Monday, noon, Ninja Academy conference room.
The trial student council was holding its second meeting.
"You all did great."
After flipping through the weekly report Uchiha Sasuke submitted, Kitazawa nodded his approval.
Recruitment for the Will of Fire Club had gone ridiculously well.
Pretty much every student in the academy had joined.
Some came for the "Will of Fire," some for Sarutobi Hiruzen, and some just to be part of the hype.
Entertainment's thin on the ground at the academy—when something finally pops up, of course everyone signs up.
There was one snag: the club was way too big.
On paper, a single club that size makes no sense.
But with only one club on campus and this still being a pilot phase, the rules could breathe a little.
Letting everyone join also makes it easier for Hiruzen to see what the student council can actually do.
"Obviously! If we're doing something, we do it right. That's the path of youth!"
Uzumaki Naruto threw an arm around Sasuke's shoulder, grinning. "Right, Sasuke?"
"…"
Sasuke's mouth twitched.
Use titles during school hours!
Who's the president here—you or me?
"The first event looks good too."
Kitazawa turned to Inuzuka Hana.
Hiruzen had put up fifty thousand ryō in sponsorship, and the Uchiha clan added forty thousand.
Ninety thousand ryō is a fortune to students.
To make sure it actually did some good, Hana proposed a knowledge competition.
Center it on the Will of Fire, mix in textbook material, and run it through a variety of quiz formats.
"The October monthly exams are almost here," Kitazawa said after a moment's thought. "Let's run the event after the exams. Perfect timing for everyone to decompress."
Monthly exams again?
Sasuke's fist tightened before he even realized it.
He'd never forget the humiliation of bombing the last one.
Now the chance was right in front of him again—time to bring back the Uchiha's pride.
At the very least, he had to keep second place.
"That's it for today. We've still got a little time—go grab a quick nap."
Kitazawa stood and walked out.
He caught a thirty–minute power nap in his office, then headed for Konoha Hospital.
"Good afternoon, Yakushi Nono-senpaj."
He pushed open the office door and spotted Yakushi Nono inside. After a brief beat, he greeted her first.
"Good afternoon, Kitazawa," Nono replied, voice gentle.
"Emergency surgery?" he asked, stepping in to pour her a glass of water.
"You've more or less mastered the Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Technique. Confident using it on a patient?" Nono smiled as she asked.
"Yes."
Kitazawa didn't hesitate.
Any operation that needed the Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Technique was bound to be high–difficulty.
Which meant his mission progress could tick up another notch.
"Good."
Nono decided on the spot. "In thirty minutes, you're scrubbing in with us."
The Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Technique isn't like standard medical ninjutsu.
Before you use it, you draw the formula—basically, a seal array.
That half hour was for drawing it.
"Should I call in Shizune-senpai?" Kitazawa asked after thinking it through. The technique needs a team.
Just him and Nono wouldn't cut it; five was the minimum.
"If Shizune can come, that's ideal." Nono hesitated, then asked, "But will Tsunade-sama agree?"
"She can't wait to get Shizune out of her sight."
Kitazawa spread his hands. "If Shizune's not around, no one's there to get between Tsunade-sama and her gambling."
"Tsunade-sama really is…" Nono trailed off, at a loss for the right word.
"I'll run to the casino now."
With that, Kitazawa headed out.
Konoha doesn't have many casinos—just a handful.
He found Tsunade and Shizune quickly.
Tsunade was hunched over the table, eyes tight on the dealer's hands.
Shizune, by contrast, looked numb.
She'd followed Tsunade long enough to know: if there's a bet, Tsunade loses.
She didn't even need to watch to guess the outcome.
"Lost again! Damn it!"
Tsunade snapped.
"Tsunade-sama."
Seeing she'd just finished a round, Kitazawa stepped up.
"Kitazawa?" Her eyes lit. "Perfect timing—come gamble with me!"
She was remembering his last trip to the slots, when he couldn't stop winning.
"Sorry. I'm here for Shizune-senpai."
He quickly explained the surgery at Konoha Hospital.
"You already learned the Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Technique?" Tsunade blinked, caught off guard.
Officially she was the one teaching him medical ninjutsu, but in reality Shizune had been doing the instruction.
Between Tsunade's gambling and how time–consuming med–nin training is, she hadn't kept close tabs on his progress.
Hearing he'd already learned the technique, she was, naturally, a bit stunned.
"It's all thanks to Shizune-senpai," Kitazawa said modestly.
"…"
Shizune started to speak, then swallowed it.
Thanks? For what?
From start to finish, she didn't feel like she'd "taught" much at all.
Kitazawa learned too fast—there was zero sense of accomplishment as a teacher.
Short version: teaching him had never once been "fun."
"You two should get to the hospital," Tsunade said with a wave.
When lives are on the line, she knows which matters more—surgery or gambling.
"Tsunade-sama, three hours max," Shizune warned.
"Got it. You're so naggy," Tsunade huffed.
After they left, she stared at the table and realized she'd lost the urge to play.
If Kitazawa had learned the Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Technique, his medical ninjutsu was basically on par with Shizune's.
What he had left to learn from Tsunade would be the Yin Seal and Creation Rebirth — Strength of a Hundred Technique.
Which meant it was about time she took him on as an actual student.
Tsunade left the casino.
She wandered aimlessly down the street.
Taking Kitazawa as a student didn't bother her.
He was gifted, strong, and a decent person.
But she still hadn't decided whether to stay in Konoha.
Kitazawa wasn't like Shizune—he had friends here, and he taught at the academy.
He couldn't just follow Tsunade around the world living out of inns.
Tsunade stopped and looked up at Hokage Rock in the distance.
From left to right: Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Namikaze Minato.
"Then I'll place one last bet—for Konoha."
After a few seconds of silence, she made up her mind.
She wasn't about to be outdone by Naruto, and dithering wasn't her style anyway.
What she wanted to bet on was her hemophobia.
She'd helped develop a handful of new psychological medical techniques, but whether they truly worked was another question.
And among psychological issues, her hemophobia was about as stubborn as they come.
…
Operating Room, Konoha Hospital.
Kitazawa glanced around.
He'd assisted on plenty of surgeries, but this was, without question, the biggest.
Including him, five jōnin–rank medical–nin were on the team.
Today's patient was from the Hyūga clan.
He'd been discovered on a mission in Kirigakure and left at death's door.
"Let's begin."
Nono's expression turned solemn.
The other four nodded as one.
The five took their positions and began weaving hand seals.
Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Technique.
The Hyūga shinobi lay within a massive seal array.
As their chakra flowed, a soft green aura blanketed his body.
Nono plucked a single strand of the patient's hair.
Under the technique's effect, something uncanny happened—the hair budded new cells.
Guided by Nono's control, the fresh cells migrated to fill his wounds.
Kitazawa suddenly recalled how this technique appeared in the original story.
Back then the patient was Hyūga Neji, gravely injured.
Shizune had led the med unit, and hair was the medium then too.
Time crawled.
Altering cell ratios and regenerating tissue demands exquisite chakra control—and a long, steady push.
They started at two in the afternoon and didn't finish until seven in the evening.
Knowing surgeries can run long, Kitazawa had warned Iruka in advance.
Iruka would check before class; if Kitazawa wasn't back, he'd cover.
Kitazawa had considered sending a shadow clone to teach, but surgeries chew through chakra.
Like this one—he'd burned through almost all of it.
If he'd split off a clone beforehand, he might've run dry halfway through.
"The surgery was a complete success. Good work, everyone."
Nono wiped sweat from her brow.
Everyone was drenched, as if they'd been hauled out of a river.
That many hours of intense focus is its own kind of torture—no less draining than a brutal fight.
"See you tomorrow, Nono-senpai."
Kitazawa left the OR and headed for his office.
It was already dark; lights glowed on every floor.
He yawned, body and mind heavy.
Still, it wasn't without payoff—just as he'd hoped, he'd moved one step closer to finishing his high–difficulty surgery quota.
He slowed, frowning.
His office door wasn't closed—left ajar, a slim slice of shadow.
Who was inside?
With the Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Technique in play, Sakura wouldn't have been any help—she'd gone back to the academy earlier.
Thinking it through, he stepped in.
He scanned the room and his eyes landed on the couch.
Kurenai lay curled on her side there, fast asleep.
Kitazawa blinked and immediately guessed why.
She'd probably come by when it got late and he still wasn't back.
Since he couldn't step out mid–surgery, she'd just waited here.
He walked over and crouched in front of her.
Her cheek was pillowed on her forearm, just a little squished.
Her shapely body folded in on itself, all soft curves and springy grace; gravity pressed her clothes into clear, teasing outlines.
Something stirred in Kitazawa. He reached out and brushed her cheek.
Kurenai's body shivered, but her eyes stayed shut.
Pretending to sleep?
Kitazawa's mouth quirked. New plan.
His right hand traced down from her cheek, along her neck, skimming the line of her back before sliding lower and coming to rest on her round hip.
Kurenai still didn't "wake," though her breathing wasn't as even as before.
Playing it that way, huh?
Kitazawa chuckled soundlessly.
He twisted his wrist, caught the hem of her top, and his hand slipped beneath the waistband.
Only then did he realize the bandage on her thigh was just that—on her thigh. Not over her hips.
Kurenai's eyes flew open, disbelief flashing across her face.
He met her gaze and deliberately squeezed, palm to bare skin.
A jolt shot through her; her face went crimson in a heartbeat.
With a soft crack of displaced air, she Body Flickered and vanished.
"Knew it—the feel is incredible."
Kitazawa stood, the fatigue washing off him.
He dropped onto the couch, still smiling.
A beat later, Kurenai reappeared.
She didn't say a word—just marched over and stomped on his foot.
"Pervert!"
Fury and mortification warred on her face.
This bastard was getting bolder by the day.
"What? Why the name–calling?" Kitazawa blinked, the picture of innocence.
"You touched— You seriously don't know what you just did?"
She glared, cheeks burning.
"You were into it," he countered. "You were the one pretending to sleep."
"I… I…"
She faltered. She had been curious, wanting to see what he'd do.
She just hadn't expected him to be that unabashed—way beyond what she'd imagined.
"C'mon, home."
Kitazawa stood, pinched her soft cheek, and asked, "Have you eaten?"
"No."
Kurenai pursed her lips, then, remembering he'd spent the whole afternoon operating, said, "I'll cook when we get back."
"You're the best, Kurenai."
He leaned in and kissed her.
"You—"
Her hands twitched as if to push him away, but in the end she didn't. She kissed him back, tongues fencing.
After a long moment, they parted.
Kurenai glanced down—his right hand was back on her hip.
At least this time there was fabric in the way.
"Maybe I should beat you once so you'll behave. Hands everywhere, every day."
She shot him a look and headed for the door. "Lock up!"
"On it."
He shut the door and followed her out of the hospital.
"Tsunade-sama's at my place too," Kurenai said suddenly. "She's the one who told me you and Shizune were at the hospital."
"Then why didn't you two eat first?" Kitazawa lifted a brow.
He could understand Kurenai waiting to eat with him.
But Tsunade? Waiting?
"I was going to, but she said cooking twice would be a hassle and we should all eat together when you got back."
"Huh." Kitazawa rubbed his chin. "That's… unusual."
"You really do know Tsunade-sama," Kurenai mused. "She did seem off today."
"I saw her at the casino this afternoon," Kitazawa said lightly. "Maybe she lost big."
"Could be."
Kurenai let it go when she couldn't figure it out.
They reached home quickly.
Just as Kurenai said, Tsunade was there.
She was sprawled on the couch without a care, legs out straight, pale heels propped on the coffee table.
Shizune, who'd gotten back a little earlier, was there too.
When Kurenai headed for the kitchen, Shizune rose to follow and help.
"Tsunade-sama."
Kitazawa walked over—and had to fight the urge to rub his temples.
Tsunade had shrugged off her tea–green haori and was slouched so loosely her top was under… serious strain.
Rough day, huh.
He sat across from her.
"What did the old man say to you?" Tsunade asked suddenly.
"The Hokage?" Kitazawa blinked. "I haven't seen him today."
"Before today, then."
Tsunade straightened, eyes sharp.
"In what sense?" A prickling crawled over Kitazawa's scalp.
"In the sense that concerns me," she said evenly.
He couldn't help being confused.
What was with tonight?
Was she here to settle accounts?
"He asked me to try to persuade you to get treatment for your hemophobia," Kitazawa admitted after a brief pause.
Between Hiruzen and Tsunade, he chose to answer to Tsunade.
He didn't believe, given her personality, that she'd punish him for honesty.
"Thought so," Tsunade said, unsurprised.
Hiruzen's intentions were practically public knowledge.
Ever since he'd championed building a psychological medic–nin system, one of his targets had been her.
"Then let's make a bet."
Tsunade held his gaze.
"What kind of bet?"
Kitazawa could guess the theme, just not what had pushed her to this point.
Was it Naruto's performance in the September exam? Or their heart–to–heart at the izakaya?
"I've been in Konoha a long time," Tsunade said, instead of answering directly. "Once the Emotion Substitution Technique is finished, the core of the psychological medic–nin system is basically in place."
The system already had five techniques; with Emotion Substitution, that made six.
In any specialty, mastering six techniques gives you solid strength.
Saying the system was essentially established wasn't wrong.
"You're leaving?" Kitazawa asked, startled.
"That's right."
She nodded. "But before I go, I want to gamble with you one more time."
"How?"
His eyes narrowed.
"I'll be Yakumo's first patient," Tsunade said, biting her lip. "If she can't cure me, I'll leave Konoha."
"And if she does?"
"Then I'll help her finish perfecting the system," Tsunade said, drawing a steadying breath.
Just as he'd suspected.
He thought of a saying from his previous life: the moment you say it aloud, you've already decided.
Tsunade knew she always loses her bets and wanted to bet anyway. Deep down, she was leaning toward staying.
It was just the weight of her past holding her back.
"Tsunade-sama," Kitazawa said after a moment, "the past passes, one way or another."
"You talk too much. Are you betting or not?" She shot him a glare.
"How could I refuse a bet from Tsunade-sama?" Kitazawa smiled.
"Hmph." Arms folded, she said, "Don't get cocky. It's still anyone's game."
~~~
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