Hinata Hyuga gave up trying to think.
Her head felt light and fuzzy, filled only with a warmth and sense of safety she had never experienced before.
She didn't know how much time passed before she finally came back to herself.
Like a startled rabbit, Hinata hurriedly took two steps back. After steadying herself, she lowered her head, her face so red it looked as if steam were rising from it.
"So cute,"Kitazawa said with a smile. "Wait here for a moment."
He turned and walked north, stopping after only a few steps.
Lying in front of him was the scarf Toranosuke had discarded.
The white scarf was half-buried under fallen leaves, coated in dust, no longer clean and pristine.Kitazawa frowned slightly.
If it were only dirty, that would have been fine—but there were several tears in the fabric.
He bent down and picked it up.
[Current Task: Help your desk mate Hyuga Hinata retrieve her scarf.][Task Reward: Leaf Whirlwind.][Task completed. Reward issued.]
Leaf Whirlwind was a taijutsu technique developed by Might Guy.
A thought suddenly struck Kitazawa.
Earlier, he had been worrying about where to learn a C-rank technique, but now he had an idea.
He would go find Might Guy.
Taijutsu was still considered ninjutsu in a broad sense, and in theory didn't require a chakra nature.
He had once considered learning genjutsu from Yūhi Kurenai, but genjutsu required strong Yin affinity—without it, progress would be painfully slow.
His task required him to master a technique faster than Uchiha Sasuke's Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.
Genjutsu wasn't suitable, but taijutsu was perfect.
Especially now that he had already acquired Leaf Whirlwind.
His goal was clear: learn its advanced version, Leaf Great Whirlwind, from Might Guy.
The difference between the two lay only in an added spinning motion.
"Hinata,"Kitazawa said, glancing at the scarf. "This one can't be used anymore. I'll buy you a new one."
"Eh?"Hinata froze, then shook her head frantically. "N-no need!"
"Consider it an apology for making a decision on your behalf,"Kitazawa said with a smile.
"An apology?"Hinata asked in confusion.
"I accepted Toranosuke's one-on-one challenge for you—one month from now,"Kitazawa explained.
"M-me? Fighting him?"Hinata's voice trembled. "I… I can't…"
"You haven't even fought yet. Why say you can't?"Kitazawa squatted down and met her gaze."Hinata, you're stronger than him. You just don't know how to fight back."
Hinata stared at him blankly.
At that moment, four lines of text appeared before Kitazawa's eyes.
[Unity is strength. As class representative, you should help classmates bullied by other classes.][Current Task: Help desk mate Hyuga Hinata defeat Toranosuke.][Task Reward: Water Release: Water乱 Wave.][Accept?]
Kitazawa narrowed his eyes.
This system's rewards really were all over the place—every kind of technique imaginable.
But thinking about it carefully, it made sense.
This was the Strongest Hokage Cultivation System.
To surpass all previous Hokage, one would need to master all techniques—including kekkei genkai.
"It's fine. We still have a month. I'll train you personally,"Kitazawa said, putting away the scarf with a smile.
Hinata nodded, her face still flushed.
"I'll walk you home,"Kitazawa said, taking her small hand as they left the grove.
"G-goodbye, Kitazawa-sensei,"Hinata said from her gate, watching him leave.
Only after he disappeared from sight did she reluctantly turn and walk into the courtyard.
Kitazawa bought a similar white scarf in the shopping district before returning home.
He opened the front door and began business at his general store.
"Teuchi, please send over a bowl of chashu ramen,"Kitazawa called toward the Ichiraku Ramen stand nearby.
"Got it!"A response came quickly.
Kitazawa sat behind the counter, resting his chin on his hands.
He was thinking about how to approach Might Guy.
After only a few seconds, he decided it wasn't necessary to overthink it.
With Guy's personality, no excuse was needed—just the right keyword.
Youth.
"I'm coming in, Brother Kitazawa,"a pleasant voice said.
A girl wearing a white chef's uniform entered from outside.
It was Ayame, Teuchi's daughter.
"Thanks,"Kitazawa said, taking the chashu ramen.
"You're welcome,"Ayame replied with a bright smile, glancing at him a couple of extra times before leaving.
Like Yamanaka Ino, she was a certified looks-enthusiast in the original story.
After finishing dinner, Kitazawa returned the bowl and paid.
When he came back, he noticed someone new inside the shop.
Yūhi Kurenai was leaning against the counter, her long legs straight, her curvy hips pressed lightly against the edge.Her arms were crossed, a gentle smile on her beautiful face.
Bathed in the warm glow of dusk, she looked like a tranquil painting.
"Kurenai, looking to buy something? I'll give you a discount,"Kitazawa said with a smile as he walked over.
"Then I'll take a soda,"Kurenai said, reaching for one.
"A soda's nothing compared to the breakfast you gave me. This one's on the house,"Kitazawa said casually.
"Thank you,"Kurenai said, taking a sip."I just got back from the Kurama clan."
"Did the experience I gave you help?"Kitazawa asked curiously.
"A little,"Kurenai nodded, then sighed."But the real issue isn't me—it's Yakumo."
"Her genjutsu talent isn't good?"Kitazawa asked knowingly.
"Not that it's bad—it's too good,"Kurenai explained."Her body can't handle her genjutsu talent."
"I see,"Kitazawa said after a moment's thought."Then could she learn taijutsu?"
"That would be difficult,"Kurenai shook her head."She was born physically weak. Taijutsu isn't suitable for her."
"That is troublesome,"Kitazawa frowned slightly.
In the original story, the solution had been to eliminate the Yin Release monster Id inside Yakumo.
But right now, Id hadn't fully formed yet.
"Blocking is worse than guiding,"Kitazawa volunteered."I can try teaching her taijutsu."
In the original story, Id had been born precisely because Yakumo's parents and Kurenai stopped her from becoming a ninja.
"That's too much trouble—no need,"Kurenai refused."And I can teach her taijutsu myself."
"It's not trouble at all. We're friends, after all. Besides, under normal circumstances, she should have been my student,"Kitazawa said with a smile."I've been teaching for five years. I know how to adjust lessons to suit her body."
"But you still have work. Where would you find the time?"Kurenai asked, surprised.
"That's easy. Let her attend the Ninja Academy,"Kitazawa said calmly.
"Attend class?"Kurenai hesitated."Her parents won't agree, and her body can't handle it."
"She doesn't need to attend all day,"Kitazawa thought for a moment."I can arrange it so she only comes for practical lessons."
Kurenai fell silent.
That day, following Kitazawa's advice, she had spoken with Yakumo as an equal, as a friend.
During their conversation, she learned of Yakumo's dream of becoming a ninja.
Perhaps letting her attend school wasn't the wrong choice.
"When you're free, come with me to visit the Kurama clan,"Kurenai finally said.