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"When?"
Kitazawa snapped out of his thoughts and asked.
"You agreed?" Konan blinked, genuinely surprised.
"Why? Did you want me to refuse?" Kitazawa teased with a soft chuckle.
"That's not what I meant." Konan shook her head. "The spar is scheduled for next Monday. The location—Valley of the End."
"The Valley of the End, huh? He picked a dramatic spot."
Kitazawa instantly understood Kakuzu's choice.
For someone who once faced Hashirama, the place of the legendary clash between the First Hokage and Madara was symbolic.
Kakuzu still hadn't let go of Wood Release—or the shadow of Hashirama.
Kitazawa had always been curious about the so-called "battle" between Kakuzu and Hashirama.
The story only mentioned it vaguely, spawning countless theories:
Some joked, Kakuzu hurled a kunai from hundreds of meters away and ran.
Others claimed he fought only a Wood Clone.
Kitazawa believed the latter.
With Hashirama's strength, Kakuzu escaping the real body was impossible.
"Thank you," Konan said sincerely.
To her, Kitazawa's acceptance meant he was doing it for her sake.
After all, he and Kakuzu had never even met—why accept a spar with no reward?
"It's nothing."
Kitazawa knew she misunderstood but didn't bother correcting her.
He stepped closer and lightly pinched her cheek.
Konan looked at him with cool, clear eyes—but didn't stop him.
"Anything else?" Kitazawa asked, withdrawing his hand as he moved to the sofa.
"The Akatsuki member you'll be sparring with is Kakuzu. He excels in Five Nature Transformations and Combination Jutsu," Konan informed him.
"Are you hoping I win?" Kitazawa asked with a grin.
"He can't defeat you." Konan sat beside him and shook her head.
After witnessing Kitazawa's battle against Mōryō, she firmly believed only a handful of shinobi in the world could even challenge him. Kakuzu was strong but still merely human.
"If you're so confident, why give me intel?" Kitazawa asked, catching her wrist.
His gaze fell to her fingers—painted with that distinctive amber nail polish.
Akatsuki's signature.
Not a habit—a rule.
He recalled how Itachi never used nail polish before joining Akatsuki.
"I…" Konan hesitated, unable to form an answer.
"I'm taking a nap."
Kitazawa didn't press her. He simply turned and rested his head on her lap.
Konan's hands moved instinctively, gently massaging his forehead.
But as she gazed down at him, complicated emotions flickered in her eyes.
2:00 p.m.
Kitazawa brought Sasuke, Naruto, and Neji to the temporary residence of the Land of Demons' envoy.
"Lord Kitazawa!"
Shion came running out, Suhō right behind her.
"Priestess," Kitazawa greeted with a nod. "These three will be your guides for the afternoon. Just tell them where you'd like to go."
"Thank you!" Shion's face lit up. "Let's go!"
"Let the kids enjoy themselves," Kitazawa said, stopping Suhō from following.
Suhō hesitated, then nodded.
He had watched Shion grow up—she had never once gone out to simply play.
"Just call me Shion!" she said brightly, skipping down the street.
"Shion! Are you into youth?" Naruto asked, thumbs raised. "I can take you to the place where we train our youthful power!"
Meaning: Gai-sensei's torture chamber.
"Naruto." Neji stepped in quickly. "Let's visit the Hokage Rock first. It's the best way for her to learn about Konoha's past leaders."
"I agree with Neji," Sasuke added at once.
"Okay!" Shion said without hesitation.
Kitazawa watched them go, then returned to the Academy.
He had already instructed Neji to bring Shion to him once they finished sightseeing.
Suddenly, system text flashed before him:
[Current Mission: Help Shino Aburame cultivate Kikaichu with Lightning Release resistance.]
[Mission Reward: Lightning Release damage resistance +10%.]
[Mission complete. Reward issued.]
Kitazawa paused.
So Shino had succeeded?
He followed the system's guidance toward another training field—and immediately ran into Shino.
"Kitazawa-sensei?" Shino adjusted his sunglasses. "I was just looking for you."
"These are the Lightning Release Insects?" Kitazawa asked, eyeing the Kikaichu in Shino's palm.
"Yes." Shino nodded. "Just like the fire-resistant Kikaichu, they come in two variants—three-second and five-second resistance."
"Congratulations, Shino." Kitazawa smiled. "Only the Earth Release variant remains."
"This is all thanks to your guidance," Shino said humbly.
New text appeared:
[Current Mission: Help Shino Aburame cultivate Kikaichu with Earth Release resistance.]
[Mission Reward: Earth Release damage resistance +10%.]
[Accept?]
A predictable mission.
Kitazawa accepted.
Perhaps gathering all five elemental resistances would unlock some sort of special ability.
"About the Earth-Release-resistant Kikaichu—do you have any ideas?"
Kitazawa asked, returning to the moment.
"My plan is to enhance their defensive capabilities."
Shino answered earnestly.
"That works, but I think there's an even better route."
Kitazawa smiled. "Give the Kikaichu the ability to move underground undetected."
In the original timeline, no Aburame insects could burrow.
But one of the official games had a technique called Secret Technique: Insect Swamp—where Kikaichu dove underground and turned the battlefield into a living trap.
Shino froze, then his eyes widened behind his glasses.
If such insects existed, it would elevate their stealth to an entirely new tier—game-changing for both reconnaissance and ambush tactics.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei!" Shino said, unable to hide his excitement.
"Thank me when it works."
Kitazawa formed hand seals and produced a Shadow Clone. "Go experiment with my clone."
Only he, Hiruzen, and Kakashi taught Earth Release at the Academy—and Kiba's single Earth-style jutsu wasn't helpful at all.
Kitazawa returned to his training field.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Ino sprinted over, clinging to his arm and blinking dramatically.
"What now?" Kitazawa sighed with a wry smile. "Did you lose to Sakura?"
"No way!" Ino puffed her cheeks. "That's not it!"
"Then?" he asked.
"I mastered Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!"
Ino beamed proudly.
"Very good," Kitazawa nodded. "That puts you at Chunin-level in Genjutsu."
"Thank you, sensei!" Ino said, glowing.
"For now, pause your Genjutsu training. I'll teach you the Body Flicker Technique next," Kitazawa said after thinking it over.
"Yes!" Ino's eyes sparkled.
After the usual thirty-minute lecture, Kitazawa left a clone to train her while he continued training.
By the final class of the day, Naruto, Shion, and the others finally returned to the Academy.
"Priestess," Kitazawa greeted as he approached. "How do you find the Academy?"
"It's lively… full of energy."
Shion said, choosing her words carefully.
She didn't add that it was far more vibrant—and comforting—than the isolated Land of Demons.
"You're about the same age as Naruto. Interested in enrolling?"
Kitazawa asked with a gentle smile.
[Current Mission: Persuade Shion to join the Genius Class.]
[Reward: Increase Chakra limit by 50%.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa's eyes widened slightly.
A Chakra limit reward—that was extremely rare.
Is it because of her latent power?
Either way, he accepted instantly. It was practically a free profit.
And the mission appearing meant something else:
Shion could trigger more system tasks.
"Eh?" Shion exclaimed softly.
She hadn't expected this at all. She only hoped to stay in Konoha a little longer—becoming a student had never crossed her mind.
But the moment he suggested it, the idea tempted her deeply… even as her expression turned conflicted.
"But… I am the Priestess of the Land of Demons."
Shion sighed. "I cannot stay away for long."
"That thinking is flawed."
Kitazawa shook his head. "The Land of Demons needs a strong priestess. You'll grow far faster by training in Konoha."
"But the Land of Demons has the Priestess's legacy techniques…"
Shion murmured, hesitating.
She had witnessed the strength of Sasuke, Naruto, and Neji.
The Academy—and Kitazawa—were undoubtedly superior to the Land of Demons' training.
But she still lacked mastery over her inherited powers, and Suhō would never agree.
"Tell me," Kitazawa said calmly, "does your priestess's legacy teach anything besides sealing techniques?"
"Mm… no," Shion admitted.
"As I thought. Now that Mōryō is gone—who are you training to seal?"
"Eh?"
The question struck her silent.
"You have a powerful gift meant to seal Mōryō. But with Mōryō gone, that same power should be used to protect your homeland."
Kitazawa said gently.
Shion fell into deep thought.
The Land of Demons had no shinobi. Their legacy existed only to seal Mōryō.
If she wanted true strength—real power to protect—Konoha was the only path.
Of course… the biggest reason was that she wanted to join the Genius Class.
In the Land of Demons, Shion had grown up without peers—isolated in the Priestess Shrine, surrounded only by duty and silence.
"I'll talk to Suhō and the others," she said at last. Kitazawa's reasoning felt more than enough to persuade them.
Kitazawa nodded lightly.
"Kitazawa-sensei, wait for me!"
Shion—having already grown comfortable enough to change her address—ran out of the Academy in a hurry.
Kitazawa watched her go, then resumed training.
Before long, the bell rang.
The Genius Class wrapped up their lessons and began heading home.
"Time to go home, Kitazawa." Kurenai called as she walked over with a warm smile.
Kitazawa opened his mouth to reply—when three glowing lines appeared before his eyes.
[Mission: Persuade Shion to join the Genius Class]
[Reward: 50% Chakra Capacity increase]
[Mission Complete. Reward issued.]
Looks like Shion had successfully convinced Suhō and the others.
Kitazawa dusted off his hands, ending his training session.
"Why are you still standing there?"
Kurenai asked, puzzled.
Kitazawa approached and explained Shion's decision.
"Is she special?" Kurenai asked curiously.
"Her situation is similar to Yakumo's."
Kurenai's expression shifted at once; she understood immediately.
She had personally witnessed Yakumo's power—overwhelming, dangerous, and unrefined.
"No wonder you want her in the Genius Class."
"And having her here strengthens relations between Konoha and the Land of Demons." Kitazawa added casually.
Kurenai nodded. That much was obvious.
If the Priestess became a Genius Class student, Konoha and the Land of Demons would be tied together far more tightly than any treaty.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
A breathless Shion rushed toward them.
"Suhō and the others agreed!"
"That's good. You can join starting tomorrow."
"Mm!" Shion beamed, practically glowing with excitement.
Kitazawa pointed at the bell hanging from her neck.
"Do you know what purpose this bell serves?"
"My mother, Miroku, left it to me," Shion said softly. "She told me it would protect me in critical moments."
"There's a sealing technique woven into this bell," Kitazawa explained after examining it. "If I'm right, it suppresses your power."
"What does that mean?" Shion asked, confused.
"Exactly what it sounds like," Kitazawa replied. "It holds your power down."
"But… I've never felt any special power inside me."
"Take it off."
Shion hesitated—but obeyed.
The moment the bell left her neck, a violent surge of chakra—not chakra, something older—burst from her body.
Shion gasped and hurriedly put the bell back on.
She stared at her trembling hands, stunned.
That power had been immense—terrifying.
And she had lived her entire life unaware of it.
Kurenai stiffened. Even she had felt the oppressive force.
Converted into chakra, it would surpass hers by dozens—no, hundreds—of times.
She exhaled slowly.
The students in this class were truly beyond anything she had imagined.
Kitazawa stroked his chin in thought.
In the original tale, Mōryō's power and the Priestess's power were said to share the same origin.
He had assumed that meant Yin Release, like Mōryō.
But no—this wasn't Yin.
It was pure Yang release.
It suddenly made sense:
same origin, yet opposite forces—perfect for sealing.
If she truly possessed Yang Release, Shion could follow a path similar to Karin's—sealing, medical ninjutsu, taijutsu.
And currently, the Genius Class desperately needed more medical specialists—only Karin and Sakura filled that role.
Adding Shion would ease that shortage significantly.
"Your mother sealed your power simply because you couldn't control it back then," Kitazawa said gently.
There was another reason—the Land of Demons had no ninjutsu except the priestess's sealing art. Miroku had no method to guide Shion's growth.
So she had chosen the simplest solution: seal everything.
"I understand…" Shion whispered, realization dawning.
"Starting tomorrow, we'll begin chakra control training," Kitazawa said, patting her head.
Like Yakumo—and even Naruto—Shion already had a tremendous power source.
She didn't need to learn how to refine chakra first.
She needed to learn how to control what she already had.
"See you tomorrow."
"Goodbye, Kitazawa-sensei!" Shion said brightly, skipping off.
"If she matures fully," Kurenai murmured, watching her go, "the other prodigies are going to have their hands full."
"That's a good thing," Kitazawa replied, taking Kurenai's hand. "Pressure creates growth."
"True… but thank goodness the Genius Class didn't exist when I was a student," Kurenai sighed with a wry smile.
She was content with her life—she didn't need to be extraordinary.
"Nai-chan," Kitazawa suddenly said, gently rubbing her smooth fingers, "do you remember when I told you I'd find a summoning beast for you?"
Since she was his woman, he wanted her strength to rise as well.
"You found one suitable for me?"
Kurenai's eyes lit up. "What kind?"
"It's called Ōhamaguri," Kitazawa replied. "A summoning beast that can use genjutsu."
Kurenai froze.
"A summoning beast that uses genjutsu? Where did you find it?"
"I haven't found it yet."
Kitazawa admitted.
"It belonged to the Second Mizukage, Hōzuki Gengetsu."
"...?"
Kurenai stopped mid-step.
"Gengetsu is long dead, but his summoning beast still lives," Kitazawa continued with a smile. "The question is—do you dare to use it?"
Kurenai lifted her chin.
"If you dare to give it to me, then of course I dare to use it."
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