Hidden Mist Village—Mizukage's Office
Mei sat behind the Mizukage's desk, fingers steepled, her expression distant as she stared at the document before her.
It was a letter from the Fourth Kazekage of the Hidden Sand, Rasa.
"Mizukage-sama, quarters for the Sand envoy have been prepared. Zabuza and the others have been notified to attend the meeting."
A moment later, the office door opened.
Ao stepped inside.
"Mm," Mei acknowledged softly, offering no further comment.
Before long, Zabuza Momochi entered, followed by Chōjūrō, Suigetsu Hōzuki, and several others.
Mei's gaze swept over them—the core of the Hidden Mist's younger generation, and its youngest hope.
She sighed inwardly.
The village stood at an awkward crossroads between eras.
Chōjūrō and Suigetsu were its future—fragile, unfinished, and uncertain.
That was precisely why she had summoned them: they needed tempering early, before the burden of the village crushed them.
Aside from them, only Ao and Zabuza qualified as elite jonin.
Two pillars.
Too few.
Compared to Konoha, the difference was painfully obvious.
'If Kitazawa were here…' Mei thought bitterly. 'In three years, we might rival them.'
But ifs changed nothing.
"Read it," Mei said, lifting the parchment and handing it to Ao.
Ao scanned the letter, brows knitting as he let out a quiet sound of surprise. When finished, he passed it to Zabuza.
"Since when did Rasa become this generous?" Zabuza scoffed.
"We'll discuss it in a moment," Mei said, cutting him off.
Zabuza clicked his tongue but fell silent.
Soon, everyone had read the letter.
Its contents were simple.
The Hidden Sand had "accidentally" discovered the whereabouts of Biwa Jūzō, a rogue ninja of the Mist.
If the Hidden Mist wished, the Sand would assist in eliminating him.
Mei set the letter back down. "Thoughts?"
"Something's off," Ao said after a moment. "The Sand has the ability to deal with Biwa Jūzō quietly. There's no reason to involve us unless they want something."
"Hmph," Zabuza snorted. "They're fishing. No doubt about it."
Mei nodded, then turned to the younger pair. "And you two?"
"I—I agree with Ao-senpai and Zabuza-senpai," Chōjūrō said nervously, shoulders stiff. "But… Biwa Jūzō has the Executioner's Blade. We have to retrieve it."
"We've already lost two of the Seven Swords," Suigetsu added immediately. "Losing Kubikiribōchō isn't an option."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Mei's eyes.
Chōjūrō was cautious to the point of paralysis.
Suigetsu was obsessed—fixated on the swords rather than the village.
Neither answer was wrong.
Neither was what she needed.
'They're still too green…' Mei thought.
"The Executioner's Blade is important," Mei said slowly, "but the Hidden Mist cannot afford another internal upheaval."
Suigetsu frowned. "Then… we just give it up?"
"I'll take an Anbu unit to the Sand," Zabuza said flatly. "Give me time, and I'll track Biwa Jūzō down myself."
"No," Mei said at once. "Not yet."
Zabuza scowled. "Why hesitate?"
"Because we can't afford recklessness right now," Mei replied coolly. "Ao—investigate this. I want to know everything behind Rasa's move."
Understood," Ao said, bowing slightly before leaving.
Mei rubbed her temples.
Apart from Ao, there was no one she could rely on completely.
Zabuza was powerful—but too extreme for a village still healing from bloodshed.
The remaining jonin… were barely worth considering.
"You're dismissed," she said, waving her hand.
Zabuza and the others filed out.
As the room emptied, Mei spoke again. "Any news on Utakata?"
"Not yet," an Anbu replied, slipping in silently.
"Find him," Mei said firmly.
The Hidden Mist possessed two Tailed Beasts.
The Three-Tails' jinchūriki, Yagura Karatachi, lived quietly in retirement—still within the village, still available if needed.
The Six-Tails' jinchūriki, Utakata, was another matter entirely.
Officially, he was a missing-nin.
His defection had been tragically absurd.
Utakata hated being a jinchūriki.
His master, meaning well, had researched a way to extract a Tailed Beast without killing its host—but never explained it.
When he attempted the procedure, Utakata believed he was about to be murdered.
He killed his master and fled.
Mei wanted him found—not to punish him, but to explain the truth.
The village needed him.
And more than that—
Hidden Mist desperately needed hope.
—
Summer slipped by in a blur of relentless training.
On September first, the Genius Class welcomed a new term.
As always, Kitazawa left enrollment matters to Iruka. Before dawn even broke, he was already deep within the Forest of Death.
Standing alone in a clearing, Kitazawa activated Senju Chakra Mode and Yang Release Chakra Mode simultaneously.
Power surged through his body.
He drew a steady breath.
"Shadow Clone Technique."
A clone appeared beside him. Together, they formed hand seals.
"Wood Release: Hobi!"
The ground rumbled violently.
Massive wooden walls erupted in a perfect circle around Kitazawa, rising higher and higher before sealing shut. In moments, a colossal barrier stood in the clearing—its surface shaped into a ferocious, demon-like face.
"Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!"
The clone's Chakra shifted sharply, condensing into cutting wind. A rasengan formed in its palm, shrieking with destructive force.
The Rasenshuriken slammed into the wooden shield.
A dull, piercing roar echoed outward.
Countless microscopic wind blades chewed at the barrier like a swarm of locusts. The shield trembled, vibrating under the assault as it absorbed and dispersed the violent Chakra.
Boom!
Layered shockwaves blasted upward, tearing the air apart. Trees were ripped from the earth, leaving behind a massive impact zone.
Then—silence.
When the dust settled, the wooden shield stood intact.
Kitazawa dismissed the Shadow Clone.
A sharp ache shot through his right arm, drawing a frown. Even testing the shield meant directly enduring the Rasenshuriken's backlash.
Fortunately, the Yin Seal combined with Yang Release Chakra Mode quickly eased the pain.
With a clap, he released the Wood Release.
Surveying the devastation, Kitazawa nodded in satisfaction.
No wonder Senju Hashirama's Wood Release: Hobi had once endured Madara's Tailed Beast–clad Susanoo.
Very few jutsu rivaled the sheer destructive power of the Rasenshuriken. Only techniques like Ōnoki's Dust Release—or Nagato's Rinnegan—might surpass it.
With this shield mastered, his survivability had skyrocketed.
Once he perfected the Flying Thunder God, his mobility would be peerless. Add Sage Mode or Sage Art: Wood Style: True Several Thousand Hands, and his offensive power would reach the apex.
Unless enemies literally fell from the sky, the world held few threats for him.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence."
He restored the shattered landscape, trees rapidly regrowing from the scarred earth.
This was the Forest of Death, after all—leaving it ruined wasn't an option.
Satisfied, Kitazawa headed back toward Konoha.
Midway through the village streets, he paused, then turned toward the Hokage Tower.
Mastering the Hobi jutsu was news Tsunade deserved to hear.
Hokage Office
"Tsunade-sensei."
Kitazawa stepped inside.
"You're early," Tsunade said, setting aside a stack of paperwork. "I haven't even finished my first report."
"I came with good news."
He walked around the desk and stopped beside her.
From above, his gaze drifted—quite naturally—to her neckline.
Her fair skin looked smooth and luminous, like polished ivory. He didn't even try to hide where he was looking.
"What good news?" Tsunade asked, lifting her head and catching him in the act.
By now, she was used to it. She didn't scold him—just let him look.
Only Kitazawa ever dared stand this close. Everyone else wisely kept their distance.
"I've mastered Wood Release: Hobi."
Tsunade's expression shifted instantly—genuine surprise flashing across her face.
Though she couldn't use Wood Release herself, she understood its value perfectly. Hobi jutsu was a high-level Wood Release jutsu, without question.
Combined with Deep Forest Emergence and Wood Dragon Technique, Kitazawa now commanded three top-tier wood release abilities.
At this point, Tsunade suspected there wasn't a single ninja in Konoha who could defeat him—not even Hiruzen.
And that was excellent news.
"Why don't you just become Hokage already?" she said lightly, tugging her collar down just a bit.
Kitazawa's field of vision instantly turned white.
That's playing dirty.
His eyes widened—but instead of complaining, he appreciated the view without hesitation.
"How boring," Tsunade muttered when she realized it hadn't flustered him at all. She tugged her collar back into place.
"Tsunade-sensei," Kitazawa laughed, "we agreed on two years. Why the rush?"
"Not two years anymore," she corrected. "Half a year's already gone. Eighteen months left."
"You're really counting?" he asked, sounding resigned.
"When every day feels like a year, you remember," Tsunade waved him off. "Now stop distracting me."
"Tsunade-sensei."
Kitazawa leaned down and pulled her into a hug.
"What are you doing now?" she asked flatly.
"Nothing special," he said. "Just felt like hugging you."
Feeling the warmth and softness in his arms, Kitazawa smiled.
"Hugging this tight?" Tsunade snorted. "You're clearly just taking advantage."
"Not at all."
He let go and stepped back. "I'm heading out. See you later."
Kitazawa turned and left without another word.
Tsunade sat there for a moment, lips pressed together.
…He really stopped at just a hug this time?
That was new.
Kitazawa returned to the ANBU base.
He intended to decide where to take the class for this semester's mid-term field mission—but the mission itself was only secondary. His real goal was to recruit another standout and complete seven full squads: the top twenty-one students of the Genius Class.
"Kitazawa."
Konan rose the moment she saw him.
During the break, she had returned to the Akatsuki and—following his instructions—begun pushing the water trade. After half a month, satisfied with the results, she had come back to Konoha.
"Good morning, Konan."
Kitazawa stepped forward and pulled her into a brief hug, his hand resting naturally at her hip before he let go.
"Mm."
Konan replied softly.
Smiling, Kitazawa moved to his desk and took out paper and pen, sifting through memories of the original timeline.
When it came to prodigies Naruto's age, the first name that surfaced was Ōtsutsuki Toneri.
A descendant of Ōtsutsuki Hamura—the Sage of Six Paths' brother—his talent was undeniable.
Unfortunately, so was his villainy.
He had stolen Hyūga Hanabi's Byakugan, sought to force Hinata into marriage, and even planned to annihilate the Ninja World.
Kitazawa shook his head and crossed the name off mentally.
The other geniuses he remembered all came from the Five Great Villages: Gaara, Kurotsuchi, Deidara, Darui…
None of them could realistically defect to Konoha and enroll in the Genius Class.
Deidara might—barely—if Akatsuki were dealt with first.
Kitazawa paused.
…Gaara, maybe.
The boy was suffering deeply at this point in time.
But no matter how miserable he was, he was still Hidden Sand's Jinchūriki. With Rasa alive, there was no chance Gaara would be allowed anywhere near Konoha.
Unless something drastic happened.
Like the Konoha Crush.
If Konoha later turned Hidden Mist into an ally, then Gaara and his siblings could perhaps be invited under diplomatic pretenses.
While Kitazawa was deep in thought, a small meeting convened once more in the Mizukage's office of Hidden Mist.
—
"Biwa Jūzō has joined Hidden Rain," Ao reported. "At the same time, Hidden Sand is competing with them over the water trade."
He paused, then continued, "I suspect Rasa wants to use our name as leverage against Hidden Rain."
"Then we shouldn't let him off lightly," Zabuza said immediately. "If he wants to use us, he pays for it."
"Is the water business really that profitable?" Mei asked, her interest clearly piqued.
"No idea," Ao admitted. "We're shinobi—not merchants."
"If Hidden Sand and Hidden Rain are fighting over it," Mei tapped the desk lightly, "then the profits must be enormous."
"We could get involved as well."
Hidden Mist lacked many things—but Water Release ninja weren't among them.
The only regret was that seawater couldn't be drunk. Otherwise, they would dominate the market outright.
"This feels… questionable," Ao said hesitantly.
"Doing business goes against the shinobi way," Zabuza frowned. He lived for bloodshed, not bargaining.
"If they can do it, so can we," Mei replied calmly. "And we don't need to overextend ourselves. Cooperation with Hidden Sand will be enough."
The Land of Wind was the thirstiest of them all.
If Hidden Mist entered the market independently, they would be forced into direct competition with both Hidden Sand and Hidden Rain—a headache they didn't need.
Better to provide manpower, take a cut of the profits, and let Hidden Sand handle the logistics.
"Ao," Mei ordered, smiling faintly, "leave today and meet Rasa. He's been waiting half a month—he must be growing impatient."
"Yes, Mizukage-sama."
"Take this outline," she added after a moment. "Negotiate within these terms."
Three days later, in the Kazekage Building of Hidden Sand—
"Kazekage-sama," Yura reported, "Anbu intelligence confirms Ao and his party will arrive any moment."
"So they've finally decided to come," Rasa sighed. "Looks like they saw through us."
He had deliberately omitted key details in his letter, hoping to mislead Hidden Mist—but Mei was no fool.
Negotiations would now be costly.
Still, if they could secure control of the Land of Wind's water supply in one decisive move, it would be worth it.
"Go receive them."
"Yes, Kazekage-sama."
Yura bowed and departed.
Rasa leaned back in his chair, deep in thought.
Moments later, a knock sounded.
"Kazekage-dono," Ao greeted politely, extending his hand. "A pleasure."
"Likewise."
After a brief exchange, Rasa asked directly, "What does Hidden Mist intend to do about Biwa Jūzō?"
"Bring him home," Ao replied without hesitation.
"He's under Hanzō's protection now," Rasa said evenly. "That won't be easy."
"But you're not truly concerned about Jūzō," Ao said calmly, dropping the pretense. "You're interested in the water trade."
Rasa's expression didn't change. "Then speak plainly."
"Partnership," Ao said. "In the water business."
"Impossible!" Yura blurted out.
"Why?" Ao smiled. "Hidden Mist supplies Water Release ninja—cutting your costs dramatically."
"I can hire mercenaries," Rasa countered.
"That lacks sincerity," Ao shook his head. "We're both Great Villages. Equals. We want a share of the profits."
"A share?" Rasa narrowed his eyes. "How much?"
"Forty percent."
Ao raised four fingers.
"That's excessive," Rasa replied coldly. "Providing water release alone doesn't justify forty percent."
"More than that," Ao said calmly. "We're also giving you a legitimate excuse to move against Hidden Rain."
Rasa's gaze sharpened.
"…Still not enough for forty percent."
He paused.
"You know Hanzō's strength."
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