Kitazawa followed the ANBU shinobi, Haru, to the Ninjutsu Storage Room.
After a brief moment of thought, he decided on three techniques:
Water Style: Wild Water Wave, Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, and the still-unacquired but assigned Fire Style: Great Fire Destruction.
For an ordinary ninja, there were three types of jutsu that were extremely difficult to obtain:
Forbidden Techniques, such as Edo Tensei (Reanimation).
Strategic Techniques, like Flying Thunder God.
Clan Secret Arts or Kekkei Genkai, such as the Multi-Size Technique or the Gentle Fist.
While Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire and Fire Style: Great Fire Destruction were signature techniques of the Uchiha clan, they didn't fall into any of the above categories.
After selecting the three jutsu, Kitazawa had essentially used up the system's jutsu reward pool—at least for now. Future techniques would have to be obtained later.
Kitazawa took the three scrolls and went home.
"Kitazawa-sensei."
Yakumo Kurama, sitting on the couch, stood to greet him.
She was holding the Truth Extraction Technique scroll, clearly in the middle of her training.
"Keep studying," Kitazawa said casually, glancing around. Not seeing Kurenai Yūhi anywhere, he figured she was probably still asleep in her room.
After a brief moment of thought, Kitazawa went to the open area behind the house and began practicing ninjutsu in earnest.
Time passed quietly. By noon, Kurenai finally woke up.
She sat up, stretched lazily—and immediately sensed a surge of intense, fiery chakra.
"Someone's practicing Fire Style? Kitazawa, maybe?"
She walked to the window and peeked outside.
Sure enough, it was Kitazawa.
Under his control, waves of chakra transformed into clusters of fire that burst outward like blooming impatiens.
It was unmistakably Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique.
Kurenai recognized it instantly.
Many shinobi could use this Fire Style technique, but Kitazawa's control was remarkable—the flames seemed alive, following his precise will.
Until now, she had always thought of Kitazawa as a typical Chūnin.
But watching him now, she couldn't help but feel there was more to him—something deeper and hidden.
She remembered what Kitazawa had told her earlier: If you ever need help on a mission, call me.
Touching her chin thoughtfully, her crimson eyes sparkled with curiosity.
She left the room, put on her shoes, and stepped outside.
"Awake already? How'd you sleep?"
Kitazawa dispersed his chakra and turned toward her.
"Very well," Kurenai said with a warm smile. "I feel like I have endless energy now."
"The Hokage rewarded us with three jutsu," Kitazawa reminded her. "You should stop by the Hokage Building when you have time."
"As expected of Lord Hokage—so generous."
She paused for a moment, then asked, "That Phoenix Sage Fire Technique you were just practicing… was that one of your rewards?"
"Yeah," Kitazawa nodded.
"You hadn't learned it before?" Kurenai's expression shifted slightly.
"No."
Kitazawa could already guess what she was thinking—but he didn't explain. That was exactly the impression he wanted to give.
"You mastered it in a single morning? Your talent for Fire Style is incredible," Kurenai said in awe. "Teaching at the academy is wasting that potential."
A normal shinobi could take missions, train constantly, and grow quickly—but an academy instructor rarely got those opportunities.
In her eyes, Kitazawa's brilliance had been buried under routine.
"Want to spar?" she asked with a teasing grin.
"You look like you're dying to beat me up," Kitazawa joked.
"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you." Kurenai's smile turned playful.
"Let's go to the nearby training ground," Kitazawa suggested.
A sparring session with Kurenai wasn't a bad idea—it was a good chance to show a bit of what he could do.
They arrived at the training field shortly after.
"Be careful!" Kurenai warned, forming hand signs.
But Kitazawa was faster.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!
A massive fireball roared toward her.
Kurenai had to cancel her Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death and switch to the Body Flicker Technique.
Chakra surged through her legs as she leapt aside at the last second, the blazing heat brushing past her face.
Sweat formed on her forehead.
The intensity of Kitazawa's Great Fireball was astonishing—beyond that of an ordinary B-rank technique. His hand seals were quick, and the power was immense.
Before she could recover, Kitazawa was already in front of her.
Leaf Whirlwind!
Kurenai raised her arms to block the kick—
Boom!
The impact numbed her arms instantly.
Using the recoil, she flipped backward and widened the distance.
Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!
As soon as she steadied herself, her hands flashed through seals again—and her body vanished.
Kitazawa froze as tree roots burst from the ground, wrapping around his legs.
From the treetop above, Kurenai appeared, dagger in hand, and dove down—
But before the blade struck, everything dissolved.
Her eyes widened.
—The illusion had been dispelled.
Kitazawa had anticipated her genjutsu and broke it the moment he was caught.
A rush of wind came from behind her.
Kurenai spun around—only to see Kitazawa's fist coming straight toward her.
She couldn't dodge in time.
But Kitazawa only smiled and reached out, gently ruffling her hair instead.
Kurenai blinked, then scowled, her white thighs flashing as she kicked toward him.
Kitazawa quickly stepped back, the heel of her short boot grazing past his chest.
Genjutsu: Hell's Mirror Clone!
Seeing her kick miss, Kurenai quickly formed new seals.
In a puff of smoke, two identical clones appeared beside her.
All three rushed Kitazawa at once.
With genjutsu and clones combined, it was hard to tell which was real.
Byakugan could've solved that instantly—but using it might startle her.
So Kitazawa didn't bother.
Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!
He spat out a volley of fireballs that zipped through the air like bullets.
Two of the Kurenais vanished instantly.
Body Flicker Technique!
The real Kurenai darted through the barrage, barely avoiding the flaming pursuit.
Panting, she stared at Kitazawa—who still hadn't moved from his spot.
Judging by that brief exchange, his strength clearly surpassed that of an average Chūnin.
"With your power, why are you wasting your time teaching at the academy?" she couldn't help but ask.
"I already told you—it's just personal preference," Kitazawa replied with a grin. "So… shall we continue?"
"No," Kurenai said after a short pause, shaking her head. "I've seen enough."
If they kept going, she realized—she'd be the one losing.