Hinata Hyūga gave up thinking.
Her head felt hazy, overwhelmed by a warmth and comfort she had never known.
She didn't know how much time had passed before she finally came to her senses. Like a startled rabbit, Hinata leapt back two steps. Once steady, she lowered her head, her face flushed so red it looked as though steam were rising off her.
"You really are adorable."
Kitazawa chuckled. "Wait here a moment."
He turned northward, stopping quickly.
In front of him lay the scarf Toranosuke had discarded.
The white scarf was half-buried beneath fallen leaves, its once-clean fabric dulled by dust and dirt.
Kitazawa frowned slightly.
Dirt was nothing—but the fabric was torn in several places.
Bending down, he picked it up.
[Current mission: Help your deskmate, Hinata Hyūga, reclaim her scarf.]
[Reward: Leaf Whirlwind.]
[Mission complete. Reward granted.]
Leaf Whirlwind—taijutsu created by Might Guy.
Kitazawa's mind stirred.
Earlier, he had been troubled about where to find a C-rank jutsu to learn. Now, he had an idea.
He would go to Might Guy.
Taijutsu was also ninjutsu—and, in theory, required no elemental affinity.
He had considered studying genjutsu under Kurenai, but illusion arts demanded a Yin attribute. Without it, progress would crawl.
His current quest required him to master a jutsu faster than Sasuke learned Fire Style: Great Fireball.
Genjutsu wasn't suitable. Taijutsu, however, was perfect.
And now, he already held Leaf Whirlwind.
His target was clear: find Might Guy and learn its advanced version—Leaf Great Whirlwind.
The only difference was that the latter added a turning motion.
"Hinata."
Kitazawa glanced at the scarf. "This one's too damaged. I'll buy you a new one."
"Eh?"
Hinata froze, shaking her head quickly. "N-no… you don't need to!"
"Then think of it as compensation for a choice I made on your behalf."
Kitazawa smiled.
"Compensation?" Hinata asked, confused.
"Toranosuke challenged you to a one-on-one match a month from now. I accepted for you."
"Me? Fight him?" Hinata's voice trembled. "I… I can't…"
"You haven't even fought yet—why say you can't?"
Kitazawa crouched to meet her eyes. "Hinata, your strength surpasses his. You just don't know how to resist."
Hinata stared blankly at him.
Then, four lines of text appeared before Kitazawa's eyes.
[Unity is strength. As class rep, you must help classmates bullied by others.]
[Current mission: Help your deskmate, Hinata Hyūga, defeat Toranosuke.]
[Reward: Water Style: Wild Water Wave.]
[Accept mission?]
Kitazawa narrowed his eyes.
The system's rewards really were all over the place—random ninjutsu of every kind.
But thinking deeper, it made sense.
It was, after all, the "Strongest Hokage Training System."
To surpass every Hokage, one had to master all ninjutsu—including Kekkei Genkai.
"Don't worry. There's a whole month. I'll train you myself."
Kitazawa tucked away the scarf and smiled.
Hinata blushed and nodded.
"I'll walk you home."
He gently held her hand, leading her out of the grove.
"Goodbye, Kitazawa-sensei."
Standing at her gate, Hinata watched him leave. Only after he vanished did she reluctantly step inside.
Kitazawa, meanwhile, went to the shopping street, bought a nearly identical white scarf, and then returned home.
He opened the shop doors, starting another day of business.
"Teuchi, send me a bowl of char siu ramen!" Kitazawa called toward Ichiraku's ramen stand.
"Got it!" came the reply.
Kitazawa sat at the counter, chin in hands, pondering how best to approach Might Guy.
After a few seconds, he realized—he didn't need a reason.
With Guy's personality, all he needed was the right password.
Something like… "youth."
"I'm coming in, Kitazawa-nii!"
A sweet voice rang out.
A girl in a white chef's uniform stepped inside.
It was Ayame, Teuchi's daughter.
"Thanks."
Kitazawa accepted the steaming ramen with a nod.
"You're welcome."
Ayame smiled brightly, sneaking a couple of extra glances at him as she left.
Like Ino, she was something of a face-connoisseur in the original story.
Kitazawa finished dinner, returned the bowl, paid, and headed back.
But when he stepped inside, he found someone waiting.
Kurenai leaned against the counter, her long legs straight, her round hips pressed by the wood.
Arms crossed, her beautiful face wore a faint smile.
In the warm dusk light, she looked like a painting brought to life.
"Kurenai, looking for something? I'll give you a discount," Kitazawa joked, approaching.
"Then I'll take a soda."
Kurenai reached out, picking one up.
"One soda can't compare to the breakfast you gave me. It's on the house."
Kitazawa waved it off.
"Thanks."
She took a sip. "I just returned from the Kurama clan."
"Did the advice I gave you help?" Kitazawa asked curiously.
"A little." She nodded, then sighed. "But the real issue isn't me—it's Yakumo."
"Her genjutsu talent isn't good?" Kitazawa asked knowingly.
"It's not that it isn't good. It's too good." Kurenai explained, "Her body can't endure the level of talent she possesses."
"I see."
Kitazawa thought for a moment. "Then can't she train taijutsu instead?"
"Difficult." Kurenai shook her head. "She's frail by nature. She can't handle taijutsu."
"Troublesome indeed." Kitazawa frowned slightly.
In the original story, the solution had been to destroy Ido—the Yin monster inside Kurama Yakumo.
But right now, Ido had not yet fully awakened.
"Better to guide than to block," Kitazawa said. "I can try teaching her taijutsu."
In the original timeline, Ido only manifested because Yakumo's parents and Kurenai stopped her from becoming a shinobi.
"Too much trouble. No need," Kurenai refused. "Besides, I can teach her taijutsu myself."
"It's not trouble—we're friends. And truthfully, she should've been my student anyway." Kitazawa smiled. "I taught for five years. I know how to adjust lessons for a weak body."
"You still have work. Where would you find time to train her?" Kurenai asked, surprised.
"That's easy. She can attend the Academy."
Kitazawa's tone was calm.
"Attend class?" Doubt flickered on Kurenai's face. "Her parents won't agree, and her body won't hold up."
"She doesn't need to attend the whole day." Kitazawa thought aloud. "I can arrange for her to join only practical lessons."
Kurenai fell silent.
Today, following Kitazawa's advice, she had approached Yakumo as an equal, from the standpoint of a friend.
Through that conversation, she had learned the girl's dream of becoming a shinobi.
Perhaps… letting her attend wasn't such a mistake.
"Find a day you're free. Come with me to the Kurama clan," Kurenai finally said.