Class was over before they knew it.
"Good job today, Hinata," Kitazawa said with a friendly smile.
"Um… Kitazawa‑sensei…"
Hinata shyly lowered her head.
"What's up?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"This—this is for you!"
She held out a passbook with both hands. "It's… all my allowance."
She'd been racking her brain trying to figure out how to repay Kitazawa for everything, but nothing felt good enough. In the end, all she could think of was handing him her money.
"I'm not exactly broke, you know. You don't need to do this."
Kitazawa laughed awkwardly.
"No—please take it!"
Even though her voice trembled, Hinata looked up with surprising resolve. "I insist."
"Wow… look at you being all assertive for once."
He chuckled, then gave in. "Alright, alright. I'll take it."
He opened the passbook—and froze.
Three million ryō?!
This is her pocket money?
Did I just become a kept man...?
Then a thought hit him. Even though Hinata was the Hyūga heiress, that kind of money was over the top. Could Hiashi have arranged this? A subtle thank-you?
"Thank you, Kitazawa‑sensei," Hinata said, her face pink.
She gives me money and then thanks me? This girl…
Kitazawa put the passbook away. "Come on, I'll walk you home."
Hinata lit up with a smile.
The Hyūga compound wasn't far. Ten minutes later, they arrived.
"Goodbye, Kitazawa‑sensei," she said softly, waving reluctantly before stepping inside.
"You're back? Then get over here and practice."
Hiashi didn't miss a beat.
"Yes, Father," she replied without hesitation.
Even though she was clearly tired from a full day of training, she didn't want to disappoint him.
But Hiashi wasn't disappointed. In fact, he was impressed.
Her progress is way ahead of schedule. Just a few days and her form's already this sharp?
Kitazawa didn't have the Byakugan, wasn't a Hyūga—so Hiashi ruled him out as the source. That left only one explanation:
Hinata had real talent.
"Keep at it, Hinata," he said with rare warmth. "The future of the Hyūga clan is in your hands."
"Yes, Father."
Hinata didn't fully get why he said that—but she could tell he was pleased.
…
Kitazawa swung by Kurenai's place, but she wasn't home. He thought for a moment, then headed around back.
Sure enough, there she was—sitting on a tree branch, mostly hidden by the leaves, a rubber ball in hand. She was practicing Rasengan… secretly.
Kitazawa smirked.
Learning in secret, huh?
Then he thought of a loophole—marriage.
In Konoha, married ninja were allowed to teach each other jutsu. Since he'd received the Rasengan officially from the Third Hokage, it was completely legal.
If Kurenai married him, her training would no longer be "unauthorized." Just like how Minato learned sealing techniques from Kushina.
Of course, they were kind of a special case. Rules mostly applied to the average shinobi.
"Kurenai," he called out after a moment.
"When'd you get here?"
She casually stowed the ball away.
"Just now."
He reached out a hand. "Jump down—I'll catch you."
"You think I don't know what you're up to?"
She snorted, but jumped anyway.
Her arms wrapped around his neck, long legs landing neatly around his waist. The force of the jump drove her into his chest.
Talk about a full-contact landing.
Kitazawa instinctively supported her thighs, hands settling under her hips.
"You should probably put me down now," she muttered, tapping his shoulder, visibly flustered by how close they were.
"I'll walk you home," Kitazawa said with a grin.
She was close enough that he could see her chest rise and fall with each breath… though that black mesh shirt really ruined the moment.
"Keep dreaming."
Kurenai flashed a hand sign and vanished, leaving a log in her place.
"I've got a mission on Saturday," Kitazawa said casually, dropping the log.
"Where to?"
She followed him back home.
"Heading out with Mizuki."
"Mizuki?"
Her expression darkened. "He's shady. I'm going with you."
"That's exactly why I'm going," Kitazawa said with a shrug. "I don't do threats."
"You planning to take him out?"
She looked uneasy. "That's risky. You know memory extraction works on the dead too, right?"
In the ninja world, dead bodies could "talk"—a specialty of the Yamanaka clan.
"I won't make a move unless he does," Kitazawa said. "If he attacks, it's self-defense."
That way, even if Konoha looked into Mizuki's memories, they couldn't pin anything on him.
"I see... Then I'm going with you."
"Nope."
He smiled. He'd told her for this very reason—and, just as expected, she took his side.
"More people just means more risk. If you're spotted, it could look like I set him up."
"…Alright."
Kurenai backed off. Given Kitazawa's strength—plus Rasengan and other jutsu—a Chūnin like Mizuki didn't stand a chance.
…
Saturday.
Pop!
The ball in Kurenai's hand burst.
"Nice. That's stage two of Rasengan done. Just one more to go," Kitazawa said. "You'll have it down soon."
"Thanks for all your help," she said with a smile.
"Just a thank-you?"
He pulled her into his arms.
She rolled her eyes, then kissed him.
A few seconds later, she pulled back in shock. "You… where do you think you're touching—"
Her cheeks flushed deep red.
"With that goddess's kiss, today's mission will go perfectly," he said dramatically.
"You sure you don't want me to come with?"
"I'll be fine," he smiled. "I'm Jonin-level now."
The Mountain wasn't far—still within the Land of Fire. Even if Mizuki hired rogue ninjas, getting a Jonin would be tough. And unless it was someone like Kakuzu, no one out there could beat him.
"Okay. Come back safe."
"Mm."
He kissed her cheek and left.
…
At Konoha's gate, Mizuki was already waiting, his mood foul.
When he saw Kitazawa, he quickly masked it.
"What's the mission?" he asked, trying to confirm his ambush plan.
"Bandit extermination at xxx Mountain," Kitazawa said. "One of my students is from a nearby village—they've been harassed non-stop."
"Wow, what a model teacher," Mizuki sneered internally.
Still, the mountain was perfect for an ambush.
"Not really," Kitazawa added. "I just happened to get a free helper."
Mizuki gritted his teeth.
You smug bastard. Today's your last day!
They traveled in silence. At ninja speed, it only took an hour.
"You handle the guards," Kitazawa said.
Mizuki vanished with a kunai—thuds followed.
Aside from two ninja bandit leaders, the rest were just thugs. Kitazawa didn't feel bad killing them—they'd been looting and murdering anyway. Mizuki took them out without a sweat.
They climbed to the stronghold.
"One leader each," Kitazawa said.
Mizuki nodded.
"I'll start with a little fire."
Kitazawa formed hand seals and spat a normal-sized fireball.
Whoosh! The wooden base burst into flames.
"It's on fire!"
"Get water!"
Panic broke out.
Kitazawa and Mizuki exchanged looks and split up.
Kitazawa could've blitzed the place, but he couldn't show off just yet.
Then—target spotted.
The bandit boss. Mid‑40s. Sword at his waist. Elite Chūnin level. Water Style user.
"Chakra spike!" the man shouted. "A shinobi's inside! Stay sharp!"
"You're quick."
Kitazawa stepped into view, forming signs behind his back.
"Konoha ninja?!"
The man saw the Konoha headband and panicked.
"Right answer. No prize."
Kitazawa grinned.
The man grabbed his sword—but too late. Vines erupted from the ground, wrapping his legs.
Then he was lifted—trapped inside a giant tree.
Tree Binding Illusion.
Body Flicker!
Kitazawa closed the gap instantly and stabbed him straight in the heart.
"Genjutsu really is a one-shot kill on guys like this," he muttered.
The man stared blankly. When did I get hit with a genjutsu?
Then collapsed.
"The boss is dead! Run!"
Bandits panicked. Kitazawa fired a Great Fireball. Screams echoed.
He finished them off with kunai.
Then turned to Mizuki, still fighting the other Chūnin.
Kitazawa just sat down and pretended to recover.
Minutes later, Mizuki walked over. "You good?"
"All good. Just low on chakra. Let's head back."
"Back?"
Mizuki laughed coldly. "You're not going anywhere."
"What?"
"You seriously don't get it?" Mizuki snapped. "You stole my title, my rewards, embarrassed my class—don't you think you deserve to die?!"
"Mizuki," Kitazawa said flatly, "are you questioning the Hokage's judgment?"
"Hokage? He's just a senile old man!"
Perfect. Kitazawa raised a brow. That alone cleared him of suspicion.
"I'm a special jonin now."
"Only because you sucked up to the right people."
Kitazawa twitched.
"But since we're coworkers, I brought backup," Mizuki grinned. "Come on out!"
Two figures landed beside him.
Kitazawa scanned them. Yup. Just Chūnin.
"Say goodbye, Kitazawa."
Mizuki waved. "Kill him!"
The two Chūnin rushed in—blades missed as leaves scattered.
"What the—?!"
Wind Style: Gale Palm!
A wave of chakra surged forward.
"Spread out!" Mizuki shouted, eyes darting.
Leaf Great Whirlwind!
Kitazawa struck—Mizuki barely blocked but staggered back.
Right to the edge of the cliff.
"Mizuki, ever heard of the Rasengan?" Kitazawa asked.
"Who hasn't?! It's the Fourth Hokage's—"
Too late.
Rasengan!
Kitazawa appeared in front of him—spinning chakra slammed into his chest.
"AAAGH!"
Mizuki tumbled off the cliff.
Kitazawa watched in silence.
Mizuki's goal was to frame him. Killing him removed the threat—and tested the system.
Apparently, killing him was an overachievement.
Burning the body would raise suspicion. But if he left the corpse, it would prove his innocence.
And Mizuki took the fall himself… literally.
"Now for you two."
Tree Binding Illusion.
One froze—Kitazawa slit his throat.
"Wait!" the other begged. "I'll give you all my money!"
Body Flicker!
Kitazawa closed in. Rasengan!
Silence.
He let out a slow breath.
With just Tree Bind, Fireball, Rasengan, and Body Flicker… he had taken out four Chūnin.
Easily.
[Mission: Get Mizuki arrested]
[Reward: Fire Style – Heavenly Prison]
[Mission Complete.]
[Bonus for exceeding expectations: Fire Style – Great Fire Heavenly Prison]
Kitazawa grinned, reading the text in his vision.
Didn't expect killing Mizuki would count as overachievement.
System, good job.
Grand Flame Prison was a powered-up version of Flame Prison. In the original, it had been used to trap monsters nearly as strong as tailed beasts.
~~~
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