Hidden Mist Village, Mizukage Office.
Terumī Mei sat behind the Mizukage's desk, her fingers steepled as she stared into space, lost in thought.
On the desk before her lay a letter from Hidden Sand's Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.
"Mizukage-sama, I've arranged quarters for the Sand envoy and informed Zabuza and the others to attend the meeting."
Moments later, the door opened, and Ao stepped inside.
"Mm." Mei gave a soft acknowledgment and said nothing further.
Before long, Zabuza Momochi, Chōjūrō, Suigetsu Hōzuki, and the others entered the Mizukage's office.
Mei swept her gaze over them—the cream of Hidden Mist's younger and youngest generation. She sighed inwardly. The village was truly caught between generations.
Chōjūrō and Suigetsu were its final hope. That was precisely why she had summoned them—to begin cultivating them as early as possible.
Apart from them, only Ao and Zabuza qualified as Elite Jōnin.
They were the pillars of Hidden Mist, yet there were pitifully few of them. Compared to Konoha, the situation was downright bleak.
Mei couldn't help but think that if Kitazawa were in Hidden Mist, the village could catch up to Konoha within three short years.
But it was meaningless.
"Read this letter." Mei picked up the parchment and handed it to Ao.
Ao glanced at it and let out a soft exclamation. After finishing, he passed it to Zabuza.
"Since when did Rasa become so generous?" Zabuza asked bluntly.
"We'll discuss it shortly." Mei shook her head as a reminder.
Zabuza said nothing more.
Soon, everyone had finished reading Rasa's letter.
Its contents were simple: Hidden Sand had accidentally discovered the whereabouts of the rogue Mist ninja, Biwa Jūzō.
If Hidden Mist wished, Hidden Sand was willing to assist in eliminating him.
"Opinions?" Mei casually placed the letter back on the desk.
"Something feels off," Ao said after a moment of consideration.
"Hidden Sand has more than enough strength to quietly dispose of Biwa Jūzō," Zabuza snorted. "Yet they come to us—there's clearly an ulterior motive."
"And what do you two think?" Mei turned her gaze toward Chōjūrō and Suigetsu.
"I—I think Ao-senpai and Zabuza-senpai are right," Chōjūrō stammered, his body tense.
"Biwa Jūzō carries the Executioner's Blade—we must retrieve it!" Suigetsu declared without hesitation. "We've already lost two of the Seven Ninja Swords. Losing the Executioner's Blade is absolutely unacceptable!"
A trace of disappointment flickered across Mei's face.
Chōjūrō was timid and indecisive. Suigetsu was obsessed with reclaiming the Seven Ninja Swords.
Neither answer was what she had hoped for.
She could only pray they would mature with time. Otherwise, Hidden Mist's future would be perilous.
"The Executioner's Blade is important," Mei said slowly, "but Hidden Mist cannot afford another period of upheaval."
"Then… we abandon the blade?" Suigetsu's face twisted with reluctance.
"I'll take an ANBU squad to Hidden Sand," Zabuza said confidently. "Give me time, and I'll locate Biwa Jūzō."
"No. Not yet." Mei shook her head. "Ao, investigate this matter first. I want the full picture."
"Why all the caution?" Zabuza frowned.
"Hidden Mist must tread carefully right now," Mei replied evenly.
"I'll depart for Hidden Sand immediately," Ao said with a slight bow before turning to leave.
Mei rubbed her temples. Aside from Ao, no one was truly reliable.
Zabuza was the strongest, but far too radical for a village still recovering. As for the other jōnin, they were hardly worth mentioning.
"You're dismissed." Mei waved her hand.
Zabuza and the others turned to leave.
"Any news on Utakata?" Mei asked the empty room.
"Not yet," An ANBU slipped in through the doorway.
"Find him as soon as possible," Mei ordered.
Hidden Mist possessed two Tailed Beasts: the Three-Tails and the Six-Tails.
The Three-Tails' Jinchūriki was Yagura Karatachi. After stepping down as Mizukage, he lived in seclusion, but remained within the village and could act if needed.
The Six-Tails' Jinchūriki was Utakata—now a rogue ninja, no longer officially affiliated with Hidden Mist.
His defection had been almost farcical.
Utakata despised being a Jinchūriki. His master, acting with good intentions, researched a method to extract a Tailed Beast without killing its host.
However, he never explained this to Utakata. He simply attempted the extraction.
Common knowledge dictated that removing a Tailed Beast meant certain death. Believing his master intended to kill him, Utakata slew the man and fled.
Mei sought him not for punishment, but to clear the misunderstanding and bring him home. Hidden Mist desperately needed the power of a Jinchūriki.
---
Summer passed amid relentless training.
September first marked the start of the new term for the Genius Class.
As usual, Kitazawa left enrollment matters to Iruka. At dawn, he headed straight for the Forest of Death.
Kitazawa stood still and activated Senju Chakra Mode and Yang Release Chakra Mode.
Feeling the surge of power flood his body, he took a deep breath.
"Shadow Clone Technique!" A Shadow Clone appeared beside him.
He immediately formed hand seals. "Wood Release: Hobi Technique!"
The ground beneath him rumbled violently.
A circular wall of wood erupted from the earth, rising around him. The structure sealed shut completely, enclosing him within.
At the center of the clearing now stood a shield shaped like a snarling demon's face.
"Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!" The clone rapidly formed seals.
Chakra shifted, becoming razor-sharp wind.
The clone raised its hand, spiraling wind gathering violently before it slammed the Rasenshuriken straight into the wooden shield.
A piercing, muffled roar exploded outward.
Countless microscopic wind blades gnawed at the wood like a swarm of locusts.
The shield shuddered violently, absorbing the ferocious wind-natured Chakra and dispersing it throughout its structure.
Boom! Layered shockwaves blasted skyward, forming a howling gale.
Every nearby plant was uprooted, leaving behind a wide, ravaged impact zone.
Moments later, silence returned.
The wooden shield stood completely unscathed.
Kitazawa dispelled the Shadow Clone. Pain surged through his right arm, and he frowned.
Simply testing the shield's strength had forced him to endure the Rasenshuriken head-on.
Fortunately, the combined effects of his Yin Seal and Yang Release Chakra Mode dulled the pain quickly.
Clapping his hands together, he released the Wood Release: Hobi Technique.
Surveying the devastated clearing, he nodded in satisfaction.
No wonder Senju Hashirama's Wood Release: Hobi Technique had withstood Uchiha Madara's Tailed Beast–clad Susanoo.
Very few jutsu in the world surpassed Wind Release: Rasenshuriken in raw destructive power.
In Kitazawa's estimation, only Ōnoki's Dust Release or Nagato's Rinnegan could exceed it.
With this shield mastered, his sense of security reached its peak. Once he fully mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, his mobility would become unparalleled.
If he then added Sage Mode—or Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands—his offensive power would reach the absolute pinnacle.
Unless enemies literally descended from outside the Ninja World, he would be able to roam the Ninja World without opposition.
Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence! Kitazawa formed hand seals.
The trees that had been destroyed by the Rasenshuriken rapidly regrew.
Elsewhere, he might have simply walked away, but this was Konoha's Forest of Death—he had to restore it.
Satisfied, he headed back toward Konoha Village.
While walking through the streets, he pondered for a moment, then turned toward the Hokage Office.
Mastering Wood Release: Hobi Technique was something worth reporting to Tsunade.
"Tsunade-sensei." Kitazawa stepped inside.
"You're here early," Tsunade set aside her paperwork. "I haven't even finished the first file."
"I've got good news to share." Kitazawa rounded the desk and stopped at her side.
Looking down from above, his gaze went straight to Tsunade's neckline.
The snow-white, full curves of her skin looked as though they had been soaked in milk, and he couldn't pull his eyes away.
"What good news?" Tsunade lifted her head and caught him staring.
She was already used to it, so she said nothing and generously allowed him to look.
Only Kitazawa dared stand this close; everyone else stayed on the far side of the Hokage's desk, never crossing the invisible boundary at the center of the office.
"I've mastered Wood Release: Hobi Technique," Kitazawa said with a light chuckle.
A clear surprise appeared on Tsunade's face. Though she herself couldn't use Wood Release, she knew its techniques inside and out.
Wood Release: Hobi Technique was undeniably a high-level Wood Release jutsu.
Combined with Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence and Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique, Kitazawa already commanded three top-tier Wood Release techniques.
At this point, Tsunade suspected that no ninja in Konoha could defeat him—not even Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others.
Without question, this was good news—news of the very best kind.
"Why don't you become Hokage right now?" As she spoke, Tsunade tugged her collar slightly lower.
Kitazawa's vision was instantly flooded with white. You're really using such a dirty trick?
His eyes widened. He wanted to criticize her, but instead, he openly enjoyed the view without wasting a second.
"How boring." Seeing that Kitazawa wasn't flustered at all, Tsunade pouted, tugged her collar back into place, and hid the extra scenery.
"Tsunade-sensei, we agreed on two years—why the rush?" Kitazawa couldn't help laughing.
"Not two years," Tsunade corrected. "Half a year has already passed. Only eighteen months remain."
"Why are you keeping such close track?" Kitazawa asked, looking resigned.
"When every day at work feels like a year, you remember it clearly." Tsunade waved a hand. "All right, if there's nothing else, stop interrupting my work."
"Tsunade-sensei." Kitazawa bent down, reached out, and hugged her.
"What are you doing?" Tsunade rolled her eyes.
"Nothing special—just wanted a hug." Feeling the soft, alluring body in his arms, Kitazawa smiled.
"Hugging this tightly? You're clearly just trying to cop a feel." Tsunade saw through him immediately.
"Not at all." Kitazawa released her. "I'm off. See you later."
He turned and walked out.
Tsunade bit her lip, a little surprised. This time… he really had settled for just a hug?
Kitazawa returned to the ANBU Base.
He planned to think about where to take the class for their mid-term field mission this semester.
The mission itself was secondary; what he really wanted was to recruit another student to complete seven full teams—the top twenty-one of the Genius Class.
"Kitazawa." Konan stood up the moment she saw him.
During the break, she had returned to the Akatsuki Organization and, following Kitazawa's instructions, began promoting the water business.
After half a month, satisfied with the results, she had come back to Konoha.
"Good morning, Konan." Kitazawa walked up and hugged her.
He gave her hip a gentle pat, savoring the full sensation before letting go.
"Mm," Konan responded softly.
Kitazawa smiled and walked over to the desk. He took out paper and pen, recalling events from the original story.
When it came to geniuses around Naruto's age, the first name that surfaced was Ōtsutsuki Toneri.
As a descendant of Ōtsutsuki Hamura—the Sage of Six Paths' brother—his talent was unquestionable.
But he was a complete villain. He had stolen Hanabi's Byakugan, planned to marry Hinata, and even intended to destroy the Ninja World.
Kitazawa shook his head and continued thinking.
The prodigies he remembered mostly came from the Five Great Villages—Gaara, Kurotsuchi, Deidara, Darui, and the like.
None of them could realistically join Konoha and enroll in the Genius Class.
Deidara might have the slightest chance—if the Akatsuki were first brought under control.
Kitazawa let out a soft exclamation.
Perhaps Gaara, too, had a chance. After all, he was having a rough time right now.
But no matter how rough things were, he was still Hidden Sand's Jinchūriki.
As long as Rasa lived, there was no way Gaara would be allowed to come to Konoha.
Unless something like the original Konoha Crush Plan happened first.
Once Konoha turned the Hidden Sand into an ally, Gaara and his siblings might be invited over.
---
While Kitazawa was puzzling over this, a small meeting was beginning again in the Mizukage's office in Hidden Mist.
"Biwa Jūzō has joined Hidden Rain, and Hidden Sand is competing with them over the water trade," Ao reported. "I suspect Rasa wants to use our name to move against Hidden Rain."
"In that case, we shouldn't let Rasa off cheap—he'll have to pay a steep price," Zabuza said immediately.
"Is the water business really that profitable?" Terumī Mei's attention was fixed on the profits.
"No idea," Ao shook his head. "As a ninja, we know next to nothing about commerce."
"If Hidden Sand and Hidden Rain are fighting over it, the stakes must be enormous," Mei tapped the desk. "We can get involved as well."
Hidden Mist lacked many things—but Water Release ninja were not among them.
The only pity was that seawater couldn't be drunk; otherwise, they would be even better suited for the trade.
"This…?" Ao hesitated.
"Doing business goes against our shinobi code," Zabuza frowned.
He lived for killing, not commerce.
"If Hidden Sand and Hidden Rain can do it, so can we," Mei said calmly. "And we don't need to overextend ourselves—partnering with Hidden Sand will suffice."
The Land of Wind was undeniably the thirstiest.
If Hidden Mist entered the market directly, they would be forced into troublesome competition with both Sand and Rain.
It was far better to provide manpower and cooperate with Hidden Sand in exchange for a share of the profits—simple and efficient.
"Ao, leave today and meet with Rasa to discuss cooperation," Mei smiled. "He's been waiting half a month already—he must be impatient."
"Yes, Mizukage-sama," Ao responded immediately.
"I'll write down the details. Negotiate according to them," Mei added after a moment's thought.
---
Three days later, in the Kazekage Building of Hidden Sand.
"Kazekage-sama," Yura spoke up. "According to ANBU intelligence, Ao and the others will arrive at the village any moment."
"So they've finally come." Rasa shook his head. "Looks like they've seen through us."
He had deliberately omitted key details in his letter, hoping to mislead Hidden Mist. However, the Fifth Mizukage, Terumī Mei, had not taken the bait.
Now, any negotiation would cost Hidden Sand dearly.
Still, if they could seize control of the Land of Wind's water market in a single move, the price would be worth paying.
"Go welcome him." Rasa waved his hand.
"Yes, Kazekage-sama." Yura bowed and withdrew.
Rasa sat back in the Kazekage's chair, lost in thought.
A dozen minutes later, a knock sounded at the door.
"Kazekage-dono, a pleasure." Ao stepped in and extended his hand.
"Likewise." After a brief handshake, Rasa asked directly, "What does your village intend to do about Biwa Jūzō?"
"Naturally, bring him back to Hidden Mist," Ao answered without hesitation.
"Jūzō is now in Hidden Rain under Hanzō—he's no pushover," Rasa said plainly.
"But your real interest isn't Jūzō," Ao cut straight to the point. "It's the water business."
Rasa's expression did not change. "What does your Mizukage propose?"
"Partnership," Ao paused. "In the water trade."
"Impossible!" Yura, standing beside Rasa, couldn't help but interrupt.
"Why not?" Ao smiled. "Hidden Mist has an abundance of Water Release ninja. That alone saves you enormous costs."
"I could simply hire you," Rasa shot back.
"Kazekage-dono, that lacks sincerity." Ao shook his head. "We are both one of the Five Great Villages—equals. We want a share of the profits."
"A share?" Rasa narrowed his eyes. "How much?"
"Forty percent." Ao raised four fingers.
"Your sincerity is equally lacking. Supplying Water Release ninja alone does not warrant forty percent."
Rasa replied coldly. "Hidden Sand's contribution far exceeds yours in this trade."
"More than manpower—we're also providing you with a legitimate pretext to move against Hidden Rain." Ao smiled calmly.
"But even so, it still falls short of forty percent." The Fourth Kazekage refused outright.
"You know Hanzō's strength." After a moment's thought, Ao said, "If Hidden Sand and Hidden Rain become locked in war, the other villages won't be able to resist intervening."
"What are you implying?" Rasa asked gravely.
"Hidden Mist can publicly voice support for Hidden Sand," Ao replied. "An alliance announcement, for example. That would deter the remaining three villages from making rash moves."
Rasa cursed inwardly. They were far more difficult to fool than he had hoped.
Every one of his intentions had already been seen through—by Ao, and by Terumī Mei.
"Twenty percent, at most," Rasa stated decisively. "If that doesn't work for you, you're free to leave."
Ao's brows knit together. Twenty percent was precisely Hidden Mist's bottom line.
After all, they were contributing almost nothing—just a handful of Water Release ninja to assist with transportation.
Any actual combat against Hidden Rain would fall squarely on Hidden Sand. Hidden Mist's role was limited to deterring other villages and buying time.
"Very well." Ao finally nodded. "A pleasant cooperation, then."
"I've already pinpointed Biwa Jūzō's location. We can move at dawn."
Rasa quietly exhaled, then added, "Once Jūzō is dealt with, we'll issue a public notice to the shinobi world."
No matter the circumstances, a righteous pretext was essential. Hidden Mist and Hidden Sand would be acting solely to eliminate the rogue ninja Biwa Jūzō.
Even if Hanzō protested, he would have no moral standing.
"Agreed." Ao paused. "But the pact must be signed today."
"No problem." Rasa accepted without hesitation.
He had never intended to wage war on Hidden Rain. His objective was simply to drive them out, monopolize the water trade, and channel a steady stream of profits into Hidden Sand.
A new day dawned.
Under Rasa's command, a group of jōnin streaked through the air toward the Hidden Rain outpost in the Land of Wind.
The outpost sat at the hub of the transport pipeline and had two daily responsibilities.
First: protect the pipeline and ensure the safety of the water.
Second: summon beasts to sell drinking water.
Only one Akatsuki member was stationed there—Biwa Jūzō.
Normally, Akatsuki operated in pairs. But due to the long transport routes and manpower shortages, only one member had been assigned.
The remaining guards were Hidden Rain ninja skilled in Water Release.
Although White Zetsu detected Rasa's group, it was already too late.
Not that White Zetsu could be blamed—no one expected enemies to descend from the sky.
After a fierce battle, Biwa Jūzō was killed, and Ao reclaimed the executioner's blade.
Ao had not wanted to kill him, but Jūzō resisted too violently, leaving no alternative.
Once all the Hidden Rain ninjas at the outpost were eliminated, Rasa ordered the pipelines destroyed.
Half a day later.
Hidden Rain Village, Land of Rain.
Deva Path Pain learned of Biwa Jūzō's death through White Zetsu. He felt no attachment to the loss of an Akatsuki member.
After all, Kakuzu had already sold several teammates' heads on the black market.
But the water trade was another matter entirely. The profits it generated could significantly accelerate the Eye of the Moon Plan.
Now that Hidden Sand and Hidden Mist had destroyed it, only the silver jewelry trade remained, greatly slowing progress.
"Bring Konan back." Deva Path Pain spoke flatly.
He had the power to kill Rasa and Ao outright.
But doing so would fully expose Akatsuki, turning it into the target of every village and jeopardizing the Eye of the Moon Plan.
After careful consideration, he chose to consult Konan. Both the silver jewelry and water trades were under her management.
Without her initiative, Akatsuki would never have entered commerce at all.
There was no need to convene the other members. Their relationships were closer to sworn enemies than comrades.
With Biwa Jūzō dead, the others would only mock his weakness, not avenge him.
Two days later, Deva Path Pain met Konan.
"Did White Zetsu tell you?" he asked.
"Yes." Konan nodded.
"What do you think?" Deva Path Pain asked indifferently. "I don't want this to affect the Eye of the Moon Plan."
"We'll abandon the pipeline and rely primarily on Summoning Beasts for transport," Konan replied slowly. "At the same time, we sabotage Hidden Sand's pipelines."
"Why?" Deva Path Pain asked, puzzled.
"The water trade is far too profitable to abandon, yet we can't openly wage war against two great villages while pursuing the Eye of the Moon Plan," Konan replied. "A prolonged tug-of-war is the best solution."
"Too troublesome," Deva Path Pain mused. "In a drawn-out conflict, water profits would inevitably plummet."
"Turbulent times create their own opportunities," Konan said calmly. "Risk itself can become profit. We can raise water prices."
"By controlling the Hidden Sand ninja, we can cooperate with them while pushing prices even higher."
"——?" Deva Path Pain felt completely lost.
At the same time, he realized that Konan had become someone unfamiliar—no longer the woman she once was.
"What about casualties among Hidden Rain ninja?" he asked.
"Use White Zetsu and puppets as cover," Konan suggested. "Let Sasori handle it."
Although Sasori was the grandson of Hidden Sand's Third Kazekage, he had personally killed the Kazekage and could never return to the village.
He had no desire to go back either. Within Akatsuki, he was free to pursue human puppetry and the concept of eternity.
"Then see to it," Deva Path Pain nodded.
The following day, Kitazawa received the intelligence report at Konoha's ANBU Base.
Its contents could be summarized in a single line: Hidden Sand and Hidden Mist had joined forces to eliminate the rogue ninja Biwa Jūzō.
The same report reached both Iwagakure and Kumogakure.
After all, the two villages had released the news jointly.
Both villages were puzzled—but unconcerned. To them, Hanzō would simply have to swallow the loss.
Only a madman would pit Hidden Rain against both Hidden Sand and Hidden Mist at once.
Only Kitazawa knew the truth: Hidden Rain was now backed by Akatsuki—an organization powerful enough to wipe out both villages entirely.
But would they act over a single Biwa Jūzō? Kitazawa doubted it.
Akatsuki's sole objective remained the Eye of the Moon Plan. Every member was expendable. If one died, another could simply take their place.
If Akatsuki wiped out two great villages, the others would immediately grow wary—and might even trigger the Fourth Great Ninja War.
The Five Great Ninja Villages would never tolerate such a dangerous organization. Still, it was all speculation.
Fortunately, Kitazawa had a mole inside Akatsuki—Konan. Once she returned, he could ask her directly.
Personally, Kitazawa hoped to delay the Fourth Great Ninja War by another two or three years.
He was not yet truly invincible. After giving it some thought, he headed to the Hokage Office.
"What do you think about the situation between Hidden Sand and Hidden Mist?" Tsunade asked him directly.
"It shouldn't escalate into a full-scale war," Kitazawa said after a moment's consideration.
"I agree," Tsunade nodded. "This is a perfect opportunity to observe that mysterious Akatsuki organization."
Kitazawa had already informed her that Hanzō was dead and that Akatsuki now controlled Hidden Rain.
"Send ANBU to monitor them closely. Report anything unusual." Tsunade wasn't particularly worried.
Her true concern lay with Akatsuki. The current Hidden Leaf was powerful—there was little to fear.
"Understood," Kitazawa nodded.
Two days later, Konan finally returned to Konoha.
"I heard about what Hidden Sand and Hidden Mist did," Kitazawa asked bluntly. "How is Akatsuki responding?"
Konan concealed nothing and described Akatsuki's countermeasures in detail—though she deliberately avoided mentioning Sasori by name.
"You've learned well," Kitazawa praised her after listening.
Especially her remark about turbulent times creating profit—it already sounded like the mindset of a war profiteer.
At the same time, his suspicions were confirmed.
Akatsuki had no intention of initiating the Fourth Great Ninja War.
It seemed the timing was still too early. However, due to his interference, events would likely progress faster than in the original timeline.
"Still, dragging this out isn't a solution," Kitazawa said, blinking. "Once Rasa realizes what's happening, he'll escalate the conflict."
"For now, we stall," Konan replied hesitantly, offering a half-truth. "Once we've accumulated enough funds, we can hire another village to assist."
"How long do you intend to stall?" Kitazawa asked calmly—the question that mattered most to him.
"I don't know," Konan shook her head. "Ideally, one or two years."
Hearing that, Kitazawa felt a faint sense of relief. A year or two was short—but sufficient.
He could no longer afford to progress leisurely; he needed to accelerate the system missions.
More importantly, he had to trigger key system missions—ones related to Sage Mode, for instance.
"If you ever encounter danger, come to me," Kitazawa said softly, reaching out to brush her cheek.
Konan's heart trembled, was touched, and burdened with guilt. For the sake of the Akatsuki Organization, she had told him a necessary lie.
"You came back so early?" Kitazawa asked again.
"The other members of Akatsuki will handle this matter," Konan replied.
"That's good," Kitazawa chuckled. "It's safer for you to stay in Konoha."
Konan was momentarily startled, but she said nothing.
Kitazawa looked at her, and a thought suddenly surfaced.
Once the Eye of the Moon Plan began, Akatsuki would start capturing Jinchūriki and extracting Tailed Beasts.
Under normal circumstances, extracting a Tailed Beast meant certain death for the host.
However, the former teacher of Hidden Mist's Six-Tails Jinchūriki, Utakata, had once researched a method to preserve the Jinchūriki's life after extraction.
Kitazawa fell into deep thought. Could he obtain that method?
Judging from the original story, it was most likely in the possession of Hidden Mist Village.
Requesting it openly would almost certainly fail. Even if he succeeded, the price Hidden Mist demanded would be enormous.
So, what about starting with Utakata himself?
Kitazawa roughly knew Utakata's whereabouts—connected to the Tsuchigumo Clan.
The Tsuchigumo Clan possessed a forbidden technique known as Fury.
At the cost of one's life, it absorbed massive amounts of natural energy, turning the user into a living super bomb capable of annihilating everything within a few kilometers.
Because of this forbidden jutsu, the Tsuchigumo Clan had dwindled to the brink of extinction.
At present, only four members remain:
Tsuchigumo Clan Chief, En no Gyōja; his granddaughter, Hotaru; a loyal servant named Tonbee; and a traitor named Shiranami.
Konoha Village had once made a deal with the Tsuchigumo Clan.
The agreement was simple: the Tsuchigumo Clan would refrain from using the forbidden jutsu Fury, and in return, Konoha would provide them with protection.
In the original story, Hotaru sought better control over the forbidden technique and attempted to become Utakata's disciple.
Shiranami—the classic villain—captured Hotaru and murdered the clan head in order to inherit the clan's Secret Technique.
In the end, with the help of Uzumaki Naruto and Utakata, Hotaru defeated Shiranami.
After a series of events, Utakata finally agreed to take Hotaru as his student.
As they bade farewell to Naruto and the others and set off toward a new life, the Six Paths of Pain descended and captured Utakata.
As for Hotaru, although she survived, her story was never continued.
Kitazawa believed he could capture Utakata and use him as leverage to strike a deal with Terumī Mei.
If Hotaru possessed sufficient talent, he could arrange for her to enroll in the Genius Class.
Coincidentally, the Genius Class was currently short one student. Moreover, the Fury forbidden jutsu intrigued him—it was capable of absorbing natural energy.
Kitazawa very much wanted to trigger a system mission related to Sage Mode.
Perhaps this forbidden jutsu could serve as the catalyst.
As for bringing the Six-Tails back to Konoha, there was no urgency.
He could simply wait until he became truly invincible, then seize the Tailed Beasts from the Akatsuki Organization under a righteous banner.
"Go get some rest first," Kitazawa said gently, stroking Konan's head.
"Mm." Konan turned and left.
After watching her disappear into the distance, Kitazawa headed toward the Hokage Building.
But he wasn't going to see Tsunade.
He was going to see Uchiha Itachi. He intended to entrust the task of locating Utakata to him.
Hokage Secretariat
Kitazawa knocked and stepped inside.
"Lord Kitazawa." Itachi immediately rose and greeted him.
"Itachi, there's something I need you to do," Kitazawa said with a smile.
"Please speak," Itachi replied, straightening.
After all, it had been a long time since Kitazawa had personally sought him out.
"There's a rogue ninja named Utakata from Hidden Mist," Kitazawa said directly. "According to ANBU intelligence, he's appeared near the Tsuchigumo Clan."
"The Tsuchigumo Clan that possesses the forbidden jutsu?" Itachi asked after a brief pause.
The Tsuchigumo Clan had gained some notoriety during the Third Shinobi World War; he had heard of them.
"Correct," Kitazawa nodded. "While you're there, also investigate a Tsuchigumo ninja named Shiranami."
"Understood," Itachi accepted without hesitation.
[Current Mission: Defeat the Six-Tails Jinchūriki Utakata.]
[Mission Reward: 20% Byakugan Purity.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa was delighted.
He already possessed 80% Byakugan purity. Adding another 20% would bring him to a full 100%.
Because of his existing purity, he had already awakened abilities such as Byakugan: Puppet Control and Byakugan: Pressure.
Once he reached 100%, would it evolve into the Tenseigan—or grant entirely new abilities?
Kitazawa felt the latter was more likely. In the original story, there were two known paths to the Tenseigan.
The first was gathering an enormous number of Byakugan into a single colossal eye—the Tenseigan (Energy Vessel).
Such a giant Tenseigan existed on the moon, but it was far too large to fit into a human eye socket and could only function as a ninja tool.
The second method was to combine Ōtsutsuki chakra with a Hyūga Byakugan.
In the original story, when Ōtsutsuki Toneri implanted Hyūga Hanabi's Byakugan, it naturally evolved into the Tenseigan.
However, Kitazawa's Ōtsutsuki bloodline was only 10%. Even so, his Byakugan strength far exceeded that of ordinary Hyūga clan members.
After concluding his business, Kitazawa returned to the Ninja Academy.
Although conflict had erupted between Hidden Rain Village and Hidden Sand Village, it had no effect on Konoha, much less the Academy.
The Genius Class continued its training as usual.
Kitazawa found a quiet spot and began practicing the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Although the Eye of the Moon Plan was still some distance away, he felt a growing sense of urgency.
Once he mastered Flying Thunder God, he would feel far safer.
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Time passed, and October arrived.
ANBU Base Office
Kitazawa finished reading the report in his hand and fell into contemplation.
The document detailed the ongoing war between Hidden Rain Village and Hidden Sand Village.
Overall, the conflict was lukewarm.
The Hidden Rain commander was Sasori. Of course, neither Hidden Sand nor Konoha knew it was him.
Sasori concealed himself within the puppet, hiding his true identity completely.
Kitazawa sensed that while the two villages were fighting fiercely, neither was achieving meaningful results.
Combined with Konan's earlier explanation of Akatsuki's strategy, it was obvious that Sasori was using Mind Puppet Switch on Yura, forcing Hidden Sand to dance to Akatsuki's tune.
Kitazawa set the report aside and shifted his thoughts to the Genius Class.
For this semester's Final Exams, he decided against Team Battles and instead opted for individual matches.
One reason was that it had been a long time since the students had fought one-on-one. Another was to give Shion and Chino a fair chance to compete for rankings.
That said, the Final Exams were still two months away. The immediate priority was the mid-term exam.
For the upcoming mission, Kitazawa planned to target the Tsuchigumo ninja Shiranami. He hadn't yet decided who to bring along.
Last time, he had taken Hinata, Ino, and Haku. This time, he would definitely change the lineup.
Suddenly, Kitazawa let out a soft exclamation.
This mission would most likely involve Utakata again. Why not bring Tsunade along?
After all, since becoming Hokage, she rarely had the chance to leave the village. The Six-Tails Jinchūriki was more than worth the trip.
With that thought, Kitazawa decided on the team: Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and Karin.
Especially Naruto. He was also a Jinchūriki.
Letting him observe how Utakata wielded his Tailed Beast power would make it far easier for Kitazawa to teach him afterward.
After all, Naruto still had a system mission—to become a perfect Jinchūriki.
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P@atreon/Arvinstorm (45+ Advanced Chapters)