"A Jinchūriki?"
Kurenai's eyes widened. "Then what are you having Sasuke and the others do?"
"They have their own task."
Kitazawa chuckled. "They're geniuses among geniuses—but I'm not about to throw them at a Tailed Beast."
"Fair enough."
She hesitated, then added, "Are you sure you don't want backup?"
"What kind of question is that?"
Kitazawa gave her a light swat on the hip. "Doubting my strength?"
"I'm worried about you, idiot."
Kurenai bumped his thigh in retaliation.
"Relax—Lady Tsunade's coming with me."
He stopped walking, then grinned. "To make it up to you, I'll carry you home."
"There are people everywhere…"
Kurenai hesitated, cheeks tinged pink.
"I'll dodge them."
Kitazawa smirked.
"…Fine."
She hopped onto his back, long legs wrapping around his waist, her body pressed close.
All he felt was warmth—soft, familiar, grounding.
He steadied her and moved forward.
"Not walking feels amazing," Kurenai murmured, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"Really?"
Kitazawa blinked. "So tonight you don't plan on walking either?"
"What are you talking about?"
She blinked back. "Are we going somewhere?"
"Nowhere at all."
He paused. "You'll understand soon enough."
"Weirdo."
Kurenai rolled her eyes and closed them, clearly missing the implication.
They reached home not long after.
"Put me down."
She tapped his shoulder.
He crouched and released her—but the moment her feet touched the floor, he caught her hand.
She turned, puzzled.
In one smooth motion, he swept her up again.
"Hey—!"
Realization hit mid-protest.
Clothes fell. She gasped, limbs locking around him instinctively, long legs tightening as her toes curled.
"You—jerk!"
Her face burned crimson.
"Didn't you say you didn't want to walk tonight?"
Kitazawa grinned shamelessly.
"I never—!"
She shivered, indignant.
"Must've slipped your mind," he murmured. "Let me help you remember."
His hands settled at her waist.
Her protests dissolved into breathless indignation—then into agreement with every outrageous claim he made.
The night eventually quieted.
Dawn crept in.
Kitazawa opened his eyes to find Kurenai asleep against him, lips parted, breathing slow and even. He felt the steady rise and fall of her body, inhaled the faint scent at her neck.
He placed a hand against her forehead.
Soft green chakra flowed into her.
Moments later, her body relaxed completely, a small, contented smile forming.
Kitazawa grew thoughtful.
'If I'm strong enough someday… could I teach her the Yin Seal?'
The benefits were obvious.
He didn't want to watch her grow old.
If only techniques could be imprinted the way the system worked—no study, no strain.
Maybe one day.
He shook the thought away.
"Morning."
Kurenai stirred, stretched, and opened her eyes—looking refreshed.
Kitazawa appreciated the sight more than he should.
"If today weren't mission day," he thought, "I'd keep her off her feet."
"It's eight!"
She glanced at the clock and jolted upright. "Move, move!"
"We've got an hour."
Kitazawa slipped out of bed. "I'll cook."
They finished breakfast and reached the academy with ten minutes to spare.
Kurenai shot him a look before heading off to her students.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Naruto called out eagerly.
"Follow me."
Kitazawa nodded and led them toward the Hokage Building.
"Sensei…"
Naruto glanced around. "Isn't this the wrong way?"
"Nope."
"Someone else is joining us."
"Who?"
"You'll see."
They arrived just as the doors opened.
Tsunade stepped out.
"Granny Tsunade?!" Naruto blurted.
"Hokage-sama," Sasuke and Karin greeted properly.
"Use correct titles while on duty."
Tsunade glared at Naruto.
"You're coming too, Granny?"
Naruto asked, not catching on fast.
"…Apparently."
Tsunade sighed, giving up on correcting him.
Sasuke and Karin exchanged startled glances.
"If Lady Tsunade is coming along, then this has to be S-rank!" Naruto pumped a fist, whooping with excitement.
Tsunade turned her gaze to Kitazawa, clearly puzzled. She still didn't understand why a group of genin had been brought along.
"Your missions are separate," Kitazawa said calmly, shaking his head. "Two assignments. Same departure."
"Two?"
Tsunade arched an eyebrow. "You didn't mention that yesterday."
"Their task isn't worth your time," Kitazawa replied lightly.
"Sensei, then what's our mission?" Karin asked, curiosity piqued.
"Ever heard of the Tsuchigumo Clan?"
Kitazawa countered.
"Nope."
All three shook their heads in unison.
"The Tsuchigumo are allies," she said.
"Normally," Kitazawa agreed casually. "But a rogue named Katsura has surfaced. Your job is to dismantle his little band."
"Is he strong?" Naruto asked eagerly.
"A decent Earth Release jōnin," Kitazawa replied after a moment's thought.
"Perfect!"
Naruto grinned and gave a thumbs-up. "Leave it to us!"
"Then let's move."
Kitazawa turned. "Naruto, Sasuke—you're on perimeter watch."
"Got it, sensei!"
Naruto spun toward Sasuke. "Race you—"
"Not interested."
Sasuke cut him off and strode ahead.
"Hey, wait up!"
Naruto bolted after him.
As they walked, Tsunade asked casually, "Did the Tsuchigumo contact you?"
"No,"
Kitazawa replied. "Utakata's been active near their territory, so I looked into it."
"I assumed they requested help," Tsunade said. "How bad is their situation?"
"Dire," Kitazawa answered quietly. "Katsura and a handful of elders broke away. That's all that's left."
"That bad?"
Tsunade was visibly surprised.
Once, the Tsuchigumo Clan had been renowned during the Third Shinobi World War.
"We should invite them to settle in Konoha," Kitazawa suggested.
"Do you think they'd accept?" Tsunade murmured thoughtfully.
In their current state, protecting the forbidden technique Gohōkai was impossible. Worse, if that jutsu ever leaked, it would become a serious threat to Konoha itself.
Letting them live within the village would be far safer.
And over time, they'd naturally become part of Konoha.
'Gohōkai is the key,' Kitazawa thought.
He knew the Tsuchigumo Clan valued that forbidden technique above everything else. Hotaru's plan to acknowledge Utakata as her teacher already showed they understood extinction was looming.
"Then let's try," Tsunade nodded. "When the time comes, I'll invite them personally."
"With Lady Tsunade handling it, there won't be any trouble," Kitazawa chuckled. "And we've even brought a gift."
Tsunade paused, then understood.
The "gift" was Katsura.
The Tsuchigumo Clan's territory lay close to the Land of Fire, within the Land of Rivers. Katsura had set up camp there, living as a bandit and surviving on robbery.
By nightfall, the group reached the Land of Rivers.
"Wood Release really is convenient,"
Tsunade said, smiling as a wooden house rose from the earth.
"Pick any room you like, Lady Tsunade,"
Kitazawa blinked. "If you don't mind, you could even share one with me."
She stepped squarely on his foot and walked inside.
The refusal was unmistakable.
Kitazawa only laughed, completely unsurprised.
After dinner, Sasuke and Naruto practiced their combination technique—the Taiji Rasengan—while Karin pulled out a fish and began training the Mystical Palm Technique.
"Karin's talent might actually surpass Shizune's," Tsunade remarked after observing for a while.
"She's an Uzumaki,"
Kitazawa replied thoughtfully. "Her Chakra reserves give her a natural edge in Medical Ninjutsu."
"Mm."
Tsunade looked away, dropped into a chair, and asked, "How's your Flying Thunder God coming along?"
"I should have it mastered before the New Year," Kitazawa answered after a brief calculation.
"Very good."
Tsunade smiled in satisfaction. "Once you do, the village's strength will rise again."
The Flying Thunder God wasn't merely a jutsu—it was a strategic weapon.
Without exaggeration, Konoha's victory in the Third Shinobi World War owed much to it. Minato Namikaze, without any bloodline limit, had shaken the battlefield through that technique alone.
And now there was Kitazawa—who possessed Wood Release.
For a fleeting moment, Tsunade even found herself anticipating the next great war.
She quickly dismissed the thought.
'No war is the best outcome.'
"It's a shame your Sage Mode hasn't progressed yet," she said with some regret.
Wood Release plus Flying Thunder God was already terrifying—but it still fell short of Wood Release, Sage Mode, and Flying Thunder God together.
Hashirama and Tobirama.
That was true invincibility.
"Take it slow," Kitazawa said easily. "I'll master it eventually."
Tsunade was caught off guard, her brow knitting in confusion.
She couldn't understand where Kitazawa's confidence came from.
Judging by his current state, he showed no natural affinity for Sage Mode—otherwise, he would've made progress long ago. Fortunately, Katsuyu was patient by nature and didn't mind the time spent waiting.
"Lady Tsunade," Kitazawa asked with a faint smile, "if I master the Flying Thunder God before the New Year, what will my reward be?"
Tsunade frowned instinctively.
With his strength and status, what could he possibly want?
In another year or two, even the Hokage's seat would likely be his.
Then something occurred to her.
Her gaze drifted downward, and she stiffened slightly.
She knew very well how Kitazawa felt about her.
Tsunade bit her lip, emotions stirring beneath her calm exterior. After a long moment of hesitation, she finally steeled herself.
They had already crossed too many lines to pretend otherwise.
"If you master the Flying Thunder God before the New Year," she said slowly, "I'll give you… a special reward."
The moment the words left her mouth, her heart fluttered. A faint, electric tremor spread through her body.
[Current Mission: Accept Tsunade's special reward.]
[Mission Reward: Unknown.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa froze.
A system mission?
And with an unknown reward?
That was a first.
What exactly was this "special reward"?
"…I'm looking forward to it," he said after recovering, his smile deepening.
In a heartbeat, countless possibilities flashed through his mind—yet none of them quite fit.
Unable to figure it out, he gave up on speculation.
"There's still time," Kitazawa said calmly. "I'll train Flying Thunder God for a bit longer. Lady Tsunade, if you're tired, you should rest."
"Don't worry about me," Tsunade waved him off.
Once Kitazawa returned to his training, she rested her chin in her hand, watching him with an unfocused gaze.
The night slowly deepened.
By nine in the evening, Kitazawa finally stopped and told Sasuke and the others to turn in.
"Good night."
Tsunade rose onto her toes and kissed him lightly, then turned and disappeared into her room.
The next morning, Kitazawa woke on schedule.
After changing, he stepped into the living room to find Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin already waiting.
He glanced around, then headed to Tsunade's room and knocked.
"Why are you all up so early…?"
The door opened, Tsunade leaning against the frame, yawning.
"You're the one who overslept," Kitazawa replied dryly.
She shot him an instant glare.
"Looks like you're finally awake," he added with a grin. "Breakfast will be ready soon."
Before she could retort, he turned and headed to the kitchen.
An hour later, the group set out once more.
As they crossed into the Land of Rivers, the Tsuchigumo Clan's territory drew near.
"Let's deal with Utakata first," Kitazawa said after a moment's thought.
The Tsuchigumo wouldn't be going anywhere—but Utakata might. If he slipped away, tracking him down would waste precious time.
"Who's Utakata?" Naruto asked curiously.
"A Jinchuriki from Hidden Mist," Kitazawa answered.
All three immediately looked shocked.
Their understanding of Jinchuriki came from Yagura Karatachi—the former Mizukage who'd been defeated by Kitazawa and Tsunade.
Naruto, in particular, understood better than anyone.
After all, the strongest Tailed Beast—Kyuubi—was sealed inside him.
"Utakata is dangerous," Kitazawa warned. "Don't interfere."
He paused, then added,
"But if Mist ANBU show up, you're to block them."
"No problem!"
Naruto answered without hesitation.
Sasuke nodded, eyes sharp. He'd been itching to test himself.
Karin had no objections.
"Wait here."
Kitazawa moved ahead and activated his Byakugan.
The next instant, Utakata's position burned into view—his Chakra vast and blazing, impossible to miss.
"He hasn't moved," Kitazawa said as he reappeared beside them. "We're going straight there."
"Perfect."
Tsunade cracked her knuckles, smiling. "I can finally test my Yang Release Chakra Mode."
She'd learned it long ago but never had a chance to use it.
As Hokage, she rarely fought personally.
And very few opponents were worthy of forcing it out.
The Six-Tails Jinchuriki was one of them.
Under Kitazawa's lead, they swiftly reached a secluded valley.
Likely wary of Mist ANBU, Utakata had avoided towns and made camp here instead.
"You all stay back," Kitazawa instructed.
He and Tsunade stepped into the valley openly.
After only a few steps, a figure emerged from a tent—drawn by their undisguised presence.
The hunt had begun.
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