Konoha-ryū Kenjutsu, at its core, was still a branch of Taijutsu.
Hidezawa's system had an unusual but powerful feature—whenever he mastered or received a reward related to a certain skill category, it could be instantly integrated and scaled to match the highest level he had already reached within that category.
Just like with his Water-style and Earth-style techniques, once his elemental proficiency increased, any new jutsu learned under that nature release would automatically manifest at that new tier of power.
In theory, it made him absurdly strong.
But there was a catch.
Free Points were painfully scarce.
They were completely tied to mission performance and difficulty, which meant his progress was shackled to his own hustle. No shortcuts, no easy farming. One misstep and he'd be on a permanent vacation with the shinigami.
He was the very embodiment of the phrase: "Starting from scratch and grinding up, with every breakthrough earned through blood and grit."
'Still… the skills I got this time are pretty damn interesting.'
This mission's reward had come via Uzuki Yugao, meaning his system had also absorbed part of her combat experience and abilities.
Crescent Moon Dance, Hazy Night, and Konoha-ryū Continuous Slash.
The first two, he remembered well—textbook Kenjutsu maneuvers famous among Konoha's sword users. But that last one…
'Wasn't that the name of some flashy ultra-move from a gacha game?'
It sounded like it belonged in some festival-limited banner with sparkles and special effects. But hey, if it worked, he wasn't going to complain. Function over flair.
Besides, what mattered most was that these additions gave his combat repertoire a serious boost. And if Sarutobi Hiruzen actually came through on the rewards he had hinted at…?
That'd be another win for the house.
…
The streets of Konoha were quiet at this hour, the late afternoon light casting long shadows across the village's tiled roofs. Children played in distant courtyards, the occasional bark of a dog or the clink of wind chimes breaking the stillness.
Yugao, now dressed in civilian attire—plain slacks and a lavender kimono top—walked beside Hidezawa with a subtle grace. Her mask and armor gone, she looked almost like a different person.
She turned to him, her violet eyes watching carefully.
"You've been quiet. What's on your mind?" she asked softly.
Hidezawa blinked, shaking his head as though snapping out of a daze. "Nothing much…" he said with a sigh. "Just… thinking about the people we lost."
Yugao's expression turned somber.
"That's our fate as Anbu. We knew the risks the moment we put on those masks. We're the shield that Konoha never sees."
"I understand, senpai."
Hidezawa nodded solemnly.
'No way in hell I'm opening up to anyone about what I'm really thinking. Emotional trauma can take a number. I'll stick with the safe answers, thanks.'
He straightened his back and recited, "We walk in the dark, to serve the light. We are the Anbu."
Yugao blinked, clearly affected by the sincerity in his voice.
"…Serve the light… that is Anbu…"
Her lips pressed into a thin line as she considered his words. Simple, but profound. How could someone who had only just joined Anbu understand their purpose so well?
She and her senior—Gekko Hayate—had been in the corps for two years now. And yet, Hidezawa's clarity made her question if she truly understood it as deeply as he did.
For a while, silence reigned between them.
But Hidezawa wasn't one to let a conversation die awkwardly. He quickly shifted gears and steered them toward lighter topics. With an effortless smile, he asked her about hobbies, missions, and fellow shinobi.
To his surprise, Yugao was fairly talkative—especially once the subject turned to Kenjutsu.
"I've always admired the sword." she admitted. "There's a calmness to it. Precision. Focus. Every swing has purpose."
"If I get the chance, I'd love to learn from you someday." Hidezawa said. "I hope you'll be willing to teach me."
Yugao smiled at him, more relaxed now. "Of course. Just call me Yugao when we're not on duty. But in the field, remember—codenames only."
It wasn't long before they arrived at Ichiraku Ramen.
The curtain over the entrance swayed gently in the summer breeze. Past peak hours, the place wasn't crowded. But something—or rather someone—under the eaves caught Hidezawa's attention.
A small boy with unruly blond hair stood by the door, clutching his empty stomach and staring longingly at the steaming bowls inside.
'That kid…'
Yugao's brow furrowed as she noticed him too.
"What's up with him?" Hidezawa asked innocently.
Yugao gave a slight frown, lowering her voice. "You don't know? That's Uzumaki Naruto."
Hidezawa feigned confusion. "Should I?"
"There are… rumors." she said. "People say he's the embodiment of the Kyūbi—the Nine-Tailed Fox that attacked five years ago."
The weight of her words lingered.
Five years ago, the Nine-Tails had torn through Konoha like a living natural disaster. The Fourth Hokage and his wife perished. Thousands were wounded or killed.
Tragedy carved itself into the village's foundations that night.
"But if he really is the Nine-Tails… why let him live in the village?" Hidezawa asked.
Yugao hesitated.
"That… that's because Hokage-sama is merciful. He didn't want to waste resources getting rid of the brat."
'Classic village logic: put a ticking time bomb next to the bakery and hope it bakes cookies instead.'
Hidezawa tilted his head, continuing with feigned sincerity. "But even if Hokage-sama is kind, shouldn't he still protect the village? What if that 'thing' goes berserk again?"
Yugao opened her mouth, then closed it.
She had no answer.
She'd seen the devastation firsthand. She had mourned at the funeral. She knew how deadly the Nine-Tails was.
So why?
Why let the boy remain here?
Her grip on the fabric of her sleeve tightened, uncertainty blooming like a stain on her face.
Meanwhile, Hidezawa was already several steps ahead.
He knew the truth, of course. Not from briefings or Anbu files—but because he wasn't originally from this world.
'Danzo never told me about Jinchūriki either. Not even once. That alone tells me how deep this secret runs.'
But he wasn't some unstable Uchiha lunatic.
He was a loyal, devoted, and ambitious public servant of Konoha. Or so his record said.
"I trust the Hokage." he said, gently patting Yugao's shoulder. "As Anbu, that's our job. We execute the will of the village."
"I… yeah. Of course."
Yugao looked conflicted but nodded.
'She's on the fence. Typical. She doesn't have the clearance, so she fills the gaps with village gossip.'
Without another word, Hidezawa took her hand and walked directly toward Naruto.
The boy still hadn't noticed them. He was too busy flipping open his tiny frog wallet, counting the scant coins inside.
*Clink… clink…*
"Huh? That's barely enough for one bowl of ramen…" Naruto muttered sadly.
*****
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