Inside the Ninjutsu Repository, Kitazawa had no idea that, over in the Hokage's office, a dramatic exchange of "You'll regret this!" — "I'm furious!" — boom! had just taken place.
Had he known, he would have felt it was a shame not to witness such a famous scene firsthand.
Looking around, Kitazawa spotted many familiar jutsu scrolls.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had been generous: apart from a few special techniques, all seven elemental‑release jutsu were here—including the Rasengan.
Kitazawa fell into thought.
Should he pick an A‑rank jutsu he had not yet mastered?
After deliberating, he ultimately chose the Rasengan.
The reason was simple:
Since he had a "system," why waste time learning an A‑rank jutsu the hard way?
That time would be better spent studying medical ninjutsu to get closer to Tsunade.
"A‑rank scrolls cannot leave the vault," Anbu agent Haru reminded him. "Please memorize them. If you forget, you may return."
"Understood," Kitazawa replied with a nod.
A‑rank techniques are, without exaggeration, the foundation of a shinobi village.
A leak could have immeasurable consequences.
Kitazawa opened the Rasengan scroll and pretended to study it carefully.
Fifteen minutes later he set it down.
"I've memorized it. I'll take my leave."
After a brief farewell to Haru, Kitazawa left the Hokage building.
Out on the street he let out a long breath.
Thanks to the friendship match, his strength had soared once again.
As long as he avoided monsters like Uchiha Obito, Uchiha Itachi, or Hiruzen Sarutobi, he could look after himself.
Scanning his unfinished tasks, he set three priorities:
1. Try to learn medical ninjutsu.
2. Give his students special training.
3. Eliminate the hidden threat posed by Mizuki.
After thinking it over, he skipped the academy and headed for Yūhi Kurenai's house.
It was Friday, and because the match had eaten most of the day, Class 1‑A had been given the afternoon off.
"Back so soon?" Kurenai asked at the door. "What did the Hokage reward you with?"
"He put me in charge of the academy's administration," Kitazawa chuckled, "and gave me an A‑rank jutsu."
"An A‑rank jutsu?" Kurenai cried. "I only know two A‑rank genjutsu, and those are family jutsu!"
"Well? Isn't your boyfriend amazing?" Kitazawa said, closing the door and stepping into the living room.
Yakumo Kurama had also received the afternoon off after the match, so she wasn't there.
"Fine, fine—you're amazing," Kurenai muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Not sincere enough—try again!" Kitazawa playfully slapped her thigh.
The pale flesh rippled—soft yet springy, proof of regular training.
"Looking for trouble?" Startled, Kurenai counterattacked, stomping his foot.
Because she was barefoot, Kitazawa hardly felt pain.
"One hit each—we're even!" Kurenai sniffed, but a smile tugged at her lips.
"Then stomp me a few more times," Kitazawa teased, eyeing her long, shapely legs.
"Dream on!" she shot back, arms folded. "Dame yo!"
The pose was both coy and alluring.
Chuckling, Kitazawa sat on the sofa.
"Which jutsu did you choose—Wind Release?" Kurenai asked, sitting beside him.
"No. The Rasengan," he said.
"The Fourth Hokage's Rasengan?" she blurted, then nodded in sudden understanding.
"Exactly. It uses no hand signs, packs a punch, and will boost my power if I master it," he explained.
Kurenai almost pointed out how hard the Rasengan is, but remembered Kitazawa's recent growth and stayed silent.
He was already stronger than she was—a result she'd never imagined.
"Where's Tsunade-sama?" Kitazawa asked, taking Kurenai's soft hand.
"At the casino, of course," Kurenai said, glancing at the clock. "She's usually back by six."
"Right…" Kitazawa drifted off, wondering how to start learning medical ninjutsu.
Just then Kurenai grabbed his wrist.
"What is it, Kurenai?" he blinked.
"You know perfectly well! Stop groping me!" she fumed.
"Sorry—I was thinking," he said calmly, removing the hand from her thigh.
"As if I'd believe that." Kurenai glared.
"Since we have time, want to practice the Rasengan together?" he suggested.
The Rasengan—the pinnacle of chakra shape transformation—requires extraordinary control.
Kurenai had that: genjutsu also demands superb control.
Among the seven disciplines, sealing, medical, and illusion techniques are famously difficult.
"Me?" Kurenai hesitated. "No, I can't. The Hokage gave that jutsu to you; it'd break the rules."
"Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know," Kitazawa smiled. "Afraid I'll rat you out?"
"That's not it…" Kurenai looked torn.
Secretly learning jutsu is a serious offense in Konoha, and she was a rule‑follower.
"Just don't use it unless you must," Kitazawa said earnestly. "If it's life or death, would you still worry about rules?"
He wanted her to learn Rasengan to raise her combat power.
Genjutsu alone can be too limiting—if an illusion is broken, most of one's strength is gone.
With the Rasengan, she'd have a trump card.
"Even if we're caught, Tsunade can help," he added, pulling her outside.
Left with no choice, Kurenai half yielded.
They reached a secluded spot behind the house.
"Here," Kitazawa said, handing her a water‑filled balloon. "Let me explain stage one of Rasengan training."
Kurenai listened intently.
Having decided to learn, she wouldn't be wishy‑washy.
"Your turn," Kitazawa said after explaining.
Kurenai poured chakra into the balloon; the water began to swirl.
"I'd say you'll need two to three hours," Kitazawa judged.
Her control was excellent, but not at his system‑granted mastery.
"Why are you so skilled?" she asked.
"I finished stage one on the way here," he fibbed.
"Impossible!" Kurenai cried.
From school to the Hokage's office to her home was under thirty minutes.
Completing stage one that fast meant his chakra control far outstripped hers.
"See for yourself." Kitazawa injected chakra into a balloon—pop.
"You're a… monster," she groaned. "Go away; don't distract me."
She still couldn't accept how far he'd pulled ahead so quickly.
"Ask if you get stuck," he smiled, stepping back—better not to expose himself further.
…
Hyūga Clan Compound
"Rice balls, they're all rice balls!"
Hinata Hyūga sang her self‑made rice‑ball song, hopping into the courtyard.
She was so happy today that she forgot the etiquette drilled into her since childhood.
"Hinata."
A familiar, stern voice called.
Hinata froze—it was her father, Hiashi Hyūga.
Only then did she realize how improper her behavior had been.
"I—" She started to apologize, then stopped.
"What's gotten into you?" Hiashi frowned.
Something felt different about her today.
"Father," Hinata said, taking a deep breath. "I awakened the Byakugan."
She activated it; veins bulged beside her eyes.
"You… you've done well," Hiashi stammered, his attitude flipping completely.
Awakening at six put her only a little behind him—and only Neji had done better, a once‑in‑a‑generation prodigy.
Hiashi himself hadn't matched that at her age.
"Thank you, Father."
Hinata sensed his sudden good mood; the scolding never came.
She realized she had finally earned his approval—all thanks to Kitazawa.
"Since your eyes are open, you can begin training the Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty‑Four Palms," Hiashi said with a smile. "A secret of the main house."
"Yes, Father."
Hinata, seeing him smile—so rare!—felt overwhelmed.
Was this the change the Byakugan brought?
With Kitazawa's help, she might truly become the Hyūga heir her father desired.
But how could she ever repay such a debt?
Hinata fell into thoughtful silence.
~~~
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