Although it was a new semester, Kitazawa still didn't teach any new ninjutsu. He continued having them train the Leaf-style Taijutsu.
It wasn't that he was unwilling to teach more. It was just that most students didn't have the talent for it.
Being able to master the Three Basic Techniques at the Academy was already rare. Kitazawa divided the students into two groups as usual.
Those who had already mastered Leaf-style Taijutsu were free to train on their own. The rest were assigned to his shadow clone.
"Neji, come with me."
After arranging both groups, Kitazawa called Neji over. The two of them walked to a tree nearby.
"Kitazawa-sensei, what is it?"
Neji had already regained his composure, at least, on the surface.
"What do you think about losing to Hinata?"
Kitazawa asked after a moment.
"It was fate."
Neji paused for two seconds. "She was born into the Main House. Her talent and strength should naturally be higher than mine."
"…?"
The corner of Kitazawa's mouth twitched. Had this kid completely sunk into despair?
Neji's hatred toward the Main House stemmed from two things:
First, he believed the Main House killed Hizashi, proving they were cold-blooded and ruthless.
Second, he resented being shackled by the Caged Bird Seal despite his talent, just because he was born into the Branch House.
But now that Hinata defeated him, the second reason had vanished. If the previous Neji resented the injustice of fate, the current Neji had submitted to it.
"Did you ever think Hinata would defeat you?"
Kitazawa asked again.
"No."
Neji paused. "It was probably fate mocking me."
"What Hinata said earlier was correct, but it needs to be amended."
Kitazawa looked at his defeated posture. "Fate is the excuse of the weak."
"What?"
Neji's head snapped up.
"I said you're weak."
Kitazawa replied bluntly. "Only the weak bow before fate."
"I'm not!"
Neji blurted out instinctively. "I am the genius of the Hyūga clan!"
Since childhood, every Hyūga, especially Hizashi, had praised him as a once-in-a-generation prodigy.
But after saying it, he froze.
"What difference does it make whether I'm strong or not?"
Neji said bitterly. "No matter how strong I am, the Caged Bird still binds me!"
"It's not the Caged Bird that binds you. It's your ignorance."
Kitazawa shook his head. "Why not try breaking it?"
"For thousands of years, countless Branch House shinobi have tried and none succeeded!"
Neji suddenly shouted. "That is the fate of the Branch House!"
"Aren't you the genius?"
Kitazawa said calmly. "Break the Caged Bird and you'll be the greatest genius in Hyūga history."
"I… that's impossible."
Neji muttered.
"Neji, let me ask you something."
Kitazawa spoke seriously. "Do you have the courage to challenge fate?"
"…"
Neji opened his mouth, unable to answer.
[Requirement for dominating the Academy: conquer all geniuses of every grade.]
[Current Mission: Obtain Hyūga Neji's initial acknowledgement.]
[Reward: Byakugan purity +10%.]
Kitazawa's eyes lit up. As expected, another mission. And it was Byakugan-related.
The reward was the same as the one from defeating Neji earlier. 10% Byakugan purity didn't sound like much, but the effect was huge.
Combined with the previous 10%, the result would be even greater.
"How about you think it over first."
Kitazawa patted Neji's shoulder. "When you decide, join my special training."
He didn't say anything more.
There's an old saying: Do not preach kindness when you have not suffered the pain.
Kitazawa understood Neji's resentment well.
Hizashi had died in Hiashi's place, truly inhumane. And Neji had personally seen Hiashi punish Hizashi with the Caged Bird.
So instead of persuading him to forgive, Kitazawa redirected his focus onto the Caged Bird itself. Whether Neji could break it was uncertain.
But just because Neji couldn't didn't mean Kitazawa couldn't.
System, show me your limits!
In short, Kitazawa was half-persuading, half-provoking him. At least for now, it worked, it triggered a new mission.
Whether Neji could walk out of his darkness would be up to him.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Hinata came running over when she saw him.
"Aren't you training?"
Kitazawa pinched her cheek at her worried expression.
"How is Neji-nii-san?"
Hinata asked.
"I already talked to him. If nothing goes wrong, he'll be joining your training soon."
Kitazawa reassured her.
"Really?"
Hinata's eyes brightened. It had been a long time since she practiced Gentle Fist with Neji. They were as close as siblings when they were young.
But after Neji was branded with the Caged Bird, they became strangers.
"Do you think I'd lie to you?"
Kitazawa teased.
"No!"
Hinata puffed up her cheeks and said sincerely, "Kitazawa-sensei, you're amazing, better than Father!"
Kitazawa couldn't help laughing. Fortunately, Hiashi had already left after the spar. Otherwise, hearing that would have made him cough blood.
"Come on, let's train."
He took her to the training grounds. Ino and Shikamaru were already there, but Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura were gone.
Sasuke and Sakura headed toward the artificial lake. Naruto went to a secluded grove to practice Rasengan and shadow clones so he wouldn't disturb class.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Kiba came running up. "Can I join special training too?"
Kitazawa was surprised. But the Inuzuka clan's jutsu didn't help him.
"You can join if your grades don't drop."
Kiba immediately vowed, "If my grades fall next month, I'll quit special training!"
"Alright."
Kitazawa nodded. "Start with chakra control."
He brought him to the lake. Sasuke was drying his hands. Sakura was practicing basic medical ninjutsu with a koi.
"First tree-climbing, then water-walking."
Kitazawa demonstrated and had Kiba start.
Class ended. Students of 1-A and 2-A left in groups.
"Neji, let's go home together?"
Tenten found Neji, who had been silent the entire lesson.
"No, thanks."
Neji shook his head.
"…Okay."
Tenten hesitated.
"I'm fine."
Neji said quietly.
Though she suspected otherwise, she believed him. He was the proud Hyūga genius.
"See you tomorrow."
Neji left the Academy. Halfway home, he sensed someone behind him.
He turned around, Kitazawa and Hinata.
"…Why are you following me?"
"I'm not."
Kitazawa smiled. "I'm just escorting Hinata home."
Neji froze for a moment and turned away.
At the Hyūga compound entrance, Hiashi was waiting, not for Neji, but Hinata.
"Clan Head."
Neji greeted flatly and tried to leave.
"Neji, come with me."
Hiashi called suddenly. "I have something for you."
"...?"
Neji froze.
Kitazawa instantly knew what it was. In the original story, Neji let go of his hatred partly because of Naruto, but also because of Hizashi's letter, which Hiashi gave him after the Chūnin Exams.
Giving it early meant he had watched today's spar. A good thing. It would help complete his mission.
"Hinata, see you tomorrow."
Kitazawa left and headed for Konoha Hospital.
Tsunade and Shizune were busy. After school, Shizune taught him medical ninjutsu at the hospital. Tsunade went home to study psychological jutsu related to emotion transfer with Kurenai.
Night fell.
It was already 9 p.m.
Kitazawa and Shizune finished an operation and walked home.
"What did you say?"
Shizune snapped. "Lady Tsunade isn't coming home tonight? Again?!"
"She didn't bring any money, so she probably didn't go gambling."
Kitazawa analyzed.
"Don't be so sure," Shizune groaned. "With her status, borrowing is too easy."
"That's true."
"So what now?"
"Go find her!"
Shizune declared fiercely.
"Then let's split up. You check the bars. I'll check the casinos."
"Good idea."
After that, Kitazawa headed to the nearest casino. It was fairly modern, gambling tables and slot machines everywhere.
He scanned the room and spotted Tsunade in a corner. She stared at the slot machine intensely.
"Ah!"
She groaned when three different symbols appeared.
"You'll have to pay if you break it," Kitazawa teased.
"Kitazawa?"
Tsunade grabbed him excitedly and pulled him close.
He bumped into a very soft surface.
"Sit."
She wrapped an arm around him. "Give me all the money you have."
Kitazawa forced his eyes away from a certain bouncing accessory and focused on the slot machine. This was his first real slot machine.
"Lady Tsunade," he cleared his throat, "I need to tell you something."
"We'll talk after gambling."
She glared. "If I win, I'll handle everything for you!"
"…Sure."
When you finally win, Nonō will have tea with Hagoromo in the Pure Land.
"How much did you lose?"
Kitazawa asked suddenly.
"Only 200,000 ryō."
Tsunade said confidently. "Lend me more and I can win it back."
"How about a bet?"
Kitazawa smiled. "If I win back your 200,000, you owe me a favor."
His odds were definitely better than hers.
"What if you lose?"
"I'll give you 200,000."
"…Deal."
She agreed.
He inserted the coins. The symbols rolled, and stopped. Three sevens. Coins poured out.
"I won!!"
Tsunade cheered and hit his back. Then she noticed where he was staring and smacked him again.
"Don't just stand there! Keep going!"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
Kitazawa inserted more coins. After one win, Tsunade was excited. After seven wins in a row, she was confused.
"How are you so lucky?"
"I don't know."
Kitazawa shrugged. "Luck is unreasonable."
"That's true…"
Tsunade jumped up, coat fluttering. "I'm going to win big tonight!"
The moon was already high. Tsunade held a mountain of coins, grinning ear to ear. Actually, Kitazawa won them. But she was happy.
"So what did you want?"
Tsunade crossed her legs, red-painted toes swaying.
"Nonō-senpai accepted a mission. She's going to the Land of Earth next week."
Kitazawa said.
"Why send a medical ninja so far?"
Tsunade frowned. "Did the old man assign it?"
"Probably not."
Kitazawa replied. "If it were Hokage-assigned, she wouldn't hide it."
"Shimura Danzo."
Tsunade's tone turned cold. "Nonō used to be Root!"
Kitazawa was relieved she guessed it.
"I'll see the old man tomorrow!"
"No, Lady Tsunade."
Kitazawa shook his head. "If Nonō-senpai is still doing missions for Danzo, she must be coerced."
"You want to investigate first?"
"That's right."
"If we want to help her, we need to remove her fear."
"You're right."
Tsunade nodded. "I'll have someone check."
Even though she wasn't in Konoha often, her influence and reputation were second only to the Third.
"Thank you."
"You're thoughtful."
Tsunade suddenly smiled. "Why do you want to help her?"
"She trained me. She's like one-third of a teacher to me."
Kitazawa said. "If anything happened to you, I'd do the same."
Tsunade froze. The hint was obvious. Kitazawa already had the talent to be her student. But she hesitated.
Having a student meant attachment. And attachment meant staying in Konoha. She knew exactly what the Hokage wanted, he wanted her to stay, overcome her trauma, and become the Fifth Hokage.
Tsunade looked at Kitazawa and suddenly felt lost. She hated the Hokage position. But she also couldn't cut ties with Konoha.