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Kitazawa stopped his cultivation and nodded.
He had specifically asked Konan to act as his timekeeper. Training in the Forest of Death made it easy to lose track of time.
"Let's head back."
The two returned to the Ninja Academy.
By the time they arrived, the Genius Class students had already finished their exams and gone home. Kitazawa skipped the classroom altogether and went straight to his office.
"Kitazawa-senpai."
Iruka, who had clearly been waiting for some time, stood up immediately. "These are the rankings for the Genius Class theoretical exam."
"Thanks for your hard work, Iruka." Kitazawa accepted the report card. "You can head back now."
"Alright. See you tomorrow."
After Iruka left, Kitazawa turned toward the sofa—only for Konan to reach it first.
She sat down neatly, knees together, smoothing her legs with one hand. Removing her ANBU mask, she lifted her head and looked at Kitazawa with her usual cool expression, saying nothing.
"It's a little awkward to read while lying down," Kitazawa said, momentarily taken aback.
"I'll read it to you," Konan replied after a brief pause.
"That works too."
Kitazawa lay down, resting his head on her lap.
Konan picked up the report card and began reading from the top.
First and second place remained unchanged—Nara Shikamaru and Sakura Haruno.
However, Sasuke, who had originally ranked third, had dropped two places. Third and fourth were now Neji and Hinata.
Kitazawa wasn't surprised.
Either the Hyuga siblings had quietly put in extra effort—or Sasuke's focus had shifted.
Recently, Sasuke had been pouring most of his energy into learning Hatake swordsmanship.
Though its difficulty wasn't explicitly stated in the original story, there was no doubt it was S-rank.
After all, it was the sword style of Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake.
Sakumo's combat style resembled Minato's in some ways—both favored sudden appearances and disappearances and assassination-like efficiency.
The difference was simple: one relied on swordsmanship, the other on Flying Thunder God.
Given Sasuke's age, mastering Hatake Swordsmanship would be exhausting, leaving little room for theoretical studies.
Meanwhile, Neji and Hinata had always been close behind him academically, so a shift of one or two places was entirely reasonable.
The rest of the rankings remained mostly stable.
Kimimaro and Haku, having been in the Genius Class for some time, had already adapted. Their theoretical scores were consistent.
Tayuya, on the other hand, predictably ranked near the bottom—her theory scores were almost always in the lowest ten.
As for absolute last place, there was no contest.
Rock Lee.
Kitazawa had personally reviewed his paper. Regardless of the question, Lee somehow managed to bring it back to youth.
One student stood out, however—Shion.
Despite having just joined the Genius Class, she ranked twenty-fourth.
As the Priestess and Daimyō of the Land of Demons, she had been immersed in study since childhood. Her foundation was solid, and her learning ability impressive.
Given enough time, she might even challenge Sakura for second place.
As for first…Surpassing Shikamaru's intellect was unlikely.
"Tomorrow at eight, wait for me at the ANBU base office," Kitazawa said once Konan finished reading.
Tomorrow was the practical exam. The top eighteen students would be sent out on missions.
Kitazawa planned to use Edo Tensei to summon the Second Mizukage.
But summoning the dead in front of Sasuke and the others would be… problematic.
So his plan was simple: summon Gengetsu in advance, then control him and stage an encounter battle for the students.
"Understood," Konan replied, not asking for details.
"Honestly, Konan," Kitazawa said, looking up at her with a chuckle, "you're more ANBU than the ANBU themselves."
Konan froze.
She was about to respond—I am ANBU—before realizing, with sudden clarity, that she wasn't.
For a moment, she didn't know how to answer.
[Current Mission: Cultivate Four Confidants]
[Mission Reward: Improved Caged Bird Seal]
[Mission Completed. Reward Delivered.]
Kitazawa was just about to tease her—after all, teasing a cool, composed woman was surprisingly fun—when he suddenly stiffened.
What…?
Why did the mission complete now?
After a moment's thought, only one answer came to mind.
Konan.
If that was the case, then by the system's judgment, his four confidants were likely Kurenai, Kabuto, Itachi… and Konan.
Strangely enough, none of those felt wrong.
Kitazawa shook his head, deciding not to dwell on the specifics.
Even if it wasn't Konan—perhaps it was Izumi or another ANBU operative—the result was the same.
A completed mission was a good thing.
He absorbed the information tied to the Improved Caged Bird Seal.
The origin of the original Caged Bird Seal was long lost.
Even the Ōtsutsuki Clan on the Moon—who shared a common ancestry with the Hyuga—did not use such a seal to divide main and branch families.
Their internal conflict stemmed from ideology, not enslavement. In the end, only Ōtsutsuki Toneri remained—and he was from the Branch Family.
The system classified the Caged Bird Seal as an S-rank sealing technique.
Its effects were twofold:
First, it protected the Byakugan and destroyed it upon the user's death.
Second—and far more insidious—it allowed the caster to manipulate the seal to punish the bearer.
In other words, the Hyuga Main Family held absolute authority over the Branch Family's lives.
Calling it master and slave was no exaggeration.
The Improved Caged Bird Seal, however, was different.
It retained only one function: protecting the Byakugan.
The ability to punish and control was completely removed.
Kitazawa fell into thought.
The Improved Seal was meaningless to him.
But to the Hyuga Branch Family?
It was freedom.
And now, with this knowledge, he possessed the ability to modify the original seal itself.
A question surfaced in his mind.
Should he help the Hyuga Branch Family?
As one of Konoha's great ninja clans, the Hyūga possessed a considerable degree of internal autonomy.
Under normal circumstances, even the Hokage and village elders would not interfere in their internal affairs.
If Kitazawa intervened directly, it would unquestionably violate established rules.
But rules always had exceptions.
Hinata and Hanabi were living proof of that.
According to clan law, once the Main Family successor was determined, any other children were to receive the Caged Bird Seal at the age of three.
The twin brothers Hiashi and Hizashi had been the clearest example.
Yet Hanabi—already four years old—had not received the seal.
The explanation was obvious.
Hiashi had protected her.
From what was shown in the original timeline, Hiashi's stance toward the Caged Bird Seal was markedly different from that of the other Main Family members.
And the reason was equally clear.
He had lived through Hizashi's sacrifice.
Kitazawa exhaled softly.
Even if he chose not to intervene for the sake of the branch family as a whole, he had to help Neji.
A genius shackled by resentment and coercion would always have limits.
Free his mind—and his growth, both mental and physical, would reach an entirely different level.
[Current Mission: Help the Hyūga Clan Branch Family replace the Caged Bird Seal]
[Mission Reward: +20% Byakugan Purity]
[Do you accept?]
Kitazawa smiled faintly.
So the mission finally revealed itself.
And the reward…
Exactly what he had been waiting for.
With his current 60% Byakugan purity, this would push him straight to 80%.
At full purity—100%—he would effectively reach the level of a half-Ōtsutsuki.
Of course, this referred to the Ōtsutsuki branch that once lived on the Moon.
Kitazawa's gaze sharpened.
This matter had to begin with Hyūga Hanabi.
Whatever method Hiashi had used in the original timeline, it was certain he had endured tremendous pressure from within the clan.
After all, the Hyūga still had Main Family Elders—
The same elders whose decision had forced Hizashi to die in Hiashi's place.
And notably, Hiashi had opposed that decision from the very beginning.
"Konan," Kitazawa said, sitting up. "Go call Itachi."
Konan nodded, slipped on her ANBU mask, and left without a word.
Not long after, Itachi knocked and entered.
Kitazawa glanced at Konan.
She immediately withdrew, closing the door behind her.
"Itachi," Kitazawa said calmly, "I need you to investigate the recent activities of the Hyūga Main Family Elder."
Itachi's heart skipped.
This request was completely unexpected.
Had the Hyūga somehow offended Kitazawa?
That made little sense.
After all, Hinata and Neji were both his students. By all logic, relations between the Hyūga Clan and Kitazawa should be at their best.
Moreover, the Hyūga had always been disciplined and loyal to Konoha—never stirring trouble.
"Yes, Lord Kitazawa."
Despite his confusion, Itachi did not question the order.
"There's no need to rush," Kitazawa added. "And above all—do not be discovered."
If word spread that a high-ranking Konoha official was secretly investigating a Hyūga elder, it would inevitably strain relations between the village and the clan.
"I understand."
Itachi nodded solemnly.
Truthfully, the task carried immense pressure.
The Byakugan's perception was terrifying. One careless move could expose him instantly.
But since Kitazawa had entrusted him with this mission, he would see it through.
Fortunately, there was no deadline. He could proceed carefully.
The next day—Friday.
The final day of the Genius Class exams.
Today's test was the practical combat exam.
At eight in the morning, Kitazawa arrived at the ANBU base.
Konan was already waiting for him in the office.
"Follow me."
Kitazawa nodded and stepped outside.
To perform Edo Tensei, two conditions were required:
a portion of the deceased's body—and a living sacrifice.
Originally, Kitazawa had planned to capture a bandit or enemy shinobi outside the village.
But then he remembered something simpler.
Konoha possessed a prison reserved for the most dangerous criminals.
In the original timeline, Mizuki had been imprisoned there after manipulating Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals.
While imprisoned, Mizuki encountered the brothers Fūjin and Raijin, whose monstrous strength later enabled a prison break.
Eventually, Mizuki sought Orochimaru, obtained a transformation drug, and was defeated by Naruto and Iruka.
But that timeline no longer existed.
Because of Kitazawa's influence, Mizuki was already dead.
The detention center was quiet.
The warden—a middle-aged man—was waiting at the entrance.
Upon seeing Kitazawa, he immediately stepped forward.
"Lord Kitazawa. The person you requested is ready."
He led them through the corridors and stopped in front of a cell.
Inside lay a young man—bound, unconscious.
"He's a spy from the Hidden Cloud Village," the warden explained.
"We captured him half a month ago and extracted all relevant intelligence. He was scheduled for execution next week."
"That won't be necessary," Kitazawa replied. "Hand him over to me."
"Yes, Lord Kitazawa."
The cell door opened.
Kitazawa raised a hand. Chakra surged forth, lifting the man effortlessly into the air.
He turned and walked out.
The detention center was remote enough that concealment wasn't necessary.
Once outside, Kitazawa turned to Konan.
"We're heading to the former Land of Whirlpools," he said after a brief pause.
Hōzuki Gengetsu's summoning beast, lived by the sea.
The Land of Whirlpools was both appropriate—and closer to Konoha.
Before departing, Kitazawa formed hand seals.
A Shadow Clone appeared beside him.
He planned to have it lead Sasuke and the others toward the Land of Whirlpools.
That way, when he returned, he wouldn't waste a single moment.
Konan stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
By now, she was already accustomed to flying with Kitazawa; the movement came naturally, without hesitation.
The two rose into the air.
As for the unconscious young man, Kitazawa created a vine and wrapped around him and dragged him along behind—turning him into little more than a human kite swaying in the wind.
Because they traveled by flight, night had already fallen by the time they reached the Land of Whirlpools.
Once, this place had been a nation founded by the Uzumaki Clan.
After the clan's annihilation, the Land of Whirlpools vanished from the map entirely.
Now, the abandoned island fell under the jurisdiction of the Land of Water.
"Let's stop here."
After scanning the surroundings and confirming they were alone, Kitazawa spoke.
Konan tightened her hold and guided them downward.
Only after landing smoothly did she release him and take a step back.
With a flick of his hand, Kitazawa released the vine binding the young man.
The body dropped to the ground with a dull thud.
He immediately retrieved the scroll Konan had delivered earlier, unrolled it, and placed it in front of the unconscious figure.
"Edo Tensei."
Kitazawa stood still, forming hand seals.
His chakra surged outward, instantly enveloping the young man.
In Kitazawa's understanding, Edo Tensei was a distorted variant of the Summoning Technique.
Rather than summoning beasts or objects, it forcibly dragged a soul from the Pure Land into the living world, anchoring it to a sacrificed body.
Back in his previous life, there had always been one question that bothered him.
The Pure Land was, by definition, the afterlife of the shinobi world—where souls went after death.
And according to the original lore, the Sage of Six Paths held authority over it… almost like an administrator.
If that was the case—Shouldn't he have been able to stop Edo Tensei at the source?
Kitazawa shook his head, cutting off the wandering thought.
Because at that moment, the transformation was already complete.
The young man's body twisted and reshaped, his features and physique changing dramatically.
In the blink of an eye, Hōzuki Gengetsu stood where he once lay.
"…Where is this?"
Gengetsu glanced around, confusion written across his face.
Kitazawa didn't bother responding.
He stepped forward and plunged a kunai embedded with a sealing tag into the back of Gengetsu's head.
The light vanished from his eyes as his consciousness was forcibly erased.
While Gengetsu could exert more power if fully aware, Kitazawa had no need for that level of performance.
"Use Summoning jutsu."
Under compulsion, Gengetsu formed hand seals.
A moment later, mist surged outward—and from within it emerged a colossal white clam.
Kitazawa glanced at it and clicked his tongue inwardly.
As expected… that thing wouldn't fit in a single pot.
He then ordered Gengetsu to retrieve Ōhamaguri's summoning scroll before releasing the technique.
Once the scroll was in hand, all that remained was signing a name.
Whoever signed it would become Ōhamaguri's new master.
Of course, summoning contracts were meant to be agreements between equals.
Some volatile summoning beasts would never acknowledge a contract obtained through coercion.
Fortunately, Ōhamaguri seemed mild-tempered.
Once he returned, having Kurenai sign the contract and attempting a summon would provide the answer.
"Find somewhere hidden and stay there," Kitazawa instructed.
Gengetsu, his expression vacant, turned and walked toward the nearby forest.
Only then did Kitazawa turn back to Konan.
"Ask," he said with a faint smile. "You've been holding it in."
Ever since Gengetsu appeared, her gaze had shifted more than once.
That reaction was only natural.
Seeing a forbidden jutsu like Edo Tensei for the first time would shake anyone.
"…Is that the Second Mizukage?" Konan hesitated briefly before asking. "Hōzuki Gengetsu?"
"That's right." Kitazawa nodded. "Have you heard of Edo Tensei before?"
In the original timeline, Senju Tobirama had used it, and figures like Chiyo, Mū, Kinkaku, and Ginkaku were all familiar with the technique.
"No."
Konan shook her head.
Hearing that, Kitazawa briefly explained the nature and effects of Edo Tensei.
As she listened, Konan couldn't help but think of the Akatsuki's ongoing manpower shortage.
If they possessed a technique like this, recruiting would no longer be necessary.
It could even be used for commissioned work—efficient and cost-effective.
"It's late," Kitazawa said after a glance at the sky. "We'll rest here and head back tomorrow."
By his estimation, Sasuke, Naruto, and Hinata should still be within the Land of Fire.
When they returned, there was a good chance they'd encounter them along the coastline or at sea.
"Wood Release: Four-Pillar House."
Kitazawa formed hand seals.
A wooden dwelling instantly rose from the ground before them.
Konan, already accustomed to this, stepped forward and opened the door without hesitation.
"You set up the living room," Kitazawa said, handing her a storage scroll. "I'll handle the cooking."
"Mhm."
Konan nodded.
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