Two days later, the Box of Ultimate Bliss was delivered to the ANBU Base.
Kitazawa immediately summoned all the renowned blacksmiths and Ninja tool shop owners in Konoha Village.
There were about eighteen people in total. Kitazawa recognized two of them:
One was Tenmura, Tenten's father. The other was Cat Granny, who specialized in providing Ninja tools and information to the Uchiha Clan.
"I hope you can dismantle this box and reforge it into new Ninja tools." Kitazawa said seriously, "I am willing to pay thirty million ryo."
A commotion broke out immediately.
In the Ninja World, only one type of Ninja Tool typically exceeded ten million ryo — those made with large amounts of chakra metal.
But Kitazawa didn't mention adding chakra metal, only reforging.
Thirty million ryo for reforged Ninja tools was unheard of. No wonder they were shocked.
But no one thought Kitazawa was joking. His reputation in Konoha was like thunder — unquestionable.
"Lord Kitazawa," Tenmura asked cautiously, "Could we examine the box first?"
"Of course." Kitazawa gestured politely. "Please."
Everyone gathered around quickly.
Whether for the thirty million ryo or for the chance to gain favor with a high-ranking Konoha official, they had every reason to give it everything they had.
Not to mention — it seemed like a good deal at first glance. Of course, that depended on whether the box could even be reforged.
Kitazawa stood aside, watching them. Thirty million ryo was a large sum, but he had two reasons:
First, he was wealthy.
Second, reforging the Box of Ultimate Bliss was indeed incredibly difficult and deserved such a reward.
"This tool feels… unusual." A middle-aged man said after touching the surface.
"A Ninja Tool brought in by Lord Kitazawa is naturally extraordinary." Tenmura reached out to touch it.
A cold, penetrating chill ran through his entire body. Fortunately, it had no other harmful effects.
"What material is this?" Tenmura said in astonishment. "I've never seen anything like it."
"I haven't either." Cat Granny tapped the box with her pipe. "A very peculiar material."
"You don't need to worry about the material. Just make sure it can be reforged." Kitazawa reminded them calmly.
"As long as it can be dismantled, reforging won't be a problem." Tenmura nodded after thinking.
"How many Ninja tools can be forged from this box?" Kitazawa asked.
"What type of Ninja tool does Lord Kitazawa want?" Tenmura clarified. "Different items require different amounts of material."
"Bows," Kitazawa said.
"Bows?" Tenmura blinked in surprise. Ninjas using bows were extremely rare.
"If it's bows… we can likely forge four." Cat Granny took a puff of her pipe and estimated.
"Approximately four," Tenmura observed the box again and came to the same conclusion.
Kitazawa was internally surprised. Four?
He originally thought only two were possible. His system mission asked for two Yin Release bows, so he assumed the material would be insufficient.
But four was even better.
One for Hinata.
One for Neji.
One for himself — the Byakugan made bows extremely effective.
As for the fourth… Hyuga Hanabi came to mind.
She was still too young, but that could be dealt with later. Of course, a bow alone wasn't enough — he also needed arrows.
Ideally, Yin Release arrows, created from Yin-based monsters.
Currently, he has only Satori, and possibly later the Zero-Tails from Land of the Sky.
"You may begin dismantling it," Kitazawa said. "The first four who successfully dismantle the box can each forge one bow."
"Yes, Lord Kitazawa!" Everyone responded immediately.
"If you need anything, contact me through ANBU." With that, Kitazawa left.
Forging Ninja tools — especially something like this — would take at least one or two months.
There was no need for him to babysit the process.
[Current Mission: Covertly control Kusagakure and become its master.]
[Mission Reward: Eight Trigrams Sealing Style.]
[Host has completed the mission, reward issued.]
As soon as Kitazawa reached the Ninja Academy, three lines of text appeared before his eyes.
He smiled. Itachi is efficient as always.
"Teacher Kitazawa!" Kiba ran toward him.
"What's wrong? Did you learn Earth Release: Earth Fang Bullet?" Kitazawa asked, genuinely surprised.
By his estimate, Kiba should need two more months.
"No… no!" Kiba panted heavily.
"Then what is it?" Kitazawa asked.
"It's my sister." Kiba took a breath. "Is she going to graduate in March?"
Kitazawa paused. Then it clicked.
Inuzuka Hana had already been a fifth-year student before joining the Genius Class. This was her graduation year.
And she wasn't alone. Many students who joined the Genius Class in its early days were originally fifth or sixth-year students.
"Teacher Kitazawa." Inuzuka Hana caught up.
She and Kiba had been discussing this earlier, and when Kiba saw Kitazawa, he ran ahead immediately.
She came one step later.
"You want to stay in the Genius Class?" Kitazawa guessed.
But Kiba's reaction didn't match that. If she wanted to stay, he wouldn't be this anxious.
"Teacher Kitazawa, I want to apply for graduation." Inuzuka Hana said seriously.
"Sister, isn't it good to stay in the Genius Class?" Kiba immediately protested in panic.
"It's very good." Hana said calmly, "But I've reached the age to graduate, and I need to work toward my goal."
"I remember you saying you wanted to be a veterinarian?" Kitazawa asked thoughtfully.
"Mm." Inuzuka Hana nodded and said, "I will join the veterinary class after graduation."
Kitazawa wasn't surprised.
In the original story, she became one of Konoha's most outstanding veterinarians, treating even Akamaru when he was badly injured.
Akamaru — Kiba's Ninken — would likely be born next year if nothing unexpected happened.
"I don't understand veterinary medicine, so I can't teach you." Kitazawa thought for a moment. "But after graduation, you can still come to the Genius Class for training."
Hana clearly had talent for veterinary medicine. He didn't want to delay her path.
But he could continue guiding her in Ninjutsu — and it wouldn't hurt to trigger one or two system missions along the way.
"Thank you, Teacher Kitazawa!" Hana smiled brightly.
She had learned a great deal in the Genius Class. It was no exaggeration to say that she would have Chunin-level strength immediately upon graduation.
In the original story, she never became a Jonin — but with her current training, becoming a Jonin was now a real possibility.
Even if not Jonin, Special Jonin was almost guaranteed.
"Alright then." Seeing her resolve, Kiba didn't argue further.
"I'm only graduating, not leaving Konoha," Hana reassured him. "You can see me anytime."
"That's true." Kiba scratched his head. "Then, Sister, when you have time, come train with us."
"Mm." Hana smiled softly. "But it's still early — graduation is in March."
"You two continue training." Kitazawa patted Kiba on the shoulder.
"Yes, Teacher Kitazawa." Hana and Kiba answered together.
Kitazawa watched them return to the Training Ground, then moved to an empty space to train himself.
He would master Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence within these two months — by March at the latest.
---
Two more days passed.
Itachi returned to Konoha Village.
And the new semester at the Ninja Academy officially began. The semester was short — only about three months, perhaps even less.
"Where's Sasuke-kun?" The moment Sakura entered the classroom, she looked around anxiously.
"He took a long leave of absence," Neji replied.
"Eh?" Sakura's heart tightened. "Did something happen to Sasuke-kun?"
"It's good news. Sasuke activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan." Neji said. "He needs time to get used to it at home. He'll come back once he's mastered it."
"His Three-Tomoe Sharingan is so amazing! When he returns, I definitely want a spirited spar with him!"
Naruto gave a big thumbs-up, full of excitement.
He had fought Sasuke while Sasuke was possessed by Satori — and suffered a devastating loss.
Instead of discouraging him, it only fired him up. For Naruto, the stronger the opponent, the better.
"Three-Tomoe Sharingan?" Kiba, who had just entered, froze. "You're not joking, right?"
"Isn't the Three-Tomoe Sharingan supposed to give Jonin-level strength?" Inuzuka Hana felt shocked as well.
"Naruto, Hinata, and I saw it with our own eyes." Neji shook his head. "No joke."
He didn't want it to be true either, but reality was reality.
Neji sighed inwardly. He was a genius, too — yet he had already fallen behind.
"As expected of Sasuke-kun!" Sakura said excitedly. "He's too strong!"
"He's basically a monster," Shikamaru muttered. "Who can beat him now?"
"The Three-Tomoe Sharingan is only Jonin level." Shino adjusted his glasses. "I think Naruto and Yakumo can still fight him."
"What are you all talking about?" Tayuya entered the classroom, followed by Kimimaro, Jugo, and Haku.
They lived in the orphanage, so they walked to school together.
"Sasuke-kun awakened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan!" Sakura declared proudly.
"...?" Tayuya's face filled with question marks.
Even Kimimaro, Jugo, and Haku looked shaken. They knew enough about the Sharingan to realize how incredible it was to activate it at eight years old.
"I just don't know when Sasuke-kun will return." Sakura immediately sank into gloom. "Not seeing Sasuke-kun for so long… It's unbearable."
"Yeah." Naruto scratched his head. "I'm not used to not seeing Sasuke."
"Come up and register in order." Kitazawa walked in.
The Genius Class quickly quieted down and lined up. After registering, they collected their textbooks and headed home in small groups.
Kitazawa's gaze drifted to Inuzuka Hana.
With her graduation, the "Konoha Eighteen" would lose another member.
Karin could potentially fill the gap, but her combat ability wasn't strong enough yet.
Sealing Techniques were powerful in the later stages — even mastering half could make someone formidable.
If Karin unlocked Kagura Mind's Eye and Adamantine Chains, she would instantly become a top-tier Sealing Ninja.
If not… Kitazawa would simply kidnap someone suitable.
"Lord Kitazawa." An ANBU appeared. "Tenmura and the others request your presence."
Kitazawa nodded and headed toward the ANBU Base.
"Lord Kitazawa." Tenmura and the blacksmiths bowed respectfully.
"Is there a problem?" Kitazawa glanced at the completely intact Box of Ultimate Bliss.
"Lord Kitazawa… ashamed as we are to admit it, we have tried many methods these past few days, but we cannot dismantle this Box of Ultimate Bliss," Tenmura confessed.
"We cannot, but someone can." Cat Granny tapped her pipe and said at the perfect moment: "Lord Kitazawa, have you heard of Takumi Village?"
"I've heard of it." Kitazawa pondered for a moment and asked, "Is it the Ninja Village established by artisans?"
"Our Konoha Village often purchases Ninja tools from Takumi Village; their forging techniques are considered the best." Cat Granny nodded.
Kitazawa fell into thought.
Takumi Village did indeed exist — founded by the craftsman-ninja Seimei, renowned for researching and creating Ninja tools.
After Seimei's death, Takumi Village was run by the Four Celestial Symbols Men, four Jonin who each wielded special Ninja tools.
In the original story, the Four Celestial Symbols Men attempted to revive an ultimate weapon. They even went to war with Sunagakure and tried to capture the Fifth Kazekage, Gaara.
In the end, they were defeated by Gaara, Naruto, and their allies.
Kitazawa's first concern was that they might cause trouble — but then he realized that was exactly what he wanted.
If they caused trouble, Konoha would have a legitimate reason to move against them. Truthfully, the existence of Takumi Village was unreasonable.
A tiny Ninja Village supplying weapons to the Five Great Ninja Villages? Ninja tools were as important as a Ninja's second life — indispensable.
A small village capable of producing such tools should not exist independently. It should be controlled by one of the Five Great Villages.
And the profit from Ninja tools was enormous.
Kitazawa immediately formed a plan: Use the Box of Ultimate Bliss to lure Takumi Village.
It would be impossible for the Four Celestial Symbols Men not to covet a legendary tool like the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
Even if they were unusually disciplined, Kitazawa still had Itachi.
[Current Mission: Secretly control Takumi Village and become its leader.]
[Mission Reward: Summoning Technique: Triple Rashomon.]
[Do you accept?]
Kitazawa looked at the three glowing lines of text and smiled.
An unexpected bonus. And the mission reward was extremely practical.
Summoning Technique: Triple Rashomon — an A-rank defensive Ninjutsu and, at its core, a Summoning Technique.
In short, it summoned three colossal Rashomon gates to block enemy attacks.
Orochimaru had used this Ninjutsu during their previous battle to withstand Kitazawa's Five Release Great Combo Jutsu.
Its defensive power was overwhelming. Beyond Triple Rashomon, there was Quintuple(Five-Layer) Rashomon, used only by Hashirama.
Even so, Triple Rashomon was already more than enough.
Until now, Kitazawa's defensive techniques were B-rank ones like Earth Flow Wall, Water Formation Wall, and Wood Locking Wall.
With Triple Rashomon, he'd finally have a top-tier defensive Ninjutsu.
"Thank you all for your hard work these past few days. I will send someone to Takumi Village." Kitazawa returned to the present and spoke.
"We failed to help Lord Kitazawa; it is our own lack of skill." Tenmura bowed deeply.
The others echoed him.
Though losing the chance to earn thirty million ryo was a pity, they could only accept it — the material simply defeated them.
After dismissing them, Kitazawa returned to his office.
He originally intended to find Itachi, but reconsidered. It would be unreasonable to send him away again immediately after he returned to Konoha.
Besides, he needed time to teach Sasuke how to control the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
And even if Takumi Village coveted the Box of Ultimate Bliss, they wouldn't try to rob it outright.
More likely, they would tamper with materials or attempt a covert theft.
"Call Kabuto," Kitazawa instructed outside the door.
Konan hadn't returned to Konoha yet, so verbal orders had to suffice.
Moments later, a knock sounded. Kabuto entered.
"Kabuto, what have you gained from Lord Orochimaru lately?" Kitazawa asked with a smile.
"A lot." Kabuto began summarizing.
Orochimaru had hidden nothing from him — he had learned cloning techniques, genetic modification, and more.
Though Orochimaru had submitted this knowledge to Konoha previously, learning directly from the source was entirely different.
"Have you mastered the Rasengan?" Kitazawa asked.
"Izumi and I have both learned it. Torune hasn't yet." Kabuto answered honestly.
"Torune is still too young." Kitazawa nodded — then froze for a moment.
With Hana graduating soon… should Torune return to the Genius Class?
Aside from his nanoscale poisonous Phosphorus Destruction Bugs, his battle ability was similar to Shino Aburame's.
But if Torune returned to the Genius Class, Kitazawa's Team would be short another member.
His team already lacked him, and with Torune gone as well, only Kabuto and Uchiha Izumi remained.
And Kabuto was half-occupied training under Orochimaru — leaving only Izumi.
"I have a mission for you." Kitazawa set aside the thoughts.
"You will lead two ANBU squads and escort the Box of Ultimate Bliss to Takumi Village."
"Yes, Teacher Kitazawa," Kabuto responded without hesitation, as expected of a Root-trained Ninja.
"The mission details are written in this scroll." Kitazawa handed him a sealed scroll.
Kabuto stepped forward and respectfully accepted it.
"After some time, I'll send someone else to replace you," Kitazawa added after thinking for a moment.
--
--
Show your support with Power Stones, guys!
If we make it into the top 20 rankings at the week's end, I'll drop 2 bonus chapters as a thank-you!
P@atreon/Arvinstorm (40+ Advanced Chapters)