After a long, lingering moment, their lips finally parted.
Kitazawa drew in a breath, his gaze settling on Tsunade.
Her lips were slightly parted, still flushed from the heat of the kiss. A faint pink spread across her fair cheeks, and her golden eyes were hazy, unfocused, and almost trembling.
He leaned in again—unable to help himself.
Tsunade froze for an instant, but she did not push him away.
Instead… she let herself feel it.
Her heart, which had been silent for far too many years, began to beat—fast, loud, unrestrained.
She shouldn't want this.
She knew she shouldn't.
But her body and heart both betrayed her.
"You… do you still need something?"
Tsunade turned her head slightly, voice hoarse. "If not, don't distract me while I'm working."
"I'm free this afternoon. I can help."
Kitazawa's eyes lingered on her lips with unmistakable intent.
"No need."
Tsunade refused too quickly—almost on instinct.
Kitazawa changed tactics immediately.
"If you don't have much left to handle… we could always visit the casino."
Her hand froze over her paperwork.
He had struck right where he meant to.
"You're paying?" Tsunade asked, narrowing her eyes.
"I'll pay." He smirked. "It can't be you—you're broke."
"Annoying!"
She kicked him and stood up sharply. "Let's go!"
Kitazawa watched her as she walked away, eyes irresistibly drifting to the sway of her hips—round, full, tempting like ripe peaches.
"Why are you still standing there?"
Tsunade was already at the door, impatience disguising the faint tremble in her voice.
Kitazawa walked up to her, leaned in, and whispered in her ear, "I'll tell Shizune-senpai I'm taking the afternoon off."
Then he nipped lightly at her ear before turning away.
Tsunade's entire body stiffened.
A jolt like lightning shot down her spine.
She reached up, touching her ear, staring at his retreating figure—momentarily dazed.
Not long after, Kitazawa returned.
"All done," he said with a smile. "Let's go."
Tsunade nodded, and the two left the Hokage Building together.
Once inside the casino, Tsunade instantly returned to her usual self—bold, fierce, and disastrously unlucky.
Kitazawa wasn't fazed.
While she gambled enthusiastically and lost spectacularly, he simply rested beside her, one hand casually massaging her thigh while simultaneously circulating Yang Release Chakra through his body.
Tsunade slapped his hand a few times, but when he didn't stop, she gave up with a sigh.
The afternoon slipped by quickly.
As expected, she lost everything.
Stepping outside, Tsunade's face was as dark as a storm cloud—until the cool evening breeze softened her mood.
"Were you training your Yang Release Chakra Mode all that time?" she asked, glancing at him sideways.
She had noticed. She always did—especially when it came to medical or chakra techniques.
"Yes," Kitazawa answered. "If nothing unexpected happens, I should master it next month. After that, I'll teach it to you."
Tsunade fell silent for two seconds.
"…Thank you."
Kitazawa smiled.
"With our relationship, you don't need to thank me."
Tsunade opened her mouth—then closed it.
What was their relationship now?
Teacher and student…
But somehow, that label no longer fit.
"What's the effect of Yang Release Chakra Mode?" she asked instead.
"It boosts physical ability across the board—Chakra output, speed, stamina, and recovery rate."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Sounds a lot like my Creation Rebirth: Hundred Healings."
"It's similar," Kitazawa agreed, "but more stable. No side effects. And most importantly—it temporarily increases total Chakra reserves."
Tsunade's eyes sharpened.
Creation Rebirth relied on the Yin Seal's stored Chakra.
But Yang Release Chakra Mode rapidly generated Chakra throughout the entire body.
A self-renewing engine.
It came from Shinno's Body Activation forbidden techniques—techniques potent enough to let him open the Eight Gates without dying.
"How much can it increase your Chakra?" Tsunade asked, voice quiet, serious.
She knew very well—increasing Chakra was the hardest thing for a shinobi.
Even temporary boosts were priceless.
Permanent increases bordered on impossible.
A technique that could do either was enough to become a village-defining secret.
"Everyone varies," Kitazawa said, shaking his head. "How much your Chakra increases depends on your level of activation and your physical foundation."
"I see."
Tsunade's lips curved into a confident smile. "Then my boost should be pretty impressive."
"I estimate you could double your Chakra," Kitazawa replied. "I might… get a little more."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"What is that supposed to mean? Are you implying you're already stronger than me?"
"It's only natural for a student to surpass their teacher someday."
Kitazawa smiled lightly. "And who knows—maybe my increase will end up less than yours."
Tsunade pouted softly.
She absolutely did not believe the second half—but she didn't argue.
If he truly surpassed her… then maybe she could retire a little earlier.
"Then, if Yang Release Chakra Mode really does what you claim…" She paused, eyes gleaming with sudden hope. "Could your Wood Release reach my grandfather's level?"
Of all people, Tsunade wanted to see Hashirama's Wood Release reborn most.
Kitazawa's Wood Release was already far beyond Tenzo's, but still pale compared to the mythical power she remembered.
"It's approaching, but fully reaching the First Hokage-sama's level will take time," Kitazawa answered honestly.
Doubling his chakra would put him around the three-tails chakra level.
Hashirama, however, possessed Chakra on a monstrous scale—nearing half the Nine-tails. And the Kyubi's chakra level is like double of what the seven tailed beasts' chakra combined is.
Not human. Not comparable.
Tsunade had never truly understood her grandfather's unfathomable Chakra reserves; she had been too young then.
"But even now," Kitazawa added, "it's more than enough to protect Konoha."
"That's true." Tsunade nodded.
Konoha didn't need him to become Hashirama.
Just being Kitazawa was already enough.
They continued chatting as they walked, eventually arriving home.
"I'm heading in. See you tomorrow."
Tsunade waved, opened her door, and slipped inside.
Kitazawa watched until the door closed, then turned toward his own home.
The first day of the holiday.
Kitazawa surveyed the training ground and couldn't help but fall into thought.
He expected a few diligent students to show up during break…
But twenty-six out of thirty-four?
Even the lower-ranking students were here—out of pressure or ambition.
He rubbed his chin, amused.
When Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke existed in your class, how could anyone slack?
It reminded him of college dorm life in his previous world—when everyone else was studying, he couldn't relax playing games either.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Hinata jogged up, her moon-chasing bow held carefully in both hands.
"Good morning, Hinata."
Kitazawa gently patted her head.
"Kitazawa-sensei."
Neji approached as well.
Kitazawa nodded.
He already knew why Neji came.
"You've nearly mastered Spiral Arrow. Today, I'll teach you a new bow-type secret technique."
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei!"
"Your bow houses the Zero-Tails," Kitazawa explained as they walked. "It has countless chakra-producing tendrils."
Neji frowned slightly.
Satori's ability was emotion perception.
Zero-Tails… tentacles?
He tried imagining an arrow sprouting tiny tentacles mid-flight.
A strange—and unsettling—image.
"The new technique is called Multiple Arrows," Kitazawa said as they reached the throwing practice area lined with wooden stakes and targets.
Neji's eyes brightened.
As the name implied, it must multiply arrows mid-flight.
"I'll demonstrate."
Kitazawa pulled back the bowstring.
A Yin Release Arrow formed.
He released it—the arrow vibrated sharply, splitting into nine mid-air.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
All nine wooden stakes were pierced simultaneously.
"Amazing!"
Hinata gasped.
"Nine isn't the limit," Kitazawa added, handing the bow to Neji. "With enough Chakra, you could theoretically split it into countless arrows."
The technique drew inspiration from Hiruzen's A-rank Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
But unlike Tenten—who struggled mainly due to Chakra limitations—Neji possessed far more Chakra and precision.
Still, to prevent overload, Kitazawa planned to start small.
"We'll begin with Triple Arrows. My Shadow Clone will walk you through it."
After creating a clone, Kitazawa turned to Hinata.
"As for you, Hinata—you'll learn Burst Arrow today."
"B-Burst… Arrow?"
Hinata blinked. "Does it explode?"
"Your arrows are formed from Yin Release."
Kitazawa smiled. "What do you think would happen if a Yin Release arrow detonates?"
Hinata thought for a moment.
Then her eyes widened softly.
"…Emotional disruption?"
"You're sharp."
Kitazawa pinched her cheek, amused. "Exactly—emotional confusion."
Hinata flushed, smiling shyly.
The essence of Yin Release is spiritual energy, and Burst Arrow fully embodies that principle.
The technique was somewhat similar to the Ninja Art: Mind Butterfly Technique Kitazawa had taught Ino Yamanaka—except that Mind Butterfly caused dizziness, while Burst Arrow created emotional chaos.
In simple terms, confusion meant every emotion striking at once—fear, anger, sorrow, joy, anxiety—colliding violently inside the mind.
Most shinobi hit by Burst Arrow couldn't steady themselves for several moments.
And in a real battle, even a second of emotional disarray could be fatal.
In this sense, the technique perfectly complemented Satori's emotion-sensing ability.
Satori struggled against opponents with calm, stable minds—but Burst Arrow stripped away mental clarity, if only briefly.
Given this, Hinata's strength after acquiring the moon-chasing bow had skyrocketed at a terrifying pace.
Unless an enemy held an overwhelming numerical advantage, even Jonin would find her increasingly troublesome to fight.
But that was expected.
The moon-chasing bow sealed Satori—a Yin Release monster second only to a Tailed Beast. Even Killer Bee, Jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails, had struggled against it.
The same logic applied to Neji and his bow.
After half an hour of explaining principles and mechanics to Hinata, Kitazawa finally let her begin practicing.
When he turned around, a flash of red caught his attention.
A moment later, Tayuya cautiously peeked out from behind a training post.
Their eyes met.
She immediately ducked back like a frightened sparrow.
Kitazawa raised a brow.
"Aren't you usually the bold one?"
Tayuya clenched her jaw, forced herself out of hiding, and stomped up to him.
"…What?" she muttered, though her voice lacked its usual bite.
Kitazawa smiled. He had noticed her long ago.
"I… I want to learn a new jutsu."
Her head dipped lower and lower as she spoke.
"If you want to learn ninjutsu, just ask openly. Why sneak around?" Kitazawa asked.
"I wasn't sneaking around!" she shot back instantly, cheeks puffed.
"I—I just saw you were teaching Hinata!"
Kitazawa chuckled at her flustered defense.
"Your strength mainly comes from your three Nuki Oni," he said, recalling her canon abilities. "Your Demonic Flute lets you control them, but only in simple ways."
Tayuya nodded reluctantly.
"What you need next is a way to expand the usefulness of your demons."
"What way?" Tayuya leaned in, her earlier embarrassment now replaced by anticipation.
"By releasing the spiritual energy within their bodies."
He was referring to the technique she used in the original timeline—Demonic Flute: Chaotic Dance of the Demon World.
The technique resembled the Spirit Transformation Technique.
When activated, the three demons expelled their spiritual essence, which then assaulted the enemy's body directly.
Once latched on, they drained Chakra relentlessly.
Tayuya blinked.
With Kitazawa's explanation, everything clicked into place.
Her demons had physical forms, but they were fundamentally Yin Release constructs.
Attacking from the spiritual angle was not only possible—it was optimal.
She had to admit it.
Kitazawa really was terrifyingly perceptive.
She'd had these demons for years and never reached this conclusion.
He watched them for a few minutes and understood instantly.
"…Thank you," she murmured.
Kitazawa reached out and patted her head.
Tayuya reflexively flinched—then, after a moment of hesitation, allowed it.
"I call this technique Demonic Flute: Chaotic Dance of the Demon World," Kitazawa said with a soft laugh. "Let's begin experimenting."
It was called "experimenting" because technically, Kitazawa did not know the technique himself.
But with his master-level Yin Release transformation and a clear conceptual framework, creating a B-rank technique was only a matter of time.
And indeed—
Within a week, Demonic Flute: Chaotic Dance of the Demon World was fully developed.
Most of Kitazawa's time that week, however, went into refining Yang Release Chakra Mode.
He felt he was only days away from initial mastery—after that, he could finally attempt the higher-level Wood Release techniques.
Even if his Chakra was still far from Hashirama's absurd reserves, using the techniques at even one-tenth effectiveness would be enough to overwhelm nearly the entire modern shinobi world.
With the exception of a few monsters like Nagato, most ninja wouldn't stand a chance against his Wood Release.
Kitazawa called for Haku.
Haku had already mastered two Ice Release techniques—
Today, he would learn the third and most difficult:
Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals.
The technique created multiple ice mirrors around the enemy, enabling the user to move between them at incredible speed.
In the original timeline, Haku used it to dominate Sasuke.
After finishing his explanation, Kitazawa turned when he sensed someone approaching.
Konan landed lightly beside him, wearing an Anbu mask.
"Kitazawa," she said, handing him a scroll. "This is from Uchiha Itachi."
He already suspected the contents.
Opening the scroll confirmed it—It was about Yomi.
After Moryo's sealing, Yomi had begun studying the so-called Dark Medical Ninjutsu—forbidden medical techniques with heavy costs and severe side effects.
In the original story, these techniques granted his subordinates short-term power boosts.
His true goal, however, was far more ambitious:
To make his body strong enough to house Moryo's soul without instantly dying.
In a twisted sense, Yomi's loyalty bordered on fanatical.
According to Itachi's investigation, Yomi had not yet succeeded in developing the technique.
Expected—this world's timeline was five to six years ahead of canon.
This posed a problem.
Without successful Dark Medical Ninjutsu, Yomi would not attempt to free Moryo.
Kitazawa tapped his chin thoughtfully.
Speaking of immortality…
He happened to possess Shinno's Medical Forbidden Technique: Body Regeneration.
An idea sparked instantly.
He could send operatives disguised as Soragakure survivors to approach Yomi—seeking an alliance to "avenge Shinno" by destroying Konoha.
Conveniently, Konoha was already a primary target for Yomi.
After all, once Moryo was unsealed, Yomi planned to unify the entire shinobi world.
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