Class time passed quickly.
"You've worked hard today, Hinata," Kitazawa said with a smile.
"Um… Teacher Kitazawa," Hinata lowered her head, clearly a little embarrassed.
"What's wrong?" Kitazawa asked, puzzled.
"This is for you!" Hinata held out a passbook with both hands. "This… this is all of my pocket money!"
She had been thinking for a long time about how to repay Kitazawa, but no matter what came to mind, nothing seemed fitting.
In the end, she only thought of one solution—giving money.
"I'm not short on money. You really don't need to give me this," Kitazawa said, both laughing and crying.
"No… no!" Hinata raised her head. Though her voice trembled, her expression was firm. "You have to take it!"
"It's rare to see you this assertive," Kitazawa chuckled. "Alright, I'll accept it."
He took the passbook, opened it, and was stunned. Three million taels?!
This was called pocket money?
But the more he thought about it, the more he felt something was off. Although Hinata was the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan, three million taels still felt excessive.
Could Hyuga Hiashi have arranged this on purpose—as a gesture of gratitude?
"Thank you, Teacher Kitazawa!" Hinata said, blushing.
She might actually be the kind of person who can sincerely express thanks by giving money.
Kitazawa accepted the gift and said, "I'll walk you home."
Hearing that, Hinata's face lit up with joy. The two walked toward the Hyuga residence. It wasn't far—after ten minutes, they arrived at the entrance.
"Goodbye, Kitazawa-sensei," Hinata waved reluctantly before heading into the courtyard.
"You're back? Come and practice your forms," Hyuga Hiashi called as he saw her.
"Yes, Father," Hinata responded without hesitation.
Even though she was exhausted from a full day of training, she didn't want to disappoint her father. Ironically, it was the opposite.
Hiashi wasn't disappointed—he was surprised. Hinata's progress had exceeded his expectations. How had she improved so much in just a few days?
Since Kitazawa wasn't of Hyuga blood and didn't possess the Byakugan, he was ruled out as the source of this progress.
The only conclusion was that Hinata herself had a very high affinity for Gentle Fist.
"Hinata, keep working hard," Hiashi said with a rare smile. "The future of the Hyuga clan lies with you."
"Yes, Father." Though Hinata didn't quite understand why he suddenly said that, she still nodded seriously. At the very least, he seemed genuinely pleased.
—
Kitazawa went to Kurenai's house, but she wasn't there. After a moment's thought, he walked around to the back of the property.
Not long after, he spotted her.
She was seated on the trunk of a large tree, mostly hidden by the surrounding branches.
In her hand was a leather ball—she was practicing the Rasengan. It seemed she was learning it secretly.
Watching her, Kitazawa suddenly thought of a way to make this training 'legal': marriage. According to Konoha's rules, spouses could teach each other ninjutsu.
Kitazawa had received the Rasengan as a reward from the Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen—completely legitimate. If Kurenai married him, the act of learning Rasengan would become legal under village law.
It was similar to how Namikaze Minato and Kushina Uzumaki had shared sealing techniques. Of course, their high status helped too.
In short, Konoha's regulations mostly applied to the average ninja.
"Kurenai," Kitazawa called softly after a moment.
"When did you get here?" Kurenai asked, putting the ball away.
She had been practicing for a while and was in no rush.
"Just now." Kitazawa extended a hand. "Jump down, I'll catch you."
"You think I don't know what you're up to?" Kurenai snorted and leapt down.
She wrapped her arms around Kitazawa's neck, her long legs gripping his waist. But with the force from above, she slammed straight into his chest.
What kind of human projectile is this? Kitazawa felt the softness of her body collide with him and instinctively grabbed her thighs, crossing his hands under her round backside for support.
"You can put me down now, Kitazawa." Kurenai, unused to being so close, lightly tapped his shoulder.
"I'll carry you home," Kitazawa said with a blink.
Kurenai was so close, he could see her pale skin rising and falling with each breath. Unfortunately, the black mesh covering it ruined the view.
"As if I'd let you have that chance!" With a hand seal, Kurenai vanished, leaving behind a wooden log in her place.
"I'm going out on Saturday," Kitazawa muttered, tossing aside the log.
"Where to?" Kurenai asked, catching up to him as he walked toward her house.
"A mission. With Mizuki," he replied after a short pause.
"Mizuki?" Kurenai frowned. "He's got bad intentions toward you. I'll go with you."
"That's exactly why I'm going with him." Kitazawa shrugged. "I don't like threats."
"You're planning to deal with him?" Kurenai's expression shifted. "That's dangerous. You know that memories can be extracted, whether someone's alive or dead."
In the ninja world, the saying 'corpses can talk' referred to memory-extracting ninjutsu.
In Konoha, it was usually the Yamanaka clan who handled that—led by Yamanaka Inoichi of the Intelligence Division.
"I won't attack him." Kitazawa shook his head. "The choice is Mizuki's. If he doesn't do anything, nothing happens. If he does, it's self-defense."
That way, even if Konoha checked Mizuki's memories, Kitazawa couldn't be convicted.
"I see…" Kurenai thought for a moment, then said, "I'm going with you."
"No need." Kitazawa looked at her and smiled. He had expected this—he knew Kurenai well enough to predict her reaction.
"One more person just adds more risk," he explained. "If the Hokage finds out you came too, it might look like I lured Mizuki out on purpose to kill him."
"Alright..." Kurenai didn't press the issue. Thinking about the difference in strength between Kitazawa and Mizuki, she felt more at ease.
With Kitazawa's current power—and his Rasengan—there was no way a Chunin like Mizuki could even scratch him.
---
Time flew by, and soon it was Saturday.
With a crisp pop, the ball in Kurenai's hand burst apart.
"Congratulations. You've completed the second stage of Rasengan training. Only the final step remains," Kitazawa said with a satisfied nod. "You'll be able to master the Rasengan soon."
"Thank you for all your help," Kurenai said, smiling warmly.
"Just a verbal thank you?" Kitazawa teased as he took her hand, pulling her gently into his arms.
Kurenai rolled her eyes at him, then stood on tiptoe and kissed him. After a few seconds, she suddenly widened her eyes and instinctively pushed him away.
"Y-You… how could you…" A soft blush spread across her cheeks.
"With the goddess's kiss, my mission today is guaranteed to go smoothly," Kitazawa said solemnly.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Kurenai's attention immediately shifted.
"Don't worry," Kitazawa replied with a calm smile. "I have the strength of a Jonin now."
Civet Mountain wasn't far from Konoha and was still within the Land of Fire's borders.
Even if Mizuki had hired a rogue ninja, it was unlikely to be a Jonin. And if it really was, unless it was someone like Kakuzu, Kitazawa was confident he could handle it.
"Alright. I'll wait for your safe return," Kurenai nodded softly. "Be careful."
"Yeah." Kitazawa stepped forward, kissed her on the forehead, then turned and left.
---
At the gates of Konoha Village, Mizuki was already waiting. His expression was gloomy, clearly unhappy about something.
Only when he saw Kitazawa did he force himself to calm down.
"What's the mission?" Mizuki asked, trying to sound casual.
After all, the mission details would decide whether his plan to ambush Kitazawa could succeed.
"We're heading to Civet Mountain to wipe out a group of bandits," Kitazawa explained. "One of my students is from a nearby village. These bandits have been troubling his hometown for a while."
"You're quite the noble teacher." Mizuki forced a smirk, cursing Kitazawa's hypocrisy in his heart. But from his point of view, Civet Mountain really was the perfect spot for an ambush.
"Not really," Kitazawa replied with a faint smile. "I just happen to have a free helper."
"..." Mizuki's face darkened. Damn you, Kitazawa. Today's the day you die.
They set off without another word.
—
Civet Mountain wasn't far; they arrived in under an hour at full speed.
"You handle the bandits guarding the entrance," Kitazawa instructed calmly.
Mizuki took out a kunai and vanished without a word. Soon, the thuds of bodies hitting the ground echoed from up ahead.
Except for the two leaders, the rest were ordinary thugs—not shinobi.
Despite being civilians, they committed heinous acts like arson, looting, and murder. Kitazawa didn't hesitate to eliminate them.
Mizuki made quick work of the guards, clearly enjoying himself.
They climbed the mountain toward the stronghold.
"We'll each take on one of the leaders," Kitazawa said, looking up at the wooden fortress perched on the peak.
Mizuki gave a brief nod.
"Let me light the place up first." Kitazawa formed a hand seal and released a fireball toward the base of the structure.
Flames burst out instantly. Being entirely wooden, the stronghold caught fire within seconds.
"Fire!"
"Get the water!"
"Put it out!"
Panic spread through the bandit camp as people shouted and scrambled to respond.
Kitazawa and Mizuki split up, approaching the stronghold from opposite sides.
Stealth was one of the most basic ninja skills. Although Kitazawa could move in quickly, he had to conceal his full strength for now.
If Mizuki got spooked, all his setup would be wasted.
Despite Mizuki's mediocre ability, he was still a threat if left unchecked. Kitazawa would rather eliminate him cleanly and discreetly.
A few moments later, Kitazawa spotted his target.
The King of Civet Mountain—a middle-aged man with a ninja sword at his waist and the chakra signature of an elite Chunin.
According to the mission report, he specialized in Water Style jutsu and swordsmanship.
"That chakra…!" The man immediately tensed and shouted, "We've got a ninja! Everyone, be alert!"
"You're quick to notice," Kitazawa said, stepping out into view. His right hand, behind his back, was already forming a seal.
"Who's there?!" The nearby bandits quickly surrounded him.
"A Konoha ninja…" The leader noticed the forehead protector, and his expression twisted.
Everyone knew Konoha was one of the Five Great Nations. If they sent someone after you, you were in serious trouble.
"Correct. But unfortunately, there's no reward for guessing right," Kitazawa said, smiling.
The leader reached for his sword—then suddenly froze. He looked down and saw vines rising from the ground, entangling his legs.
His eyes widened in confusion before his body lifted into the air—ensnared by a massive tree trunk.
Kitazawa's one-handed illusion: Demonic Illusion—Tree Binding Death!
Body Flicker Technique! In the blink of an eye, Kitazawa appeared before the immobilized man.
With a flash of steel, his kunai pierced the man's heart.
"For ordinary shinobi, genjutsu is a guaranteed first strike." Kitazawa muttered, wiping his blade. Without illusion, the fight would've taken longer.
"You…" The man gasped and collapsed, his eyes still filled with confusion. When did I get caught in a genjutsu…?
"The boss is dead! Run!" The surrounding bandits panicked and scattered.
Kitazawa quickly formed hand seals and released a massive fireball into the crowd.
Screams filled the air. Without mercy, he threw kunai after kunai, swiftly ending them all.
Once everything was over, he turned his gaze toward Mizuki in the distance. The other bandit leader—also a Chunin—was locked in battle with him.
Mizuki already had the upper hand. Kitazawa didn't interfere. Instead, he sat down and pretended to be recovering chakra.
A few minutes later, Mizuki walked over, breathing heavily. "How're you holding up?"
"I'm fine," Kitazawa replied, shaking his head. "Just burned through a lot of chakra."
He got up, brushing dust off his pants. "Mission complete. Let's head back."
"Head back?" Mizuki sneered, dropping his act. "Kitazawa, you're not going anywhere!"
"What do you mean by that?" Kitazawa frowned.
"You're seriously asking me that?" Mizuki's face contorted with rage. "You really don't know what you've done?"
"Enlighten me," Kitazawa replied calmly.
"You stole the title of 'Excellent Teacher' from me, took the reward that should've been mine, and made our class lose the friendly match!" Mizuki's expression twisted with hate. "Do you think someone like you deserves to live?"
"Mizuki," Kitazawa said seriously, "Are you questioning the Hokage's decision?"
"The Hokage? That senile old man can barely see straight!" Mizuki spat with disdain.
Kitazawa raised an eyebrow. Perfect. That one sentence alone could clear him of all suspicion later.
"I'm a Special Jonin now, you know," Kitazawa reminded him.
"Just a Special Jonin who got the position through connections," Mizuki scoffed.
"..." Kitazawa's mouth twitched.
"Still, we're colleagues, so I brought along some help to show you respect," Mizuki said with a cruel grin. "Come out!"
The next moment, two figures landed beside him.
Kitazawa glanced at them—just two regular Chunins.
"Goodbye, Kitazawa." Mizuki waved. "Kill him!"
The two Chunins lunged with drawn swords, attacking from both sides.
Leaves fluttered.
Both blades struck nothing but air.
"What?!" Mizuki's heart jolted. He whipped his head around, eyes darting to locate Kitazawa.
Wind Style: Gale Palm! A wave of chakra surged forth, transforming into a violent gust that swept toward the trio like a crashing tide.
"Scatter!" Mizuki barked, retreating quickly, scanning his surroundings in a panic.
Konoha Whirlwind! Kitazawa suddenly appeared in front of him and delivered a powerful spinning kick.
Mizuki crossed his arms to block.
Bang! The impact sent him staggering back, right to the edge of a cliff.
"Mizuki, ever heard of the Rasengan?" Kitazawa asked casually, not pressing forward yet.
"Who hasn't? It's the Fourth Hokage's technique!" Mizuki stammered, trying to stall.
Kitazawa's strength was beyond his imagination. His only hope now was for the others to surround and overwhelm him.
But before he could react, Kitazawa appeared in a flash, and Mizuki's pupils dilated in shock.
"Y-You… how do you…?"
Rasengan!
With the spinning chakra sphere in hand, Kitazawa slammed it into Mizuki's chest.
"Agh!" Mizuki screamed as the force sent him flying backward—off the cliff.
Kitazawa looked down calmly. Originally, the system's mission was to arrest Mizuki and send him to prison. He hadn't planned to kill him. But then he thought—why leave a threat alive?
Besides, he wanted to test if the system would still count the mission as completed, even with Mizuki dead.
So, under careful setup, Mizuki fell from the cliff to his death.
He had briefly considered destroying the body, but that would waste time and might raise even more suspicion. Leaving the body was a better plan—it made him look innocent. All he had to do was help Mizuki take that final step.
It worked perfectly.
"Now it's your turn." Kitazawa turned around, forming hand seals.
Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!
The charging Chunin's eyes went blank in an instant.
Kitazawa drew a kunai and slashed cleanly across his throat.
Blood sprayed.
"W-Wait!"
The last Chunin halted in horror. "Please don't kill me! I'll give you all my money!"
Body Flicker Technique!
Kitazawa vanished, reappearing beside the man. He extended his palm—chakra swirling and condensing.
Rasengan.
He drove it straight into the Chunin's chest. A pained scream echoed, then silence.
Kitazawa exhaled deeply.
Using only a few techniques—Tree Binding Illusion, Great Fireball, Rasengan, and the Body Flicker—he had taken down four Chunins with ease.
Then came the mechanical voice in his head:
[Current Mission: Send Mizuki to prison.
Mission Reward: Fire Style – Heavenly Prison.]
[Mission Complete. Reward Issued.]
[Bonus Reward: Fire Style – Great Fire Heavenly Prison for exceeding mission expectations.]
Kitazawa rubbed his chin thoughtfully as the message faded. He had assumed killing Mizuki would cause mission failure.
Unexpectedly, it had the opposite effect—it exceeded expectations.
System, well played.
The Great Fire Heavenly Prison was a powerful upgrade of Fire Style: Heavenly Prison.
In the original story, Mui used it to imprison Han, the Jinchuriki of the Five-Tails—a monster nearly on par with a tailed beast.
Kitazawa's smile deepened. This reward was absolutely worth it.