After finishing lunch at the Hyūga compound, Kitazawa departed under the respectful gazes of Hiashi, Hizashi, and the others.
Instead of returning to the Academy, he headed straight for the Forest of Death.
As he walked, he couldn't help but shake his head, recalling the overwhelming enthusiasm Hizashi and the Branch Family members had shown during the meal.
He still wasn't very good at dealing with that kind of warmth.
But he understood it.
The bird trapped for generations had finally flown free—how could they not be excited?
Kitazawa suspected that his prestige within the Hyūga Clan had already surpassed Hiashi's.
After all, modifying the Caged Bird Seal was tantamount to saving every single Branch Family member.
He refocused his thoughts and activated his Byakugan.
With a few light leaps, he landed before a group of wild boars.
Instead of fleeing, the beasts snorted and charged.
Byakugan: Pressure!
A silent pulse radiated from his eyes.
The boars stiffened, then collapsed one by one, unconscious before they hit the ground.
Kitazawa nodded slightly.
Although the technique was said to work on people, it clearly affected any living creature.
Satisfied with the test, he returned to the academy.
The upheaval within the Hyūga Clan had not yet reached the students of the Genius Class.
On the training grounds, everything looked the same—focused faces, flying arrows, steady chakra control.
Kitazawa's gaze settled on Hinata.
With the improved Caged Bird Seal, both she and Hanabi would receive it.
There was no longer any reason not to.
From now on, the Hyūga Clan would no longer distinguish between the Main Family and Branch Family.
Everyone would be equal.
"Hinata."
At his call, Hinata quickly lowered her bow and ran over.
She looked up at him, her eyes clear and bright.
"Do you know what happened in the Hyūga Clan today?" Kitazawa asked lightly.
Hinata shook her head.
The matter had unfolded too suddenly, and Hiashi hadn't yet told her anything.
"It's something good," Kitazawa said, briefly explaining the improved Caged Bird Seal.
Hinata's eyes widened in surprise.
She knew better than most what the seal represented.
Neji's coldness toward her in the past had stemmed from it.
Though their relationship had healed under Kitazawa's guidance, the shadow of the seal had always lingered.
Now, it was gone.
Kitazawa reached out and gently patted her head.
"You really are… adorable."
He had almost said naive—unaware of how world-shaking this change truly was.
But she didn't need to carry that weight.
Hinata blinked, confused by the sudden praise.
"Stand still," Kitazawa said. "I'll apply the improved seal."
His palm rested lightly against her forehead.
Hinata froze, trusting him completely as his chakra flowed in.
Compared to replacing an existing seal, applying a new one was simple.
Less than three minutes later, faint green markings briefly surfaced on her forehead—a cross and reversed hooks—before fading away.
Kitazawa withdrew his hand.
This, more than anything, pleased him.
No visible mark.
Hinata touched her forehead subconsciously.
She felt no difference.
"Unless someone tries to forcibly take your eyes, it won't activate," Kitazawa said with a smile.
"You can forget it's even there."
Now, the seal existed for only one purpose: to protect the Byakugan.
"Mm."
Hinata nodded.
"Since I have some time today," Kitazawa continued, "I'll also teach you Multiple Arrows."
He took her bow and aimed toward a row of wooden stakes.
The bow, which sealed the Zero-Tails, was naturally suited for this technique.
The Moon-Chasing Bow, sealed with Satori, required an extra step—splitting Satori's chakra and evenly attaching it to the Yin Release Arrow.
He released the string.
A single arrow flew forth, shuddered midair—and split into three.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three stakes were pierced at once.
Turning back, Kitazawa noticed Hinata had activated her Byakugan.
While it couldn't copy techniques like the Sharingan, it could see chakra flow—and that made it invaluable for learning.
"Your turn."
He handed the bow back.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei."
Hinata mirrored his stance.
Kitazawa corrected her grip, posture, and chakra distribution as she practiced.
The sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the training ground.
Another day came to a close.
"Kitazawa-sensei, goodbye!"
Naruto, Kiba, Hinata, Sakura, and the others waved as they left the Academy.
Kitazawa watched them go.
Just as he was about to head home—
A familiar figure entered his line of sight.
Kitazawa stopped.
"Lord Kitazawa."
Itachi approached him and presented a bundle of documents.
"These contain all available records on Shikotsumyaku."
"Good. Thank you."
Kitazawa accepted the documents, then added, "Go back and rest for a week. After that, come find me again."
Sending Itachi straight to Sunagakure to deal with Mukade the moment he returned from the Hidden Mist would have been far too cruel.
Even a nuclear-powered workhorse needed rest.
Besides, Itachi was notoriously devoted to his younger brother. After being away for so long, he was undoubtedly eager to see Sasuke.
And in exactly a week, the new school term would begin.
"Yes, Lord Kitazawa."
Itachi nodded and vanished in a flicker of motion, clearly in a hurry to go home.
Kitazawa remained where he was, opening the documents and reading through them.
They were far more comprehensive than he had expected.
Not only Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch, but also Dance of the Clematis, Dance of the Bracken, and several auxiliary techniques—all recorded in detail.
With these documents, once he fully acquired Shikotsumyaku, he could directly master the clan's techniques without having to reinvent them himself.
This was nothing like Ice Release, where he had been forced to develop everything from scratch.
[Current Mission: Master three Shikotsumyaku Ninjutsu.]
[Mission Reward: Immunity to Kekkei Genkai Disease.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa paused, slightly surprised.
He hadn't expected a system mission to trigger here—but the reward was excellent.
With this, he could use Shikotsumyaku freely in the future, without fear of bodily rejection or illness.
He accepted without hesitation.
His gaze returned to Dance of the Larch.
Helping Kimimaro master this technique was the priority. Once that was done, he would truly possess Shikotsumyaku himself.
Compared to the incomplete scroll Kimimaro had provided earlier, these records were leagues ahead—filled with practical notes and firsthand experiences from Kaguya Clan jōnin.
By the time Kitazawa finished reading, his confidence had fully settled.
Teaching Kimimaro would not be a problem at all.
The following day, Kitazawa sought Kimimaro out and began formal training.
Kimimaro listened with growing astonishment.
He had studied Dance of the Larch for a long time. Though he hadn't mastered it, he understood its fundamentals well.
Yet Kitazawa's explanations went far deeper—clearer, more precise.
It didn't make sense.
Kitazawa didn't even possess Shikotsumyaku himself—at least not yet—and he had only studied the technique for a short time.
The only explanation was this: To true powerhouses, one principle unlocked many.
Kitazawa's vision and understanding were on an entirely different level.
Kimimaro even felt—perhaps unreasonably—that Orochimaru's guidance hadn't been as thorough.
A week passed in the blink of an eye.
Summer vacation ended, and the Genius Class welcomed a new semester.
On the second day of school, Itachi departed for Sunagakure under Kitazawa's orders.
Meanwhile, Kitazawa split his time between practicing Wood Clone and guiding Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku training.
Late September arrived.
Tuesday morning.
Kimimaro stood alone on the training ground and took a steady breath.
"Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch!"
Dozens of white bones erupted from his body in an instant.
From a distance, Kitazawa observed calmly—Kimimaro now looked like a living, armored hedgehog.
[Current Mission: Help Kimimaro master Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch.]
[Mission Reward: 30% Shikotsumyaku.]
[Mission Complete. Reward Issued.]
[Current Shikotsumyaku: 100%. Bloodline Fully Awakened.]
Kitazawa smiled faintly.
At last—Shikotsumyaku was his.
With a thought, a segment of white bone emerged from his palm.
He tested it briefly, then withdrew it.
This was still the Academy training ground, after all.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei."
Kimimaro bowed sincerely.
"There's nothing to thank," Kitazawa replied evenly.
"You earned this yourself. Spend some time stabilizing it."
"Mm."
Kimimaro nodded, relief evident in his eyes.
With Dance of the Larch mastered, he could finally secure his place among the top five of the Genius Class again.
Still, he knew better than to relax—everyone else was improving just as quickly.
After Kimimaro left, Kitazawa moved to a secluded area.
He still had a mission to complete: mastering three Shikotsumyaku techniques.
He began with the simplest.
Ten Finger Bullets.
There was no downside to learning Shikotsumyaku.
In ninja warfare, information—and surprise—decided everything.
If he suddenly unleashed Shikotsumyaku in close combat, most opponents wouldn't even have time to react.
By sunset, he had nearly mastered it.
The technique itself was straightforward—using finger bones as high-speed projectiles.
The real challenge lay ahead.
The second technique he began was Dance of the Willow.
On the surface, it seemed simple: extending blades of bone from the limbs.
In reality, it was a true Nin-Taijutsu, requiring fluid, supple movements like swaying willow branches to unlock its full power.
Kitazawa stopped there for the day and returned to the main training ground.
From afar, he spotted Sakura and Ino sparring—as usual.
"I won! Haha!" Ino planted her hands on her hips triumphantly.
"Tch—damn it!" Sakura scowled, looking like a thoroughly defeated puppy.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Ino spotted him and ran over immediately.
"You did great just now," Kitazawa said with a smile.
"I know, right?"
Ino brushed her blonde bangs back proudly.
"Kitazawa-sensei."
Sakura approached as well, greeting him—though her voice still carried a trace of frustration.
At that moment, the dismissal bell rang.
"No need to gather today. You're all free to head home," Kitazawa said after a brief moment of thought.
"Goodbye, Kitazawa-sensei!"
Sakura bowed quickly, then hurried off in Sasuke's direction. The frustration from her earlier loss had already vanished, replaced by a bright smile—as if the sparring match had never happened.
"…That's Sakura for you."
Ino shook her head helplessly.
"By the way," Kitazawa said, glancing at her, "your ninth birthday is coming up in a few days. Is there anything you want?"
"Nope."
Ino tilted her head, thinking for a moment before smiling.
"Kitazawa-sensei can give me anything—or even nothing."
"Oh?" Kitazawa raised an eyebrow teasingly.
"How about homework as a gift?"
"Absolutely not!"
Ino shook her head so fast it almost looked painful.
Kitazawa laughed.
"Kitazawa-sensei," Ino clung to his arm and asked cautiously,
"You wouldn't really give me homework on my birthday, right?"
"It's your birthday," Kitazawa said, shaking his head.
"I'm not that heartless."
"That's a relief!"
Ino let out a long breath, then her eyes suddenly lit up.
"I know what I want!"
"What is it?" Kitazawa asked, looking down at her.
"For the next monthly exam," Ino said brightly.
"I want you to lead my team! That's my birthday gift!"
Kitazawa chuckled and patted her head.
"That's easy enough. Come on—I'll walk you home."
"Mm!"
Ino skipped happily alongside him as they left the Ninja Academy.
After September passed, the Genius Class welcomed its first monthly exam of the new semester.
The format remained unchanged: a written test, a practical exam, and a mission.
Keeping his promise, Kitazawa selected Ino as one of his team members. The others were Haku, Jūgo, and Shion.
Shion's inclusion was deliberate—the mission location this time was the Land of Demons.
Fortunately, the assignment itself was simple, bordering on a sightseeing trip.
Shion was especially pleased; after all, it meant a chance to return home.
After the team returned to Konoha, another half month slipped by.
Kitazawa's time hadn't been wasted—he successfully mastered the Wood Clone.
Monday.
By late October, the temperature had dropped noticeably, carrying the faint chill of early winter.
Kitazawa arrived at the ANBU Base and pushed open the door.
Konan was seated on the sofa, quietly reviewing documents.
"What are you reading?" Kitazawa asked casually.
"Recent reports from the Land of Rain," Konan replied.
"Oh?" Kitazawa's interest was piqued.
"How is it now?"
"Much better than before."
Konan looked up at him, an unusual glimmer in her eyes.
The changes in the Land of Rain were inseparable from Kitazawa's influence.
Driven by the twin industries of silver jewelry and rainwater trade, the people's standard of living had risen dramatically. Where once there had been hunger, they could now afford three full meals a day—and conditions were still improving.
Konan had returned once herself.
What struck her most was not the buildings or the markets, but the people.
Their eyes had light in them.
Hope.
That had always been the dream she, Yahiko, and Nagato shared—to bring peace and prosperity to the Land of Rain.
None of them had expected that dream to be partially realized through Kitazawa's efforts.
Hearing this, Kitazawa wasn't surprised.
The Land of Rain was a small nation with a small population. After years of war, its people's expectations were modest.
With the enormous profits generated by just two industries, meeting basic needs was easy.
But going further would take time.
After all, no country could rely forever on only two sources of income.
"Kitazawa," Konan said after some thought.
"What do you think the Land of Rain should do next?"
"Money alone isn't enough," Kitazawa replied, walking closer.
"It needs people—capable people."
"Capable people?"
Konan frowned slightly.
"For real development, the Land of Rain must rely on its own talent," Kitazawa continued calmly.
"Do you—or the Akatsuki—actually know how to govern a country?"
"…No."
Konan considered his words.
"Then perhaps the Daimyō should recruit capable administrators?"
Kitazawa shook his head.
"And what do you think of the Daimyō and the noble officials of the Land of Rain?"
Konan froze.
She had never seriously questioned that.
The Akatsuki's control over the Land of Rain had been simple—military pressure was enough to keep the Daimyō and nobles in line.
"They're parasites," Kitazawa said flatly.
"Parasites?"
Konan was genuinely confused. In her memory, the Land of Rain's administration had seemed… orderly.
"I'll give you a month off," Kitazawa said with a faint smile.
"Go back to the Land of Rain. Investigate it yourself."
"After that," he added softly,
"You'll understand exactly what I mean."
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