuke had widened again.
"As expected of Sasuke-kun!"
Sakura nearly swooned.
"He's basically a monster now," Shikamaru muttered. "Who's supposed to beat him?"
"The Three-Tomoe Sharingan only puts him at early-Jonin level," Shino replied coolly. "Naruto and Yakumo should still be able to compete."
"What are you all babbling about?"
Tayuya walked in with Kimimaro, Jugo, and Haku behind her.
"Sasuke-kun awakened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan!" Sakura announced proudly.
"…Huh?"
Tayuya's face was full of question marks.
Kimimaro, Jugo, and Haku also reacted, clearly shaken. They all understood exactly what it meant for an eight-year-old to unlock three tomoe.
"I just hope Sasuke-kun comes back soon…" Sakura sighed dramatically. "I can't stand not seeing him for so long."
"Yeah… it feels weird without Sasuke around," Naruto admitted, scratching his head.
Just then, their homeroom teacher poked his head in and called—
"Come up and register, one row at a time!"
Kitazawa stepped into the classroom.
The moment he appeared, the chatter died. The Genius Class students lined up at the podium with newfound discipline, registering one by one before collecting their textbooks for the new term. Soon, the room emptied, students drifting home in small groups.
Kitazawa's gaze lingered on Hana.
Another future powerhouse of Konoha would soon graduate and leave the Genius Class. Karin could fill the gap someday, but her combat ability wasn't anywhere near ready. Sealing techniques only bloomed into true power later—and once Karin unlocked both Kagura's Mind Eye and the Adamantine Chains, she would instantly become a top-tier sealing specialist.
And if that didn't work out… well, there were always other candidates he could "invite" into the class.
"Lord Kitazawa."
An ANBU appeared at his side.
"Tenmura and the others request your presence."
Kitazawa nodded and followed him back to the ANBU Base.
"Lord Kitazawa!"
Tenmura and the assembled blacksmiths bowed deeply as he arrived.
Kitazawa's eyes immediately fell on the box of paradise—still perfectly intact.
"Did something happen?" he asked.
Tenmura rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed.
"Lord Kitazawa… despite trying every method we could think of, we still can't dismantle the box."
Neko-baa tapped her pipe, stepping forward.
"We can't—but someone might. Lord Kitazawa… have you heard of Takumi Village?"
"I've heard the name," Kitazawa replied.
"A Ninja village founded by artisans, correct?"
Neko-baa nodded.
"Konoha buys many weapons from Takumi Village. Their forging skills are considered the finest."
Kitazawa fell silent, thinking.
Takumi Village existed in the original timeline—founded by the artisan-nin Seimei, later run by the so-called Four Celestial Symbols Men. Four Jonin, each wielding a specialized weapon, powerful enough to challenge a great village.
In canon, they even dared to raid Sunagakure and attempted to capture the young Kazekage, Gaara.
They were defeated, but the audacity alone said enough.
At first, Kitazawa's instinct was to be wary—but then he realized something.
This was perfect.
If Takumi Village caused trouble, Konoha would have legitimate reason to "deal" with them.
Besides, the entire setting of Takumi Village was… ridiculous.
A tiny, independent artisan village supplying ninja tools to all five Great Nations?
Absolutely unacceptable.
Ninja tools were as valuable as a second life. A village capable of producing them should never have remained independent. The Five Great Villages should have seized control long ago.
Which meant Kitazawa now had an opportunity.
Use the box of paradise as bait.
No craftsman worth their hammer could resist a legendary tool forged by the Sage of Six Paths.
Even if Takumi Village tried to remain polite, he still had other cards at his disposal.
[Current Mission: Secretly take control of Takumi Village and become its leader.]
[Reward: Summoning Technique—Triple Rashomon]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa raised his eyebrows.
A pleasant surprise.
Triple Rashomon was extremely practical—an A-rank defensive Summoning Technique capable of nullifying devastating attacks. Orochimaru had used it to counter Kitazawa's Five Elements Great Bullet. Compared to his current defensive arsenal—Earth Flow Wall, Water Formation Wall, and Wood Locking Wall—Triple Rashomon was a massive upgrade.
A reward worth pursuing.
He accepted the mission.
"Everyone, thank you for your hard work these past days," Kitazawa said. "I'll send someone to Takumi Village."
"It is we who fell short, Lord Kitazawa," Tenmura said quickly.
"We apologize for failing to assist you."
The others echoed him.
It was a pity they couldn't earn the thirty million ryō, but they had no excuses—the box had defeated them.
Kitazawa dismissed them and returned to his office.
He instinctively wanted to summon Itachi—then reconsidered.
Itachi had just returned from a long mission and still needed time to help Sasuke master the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Sending him away again would be excessive.
Besides, Takumi Village wouldn't try something as crude as robbing the box outright.
What they would do was far more likely—cut corners, tamper with materials, or attempt discreet theft.
"Send Kabuto in."
He called toward the door.
With Konan still away, this was the simplest way.
Soon, Kabuto entered.
"Kabuto," Kitazawa asked with a smile, "how has your research with Lord Orochimaru been?"
"A lot of progress," Kabuto replied.
"Orochimaru-sama has taught me cloning methods and genetic modification techniques. He doesn't hide anything."
Kitazawa nodded.
"Have you mastered the Rasengan?"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses.
"Izumi and I have both learned it. Torune hasn't—he's still too young."
Kitazawa grunted thoughtfully.
With Hana leaving soon, should Torune return to the Genius Class?
His nano poison bugs made him comparable to Shino—but if he left, Kitazawa's own team would shrink again.
At this point, Kitazawa's team technically contained only Izumi.
Kabuto was studying under Orochimaru, and Kitazawa himself was barely ever present.
He shelved the thought.
"I have a mission for you," Kitazawa said.
"You will lead two ANBU squads to escort the box of paradise to Takumi Village."
Kabuto bowed without hesitation.
"Yes, Sensei."
As expected from a former Root ninja—no questions, only obedience.
"The mission details are written here."
Kitazawa handed him a scroll.
Kabuto accepted it respectfully with both hands.
"After some time, I will send someone to relieve you."
Kitazawa said this after a moment's thought.
Kabuto bowed again.
"Understood."
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