"So Danzo-sama wants me to be Root's spy reporting to the Third Hokage?"
Kitagawa's smile was innocent and guileless—the picture of someone unfamiliar with the ways of the world, very direct.
Danzo's expression didn't change, but his voice deepened. "No. This is all for the village. Root is the guardian in the village's darkness. We require sufficient power."
"In fact, you're free to report this meeting with me to Hiruzen."
Kitagawa nodded. "I understand."
"So then..."
"What benefit will Danzo-sama offer me?"
Danzo actually froze for a moment. He genuinely hadn't expected Kitagawa to discuss compensation so bluntly.
I'm talking about protecting the village, about duty and righteousness, and you're asking me for payment? That's not appropriate.
But Danzo said nothing.
Seeing Danzo's silence, Kitagawa looked genuinely confused. "Danzo-sama, did you expect me to work for free?"
The Root operative at Danzo's side immediately barked, "Kitagawa, serving Danzo-sama is an honor. You should—"
Danzo raised his hand, and the operative's voice cut off instantly.
He suddenly felt that recruiting Kitagawa was indeed the right call.
This kind of person was reliable to work with—and easy to discard if needed.
Originally, he'd just wanted Kitagawa as a one-time messenger and a loose piece on the board.
Now Danzo thought—maybe this mercenary character could actually become a proper spy for him.
So he asked, "What do you want?"
Kitagawa's eyes drifted to the forehead protector bound on Danzo's head. He wanted it badly.
Equipment: Danzo's Forehead Protector
Trait: Kage-Level Wind Style Talent, Jonin-Level Genjutsu Talent, Jonin-Level Blade Art, Jonin-Level Sealing Jutsu Talent
Note: Dwelling in darkness, your heart turned toward light. The position of Hokage shall be mine.
Three separate talent traits, plus jonin-level blade art—the most trait-rich equipment he'd seen so far.
Too tempting!
But Kitagawa restrained himself. A ninja's forehead protector held special significance.
So his gaze shifted to the Root operative beside Danzo.
Equipment: Root-Issue Ninja Blade
Trait: Jonin-Level Wind Style Talent, Chunin-Level Blade Art
Note: Willingly dwelling in darkness, silently protecting the village.
"I want that blade!"
Kitagawa pointed at the sword on the operative's back.
Danzo's brow furrowed slightly. His eyes showed confusion and surprise. He'd prepared himself for Kitagawa to make outrageous demands.
That's it?
Kitagawa noticed Danzo's expression and quickly added, "And ninjutsu. I need Earth Style, Water Style, and Wind Style jutsu."
There we go.
Danzo felt better. But he said, "Your appetite isn't small."
Kitagawa smiled. "Danzo-sama flatters me. Though this is for the village, I'm ultimately betraying the Third Hokage."
"Even though I'm just an unremarkable school teacher, I think my betrayal is worth this price."
Danzo slowly turned around. "No problem. The ninjutsu you need will be delivered to you, along with the blade."
"However, I also hope you'll display the same keen eye that caught the spy today."
The words carried an implicit threat.
Take the benefits and you deliver results. Otherwise, you're worthless.
Danzo then vanished with Body Flicker. The Root operative left the blade behind and departed as well.
The night wind blew through Kitagawa's hair as he watched the two disappear into darkness. So it really was because of the spy this morning.
Because he happened to catch a lurking spy, Danzo showed up? Isn't that a bit obvious?
Or is there something hidden underneath?
Kitagawa thought for a moment, then turned and headed to the Hokage Tower.
The Third Hokage was still in his office, so Kitagawa was received quickly.
As someone from the loyal Hokage faction, Kitagawa naturally reported Danzo's sinister intentions.
And Danzo himself had said—you can tell Hiruzen.
If Kitagawa didn't tell, wouldn't he be wasting Danzo's consideration?
The Third Hokage listened to Kitagawa's report calmly. "I see. Go ahead and do as Danzo requests, then submit a list to me."
Kitagawa didn't ask why. He simply nodded. "Understood."
Seeing Kitagawa's exhausted expression, the Third spoke gently. "That's all for now. Go home and get some rest."
Kitagawa bowed and exited the Hokage's office.
He wasn't dwelling on the situation, nor did he plan to investigate the complex relationship between the Third and Danzo—those two seemed like they loved and hated each other in equal measure.
Kitagawa just wanted equipment!
Though Danzo's gear wasn't easy to acquire. He'd need to take his time.
Back home, Kitagawa took a comfortable shower to ease his exhaustion, then headed to the study.
He was naturally attuned to Water and Earth Style. You could say those were his highest natural affinities.
Of course, excluding Yin-Yang, which couldn't be detected by chakra paper.
Earth Style was great for defense; Heart Piercing Decapitation lacked killing power.
Water Dragon Bullet wasn't bad, but for pure destructive force, you needed Wind Style.
With a thought, the Root operative's blade appeared in Kitagawa's hand.
The traits had already fused. Jonin-Level Wind Style Talent—decent enough.
Plus a ready-to-use Chunin-Level Blade Art, so Kitagawa decided to actually use this blade himself rather than storing it permanently. It'd save him money on buying his own ninja blade.
As for the small-print side effect: Willingly dwelling in darkness, silently protecting the village.
Kitagawa thought—isn't that exactly who he is right now?
Cheating with a power system, yet willingly serving as a school teacher, nurturing talent for the village. Appearing to stand in sunlight, yet protecting the village in ways no one sees. Isn't that dwelling in darkness?
"Man, I really am too kind!"
Kitagawa got emotional and wiped his eyes.
Jonin-level Wind Style talent—about the level of Maki. Not as strong as Danzo, but not bad.
Water Dragon Bullet is almost complete. Perfect time to develop Wind Style nature transformation.
Bit by bit, I'll master all seven chakra natures—Water, Earth, Wind, Fire, Lightning, Wood, Yin-Yang!
Kitagawa's ambitions were massive.
After all, I've got a cheat code. Might as well be ambitious.
Two days passed in a blur.
That evening, when Kitagawa returned home, he found three scrolls on his study desk.
Did Danzo's people drop these off?
Kitagawa frowned and carefully created a shadow clone to inspect the scrolls.
Sure enough: Earth Style, Water Style, and Wind Style jutsu.
B-Rank Water Prison Technique, C-Rank Waterfall Basin Technique.
B-Rank Earth Style: Heavenly Collapse, B-Rank Earth Style: Heavenly Adhesive Clay.
C-Rank Wind Style: Great Breakthrough, B-Rank Wind Style: Wind Cutter Technique.
Six jutsu total. Danzo's being generous!
But Kitagawa wasn't happy.
He broke into my home without permission. That's disrespectful.
A warning, perhaps?
Kitagawa smirked. Danzo really doesn't have much class.
Still, the jutsu were solid. He liked them.
Since he'd taken the benefits, he'd do the work.
Whether Danzo actually used his recommendations? That was none of his business.
Kitagawa smiled to himself, then sat down to study the jutsu scrolls carefully.
Among the Water Style techniques, the one that left the deepest impression was Water Severing Wave.
But that was S-Rank. It was normal that Danzo didn't include it.
Water Dragon Bullet is already mastered. Next is Wind Style. Other Water and Earth techniques can wait.
Kitagawa made his plan. Unlike Naruto, I can't spawn tons of clones for grinding.
Even though his chakra reserves had been rising through training since acquiring Iron Body, using a shadow clone for Six Techniques development during the day was already his limit.
And body training doesn't benefit clones.
Plus, his real focus was body conditioning and developing Kitagawa's Six Techniques!
Six Techniques plus two-tomoe Sharingan's dynamic vision—that gives me way more power!
And I need Six Techniques to train Gai!
Might as well commit to it. I'm going to raise a taijutsu genius.
Who knows, maybe Gai will drop equipment for me too.
Getting equipment beats grinding my own power any day.
The night passed quietly.
Saturday morning, after dawn training and breakfast, Kitagawa showered, changed clothes, and headed to Tsunade's house again.
It's been two weeks since the last home visit. Time to check in.