"Sasuke," Kitazawa shouted, then jumped to the bottom of the cliff.
Sasuke stopped upon hearing this, but still watched Natsuhi warily.
After Kitazawa landed firmly, he scanned the area and found dense traps.
Although they were nothing to him, Sasuke and the others would likely suffer if they came down rashly.
This was also why Kitazawa had told them to descend using the vines earlier. It was mainly to teach them.
After all, Kitazawa couldn't always lead the team. Especially after he became Hokage, his opportunities to lead teams would become few and far between.
"Are you a ninja from Konoha Village?" Natsuhi observed Kitazawa and Tsunade as she asked.
Although the Three-Tomoe Sharingan was enough to confirm Sasuke's identity.
"I am Kitazawa." Kitazawa nodded and replied.
Natsuhi was stunned for a moment, then her expression changed dramatically.
She had heard of Kitazawa's name, especially that he was the second Wood Release ninja in Konoha Village since Senju Hashirama.
But from another perspective, he couldn't possibly be the reinforcement Akahoshi had invited.
Hidden Star Village was just a small ninja village and didn't have the qualifications to invite Kitazawa.
"This is Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage of Konoha Village." Kitazawa raised his hand and introduced her.
"…?" Natsuhi was immediately full of questions.
What was going on? Kitazawa's appearance here was already beyond her expectations.
But now there was also a Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, which was simply absurd. Could it be that Konoha wanted to annex Hoshigakure?
"I'm just passing by, you don't need to be so nervous." Tsunade noticed her expression and said with a light chuckle.
Kitazawa was the leader of this mission. There was nothing wrong with her saying she was just passing by.
"Natsuhi." Kitazawa took half a step forward and said, "Let's talk about business."
"You know me?" Natsuhi's face showed surprise.
"I did some investigation before I came." Kitazawa paused and said straightforwardly, "You haven't received the news at the bottom of the cliff—the Third Hoshikage has died by Akahoshi's hand."
"What?" Natsuhi's eyes widened as she asked, "How is that possible?"
"Akahoshi, you know him—a reckless, ambitious man." Kitazawa casually took out a scroll and said, "This is the result of our ANBU investigation."
Natsuhi quickly took the scroll and read it.
The scroll clearly described how Akahoshi murdered the Third Hoshikage. Moreover, given Tsunade and Kitazawa's status, there was no need for them to lie to her.
Natsuhi subconsciously took half a step back, her face showing a daze. But soon, the daze turned into anxiety.
Because her and Hotarubi's son, Sumaru, was still in Hidden Star Village. With the Third Hoshikage dead, Sumaru would definitely be targeted by Akahoshi.
After all, only through Sumaru could he find her and Hotarubi, and then retrieve the meteorite.
"Do you believe it now?" Kitazawa asked.
"Why would your Konoha Village tell me this?" Natsuhi nodded, then took a deep breath and asked.
"Cooperation," Kitazawa said casually. "We'll help you get rid of Akahoshi, and Hidden Star Village and Konoha Village will become allies."
"Sir, you might as well speak clearly." Natsuhi's gaze sharpened as she spoke.
In her opinion, it was impossible for Tsunade and Kitazawa to personally come to Hidden Star Village just for an alliance.
Konoha Village, as one of the Five Great Villages, wouldn't be so kind.
Natsuhi believed that Tsunade and Kitazawa's ultimate goal was the meteorite of Hidden Star Village.
Because of this, she wanted to ask clearly, so that Konoha Village wouldn't go back on its word or betray them later.
After all, Hidden Star Village was powerless against Konoha Village.
"You are very smart." Kitazawa raised an eyebrow and admitted, "I want your Hidden Star Village's meteorite."
Natsuhi secretly thought, Just as I expected.
She couldn't help but fall into contemplation.
Hidden Star Village was founded because of the meteorite, so its importance was self-evident. Under normal circumstances, she would not hand over the meteorite.
But if the meteorite wasn't given to Konoha Village, it would most likely fall into Akahoshi's hands.
After Akahoshi obtained the meteorite, he would definitely make the ninja of Hidden Star Village extensively cultivate the Mysterious Peacock Method.
The more they cultivated, the more they would die. Over time, how many ninja of Hidden Star Village would be left?
It would be better to give the meteorite to Konoha Village and completely eliminate future troubles.
In the future, Hidden Star Village would no longer be able to use the meteorite for cultivation, and no ninja would die because of it.
"I agree." Natsuhi hesitated for a long time before speaking.
"Pleasure working with you." Kitazawa's face showed a smile.
Natsuhi was very self-aware, unlike the ninja of other small ninja villages who didn't know their place.
"Are you the only one here?" Kitazawa asked again.
"Originally, it was just my husband Hotarubi and me." Natsuhi sighed and said, "But he passed away some time ago due to the side effects of the meteorite."
"My condolences." Kitazawa was slightly startled and said.
"We're going to Hidden Star Village now." Natsuhi shook her head and then explained, "I'm worried that Akahoshi will harm my son."
"Then let's go." Kitazawa leaped up, stepping on the vines, and quickly reached the top of the cliff.
Sasuke and the others did the same.
Natsuhi flew up using the Mysterious Peacock Method.
The group headed to Hidden Star Village. As soon as they reached the entrance, they were stopped.
"Elder Natsuhi?" The two gate-guarding Hidden Star Village ninja showed shocked expressions.
After all, Natsuhi had already become a rogue ninja, and her return at this time was beyond their expectations.
"Go call Akahoshi out." Natsuhi had no intention of entering Hidden Star Village.
Firstly, she was worried that Akahoshi might have an ambush.
Secondly, she was worried that fighting within Hidden Star Village would cause too much destruction.
"Please wait." The two Hidden Star Village ninja exchanged glances.
One of them turned and headed toward the Hoshikage Building.
Not long after, a group of people came toward them in a mighty procession. The leader was a young man, none other than Akahoshi.
"Natsuhi." Akahoshi stretched out his hands and said very warmly, "Welcome home."
"Akahoshi, there's no need to be so hypocritical." Natsuhi asked coldly, "How did the Third Hoshikage-sama die?"
"He died of illness," Akahoshi said without changing his expression.
"What illness?" Natsuhi didn't believe him and asked again.
"What illness can one get from cultivating the Mysterious Peacock Method?" Akahoshi retorted.
"Impossible!" Natsuhi said loudly. "Third Hoshikage-sama stopped cultivating the Mysterious Peacock Method many years ago!"
The ninja of Hidden Star Village immediately looked at each other in dismay upon hearing this.
"Natsuhi." Akahoshi noticed the commotion among the Hidden Star Village ninja, his face darkened, and he asked, "Are you, a rogue ninja, questioning me?"
"I am not a rogue ninja!" Natsuhi said forcefully. "I accepted a mission from the Third Hoshikage-sama back then to leave with the Star!"
Star was the name given by Hidden Star Village to the meteorite that fell from the sky.
"Nonsense!" Akahoshi shouted. "The importance of the Star to Hidden Star Village is self-evident—Third Hoshikage-sama would not issue such an order!"
"The cultivation of the Star severely threatened the safety of the Hidden Star Village ninja.
Third Hoshikage-sama was thinking of our lives!" Natsuhi retorted sharply.
"Indeed, a rogue ninja—quite eloquent." Akahoshi raised his hand and said, "Take her down."
Behind him stepped out two Hidden Star Village jonin, Yotaka and Shisō. In the original story, it was they and Akahoshi who murdered the Third Hoshikage.
"I'll do it!" Sasuke blocked Natsuhi's path.
"Three-Tomoe Sharingan? Natsuhi, you actually dare to collude with Konoha Village ninja?"
Akahoshi's heart trembled as he shouted angrily, "I think you want to sell Hidden Star Village to Konoha Village!"
As soon as these words fell, the Hidden Star Village ninja—who had still been hesitant—immediately changed their expressions.
"Attack!" Akahoshi roared.
The ninja of Hidden Star Village all threw out shuriken and kunai.
The sky filled with ninja tools, dense whooshing sounds tearing through the air as they rushed toward Sasuke and the others.
Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!
Hinata clapped her hands, chakra surging as she shielded Shion, Kitazawa, and Tsunade.
Although Kitazawa and Tsunade didn't need her protection, the nearby ninja tools were all deflected.
Sasuke was too far from her for her to reach him, but he didn't need her care either.
Sasuke twisted his wrist, infusing chakra into the Sword of the Thunder God. Dazzling lightning spread through the air.
The moment the ninja tools were bounced away, Sasuke charged straight into the crowd.
Akahoshi felt things turning tricky. Opening the Three-Tomoe Sharingan at such a young age—Sasuke had to be a genius from Konoha Village.
And Kitazawa and Tsunade's identities were definitely extraordinary. Especially the latter—he felt a strange sense of familiarity.
But at this point, he could no longer stop.
Moreover, in his view, as long as he obtained the meteorite called Star, he would no longer need to fear Konoha Village.
A roar echoed. Akahoshi formed hand signs, and a giant bear crashed toward Sasuke.
Natsuhi was about to move, but she was immediately entangled by Yotaka and Shisō.
Multiple Arrows!
Hinata took out her Moon Chasing Bow. The bowstring vibrated, and a Yin Release Arrow shot forth.
In midair, one became nine, and the ninja of Hidden Star Village fell to the ground, pierced by arrows.
Hinata did not kill them—she deliberately avoided their vital points.
Chidori! Sasuke formed hand signs.
A bolt of lightning appeared out of thin air in his palm.
Then thousands of lightning streams converged, and amid the piercing chirp of birds, Sasuke pierced straight through the bear.
"What?!" Akahoshi's pupils shrank.
Sasuke's lips curved into a faint smile.
Akahoshi's expression truly pleased him. At last, he was no longer the one being beaten unilaterally.
Konoha Style: Willow! The Sword of the Thunder God left afterimages as it cut through the air.
Akahoshi instinctively tried to dodge—only to find his body frozen. He reacted instantly and dispelled the genjutsu.
But the moment it lifted, a lightning-wreathed blade was already before him.
Akahoshi roared as a massive amount of chakra burst forth. At the same time, wings sprouted from his back.
He flew backward—yet he was still a step too slow.
The Sword of the Thunder God grazed his abdomen, tearing open a bloody line.
"Bastard!" Akahoshi cried out in pain. Being wounded by a young boy only fueled his rage.
He shot into the air and immediately formed hand signs.
The wind howled. Chakra condensed into two giant eagles that swooped toward Sasuke.
Sasuke frowned slightly and dodged.
With a bang! One giant eagle slammed into the ground, kicking up clouds of dust. The other wheeled around and charged toward Sasuke again.
Sasuke glanced left and right. At the moment the eagle arrived, he leaped onto its back and sprang toward Akahoshi.
Seeing this, Akahoshi snorted coldly and soared higher.
Chidori Senbon!
Sasuke sheathed the Sword of the Thunder God and formed seals in midair.
In an instant, terrifying lightning erupted from his right hand. With a flick of his wrist, the lightning shot out, transforming into countless senbon.
Akahoshi's heart jolted. He hurriedly formed hand signs, and a wolf materialized before him.
But in the next second, a blinding flash of lightning burst forth. The wolf was riddled with holes by the senbon.
Fortunately, it bought Akahoshi a brief moment. He flapped his wings and flew beyond the range of Lightning Release: Chidori Senbon.
Body Flicker Technique! Sasuke accelerated instantly, intercepting Akahoshi in midair.
Genjutsu: Unknown Fire!
The instant their gazes met, Sasuke's Three-Tomoe Sharingan pulsed violently.
Akahoshi stiffened. He fell into the genjutsu, his body plunging uncontrollably downward.
But he was a jonin after all—realizing the illusion, he struggled to break free.
Hatake Swordsmanship! Sasuke would not give him the chance.
Using the downward momentum, the Sword of the Thunder God flashed like lightning.
By the time Akahoshi dispelled the genjutsu, only a streak of white blade-light remained in his vision.
Blood sprayed.
His body hit the ground, collapsing into a gruesome heap.
Sasuke sheathed the Sword of the Thunder God and slowly exhaled.
He had endured too much lately. The resentment from being beaten by Naruto again and again finally eased—just a little.
Sasuke turned at once toward Yotaka and Shisō.
Although Natsuhi was fighting two against one, she was not at a disadvantage. But she hadn't gained much ground either—the battle had reached a stalemate.
Body Flicker Technique!
Sasuke cut straight into their fight without hesitation.
"What? Akahoshi is dead?!" Yotaka and Shisō finally noticed Akahoshi's corpse.
They had been fully focused on Natsuhi and hadn't spared a glance at Sasuke's battle. This outcome was far beyond their expectations—their faces filled with horror.
Genjutsu: Unknown Fire!
Sasuke seized the opening and immediately ensnared Yotaka.
Hatake Swordsmanship! Sasuke repeated his move and vanished.
As he passed Yotaka, the Sword of the Thunder God sliced cleanly across his throat.
"Such a fast sword!" Natsuhi gasped in shock.
If Sasuke were thirty or forty, she wouldn't have been so surprised. But he was only ten or eleven—terrifying.
Without a doubt, his future would place him among the top-tier experts of the Ninja World.
With Yotaka dead, Shisō could no longer hold on and was swiftly dealt with by Natsuhi.
"Everyone, stop!" Natsuhi shouted.
The remaining ninja of Hidden Star Village halted at once. In truth, after Akahoshi's death, their will to fight had already crumbled.
"Allow me to introduce you." Natsuhi raised her hand and said, "These two are Tsunade and Kitazawa from Konoha Village."
"What?!" The ninja of Hidden Star Village erupted in commotion.
They had naturally heard the names of Tsunade and Kitazawa. Had they known earlier, they would never have dared to act.
After the introductions, Natsuhi explained Akahoshi's assassination of the Third Hoshikage.
Only then did the ninja of Hidden Star Village truly believe her. After all, the report was detailed, the logic sound, and Akahoshi had a clear motive.
And above all, Akahoshi and the other two were already dead. The future of Hidden Star Village would now rest entirely in Natsuhi's hands.
Kitazawa and Tsunade did not intervene.
Natsuhi only approached them after finishing her conversation with the Hidden Star Village ninja.
Now that Akahoshi and the other two were dead, the Third Hoshikage's revenge was exacted, and the Hidden Star Village's crisis was resolved.
"This is the Hidden Star Village's meteorite." Natsuhi opened a summoning storage scroll and took out a meteorite.
Kitazawa reached out and grasped it.
With a thought, he realized that the special energy contained within this meteorite was quite similar to chakra, yet also different.
Kitazawa pondered for a moment, then activated his Byakugan. His eyes immediately narrowed, and he saw a flesh-like structure inside the meteorite.
Could this be the flesh and blood of the Gedo Statue?
It wasn't surprising that Kitazawa thought so.
Before Uchiha Madara summoned the Gedo Statue with his Rinnegan, it had always been on the moon.
And meteorites fall from the sky, and this one could also produce a special reaction with the chakra.
If a piece of the Gedo Statue broke off and crashed into the Ninja World, it would make sense.
However, it might not necessarily be its flesh and blood.
Kitazawa thought of Samehada. It had a special relationship with the Three-Tails, Isobu. Perhaps this meteorite was something similar to Samehada.
Besides the Gedo Statue, the Ōtsutsuki Clan also resided on the moon. And they had a war due to differing ideologies.
It was also possible that this war caused the meteorite to fall into the Ninja World, where it was found by the ninja of the Hidden Star Village.
"Lord Hokage." Natsuhi bowed slightly and said, "Please wait one day. I will draft the alliance agreement today, and we can sign it tomorrow."
Tsunade nodded.
Tomorrow, they could return directly to Konoha Village using the Flying Thunder God.
The round trip wouldn't take more than a week, so Shizune and the other Hokage secretaries wouldn't say much about it.
Under Natsuhi's arrangements, Kitazawa and the others settled into a courtyard.
"Teacher Kitazawa." Shion sat down and said, "The Land of Demons is just north of the Land of Bears. I'd like to go back for a visit."
"Alright." Kitazawa thought for a moment and said, "Tsunade-sensei, I'll send you back tomorrow first, then take Shion and the others to the Land of Demons."
He happened to have a system mission to leave Flying Thunder God Marks in various countries, which he could do along the way.
Tsunade hesitated for two seconds but still agreed. She wanted to go with Kitazawa, but that would take too long.
As Hokage, she couldn't be too willful. She could only give up and go back to work.
Although doing missions and working were both tough, the situations were completely different.
"Thank you, Teacher Kitazawa." Shion immediately said.
"There's still time—go train," Kitazawa said with a smile.
"Yes, Teacher Kitazawa." Sasuke, Hinata, and Shion stood up and went to the courtyard outside the house.
"Tsunade-sensei." Kitazawa took out the meteorite.
"It doesn't look like anything special." Tsunade took the meteorite and examined it.
"I checked it. It contains a special radioactive energy." Kitazawa said casually.
"No wonder cultivating the Mysterious Peacock Method would endanger one's life." Tsunade returned the meteorite to him and asked, "What do you plan to do with it?"
"It can be used as a power source for puppets." Kitazawa thought for a moment and said.
Ninja would be irradiated by using the meteorite, but puppets don't have life, so they don't have to worry about radiation.
"Puppets?" Tsunade's lips curled slightly as she asked, "Don't tell me you're also a puppeteer?"
"I do know a thing or two about puppets." Kitazawa chuckled and said.
He took out the puppet that Sasori had made for him.
"You actually have a puppet?" Tsunade showed a surprised expression.
"I researched it when I had nothing else to do." Kitazawa put the puppet away again and said.
"You always have new tricks up your sleeve." Tsunade couldn't help but laugh.
"Is that so?" Kitazawa stood up and asked, "Want to try a new trick now?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes at him. But her body was very willing, pulling him onto the bed.
---
The time came to the next day.
Natsuhi became the Fourth Hoshikage amidst the cheers of the Hidden Star Village people. She signed the alliance agreement with Tsunade on behalf of the Hidden Star Village.
After signing, the group left the Hidden Star Village.
Kitazawa stopped, forming hand seals.
He wanted to test the limits of the Flying Thunder God Technique to see if he could fly directly from there to Konoha Village.
Yang Release Chakra Mode!
A large amount of chakra erupted from Kitazawa's body. A wave of air spread in all directions.
Yin Seal: Release! Black markings spread from his forehead.
Kitazawa clenched his fists, feeling the surging chakra throughout his body.
A hint of shock flashed in Tsunade's eyes. Although she knew Kitazawa had a lot of chakra, she hadn't expected it to be this much.
"Tsunade-sensei." Kitazawa extended his hand and said.
Tsunade took his hand.
The two vanished from their spot.
The next second, they appeared in the familiar Hokage Office.
"Teleported directly to Konoha?" Tsunade's eyes widened involuntarily.
Although the Flying Thunder God Technique had strategic significance, it had its limits in Minato Namikaze's hands.
If he were to return to Konoha Village from the Land of Bears, he would need to rest several times along the way.
If he forced his way back regardless of chakra consumption, his combat power would be greatly diminished.
But Kitazawa was different—he seemed to be in excellent condition.
As Hokage, Tsunade naturally understood how terrifying this was. In future wars, Kitazawa would become an invisible sharp blade, wreaking havoc in the enemy's main camp.
It was conceivable that the pressure on Konoha Village in frontal battles would be greatly reduced.
"Am I not amazing?" Kitazawa asked with a smile.
"I'll reward you when we get back." Tsunade came back to her senses, licking the corner of her mouth with her pink tongue.
"Tsunade-sensei, I'll be sure to thank you very much then." Kitazawa used the Flying Thunder God Technique and vanished from the spot.
He was worried that if he delayed any longer, he wouldn't be able to leave.
Kitazawa took Shion and the others to the Land of Demons.
After giving them a week of rest, he began his journey around the Ninja World.
With the Power of the Dragon Vein replenishing his chakra, he furiously used the Flying Thunder God Technique, leaving Flying Thunder God Marks in every country.
[Current Mission: Tour the Ninja World.]
[Mission Reward: Spiraling Flash Super Round Dance Howl Three Styles.]
[Host has completed the mission, reward issued.]
Kitazawa slowly exhaled. He finally completed this system mission successfully.
Although the Flying Thunder God Technique was convenient, touring the Ninja World indeed consumed a large amount of his chakra.
If it weren't for the Power of the Dragon Vein, his Yin Seal probably wouldn't have held up.
After Kitazawa completed the system mission, he returned to Konoha Village with Shion and the others.
This midterm exam came to an end.