9:00 a.m.
Kitazawa entered the Hokage's office right on time.
He walked to the window and drew the curtains open.
Brilliant sunlight poured in.
It was already August now, and Konoha had officially entered summer.
Even though it was only nine in the morning, the sunlight was intense, bathing the village in bright, clear light.
Kitazawa withdrew his gaze and sat down behind the Hokage's desk.
It had been a little over half a month since he became the Sixth Hokage.
In that half month, nothing major had happened—whether in the shinobi world at large or in Konoha itself.
Because everyone was waiting for the Akatsuki to make their move.
Still, even if the other villages weren't making big moves, they were making small ones.
Kitazawa casually picked up a document from the desk.
It detailed those "small moves" from the other villages. Summed up in one phrase: preparing for war.
Every major village was purchasing ninja tools and other wartime supplies.
Konoha had even made quite a bit of money from it.
That was thanks to the other villages buying large quantities of ninja tools from Takumi Village.
And Takumi Village—back when Kitazawa had those bows forged, like the Moonchaser Bow—he had already taken covert control of it.
Of course, Konoha itself had also stocked up on plenty of wartime supplies.
The other villages thought Konoha was preparing to deal with the Akatsuki. In reality, Konoha was preparing to deal with them.
After finishing the first document, Kitazawa picked up the second.
This one came from Hyuga Hōmon.
With the Hyuga clan's help, the Engineering Department had been successfully established.
Kitazawa thought for a moment, then picked up his pen.
Now that the Engineering Department existed, it was time to let the villagers and shinobi know it was there.
He planned to have them use Earth Release to completely renovate all of Konoha's roads.
As for payment, he would have the village's merchants foot the bill.
After all, once the roads were rebuilt, they would be the direct beneficiaries.
Once this project was completed, they could try promoting railways and airships, building a complete transportation system.
After writing his reply, Kitazawa set the document aside.
Shizune would come by later, take it away, and pass the orders along.
Kitazawa picked up the third document.
This one was related to the Economic Department.
It had also been successfully established and was already operational.
He skimmed it, then put it down.
The Economic Department was in charge of Konoha's businesses, and things had already been running smoothly for a long time, so it didn't need much direct involvement from him.
They could add new businesses too—but there was no need to rush.
Within Konoha alone, there weren't that many businesses that could truly scale.
Once the Land of Fire was settled as well, the number of opportunities would explode.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Kitazawa looked up toward the entrance.
"Kitazawa, for— Hokage-sama."
The one who entered was Umino Iruka. He reflexively used the old form of address, then immediately realized and corrected himself.
"Iruka, long time no see."
Kitazawa smiled.
This was their first time meeting since he became Hokage.
"Hokage-sama."
Iruka handed over a document. "This is the list of students registering for the Advanced Class next semester."
"Time really flies."
Kitazawa sighed. "It's almost a new term again."
He took the document and read it.
Sure enough, he didn't recognize a single student.
More accurately, not one of them had appeared in the original story.
But that was normal.
After Hanabi Hyuga and Konohamaru Sarutobi enrolled, the original story had a long stretch where the ninja academy basically had a "gap."
The next major wave of talent would be the children of Sasuke's generation.
"The new term is set for September 1st, in half a month."
After Kitazawa finished reading, Iruka asked, "Hokage-sama, will you attend the opening ceremony?"
"If I have time, I'll go."
Kitazawa thought for a moment.
He'd attended plenty of opening ceremonies before.
But he hadn't attended one as Hokage yet—so yes, he really should go at least once.
"Understood."
Iruka nodded.
"You can go."
Kitazawa put the document away and waved him off.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Iruka bowed and left.
Kitazawa rubbed his chin.
Recently, he'd been busy with village affairs and hadn't gone to the academy, so he didn't know how the Advanced Class was doing.
With that thought, he vanished from where he stood—and reappeared at the ninja academy.
It was summer vacation, so there were no regular classes, but the Advanced Class students were still training.
Compared to before, though, it was much quieter. Fewer than ten people were training.
Kitazawa's gaze fell on four of them: Hanabi Hyuga, Konohamaru Sarutobi, Moegi Kazamatsuri, and Udon Ise.
Hanabi was still practicing Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
Konohamaru had learned Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning, and was now learning Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.
Moegi and Udon had finished chakra control training and had started learning ninjutsu.
Moegi was learning Water Release: Water Hail, while Udon was learning Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique.
Kitazawa nodded.
Their training progress was pretty good.
Especially Hanabi.
Her talent for Gentle Fist was no worse than Hinata's or Neji's.
But by now, Hinata and Neji weren't only doing Gentle Fist anymore.
"Hanabi."
Kitazawa called out.
Hanabi saw him and immediately ran over.
Unlike Hinata when she was little, Hanabi wore her hair long, which made her look more ladylike.
But in personality, the sisters were basically opposites.
"Kitazawa-sensei."
Hanabi grinned and asked, "How was my Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms just now?"
"Not bad."
Kitazawa casually took out a lollipop. "Reward for you."
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei!"
Hanabi peeled it open and popped it into her mouth.
"This is for you too."
Kitazawa took out a summoning storage scroll. "Once you've mastered Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, you can open it."
"What's inside?"
Hanabi blinked, curious.
"A bow. It's called the Demon-Slaying Bow."
Kitazawa answered.
The Demon-Exterminating Bow, like the Moonchaser Bow and the Fatefeather Bow, also had a Yin Release monster sealed inside.
What it sealed was Moryo of the Land of Demons.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei!"
Hanabi immediately lit up with excitement.
She knew how strong the bows Kitazawa gave out were—just look at Hinata's and Neji's.
She'd wanted one for a long time, but she hadn't dared to ask.
With bows that strong, maybe there wasn't a third one.
But she never expected she'd actually get one.
"You can't use it yet."
Kitazawa smiled.
"I'll work hard!"
Hanabi gripped the storage scroll, her voice brimming with excitement.
"Then keep training."
Kitazawa reached out and patted her head. "If there's something you don't understand, go ask your sister."
"Kitazawa-sensei, can I ask you instead?"
Hanabi's eyes darted as she asked.
"You can ask me too."
Kitazawa nodded.
"Got it!"
Hanabi put away the scroll and skipped back toward the field.
Kitazawa felt her personality was a little different from the original story.
But it made sense.
In the original, she had to compete with Hinata, so the pressure sometimes weighed on her.
Now she didn't need to—and she seemed far more relaxed.
Kitazawa withdrew his gaze and looked over at Gaara and Fu.
Both of them were training as well.
Kitazawa thought about it, but didn't go over to disturb them.
Besides, if they started asking when they could leave, that would be a headache.
Kitazawa returned to the Hokage's office.
After that, he spent another half hour clearing the remaining documents on his desk.
He stood up, about to leave—but after thinking it over, he still left behind a shadow clone.
Mainly because he was going to be away for quite a while this time, and he was worried someone might come looking for him and not find him.
Once Konan joined Anbu later, he wouldn't need a shadow clone anymore.
She could relay messages for him.
Kitazawa used Flying Thunder God to arrive at a nearby training ground.
He stood still and extended his hand.
Chakra surged out, transformed in nature, and soon seven completely different chakra types floated before him.
He took a deep breath and tried to fuse them together, ultimately forming Truth-Seeking Orbs.
But obviously, it wasn't that easy.
Kitazawa tried for most of the day and still couldn't even get started.
He withdrew his hand, glanced at the sky—it was about time to get off work.
After thinking briefly, he used Flying Thunder God to arrive in the Hidden Rain Village.
He steadied himself and looked at Konan.
She stood by the window, staring out at the endless rain that blanketed the village.
Kitazawa walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
Konan glanced back at him without speaking, then leaned into him.
Her smooth back pressed against his chest, and her rounded hips pressed against his thigh.
"When is the Akatsuki going to act?"
Kitazawa asked.
"Next week."
Konan replied coolly. "I'm planning to tell Nagato in three days that you want to meet him."
"Thanks."
Kitazawa's right hand lifted, pinching her cheek twice.
"I don't know if he'll agree."
Konan hesitated and said.
"He'll agree."
Kitazawa chuckled softly.
Nagato hadn't been beaten into reality yet. He still saw himself as a god—there was no way he'd refuse an invitation from Kitazawa.
If he refused, people would say he was scared.
"Then where do you plan to meet him?"
Konan paused, then asked.
"In the Demon Sand Desert of the Land of Wind."
Kitazawa thought for a moment. "I'll arrive first."
The Demon Sand Desert was barren and uninhabited—the perfect place for them to fight.
Even though Kitazawa said he wanted to "meet," if he didn't beat Nagato down at least once, Nagato wouldn't listen.
As for arriving first, it was to give Nagato a chance to sense him in advance—to know Kitazawa really did come alone.
Konan understood what he meant between the lines and couldn't help sighing inwardly.
She realized Kitazawa and Nagato were both the same in one respect: they were both extremely confident, convinced they were invincible.
This meeting couldn't be settled with words alone.
Konan only hoped the outcome would be good.
"I'll come over again in three days."
Kitazawa turned her to face him and comforted her. "Don't worry too much. Nothing will happen."
"Mm."
Konan nodded.
Kitazawa had told her things like this more than once already.
And now, all she could do was believe him.
"Did you bring new clothes today?"
Konan lifted her head and looked at him.
The meaning was obvious.
"I brought you a kimono."
Kitazawa estimated the time and nodded.
"Put it on me."
Konan took off her clothes.
Arms spread, she stood completely bare in front of him.
Kitazawa swept his gaze over her pale skin, forced down the agitation in his chest, and took out the kimono he'd bought.
Soon, the black kimono was draped over Konan's graceful figure.
This wasn't a traditional kimono—it was an off-shoulder style, with bandage wraps underneath.
The reason Kitazawa bought it was because it looked a lot like the skin from a Naruto mobile game in his past life—called "Wandering Ronin."
"Thanks. It looks good."
Konan looked herself over from side to side.
Even if her personality was cold, she was still a woman—she liked beautiful clothes.
This kimono matched her taste perfectly.
The only issue was that it was too sexy—something she'd only show Kitazawa.
Kitazawa reached out and swapped the paper flower on her head for a red one.
He looked her over for a moment, then nodded.
Now she looked even closer to the "Wandering Ronin" image in his memory.
His gaze dropped to the bandage wraps beneath her neck.
They wound around her body—front and back alike.
But they didn't fully cover her, leaving large stretches of pale skin exposed, making her look both dignified and coldly alluring.
Kitazawa lowered his head and pressed in against the bandage wraps.
He immediately felt warmth and softness.
Konan, seeing this, raised her hands and cradled his head.
Feeling his warm breath against her chest, a wave of warmth rose in her heart.
"Konan."
Kitazawa lifted a hand, licked the corner of his mouth, and looked at her flushed face.
Konan came back to herself and turned around.
She reached out and gripped the windowsill.
Her pale neck tilted slightly upward, her body arched back—like a drawn bow.
In that posture, the kimono hem hung down, clinging to the fullness of her hips.
The next second, her body trembled and her rosy lips parted.
Staring at the raindrops falling endlessly outside, she felt like a flower in the rain, being washed and soaked through.
Beneath the sound of rainfall, she let out soft, restrained sounds—an honest expression of her satisfaction.
How long it lasted, she didn't know.
Eventually her body went limp, and she sank onto the sofa.
She leaned her head back, staring at the ceiling, her eyes unfocused.
Konan closed her eyes, lifted a hand, and gently stroked her abdomen.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
It was still a rainy day.
Konan climbed the tower and met the Deva Path of Pain.
"Is something wrong?"
The Deva Path asked her first.
They were about to attack Konoha—he couldn't allow any unexpected variables.
"I just received a letter from Konoha."
Konan replied.
"A letter from Konoha? What does it say?"
The Deva Path asked, surprised.
"Konoha's Sixth Hokage, Kitazawa, wants to meet you."
Konan paused. "He says he'll be waiting alone in the Demon Sand Desert of the Land of Wind."
"What does this mean?"
The Deva Path snorted coldly. "Only now he thinks of begging? It's far too late."
"It probably isn't begging."
Konan shook her head, then asked, "Are you going?"
"Since he's issued the invitation, of course I'll go."
The Deva Path answered without hesitation.
"I'll go first and check for traps."
Konan thought briefly.
"No need. I'll just use the Six Paths of Pain."
The Deva Path replied. "If you're captured, it'll affect our operation."
"Alright."
Konan nodded. "Then I'll protect your real body when the time comes."
The Six Paths of Pain could be controlled remotely—but there was a maximum range.
At the very least, Nagato couldn't control them from the Hidden Rain Village all the way to the Land of Wind.
His real body would have to go.
"I think we can keep it from that Uchiha Madara."
Konan added.
In the original story, she never trusted Uchiha Obito.
Now that this involved Kitazawa and Nagato, she wanted even less for him to show up and meddle.
"I'm not interested in telling him."
The Deva Path said indifferently.
Since he'd said he would go alone, he wouldn't break his word.
"I'll reply right now."
Konan murmured. "Tell Kitazawa to be at the Demon Sand Desert tomorrow at 9:00 a.m."
The Deva Path nodded.
Konan turned and left.
After returning to her room, she looked at Kitazawa sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Nagato agreed to meet you."
Konan got straight to the point. "Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m."
"Got it. I'll arrive early."
Kitazawa stood and walked up to her.
"Be careful."
Konan hesitated, then finally said.
"You just focus on joining Anbu."
Kitazawa pulled her into his arms and smiled.
Konan didn't answer—she just held him.
A few minutes later, Kitazawa released her.
He lowered his head, kissed her forehead, said goodbye, and returned to the Hokage's office.
Kitazawa sat in the Hokage's chair and began calculating.
He understood Nagato's strength very well.
But because of him, Nagato's legs had been healed—so his strength would definitely be a bit higher than before.
Though not by much.
At their level, the only thing that could truly change combat power was chakra.
In the original story, it was only after Nagato was reanimated—when his chakra became effectively infinite—that he displayed absurd, explosive strength.
Whether his legs were good or not had nothing to do with chakra.
The only thing he needed to watch out for was the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
After absorbing seven tailed beasts, its strength wouldn't be weak.
Kitazawa's chakra naturally couldn't compare to seven tailed beasts.
But he had a countermeasure: the Yin Seal.
Ever since obtaining the Dragon Vein, he'd been continuously pouring chakra into the Yin Seal.
By now, the amount stored was enormous—enough for him to burn freely.
[Current Mission: Defeat Nagato.]
[Mission Reward: Evolve Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan into Rinnegan.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa looked at the three lines of text that appeared and couldn't help smiling.
Looks like this fight was unavoidable.
After all, the reward was the Rinnegan.
Under normal circumstances, it would be extremely difficult for him to awaken the Rinnegan from the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
Because the Rinnegan cared heavily about bloodline.
Without Asura's or Indra's chakra, it was simply impossible to awaken it.
Kitazawa glanced at the sky outside the window, stood up, and vanished from where he was.
Konoha Casino.
No matter when you came, it was always packed with customers.
Kitazawa looked around and spotted Tsunade sitting in front of 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 it, you'll have to pay for it."
Kitazawa said with a grin.
"It's not that easy to break."
Tsunade didn't even turn her head. "Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be working?"
"I'm off work already, Tsunade-sensei."
Kitazawa sat beside her and lifted a hand, placing it on her thigh.
"So fast?"
Tsunade froze.
"You're addicted to gambling—no wonder you don't feel time passing."
Kitazawa shook his head. "Time to go home, Tsunade-sensei."
"Fine."
Tsunade exhaled. "Bad luck today. I'll come again tomorrow."
Kitazawa stood up, grabbed her hand, and used Flying Thunder God.
The next second, the two of them were back home.
"Has Kurenai not come back yet?"
Tsunade scanned the room, then flopped onto the sofa.
With that motion, the couch jolted, and her rounded hips sank deep into the cushion.
"No."
Kitazawa replied. "She's been busy filming lately. Sometimes she comes home late."
He stepped forward and—without any hesitation—buried his face in her chest.
The pale softness pressed against his cheeks, and he felt the fullness and warmth.
"With Kurenai not here, you dare take advantage of me?"
Tsunade raised a hand and knocked him on the head.
"If she's here and you allow it, I can take advantage of you then too."
Kitazawa blinked.
"You're dreaming."
Tsunade kicked him in annoyance—but still didn't shove him away.
"The Akatsuki will attack Konoha in two days."
Kitazawa abruptly shifted to business.
"Two days?"
Tsunade's expression turned serious. "If you need anything, call me."
"Mm."
Kitazawa replied.
Feeling the heat of his breath against her chest, Tsunade couldn't help shaking her head.
At a time like this, he was still acting so unserious.
"Once we get through this crisis, I'll go talk to Kurenai."
Tsunade reached out and gently stroked Kitazawa's hair.
"Really?"
Kitazawa instinctively lifted his head to look at her.
But from his angle, all he could see was her long, elegant neck.
"Hmph. You're getting off easy!"
Tsunade shoved him away. "I'm hungry. Go cook!"
"Yes, Tsunade-sensei!"
Kitazawa immediately said, "I'll go buy roast chicken and the best liquor!"
Tsunade rolled her eyes.
This guy really was shamelessly practical.
Kitazawa laughed, leaned in, and kissed her soft lips.
At the same time, his hands helped ease the pressure of her clothes.
Tsunade let out a muffled sound, endured the tingling weakness, and after "teaching him a lesson" with her tongue, kicked him out.
A new day.
8:30 a.m.
The Demon Sand Desert, Land of Wind.
Kitazawa stood on the sand and activated the Byakugan.
Soon, he spotted Nagato and Konan.
They were at an oasis.
A moment later, Nagato controlled the Six Paths of Pain and headed toward him.
Kitazawa wasn't surprised.
He closed his eyes and used the Mind's Eye of the Kagura.
His range expanded again.
After confirming there were no White Zetsu or Uchiha Obito nearby, he opened his eyes once more.
It seemed Nagato really hadn't notified them.
Kitazawa stayed where he was and waited.
A sharp tearing sound cut through the air.
The Six Paths of Pain landed in front of him, surrounding him.
"Kitazawa."
The Deva Path spoke first. "You asked to meet me—what do you want to talk about?"
"The truth."
Kitazawa smiled. "For example, where your Rinnegan really came from."
"My Rinnegan awakened naturally."
The Deva Path said coldly. "If you only called me here to talk about that, then we have nothing to discuss. This ends here."
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— This Fanfic is Completed in Patreon!