The sun had dipped below the horizon, but the sky still glowed with lingering daylight.
With the arrival of July, the days in Konoha had noticeably lengthened, and the temperature had climbed accordingly.
On his way back, Kitazawa bought three popsicles and picked up his pace toward home.
Well—not his home exactly, but Kurenai's.
"Yuhi, open your mouth."
The moment he stepped through the door and into the living room, he popped a popsicle into her mouth without warning.
"You could've told me you were buying popsicles," Kurenai grumbled, removing the treat. "Now my lipstick's ruined."
Kitazawa blinked in surprise and instinctively glanced at the popsicle.
Two delicate pink lip prints glistened on its surface.
His gaze drifted upward—to her lips.
Soft and glistening under the light. Vibrant and inviting.
"Ah, sorry," he said, scratching his head. "I was worried it would melt, so I just... stuck it in. Didn't notice you had lipstick on."
"Don't let it happen again," Kurenai said, rolling her eyes.
"I thought lipstick was edible."
"It is—mmph!"
Her response was cut short.
Kitazawa kissed her.
She didn't resist, though her brows twitched in helpless protest.
A few seconds passed before their lips parted.
"You better give Yakumo her popsicle before it turns into juice," she muttered, lips still tingling.
"The lipstick actually tastes pretty good," Kitazawa mused.
"My poor lipstick!" Kurenai huffed. "You owe me big time!"
"No problem," Kitazawa said with a grin. "Next time, I'll buy you a whole set. A new shade for every day of the week."
"This was supposed to be a punishment," she groaned. "Why does it feel like I'm just spoiling you instead? Are you some kind of pervert?"
"How could I be?" Kitazawa said with exaggerated innocence. "I just like the idea of going shopping with you."
"Yeah, right." Kurenai gave him a dry look, then nudged him with her bare foot. "The popsicle's melting."
"Oh—right, Yakumo!"
He dashed upstairs and handed the remaining popsicle to Yakumo.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei."
She stuck out her small pink tongue and licked the frosty surface, shivering slightly at the cold.
"How's your body holding up these days?" Kitazawa asked, taking a bite of his own.
"Thanks to Lady Tsunade's treatment, I've recovered a lot," Yakumo said brightly. "I think it won't be long before I can move around like a normal ninja."
"That's great to hear," Kitazawa said warmly.
It felt good—really good. Like he'd made a real difference.
If things stayed on track, Yakumo would never suffer the fate she did in the original timeline—killing her parents and nearly taking Kurenai's life.
"Honestly, without you, I wouldn't be here right now," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.
She knew well enough: her recovery had less to do with her Kekkei Genkai and more to do with Kitazawa.
It was his proposal to create the Psychological Medical Ninja specialization that brought Tsunade back to Konoha in the first place.
"You're giving me too much credit," Kitazawa said with a wave of his hand. "So, what are your plans once you're fully recovered?"
"I want to go back to school," Yakumo said without hesitation. "Just attending class like a normal student… that's always been my dream."
"In that case, you'll rejoin next semester," Kitazawa nodded. He wasn't surprised.
In the original story, Yakumo's spiral into darkness had begun when her parents forbade her from going to the academy, forcing her to give up on becoming a ninja.
[Transfer student Yakumo Kurama is about to return. You must maintain your first-place rank.]
[Mission: Learn five Genjutsu during summer vacation.]
[Reward: Bringer-of-Darkness Jutsu]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa's eyes narrowed slightly.
Bringer-of-Darkness?
An A-rank Genjutsu, created by none other than Second Hokage Senju Tobirama—specifically to counter the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan.
The jutsu plunged its target into a pitch-black void, depriving them of sight and rendering even elite shinobi like Hiruzen defenseless during the Konoha Crush.
Aside from Dojutsu like Mangekyo Sharingan, Bringer-of-Darkness was among the most terrifying Genjutsu ever developed.
It wasn't just a Sharingan counter.
It was a nightmare for any ninja.
A reward like this wasn't handed out lightly.
Naturally, the difficulty of the mission matched its value.
Konoha Academy operated on a three-semester system, and summer break lasted just one month.
Even with Kitazawa's masterful chakra control, he hadn't fully grasped Yin Release transformation yet.
Learning five Genjutsu in one month would be a serious challenge.
But not impossible.
He glanced at Yakumo.
This girl was turning out to be a gold mine.
Two missions so far, and the rewards?
First: the B-rank Tree Binding Death illusion.
Now: the A-rank Bringer-of-Darkness.
Not bad.
Kitazawa himself had only mastered two A-rank jutsu so far—Chakra Scalpel and Rasengan.
Maybe you could toss in Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms as a close third.
"What's wrong, Kitazawa-sensei?"
Yakumo tilted her head, noticing his quiet stare.
"Nothing," he said with a soft smile. "Your classmates really miss you, you know."
"Really?" she blinked, surprised. "But… I barely attended any classes. I didn't even learn all their names."
"Trust me," Kitazawa chuckled. "No one forgets the girl who took down the genius, Neji Hyuga."
"That was just because of my Kekkei Genkai," Yakumo said modestly, lowering her gaze.
"So what?" Kitazawa shrugged. "You have a Kekkei Genkai. Doesn't Neji have one too?"
Yakumo paused.
He was right.
The Hyuga's Byakugan was one of the most respected Kekkei Genkai in the village—far more famous than the Kurama clan's.
But the downside of the Kurama Bloodline was massive.
If she hadn't met Tsunade, her story might've ended in tragedy.
That same burden had kept the Kurama clan from ever rising to the status of a true elite ninja family—unlike the Uchiha or Hyuga.
"Well, I'll let you get back to drawing," Kitazawa said, finishing his popsicle. "I won't bother you anymore."
He made his way downstairs.
"You took your time," Kurenai commented, glancing up at him.
She was sitting in front of the mirror, lipstick in one hand, compact in the other—reapplying the shade she'd just lost.
The popsicle, of course, was long gone.
"We just chatted," Kitazawa said. "I told her she can return to the academy next semester."
"By the way," Kurenai said, getting to the point. "Shizune came by. She said to meet her at Konoha Hospital."
"Konoha Hospital?" Kitazawa raised an eyebrow. "Is Shizune performing surgery?"
"Wouldn't Lady Tsunade be the one doing surgery?" Kurenai asked, almost rhetorically. "With her skills, she could save entire squads."
She didn't know about Tsunade's hemophobia.
"She didn't say much?" Kitazawa asked.
"You'll know when you get there," Kurenai replied. "You want me to come?"
"Nah, if it's about new medical ninjutsu, it's probably not something you need to sit in for."
"Alright. Don't keep me waiting too long," she said.
Kitazawa leaned in and kissed her again.
"My freshly applied lipstick—again!" Kurenai glared, flustered. "Go already!"
Chuckling, Kitazawa stepped outside, lips tingling, and headed for Konoha Hospital.
Although Kitazawa had lived in Konoha for twenty-one years, he rarely stepped foot inside Konoha Hospital.
For one, he almost never suffered serious injuries.
For another, minor wounds could be healed on his own, albeit more slowly—but it saved ryo.
Konoha Hospital wasn't a charity. Treatment and hospitalization both came with a steep price tag.
Still, today was different.
Kitazawa moved quickly through the village streets, reaching the hospital in no time.
Konoha Hospital looked much like the ones from his previous life—just with a more traditional, almost feudal aesthetic. It carried the same sterile chill, though, and the quiet hum of activity inside.
"Excuse me," he said, stopping a passing nurse, "could you tell me where Lady Tsunade is?"
The young woman gave him a quick once-over before replying, "She's in the Director's Office. Third floor."
"Thanks."
Kitazawa headed up. It didn't take long to find the office—there was a polished nameplate on the door.
He raised his hand and knocked.
"Come in."
A soft female voice called out—not Tsunade's. And not Shizune's either.
Kitazawa blinked and opened the door, slightly confused.
Inside was a woman he didn't recognize at first glance.
She had light yellow, fluffy hair and wore glasses. Her outfit resembled a nun's habit, lending her an air of calm authority.
He paused, mind racing.
Yakushi Nono.
Director of the Konoha Orphanage. Former Root operative.
In the original timeline, she'd left Root—but Danzo had blackmailed her with the orphanage to drag her back into service.
She had also adopted a particularly talented child.
Yakushi Kabuto.
That name came with a darker legacy.
Kabuto had been forced into Root, too, and later became one of Konoha's most dangerous enemies. Nono's fate? Tragic. Danzo had arranged for her and Kabuto to kill each other. Kabuto survived—and never came back from the abyss he fell into.
They hadn't reached that part of the story yet… right?
If Kitazawa remembered correctly, their "final mission" happened the same year as the Uchiha massacre—still a year away.
For now, Kabuto was likely working as a spy in Iwagakure. Nono, soon to follow.
"You are?" she asked, her voice calm but curious.
With a face like Kitazawa's, if she'd seen him before, she would've remembered.
"He's Kitazawa," a familiar voice drawled from the sofa.
Kitazawa turned his head instinctively.
He couldn't see her face—just a pair of pale, smooth feet resting on the armrest.
Tsunade's chakra control was nothing short of miraculous.
"Hello, I'm Yakushi Nono," the woman said, offering a warm smile. "Lady Tsunade has spoken highly of you. She says you have great potential in medical ninjutsu."
"I've heard a lot about you too," Kitazawa replied with polite charm. "They say you're the most skilled medical ninja in Konoha, second only to Lady Tsunade herself."
"You flatter me," Nono replied evenly. "There are many in the village with far more skill than I have."
Her voice was calm and humble. Unshaken by praise.
"Alright, enough with the pleasantries," Tsunade grumbled, sitting up on the sofa with a sigh.
Kitazawa cleared his throat. "Where's Shizune-senpai?"
"She's checking on a patient," Tsunade replied. "She'll be back shortly."
"She still handles surgeries at the hospital?"
"She's helping you," Tsunade said simply, draping herself back across the sofa. "So yes."
That confirmed it.
Shizune had claimed she was "checking on a patient," but in reality, she was selecting one—for Kitazawa to practice on.
So far, all the medical ninjutsu she'd taught him were C-rank and D-rank.
If she was switching from treating koi fish to a live patient… then the next jutsu must be far more advanced.
"Please, take a seat," Nono offered gently.
Kitazawa nodded and sat on the sofa across from Tsunade.
His eyes wandered before he could stop them—drawn to Tsunade's effortlessly lounging figure.
Her body exuded mature elegance, even in repose. It was the kind of presence that defined the phrase "casual elegance and beauty."
Tsunade turned her head and caught him looking.
He immediately straightened his posture, eyes fixed forward. She smirked faintly but said nothing.
A knock at the door interrupted the moment.
Shizune entered the room, clipboard in hand.
"Shizune-senpai," Kitazawa greeted her promptly.
"Today, I'll be teaching you the Poison Extraction Technique," she said, getting straight to the point. "Coincidentally, an Anbu operative was poisoned by a Hidden Sand puppet master during a mission. You'll observe the treatment."
'Just as I thought,' Kitazawa mused.
The system had already rewarded him for the technique, which meant this live demonstration would only help reinforce it.
"Shizune, take him to the operating room," Tsunade instructed. "Nono, you go too, if you're available."
It wasn't a suggestion—more of a precaution. Tsunade still didn't trust herself around blood.
And Nono, though gentle, had sharp eyes and steady hands.
"Of course, Lady Tsunade," Nono replied without hesitation.
Technically, Tsunade was her superior now.
Together, they moved to the operating room.
Lying on the table was an Anbu shinobi, mask still on, long violet hair spilling over the pillow.
"Anbu don't reveal their identities easily," Shizune explained.
Kitazawa nodded, though he was already fairly certain who this was.
Long purple hair… Anbu operative…
Yūgao Uzuki.
Hayate Gekko's girlfriend. A skilled swordswoman and loyal Konoha shinobi.
His eyes dropped to the wound on her abdomen.
A deep stab mark, the surrounding skin stained a sickly purplish-black.
Poison.
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