"Kitazawa-sensei, what's our mission this time?"
Ino immediately walked to his left side, looping her arm through his and leaning in with a smug look—making sure Sakura saw it.
"So childish…" Sakura muttered, puffing her cheeks.
"We're heading to the Land of Rivers," Kitazawa said. "Our target is a rogue Iwagakure jonin named Jushin."
"A jonin?"
Both Ino and Sakura's eyes widened.
Only Kimimaro remained unshaken.
His upbringing made him react only to missions, not emotions.
"With the three of you working together, taking down an ordinary jonin is perfectly manageable," Kitazawa said, patting Ino's head. "Don't act so shocked."
He had already investigated Jushin through ANBU—just a standard, unimpressive jonin.
The kind of ninja Minato would have one-shotted in the war.
"But… that still sounds difficult," Sakura whispered, frowning in thought.
Realistically, she and Ino were barely chunin-level.
"Hard? So what?" Ino declared, fists clenched. "If Kitazawa-sensei says we can do it, we can!"
"You have a full day before reaching the Land of Rivers," Kitazawa said, flicking her forehead. "Use that time to figure out your teamwork. Confidence is fine—just don't get cocky. You're fighting a jonin."
"I knooow," Ino replied, smiling sweetly before dragging Sakura over to Kimimaro.
Kimimaro offered little input, but both girls knew his capabilities and built their plan around him accordingly.
After entering the country, Kitazawa didn't rush them into combat.
Instead, he let the team rest for the night.
Kimimaro, Ino, and Sakura hid among the branches, only their eyes visible as they watched the road below.
They were waiting for Kitazawa to lure their target.
Jushin lived in the nearby town, but fighting inside would risk civilian casualties.
Thus—an ambush.
"He's here!" Ino whispered, spotting a figure approaching at high speed.
"Execute the plan," Sakura ordered immediately.
Kimimaro nodded.
The man halted before the grove—Jushin.
He stood still, scanning the area, clearly suspicious.
Where had the ninja he chased suddenly vanished to?
At that moment, a flurry of bright petals drifted out from the grove.
Jushin stiffened.
Exploding tags?
He quickly formed hand seals—
Earth Release: Earth Wall!
A thick earth barrier rose in front of him.
Boom!
Ino's specially crafted petal bombs detonated, cracks webbing across the earth wall.
Jushin leapt back on instinct.
The wall shattered—and ten white streaks shot toward him at terrifying speed.
His eyes widened.
What—?
He flung out handfuls of kunai, metal ringing sharply as they collided with the streaks.
Only when the barrage halted did he see them clearly.
Bones?
His momentary shock cost him.
A water dragon roared into existence, steam swirling off its scales as it barreled toward him.
Earth Release: Stone Pillar Spear!
Rock spikes erupted from the earth, racing upward to impale the water dragon—
But the dragon twisted sharply midair, slipping past, then lunging straight for him.
"Excellent chakra control…" Jushin muttered despite himself.
He clapped his hands.
Earth Release: Earth Replacement!
The water dragon obliterated the earthen decoy, buying him just enough time to reappear some distance away.
Jushin eyed the grove warily.
Charging in blindly would be suicide—it was clearly rigged with traps.
Instead, he turned and began retreating.
If they want me trapped here, I'll force them to chase me into open ground.
Wind suddenly howled behind him.
Jushin reacted instantly—just as he expected—and his hands blurred through seals.
Earth Release: Mudslide!
He spun, slammed his fist into the ground, and the earth split open.
A wave of churning mud surged forward like a brown tsunami.
"Shikotsumyaku?"
He looked up—and froze.
Kimimaro's figure appeared through the haze, a blade of bone gleaming pale in his hand.
Recognition flashed across Jushin's face.
The Kaguya Clan's name carried a terror not far from the Uchiha and their Sharingan.
One glance was enough.
How is there still a Kaguya alive? And why is he after me?
He had no time to dwell on it.
The mudslide thundered forward—but a roaring water dragon intercepted it, halting the torrent in a foaming stalemate.
Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Camellia!
Kimimaro leapt from atop the water dragon, drawing a bone blade from his arm.
With a burst of white arcs, countless slashes ripped through the air.
Pressure spiked in Jushin's chest.
He quickly raised another earth wall—
It held for one second.
Just one.
Then it exploded.
Jushin was already waiting for this moment.
Earth Release: Rock Bullet Technique!
He spat a rock reinforced with chakra—it shot forward like a cannon shell.
Kimimaro crossed his forearms.
Bony protrusions burst through his skin, forming a shield.
Boom!
The collision sent Kimimaro hurtling backward.
"So he's only chunin-level."
Jushin exhaled sharply, confidence returning.
If Kimimaro were truly a jonin, paired with Shikotsumyaku, Jushin would've been overwhelmed already.
Kimimaro was still airborne when three Sakuras burst out of the trees.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!
The center Sakura remained on the ground forming seals, while the two flanking clones lunged at Jushin.
"Where did these brats come from…?"
Their ages didn't match their strength at all.
Which meant—
There had to be a squad leader nearby.
He couldn't find Kitazawa's presence, but dealing with the immediate attacks came first.
Earth Release: Earth Dragon!
A massive stone dragon erupted from the ground.
It crashed through Sakura's water dragon like paper and lunged at her.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
Sakura raised a water barrier and dove aside.
At the same moment, the second Sakura was already at Jushin's front.
"Hmph?"
Jushin noticed something wrong.
Weren't there two clones?
Where did the third go?
He kicked out and the Sakura before him burst into smoke.
But before he could reorient—
A storm of petals erupted around him, cutting off his vision.
A faint whoosh cut through the patterned swirl.
Jushin looked up—
Ino descended from above.
"So that's where she was hiding."
He smirked.
Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique!
Ino met his gaze.
Jushin's eyes glazed for a fraction of a second—Then he snapped out of it, forcibly dispelling the illusion.
His throat bulged—
Earth Release: Rock Bullet Technique!
A new rock began to form.
But Ino didn't push the attack.
She twisted midair and retreated instantly—
Because her job was already done.
The roaring wind behind Jushin signaled it.
Kimimaro had arrived.
Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Camellia!
The bone blade blurred—deadly, precise.
Jushin instinctively attempted to raise another earth wall.
It appeared—
But his relief lasted less than a breath.
A bone spike pierced clean through it—
And then through his heart.
Jushin froze, mouth opening as blood bubbled forth.
The wall crumbled behind him.
Only then did he see Kimimaro's changed form—skin gray, markings spread across his body, and demonic bone growths twisting from his back.
Curse Mark of Earth: Second State.
Jushin had miscalculated.
He assumed Kimimaro's earlier power was his limit.
But the Curse Mark amplified everything—strength, speed, lethality.
He never stood a chance.
Kimimaro twisted his blade, ending it cleanly.
Jushin collapsed backward, eyes dimming as he sank into silence.
"We won!" Ino shouted, pumping a fist.
"We… we actually killed a jonin?" Sakura blinked hard, disbelief written all over her face.
In her imagination, a jonin fight was supposed to be overwhelming.
Yet she had only used three Water Release techniques—and victory came shockingly smoothly.
"Ninja warfare," Kitazawa said as he stepped out of hiding, "is information warfare."
He tapped Ino's head lightly.
"You succeeded because he didn't know anything about your abilities—Kimimaro's Curse Mark or Shikotsumyaku. That ignorance made him choose the worst possible reaction."
Sakura slowly nodded.
"Yes… that makes sense."
"And!" Ino flipped her hair proudly. "My genjutsu was the key distraction."
"It was my Water Release and your genjutsu," Sakura shot back immediately. "We split his attention."
"But my genjutsu did more!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Alright, enough."
Kitazawa stepped between them, ruffling Ino's hair.
"You all did exceptionally well."
"Kitazawa-sensei!" Ino leaned into his hand like a pleased cat. "So how many points do I get?"
"Don't worry," Kitazawa said with a smile. "It'll be a very high score."
"What about me? Can I get a higher score than Ino?"
Sakura asked before Ino could even inhale.
"Based on what you just did, why would your score be higher than mine?"
Ino shot back immediately, hands on her hips and eyes full of challenge.
"Look at you two—arguing again."
Kitazawa laughed softly. "You'll both get the same score."
"Hmph. Since Kitazawa-sensei said so, I'll graciously accept a tie this time."
Ino flicked her hair and gave Sakura a smug side-eye. "But next time, when I finish learning—"
She almost blurted out Ninja Art: Mind Butterfly, but Kitazawa's earlier reminder echoed in her head: Ninja warfare is information warfare.
So she changed tracks instantly.
"—when I finish my next technique, I'll definitely beat you!"
"It won't be that easy!" Sakura retorted, refusing to back down. "I'll be waiting for your challenge!"
Truthfully, Sakura already suspected Ino was learning something new—but she was also grinding through new Water Release techniques of her own.
She wasn't convinced she'd lose.
"Mission complete. We're heading back."
Kitazawa unsealed a storage scroll, collected Jushin's body, and turned away.
Kimimaro, Ino, and Sakura moved to follow.
They made it back to Konoha by Monday morning.
"You three rest for today," Kitazawa said. "Classes resume tomorrow. If the other teams are back, the Monthly Rankings will be announced as well."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei!"
All three responded in unison.
Kitazawa nodded and headed toward the Hokage Building.
He submitted the mission report first—then continued toward Tsunade's office.
There was still one thing left unsaid from their previous meeting…
Mainly because he'd kissed her and run off before she could react.
Then he left for the mission the next day.
No hurry—but now was the right time.
"Tsunade-sensei."
Kitazawa entered the room.
"When did you get back?"
Tsunade asked, her expression neutral. Almost too neutral.
"Just now."
He walked forward and handed her a scroll.
"What's this? A mission report?"
She asked, puzzled.
"You'll understand when you read it," Kitazawa said with a small smile.
Tsunade opened the scroll.
At first glance—her expression tightened.
"…The Curse Mark of Earth?"
Why was he showing her this?
She kept reading, and as she reached the adapted sealing sections, everything clicked.
Orochimaru's original Curse Mark of Earth had two states—two levels of power, and minimal restrictions.
Kitazawa's improved version…
Had eight restrictions.
The first three were safe—no side effects.
The first six matched the original Curse Mark: State Two, and extended use would still strain the body.
But the final two were new, and far more sophisticated:
• The seventh restriction automatically force-reverted the user if they lost control.
• The eighth restriction, only unlockable at death's door, unleashed all remaining power in a final, self-sacrificial burst—A controlled "Gate of Death" equivalent.
A last dance for those with no other options.
"So once Orochimaru finishes his portion… combined with your Eightfold Earth Seal…"
Tsunade exhaled sharply, excitement rising in her voice.
"Konoha can finally form its own Cursed Seal Unit!"
The other Five Great Villages all had signature special units—
Suna's Puppet Brigade, Iwa's Demolition Corps, and so on.
Konoha had powerful clans, but no unified specialty force.
This—this was something entirely new.
A Cursed Seal Unit composed of elite Chunin and Special Jonin would be terrifying.
"That was my thought as well," Kitazawa replied calmly.
"You've contributed yet another major development to Konoha."
Tsunade smiled—then suddenly paused.
She'd been about to ask what reward he wanted.
But remembering the last reward he asked for…
Her face stiffened slightly.
"Ahem—who do you think should lead this Cursed Seal Unit?" she asked instead.
Kitazawa waved the question aside.
"Tsunade-sensei, answer me first—who can join such a unit?"
Tsunade blinked.
She hadn't considered the selection criteria in detail.
In theory, every ninja could be inoculated.
In practice…
That was absurd and unnecessary.
"Do you already have candidates in mind?" she asked.
Kitazawa nodded.
"Genin, Chunin, and Special Jonin who have already hit their growth ceiling."
Tsunade's eyes widened.
Then she nodded firmly.
"Exactly. They're the ones with nothing to lose—and everything to gain."
Jonin like Hiruzen, Kakashi, or even Kitazawa had no reason to risk their bodies for a small enhancement.
But those stuck at the ceiling of their abilities?
They would accept the Curse Mark without hesitation.
"Then back to the original question," Kitazawa said. "Kimimaro is the most suitable leader—but he's still too young."
He thought for a moment.
"Besides him, there's Anko Mitarashi and Shiranui Genma."
Tsunade agreed instantly.
Anko already possessed the Cursed Seal of Heaven—she understood it better than anyone.
Genma, though only a Special Jonin, had almost no room for growth but excellent combat experience—and had once served as Minato Namikaze's bodyguard.
With the Curse Mark of Earth, he could step into an entirely new level.
"Yes," Tsunade said. "Those two are perfect."
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