It was afternoon.
Kitazawa left a Shadow Clone behind and was about to head to the Hokage's Office when three glowing lines appeared before his eyes:
Current Mission: Help Shino Aburame cultivate Kikaichu with Water Release resistance.
Mission Reward: Gain 10% Water Release damage resistance.
Status: Mission complete—reward issued.
Kitazawa raised an eyebrow.
Finally completed, huh?
He changed direction and headed straight for the artificial lake.
"Kitazawa-sensei."
Shino approached briskly, lifting his hand. Two kinds of Kikaichu crawled across his palm—one light blue, one dark.
"It seems your mutation experiment was a success again," Kitazawa said, smiling. "Tell me about them."
"The dark blue ones can breathe freely underwater," Shino explained, excitement flickering behind his glasses. "They can be used for reconnaissance and detection below the surface."
"Impressive." Kitazawa's eyes gleamed.
But his first thought wasn't about underwater combat—it was about resources. If every Aburame ninja could deploy these Kikaichu beneath the ocean, they could form an underwater exploration team.
After all, if the Fourth Kazekage could mine gold for Sunagakure, why couldn't we?
"These light blue ones," Shino continued, "are resistant to Water Release. Their endurance depends on the strength of the jutsu."
Kitazawa nodded. "So, what's next?"
"I'd like to develop Kikaichu with Wind Release resistance."
Shino's mind briefly flashed to Naruto. With Wind-resistant Kikaichu, he might last longer in a fight against him.
"Good." Kitazawa smiled. "Then Naruto can help you with that."
Another familiar system message appeared before him:
New Mission: Help Shino Aburame cultivate Kikaichu with Wind Release resistance.
Reward: Gain 10% Wind Release damage resistance.
Accept?
Kitazawa accepted instantly.
"Then I'll go find Naruto right away," Shino said eagerly.
After two successful mutations, his confidence was soaring. If he could breed Kikaichu resistant to all five chakra natures, the Aburame Clan's strength would skyrocket—and he would go down in clan history as the first to achieve it.
Kitazawa waved him off and continued toward the Hokage's Office.
"News from the Hidden Mist Village," Tsunade said lazily, reclining in her chair.
"When are they arriving?" Kitazawa asked, stepping forward, his eyes briefly tracing her commanding yet graceful presence.
"June 1st," she replied. "Their team leader is the new Mizukage—Mei Terumī."
"Mei Terumī?" Kitazawa blinked. "I thought Ao would take that role."
In the original timeline, Mei became the Fifth Mizukage much later—on the eve of the Fourth Shinobi World War. Gensui had appointed her before the Five Kage Summit, nearly a decade from now.
Now, with her rising to power early, she could even rival Minato Namikaze for the title of youngest Kage.
Of course, once Gaara became the Fifth Kazekage at fifteen, that title would be his alone.
"Ao has seniority," Tsunade said thoughtfully, "but Mei's strength and charisma make her the better choice. The Hidden Mist needs a bold young leader to pull them out of their stagnation."
"True," Kitazawa agreed. "But it won't be easy."
The Mist had been declining for years, and even Mei hadn't been able to turn the tide. By the time Chōjūrō became Sixth Mizukage, things were even worse.
"We don't need to worry about that," Tsunade said, waving her hand. "You and Shikaku will welcome her delegation."
Technically, a visiting Mizukage should be greeted by the Hokage herself—but since the Mist had lost ground politically, Konoha didn't need to extend full honors. A show of dominance before negotiations began was better strategy.
"Understood." Kitazawa nodded, then added, "I plan to take the Genius Class on an outdoor mission tomorrow."
"Be careful," Tsunade said casually.
With Kitazawa's strength, even a Kage-level opponent wouldn't faze her much.
"Oh, and the Jōnin Meeting's next Monday," she added. "If you can't make it back in time, I'll postpone it."
Kitazawa chuckled. "Is that allowed?"
"Is there a problem?" Tsunade shot back.
"No problem at all. You're the Hokage—you make the rules."
"Flatterer," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "Now get back to training your Yin Seal."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade," Kitazawa said with a grin, turning to leave.
Of course, his "Yin Seal training" was just an excuse to secretly practice Wood Release. Tsunade didn't mind—his progress with the Yin Seal had been remarkable lately.
Saturday morning came early for Hinata.
She woke with a hum, happily singing her self-composed "rice ball song" as she changed into her mission outfit.
"Sis!"
A small girl came running into her room—Hanabi Hyuga.
"Hanabi!" Hinata bent down to scoop her up, smiling warmly.
"Come eat," Hiashi said as he walked toward the living room.
"Yes, Father." Hinata set Hanabi down and followed.
The dining table overflowed with food—far more than three people could finish.
Hiashi picked up his chopsticks. "An outdoor mission isn't like academy training. It's dangerous—follow Kitazawa's every instruction."
Hinata blinked in surprise before replying quickly, "Yes, Father."
It wasn't often that her father expressed concern so directly.
"Kitazawa is also the Hokage's student," Hiashi continued. "If you get the chance, stay close to him. You might even become his official disciple one day."
For a clan leader, improving the Hyuga's position was always important—especially now, when even the Uchiha Clan was regaining influence.
Hinata nodded earnestly. "Yes, Father."
She also hoped to learn under Kitazawa someday—but with how admired he was in the village, she knew it wouldn't be easy.
By the time Hinata arrived at the academy's training field, Shino was already there.
"Good morning, Shino."
"Good morning," he replied.
Then silence fell.
Neither was particularly talkative. Even though Hinata had grown bolder under Kitazawa's guidance, she was still far from outgoing.
"Hinata! Shino!"
A cheerful voice cut through the quiet—Hana arrived with her three ninja hounds bounding beside her.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Her ninken barked enthusiastically.
"What are they saying?" Hinata asked curiously.
"They're greeting you," Hana explained, mimicking the barks with a grin. "See, woof woof woof is your name, and woof woof woof woof is Shino's."
Hinata tilted her head. "Amazing... but I can't tell the difference."
Hana laughed. "I couldn't either at first, but you get used to it. If you'd like, I can even give you a ninken of your own."
It was partly generosity—partly strategy. Befriending the Hyuga heiress was never a bad move.
"Thank you," Hinata said softly, shaking her head. "But it would be wasted on me."
"Woof woof!" the hounds barked again.
"They smell Kitazawa-sensei," Hana translated.
And sure enough, Kitazawa was approaching with a relaxed smile.
"It seems you're all getting along well," he said warmly.
"Good morning, Sensei!"
Kitazawa gave a small nod. "If you're ready, then let's move."
He turned toward the village gate, his students hurrying after him.
"Your mission this time is simple," Kitazawa began as they walked. "Find a young boy named Haku. He's about your age and currently wandering alone in the Land of Water."
"The Land of Water?" Hana blinked in surprise. "That far?"
Hinata and Shino exchanged looks—neither had expected their mission to take them across the sea.
"Distance means nothing to a shinobi," Kitazawa said evenly. "That's today's first lesson—learning how to pace yourself on long-distance travel."
All three instantly straightened, focusing on his every word.
Once he finished explaining, Kitazawa led the way, setting off at a steady run. At ninja speed, it would take three days to reach the Land of Water—two if they only traveled as far as the borderlands.
"Hinata, your breathing's too fast," Kitazawa called over his shoulder. "Don't rush it."
Hinata immediately adjusted her rhythm, nodding in acknowledgment.
"Hana, your stride is uneven. Keep a consistent pace," Kitazawa added, then smiled. "Haimaru's brothers doing fine, though."
"Woof!"x3 the Hiamaru brothers barked proudly, tails wagging.
By dusk, the group reached the coastline.
Kitazawa summoned a small boat from his scroll. "Rest for a while. I'll handle the rowing."
The three students collapsed onto the deck, too tired to care about appearances. The ninken sprawled out beside them, tongues hanging.
Only Kitazawa remained composed—but then again, he was built differently. With Senju blood, he could've run for three days straight without breaking a sweat.
Channeling chakra into the water, he propelled the boat forward with smooth waves.
For a fleeting moment, he remembered how Jiraiya had once made Naruto practice rowing with Rasengan. The thought made him chuckle quietly before his mind shifted back to their target.
Haku—a boy from a snowy village, born with the Ice Release bloodline.
In that cruel era of the Bloody Mist, villagers had loathed those with Kekkei Genkai. Haku's mother had hidden her power, but once her husband discovered the truth, he led the villagers to kill her. Haku had awakened his Ice Release in desperation—killing them all.
Since then, he had wandered alone… until he met Zabuza.
Before leaving Konoha, Kitazawa had already sent the Anbu to pinpoint Haku's village. His plan was simple: start at the center and search outward.
Night fell quietly.
Kitazawa docked the boat on an uninhabited island. Hinata, Shino, and Hana had recovered some strength after a two-hour nap on board.
"Hana, set up two tents," Kitazawa ordered. "Shino, scout the area and set traps. Hinata, handle dinner."
"Yes, sensei!" they replied in unison.
Under Kitazawa's watchful eye, the camp came together quickly.
Cooking, however, made Hinata nervous. She'd never prepared food outside her home before—and cooking in front of Kitazawa only made her more self-conscious. For a second, she considered using her Byakugan to monitor the fire and timing perfectly... but remembering Kitazawa's warning about chakra conservation, she refrained.
Still, the meal turned out surprisingly well.
"Hinata, you're amazing!" Hana exclaimed between bites. "I can't cook at all."
"Me neither," Shino admitted, adjusting his glasses.
"It's nothing, really…" Hinata murmured shyly, cheeks pink.
After dinner, Kitazawa spoke again, his tone turning serious. "We're now inside the Land of Water's territory. We could encounter Hidden Mist shinobi at any time. Even when resting—stay alert."
"Yes, sensei."
The three crawled into their tents soon after, while Kitazawa stayed outside, keeping watch beneath the stars.
He wasn't guarding for danger alone—his mind was also occupied.
The system's task said: 'Obtain first place in the practical exam.'
That meant results mattered. If he wanted to rank first, he needed to outperform the others—not just complete the mission, but excel at it. Finding Haku first wouldn't be enough. There had to be surprises—unexpected encounters that pushed them further.
Maybe… a clash with Hidden Mist shinobi.
And now that they were deep in the Land of Water, that possibility was more than likely.
The night passed uneventfully.
By dawn, they continued their journey by boat, and after three hours, reached a snow-covered village—the one from the reports.
Kitazawa handed out thick coats. "Split up and search. You three head west; I'll go the other way."
Though nervous, Hinata, Shino, and Hana nodded firmly before heading off.
Kitazawa formed a rapid sequence of hand signs, summoning ten Shadow Clones. They dispersed immediately, each using the Byakugan to scan the surroundings while his real body followed his students from afar.
An hour later—
"Anything?" Hana asked.
"No matches," Shino replied calmly.
"None here either." Hinata deactivated her Byakugan, rubbing her eyes tiredly. Maintaining it for so long strained even her.
"Let's rest ten minutes," Hana suggested.
"Agreed," said Shino. "In search missions, stamina and focus are more important than rushing."
Hinata nodded softly.
Just then, the ninken barked sharply. "Woof! Woof!"
"There's something underground!" Hana's expression changed. "Thirty meters to the left!"
Hinata instantly activated her Byakugan. "She's right!"
"Kikaichu—release!" Shino's insects swarmed out like a living tide.
"Damn! We've been discovered—move!" a Hidden Mist shinobi shouted, bursting from the ground. An earth wall erupted to block the swarm.
"Hah! Three Konoha brats? Looks like we just earned ourselves a bonus!" sneered a middle-aged man perched on a nearby tree.
The Byakugan had already betrayed their village, even without visible headbands.
But the man hesitated to attack—there were only three of them. Where was their Jōnin?
That caution cost him dearly.
A younger Mist ninja lunged at Hinata, his fists cutting through the air. Hinata dodged deftly, but his kicks came faster, sharper.
He's a Chunin, she realized, feeling the pressure mounting. Still, she stood her ground, reading every movement through her Byakugan.
Her opponent grew irritated—being stalled by a girl barely seven years old was humiliating.
Nearby, the female Mist ninja formed hand signs.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet"
A roaring dragon of water surged toward Hana.
"She's mine!" Shino stepped in front of Hana, hands already raised.
"Fang Over Fang!"
Four spiraling whirlwinds collided with the Earth Wall, shattering it. The earth-nature shinobi flinched and jumped back.
Meanwhile, the female ninja's water dragon crashed into Shino's swarm—scattering the insects instantly. Her lips curved into a confident smirk as she prepared to launch another attack.
But before she could, the water around her burst apart—a swarm of light-blue Kikaichu tore through the torrent and enveloped her in seconds.
"What—?!"
She screamed, thrashing wildly as the water-resistant insects drained her chakra.
The middle-aged Jōnin in the tree stiffened and turned to help—
But a chilling dread ran through him.
He spun around—only to see Kitazawa standing silently behind him.
Before he could react, the world warped into crimson shadows—Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique.
Kitazawa clamped a hand over his mouth and drew a kunai across his throat. The Jōnin's body went limp, falling silently among the branches.
For Kitazawa, assassinating an ordinary Mist Jōnin was child's play.
"Damn brats!" the Earth-nature ninja growled, realizing too late that all his comrades had fallen.
He kicked Hana away and backed off, panic flooding his face.
"Sensei, help!" he yelled desperately.
Shino's eyes narrowed. A Jōnin leader...
They wouldn't stand a chance if he arrived.
"You two, fall back!" Shino shouted, tossing a flash bomb.
A brilliant white light flared.
"Shino!" Hinata called, shielding her eyes.
"He's got a plan," Hana said firmly, grabbing Hinata's wrist. "Move!"
They dashed toward the forest just as Shino regrouped with them.
Behind them, the earth-nature ninja raised another wall. "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
But the attack he expected never came.
"They ran?"
The Earth Release ninja froze for a moment before darting forward with the Body Flicker Technique, chasing after them.
But after only a few steps, his body suddenly stiffened. Something felt wrong.
He tore open his flak jacket—only to see a large, pulsing lump swelling on his abdomen. It was rapidly devouring his chakra.
"W-What is this thing?!"
Panic flashed across his face. He tried to channel chakra to destroy it—
Boom!
A violent explosion tore through the forest, scattering blood and dust.
The two surviving Mist chunin stared in horror, faces pale. Before they could even react, two shuriken whistled through the air—piercing their throats in an instant.
"Shino, what… what did you just do?"
Hana caught her breath, wide-eyed. "My ninken say they didn't catch up."
"It was the Exploding Insects that Kitazawa-sensei gave me," Shino Aburame said calmly, adjusting his glasses.
"Exploding Insects? That's insane!" Hana whistled. "Nobody would survive that!"
"Mm." Shino nodded slightly, then warned, "Stay alert. Their jōnin leader might still be nearby."
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Hinata, who had her Byakugan active, suddenly called out. "He's coming!"
Kitazawa appeared a moment later, stepping out from the shadows. "You all did well."
He had half-expected them to panic in their first real life-or-death battle. Even though Hinata and Shino were at chunin-level skill, facing Mist nin was a different story. Yet their composure and teamwork had exceeded his expectations—especially Shino's quick, ruthless judgment.
Hinata suddenly ran forward and hugged his leg tightly. She hadn't felt fear during the battle, but now, seeing her teacher again, the tension finally hit her all at once.
"Their jōnin leader has already been handled," Kitazawa said, patting her head gently. "You're safe now."
Shino and Hana both let out long sighs of relief. The encounter had taught them something no academy lecture could: what it truly meant to live as a ninja—where death could come from any shadow, any heartbeat.
A moment later, a stream of memory flickered through Kitazawa's mind—his shadow clone had dispelled itself after locating Haku.
"Hinata," Kitazawa said softly, "are you alright?"
"I—I'm fine," Hinata said quickly, face flushed, releasing him.
"Good. Let's move. I've found our target."
Kitazawa smiled faintly and led them toward the location from his clone's memory.
They soon reached a quiet, snow-covered village.
"There are no ninja here," Hinata reported after scanning with her Byakugan. "Our target is in a northern alley."
Following her lead, they entered the alley—where a small figure sat curled in the corner.
Haku.
His clothes were ragged, his hair unkempt, and his eyes empty, void of light or purpose. He didn't even flinch until their footsteps drew near.
"With your talent, you shouldn't be dying in a place like this," Kitazawa said calmly. "Come with us to Konoha. There, you'll have friends—and a future worthy of your ability."
"Talent?" Haku murmured, his dull gaze flickering for the first time. "You think I have value?"
"Of course," Kitazawa replied.
Haku was silent for a moment. Then he nodded. "I'll go."
In truth, Zabuza had never treated him kindly—only as a weapon. But for Haku, that single recognition of "value" had been enough.
Kitazawa sighed inwardly. There were too many like him in this world—souls like Haku, Kabuto, Ranmaru—orphans twisted by a cruel era.
The team began their return journey.
By the time they reached Konoha, dawn light had already spread across the village. The streets buzzed with life, and Haku stared around, overwhelmed by the warmth and noise.
So this was the place he'd call home now… It felt almost unreal.
"You all worked hard these past three days," Kitazawa said, smiling. "Take the day off. No classes today. I'll evaluate your performance later."
"Goodbye, Kitazawa-sensei!" the three chorused before heading home.
"Haku, come with me. We're going to the Anbu headquarters."
As they walked, Haku's gaze darted from building to building, drinking in every detail of Konoha's bustling streets.
"Lord Kitazawa," an Anbu operative approached, bowing. "Lady Tsunade has postponed the jōnin meeting to tomorrow."
"I see. Good. Summon Kabuto."
"Yes, sir."
Moments later, Kitazawa returned to his office.
"Kitazawa-sensei," Kabuto said as he entered, bowing slightly. His sharp eyes flicked to Haku.
"This is Haku," Kitazawa explained. "An orphan I met in the Land of Water."
"Should I arrange a place for him at the orphanage?" Kabuto asked.
"He's different," Kitazawa said. "He possesses the Ice Release kekkei genkai. I'd like you to teach him—and take him on as a partner."
Kabuto's brows rose. "Ice Release? The ability to create and control ice?"
"Exactly," Kitazawa replied. "With proper training, he could reach jōnin level easily."
Kabuto nodded, thoughtful. "I understand. I'll speak with the director and arrange for him to stay with us."
Kitazawa smiled faintly. With Nono and Kabuto guiding him, Haku's future would be secure.
"Haku," he said gently, "go with Kabuto. He won't harm you. I'll visit tomorrow."
Kabuto gave his usual polite smile and led Haku away.
Kitazawa leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin. This mission, he decided, would be classified as B-rank—and recorded in Hinata's team history. They had earned it.
Stretching, he headed out. The jōnin meeting had been postponed—he could afford a few hours' rest before resuming Wood Release training.
But as he walked down a secluded street, that faint sensation returned—he was being watched.
He turned into an alley.
A moment later, Konan appeared.
"Long time no see, Konan," Kitazawa greeted with a half-smile.
"Are you free now?" she asked coolly.
"So… your Akatsuki companion has arrived?" Kitazawa asked, eyebrow raised. "How far from Konoha?"
"About twenty minutes."
"I'll send a Shadow Clone with you."
Konan hesitated but nodded.
Kitazawa formed a seal. A clone appeared beside him and followed Konan deep into the forests beyond Konoha.
There, they met Nagato.
But the Rinnegan was hidden—concealed beneath a sealing illusion.
Kitazawa immediately understood. Nagato was Jiraiya's student; Jiraiya was Tsunade's teammate. If the Rinnegan were discovered now, it would only complicate everything.
"Please," Konan said softly, stepping aside.
Nagato remained silent, his face calm but his eyes wary.
Kitazawa raised his hands, channeling pale green chakra into Nagato's crippled legs.
As expected, the vitality in his body was almost gone—like that of an old man. His legs bore severe blast damage, remnants of explosive tags.
He could heal it—but slowly.
"How is he?" Konan finally asked.
"I can heal his legs, but not right now," Kitazawa replied. "His body's too depleted. I'll prepare medicine first to improve his body's vitality. Once it gets better, I can regenerate the limbs."
"How long?"
"I can't say—it depends on his condition. The best option is for both of you to come with me to Konoha."
"Can you at least write a prescription for the medicine?" Konan asked after a pause.
Kitazawa smiled faintly. "Only if you can find a medic on my level—or my teacher's. Otherwise, they wouldn't even understand it."
Tsunade aside, no one else could rival his medical prowess.
Konan thought for a long time, then nodded. "I'll go with you."
"Then be prepared to stay for a while," Kitazawa said lightly. "I'll make the arrangements."
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