Three days later, Kitazawa, Konan, and Oyashiro arrived at the border of the Land of Grass. Beyond it stretched the Land of Rain.
The boundary between the two countries was unmistakable—a gray curtain of endless rainfall divided them cleanly.
"Konan, I'll escort you only this far," Kitazawa said, coming to a halt. "Go—and return quickly."
"I still need to head back to the Land of Lightning to retrieve Hinata and the others."
Oyashiro's heart stirred uneasily.
He had assumed Kitazawa would accompany them all the way to Amegakure. He never expected the man to stop here, at the very edge.
As long as Kitazawa was present, the thought of escape never dared surface.
Now—only Konan remained.
A chance.
"I'll return to Konoha as soon as possible," Konan replied, nodding.
Without another word, Kitazawa turned and walked away.
Konan withdrew her gaze and stepped into the rain-soaked land ahead.
Oyashiro followed behind her, his thoughts already racing.
Konan paid no attention.
From the moment he set foot in the Land of Rain, any scheme he devised would be meaningless.
Not far away, Kitazawa stopped.
He extended one hand.
The ground trembled.
All iron-bearing substances nearby responded to his Magnet Release, drawing together and condensing into dense black iron sand.
Under his control, the iron sand reshaped itself into a pair of massive wings.
With a single leap, he shot into the sky, tearing through the air at astonishing speed.
During the journey from the Land of Lightning, he had traveled normally—Oyashiro's presence made it inconvenient to reveal too much, and Konan couldn't exactly carry him the whole way.
Now that he was alone, there was no reason to hold back.
At the same time, Kitazawa activated his Byakugan.
If Hinata and the others were returning after completing their mission, he could spot them along the route and intercept them.
A day and a half later, Kitazawa re-entered the Land of Lightning.
Flight nearly doubled his travel speed—and this was only his baseline.
If he activated Senju Chakra Mode or Yang Release Chakra Mode, he could push it even further.
His gaze sharpened as he dove straight down.
Landing smoothly, he dismissed the iron-sand wings and waited.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Hinata was the first to notice him.
Within the Land of Lightning, she had kept her Byakugan active as the team's sensor.
Kitazawa dispelled his shadow clone.
Memories surged back instantly, filling in everything that had happened over the past few days.
Hinata, Ino, and Haku had registered for the arena. With their solid foundations, they advanced rapidly.
That afternoon, they received notice of their opponents: Fūshin and Chino.
Haku fought first—and lost to Fūshin's Typhoon Release.
Ino followed, defeating Fūshin with genjutsu.
Then she faced Chino. Lacking intelligence on the Ketsuryugan, she was defeated.
Finally, Hinata stepped forward and overcame Chino using her Bow.
The arena scheduled the matches across two days.
Afterward, Kitazawa's shadow clone approached Chino, offering a way out—escape from the arena, and from Oyashiro.
Chino agreed without hesitation.
Running away had always been her dream.
In the original course of events, Chino and Fūshin eventually joined the Hidden Mist Village, the same village that once shattered the Lightning Heart Corps.
Joining Konoha now was not only plausible—it was natural.
Kitazawa's gaze settled on Chino.
She looked young—perhaps even younger than Hinata and the others.
Beside her stood Fūshin and the remaining fighters.
They were arena gladiators in all but name—entertainment slaves.
Most were children. Fūshin, the oldest, barely looked like a teenager.
Kitazawa considered his options.
Chino could enter the Genius Class.
Fūshin, possessing the rare Typhoon Release, was more than qualified for Anbu training.
The younger children could be entrusted to Yakushi Nono at the Konoha Orphanage.
Those with potential could attend the Ninja Academy; whether they reached the Genius Class would depend on their own efforts.
There was no need to say more—his shadow clone had already explained everything.
After a brief reunion, the group continued on.
They reached Konoha the following afternoon.
Kitazawa was silently relieved he'd canceled one monthly exam—otherwise the semester schedule would have collapsed again.
This single mission to the Land of Lightning had taken nearly two weeks.
"You three go home and rest," he told Hinata, Ino, and Haku.
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei."
They bowed and departed.
Turning back, Kitazawa smiled. "Come with me. I'll take you to meet our Hokage."
Chino and Fūshin exchanged uneasy glances.
Even in isolation, they knew what the Five Great Villages and their Kage represented.
"Don't worry," Kitazawa said gently, noticing their tension. "She's actually quite kind."
The Ninja World held many Bloodline Limits—some insignificant, some invaluable.
But Typhoon Release and the Ketsuryugan were undeniably powerful.
With proper cultivation, two future elite jōnin were all but guaranteed.
Tsunade might have a terrible temper, but as Hokage, she would never reject talent like this.
No Kage would.
Elite jōnin were rare—even among the Five Great Villages.
At the Hokage Office, Tsunade stared in surprise.
"Why are there so many children?"
The last time Kitazawa had brought back a group like this was after dismantling Otogakure.
This time, he'd only gone to the Land of Lightning.
Had he kidnapped them from Kumogakure?
"An unexpected harvest," Kitazawa coughed lightly, offering a carefully edited explanation.
Naturally, he omitted Konan—and Oyashiro.
In short: he'd entered the kids into the arena as training, uncovered the darker truth behind it, and decided to intervene.
Tsunade's expression slowly changed.
"So you brought them back," Tsunade said, folding her arms. "What makes them special?"
She knew Kitazawa well enough to understand—he never acted out of idle kindness.
"Fūshin possesses Typhoon Release," Kitazawa explained calmly. "A bloodline limit that generates typhoons. Its destructive power far exceeds ordinary wind release."
"That is impressive," Tsunade nodded, immediately recognizing his value.
Her gaze shifted to the girl standing quietly beside him.
"Ketsuryugan," Kitazawa said simply.
"The Ketsuryugan?" Tsunade's eyes widened.
The Chinoike clan dated back to the Warring clans era—just like the Senju. Hashirama had once mentioned to her that their dōjutsu rivaled the Sharingan itself.
"Excellent," Tsunade said with a satisfied smile. "Welcome to Konoha."
She turned back to Kitazawa as he outlined his plans for the two.
After a brief pause, she nodded. "Very well."
"I'll have Shizune summon Nono," Tsunade added.
Kitazawa stepped aside as Shizune vanished to carry out the order.
Not long after, Yakushi Nono arrived. Her eyes instinctively assessed Chino and the others before she bowed respectfully.
"Nono," Tsunade said without ceremony, "you'll be responsible for them from now on."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Nono replied without hesitation.
To her, an orphan was an orphan—origin didn't matter.
"If you need funding, speak with Rina," Tsunade reminded her.
"Understood," Nono nodded.
Under Danzo, the orphanage had always struggled financially. Since Tsunade became Hokage—and with Kitazawa's various initiatives—those days were long gone.
"Fūshin," Kitazawa said, "go with Nono and settle in. Report to Anbu tomorrow."
"Chino, you'll attend the Ninja Academy starting tomorrow."
"Yes, Lord Kitazawa," the two replied in unison.
"I'll take them now," Nono said, smiling gently. "Please follow me."
Her warmth immediately eased the children's nerves. They nodded and followed her out of the office.
The door closed.
Kitazawa stepped closer to Tsunade.
"Doesn't it feel like you bring geniuses back every time you leave the village?" she asked, giving him a sideways look.
"Good luck," Kitazawa replied solemnly.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Prodigies exist all over the Ninja World," he said with a grin. "You're not suggesting you planted them all, are you?"
She snorted. "Fair enough."
"I recovered the Ketsuryugan and Typhoon Release," Kitazawa added casually. "Shouldn't I get some kind of bonus?"
His gaze drifted—unsubtly—to the snowy pendant resting against her chest.
Tsunade immediately caught on.
"Do you want a reward from the village," she asked dryly, "or from me?"
"To me, your reward matters far more than anything Konoha could offer," Kitazawa said with perfect seriousness.
Tsunade tugged at the corner of her mouth, torn between irritation and exasperated amusement.
"Sit down," she ordered.
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama!" Kitazawa perked up instantly.
"Hands. Off."
She stood, pressed his head down firmly, and glared.
Kitazawa mentally noted: Hands forbidden—mouth still viable.
"Do you want to die?" Tsunade shivered and smacked the back of his head.
It didn't stop him.
"Reward revoked!" she snapped, shoving him away, cheeks faintly flushed.
"See you tomorrow, Tsunade-sama!" Kitazawa vanished in a blur.
She stood there for a moment, adjusting her clothes, face still warm.
'That idiot…'
The next day arrived.
Every teacher and student of the Genius Class was present.
"Before I announce this month's rankings," Kitazawa said cheerfully, "let me introduce a new classmate."
All eyes turned to Chino—they'd already noticed her earlier.
"Hello, I'm Chino," she said, stepping forward. "Please take care of me."
"Chino, over here!" Ino called with a bright smile.
After glancing at Kitazawa for confirmation, Chino walked over.
The three of them—Chino, Ino, and Hyuga Hinata—had already bonded after exchanging blows in the arena. Hinata's strength, in particular, had left a deep impression on her.
She was even more curious about the genius class itself.
Ino had told her that even Hinata struggled to break into the top three.
Just how terrifying were the students ranked above her?
"The top six in this practical exam," Kitazawa announced, "will serve as temporary captains for the final exam team battle."
With that reminder, he began reading out the rankings.
As before, the Finals would include Team Battles.
This time, however, Kitazawa felt uncharacteristically relaxed.
No system mission had triggered—no need to chase first place.
"—and that concludes this month's rankings."
He clapped his hands lightly.
"All right. Training begins."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei!"
The students dispersed to their respective instructors.
"Chino," Kitazawa added after a brief pause, "you'll train with my group."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei!"
Chino nodded eagerly, eyes bright with anticipation.
On the return trip, Ino, Hinata, and Haku sang his praises without pause.
Kitazawa left a shadow clone to guide the others, then led Chino aside toward the training grounds.
In the original storyline, she would eventually reach at least Special Jōnin level.
The core reason was her Ketsuryugan.
Its genjutsu rivaled the Sharingan itself—powerful enough to overwhelm most ninja. On top of that, she wielded blood-based secret techniques and water release.
Still, potential meant nothing without proof.
She was young. He needed to see where she stood now.
"Let's spar first."
Kitazawa smiled faintly.
Chino didn't hesitate. Her Ketsuryugan activated at once.
Crimson light flooded the cute girl's gaze, her aura sharpening into something unsettling—almost yandere.
Ketsuryugan—Genjutsu!
Her ocular power surged outward.
Kitazawa merely nodded.
Judging by the pressure alone, her current strength was roughly on par with a two-tomoe Sharingan.
Bloodline users truly were blessed.
Water Release: Rain Hail!
When her genjutsu failed to take hold, Chino immediately formed seals. A dozen fist-sized spheres of water rocketed toward him.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Kitazawa exhaled, and a roaring fireball swallowed the attack whole. The water evaporated instantly, steam billowing across the field.
Chino dashed through the mist and threw a punch.
He caught her fist mid-strike.
A solid shock traveled up his arm—surprisingly strong.
Chino stared at him, blood seeping from the corner of her eye as she forced even more power into her Ketsuryugan.
Still nothing.
Her confusion deepened. She was certain he hadn't broken her genjutsu—after all, he'd never been caught by it in the first place.
"What other jutsu can you use?" Kitazawa asked calmly, releasing her hand.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall," Chino replied.
"At your age, being able to use two Water Release techniques is impressive," he said with genuine praise.
The Genius Class had elite instructors. Chino had grown up with none of that.
Like a Root operative, she'd been tempered through harsh, unforgiving training.
"Kitazawa-sensei…"
After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "Where do I rank in the Genius Class?"
He thought for a moment.
"With your Ketsuryugan genjutsu… around fifteenth."
"Only fifteenth?" Chino froze.
She'd expected the answer, but hearing it still stung.
In the arena, only Fūshin had ever truly pressured her.
"Next term, I'll hold a traditional one-on-one practical exam," Kitazawa said with a smile.
"You can test them yourself then."
This term's final exam was team-based; as a newcomer, she wouldn't participate. Next term, once things settled, she could fight placement matches properly.
He rubbed his chin.
She'd likely break into the top eighteen—forcing someone else out. With Shion also competing, he could expand one squad.
Still, three-man cells required balance.
"First, I'll teach you Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique," he decided.
Her blood dragon art would have to wait—he hadn't fully mastered it yet.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei," Chino said, nodding firmly.
He waited, but no system mission appeared.
Was it tied specifically to teaching the Blood Dragon Art?
He pushed the thought aside and began the lesson.
An hour later, he left a shadow clone to continue tutoring her.
At noon, Ino dragged Chino off to lunch with the others.
By the end of the meal, they were already friends. Kids held no grudges for long.
That afternoon, Kitazawa left another clone in class and slipped away to the Forest of Death to train Wood Release
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, soft footsteps reached his ears.
He looked up to see Konan approaching.
Back in Konoha, she was once again dressed in ANBU attire.
"Back so soon?" Kitazawa chuckled.
"Nothing major," Konan replied.
"After I left, did Oyashiro behave?"
He stopped training and walked toward her.
"Not really. But he's been fully integrated into the Akatsuki."
She remembered it clearly—En had bolted the instant Kitazawa disappeared. She hadn't chased him, only alerted White Zetsu.
Not long after, the Deva Path had dragged him back.
The terror on En's face had been unmistakable. Pain's power had shaken him to the core.
Kitazawa laughed softly.
He could easily guess what En had tried.
Forced into the Akatsuki by the two of them, running had been inevitable.
"You've worked hard," he said gently.
"Head back to the ANBU base and rest."
He reached out and brushed her cheek with his fingers.
"Mm."
Konan's gaze dropped to his hand. She leaned in and nipped his thumb with neat, white teeth.
"Since when did you learn to bite?" Kitazawa raised an eyebrow.
Afterward, she lightly licked the spot she'd bitten, catlike and deliberate.
The sight was far too tempting.
Kitazawa withdrew his hand at once, then leaned forward and claimed her lips in retaliation.
Konan stiffened for an instant—then melted into him.
She stepped closer, resting against his chest, eyes closing as her arms tightened around his neck. Their breaths tangled, hearts racing as their kiss deepened.
For the first time in a long while, she felt alive again—safe, anchored.
Kitazawa's hand slid down her back, finally settling at her hip.
Not explosively curvaceous like Tsunade, but Konan's figure was flawless—every line and proportion exquisitely balanced.
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