Kitazawa opened his eyes to Kurenai's pretty, delicate face.
He blinked, slightly puzzled. "Did I sleep a long time?"
"No, it's not even eight yet."
Lying across his chest, Kurenai said, "I just happened to wake up a few minutes before you."
"Got it."
Feeling the softness of her body, Kitazawa smiled. "I thought I'd overslept."
"You were grinding all day yesterday—you can sleep in a bit."
She poked his cheek with a finger. "We're not taking missions today, right?"
"Mm."
Kitazawa lightly nipped her slender finger. "We're resting today—but whether we actually get to rest depends on the Mist."
"True."
Kurenai sat up. "Let's eat first, just in case they make a move and we don't even get to grab a meal."
"It won't be that bad."
Kitazawa patted her full, toned thigh.
The Mist might stage a revenge op, but knowing Ao's personality, holding position was more likely. In any case, Kitazawa wasn't overly concerned with how Ao reacted—he cared more about the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi.
With Suikazan Fuguki dead, the Mist were clearly outgunned. Would Yagura himself come to the front?
"Better safe than sorry," Kurenai said, standing up.
Her long, pale legs filled Kitazawa's view.
"I'll go call Kabuto and the others."
Kurenai brushed his leg with her bare foot, then turned and left the tent.
They'd slept in their clothes, so Kitazawa didn't need to change. After washing up, he joined Yakushi Kabuto and the team for breakfast—simple rice balls.
"No missions today. You can train," Kitazawa said when he finished eating. "But don't overdo it. In wartime, emergency assignments can pop up anytime."
No sooner had he spoken than his brows lifted and he looked off into the distance.
"Kitazawa-sama," an Anbu operative approached. "Tsunade-sama requests your presence in the command tent."
"Looks like the Mist are on the move," Kitazawa said, standing. "Wait here for me."
He followed the Anbu to the main tent. Many jōnin were already gathered. When they saw Kitazawa, they greeted him proactively—even Hyuga Hiashi and Nara Shikaku. The reason was simple: Kitazawa had become a rising star of Konoha. With his strength and status, his future was limitless; it never hurt to have a good relationship.
Before long Tsunade and Shizune entered.
"Tsunade-sama," everyone fell silent.
"Since last night, the Mist's shinobi have all pulled back to the sea," Tsunade said without preamble.
"What does that mean?" Hyuga Hiashi frowned. "Are they withdrawing?"
"I sent Anbu to confirm," Tsunade shook her head. "There's no sign of a full retreat. They plan to anchor on the islands and fight a defensive war."
"They're scared of us now!" Uchiha Yashiro couldn't help laughing.
Quite a few shinobi nodded. Only if they couldn't beat Konoha would the Mist choose that tactic.
"The ocean is their home field," Nara Shikaku said, brow knit. "Even though we're ahead, we won't be able to finish them quickly."
"What's the Fourth Mizukage thinking?" Akimichi Chōza muttered. "He's been fighting conservatively from the start—doesn't look like the side that initiated war."
"I can't figure it out either," Shikaku admitted.
Kitazawa suddenly thought of a line from his previous life—he could think for ten days and nights and still not get it. Without knowing about Uchiha Obito, the Mist's behavior really was baffling.
"No rush. Victory's in sight—we'll take it slow," Tsunade said firmly. She disliked tug-of-war battles, but this wasn't the time to force an assault when the Mist held the terrain advantage. That would only raise casualties.
"Hiashi," she ordered, "for the next stretch, have your people scout and map every Mist outpost and watchpoint."
"Yes, Tsunade-sama," Hiashi nodded.
"Shikaku," Tsunade added, "put together a roster of shinobi suited for maritime combat."
"Yes, Tsunade-sama," Shikaku replied at once. Water Release users were the obvious pick—but not the only one. Lightning Release also had an edge at sea; water conducts electricity and can be decisive. Earth Release users could reshape terrain and blunt the Mist's ocean advantage.
"If nothing unexpected happens, there won't be much fighting these next few days," Tsunade said, looking to Kitazawa. "Kitazawa, you and Shizune will handle the wounded."
"Understood."
Kitazawa answered immediately.
Hiashi and the others felt a subtle jolt—if Tsunade hadn't brought it up, they might've forgotten Kitazawa was an excellent medical ninja.
"Yashiro," Tsunade continued, "escort the gravely injured back to Konoha with a team."
"Yes, Tsunade-sama," Yashiro replied quickly.
"That's all for now," Tsunade said, waving a hand. "I'll call you if anything changes."
The brief meeting ended, and Kitazawa left the tent.
"How'd it go?" Kurenai hurried over, concerned.
"The Mist have fully fallen back to the sea and plan to fight defensively," Kitazawa said after a pause. "You three should train hard these next couple of days. I'm going to help Shizune-senpai treat the wounded."
"Okay," Kurenai said, letting it drop.
"If anything confuses you, come find me," Kitazawa added, pointing to a nearby tent. "I'll be over there treating people."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei," the three—Kabuto and Uchiha Izumi among them—nodded.
Once Kitazawa left, they began training, especially Kabuto and Izumi. Besides learning Wind Release: Pressure Damage and Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work, they were going to try combining them. Kitazawa's "Composite Ninjutsu: Blazing Wild Wind Wave" against Suikazan Fuguki had awed them and boosted their confidence.
Kurenai continued getting a feel for Monster Strength. She was almost there; constant high-intensity battles at the front had rocketed her progress. Still, limited by her own physical baseline, her power was far below Kitazawa's or Tsunade's.
"Not bad, that Monster Strength of yours," a sudden voice said.
Kurenai turned on reflex—Tsunade. Startled, she hurried over.
"No need to be so tense," Tsunade waved it off. She already knew Kurenai had learned Monster Strength—after all the missions Kitazawa's team had run, it was impossible to hide.
"Since I've got a rare lull," Tsunade flexed a fist, "I'll spar with you on it."
She'd been swamped lately; the Mist's island retreat gave her a rare breather.
"Eh?" Kurenai froze a moment.
"You're the second shinobi to learn my Monster Strength," Tsunade teased with a smile. "I've gotta test your level, or you'll tarnish my name."
"Yes, Tsunade-sama," Kurenai said, taking a steadying breath.
While they squared off, Kitazawa headed to the rear of camp. A strong medicinal smell hit him, followed by stifled groans of pain. He surveyed the scene: with limited facilities, the wounded lay close together on mats—the less injured outside, the gravely injured inside, many missing arms or legs.
They were alive, but a shadow of despair hung on their faces—especially those who'd lost hands. A shinobi without hands couldn't form seals; no hands meant no more shinobi life. A prosthetic leg could be fitted, but it would still hamper combat.
Kitazawa thought of his ongoing research into a limb-regeneration medical ninjutsu. Unfortunately, it wasn't ready.
"Kitazawa, over here," Shizune waved him over.
"Rare to see you in white," he joked as he reached her.
"It helps the wounded recognize us," Shizune said, then added, "You don't need to wear one. They all know you."
"That famous?" Kitazawa blinked.
"Ask them," Shizune laughed.
"Of course we know Kitazawa-sama," a nearby patient said. "He's Tsunade-sama's student—and he's taken down two of the Seven Swordsmen."
"Kitazawa-sama saved my life yesterday," a chūnin called from not far away.
Kitazawa glanced over; he vaguely remembered the man—someone he'd pulled out while tracking Fuguki's squad.
"You're almost as famous as Tsunade-sama now," Shizune said, raising a hand to indicate a section. "That whole area is yours."
"All of that?" Kitazawa arched a brow.
"I trust your skills," Shizune replied with a smile.
"Then I'll get started," he said, and moved to the indicated patients.
Time flowed on.
[Current Mission: Help Kurenai master Monster Strength and make her offer you her heart.]
[Reward: Cursed Seal of Heaven.]
[Mission Completed. Reward Granted.]
The three lines flashed up, and Kitazawa paused for a beat. A flood of information poured into his mind. He didn't read it right away—he finished treating the patient in front of him first, then absorbed it.
Kurenai's recent progress hadn't surprised him—he'd seen it with his own eyes. The timing, though, was perfect. The Cursed Seal of Heaven was a rare sealing technique that could be used directly in combat.
Even Uchiha Sasuke with a Mangekyō Sharingan would get hard-stunned by it. If Shimura Danzō hadn't brought up Uchiha Itachi right in front of him, Kitazawa might have already finished Sasuke then and there.
In wartime, this seal would be immediately useful.
He rubbed his chin. With Kurenai done with Monster Strength, what next? In peacetime he'd teach sealing—but in war, she needed power-ups. The seal was great, but hard to learn—she might not master it before the war ended.
Another option came to mind: Wind Release: Rasengan. Combined with Water Release: Tearing Torrent, it could form the Composite Ninjutsu "Typhoon Water Vortex."
Kurenai already had the Rasengan; adding Wind Release would be much easier—though she'd still need time to train wind-nature transformation.
There was also the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique—A-rank, no easier than Wind Release: Rasengan.
Considering their "Hot-Blooded Combo" options, Wind Release: Rasengan first made more sense. If it worked out, it was buy-one-get-one: learn Wind Release: Rasengan and get Typhoon Water Vortex as a bonus.
Decision made, he didn't go looking for Kurenai immediately and continued treating the wounded.
Dusk bled into the camp.
"Kitazawa," Shizune said, slipping off her white coat. "Let's call it a day."
"Yeah," he exhaled. A full day of nonstop medical ninjutsu was tiring. Other med-nin didn't have his chakra reserves; they needed several breaks.
Kitazawa returned to his tent. Kurenai and the others had finished training. Stepping inside, he found Kurenai lying on the mat. Dried sweat marked her forehead; her hair clung together—clear signs of intense practice.
"Good work today, Kurenai," Kitazawa said, sitting down in front of her.
Her eyes were closed, but she wasn't asleep; her breathing was uneven, making her clothes rise and fall.
"I got a lot out of it," she said, looking at him with bright eyes. "And Tsunade-sama even sparred with me for half the day."
So that's why the "system mission" had completed today, Kitazawa thought. With or without Tsunade's help, it would have happened in the next day or two anyway.
"You don't need to drill Monster Strength anymore," he said, lifting her fair, smooth calf onto his thigh and kneading it. "I'm planning to teach you Wind Release: Rasengan."
"Wind Release?" Kurenai asked, a little unsure. "Can I really learn it?"
"Let's try," he said, feeling the spring of her calf. "You need at least two natures to be a jōnin anyway."
"True."
Kurenai scooted and set her other foot on his leg. The pose gave her chest a graceful curve.
"Bath first or dinner first?" he asked, glancing up.
"Dinner," she huffed. "If I bathe first, who knows if I'll get to eat."
"Nice self-awareness," Kitazawa chuckled.
"I know you too well," Kurenai murmured, sitting up to loop her arms around his neck and rest against him.
"You're the one who never knows when to quit," he said—and gave her rear a firm smack.
Her face flushed crimson. She shot him a glare and stepped out of the tent.
They ate, then returned to bathe and sleep.
The calm didn't last. The Konoha–Mist war ramped up again—but this time the roles reversed: Konoha went on the offensive, unlike before when the Mist kept landing raids.
Since the sea was the Mist's home field, Shikaku reshuffled Konoha's squads. Kitazawa's team, however, stayed intact—his Water Release plus Torune Aburame's destructive kikaichū were devastating at sea; there was no need to split them.
A month flashed by. Without any "system missions," Kitazawa didn't push as recklessly as before—he took missions every other day, leaving Kurenai, Kabuto, and Uchiha Izumi plenty of time to train new jutsu.
Night fell. Kitazawa's squad sat outside the tent eating dinner.
"By the way, did your class finish finals?" Kurenai asked suddenly.
"Long ago. They're already halfway through break," Kitazawa said, startled, then a little wistful. "I've been so busy this month I forgot."
"You can ask an Anbu," Kurenai said, taking a bite of grilled fish. Anbu couriers went back and forth to Konoha all the time.
"I'll have Itachi bring me the final rankings," Kitazawa nodded. He couldn't return to proctor the exams in wartime anyway—but seeing the rankings would give him a picture of the genius class.
"Hard to believe it's been two months since we were last in Konoha," Kurenai sighed.
"We'll be back soon, I think. The Mist can't hold much longer," Kitazawa said casually.
"I still feel like they're waiting for something," Kurenai mused, rubbing her chin.
Kitazawa was about to reply when an Anbu appeared.
"Kitazawa-sama," the operative bowed slightly. "Please come to the command tent."
"Mm."
Kitazawa finished eating and headed over. A glance around showed Hiashi, Shikaku, and the others were all present. Another jōnin meeting?
"I've just received word," Tsunade said once everyone arrived, her tone grave. "The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, is on his way here."
"What?" Hiashi, Shikaku, and the rest were visibly surprised. Even in a world of constant wars, it was rare for a Kage to personally take the field—and it usually meant their entire village was moving.
Kitazawa's brows rose. So he's finally coming. Looks like it's about time to clear another system task.