After having lunch at the Hyuga Clan, Kitazawa left under the watchful gazes of Hyuga Hiashi and the others.
He didn't return to the Ninja Academy. Instead, he headed straight for the Forest of Death.
As he recalled the enthusiasm shown by the Hyuga members during lunch, Kitazawa couldn't help but shake his head. He still wasn't used to being treated like that.
But he understood why. The Caged Bird had finally flown free—of course, they were ecstatic.
Kitazawa suspected that his prestige within the Hyuga Clan had already surpassed Hyuga Hiashi's. After all, modifying the Caged Bird Cursed Seal was equivalent to saving the entire Branch Family.
Kitazawa gathered his thoughts and activated his Byakugan.
He leapt forward, bounding a few times before arriving in front of a group of wild boars. The wild boars didn't flee—instead, they charged forward.
Byakugan: Pressure!
Kitazawa's Byakugan pulsed, and invisible ripples surged outward. The wild boars collapsed instantly, falling unconscious.
Kitazawa nodded slightly.
Although Byakugan: Pressure was said to work on people, it worked just as well on living creatures.
Having completed his experiment, Kitazawa returned to the Ninja Academy.
Despite the drastic changes in the Hyuga Clan, the Genius Class remained unaffected. They continued training diligently at the Training Ground.
Kitazawa's eyes fell on Hinata.
Now that the improved Caged Bird Cursed Seal existed, both she and Hanabi would have it applied. There was no harm in it.
And there would be no special treatment—all Hyuga Clan members would be treated equally, without distinction between Main House and Branch House.
"Hm. Hinata." With that thought, Kitazawa called out.
Hinata quickly put away her Moon Chasing bow and ran over. She looked up at Kitazawa, her eyes bright with youthful energy.
"Do you know what happened in the Hyuga Clan today?" Kitazawa asked with a light smile.
Hinata shook her head. She was still young, and since the matter had happened suddenly, Hiashi hadn't mentioned it to her.
"Something good." Kitazawa briefly explained the improved Caged Bird Cursed Seal.
Hinata's eyes widened in surprise.
She was familiar with the Caged Bird Cursed Seal. Neji's cold distance and resentment toward her had stemmed entirely from it.
Though their relationship had improved thanks to Kitazawa, the underlying issue had always remained.
But now, with the improved seal, all of that would change.
"You really are… cute." Kitazawa reached out and patted her head gently.
He originally wanted to say she was too innocent and unaware of the deeper meaning behind all this. But after thinking it over, he realized she didn't need to know.
Hinata blinked, confused by the sudden praise.
"Stand still. I'll apply the improved Caged Bird Cursed Seal for you." Kitazawa lowered his hand and placed it on her forehead.
Hinata immediately froze in place, allowing his chakra to flow in.
Applying the Caged Bird Cursed Seal was far easier than replacing it.
In less than three minutes, a green cross-shaped mark and two inverted hooks appeared on her smooth forehead.
Kitazawa withdrew his hand. As the chakra dissipated, the seal faded from view.
This was what Kitazawa was most satisfied with about the improved Caged Bird Cursed Seal. A glowing green symbol in the middle of the forehead wasn't exactly aesthetically pleasing.
Hinata subconsciously touched her forehead. She couldn't feel any difference.
"Unless an accident happens, it won't activate. So you don't need to pay any attention to it." Kitazawa said with a smile.
Now, the Caged Bird Cursed Seal had only one purpose: to protect the Byakugan. It would only trigger if an enemy attempted to gouge out the eyes.
Aside from that, it was as if it didn't exist.
"Mm." Hinata nodded lightly.
"Since I have some free time today, I'll also teach you Multiple Arrows." Kitazawa took her Moon Chasing bow.
He looked at the row of wooden stakes in the distance, raised his arm, and drew the bowstring.
Because the Fate Breaking Bow sealed the Zero-Tails, it was naturally better suited for Multiple Arrows.
However, the Moon Chasing Bow sealed Satori, so using Multiple Arrows required an additional step—dividing Satori's chakra into multiple fragments and attaching them to the Yin Release Arrow.
Kitazawa released the string.
One Yin Release Arrow shot out. With a slight tremor in midair, it split into three Yin Release Arrows.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Three wooden stakes were pierced simultaneously.
When Kitazawa turned around, he saw Hinata had activated her Byakugan.
Although the Sharingan could copy non–Bloodline Limit Ninjutsu, the Byakugan couldn't. However, it could assist in learning ninjutsu thanks to its ability to observe chakra flow.
Each ninjutsu had its own distinct chakra pattern.
"Here." Kitazawa handed the Moon Chasing bow to Hinata.
"Thank you, Teacher Kitazawa." Hinata mimicked his movements and raised the bow.
Kitazawa watched her closely, teaching and guiding her as she practiced.
As the sun set, another day of training came to an end.
"Teacher Kitazawa, goodbye!"
Naruto, Kiba, Hinata, Sakura, and the others waved and headed home.
Kitazawa watched them leave the Ninja Academy.
Just as he was about to head home himself, a familiar silhouette appeared.
Kitazawa paused immediately.
"Lord Kitazawa." Itachi approached him and said, "These are the Shikotsumyaku(Dead Bone Pulse) documents."
"Thank you." Kitazawa took the papers and said, "Rest for a week, then come find me again."
Sending Itachi straight to Sunagakure after returning from the Hidden Mist Village would be far too heartless. Even a nuclear-powered workhorse needed a break.
Besides, he had a notorious brother complex. He hadn't seen Sasuke in a long time—he must be itching to return.
A week was chosen because the new school term would begin then.
"Yes, Lord Kitazawa." Itachi nodded and vanished. He was indeed eager to go home.
Kitazawa stood still, opened the documents, and began to read. The contents were far richer than he had expected.
Not only Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch, but also Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Clematis, Shikotsumyaku: Bracken Dance, and every other Shikotsumyaku technique were recorded inside.
This meant that when Kitazawa obtained Shikotsumyaku, he would be able to completely master the entire set of Shikotsumyaku Ninjutsu just by relying on these documents.
Unlike Ice Release, where he had to develop all the related jutsu on his own.
[Current Mission: Master three Shikotsumyaku(Dead Bone Pulse) Ninjutsu.]
[Mission Reward: Immunity to Bloodline disease.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa was slightly startled. He hadn't expected a system mission to trigger at this moment.
But the reward was extremely good. With immunity to Kekkei Genkai disease, he could use Shikotsumyaku freely in the future without any concern of falling ill.
After accepting the mission, Kitazawa began studying Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch.
The most urgent task was to help Kimimaro master this technique. Only by completing Kimimaro's mission could Kitazawa officially obtain Shikotsumyaku.
Compared to the Ninjutsu scroll Kimimaro had given him, the information in the documents was far more detailed.
It even contained the experience and insights of Kaguya Clan Jonin, who had cultivated Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch.
After reading through it, Kitazawa felt completely confident. He had worried earlier that he might not be able to guide Kimimaro, but now it seemed there would be no problem at all.
---
Time moved to the next day.
Kitazawa found Kimimaro and began teaching him Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch.
Kimimaro listened in disbelief.
He had studied the technique for a long time. Although he had yet to master it, he had already developed his own understanding of it.
Yet he found that Kitazawa's understanding was deeper than his own. This was truly bizarre.
Kitazawa did not even possess Shikotsumyaku, and he had only studied the technique for less than a month.
There was only one explanation: For true powerhouses, mastering one principle meant mastering them all.
Kitazawa's knowledge and perspective were so broad that even Shikotsumyaku could be taught by him.
In fact, Kimimaro felt that even Orochimaru might not compare. Orochimaru had also guided him, but never as thoroughly as Kitazawa.
A week went by in a flash.
Summer vacation ended, and the Genius Class welcomed a new semester.
On the second day of school, Uchiha Itachi departed for Sunagakure on Kitazawa's orders.
Meanwhile, Kitazawa continued studying Wood Release: Wood Clone Technique while also teaching Kimimaro Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch.
---
Late September.
Tuesday morning.
Kimimaro stood on the Training Ground and took a deep breath. Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch!
In an instant, dozens of white bones burst from his body.
Kitazawa watched from afar, feeling as though Kimimaro had transformed into a white hedgehog.
[Current Mission: Help Kimimaro master Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch.]
[Mission Reward: 30% Shikotsumyaku.]
[Host has completed the mission, reward issued.]
[Current Shikotsumyaku has reached 100%, Shikotsumyaku officially awakened.]
Kitazawa looked at the four lines of text and smiled with satisfaction. After so long, he had finally obtained the Shikotsumyaku Bloodline.
Kitazawa extended his hand, and with a thought, a white bone protruded from his palm.
However, he only tested it briefly. After all, he was still on the Ninja Academy's Training Ground.
"Thank you, Teacher Kitazawa." Kimimaro approached and bowed earnestly.
"There's nothing to thank me for. It's your own effort." Kitazawa replied calmly. "You've just learned it—spend some time getting used to it."
"Mm." Kimimaro nodded.
He also felt relieved. With Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch mastered, he should be able to hold his position in the top five of the Genius Class.
However, he didn't dare relax too much, as the other students were improving rapidly. There was no room for complacency.
After Kimimaro left, Kitazawa went to a secluded place. He still needed to master three Shikotsumyaku Ninjutsu to complete the mission.
He planned to start with the simplest—Shikotsumyaku: Ten Fingers Drilling Bullet.
There was no disadvantage to learning Shikotsumyaku. All warfare was information warfare, and Shikotsumyaku possessed a powerful surprise factor.
In close combat, if he suddenly used Shikotsumyaku, most Ninja wouldn't be able to react.
As the sun set in the west…
Kitazawa had almost mastered Ten Fingers Drilling Bullet. After all, it was a simple technique—launching ten hardened finger bones like projectiles.
However, the difficulty skyrocketed for the next techniques. The second Shikotsumyaku Ninjutsu he learned was Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Willow.
It sounded simple—protruding bone blades from various parts of the body, such as the arms or knees.
But it was actually very difficult, because it was a Nin-Taijutsu.
Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Willow had to be paired with Taijutsu that was as soft and flowing as willow catkins to unleash its full potential.
Kitazawa didn't continue training and instead returned to the Training Ground.
From a distance, he saw Sakura and Ino sparring. This had practically become their daily routine as best friends.
At first, Ino won most of their matches due to Ninja Art: Mind Butterfly. But over time, Sakura developed countermeasures.
She learned a Water Release technique—Water Release: Instant Water—specifically to counter Mind Butterfly.
Now their win rate was about fifty-fifty.
Kitazawa was also familiar with Water Release: Instant Water. It had two functions:
High-speed water flow movement.
Manipulating water currents to drag the target underwater for suppression.
Sakura usually created a water-rich environment. Whenever Ino used Mind Butterfly, she would activate Instant Water to dive into the water and evade.
But her chakra reserves were limited, so it didn't always work.
"I won! Haha!" Ino planted her hands on her hips, her face full of smug victory.
"Damn it!" Sakura looked utterly unwilling, her expression like a freshly defeated puppy.
"Teacher Kitazawa!" Ino suddenly spotted Kitazawa watching their spar and hurriedly ran over.
"You did well just now," Kitazawa praised with a smile.
"I think so too!" Ino brushed her golden bangs off her forehead with exaggerated pride.
"Teacher Kitazawa." Sakura walked over to greet him as well, though her voice carried a faint trace of dejection.
Just then, the dismissal bell rang.
"No need to gather today. Everyone just head home," Kitazawa said after thinking for a moment.
"Teacher Kitazawa, goodbye!" Sakura waved and then immediately rushed toward Uchiha Sasuke.
A bright smile reappeared on her face, as if her recent defeat had never happened.
"As expected of Sakura." Seeing this, Ino couldn't help shaking her head helplessly.
"Speaking of which, your ninth birthday is in a few days. Do you want any gifts?" Kitazawa looked at her and asked.
"Nope." Ino tilted her head thoughtfully and said, "Teacher Kitazawa can give me anything—or nothing at all."
"Really?" Kitazawa teased, "How about I give you homework? Want that?"
"Not that!" Ino shook her head violently.
Kitazawa laughed.
"Teacher Kitazawa," Ino immediately hugged his arm, her voice anxious, "You definitely wouldn't give me homework, right?"
"It's your birthday. I wouldn't do that." Kitazawa shook his head.
"That's good!" Ino let out a genuine sigh of relief—then her eyes lit up suddenly. "I thought of a birthday gift!"
"What is it?" Kitazawa looked down at her.
"Teacher Kitazawa, if you lead my team in the next Monthly Exam, that will be my birthday present!" Ino said, grinning ear to ear.
"Alright, that's simple." Kitazawa gently patted her head. "Come on, I'll walk you home."
"Mm!" Ino skipped happily alongside him as they left the Ninja Academy.
After September ended, the Genius Class welcomed the first Monthly Exam of the new semester.
The exam format hadn't changed: theoretical exam, practical exam, and a mission.
Kitazawa kept his promise and chose Ino as a team member. Along with her were Haku, Jugo, and Shion.
Shion was included because this time's mission destination was the Land of Demons.
However, there wasn't much to say about this mission—it was simple, practically a sightseeing trip.
Naturally, Shion was delighted, since she got to return home for a visit.
---
After returning to Konoha Village, another half month passed.
Kitazawa wasn't without progress—he successfully mastered Wood Release: Wood Clone Technique.
The next day, Monday.
As October entered its latter half, the temperature dropped sharply, carrying the faint touch of early winter.
Kitazawa arrived at the ANBU Base. He pushed open the door and saw Konan sitting on the sofa, reviewing documents.
"What are you looking at?" Kitazawa asked casually.
"The recent situation in the Land of Rain," Konan replied.
"How is it?" Kitazawa grew interested.
"Much better than before." Konan looked at him, a faint, complicated light in her eyes.
All of the changes in the Land of Rain were because of Kitazawa.
Driven by the Silver jewelry business and the purified rainwater business, the living standards of Rain's residents had risen dramatically.
From barely surviving in the past, they could now eat three full meals a day. And their quality of life was still rising rapidly.
Konan had returned once, and the residents she saw had eyes that shone with vitality—no, with hope.
She, Yahiko, and Nagato had once dreamed of bringing peace and prosperity to the Land of Rain. Yet no one had expected that this dream would be half-realized with Kitazawa's help.
Kitazawa wasn't surprised.
The Land of Rain was a small country with a small population. After years of war, the residents' needs were extremely modest.
The silver jewelry and rainwater businesses generated so much income that meeting basic living standards was easy.
However, going further required time. After all, relying solely on two industries was not enough for long-term national development.
"Kitazawa," Konan thought for a moment and asked, "What do you think the Land of Rain should do next?"
"Having money isn't enough." Kitazawa walked over and said, "It also needs a group of talented people."
"Talented people?" Konan looked puzzled.
"For the Land of Rain to develop, it needs talent from within." Kitazawa countered, "Do you and the Akatsuki know how to govern a country?"
"No." Konan reflected for a moment. "So… we need the Land of Rain's Daimyo to recruit capable people?"
"What do you think of the Daimyo and the nobles of the Land of Rain?" Kitazawa asked with a shake of his head.
Konan froze. She had never thought about that question.
The Akatsuki's method of ruling the Land of Rain had been simple: Use overwhelming military force to intimidate the Daimyo and noble officials.
"They're parasites of the Land of Rain," Kitazawa said flatly.
"Parasites?" Konan looked visibly confused.
In her opinion, the Land of Rain had stabilized fairly well. Why would Kitazawa call its Daimyo and noble officials parasites?
"I'll give you a month off." Kitazawa smiled. "Go back to the Land of Rain and investigate for yourself. Then you'll understand."