The practical exam finally came to an end.
Iruka announced the results for the Genius Class's theoretical exam, his voice carrying across the training ground.
As for the practical exam rankings, they would be revealed next week—after this weekend's mission was completed.
"There are still nine students who haven't participated in the practical exam," Kitazawa said, his calm gaze sweeping over the gathered students. "Prepare yourselves when you return home. We'll assemble here again tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei!"
Naruto, Sasuke, and the others responded in unison, their voices filled with determination.
Among them, Naruto and Kiba's voices were the loudest—clearly the most eager. They had been waiting far too long for the chance to go on a real mission.
"Kitazawa," Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke up, his tone slightly admonishing. "Make sure to keep a close eye on Naruto."
He was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, after all. If Hiruzen were still the Hokage, he would never have permitted Naruto to go on an external mission.
But since Tsunade had already approved it, he could only offer this reminder.
"I understand," Kitazawa replied with a nod. He then handed the Limb Regeneration Technique scroll to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
With his power and mastery over chakra, Hiruzen didn't require much instruction. The same applied to Tsunade—teaching her was more of a formality than a necessity.
But even so, direct guidance could save time, and Kitazawa had no objections to that. Given his current relationship with Tsunade, there was no need for excessive explanations.
After the Genius Class students had dispersed, Kitazawa made his way back to the Anbu base.
As soon as he entered the office, he saw Konan sitting elegantly on the sofa, her expression calm yet thoughtful.
Since Hiruzen had accompanied him earlier, Kitazawa hadn't brought her along to the academy.
Walking closer, he noticed the document in her hand—it was a bill for medicinal ingredients.
"Sorry, I was lost in thought," Konan said softly when she noticed him approach.
"Is the Akatsuki Organization short on funds?" Kitazawa asked with a small smile, half-teasing.
"Not yet," Konan replied, neatly folding the bill and setting it aside.
She wasn't lying. The Akatsuki Organization had existed for years, and with its members being elite shinobi of Jōnin level or higher, they had accumulated significant wealth.
However, most of their finances were allocated to the Eye of the Moon Plan. Using too much money for Nagato's medical treatment would delay that grand scheme.
That was what she had been pondering just now—how to earn more money without disrupting their plans.
Kitazawa didn't press further. He, too, was short on funds at the moment.
He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
It seemed that earning money had to become his next priority. Not just for himself—but because when Konan lacked resources, it would be the perfect opportunity for him to gain leverage over her.
Just then, a thought flashed through his mind. He recalled Aburame's Shino's mutated Water Insects, capable of breathing underwater.
Considering Konoha was soon to begin negotiations with the Hidden Mist Village, Kitazawa figured he could request access to one of their coastal sea areas.
That would give the Aburame clan's insects room to explore—and provide him with a new opportunity to profit.
It was a plan worth pursuing. After all, beneath the Will of Fire, every shinobi still needed money to live and operate. The Aburame Clan wouldn't refuse such a lucrative offer.
By the time Kitazawa finished his train of thought, it was already noon.
He returned home, as Kurenai had asked him to the night before. She hadn't explained why, leaving him mildly curious.
"You're back? Then let's eat," Kurenai greeted him warmly, stepping out of the kitchen with an apron tied around her waist.
"It's already noon," Kitazawa said as he walked over, helping her untie the apron. "And you still won't tell me what this is about?"
"It's nothing serious," Kurenai said with a faint smile. "I signed up for the Jōnin Promotion Exam yesterday."
"Did you pass already?" Kitazawa asked, momentarily surprised.
"No, because the exam is this afternoon," she said, taking his hand and leading him to the table. "After lunch, we'll go see Lady Tsunade together."
"Feeling nervous?" Kitazawa teased.
"I am not!" Kurenai huffed, giving him a playful bump with her hip. "Why would I be nervous about something that's guaranteed?"
"Is that so?" Kitazawa smiled, sliding his hand from the hem of her clothes upward until it rested against her chest. "Then why is your heart beating faster than usual?"
"That's impossible!" she retorted, glaring at him with flushed cheeks.
"Or maybe," he said seriously, "I'm mistaken—the fat here might just be too thick."
"What fat—?!"
Kurenai froze mid-sentence, realized what he'd said, and quickly grabbed his hand away, her face red with both embarrassment and anger. "Eat your food properly!"
Kitazawa laughed but didn't push his luck further.
---
After lunch, the two of them went to the Hokage's Office.
"Hokage-sama," Kurenai said respectfully, bowing slightly. "I'm here to take the Jōnin Promotion Exam."
"Mm," Tsunade nodded, but her gaze drifted toward Kitazawa.
Kitazawa blinked, puzzled. Why are you looking at me like that?
"Kurenai, I know your strength," Tsunade said with a faint smile. "But we still need to follow procedure—so Kitazawa will be your Chief Examiner."
"Eh?" Kurenai's eyes widened, clearly startled.
"I'm the Chief Examiner?" Kitazawa raised a brow, his mouth twitching. "And what exactly am I supposed to test her on?"
He had a feeling Tsunade was doing this deliberately.
"Kurenai's leadership was proven during the last war," Tsunade said, smiling slyly. "You just need to assess her strength."
"Alright then," Kitazawa agreed after a moment's thought. It wasn't a bad arrangement—if he was the examiner, he could go easy on her.
"Let's move to a nearby training ground," Tsunade said as she stood, adding pointedly, "And make sure you give it your best effort."
Kitazawa glared at her, silently. Tsunade glared right back—her eyes seemed to say, Show your teacher some respect.
Kurenai didn't notice the silent exchange between the two.
Though she had confidently said she wasn't nervous before, now that the Jōnin Exam was truly happening, she could feel the tension in her chest.
After all, the status of a full-fledged Jōnin in Konoha was on an entirely different level from that of a Chūnin.
She didn't want to lag too far behind Kitazawa either.
Still, knowing that Kitazawa would be her Chief Examiner gave her a measure of comfort and reduced her pressure.
"Begin!"
Tsunade's clear voice rang out as she stepped back to the edge of the training field, giving the signal for the exam to start.
"Ninja Art: Beauty Under the Moon!"
Without hesitation, Kurenai flung out both arms, releasing a storm of delicate flower petals that danced through the air like shimmering rain.
The petals circled Kitazawa in graceful spirals, their movements fluid and entrancing. For an instant, his surroundings blurred—and Kurenai vanished from sight.
A sharp gust of wind sliced through the silence.
From above, Kurenai descended like a hawk, both legs extended in a powerful kick aimed straight at Kitazawa.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!"
Kitazawa reacted instantly. He twisted his wrist, channeling Wind Release chakra into a kunai.
The blade elongated, surrounded by a faint, razor-sharp aura of wind, and he slashed upward in response.
Kurenai's reflexes were quick. She adjusted mid-air, twisting her body and driving her right leg toward Kitazawa's weapon hand. The impact sent his kunai flying.
Without missing a beat, she spun gracefully, her left leg sweeping upward as she launched a fierce knee strike.
Kitazawa raised his forearm to block. Their limbs met with a resounding impact that sent a ripple of air outward.
Chakra Enhanced Strength!
Using the instant of contact, Kurenai drew in her chakra and threw a heavy punch at close range.
Kitazawa's own fist shot forward at the same time.
Their punches collided, and the air trembled from the force.
The next moment, Kurenai's body shuddered—then she was blasted backward, sliding several meters before regaining her footing. In raw physical power, she was still no match for Kitazawa.
Without delay, Kurenai formed a rapid string of hand seals.
"Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!"
Kitazawa's vision distorted. Vines shot up from the ground, coiling around his limbs and torso, binding him in place. Above, Kurenai materialized on a tree branch, kunai in hand, diving straight down to strike.
Kitazawa's expression remained calm. In the blink of an eye, he dispelled the genjutsu.
A series of hand seals followed—
"Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
A massive water dragon roared into existence at Kurenai's left flank. Its serpentine body spiraled upward before crashing down toward her.
Her pupils contracted sharply. She withdrew her kunai and leaped backward, barely dodging the impact. But the dragon twisted in midair and came sweeping around again.
"Rasengan!"
With no time to evade, Kurenai met the attack head-on. She thrust her palm forward, chakra swirling into a bright sphere of power.
The two forces collided—
Boom!
The water dragon's head shattered instantly, spraying droplets in every direction like a sudden rainstorm.
Kurenai landed, slightly out of breath, but her eyes gleamed with confidence.
"Ninja Art: Hundred Flowers Chaos!"
She scattered more petals into the air. The field bloomed with color, the petals catching the sunlight as they fluttered around Kitazawa.
But this time, Kitazawa merely snorted softly and dispelled the illusion before it could take effect.
As he stepped forward, however, four sealing tags suddenly materialized around him, forming a glowing formation.
A Sealing Formation Barrier! Four paper talismans floated in the air, locking his movements within a square of light.
"Hidden sealing tags inside the petals?" Kitazawa mused aloud, quickly realizing her trick.
"I'm smart, aren't I?" Kurenai said proudly, taking advantage of his restricted movement as she dashed forward, chakra swirling in her hand.
"Wind Release: Rasengan!"
The Rasengan, infused with slicing wind chakra, hummed with dangerous energy.
Kitazawa casually flicked his hand, dispersing the barrier with a pulse of chakra. But before he could move again, Kurenai was already in front of him.
"Konoha Great Whirlwind!"
His leg snapped out in a precise kick, striking Kurenai's wrist. The Rasengan veered off course, its path disrupted.
"Ranshinshō( Body Pathway Derangement)!"
In the same breath, Kitazawa closed the gap between them and pressed his palm against Kurenai's abdomen.
Her chakra flared violently. She tried to redirect her attack—but her arm betrayed her, moving in the opposite direction.
Boom!
The Wind Release: Rasengan detonated against the ground beside them, scattering debris and dust in a shockwave.
Kitazawa grabbed Kurenai's shoulder and pulled her safely out of range.
"What kind of ninjutsu is that?" she gasped, bewildered. Her limbs were trembling uncontrollably, moving in directions opposite to her will.
"This is Ranshinshō," Kitazawa explained calmly. "Don't move for now. Your motor nerves are in disarray. If you try to move your hands, your feet will respond instead."
He tapped her body lightly at a few key points. Within seconds, Kurenai felt her body return to normal, her control restored.
Still, she turned toward Tsunade nervously. "Hokage-sama… did I pass the Jōnin Promotion Exam?"
She knew full well she hadn't been able to defeat Kitazawa. But victory wasn't the requirement—the decision lay with Tsunade's judgment.
Tsunade smiled faintly. "Your Genjutsu, Wind Release, and Taijutsu are all impressive—and you've even mastered sealing techniques. Congratulations, Kurenai. You've passed. You are now a Jōnin."
Kurenai's eyes widened, joy flooding her expression. "Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
Tsunade nodded approvingly.
In truth, she was surprised by the strength Kurenai had shown—especially her creative use of the Sealing Tags and Wind Release: Rasengan.
"Kitazawa, take her to register," Tsunade said, turning to leave. "I'll return to the office."
As soon as she was gone, Kurenai couldn't contain her excitement any longer. She threw herself into Kitazawa's arms, hugging him tightly.
Her soft warmth pressed against him, her voice full of laughter. "This is great!"
Kitazawa smiled, gently patting her back. "With your ability, becoming a Jōnin was only a matter of time."
"That's easy for you to say," Kurenai said with a grin. "But it still feels incredible!"
"That's true," Kitazawa agreed. "Come on, let's get your registration done and pick up your Jōnin vest."
"Let's go!" she said happily, grabbing his hand as they walked toward the Hokage Building together.
The rest of the process was simple, and within half an hour, everything was complete.
"The final step is the public announcement," Kitazawa said, pausing. "But that's just formal procedure—you don't need to worry about it."
"Then I'll head home first," Kurenai said with a smile, brushing her fingers lovingly over her new Jōnin vest. "I'll wait for you there."
"Go back and prepare," Kitazawa reminded her. "Tomorrow, we're heading to the Land of Rivers for a mission."
"Mhm," Kurenai nodded and left the building.
Kitazawa's plan for the afternoon was straightforward: first, he would practice Wood Release, and then head to Konoha Hospital to perform Limb Regeneration surgeries.
The list of disabled ninja within Konoha had already been compiled, and as a result, he had become increasingly busy—juggling both his teaching duties and his medical obligations.
Until Tsunade and Yakushi Nono fully mastered Limb Regeneration, Kitazawa would have little chance to rest.
---
The next morning, Saturday, after breakfast, Kitazawa and Kurenai made their way to the Ninja Academy.
They were early; the training ground was quiet, with only Neji Hyuga already present. Sasuke and Naruto had yet to arrive.
"Kitazawa-sensei," Neji greeted politely before glancing at Kurenai. His expression turned slightly awkward.
How should he address her?
He knew that Kurenai and Kitazawa were in a relationship, but since they weren't married yet, it felt inappropriate to call her sensei's wife.
On the other hand, calling her auntie by seniority might offend her, and older sister would sound too casual.
"For this mission, Kurenai and I will both be your squad leaders," Kitazawa said, rescuing him from the dilemma.
"Kurenai-sensei," Neji quickly called out, relieved.
"Kitazawa-sensei! I'm here!" Naruto's loud, energetic voice came from afar as he came running toward them like a whirlwind.
"He's so full of energy," Kurenai said, unable to suppress a laugh.
She had met Minato Namikaze before, but Naruto's personality was nothing like his father's. Aside from the blond hair, the resemblance was minimal.
"Kitazawa-sensei, am I late?" Naruto asked between breaths.
"No," Kitazawa replied calmly. "There are still ten minutes until nine."
"Sasuke isn't here yet?" Naruto looked around curiously.
"He's probably sleeping in," Kurenai guessed.
"That can't be right," Naruto scratched his head. "Sasuke must've been delayed by something important."
"It seems you know him quite well," Kurenai said with a teasing smile.
"This is the bond of youth!" Naruto declared, giving a thumbs-up. "Sasuke is my lifelong rival!"
"I'm not," Sasuke's cool voice cut in suddenly.
"Sasuke!? When did you get here?" Naruto turned in surprise.
"Just now," Sasuke replied. "Breakfast at my house was a bit late today."
That was understandable. The Uchiha Clan had celebrated their return to their original compound the night before.
The party had gone on until midnight, with Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Yashiro drinking themselves under the table.
Sasuke, though abstaining from alcohol, had been kept awake by the laughter and celebration that echoed through the night.
"It's good that you made it—you're not late," Kitazawa said with a smile, clapping his hands to gather attention. "This mission will be quite difficult, so Kurenai will temporarily join our squad."
"How difficult?" Naruto asked, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Is it one of those legendary S-rank missions?"
"What are you thinking?" Kitazawa flicked his forehead lightly. "With your current strength, taking on an S-rank mission would only lead to a pointless death."
"He doesn't have any common sense," Sasuke muttered.
"Then what rank do you think it is, Sasuke?" Naruto shot back.
"B-rank," Sasuke said decisively.
A-rank or S-rank missions were out of the question for a group of students.
But since Kurenai was being added to their team, it was unlikely to be a simple C-rank either. A B-rank mission was the most logical conclusion.
"B-rank is good too!" Naruto said cheerfully.
"Close enough," Kitazawa nodded. "Our mission this time is to capture a rogue ninja named Aoi. He possesses the strength of a Jonin."
"A Jonin!?" Sasuke's composure faltered.
He had expected their opponent to be, at most, a Special Jonin—but a full Jonin-level target? That was on another level entirely.
Neji's eyes also widened slightly.
He hadn't even officially become a ninja yet, and his very first mission involved fighting a Jonin. Even as a Hyuga prodigy, he could feel the weight of the challenge ahead.
"How could a ninja betray Konoha?" Naruto asked, his concern genuine.
"People are complicated," Kitazawa replied. "Everyone has their own path. Some die protecting Konoha… and some abandon it."
"I don't get it," Naruto said, scratching his head. "Everyone in Konoha Village is so nice."
"You'll understand one day," Kitazawa said, patting his shoulder. "Now let's move out—Aoi Rokusho won't wait for us."
"Kitazawa-sensei, are we leaving the Land of Fire this time?" Naruto's eyes sparkled. "This'll be my first time leaving the village!"
"Our destination is the Land of Rivers, just south of here," Kitazawa explained.
"What's the Land of Rivers like?" Naruto asked eagerly.
"You'll see when we get there," Kitazawa replied.
"Okay, Kitazawa-sensei!" Naruto said, barely containing his excitement.
"Time to speed up. Start running." As soon as they left Konoha's gates, Kitazawa increased his pace dramatically.
"So fast!" Naruto gasped, sprinting after him.
Sasuke used the Body Flicker Technique, passing Naruto with ease.
"Sasuke!" Naruto shouted. "Let's have a race—see who reaches the Land of Rivers first!"
Sasuke didn't answer, but his speed increased even more.
"Neji," Kitazawa called out. "You handle reconnaissance."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei," Neji replied calmly.
By nightfall, they had successfully crossed into the Land of Rivers.
"Haha! I won!" Naruto laughed, hands on his knees, grinning widely.
"…" Sasuke's expression darkened; he clearly wasn't in the mood to respond.
"During a mission, you shouldn't waste energy like that," Kitazawa reminded them. "Since it's your first offense, I'll let it go. Neji performed well—two points added."
"What!?" Naruto froze mid-smile, his jaw dropping.
He had been so caught up in the thrill of his first real mission that he had completely forgotten this was also part of a practical exam.
Sasuke, meanwhile, clenched his fists in frustration. Not only had he failed to outrun Naruto, but he'd also fallen behind Neji in performance points.
It was a defeat—before the battle had even begun.
--
--
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P@atreon/Arvinstorm (40+ Advanced Chapters)