Although they had been misled by Itachi and failed to locate Utakata earlier, the Hidden Mist ANBU never left the Land of Rivers.
The eruption of the Tailed Beast Ball changed everything.
The earth-shaking explosion was impossible to miss.
Realizing something catastrophic had occurred, the ANBU squad rushed toward the source at full speed.
Naruto, Sasuke, and the others instinctively tensed, ready for another fight.
"It's Utakata!"
One of the Hidden Mist ANBU blurted out the moment he spotted the unconscious figure.
"Shut up!"
The ANBU captain's expression changed violently as he barked the order.
Had he gone blind?
Kitazawa.
Tsunade.
Both were standing right there.
The squad fell instantly silent.
Their mission was to retrieve Utakata—but no one dared take a step forward now.
Every one of them had lived through the previous war between Konoha and Hidden Mist.
They knew exactly how terrifying those two were.
They were prepared to fight to the death—but dying pointlessly was another matter entirely.
"Hokage-sama."
The captain took a steadying breath and stepped forward.
If the two villages were still enemies, he would have turned and retreated without hesitation.
But they were allies now.
And if he didn't at least attempt communication, he would have no way to explain this to the Mizukage.
"Utakata is a rogue ninja of the Hidden Mist," the captain said respectfully, bowing slightly.
"I ask that Hokage-sama return him to us."
"Utakata was defeated by Konoha," Tsunade replied evenly.
"He is now a war trophy of the Hidden Leaf."
"Return and inform Mei Terumī," she continued, "that she may send representatives to Konoha to negotiate."
"I… understand."
The ANBU captain suppressed his shock and immediately signaled a retreat.
He knew better than anyone—
If Tsunade and Kitazawa wanted to wipe them out, they could do so effortlessly, then blame it all on Utakata.
Even the Mizukage would have no grounds to protest.
As the Mist ninja withdrew, Kitazawa turned his attention back to Utakata.
He formed a series of hand seals, layering several additional sealing techniques onto the unconscious Jinchūriki.
"Deer."
At his call, Deer appeared instantly, accompanied by her three ANBU subordinates.
"Escort him back to Konoha."
"Yes, Lord Kitazawa."
Her squad moved at once, lifting Utakata carefully.
Kitazawa paused, then formed another seal.
A Shadow Clone appeared beside them.
"I'll have my clone accompany you."
He wasn't taking chances.
If the Hidden Mist ANBU attempted a surprise recovery, this would shut it down immediately—unless Mei herself appeared.
With that, the escort team departed.
"Alright," Tsunade said brightly, rolling her shoulders.
"Next stop—the Tsuchigumo Clan."
Once that mission was finished, she could finally indulge in several uninterrupted days at the casino.
A decisive battle followed by gambling—life didn't get much better.
"Let's move."
Kitazawa gave Sasuke's shoulder a light pat.
Sasuke snapped back to awareness, realizing his Sharingan had activated without him noticing.
He exhaled, deactivated it, and followed silently.
Compared to him, Karin remained remarkably calm after learning Naruto was a Jinchūriki.
She had no desire to compete with him—and no pride was wounded.
Kitazawa glanced at Sasuke thoughtfully.
In truth, this wasn't a bad thing.
He had once considered artificially pushing Sasuke toward awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan—but it seemed unnecessary now.
Sasuke didn't lack potential.
He just needed to lose to Naruto a few more times.
Helping Naruto grow… would inevitably force Sasuke to grow as well.
[Current Mission: Help Uchiha Sasuke awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.]
[Mission Reward: Mangekyō Sharingan.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa's eyes widened.
'Seriously? Just like that?'
A Mangekyō-related system mission—triggered so casually?
He accepted without hesitation.
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan no longer held much value for him.
But the Mangekyo was another matter entirely.
Two innate ocular techniques.
Susanoo.
And the possibility of abilities rivaling Kamui.
Even against Ōtsutsuki-level threats, that could be decisive.
Still…
The Mangekyō was said to reflect the heart.
Its abilities were shaped by the user's emotional state at awakening.
But this one was system-granted.
Would it adapt to him—or would he get to choose?
Before he could dwell on it, another notification appeared.
[Current Mission: Defeat the Six-Tails Jinchūriki Utakata.]
[Mission Reward: 20% Byakugan Purity.]
[Mission completed. Reward issued.]
The text shifted again.
[Byakugan Purity has reached 100%.]
[Special Ability Awakened: Thought Insight.]
[Thought Insight: Allows perception of partial thoughts, effectiveness determined by relative strength.]
Kitazawa raised an eyebrow.
So this ability existed here as well.
In the original lore, it belonged to Ōtsutsuki Kaguya herself—though hers was absolute, allowing total mental penetration.
Compared to that, this was restrained.
But still…
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
And incredibly useful.
Kaguya once used the Byakugan to peer directly into the thoughts of Ōtsutsuki Hamura and Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo.
Compared to that, Kitazawa's ability was clearly inferior.
Thought Insight did not grant full mind-reading; it merely skimmed fragments of intent, and even that depended heavily on the strength gap between both parties.
Still, its value was undeniable—especially for interrogation and extracting information.
[When the Ōtsutsuki Clan bloodline reaches 100%, the Tenseigan can be activated.]
A new line of text appeared before Kitazawa's eyes.
He wasn't surprised.
That outcome had been inevitable.
Not long after, the group arrived at the mountain where Katsura was hiding.
"You three go ahead," Kitazawa said calmly.
"Try to capture Katsura alive."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei."
Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin immediately sprinted up the slope.
Kitazawa's thoughts shifted. He activated his Byakugan.
His gaze settled briefly on Sasuke, and he invoked Byakugan: Thought Insight.
In the next instant, fragments of Sasuke's thoughts flooded in.
They were simple—almost embarrassingly so.
Outshine Naruto. Get a perfect score. Prove myself.
Kitazawa turned to Tsunade next.
Nothing.
No stray thoughts. No surface intent.
A complete blank.
"What are you doing?" Tsunade asked, sensing something off.
"Testing a technique," Kitazawa replied vaguely.
"Then why are you staring at me?" She narrowed her eyes.
"Because Sasuke and the others haven't started fighting yet," he said smoothly, shifting his gaze away.
That confirmed it.
Thought Insight didn't work on Kage-level opponents.
Which made sense—anything stronger would have been outright broken.
Still, for jōnin, chūnin, and genin, it was terrifyingly effective.
Exactly as he'd thought: perfect for interrogation.
"Enemy attack!"
The shout echoed down the mountain.
Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin had been discovered.
In the next second, a barrage of ninja tools came screaming toward them.
Sasuke drew the Thunder God Sword in one fluid motion and swung.
Lightning exploded outward, blasting every incoming weapon aside.
"Where did these little brats come from?"
Katsura stepped out from above, looking down at them with open contempt.
"Who are you?" Naruto asked, beaten to the question by Sasuke.
"You step into my territory and don't even know my name?" Katsura sneered.
"You're Katsura!" Naruto lit up.
"You're exactly who we're here for!"
"And why would you be looking for me?" Katsura asked coldly, glancing around.
"Where's your squad leader?"
"To capture you, obviously!"
Naruto formed seals and shouted,
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Not good!"
Sasuke didn't hesitate—he charged straight at Katsura.
"What—?!"
Katsura barely had time to react as a sea of Shadow Clones surged forward and Sasuke appeared right in front of him.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
A wall erupted between them.
Lightning screamed.
"Chidori Nagashi!"
Sasuke's entire body crackled with electricity as he smashed straight through the wall.
"Konoha Style: Willow!"
He twisted his wrist, and the Thunder God Sword blurred—afterimages filling the air.
Katsura froze.
His body wouldn't move.
Genjutsu?!
Panic surged through him as he forcibly dispelled it.
Too late.
The blade slashed across his arm, carving deep into flesh.
Sasuke deliberately avoided anything fatal.
Kitazawa had ordered Katsura alive.
Roaring in pain, Katsura counterattacked.
A thick green gas burst from his mouth.
"Poison gas?!"
Sasuke's pupils shrank as he instantly held his breath and retreated.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
Naruto and his clones struck together.
A violent gale blasted the poison cloud backward.
Katsura's subordinates collapsed instantly, choking.
"Damn you!"
Katsura cursed, abandoning his men without hesitation.
This fight was turning against him fast.
"Earth Release: Rock Lodging Collapse!"
He slammed his hand into the ground.
The mountain peak cracked apart, massive boulders tumbling downward.
Naruto's Shadow Clones were crushed one after another, vanishing in smoke.
"Naruto—save Karin!"
Sasuke activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and sprang forward.
Using the falling rocks as footholds, he pursued Katsura in a blur of motion.
"Sasuke!"
Naruto shouted—but Sasuke was already gone.
He turned back, rushing to Karin's side.
"Chidori Nagashi!"
Sasuke accelerated again, lightning propelling him forward as he closed the distance.
"Damn brat!"
Katsura spun and hurled six shuriken.
"In front of these eyes," Sasuke said coolly, "they're meaningless."
His sword flashed.
Every shuriken was knocked aside.
"…Three-Tomoe Sharingan?"
Katsura finally noticed Sasuke's eyes.
He froze.
That kind of talent—at this age—
Impossible.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
This was the perfect opening.
Genjutsu: Unknown Fire!
His Three-Tomoe Sharingan flared, and in an instant Katsura was dragged into the illusion.
Sasuke vanished and reappeared in front of him. The lightning coating his body surged outward.
"AAAAAH!"
Katsura screamed as the current tore through him, his muscles locking as his body convulsed.
"Too weak."
Sasuke calmly twirled his blade and sheathed the thunder god sword.
"Sasuke!"
Naruto and Karin arrived just in time to see Katsura collapse, unconscious.
An ordinary jōnin struck byChidori Nagashiwas effectively finished—after all, it was an A-rank technique.
"With Sasuke and Naruto at this level, ordinary jōnin aren't even training targets anymore," Tsunade said, shaking her head as she watched the aftermath.
"There's nothing to be done," Kitazawa chuckled softly.
"They're growing too fast."
"Have you ever considered letting them graduate early?" Tsunade asked, glancing at him.
"There's barely any difference anymore," Kitazawa replied casually.
"We can just assign tougher missions."
"That's true," Tsunade nodded.
"Kitazawa-sensei."
Karin approached, with Sasuke and Naruto carrying the bound Katsura behind her.
Under Kitazawa's lead, the group headed toward the Tsuchigumo Clan's settlement.
"I didn't expect the Tsuchigumo Clan to be in such a state…"
Standing atop Mount Tsuchi, Tsunade surveyed the surroundings with a quiet sigh.
Dust blanketed the abandoned buildings. Everything looked worn, silent, forgotten.
"Who are you?"
A young girl stepped forward.
She had long, curly brown hair and striking green eyes, her appearance immediately distinctive.
An elderly man stood protectively behind her, his gaze sharp and wary.
"We're ninja from Konoha Village," Kitazawa said calmly.
"We wish to meet the head of the Tsuchigumo Clan."
"Konoha?" The girl's eyes lit up.
"I've heard Grandpa talk about you!"
"And how do you prove you're from Konoha?" the old man demanded.
"Proof?" Kitazawa extended a hand.
The ground rumbled.
A tree burst forth from the earth, towering into the sky.
"Wood Release?!"
The old man's expression changed instantly.
"…You're Kitazawa."
"I am," Kitazawa said with a smile.
"It seems Wood Release is more famous than me, the Hokage," Tsunade remarked dryly.
"You're the Fifth Hokage-sama?!"
The old man's heart skipped.
"That's right," Tsunade said, lifting her chin.
"We mean no harm. Please come out."
"Lady Hokage, forgive our lack of hospitality."
Another elderly man emerged—Yakushidō, the Tsuchigumo Clan's leader.
"Grandpa!"
The girl rushed to his side.
"Lady Hokage, this is my granddaughter—Hotaru," Yakushidō introduced.
Tsunade nodded.
"I've brought you a gift."
Sasuke and Naruto stepped forward, placing Katsura before them.
"…Katsura?"
Shock flashed across Yakushidō's face.
"He's a traitor to your clan," Tsunade said evenly.
"We leave his fate to you."
"Thank you, Lady Hokage."
Yakushidō bowed deeply.
After a pause, Tsunade continued,
"I came for another reason. I hope the Tsuchigumo Clan will relocate to Konoha Village."
"What?!"
Yakushidō and the others froze.
"Konoha and the Tsuchigumo Clan were allies during the Third Shinobi World War," Tsunade said calmly.
"By moving to Konoha, the forbidden technique Gohōkai can be better protected."
Yakushidō nearly refused on instinct—but stopped.
His gaze drifted to Hotaru.
The truth was painful: the Tsuchigumo Clan no longer had the strength to protect Gohōkai.
That was why Katsura had gone unchecked.
More importantly… Hotaru had no future here.
And this was an invitation from the Fifth Hokage herself.
"Give us time to discuss."
Yakushidō stepped aside with Hotaru and their attendant, Tonbei.
It didn't take long.
They accepted Tsunade's proposal—with one condition.
They would reside in Konoha temporarily, without formally becoming part of the village.
Tsunade smiled and agreed without hesitation.
To her, the condition meant nothing.
After all, with only three members left, the Tsuchigumo Clan's future would inevitably take root in Konoha.
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