Kitazawa nodded faintly.
Hinata hadn't infused any of her own chakra into the bow—meaning what they saw just now was purely the weapon's inherent power.
And more than raw force, its true advantage was speed.
Eight hundred meters, crossed in the blink of an eye.
Kitazawa judged that aside from elite Chūnin and competent Jōnin, most shinobi wouldn't even register the arrow before it hit them.
Used in an ambush, even some weaker Jōnin would fall before realizing what had happened.
High speed, after all, solved nearly every weakness of traditional archery.
"Now that we've secured the first bow," Kitazawa said, "we'll return to Konoha today. Neji, yours will need another half month. I'll give it to you then."
Neji nodded, eyes shining despite his composed expression.
According to Kitazawa, all four bows were forged from the Box of Paradise.
Meaning—Neji's bow would be identical in quality to Hinata's.
With something like that in hand, reclaiming first place in the Genius Class suddenly felt very possible.
And with good matchups, even defeating Sasuke and Naruto didn't seem far-fetched.
Neji, in matters of pride, wasn't that different from Sasuke.
He refused to be overshadowed.
"Th–thank you, Kitazawa-sensei," Hinata said softly.
She genuinely loved the bow—partly because it would make her stronger, but mostly… because it was a gift from him.
Repaying something so valuable felt impossible.
"You can give it a name," Kitazawa said, patting her head.
"A… a name?" Hinata murmured, lost in thought.
"No need to rush," he chuckled. "Think about it as we walk."
He exchanged a few words with Itachi, then led his four students toward the road home.
After dinner, Kitazawa summoned another Four Pillar House and then took Hinata to a nearby riverbank.
The other three students weren't sleeping—they were still diligently training on their own.
"Give me the bow," he said.
Hinata immediately handed it over.
Kitazawa gripped the bowstring and drew it back slowly.
A transparent Yin Release arrow formed, but he didn't release it.
He had something to test.
His first bow-style Secret Technique—Spiral Arrow.
He recalled the Rasengan.
Its principle of rotation—minus the compression—was similar enough.
A thought.
Chakra rippled from his palm.
It spread along the Yin Release arrow's form, cloaking it in a spinning current.
Kitazawa aimed at a fish gliding beneath the water's surface.
He released.
The arrow screeched forward, rotating violently.
BOOM!
The moment it touched the water, the river burst upward in a cone of spray.
The fish detonated into scattered fragments.
Hinata flinched in shock.
"Th–that was from the bow…?"
No—this was something new.
[Current Mission: Create the first bow-style Secret Technique.]
[Reward: Gentle Fist—Twin Lion Fists.]
[Mission Complete. Reward Issued.]
As always, the system delivered right on time.
A surge of new information poured into Kitazawa's mind.
Perhaps more bow-style missions would appear later.
"I call it Spiral Arrow," Kitazawa said, handing the weapon back to her.
The concept was simple:
Use chakra to spin the Yin Release arrow.
Execution, however, was another matter.
While it didn't require elemental manipulation, it demanded precise chakra control and advanced shape transformation.
For Kitazawa—who already had mastery-level control—it was trivial.
For Hinata, not quite.
But the Byakugan changed everything.
Its enhanced perception made shape transformation far easier for her than for most shinobi.
After all, in the original story, Hinata used Twin Lion Fists—another technique based entirely on shape manipulation.
"Alright," Kitazawa said. "Your turn."
He spent half an hour explaining the process carefully, then stepped back.
Hinata nodded nervously.
She drew the bowstring.
Chakra flowed from her fingers—visible even without the Byakugan.
She released.
The arrow shot forward—but without rotation.
It was only slightly stronger than usual.
Hinata stiffened, cheeks reddening, and snuck a guilty glance at him.
Kitazawa flicked her cheek.
"If you mastered it in one try, I'd be out of a job."
Hinata let out a small, relieved breath.
She nodded again and resumed practice.
An hour later, Kitazawa finally stopped her.
Drawing, aiming, and controlling chakra simultaneously required intense multitasking—far more exhausting than normal training.
"Training ends here for today."
Kitazawa glanced at Hinata's lightly trembling arm.
"You should rest fifteen minutes for every half hour of practice."
"I understand, Kitazawa-sensei."
Hinata nodded, cheeks faintly pink.
Her arms—especially her right—were sore and numb. One more pull and she probably wouldn't even be able to draw the bowstring.
"Give me your hand."
Hinata blinked, but obeyed.
Kitazawa held her wrist gently.
"Don't move."
A soft green glow wrapped her forearm. A pleasant warmth spread through her muscles, melting the fatigue away.
"T–thank you… Kitazawa-sensei," she murmured, flustered.
"Alright, go rest."
Kitazawa released her hand with a reassuring smile.
They returned together to the wooden house.
Inside, Neji and Tenten were still training diligently.
Kitazawa raised his head and saw Konan sitting casually on the roof, long legs dangling, faintly swaying in the night breeze.
She was waiting for him—waiting to say goodbye before returning to the Akatsuki.
He stepped inside. Without electricity, the interior was dim.
He set a candle on the table and lit it with a flick of Fire Release.
"Get some sleep," he said, smiling faintly. "As for archery—don't rush. You can train slowly after we return to the Academy."
"Good night, Kitazawa-sensei."
Hinata bowed slightly, then slipped into her room.
Kitazawa closed the door and walked toward the rooftop.
"Kitazawa."
Konan rose to her feet the moment she heard him.
"You're heading back to the Akatsuki tonight?"
"Mhm." She nodded.
"Alright then."
She took a single step back. Sheets of paper fluttered into existence behind her, assembling into white wings.
With a light leap, she spread them and soared into the night sky.
"Must be nice… being able to fly."
Kitazawa couldn't help muttering.
Night passed quietly.
Yakumo, Tenten and Neji eventually ended their practice and went to sleep.
The next morning, they ate, packed, and continued their journey.
Three days later, they approached Konoha's borders.
They had left the previous Friday; counting six days of travel and three days spent in Takumi Village, they had been gone for nine days in total.
[Mission: Secretly control Takumi Village and become its master]
[Reward: Summoning Technique—Triple Rashomon]
[Mission Complete. Reward Issued]
Kitazawa completed the mission almost passively—thanks largely to Itachi.
Mastering Triple Rashomon immediately clarified why Orochimaru used triple, while Hashirama alone ever summoned five.
The chakra cost was monstrous.
Only a freak of nature like Hashirama could throw out Five Rashomon casually.
A normal top-tier jōnin—or even Kage—could barely sustain three.
But with cost came power.
Five Rashomon in the original story even diverted an Armored Susanoo Nine-Tails Tailed Beast Ball.
And not just any Susanoo—Madara's.
Kitazawa couldn't summon Five yet, but triple was more than enough.
And now he also gained the single- and double-gate versions automatically.
In theory, if his chakra one day surpassed Hashirama's, he could summon all five.
"You all go home and rest," Kitazawa told his students.
"The Monthly Exam rankings will be announced tomorrow morning."
No doubt the other squads had already finished and returned.
Theirs was undoubtedly the last.
After watching the four of them head off, Kitazawa turned toward the Hokage Building—he'd been away far too long, and the Takumi conflict needed to be reported.
He reached the Hokage's Office—only to be blocked by ANBU Haru.
"Lord Kitazawa," Haru said cautiously. "Inside… is Hokage-sama's clone."
Kitazawa snorted.
"A clone? So she's finally realized her shadow clones share her laziness."
Shadow Clones had independent awareness—if the original didn't feel like working, neither would they.
"Hokage-sama left an hour ago," Haru added. "She didn't tell me where."
She didn't need to.
There was only one place she'd flee to.
Kitazawa headed straight for the Konoha Casino.
Business was booming—better every week.
Competitors had tried copying the games and service, but they were always a step behind.
Kitazawa found Tsunade easily.
This time she wasn't at a card table, but at a slot machine, completely absorbed.
He patted her shoulder.
"Who—!"
Tsunade jolted violently, then exhaled when she saw it was him.
"Your reaction is exactly what someone guilty would have," Kitazawa teased. "Maybe I should go fetch Shizune-senpai."
"You wouldn't dare."
Tsunade's glare promised violence.
"Don't you want money?" he countered.
"That's my money," Tsunade huffed, pointedly looking away as she spun the reel again. "And I feel like my luck's good today."
Kitazawa leaned closer, took her hand gently.
"Don't move," he murmured. "I'll help you play."
Tsunade stiffened.
The warmth of his hand around hers sent a small ripple of heat up her arm—an unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and strangely pleasant feeling she didn't quite know how to process.
Just then, the slot machine shuddered violently and stopped on three sevens.
A flood of gold coins spilled out.
"Well?" Kitazawa tilted his head toward Tsunade. "Didn't I say my luck was good?"
Tsunade froze.
For a split second, she remembered the last time they played a slot machine together—
the bet she lost, and how that led her to personally save Nonou and Kabuto.
"…It's alright," she muttered stubbornly.
"Oh? Then you play."
Kitazawa raised a brow.
"No rush. When did you get back?"
Tsunade's lips twitched as she asked.
"Just now."
Kitazawa sat beside her—still holding her hand, idly kneading her fingers like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Her hand was absurdly soft.
Kitazawa couldn't help but silently praise the wonders of the Yin Seal.
That technique didn't just preserve strength—it preserved youth.
Then another thought hit him.
Once he mastered the Yin Seal, he'd stay twenty-one forever.
A very appealing thought.
"What do you need from me?" Tsunade asked, letting him play with her hand as if it were nothing.
"Just reporting the mission."
Kitazawa told her everything that had happened in Takumi Village.
"You controlled Takumi Village?"
Tsunade blinked, surprised.
Given their fraud, disciplining them was justified enough.
But controlling the entire village… that was another matter.
"I did it for strategic security," Kitazawa explained.
"Controlling Takumi Village guarantees our Ninja tool supply won't be tampered with."
"And the other villages?" Tsunade frowned. "If they find out, they won't take it lightly."
"Konoha won't openly interfere," Kitazawa reassured.
"I only had Itachi place a Genjutsu suggestion on the Four Celestials."
"Mangekyō Sharingan?"
Tsunade paused, then nodded. "In that case… other villages won't notice anything unusual."
"I thought you'd scold me for acting on my own."
Kitazawa chuckled.
"You did it for Konoha," she said simply. "And Takumi Village was at fault first."
Then she sighed softly. "Just don't become another Danzō."
Even if she suspected he used the Box of Paradise as bait… she wasn't about to blame him.
"I'm not like Danzō," Kitazawa said firmly.
"Mhm."
Tsunade pulled her hand free. "You just got back. Go rest."
"You're not gambling anymore?" Kitazawa raised an eyebrow.
"I'm gambling—not you."
Tsunade glared. "My luck isn't that bad."
"If you say so."
Kitazawa leaned forward, kissed her lightly on the forehead—and ran for it.
Tsunade froze for three seconds.
Then exploded.
"YOU WANT TO DIE?!"
But Kitazawa was already gone.
With an annoyed huff, Tsunade turned back to the slot machine.
"…Let's see if your lucky kiss works," she muttered.
As expected, Kitazawa's squad was the last to return to Konoha.
"Kitazawa-senpai!"
Iruka hurried over, smiling warmly.
"Iruka, morning."
"These are the scores from Lord Third and the others. I've compiled everything—only your four students remain."
Iruka handed him a scroll.
"Thanks."
Kitazawa scanned it.
Plenty of perfect scores this time…but not from Shikamaru.
Which meant the overall first place would once again be—Neji.
Kitazawa headed over to Hiruzen, Kakashi, and the other teachers.
"Well?" Chen asked. "Who's first this time?"
"Neji," Kitazawa answered.
"Neji again?"
Hiruzen chuckled. "Kitazawa, don't play favorites."
"Third Hokage-sama, I'm always fair and just."
Kitazawa replied with exaggerated seriousness.
If he played favorites, Hinata would be winning everything.
"I trust you," Hiruzen laughed.
After all, Kitazawa didn't gain anything no matter who won first place—and he wasn't the type to care about trivial rankings.
Kitazawa walked before the Genius Class with the report card in hand.
"Another exam where I miss first place…"
Kiba sighed. He already knew his mission score.
"If you improved your theoretical score, you'd have a shot," Hana offered.
"No thanks. Improving that is even harder."
Kiba shook his head vehemently.
"I understand completely!"
Lee thrust his thumb up with fiery enthusiasm. "Youth truly is suffering!"
"…You're constantly last in theory—why are you bragging?"
Kiba twitched.
"Congratulations, Neji!"
Tenten beamed.
"It's only because Sasuke wasn't here," Neji replied calmly.
"I still have work to do."
"Neji! Let us strive together!"
Rock Lee declared dramatically.
"This too… is youth!"
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