It was the last class of the day.
As the bell rang, Iruka stopped mid-sentence and patted the podium.
"Everyone, don't rush off yet," he said. "The vice principal has something to announce."
With that, Iruka packed up and left the room—his job for the day was done.
Moments later, Kitazawa entered the classroom, fresh from a discussion with Kosuke and Kakashi.
"In two weeks," he began, standing before the podium, "we'll be holding the second monthly exam of the semester."
The room instantly quieted.
"This time," Kitazawa continued, "the exam format will be different—it'll be a new kind of combat assessment."
"Kitazawa-sensei!" Naruto shot his hand up eagerly. "Does that mean we'll be regrouping?"
"Mm." Kitazawa nodded.
"I hope I get teamed up with Sasuke-kun this time!" Sakura clasped her hands and prayed dramatically.
"I want Kitazawa-sensei as my leader!" Ino declared, fists clenched.
Beside her, Hinata quietly clutched the hem of her clothes. She didn't say anything, but her thoughts were obvious.
"Ugh, no thanks," Shikamaru muttered under his breath. "Please not Kitazawa-sensei…"
His reasoning was simple—missions under Kitazawa would be nightmares. Facing Jonin-level opponents as Genin trainees was not his idea of fun. Just thinking of it made him tired.
"I wonder if I'll get to team up with Sasuke and Neji again," Naruto said hopefully, scratching his head.
"Highly unlikely," Neji replied, shaking his head. "If it's a regrouping, repeating the same team would defeat the purpose."
"Hey, Naruto, what about me?" Kiba groaned. "You forgetting your good brother already?"
Naruto laughed awkwardly. "Then… I'll team up with you this time!"
"Neji, I hope we're on the same team!" Tenten said earnestly.
Kitazawa clapped his hands lightly, cutting through the chatter.
"Alright, settle down. I'll announce the new teams now."
The room held its breath.
"Team One: Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and Sakura Haruno."
"YES!" Sakura jumped up, practically glowing with excitement.
"Sasuke again?" Naruto blinked in surprise.
"Still Naruto?" Sasuke muttered, slightly thrown off.
Not that he disliked Naruto—he was just puzzled.
"This team's almost the same as before," Ino noted, tilting her head. "Does that mean they'll have to fight Jonin again?"
"Unlikely," Shikamaru analyzed calmly. "Sakura's a medical ninja. Their missions should be safer this time."
"That depends on who their team leader is," Shino murmured, adjusting his glasses. "If it's Kitazawa-sensei, then yes… they'll face Jonin again."
Kitazawa smiled faintly. "Their leader will be Sandaime-sama."
"What?!"
Naruto's eyes nearly popped out. "You mean Grandpa Third is leading us?!"
Sasuke and Sakura both looked stunned.
Even though Hiruzen had retired, a Hokage was still a Hokage—especially the one known as The Professor.
"Doesn't that mean we're getting the same treatment as the Sannin?" Sakura's eyes sparkled.
And indeed, their three-man lineup did resemble that legendary trio's balance.
"Why can't I get something that awesome?" Kiba groaned, envy plain on his face.
"I want Sandaime-sama to witness my youth!" Lee lamented dramatically.
"I still prefer Kitazawa-sensei," Ino said stubbornly, brushing a golden strand of hair aside. "He's way more handsome."
Hiruzen was powerful, yes—but in terms of looks, there was no competition.
"Sandaime-sama leading a team…" Shikamaru sighed, lips twitching. "I take back what I said earlier. They're definitely fighting Jonin."
Shino nodded in agreement.
"With the Third Hokage in charge, sending them against Chunin would just feel… insulting."
"Team Two: Ino Yamanaka, Inuzuka Kiba, and Tenten," Kitazawa announced.
He paused, then added, "I'll be leading this team."
"Yay!" Ino cheered instantly, her face lighting up.
Her wish had finally come true.
Off to the side, Hinata couldn't hide a flicker of disappointment. She had already guessed this outcome. Last time, Kitazawa had been her team leader—so this time, the odds weren't in her favor.
"Neji, what a pity we're not on the same team," Tenten said, half cheerful, half regretful.
She was happy to be under Kitazawa's leadership, but still… it felt incomplete without Neji.
"There'll be another chance next exam," Neji replied calmly.
"Hah! Then our team's strength will depend on me, the great one!" Kiba declared proudly, puffing out his chest.
Tenten and Ino were strong, sure—but not on the level of Sasuke or Neji. He was confident that, this time, he could really shine.
"Hmph, don't get cocky!" Ino shot back immediately. "You're not the only one who wants to stand out."
She wanted to perform well in front of Kitazawa too—and not just for grades.
"Alright," Kitazawa said, smiling faintly as he continued to announce the remaining teams. Once the list was done, he clapped his hands. "That's it for today. Everyone, head home."
"Goodbye, Kitazawa-sensei!" the students chorused in unison before filing out.
Kitazawa didn't move. He simply watched them leave one by one—until only Hinata remained, standing by her desk, fidgeting slightly.
"Hinata," he asked, walking over, "did you need something?"
"I…" Hinata hesitated, lowering her gaze instinctively under his calm eyes.
"I'll be your team leader again next regrouping," Kitazawa said, already guessing her thoughts.
Her head lifted immediately, her pale eyes brightening like the first sunlight after rain.
"You really are cute," he murmured, brushing a hand through her hair before withdrawing it.
Hinata's cheeks turned pink as she ducked her head again, flustered.
"I'll walk you home," Kitazawa said casually, heading toward the door.
She nodded quickly, following him with quiet steps, her heart thumping in rhythm with her sandals.
When they reached the Hyuga compound, she gave a soft goodbye before slipping inside, glancing back one last time.
Kitazawa watched her go, thoughtful.
The system mission about training four confidants came to mind. Two out of four were complete—Kurenai and Kabuto met the criteria.
But Torune, Izumi, and Haku hadn't been acknowledged yet. Probably not strong enough.
It wasn't urgent anyway. The reward—a modified Caged Bird Curse Seal—wasn't something that would boost his strength immediately.
Back home, Kitazawa pushed open his door—then paused.
He'd forgotten something.
He needed to discuss a few matters with Tsunade.
So, he turned and headed next door.
"Kitazawa-sensei," Karin greeted, opening the door.
Kitazawa patted her head lightly before stepping inside.
Tsunade was sprawled on the sofa, without the slightest concern for propriety.
"The coffee table is for food," Kitazawa remarked dryly as he walked over.
"This isn't your house," Tsunade shot back, giving him a sideways glare.
"Rules exist for everyone," he said evenly. "Anyone can behave properly."
"Nagging!" she snapped, clicking her tongue. "And I'm the teacher here!"
A wry thought crossed Kitazawa's mind: You'll regret saying that.
But the timing wasn't right, so he swallowed it down.
"At noon, Shikaku came by," Kitazawa said, sitting opposite her. His gaze flicked briefly before returning to her face. "He said the treaty with the Hidden Mist can be signed tomorrow morning."
"Finally," Tsunade exhaled, leaning back. "That new Mizukage—she's something else."
Though she hadn't attended the negotiations herself, Shikaku had kept her updated.
Mei had proved not only strong on the battlefield but also shrewd at the negotiating table.
"The Mizukage is capable," Kitazawa agreed. "But Hidden Mist is too far gone. It'll take decades to recover from its decay."
He said it lightly, but his meaning was clear. Mei wasn't weak—she was just trying to rebuild from ashes.
"Too much blood, too many ghosts," Tsunade murmured. "Even the strongest Kage can't heal that quickly."
"Exactly." Kitazawa nodded. 'After two Mizukage and Uchiha Obito's interference, the damage is already too deep.'
"Anyway, there's something else."
He then explained the Genin Exchange Sparring proposal.
"Her idea's smart," Tsunade said after a moment, raising an eyebrow. "But her timing couldn't be worse—she ran into a generation overflowing with geniuses."
It wasn't the first time Konoha had seen such a wave of talent.
Kakashi's generation—Asuma, Obito, even Kitazawa himself—had been impressive.
But Sasuke, Naruto, and Neji's generation? They were monsters.
Many had already reached Chunin-level strength before even graduating. Three of them had even done the impossible—defeating a Jonin as students.
"Didn't the Mist do any research before proposing this?" Shizune, who had just entered with tea, asked incredulously.
Kitazawa chuckled. "Who bothers investigating Academy students?" he said. "Besides, they're the defeated side. They're not in any position to act recklessly in Konoha."
Tsunade smirked, resting her chin on her palm. "Then we'll show them what Konoha's new generation looks like. Let the Mist see for themselves."
Her voice carried confidence—borderline pride.
After all, she couldn't think of a single reason why Konoha would lose.
"Five matches…" she murmured, smiling faintly. "I'd say we'll win at least four."
"Kitazawa, which five students are you planning to select?"
Shizune asked curiously.
"Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, Yakumo, and Neji," Kitazawa replied without hesitation.
Shino, Sakura, and Kiba were strong contenders too, but they still couldn't quite match Naruto or Sasuke.
"There shouldn't be any problem with that lineup," Tsunade said with a faint smile. "With their current strength, they could probably take part in the Chunin Exams already."
"They're still young," Kitazawa said, shaking his head slightly. "Since there's no war going on, it's better to let them stay in the Academy a bit longer. They'll grow more steadily that way."
Tsunade nodded in agreement. "Alright, I'll go along with your suggestion."
Shizune, seeing the meeting wrapping up, asked, "Are you eating here tonight? I can call Kurenai over."
"You stay," Tsunade interjected before Kitazawa could answer. "It's a good time for me to discuss the medical forbidden technique—body regeneration—with you."
She had been studying the technique herself, but even for a master like her, it wasn't easy. Having Kitazawa there to compare notes was too good an opportunity to miss.
"Alright," Kitazawa agreed with a nod.
After dinner, the two of them discussed the intricacies of the jutsu for nearly two hours before Kitazawa finally returned home.
The next morning—Tuesday, 9 A.M.
Inside the Hokage Building's conference room, the air was thick with tension.
On one side sat the delegation from the Hidden Mist Village. Opposite them, the Konoha representatives. Each side was led by its respective Kage, facing the other across the long table.
"Hokage-sama."
Shikaku handed two scrolls to Tsunade and Kitazawa. "This is the final version of the negotiation agreement."
Kitazawa unrolled the scroll and began reading carefully.
It was a lengthy document, but the key points were summarized into five main articles.
Article One: Ao's Byakugan would be returned to Konoha.
This wasn't just about clan honor—the Byakugan itself was an extremely powerful dōjutsu. Its near-360° vision and piercing insight made it a nightmare on the battlefield.
There was no way Konoha could allow such an eye to remain outside its control.
Although Ao clearly hated it, he had no choice but to comply.
Article Two: Hidden Mist would pay reparations.
The amount would cover all of Konoha's wartime losses—fallen shinobi, damaged supplies, and other expenses. On top of that, they had to pay ransom fees for their captured ninja.
It was a heavy price, but that was the cost of defeat.
Article Three: Reestablishing cooperation between the two villages.
Hidden Mist would officially abandon its long-standing isolation policy and open up to inter-village exchange again.
This was something Mei had already begun in the original story—ending the Bloody Mist era and bringing peace to her fractured nation.
The clause also included sharing intelligence on the masked man.
Article Four: Control over a designated sea territory.
After extensive negotiation, Kitazawa secured a sea area between the Land of Waves and the Land of Water for Konoha's use.
The Land of Waves lay southeast of the Land of Fire—a small but strategic nation.
Kitazawa recalled Team 7's first mission there: escorting Tazuna, the bridge builder, when they faced Zabuza and Haku.
His thoughts drifted to Gato—the corrupt shipping magnate who once ruled the Land of Waves through fear and smuggling.
A wicked grin tugged at Kitazawa's lips.
A wealthy criminal with a shipping network that dealt in contraband… that sounded like the perfect target for his next mission.
He decided then and there: after this, he'd lead Ino, Kiba, and Tenten to the Land of Waves to "inspect" the area.
Besides, anyone who ran an operation that large definitely had powerful backers—perhaps even from the Land of Water itself.
Article Five: The surgical fees for Kitazawa's Limb Regeneration technique.
The price varied depending on rank—Genin, Chunin, or Jonin.
Jonin-level surgery was the most expensive, ranging from five to ten million ryō, depending on the damage. If both arms were severed, it reached the full ten million.
After all, losing both hands meant losing the ability to weave hand signs—effectively ending one's shinobi career.
For reference, Asuma's bounty on the black market was only thirty-five million ryō, much of it because he was the Third Hokage's son.
Ordinary Jonin were worth far less—and few could even afford such a fee.
Chunin surgeries ranged from one to five million ryō, while Genin were charged less than one million, depending on the case.
It was no exaggeration to say Kitazawa had instantly become the most expensive medical ninja in the entire world.
Just a few days ago, he'd been worrying about money. Now, he was practically swimming in it.
After reviewing the document, Kitazawa handed it back to Shikaku.
He had no objections. The deal was an overwhelming victory for Konoha.
"That settles it," Tsunade said as she rose from her seat. "Let's proceed with the signing."
"Here are four copies," Shikaku said, passing them over. "Two for each village."
Tsunade signed first, then slid them across to Mei.
Without a word, the Mizukage took the pen and signed her name.
"Pleasure doing business," Tsunade said, extending her hand with a faint smile.
"Likewise," Mei replied, shaking it firmly.
Though the Mist Village had suffered great losses, Mei believed this was the first true step toward peace—and perhaps, someday, a return to their former glory.
"As for the Genin exchange event," Mei continued, "I'd like to schedule it for the day after tomorrow afternoon. The Mist's Genin team is still en route."
"No problem," Tsunade replied casually. "I look forward to seeing what Hidden Mist's new generation has to offer."
"You won't be disappointed," Mei said coolly.
With that, the signing ended. The room's tension dissolved into the quiet hum of diplomacy fulfilled.
But for both sides—this was only the beginning.
That afternoon, Kitazawa went to the Hidden Mist delegation's temporary quarters to perform his surgeries.
By evening, he had completed operations for four Mist Jonin—earning a staggering thirty-five million ryō in a single day.
A tiring afternoon, yes—but more profitable than a year's worth of missions.
And he still had more work lined up.
The next morning arrived swiftly.
Tomorrow would be the Genin Exchange Event.
After breakfast, Kitazawa made his way to the Genius Class classroom and called Naruto and the others into his office.
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