"I was this close to winning back all the money I lost earlier!"
Tsunade cursed loudly, stomping down so hard that the rock beneath her heel cracked apart.
"Damn it, that's so frustrating!"
Shizune, walking behind her, couldn't help but pout.
"This close? More like a mile off…"
She'd followed Tsunade for years, and in all that time—not once had she ever seen her win a single bet.
Yet, despite being terrible at gambling, Tsunade's addiction to it was unstoppable.
"Lady Tsunade," Shizune interrupted her grumbling, "are we heading back to the inn or meeting with Kitazawa and Kurenai?"
"Let's earn some money first," Tsunade muttered darkly.
Shizune didn't even blink. She was used to it by now.
Their main source of income these days was the Psychological Medical Ninja Development Project.
Outside of that… just a mountain of IOUs.
"Huh? It's open?"
Shizune blinked in surprise at the open door ahead.
Tsunade didn't think much of it. She stepped inside, bent down to take off her sandals, and walked barefoot toward the living room.
"Lady Tsunade,"
Kitazawa looked up at her from his seat.
Tsunade made her way toward the sofa. With each step she took, Kitazawa couldn't help but notice the way her clothes strained against her figure—
He almost felt compelled to reach out and help.
"Yakumo participated in the practical combat test today," Kitazawa began, breaking the silence.
"So I gave her the day off. If you have business, Lady Tsunade, we can discuss the new jutsu tomorrow."
"Combat test? You mean that 'friendly match' you mentioned before?"
Tsunade plopped down onto the sofa and asked casually,
"How did it go?"
"Our class won the final victory," Kitazawa replied, smiling faintly.
"The Hokage even rewarded me with an A-rank jutsu—the Rasengan."
"You actually picked the Rasengan?"
Tsunade shook her head slightly, giving him a meaningful look.
"You can still switch to something else, you know."
"Why's that?" Kitazawa asked, though he clearly knew the answer.
"Because the Rasengan was created by Minato. It's incredibly difficult—arguably the pinnacle of chakra shape manipulation.
Hardly anyone can master it."
"Then how about we make a bet?"
Kitazawa grinned, seeing her take the bait.
"Oh?" Tsunade arched a brow. "And what are we betting on?"
There was no word she responded to faster than "bet."
"If I can master the Rasengan within three days, you'll teach me medical ninjutsu. Deal?"
He stated his real goal plainly.
"Three days? Are you kidding me?"
Tsunade laughed aloud.
"You do realize the Rasengan was based on the Tailed Beast Bomb, right?"
"So, will you take the bet, Lady Tsunade?" Kitazawa asked calmly.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed as she studied him.
So confident, huh?
After a moment of thought, she agreed.
There was no way a regular special jōnin could learn the Rasengan in three days.
"Let me make this clear first," Tsunade said. "I can teach you medical ninjutsu—but that doesn't mean I'm taking you as my student."
Her standards for disciples were famously high, and Kitazawa was far from meeting them.
"That's fine by me," he replied without hesitation.
He'd originally planned to bet for the right to become her student, but he quickly realized—
Even in gambling, Tsunade still had her pride.
Still, his main objective was already achieved.
All he needed now was to show his "talent" during training and let things happen naturally.
Shizune glanced between the two of them.
Both looked equally confident.
The Rasengan was extremely difficult—but for some reason, she had a bad feeling about this.
Maybe this was fate's way of saying… Tsunade was destined to lose every bet.
"Where's Kurenai?"
Tsunade leaned back into the sofa, her body sinking into the cushions.
"She's training outside," Kitazawa replied.
"Then let's not disturb her," Tsunade said, waving lazily. "We'll discuss the new jutsu tomorrow."
She stood up and started for the door with Shizune—
but just as she reached it, she paused.
"Oh, right. If you don't learn the Rasengan in three days, what then?"
"I'll pay you one million ryō," Kitazawa answered after a moment.
Tsunade's eyes lit up.
"Excellent! Since you're so generous, I'll graciously accept your donation in advance!"
"Lady Tsunade, you might want to wait until after you win," Kitazawa said, smiling faintly.
"Pretty face, but don't let it make you think pretty thoughts," she snorted.
"Better have that million ready."
Kitazawa couldn't help but laugh.
"What kind of compliment was that supposed to be?"
At the Konoha Flower Street...
"Shikamaru, Choji—see you next week!"
Ino Yamanaka waved goodbye to her teammates before stepping into her family's flower shop.
"Back so early?"
Her father, Inoichi Yamanaka, asked from behind the counter.
"Our class's friendly match with Second-Year Class A ended early," Ino said with a grin.
"Guess which class won?"
"You're smiling so wide I don't even need to guess," Inoichi chuckled.
"That's right! We crushed them! Not a single loss!"
"Wait, wasn't Hyūga Neji in Class 2-A?" Inoichi asked in surprise. "He lost to Uchiha Sasuke? That's quite something."
"Nope."
Ino smiled mysteriously.
"Guess again—you'll never get it right."
Inoichi thought hard but eventually shook his head.
"It was Kurama Yakumo," Ino said proudly.
"The Kurama clan? I thought they'd long declined... another bloodline limit genius, huh?" Inoichi mused.
"Only a bloodline user can overcome another bloodline user."
"Exactly," Ino said, her eyes sparkling. "Oh, and I've got a surprise for you!"
"A surprise?" Inoichi raised an eyebrow.
"You're going to teach me the Mind Transfer Jutsu!"
"That's the surprise?" he blinked, confused.
"Yup! Teach me right now!" Ino laughed, darting outside.
"What's with this girl…" Inoichi sighed, shaking his head.
Still, he went along and began teaching her the family's secret art.
And before long, he was surprised—
because Ino's progress was shockingly fast.
Her chakra control was already solid.
"It's all thanks to Kitazawa-sensei's special training," Ino said reverently.
"He's amazing!"
Great.
His own daughter was idolizing another man.
For some reason, Inoichi felt a twinge of jealousy.
The Next Day — Saturday Morning
After washing up, Kitazawa arrived at Kurenai's home.
Tsunade, Shizune, and Yakumo were already there.
"Kitazawa, help me make breakfast," Kurenai said, heading into the kitchen.
"What's on the menu?"
"Rice, grilled fish, miso soup, salad, and natto," she listed, tying on her white apron.
"Here—let me," Kitazawa said, stepping behind her.
He gently took the apron strings and tied them around her slim waist.
"Thanks," Kurenai said casually.
"Even an apron looks good on you," he said, eyes trailing over her smooth back and graceful curves.
"Alright, enough flattery. Tsunade and the others are waiting," she said with a small smirk.
Still, his words clearly pleased her.
Together they prepared a breakfast that could almost be called fancy.
Just as they finished eating and were about to start discussing the new jutsu, there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it," Kitazawa said, walking over.
When he opened it, he was surprised to see none other than Shikaku Nara standing there.
"Lord Shikaku," Kitazawa greeted politely.
"No need for formalities," Shikaku said amiably. "Just call me senpai—you're not that much younger than me."
"Alright, senpai," Kitazawa agreed, though puzzled.
Shikaku was head of the Nara Clan, leader of the Jonin Platoon, and often served as the Hokage's advisor.
He outranked Kitazawa in every possible way.
So why was he suddenly being so friendly?
Was it because of Shikamaru?
"Aren't you going to invite me in?" Shikaku smiled.
"Of course, senpai—but don't be shocked," Kitazawa said, opening the door wider.
"Why would I be sho—Lady Tsunade?!"
Shikaku froze mid-sentence.
"Oh, Shikaku," Tsunade greeted him casually. "Long time no see."
Shikaku blinked, then looked sharply at Kitazawa.
What the hell? Are you hiding Tsunade in your house?!
Since the Psychological Medical Division hadn't been formally announced yet, even the Hokage had kept it confidential—
which made this scene all the more shocking.
He'd assumed Kitazawa was just some run-of-the-mill academy teacher.
Now it turned out he was in league with the Legendary Sucker herself.
Even the smartest man in Konoha was momentarily speechless.
"It's a long story," Kitazawa said smoothly. "The Hokage arranged it—if you're curious, ask him directly."
"Fair enough," Shikaku replied, quickly dropping the topic.
"Actually, I came to ask if you'd be Shikamaru's private tutor."
"A private tutor?" Kitazawa blinked.
Just then, glowing text appeared before his eyes:
[Parent requests your help as class representative. Assist them responsibly.]
[Mission: Help Nara Shikamaru build a foundation for the clan's shadow techniques.]
[Reward: Shadow Imitation Jutsu.]
[Accept mission?]
An unexpected bonus!
Kitazawa hadn't expected to actually earn the Nara clan's secret technique as a reward.
Shadow Imitation was a Yin Release ninjutsu—
which meant his Clone Technique might evolve too.
It wouldn't be too hard either.
The "foundation" probably meant chakra control.
The real challenge would be motivating the notoriously lazy Shikamaru.
"Even the Hokage praised your teaching," Shikaku explained.
"That's why I thought you might cure Shikamaru's laziness."
"I'll give it a try," Kitazawa said, accepting the mission.
It was basically the same chakra control training he'd used with Ino—simple enough.
"Thank you," Shikaku said, handing him a bankbook. "That's your first month's pay."
Kitazawa peeked inside—500,000 ryō.
Rich bastards, he thought. The Nara clan made their fortune in herbs, after all.
For context, an A-rank mission barely paid that much—sometimes even less.
Above that were the deadly S-rank missions.
"Lady Tsunade, I'll take my leave," Shikaku said politely. "Wouldn't want to intrude further."
He knew better than to pry into the affairs of one of the Sannin.
"Seems like you've become Konoha's most famous teacher," Kurenai said, smiling once he left.
"All hype," Kitazawa waved it off. "Now, let's get back to developing that new jutsu."
"You still have time for that?" Tsunade raised a brow.
"You do remember you've only got three days, right?"
"Three days for what?" Kurenai asked curiously.
Kitazawa quickly filled her in on the bet.
"You…" Kurenai trailed off, torn between admiration and exasperation.
Three days to master the Rasengan? That was madness.
He was basically donating one million ryō to Tsunade.
"Don't worry. I'll manage," Kitazawa said lightly.
He had a role to play—the genius persona he'd been cultivating.
And with the system's mastery-level chakra control and shape transformation… it wasn't just an act.
"You're awfully confident," Tsunade said, amused.
Still, that confidence only made her more certain she'd win this time.
Shizune glanced between them, uneasy.
It was the Rasengan, after all. Could it really be learned so quickly?
Was Tsunade finally going to win a bet?
The idea almost felt surreal.
Two days passed in a blur.
"Damn… just a little more," Kurenai muttered, holding the rubber ball.
She had completed the first stage of Rasengan training and was now in the second—but despite two days of effort, the ball remained unbroken.
"You'll get it soon," Kitazawa reassured her. "Don't rush."
"What about you?" Kurenai asked, looking up. "The bet—you've only got one day left. Did you finish it?"
Kitazawa smiled faintly.
He raised his hand—
and before Kurenai's astonished eyes, a spinning sphere of chakra bloomed in his palm.
"You… learned it in two days?"
She could hardly believe it.
The Rasengan, mastered in just forty-eight hours.