"Kyōka Suigetsu, Flower in the Mirror, Moon in the Water? That's a beautiful name," Tsunade said, slightly taken aback.
Whether it was "Flower in the Mirror" or "Moon in the Water," both evoked the image of illusions—reflections that looked real but couldn't be touched—perfectly fitting for genjutsu.
"Since you're back, come with me to the Hokage's office," Tsunade said as she stood up.
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune immediately guessed her intent and quickly said, "Are you planning to go gamble again? Can't you take a break?"
"Nope!" Tsunade waved her hand and said, "Kitazawa and I are going. You stay here!"
Without waiting for Shizune's response, she grabbed Kitazawa and walked out.
"Kitazawa!" Shizune shouted from behind, "Make sure you bring Tsunade-sama back!"
"You're going to listen to your senior sister Shizune?" Tsunade asked with a sideways glance once they were outside.
"I thought of a new way to play cards yesterday," Kitazawa replied with a wink, seeing she was already growing restless. "Would you like to learn it, Tsunade-sama?"
"What is it?" Tsunade's attention was immediately piqued.
"It's a bit complicated," Kitazawa said calmly. "I'll teach it to you when we get back."
"Huh?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes at him with a sneer. "You're clever—but do you think I'd be fooled?"
"How could I possibly lie to you?" Kitazawa tilted his head and glanced at her fair face. "Every word I said is the truth."
"Then I'll learn it tonight when we get home," Tsunade said, still glaring.
She wasn't fooled. Whether it was a lie or not, Kitazawa was clearly trying to stop her from heading to the casino that afternoon.
"Tsunade-sama, if you want to gamble, why go all the way to the casino?" Kitazawa asked directly, no longer hiding his intention. "Let's call Kurenai this afternoon and play cards. What do you think?"
"What are we betting on?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Gambling every day gets boring," Kitazawa smiled. "Why not change things up? Let's bet on a new jutsu."
"How do you even bet on something like that?" Tsunade asked, a bit puzzled.
"We've always brainstormed and developed new jutsu together," Kitazawa explained. "This afternoon, we bet on time. Whoever loses has to research alone for however long they lost."
"Why do I feel like you're scheming against me?" Tsunade frowned, catching on to his trick.
"Are you afraid of losing, Tsunade-sama?" Kitazawa challenged.
"Me? Afraid?" Tsunade, now provoked, declared, "Let's bet. I'll win anyway!"
"Deal," Kitazawa said with a satisfied nod.
"..." Tsunade gave him a long look, finally realizing she had been tricked. But it wasn't Kitazawa's fault. When it came to gambling, she simply couldn't control herself.
"Going back on your word, Tsunade-sama?" Kitazawa teased with a grin. "You're Konoha's most beautiful woman—you have to keep your promises."
"I do like hearing the truth," Tsunade smirked. "But with your gambling skills, you and Kurenai are no match for me!"
She had been gambling since childhood—experienced and confident. Kitazawa and Kurenai didn't gamble at all.
In short, the odds were in her favor!
"Please go easy on us, Tsunade-sama," Kitazawa said, holding back a laugh.
"Didn't you just call me Konoha's most beautiful woman? Aren't you afraid Kurenai will get jealous?" Tsunade asked playfully, clearly enjoying the fun.
"Tsunade-sama, are you really going to betray me that fast?" Kitazawa's expression froze.
"Who told you to scheme against me first?" Tsunade laughed heartily at his frustration.
As she laughed, her body swayed slightly, her clothes shifting and tightening in ways that were undeniably eye-catching.
"Is it really that funny?" Kitazawa muttered, a bit exasperated.
"Nothing," Tsunade replied, catching her breath. "Just thinking about something that made me happy."
For some reason, winning even a small round against Kitazawa brought her joy.
---
Bang! Tsunade kicked open the Hokage's office door just like always.
"Kitazawa's here too?" Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up calmly. "Did you bring a new ninjutsu?"
Tsunade tossed the scroll to him without a word.
"It's a very promising illusion," she said.
After reviewing it, Sarutobi Hiruzen remarked, "This could be used both to heal patients and to trap enemies."
As Hokage, he thought about the broader implications. The effect of "Kyōka Suigetsu" was to create an illusory world. But the illusion wasn't static—it could shift based on the caster's intentions.
In different hands, it could serve entirely different purposes.
"Then add money," Tsunade said with a smile, holding out her hand.
"Same as last time—1.5 million ryo," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied with a sigh.
His student was obsessed with money. If she were good at saving it, it would be fine—but she gambled constantly.
"Don't be stingy," Tsunade countered. "Make it 2 million."
"I can increase it," Hiruzen said, then added, "But I have a condition."
"What condition?" Tsunade asked, suddenly cautious.
"You've done well establishing the foundation for psychological medical ninjutsu," Hiruzen said calmly. "But theory alone isn't enough; it needs to be tested."
"That's easy," Tsunade said, catching the implication. "I'll find two ninjas suffering from mental illness."
"It's not suitable to start your experiments on patients," Hiruzen said, revealing his true intent. "Why don't you try it on yourself first?"
"Old man!" Tsunade's face darkened in an instant, her gaze sharpening like blades. A terrifying aura exploded within the Hokage's office.
Kitazawa found it hard to breathe. No wonder, he thought, that in the original series, Orochimaru could scare even Naruto and Sasuke with sheer presence alone—or perhaps it was simply bloodlust.
"Ahem, I was just suggesting it," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, seeing her anger. "If you don't want to, we can switch to something else."
"I'm heading back, Kitazawa," Tsunade said, visibly distressed. She gave a brief farewell and turned to leave.
"As expected," Sarutobi Hiruzen muttered, not surprised at all.
Hemophobia itself wasn't the problem—but it did trigger painful memories for Tsunade. Her resistance was understandable. After speaking, his gaze landed on Kitazawa.
"I'll keep it a secret!" Kitazawa immediately assured him.
Though Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't explicitly mentioned Tsunade's hemophobia, his words implied concerns about her mental state. If news of that leaked, it would undoubtedly cause a stir.
"I've heard you've been learning medical ninjutsu from Tsunade lately?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked after a short pause.
As Hokage, he naturally knew about the surgery Shizune and Kitazawa performed at Konoha Hospital. He hadn't asked earlier, waiting instead for Tsunade to bring it up herself because her attitude would ultimately determine Kitazawa's place in the village.
If Tsunade formally accepted him as a student, Kitazawa would be considered part of the Hokage's lineage. But if she was merely offering guidance, there was no need to elevate his status.
"Yes," Kitazawa answered.
"How is it going?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked curiously.
"I've started learning the Chakra Scalpel," Kitazawa replied, then listed off the medical ninjutsu he had already mastered.
"You've become Tsunade's student?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, surprise flashing across his face.
It was easy to see why he misunderstood. Tsunade had already taught Kitazawa nearly everything she could—aside from the Yin Seal and a few A-rank techniques. That level of teaching implied a formal master-apprentice relationship.
"Not yet," Kitazawa shook his head. "Tsunade-sama said she's waiting to see how I perform."
"I see," Sarutobi Hiruzen said thoughtfully. "In my opinion, your talent already surpasses most medical ninjas."
Normally, he would have offered a few more words of praise, but today, he had more pressing matters.
"Thank you for the compliment, Hokage-sama," Kitazawa replied humbly.
"I have a mission for you," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, his tone turning serious.
"...?" Kitazawa suddenly had a bad feeling.
"Though Tsunade hasn't formally taken you as a student, I can tell she thinks highly of you," Sarutobi Hiruzen said slowly. "Your mission is to find a way to help her receive psychological treatment."
Kitazawa felt his world tilt. What kind of hellish mission was that? Was he really qualified for such a thing? Sure, he had a good relationship with Tsunade—but only just good enough.
Hemophobia touched the deepest trauma in her heart. Could he pry it open?
~
[Principal Sarutobi Hiruzen has made a request to you.]
[Current Mission: Cure Tsunade's hemophobia.]
[Mission Reward: Yamato-version Wood Release.]
[Accept?]
~
Kitazawa glanced at the prompt, then froze.
The reward was Wood Release? Even if it was Yamato's version—not Hashirama's level—it was still Wood Release.
In the ninja world, Kekkei Genkai were almost always superior to standard elemental techniques. And Wood Release? That was one of the most iconic Kekkei Genkai.
Even Yamato's version was highly valuable. In the original story, Yamato, aside from being a loyal ANBU, was unquestionably elite. His strength came from the Wood Release.
More importantly, Wood Release carried enormous symbolic weight in Konoha. If Kitazawa possessed it—no matter how it appeared—both Tsunade and Hiruzen would undoubtedly value him.
Just look at Yamato's life: Adopted by Danzo as a child, he was later ordered to assassinate Hiruzen. But Hiruzen spared him and brought him into the ANBU.
To extract Yamato from Root, Hiruzen even mobilized the ANBU to suppress Danzo's faction. That alone showed how much Konoha treasured Wood Release users.
"Hokage-sama, I'll do my best," Kitazawa said, taking a deep breath.
"What I'm about to say must be kept strictly confidential," Sarutobi Hiruzen warned firmly.
"Understood," Kitazawa nodded, already anticipating what was coming. And as expected—
Sarutobi Hiruzen began detailing the origins and nature of Tsunade's hemophobia. Kitazawa had known about it in his previous life, but the original series hadn't provided much detail.
"I'm telling you this so you can better guide her," Sarutobi Hiruzen said. "This mission is between us. You must not tell anyone else."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Kitazawa replied solemnly.
"Go find Haru," Sarutobi Hiruzen instructed, waving his hand.
Kitazawa bowed slightly and headed for the door, where Haru was already waiting. They made their way to the ANBU headquarters to collect the two million ryo.
Outside the Hokage building, Kitazawa let out a long sigh of relief. Before entering, he never imagined things would escalate this far. But if he could actually complete this task, the rewards would be tremendous.
Besides the Wood Release granted by the system, he would gain formal recognition in the village. He would no longer be just a rising star—but a ninja in the Hokage's direct lineage. His status would soar.
"What took you so long?" a sudden voice rang out above him.
Kitazawa looked up and saw a pair of slender legs swinging in the air. It was Tsunade.
He was startled. Kitazawa had assumed that, in her anger, Tsunade would storm off to a casino or an izakaya. He never expected her to be waiting here.
"What are you daydreaming about?" Tsunade leapt down from the rooftop.
In an instant, Kitazawa's field of vision was filled with a vast expanse of emotion.
"Let's go back," Tsunade said calmly. "Teach me that new card game you mentioned."
"Okay," Kitazawa nodded. He pulled out a bankbook and said, "Here's the money for you."
Tsunade opened the passbook. When she saw the one million ryo, her eyes locked onto the number. Normally, she would've received seven hundred thousand ryo.
Getting a full million meant that Sarutobi Hiruzen had given out two million ryo.
"I didn't agree to that, old man," Tsunade snorted, then laughed. "But since I've already received it, I have no reason to turn it down."
"As expected of you, Tsunade-sama," Kitazawa said with a thumbs-up.
"Didn't you say it yourself?" Tsunade tucked the bankbook away, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "We should move on."
She was referring to their last drunken conversation at the izakaya.
"But now you seem more focused on money," Kitazawa muttered, half-joking.
"What do you mean?" Tsunade glared at him, annoyed. "Do I look like someone who only cares about money?"
"Of course not," Kitazawa replied quickly. "I know Tsunade-sama's heart is always with Konoha Village."
"No, it's not," Tsunade said, turning her head to gaze at the distant Hokage Rock, clearly refusing the sentiment. Her tsundere side was in full effect.
Kitazawa wisely said nothing more and fell into silent step beside her.
"Let's go." Tsunade glanced at him before striding ahead.
The two returned to Kurenai's house. When Shizune heard the door open, she stood up and rushed over. Seeing Tsunade, she let out a relieved sigh.
"Kurenai," Tsunade called cheerfully while taking off her shoes. "Let's play cards!"
"What happened?" Shizune instinctively looked at Kitazawa.
"The price I paid to bring her back," Kitazawa said, spreading his hands. "I did my best, Shizune-san."
"It's fine. At least I won't lose money playing cards," Shizune replied. She tried to pat his shoulder, but wasn't tall enough, so she had to tiptoe.
"What cards?" Kurenai asked, puzzled. "Tsunade-sama, I don't know how to play cards."
"Even better if you don't know!" Tsunade's eyes sparkled.
"I came up with a new card game yesterday," Kitazawa said, pulling out a deck. "It's called... Fight the Landlord."
"Fight the Landlord?" Tsunade laughed and flopped down on the sofa. "How can it be played?"
"Well, here's the idea." Kitazawa described the Fight the Landlord card game rules from his previous life.
In short, two people team up and take down the Landlord. (A/N: I described the rules of the card game at the chapter's end.)
"Sounds fun." Tsunade straightened up and said confidently, "Let's start right away!"
Shizune shook her head. She could already guess how this would end. Even if Kurenai and Kitazawa had never played before, it wouldn't matter.
---
"Damn it!" Half an hour later, Tsunade gritted her teeth, clearly frustrated.
She had lost seven games in a row. Whether she played as the landlord or the farmer, she couldn't win.
Even Kitazawa was surprised.
Losing as a landlord was understandable—it was a 1-vs-2 scenario. But to lose as a farmer, too? That was terrifying.
In two of the games, Kitazawa had even been her teammate. His cards were terrible, and he couldn't carry her at all.
"Shizune, get me a glass of water! I don't believe I can't win even one game!" Tsunade stood up and took off her coat, revealing her fair arms.
Shizune opened her mouth, wanting to speak—but in the end, she held her tongue. As long as no money was lost, it was fine.
"Seventeen cards! Let's see how you beat me in seconds?!" Tsunade suddenly widened her eyes, shouting in disbelief.
Kitazawa raised an eyebrow. That line was way too familiar. Was she finally going to win? After all, his hand this time wasn't that great.
But fate was not on Tsunade's side. Thanks to Kurenai's incredible luck, the match ended in defeat again.
The blazing sun outside the window gradually sank, replaced by a fiery sunset.
"Tsunade-sama, you..." Kurenai was in disbelief.
How could someone lose every single round for an entire afternoon? What kind of cursed luck was that?
And with such luck, Tsunade-sama still went to the casino every day? At that moment, Kurenai suddenly understood Shizune.
"No more!" Tsunade threw the cards aside and slumped onto the sofa, her usual brilliance drained away.
"I'm going to study illusions," Kitazawa said, packing up the cards.
He had only one illusion technique left to learn, and he planned to finish it today. He had already chosen which one.
The Genjutsu: Binding, a D-rank genjutsu, perhaps the most basic of them all. Its effect was simple: it binds the opponent by fear in a genjutsu. But it had no offensive power and only served to scare inexperienced ninjas.
"Do you need me to teach you?" Kurenai asked.
"No need," Kitazawa shook his head. "You go cook. I'll practice the Binding Genjutsu you showed me yesterday. It's not hard."
He walked outside. After thirty minutes of training, he reached the system's requirements.
[Current Task: Learn five Genjutsu during summer vacation.]
[Task Reward: Infinite Darkness Jutsu.]
[Host has completed the task. Reward granted.]
Kitazawa exhaled slowly. With the Infinite Darkness Jutsu, he wouldn't need to study ordinary illusions anymore. It was the pinnacle of standard genjutsu.
Beyond that, only bloodline-based techniques—like the Sharingan or Mangekyō Sharingan—remained.
And the mission for the Sharingan? He had already triggered it. It was to help Uchiha Sasuke defeat Hyuga Neji.
---
---
---
[~ Fight the Landlord is a three-player card game. One player is the Landlord and plays alone, while the other two are Farmers and work together to beat the Landlord.
The game uses a 54-card deck, including the two Jokers. Card ranking goes from highest to lowest: Red Joker, Black Joker, 2, A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, down to 3. Suits don't matter.
Each player is dealt 17 cards. Three extra cards are placed face-up and go to the Landlord, who ends up with 20 cards.
Players take turns playing combinations of cards. The valid combinations are:
Single – one card
Pair – two cards of the same rank (Jokers can't be paired)
Triplet – three cards of the same rank
Quad – four cards of the same rank
Sequence – five or more cards in a row (like 7-8-9-10-J). 2s and Jokers can't be part of a sequence.
The Landlord plays first and can play any valid combination. Turns move counter-clockwise. On your turn, you can either pass or play a higher-ranking combination of the same type. You must match the number and type of cards. For example, you can't beat a triplet with a pair.
If two players pass in a row, the last person to play starts a new round with any combination.
The first player to play all their cards wins. If it's the Landlord, the Landlord wins. If it's either Farmer, the Farmers win. ~]