Kurenai's house.
Kitazawa took out the key, opened the door, and walked in. As soon as he entered the living room, he saw Kurenai standing in front of the coffee table.
She was slightly bent over, her hands pressed on a blank scroll, her beautiful face filled with concentration.
Kitazawa couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Because from his perspective, it was a very enticing scene.
Kurenai was standing with her back to him.
The coffee table was quite low, so she had to stick her rear out. Furthermore, she hadn't gone out today and was wearing a silk nightgown.
The outline of her rear was faintly visible, looking very round. The hem of the nightgown reached her thighs, revealing a pair of firm, slender calves and glistening bare feet.
Kitazawa walked forward, glanced at the scroll, which already had many black curse seals on it. He reached out his right hand and placed it directly on her soft, fair thigh.
Kurenai's body stiffened, and she turned her head to glare at him. But she didn't stop Kitazawa, because she was busy maintaining her Chakra output.
Kitazawa knew this, so he acted without restraint. Feeling the touch of Kurenai's thigh, his right hand slowly moved upwards.
In a flash, he had caressed her smooth skin once over.
"Pervert!" Kurenai completed the sealing jutsu, almost instinctively stepping back half a pace.
She tugged at her nightgown, glaring at Kitazawa, her face flushed at some point.
"This is a special training method. Under my interference, you still excellently completed the sealing jutsu." Kitazawa paused, then said seriously, "You passed."
"Do you think I'd believe your nonsense?" Kurenai asked irritably.
"I'm not lying to you." Kitazawa admired her graceful figure and said, "You can now proceed to the next stage of training for the Fire Sealing Method."
"…" Kurenai hesitated to speak.
She really wanted to ask Kitazawa how he could say such things so seriously in this situation?
He was simply shameless!
"Then you teach me." Kurenai took a deep breath and said. She chose to actively skip the topic of being touched on the leg; she was already used to it anyway.
"Mm," Kitazawa said, walking towards her.
"What are you doing?" Kurenai's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively asked.
"What do you think I can do?" Kitazawa asked with a smile.
"Aren't…aren't you teaching me sealing jutsu?" Kurenai's tone was a bit flustered, her body already retreating to the sofa.
"You already know, so why ask me?" After Kitazawa finished speaking, he sat on the sofa and stretched.
"…" Kurenai immediately froze in place.
His only purpose was to sit on the sofa? Thinking of this, Kurenai felt quite embarrassed.
"I've been standing at the Academy for most of the day and don't want to stand anymore. Let's talk sitting down." Kitazawa asked with a half-smile, "What were you thinking just now?"
"I wasn't thinking anything!" Kurenai's breathing hitched, and she quickly said.
"Your face is as red as an apple, and you say you weren't thinking about anything?" Kitazawa blinked and asked.
"I…I didn't!" Kurenai instinctively touched her face; it was indeed a bit hot.
"You're quite cute when you're being insincere." Kitazawa couldn't help but laugh.
"Don't laugh!" Kurenai walked forward, somewhat annoyed, and covered his mouth.
Kitazawa took the opportunity to put his arm around her waist.
Kurenai's body tilted, and she plopped down onto his thigh.
"Teaching like this is good, it gives me more motivation." Kitazawa looked at Kurenai in his arms and said with a smile.
"Then you teach." Kurenai rolled her eyes at him and threatened, "If you don't teach well, I'll kick you twice."
"Are you questioning my teaching ability?" Kitazawa put his left arm around her, but pinched her face with his right hand and said, "I'm the most outstanding teacher at the Ninja Academy!"
"You haven't received my approval yet." Kurenai pouted and said.
"It seems I have to show my true skills today." Kitazawa lightly coughed and began to explain the Fire Sealing Method.
Kurenai listened while staring at him, becoming somewhat engrossed. She instinctively shifted her body, finding a more comfortable position, and leaned into his embrace.
In an atmosphere of peaceful tranquility, an hour passed in the blink of an eye.
"Is there anything you don't understand?" Kitazawa looked at her and asked.
"No." Kurenai shook her head and said, "You explained it very well."
"So, do you approve of me now?" Kitazawa chuckled and asked.
Kurenai didn't answer. She put her feet on the ground and stood up from his embrace. She looked at Kitazawa and slowly bent down.
Kitazawa instinctively widened his eyes. As she moved, her nightgown, affected by gravity, seemed to be on the verge of slipping.
The next second, his mouth was covered.
Kitazawa didn't know where to look for a moment.
"Bad guy," Kurenai said after verbally scolding him for two minutes.
"You haven't even seen my truly bad side yet." Kitazawa licked the corner of his mouth, as if he could still feel the soft touch.
"I'm going to train!" Kurenai's face flushed, and she turned and went upstairs.
"Remember to ask me if there's anything you don't understand!" Kitazawa quickly shouted.
But he didn't get a response from Kurenai. Kitazawa wasn't annoyed. After all, given his relationship with Kurenai, all of this was just playful banter.
He had a premonition that it wouldn't be long before they took their relationship a step further.
Friday ended, and then it was the weekend.
Although it was only two days, not having to work was always happier.
And Kitazawa was accompanied by three beauties of varying ages. During the day, he practiced Water Release while teaching Kurenai sealing jutsu.
In the evening, he discussed Emotion Displacement Ninjutsu with Tsunade and Shizune.
Sunday morning.
Kitazawa and Tsunade had just finished breakfast when they heard a knock on the door.
"Kitazawa, you get the door." Tsunade stretched, changing from lying down to sitting up.
In front of Kitazawa and Kurenai, she could be completely uninhibited. But now that they had a visitor, she still had to maintain the dignity of the Konoha Sanin.
"Alright." Kitazawa stood up and went to the door.
He opened the door and saw a very familiar face, Shibi Aburame. Coming at this time, was he here to talk about Torune Aburame?
Kitazawa hadn't quite expected him to act so quickly, coming to find Tsunade after just two days.
But thinking about it, it was understandable. After all, the longer Torune Aburame stayed in Root, the more danger he was in.
Everyone knew that Danzo Shimura didn't treat Root Ninja as human beings.
"Why is it you?" Shibi Aburame asked with a surprised look.
"Why can't it be me?" Kitazawa asked back with a smile.
Shibi Aburame hesitated to speak.
He originally wanted to say that this was Tsunade's house, but quickly remembered that Kitazawa was studying Medical Ninjutsu under her.
"Is Lady Tsunade home?" Shibi Aburame returned to the main topic and asked.
"She is." Kitazawa nodded and said, "Clan Head Shibi, please come in."
"Thank you." Shibi Aburame walked into the living room.
He instinctively glanced at the dining table, where six sets of bowls and chopsticks were placed.
"Shibi?" Tsunade was a bit surprised and asked, "It's rare to see you looking for me. Is something wrong?"
Shibi Aburame's face showed hesitation upon hearing this. Since it concerned Danzo Shimura, he felt that the fewer people who knew, the better.
And besides Kitazawa, there were also Shizune, Kurenai, Rina Uzumaki, and Karin here.
Kitazawa and Shizune were fine; they were already openly known to be Tsunade's people. But Kurenai, Rina Uzumaki, and Karin, he wasn't sure about.
"Lady Tsunade, Kurenai, and I will leave first." Kitazawa guessed what he was thinking at a glance.
He didn't say much, just pulled Kurenai and left. Anyway, it was his suggestion for Shibi Aburame to come to Tsunade in the first place.
"I'm going to practice sealing jutsu." Kurenai went upstairs after arriving home.
She knew her place very well.
Shibi Aburame was the clan head of the Aburame Clan, and what he discussed with Tsunade must be Konoha Village secrets.
As a Chunin, she naturally had no right to inquire. The most urgent task was still to improve her strength.
Kitazawa sat on the sofa, and after a brief thought, decided to try Wind Release: Rasengan.
There were no rivers or lakes near Kurenai's house, making it inconvenient to practice Water Release.
He extended his hand, and a large amount of Chakra surged out, forming a spinning Chakra sphere. This was a normal Rasengan.
Kitazawa looked at this Rasengan and slowly began to infuse Wind Release Chakra into it. Its color immediately changed.
A sharp edge was revealed.
Kitazawa felt that this Rasengan had turned into a large mass of spinning blades. Such a Rasengan would definitely be very lethal if it hit flesh and blood.
The sound of the door opening echoed.
Tsunade, with a not-so-good expression, walked in.
She was startled when she saw the Rasengan in Kitazawa's hand.
"A Rasengan with Wind Release added?" Tsunade's face showed a hint of surprise, and she instinctively asked.
"Lady Tsunade, what do you think of this Wind Release: Rasengan?" Kitazawa looked up at her and asked curiously.
"It's more lethal than the original Rasengan, but it requires the user to master extremely high-level Wind Release Chakra nature transformation." Tsunade commented, "Only Ninja proficient in Wind Release can learn it."
She had one more thing she didn't say: Wind Release Ninja capable of reaching this level were mostly Jonin.
In comparison, while the original Rasengan was an A-rank Ninjutsu, Genin and Chunin both had a chance to learn it.
"Let's not talk about that for now." Tsunade remembered the main topic and said, "Shibi just came to me, hoping I could rescue Torune Aburame from Root."
"Why didn't Clan Head Shibi go directly to Hokage-sama?" Kitazawa asked, feigning confusion.
"He said he did, but it had no effect." Tsunade snorted coldly and said, "The Old Man is truly senile, allowing Danzo to snatch away the geniuses of various Ninja clans!"
In her opinion, this was undoubtedly disheartening for the Ninja clans.
Kitazawa said nothing at her words. Hiruzen, to call him senile, was certainly not accurate.
He most likely intended to use Danzo to intimidate the various Ninja clans.
After all, Danzo was only able to successfully snatch away the geniuses of various Ninja clans because of Hiruzen Sarutobi's tacit approval.
This operation was very foolish, but if it were Hiruzen and Danzo, it was indeed possible.
"Did Lady Tsunade agree to him?" Kitazawa's gaze fell on her exquisite face.
"Danzo's reach is too long!" Tsunade said, annoyed, "He even sent people to approach Rina Uzumaki and Karin before!"
"Such a thing happened?" Kitazawa's face showed surprise.
He really didn't know about this matter. However, given Danzo Shimura's personality, he was indeed capable of doing it.
But fortunately, Rina Uzumaki and Karin had Hiruzen and Tsunade as their backing, so Danzo and his Root dared not forcibly take them away.
"If he dares to snatch people, I naturally dare to as well." Tsunade snorted coldly and said.
Kitazawa immediately felt relieved at her words.
"Come on, follow me to see the Third Hokage." Tsunade waved her hand and said.
After she finished speaking, she realized a problem, because this matter was unrelated to Kitazawa.
But for some reason, she subconsciously called Kitazawa along.
"Okay." Kitazawa naturally agreed.
He was still hoping Torune Aburame would trigger a new mission for him. Besides, making a ruckus in Root, how regrettable it would be to miss it.
---
With a bang. Tsunade kicked open the door of the Hokage Office.
"You..." Hiruzen had just said one word when he noticed Tsunade's expression was off. Who had angered her again? Could it be Danzo?
Hiruzen thought of many things in an instant.
"Old Man, I want to ask you something." Tsunade had already regained her composure, and she asked in a deep voice, "What is the procedure for Root recruiting people?"
Kitazawa subconsciously glanced at her, thinking to himself that she was indeed a woman capable of becoming the Fifth Hokage of Konoha.
If she directly said she was going to Root to snatch someone, Hiruzen would definitely stop her, and starting from the Root's system was undoubtedly a very good entry point.
He hadn't even thought that Tsunade would be so calm and come up with such a good idea.
"Why are you suddenly asking about this?" Hiruzen was stunned for a moment and asked.
But in his heart, he had already confirmed that the person who angered Tsunade must be Danzo. Who did Root snatch this time?
"I'm just curious," Tsunade said with a calm expression.
"According to Konoha Village's rules, Root recruiting people needs to be reported to Anbu first, and after Anbu agrees, recruitment can proceed," Hiruzen said slowly.
"What if Root takes a liking to a certain Ninja?" Tsunade asked again.
"The Ninja should be notified to go to Root to participate in the assessment." Hiruzen paused and added, "If the Ninja is unwilling, they can refuse."
He didn't lie. Because Tsunade would know this procedure as soon as she checked, it couldn't be hidden.
"Then I accuse Root of not following the rules in its recruitment process," Tsunade said, appearing businesslike.
I knew it. Hiruzen felt no surprise at her words.
When Tsunade asked about Root's recruitment procedure, he had already guessed the outcome. But Danzo and his Root indeed violated the rules.
Once rules are set, they must be followed. It's fine if it's not on the scale, but once it's on the scale, even the Hokage is no exception.
"Speak." Hiruzen's expression became serious.
"Root approached Rina Uzumaki and Karin last week, but they have already refused." Tsunade snorted coldly and said. "I will warn him about this and tell him not to harass Rina Uzumaki and Karin again."
Hiruzen suddenly understood. No wonder Tsunade was so angry; it turned out to involve Rina Uzumaki and Karin.
"But judging solely from this matter, Root did not violate the rules." Hiruzen thought for a moment and then said.
"Not on this matter." Tsunade changed the subject and said, "But regarding Aburame Torune, Root broke the rules."
"Aburame Torune?" Hiruzen couldn't help but be stunned.
"You don't know?" Tsunade retorted.
"I do know that Torune Aburame joined Root." Hiruzen had to admit.
Root was subordinate to Anbu, and Anbu was directly under him. If he said he didn't know, it would be too fake.
But he hadn't expected Tsunade to stand up for Torune Aburame. Was it a request from the Aburame Clan?
Torune Aburame had been in Root for almost a year; was Tsunade only now being sought out? Was this a bet on the new Hokage?
Hiruzen quickly reacted. But it was normal; who would choose Danzo over Tsunade?
But what was Tsunade thinking? If she wanted to be Hokage, why didn't she actively propose it?
"This matter is my mistake." Hiruzen came back to his senses and said, "I didn't investigate clearly."
"Then what do you plan to do?" Tsunade heard the implied meaning in his words.
Hiruzen meant that he knew Torune Aburame had joined Root, but he didn't know it was under Danzo's coercion.
Tsunade didn't expose him; after all, it had already reached this point, so there was no need to fall out.
"I will go notify Danzo now and tell him to return Torune Aburame to the Aburame Clan," Hiruzen said without hesitation.
Compared to his teacher-student relationship with Tsunade, Torune Aburame was nothing.
As for Danzo, he had already offended him many times, so one more time wouldn't hurt.
"Given Danzo's personality, he won't hand over Torune so easily."
Tsunade shook her head and said, "I'll go get him myself."
"You can go get him, but you can't resort to violence." Hiruzen immediately emphasized, "No matter what, Root still belongs to Konoha."
"Then you should manage Root properly!" Tsunade said, displeased, "You should know that Torune Aburame is not an isolated case!"
"..." Hiruzen wanted to retort, but he couldn't. After all, what Tsunade said was the truth.
Kitazawa stood still, eyes downcast, pretending to be an outsider. In the original work, Hiruzen's attitude towards Danzo was very ambiguous.
But if Danzo made a big mistake, he wouldn't be soft-hearted either. For example, after the Uchiha Clan massacre, Hiruzen ordered the disbandment of Root.
"Take my warrant to Root." Hiruzen paused, then added, "You can also dispatch an Anbu squad to go with you."
In fact, when he went to Danzo for Yamato before, he also brought Anbu.
After all, he knew Danzo too well. If he couldn't get it, he would destroy it, or at least play some tricks.
"Okay." Tsunade's attitude softened at his words. At least her teacher could distinguish right from wrong in major matters.
"Before you go, it's best to have Anbu investigate Torune Aburame's whereabouts." Hiruzen reminded her.
Root was different from Anbu; under Danzo's leadership, it was truly a cunning rabbit with three burrows.
Some secret bases, even he wasn't entirely clear about.
"I know." Tsunade nodded and said, "Let's go, Kitazawa."
Hiruzen suddenly reacted at this moment. Why was Kitazawa here? It seemed he had truly become Tsunade's confidant.
"Okay." Kitazawa greeted Hiruzen and quickly followed Tsunade.
Just then, three lines of text appeared before his eyes.
[Current Mission: Retrieve Aburame Torune from Root.
Mission Reward: Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.]
[Do you accept?]
Kitazawa was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself that this mission reward was truly subtle. Was it asking him to be the next Root leader?