9:00 a.m.
Kitazawa stepped into the Hokage Office precisely on time.
He walked to the window and drew open the curtains. Brilliant sunlight streamed in instantly.
It was already August. Konohagakure had officially entered the height of summer.
Though it was only nine in the morning, the sunlight was abundant and fierce, illuminating the entire village in bright clarity.
Kitazawa withdrew his gaze and returned to sit behind the Hokage's desk. It had been over half a month since he assumed the mantle of Sixth Hokage.
During this period, no major incidents had erupted in either the Ninja World or Konoha Village.
Because everyone was waiting for the Akatsuki Organization to make its move.
While the other hidden villages had not taken large-scale action, subtle movements had begun beneath the surface.
Kitazawa casually picked up a file from the desk. The report detailed minor developments among the great hidden villages.
In summary, they were preparing for war.
Major villages had begun purchasing large quantities of ninja tools and military supplies. Thanks to this, Konoha Village had earned a considerable profit.
The reason was simple. Those villages had been acquiring most of their ninja tools from Takumi Village.
And Takumi Village had long since fallen under Kitazawa's quiet control, ever since he crafted the Moon-Chasing Bow and the other legendary bows.
Naturally, Konoha itself was also stockpiling war supplies. Other villages believed Konoha was preparing to confront the Akatsuki Organization.
In truth, those preparations were also meant for them.
After finishing the report, Kitazawa set it aside and picked up the second file.
This one came from Hyuga Hidetoshi.
The Engineering Department had been successfully established with strong support from the Hyuga Clan.
Kitazawa considered briefly before picking up his pen.
Now that the Engineering Department existed, it was time for both villagers and ninja to see tangible results.
He drafted instructions for the department to use Earth Release to fully renovate and reinforce all roads throughout Konoha Village.
As for funding, the merchants of Konoha would bear the cost. After all, improved infrastructure would directly benefit their businesses.
Once this project was completed, they could begin promoting railways and airships, gradually establishing a comprehensive transportation system.
After finishing his response, Kitazawa placed the file aside.
Shizune would soon collect it and relay the orders.
Next, he picked up the third file. This one concerned the Economic Department.
The department had been successfully established and was already operational.
Kitazawa skimmed through the report and set it down.
Since the businesses it had taken over were already functioning smoothly, there was little need for his direct involvement.
Of course, additional industries could be introduced.
But there was no urgency. Within Konoha alone, large-scale expansion opportunities were limited.
Once the Land of Fire came under full influence, however, there would be countless ventures to manage.
At that moment, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in." Kitazawa lifted his gaze.
"Kitazawa-sen— Hokage-sama." Iruka entered.
He had instinctively used his old form of address, but quickly corrected himself.
"Iruka, it's been a while." Kitazawa smiled.
This was their first meeting since he had become Hokage.
"Hokage-sama." Iruka handed over a file. "This is the list of applicants for next semester's Genius Class."
"Time truly flies." Kitazawa sighed. "Another semester already."
He opened the file and scanned the names. As expected, none of them were familiar.
More precisely, none of them had appeared in the original timeline.
That was only natural.
After Hyuga Hanabi and Konohamaru Sarutobi entered the academy, there had been a long lull in notable talent in the original story.
The next significant generation would be the children of Sasuke's era.
"The new semester begins on September 1st, half a month from now." After Kitazawa finished reading, Iruka asked, "Hokage-sama, will you attend the opening ceremony?"
"If time permits, I will." Kitazawa considered briefly before replying.
He had attended countless ceremonies in the past. But since becoming Hokage, he had yet to attend one.
It would be appropriate to do so.
"Understood." Iruka nodded.
"You may go." Kitazawa placed the file aside and waved lightly.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Iruka bowed before departing.
Kitazawa rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He had been busy handling village affairs and had not visited the Ninja Academy recently.
He was curious about the current state of the Genius Class.
With that thought, he vanished from the office, reappearing moments later at the Ninja Academy.
It was summer vacation, so regular classes were suspended.
However, the Genius Class students were still training diligently.
Compared to the past, the training grounds were quieter. Fewer than ten students were present.
Kitazawa's gaze settled upon Hyuga Hanabi, Konohamaru Sarutobi, Moegi Kazamatsuri, and Ise Udon.
Hyuga Hanabi was practicing Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
Konohamaru had already mastered Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning and was currently learning Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet.
Moegi Kazamatsuri and Ise Udon had completed Chakra control training and begun learning ninjutsu.
Moegi was practicing Water Release: Water Hail.
Udon was studying Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique.
Kitazawa nodded slightly. Their progress was impressive.
Especially Hyuga Hanabi. Her talent in Gentle Fist rivaled that of Hinata and Neji.
Of course, Hinata and Neji had long since surpassed the limits of Gentle Fist alone.
"Hanabi," Kitazawa called out.
Upon seeing him, Hyuga Hanabi ran over immediately.
Unlike Hinata at her age, Hanabi wore her hair long, giving her a refined and ladylike appearance.
In truth, however, the two sisters possessed entirely opposite temperaments.
"Kitazawa-sensei," Hanabi asked with a bright smile, "How was my Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms just now?"
"Not bad." Kitazawa casually produced a lollipop. "A reward."
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei!" Hanabi unwrapped it happily and placed it in her mouth.
"Take this as well." Kitazawa brought out a summoning storage scroll. "You may open it after you fully master Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms."
"What's inside?" Hanabi blinked curiously.
"A bow," Kitazawa replied. "It's called the Demon-Slaying Bow."
Like the Moon-Chasing Bow and the Fate-Breaking Bow, the Demon-Slaying Bow contained a sealed Yin Release entity.
Specifically, it housed Moryo from the Land of Demons.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei!" Hanabi's eyes shone with excitement.
She knew exactly how formidable those bows were. She had seen the power of Hinata's and Neji's weapons firsthand.
She had always wanted one but never dared ask. After all, such legendary weapons were rare beyond measure.
She had never expected to receive one herself.
"You cannot use it yet." Kitazawa smiled lightly.
"I'll train even harder!" Hanabi clutched the summoning scroll tightly.
"Continue your practice." Kitazawa gently patted her head. "If you have questions, ask your sister."
"Kitazawa-sensei, can I ask you instead?" Hanabi's eyes darted mischievously.
"You may ask me as well." Kitazawa nodded with a faint smile.
"I got it!" Hyuga Hanabi carefully stored the scroll away and skipped lightly back toward the training ground.
Kitazawa watched her for a moment. Her personality felt slightly different from how he remembered it in the original story.
But thinking about it carefully, it made perfect sense.
Back then, she had to compete with Hyuga Hinata, and that pressure had shaped her temperament.
Now, there was no such burden. She seemed far more relaxed and lively.
Kitazawa withdrew his gaze and looked toward Gaara and Fu. Both of them were immersed in their training.
After a brief thought, he decided not to disturb them. Besides, if they started asking when they could leave, it would only become troublesome.
Kitazawa returned to the Hokage Office.
He spent another half hour finishing the remaining files on the Hokage's desk.
When he stood up to leave, he paused and created a Shadow Clone. This time, he planned to be gone a bit longer.
If someone came looking for him and couldn't find him, it would cause unnecessary trouble.
Once Konan officially joined the ANBU, a Shadow Clone would no longer be necessary. She could handle relaying messages for him.
Kitazawa used the Flying Thunder God Technique and arrived at a nearby training field.
He stood quietly and extended his hand. Chakra surged out, undergoing nature transformation.
Soon, seven distinct strands of Chakra floated before him.
He took a deep breath and attempted to fuse them together—to form a Truth-Seeking Ball.
But it was clearly not that simple. Even after trying repeatedly, he failed to grasp the essential principle.
Kitazawa withdrew his hand and glanced at the sky. It was nearly time to get out of work.
After a moment of thought, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique and arrived at the Hidden Rain Village.
He steadied himself and looked toward Konan. She stood by the window, gazing at the endless drizzle that blanketed the village.
Kitazawa stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
Konan glanced back at him but said nothing.
Instead, she leaned into him. Her smooth back pressed against his chest, and her hips rested against his thighs.
"When will the Akatsuki Organization make its move?" Kitazawa asked.
"Next week," Konan replied calmly. "In three days, I will inform Nagato about your request to meet."
"Thank you." Kitazawa reached up and gently pinched her cheek.
"I don't know whether he will agree," Konan said after a brief hesitation.
"He will." Kitazawa chuckled.
Nagato, in his current state, believed himself to be a god.
He would not refuse such an invitation. Refusing would be seen as fear.
"Where do you plan to meet him?" Konan asked quietly.
"In the Desert of Evil, in the Land of Wind," Kitazawa answered after thinking for a moment. "I'll arrive first."
The Desert of Evil was uninhabited. It was the perfect location.
Although he called it a meeting, Kitazawa understood that Nagato would not listen without first being confronted with overwhelming force.
Arriving early would allow Nagato to sense his presence and confirm that he had come alone.
Konan understood the deeper meaning behind his words. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Kitazawa and Nagato were similar in one respect: Both possessed absolute confidence. Both believed themselves invincible.
This encounter would not be resolved through conversation alone.
She could only hope the outcome would be favorable.
"I'll come again in three days." Kitazawa gently turned her around to face him. "Don't worry. Nothing will happen."
"Mm." Konan nodded softly.
He had reassured her like this more than once. All she could do now was trust him.
"Did you bring new clothes today?" Konan looked up at him. The question carried a subtle meaning.
"I brought you a kimono." Kitazawa nodded.
"Help me put it on." Konan removed her clothes without hesitation and stood naked before him calmly.
Kitazawa steadied himself and took out the kimono he had prepared.
Soon, the black kimono draped over her graceful figure.
"Thank you. It looks very good." Konan turned slightly, examining herself.
Though her personality was cool and reserved, she was still a woman. She appreciated beautiful clothing.
This kimono suited her very well. The only issue was that it was far too bold for public view.
Kitazawa replaced the paper flower in her hair with a red one.
He stepped back and studied her carefully. It matched the image in his memory even more closely now.
His gaze lowered briefly, then returned to her face.
"Konan." He called her name softly.
Konan turned around.
She placed both hands on the windowsill. Her neck tilted slightly, her posture elegant.
The rain continued to fall outside.
She watched the raindrops streak down the glass, feeling as though she herself were a flower standing in the rain.
Time passed quietly.
Eventually, she sat down on the sofa, her breathing gradually steadying. She looked up at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting.
After a moment, she closed her eyes and rested her hand gently against her abdomen.
---
Three days passed quickly.
Rain still fell over the Hidden Rain Village.
Konan climbed the high tower and met Deva Path Pain.
"Is something the matter?" He asked when he saw her.
With the assault on Konoha drawing near, he could not afford unexpected complications.
"I received a letter from Konoha Village," Konan answered.
"A letter?" Deva Path Pain sounded mildly surprised. "What does it say?"
"The Sixth Hokage, Kitazawa, wishes to meet you." Konan paused briefly. "He says he will wait for you alone in the Desert of Evil in the Land of Wind."
"What is this supposed to mean?" Deva Path Pain gave a cold snort. "If he thinks of begging for mercy now, it is far too late."
"It is probably not that." Konan shook her head. "Are you going?"
"Since he has extended an invitation, I will naturally go." Deva Path Pain answered without hesitation.
"I'll go ahead first to check whether there are any traps," Konan spoke after a brief moment of thought.
"No need. I'll simply send the Six Paths of Pain." Deva Path Pain replied calmly. "If you were captured, it would disrupt our entire operation."
"Very well." Konan nodded. "Then I will stay by your main body's side."
Although the Six Paths of Pain could be controlled remotely, there was a limit to the range.
At the very least, Nagato could not control them from Amegakure all the way to the Land of Wind.
His true body would still need to travel there.
"I think we should keep this from that Uchiha Madara," Konan added.
In the original timeline, she had never truly trusted Uchiha Obito.
Now that the matter involved both Kitazawa and Nagato, she was even more unwilling to let him interfere.
"I have no interest in informing him." Deva Path Pain replied indifferently.
Since he had declared he would go alone, he would not break his word.
"I'll send the reply now." Konan pondered briefly. "I'll tell Kitazawa to be at the Desert of Evil in the Land of Wind at nine tomorrow morning."
Deva Path Pain gave a silent nod.
Konan turned and departed. After returning to her room, she saw Kitazawa sitting calmly on the edge of the bed.
"Nagato agreed to meet you," Konan spoke directly. "Tomorrow at nine in the morning."
"I understand. I'll arrive early." Kitazawa stood and walked toward her.
"Be careful." Konan hesitated, but in the end, she still said it.
"Just wait to join the Anbu." Kitazawa pulled her into his arms with a faint smile.
Konan did not reply. She simply held him tightly.
A few minutes later, Kitazawa gently released her. He kissed her forehead, said his farewell, and returned to the Hokage Office.
Seated in the Hokage's chair, Kitazawa began to calculate. He understood Nagato's strength very clearly.
However, because of his own intervention, Nagato's legs had been restored.
That would inevitably increase his combat capability. Still, the improvement would not be dramatic.
At their level, the true determinant of power was Chakra.
In the original timeline, Edo Tensei Nagato possessed infinite Chakra, which allowed him to display terrifying, destructive force.
Whether his legs functioned or not had little to do with Chakra output.
The only true variable was the Gedo Mazo. After absorbing seven Tailed Beasts, its strength would not be insignificant.
Naturally, Kitazawa's Chakra reserves could not compare to seven Tailed Beasts combined.
But he had his own countermeasure, the Yin Seal.
Ever since obtaining the Dragon Vein, he had continuously channeled Chakra into the Yin Seal.
The accumulated reserves were now considerable. Enough for him to expend freely.
[Current Mission: Defeat Nagato.]
[Mission Reward: Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan evolves into Rinnegan.]
[Accept?]
Looking at the three lines of text that appeared before him, Kitazawa couldn't help but smile.
It seemed this battle was unavoidable.
After all, the reward this time was the Rinnegan.
Under normal circumstances, evolving the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan into the Rinnegan would be extraordinarily difficult.
The Rinnegan depended heavily on bloodline factors. Without possessing the Chakra of either Ashura or Indra, awakening it was nearly impossible.
Kitazawa glanced at the sky outside the window.
Then he stood up and vanished from the office.
Konoha Casino.
No matter the hour, it was always bustling with patrons.
Kitazawa scanned the room and quickly spotted Tsunade seated before a slot machine. He walked over.
"Damn it!" Tsunade stared at the symbols on the machine, clenched her fist, and slammed it.
"If you break that, you'll have to pay for it," Kitazawa said with a faint smile.
"As if it would break that easily," Tsunade replied without turning her head. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be working?"
"I've already finished." Kitazawa sat beside her and casually placed his hand on her thigh.
"So soon?" Tsunade was briefly surprised.
"You're so absorbed in gambling that you've lost track of time." Kitazawa shook his head. "It's time to go home."
"Fine." Tsunade exhaled sharply. "Bad luck today. I'll try again tomorrow."
Kitazawa stood, took her hand, and activated Flying Thunder God. The next instant, they were back home.
"Kurenai isn't back yet?" Tsunade looked around before collapsing onto the sofa. The impact made it shake noticeably.
"No," Kitazawa replied. "She's been busy filming lately. Sometimes she comes back late."
He stepped forward and rested against her comfortably. Her fair skin pressed warmly against him.
"Now that Kurenai isn't here, you dare to take advantage of me?" Tsunade lightly tapped his head.
"If she were here and you allowed it, I could do the same," Kitazawa replied innocently.
"You certainly think highly of yourself." Tsunade gave him a light kick but didn't push him away.
"The Akatsuki Organization will attack Konoha in two days." Kitazawa's tone turned serious.
"Two days?" Tsunade's expression sharpened. "If you need me, call."
"Mhm," Kitazawa responded quietly.
Tsunade shook her head. Even at a time like this, he could still act so casually.
"After this crisis ends, I'll have a talk with Kurenai." She gently stroked his hair.
"Really?" Kitazawa lifted his head instinctively.
From that angle, he could only see her slender neck.
"Hmph. You're getting quite the bargain." Tsunade pushed him away lightly. "I'm hungry. Go cook."
"Yes, Tsunade-sensei!" Kitazawa replied instantly. "I'll buy roast chicken and the best wine."
Tsunade rolled her eyes.
Kitazawa chuckled, leaned forward, and kissed her softly. Moments later, he left to prepare dinner.
---
A new day.
Eight-thirty in the morning.
Desert of Evil, Land of Wind.
Kitazawa stood upon the vast sand and activated his Byakugan.
Soon, he detected Nagato and Konan's Chakra signatures. They were stationed within an oasis.
Moments later, Nagato began advancing, controlling the Six Paths of Pain.
Kitazawa remained calm. He closed his eyes and activated Kagura Mind's Eye. His perception range expanded dramatically.
After confirming that neither White Zetsu nor Uchiha Obito was nearby, he opened his eyes.
It appeared Nagato truly had not informed them.
Kitazawa stood in place and waited.
The wind howled.
The Six Paths of Pain descended, surrounding him.
"Kitazawa." Deva Path Pain spoke first. "What do you wish to discuss?"
"The truth," Kitazawa replied with a faint smile. "For example… where those Rinnegan of yours truly came from."
"My Rinnegan awakened naturally." Deva Path Pain answered coldly. "If this meeting is merely for such baseless talk, then there is nothing more to discuss. It ends here."