The Genius Class at the Ninja Academy had a one-month summer break—roughly four weeks in total.
Only half of it had passed, meaning Kimimaro, Tayuya, and Jugo couldn't enroll just yet.
For now, they would remain at the orphanage, where Kabuto could guide them around the village and help them acclimate to their new surroundings.
After all, if things went as expected, they wouldn't be returning to Otogakure anytime soon.
Orochimaru's current situation made any kind of escape nearly impossible.
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei," Kabuto said immediately. He was sharp enough to grasp the unspoken details.
From just one sentence, he understood everything.
Kimimaro and the others were no different from Haku—former hostages who had now found a place under Konoha's protection. Their futures were clear: either the Genius Class or the Anbu.
"From now on," Kitazawa added, suddenly remembering, "the three of you will call me sensei—just like Kabuto does."
"I won't!"
Tayuya crossed her arms, glaring defiantly.
"Why not?" Kitazawa asked lightly, raising his hand. With a teasing smile, he flicked her forehead. "If you can't beat me, you have to call me that."
Tayuya winced, clutching her forehead. "Tch…!" She glared daggers at him.
"I could always ask Orochimaru to revoke your place in Otogakure," Kitazawa said with feigned innocence.
That did the trick. Tayuya froze, her expression faltering.
He folded his arms. "Well? What should you call me?"
Her lips trembled before she finally muttered, "Ki… Kitazawa-sensei."
Kimimaro and Jugo, ever the pragmatic ones, followed immediately. "Kitazawa-sensei."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, suppressing a smile.
He could tell that Tayuya wasn't truly loyal to Konoha yet—but that didn't matter. Kitazawa had already explained the best way to handle her.
Use Orochimaru.
Once someone had a weakness, they were easy to control.
"Kabuto, I'll leave the rest to you," Kitazawa said, patting his shoulder. "Take them around Konoha for the next few days."
"Understood."
"When can we see Lord Orochimaru?" Kimimaro asked quietly.
Kitazawa thought for a moment. "That won't be difficult. When you have time, Kabuto can take you to his laboratory."
That was enough to reassure him.
Kitazawa left the orphanage soon after, heading toward the Hokage Building.
A gentle knock sounded at the office door.
"Come in," Tsunade called.
"Tsunade-sensei."
Kitazawa stepped inside.
"Working with Orochimaru turned out to be the right decision," Tsunade said with a faint smile. "These are the results he's shared so far."
She handed him a stack of documents.
Kitazawa glanced through them quickly. Three core areas of research were detailed within: genetic modification, cloning technology, and the Cursed Seal system.
Genetic modification referred primarily to experiments involving Hashirama cells.
Cloning technology was linked to Uchiha Shin, though it was still in its infancy—far from the advanced level where mass-produced Sharingan and Mangekyō were possible.
And the Cursed Seal covered both Heaven and Earth Release variations.
"Genetic modification isn't immediately practical," Kitazawa said after a brief pause. "But cloning… that could revolutionize limb regeneration in medical ninjutsu."
Tsunade's eyes brightened. "You're right. With cloning technology, we could significantly reduce the side effects of regrown tissue."
"I thought you'd object to cloning," Kitazawa said with a faint grin. "Given how much it treads on ethical lines."
"We'll draw a line," Tsunade replied firmly. "We can clone organs—not people."
Kitazawa nodded. "Agreed. The last thing we need is a clone of me walking around Konoha."
Tsunade chuckled, then her expression hardened. "I'll have Nonō supervise the research personally. If anyone abuses it, there will be no leniency."
Her tone left no room for argument.
"What do you think of the Cursed Seals?" Kitazawa asked, setting the report down.
"It's ingenious—essentially a primitive version of Sage Mode—but the mortality rate is far too high." Tsunade frowned. "I'd prefer not to use it at all."
Kitazawa nodded thoughtfully. In the original Otogakure records, there had only been five successful Earth Release Cursed Seal users. The rest had perished during implantation.
"The best option is to improve it," Kitazawa said calmly. "Orochimaru's in Konoha now—why not have him modify it himself?"
Tsunade blinked, then laughed lightly. "You're right. I almost forgot we have the inventor on hand."
Her expression turned serious again. "With his longevity and expertise, I'm sure he'll refine it soon enough."
Kitazawa suppressed a small smile. That's one way to describe it.
He shifted topics. "There's also the matter of Kimimaro, Tayuya, and Jugo. I plan to add them to the Genius Class once the break ends."
"You're the teacher," Tsunade said with a dismissive wave. "Do as you see fit."
"Understood."
He turned to leave, but paused at the door. "Anything else, Hokage-sama?"
Tsunade's lips curved into a teasing smile. "Actually, yes. You're having dinner with us tonight."
"Us?" Kitazawa raised an eyebrow. "Who else is joining?"
"Orochimaru, Jiraiya… and the old man," she said. "Jiraiya returned this morning. The first thing he did was pay Orochimaru a visit."
Kitazawa smiled faintly. "So Jiraiya finally got his wish."
He could already imagine the chaos that dinner would bring.
The Legendary Sannin reunited under one roof again.
And he, somehow, was part of the seating arrangement.
"He's always boasting, yet it took him years to finally catch just one Orochimaru."
Tsunade snorted softly, shaking her head with a faint smile. "Honestly… he's not as good as me." She paused, then added with a glance toward him, "Or you, for that matter."
Kitazawa blinked, surprised by the casual praise. Coming from Tsunade, it meant something.
He had played a crucial role in Orochimaru's capture—locating him, fighting him, and even subduing the Eight-Headed Serpent itself. Without Kitazawa, Tsunade doubted she could have done it alone.
"With our teacher-and-student combo," Kitazawa said playfully, "we'll conquer the entire shinobi world."
"Don't get ahead of yourself." Tsunade rolled her eyes, though a small smirk tugged at her lips. "We still have a long way to go before you start crowning yourself emperor."
"Six o'clock tonight," she continued, changing the subject. "Izakaya near my house. Don't be late."
"Got it. Wouldn't miss it for the world."
Kitazawa grinned. The legendary Sannin sharing a table again—there was no way he'd skip that.
That afternoon, after leaving the Hokage's office, Kitazawa returned home.
He spent his time training, focusing on mastering a new jutsu—Wood Release: Silent Killing Binding Technique.
As the name suggested, it bound the target with creeping branches that constricted the throat, silencing them completely. Lethal and subtle—a true assassination jutsu.
By the time he'd finished practicing, the sun was dipping low. Kitazawa washed up and made his way to the izakaya.
He arrived a bit late—and found Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Hiruzen already seated together.
But there was still one person missing.
"Where's Tsunade?" Hiruzen asked, raising an eyebrow at Kitazawa. "How is it that the host herself is the last to arrive?"
"Old man, Tsunade's the Hokage now," Jiraiya said, laughing. "Probably stuck with paperwork. It's normal for her to run late."
"Haha! That's true." Hiruzen chuckled, stroking his beard. "In that case, I'll pour myself a penalty drink later."
His laughter was hearty, genuine—he was in a good mood tonight.
After all, since Orochimaru's defection, he'd never imagined he'd sit at the same table with all three of his students again. For a teacher, it was a rare moment of peace.
"You really shouldn't drink so much at your age," Jiraiya teased.
"What's age got to do with it?" Hiruzen huffed, glaring at him. "Tonight, I'll drink you under the table!"
Jiraiya chuckled. "If it's a drinking contest, Orochimaru should be your real opponent." He pointed across the table. "He's the real heavyweight here."
"Don't drag me into your nonsense," Orochimaru replied coolly.
"Damn it!" Jiraiya slammed the table. "I should've brought Tsunade with me—she'd knock some sense into you!"
"Do you even have that kind of skill yourself?" Orochimaru asked, his golden eyes narrowing with quiet amusement.
"Wanna test it?" Jiraiya shot back instantly, standing up. "Let's step outside. I'll show you my Sage Mode."
"Sage Mode?" Orochimaru's lips curled faintly. "I've already developed my own."
Jiraiya blinked, suspicion written all over his face. "Oh, really now?"
Hiruzen chuckled before things escalated. "Orochimaru's telling the truth," he said. "He's created a Cursed Seal—one that mimics the effects of Sage Mode. In terms of research… he's probably not far behind."
"Cough—right, uh, I'll… go check if Tsunade's arrived yet." Jiraiya quickly backed down, scratching his head as he stood.
He wasn't about to get humiliated in front of his teacher, Tsunade, and Kitazawa all at once.
Moments later, a familiar voice rang out from the doorway.
"Why are there always a million things to do? Being Hokage is not worth it!"
Tsunade stepped in, looking as fiery as ever.
"I never expected you to wear that hat," Orochimaru said with a small smile.
He had once thought the title of Hokage would be his—until Minato appeared, changing everything. Then Minato died, and Orochimaru assumed Jiraiya would take it.
But fate had a strange sense of humor.
"Because someone didn't care enough about Konoha," Tsunade shot back coldly.
"I care deeply about Konoha!" Jiraiya protested. "I just… don't live here very often!"
Orochimaru poured himself a drink, smirking faintly. "So, have you found your 'Child of Prophecy' yet?"
"Pour me one too," Jiraiya said, sliding his cup over.
Tsunade wordlessly pushed hers forward as well.
Orochimaru sighed but obliged, filling each of their cups, and then one for Hiruzen too.
Kitazawa reached for the bottle before Orochimaru could get to him. "I'll pour my own."
As the youngest at the table, he knew his place.
"I thought I'd found the Child of Prophecy once," Jiraiya said after a moment, taking a long sip. "But I was wrong."
Everyone knew he was talking about Minato.
"Well, you're his teacher," Orochimaru said lightly. "Maybe your prophecy will find its way back to Konoha someday."
Jiraiya shook his head. "The Child of Prophecy might not even be from Konoha. Waiting around here won't make him appear."
"Searching won't help either," Orochimaru countered. "You'll only chase shadows."
"Enough of that," Jiraiya said finally, raising his cup. "It's rare for the four of us—teacher and students—to be together again. Let's drink to that."
Hiruzen smiled, lifting his cup. "Agreed."
Tsunade followed, then turned to Kitazawa. "You too."
"Kitazawa," Hiruzen added warmly, "you're the reason we're all sitting here tonight. You've earned your place at this table."
Kitazawa blinked, then smiled faintly. He raised his cup, clinked glasses with them, and drank.
The warmth of the sake spread through him—not just from the alcohol, but from the rare sight before him.
The Sannin. Their teacher. And him—woven into their story.
"Speaking of Kitazawa…" Hiruzen said suddenly, stroking his beard with a twinkle in his eye. "Jiraiya, Orochimaru—you two should step up your game. The new generation's Sannin is missing two spots."
"Students like him don't come often," Orochimaru said quietly.
Even though he'd been defeated by Kitazawa, there was genuine admiration in his voice.
For the first time in a long while, all four laughed together.
And for one fleeting moment, the chaos of the shinobi world felt far away.
As for Orochimaru's current student, Anko Mitarashi… Kitazawa couldn't help but sigh inwardly. She was earnest and fiery, but compared to him, her teacher, she was simply not in the same league.
Her growth had stagnated long ago—and in truth, it was largely Orochimaru's fault.
His defection had left her without guidance, her potential buried under the weight of betrayal.
"That's to be expected," Tsunade said, her lips curling into a knowing smile. "It won't be easy to gather another trio worthy of the title Konoha's Sannin."
Kitazawa didn't say it aloud, but a thought flickered in his mind.
Not necessarily impossible.
After all, Konoha had two walking miracles—Naruto and Sasuke. Both of them carried the kind of power and destiny that bent history itself.
The only problem?
They were his students.
It would look strange, wouldn't it? A teacher and his own students being called the "New Sannin."
And besides, the rest of the ninja world would never view them as equals in that formation.
Still, it wasn't out of reach. They only needed a third shinobi of equal caliber from their generation.
Sakura came to mind immediately—her chakra control, potential in medical ninjutsu, and raw determination.
Another possible candidate was Kabuto, if Kitazawa could train him as the successor of Shikkotsu Forest.
The real challenge lay elsewhere.
If Naruto and Sasuke were to mirror the original Sannin, then Naruto would inherit Mount Myōboku's Sage Arts, while Sasuke… would need Ryūchi Cave.
The first part was easy; Jiraiya was still alive and willing to teach.
But the second?
That was complicated.
In this timeline, Orochimaru was under Konoha's supervision—and there was no way he'd teach Sasuke Sage Mode now.
Just then, a familiar system prompt flashed before Kitazawa's eyes.
Current Mission: Form the New Konoha's Sannin.
Reward: Sage Art—Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands.
Accept?
Kitazawa nearly choked on his drink.
That jutsu?
Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands—the ultimate jutsu of Senju Hashirama, powerful enough to suppress the Nine-Tails and Susanoo.
His first thought: This mission is insane.
Did he really have to create the New Sannin himself—with his students—and have the entire ninja world recognize them as equals to the originals?
But then, he noticed something interesting in the mission description.
It didn't say he had to be one of them.
That made things… easier. Not easy, but possible.
Still, forming a new generation of Sannin meant more than strength—it required reputation.
And right now, even with their potential, Naruto and Sasuke hadn't reached that level yet.
But a reward like True Several Thousand Hands?
That wasn't something Kitazawa could pass up.
He accepted instantly.
"What's wrong?" Tsunade asked, noticing his brief pause.
"I just… choked on my drink," Kitazawa replied smoothly, smiling.
"Don't overthink it," Jiraiya said, raising his cup lazily. "The next generation will find its own path. There's no need to force another trio of Sannin."
"Well said," Hiruzen agreed with a fond smile.
Even now, the Third Hokage couldn't help but feel sentimental.
He'd once dreamed his three disciples—Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru—would shape the world together.
Yet life had taken them down three very different roads.
The four of them continued talking, drinking, and reminiscing.
Kitazawa mostly sat back, pouring drinks, occasionally joining in. He knew his place among legends.
"This is the happiest meal I've had in a long time," Hiruzen said warmly, his cheeks flushed from drink.
"Same here, old man!" Jiraiya slurred, throwing an arm around his teacher's shoulders.
Tsunade was drunk too, her face rosy as she swayed slightly in her seat. Kitazawa subtly moved closer, ready to catch her if she fell.
Only Orochimaru remained sober, his sharp golden eyes reflecting the candlelight. Watching them all, he felt a strange, bittersweet nostalgia.
For a fleeting moment, it almost felt like old times again.
But deep down, he knew things could never truly go back.
He was still a prisoner—no matter how warm the laughter around him sounded.
"O-Orochimaru," Jiraiya mumbled, "where are you staying these days?"
"The Sarutobi clan compound," Orochimaru replied flatly.
It was the safest place for Konoha—and the easiest for Hiruzen to keep an eye on him.
"Then it's settled!" Jiraiya grinned. "I'll stay with you tonight!"
"I refuse."
"Refuse all you want, it's useless!" Jiraiya declared proudly, then looked at Hiruzen. "Old man, back me up here!"
"The more, the merrier," Hiruzen said with a laugh. "Let's all go together."
Tsunade sighed, wobbling to her feet. "We're heading back. See you tomorrow, old man."
Her and Kitazawa's home wasn't far from here.
As she stumbled down the street, Kitazawa caught her just in time, his hand steady at her waist.
Tsunade turned her head, eyes half-lidded from sake. For a second, she simply stared at him—then stopped walking altogether.
"What's wrong?" Kitazawa asked.
"I'm tired," she muttered, yawning. "You… carry me."
Before he could protest, she hopped onto his back, arms looping around his neck, thighs locking around his waist.
The warmth, the softness—Kitazawa's mouth twitched as he caught her legs for balance.
"You really are something else," he sighed, adjusting her weight. "It's literally a two-minute walk."
"Stop whining," Tsunade said, pinching his cheek playfully. "I'm your teacher."
Kitazawa smirked. "You'll regret saying that."
He gave her a playful smack on the rear.
"Do you have a death wish?!" Tsunade yelped, kicking him twice.
And so, the two bickered the entire way home—teacher and student, Hokage and heir apparent, looking more like a squabbling pair than anything else.
When they finally reached home, Shizune rushed out to help.
"Lady Tsunade!" she exclaimed, taking her arm.
"This Kitazawa," Tsunade muttered under her breath, cheeks red for more than one reason. "Needs a proper lesson one of these days!"
"Lady Tsunade," Shizune said helplessly, "he carried you all the way home. Why are you scolding him?"
Tsunade froze, lips parting, then huffed. "Never mind. I'm going to sleep."
Shizune could only sigh.
The long night passed quietly.
By morning, Kitazawa had breakfast with Kurenai, then headed to the Ninja Academy.
He hadn't been there in three days, but Naruto and the others hadn't slacked off.
After giving them a few pointers, he moved to the side of the field for training.
Elsewhere, Jiraiya stayed in the village for two more days—mostly hovering near Orochimaru's new lab—before departing once again.
Two uneventful weeks later, the summer vacation came to an end.
And as the new semester began, Kitazawa couldn't help but feel it—the calm before the next storm.
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