Two days later, Gai had recovered. When Tsunade arrived at the training grounds with Shizune, she noticed an extra person.
Who is this guy?
Tsunade watched Gai punching a wooden post, thinking the kid seemed simple.
Kitagawa smiled. "Gai is one of my students—the child without ninjutsu or genjutsu talent I mentioned."
Tsunade realized, but didn't really care. Instead, she looked at Kitagawa with a smile. "I've mastered Shave."
Kitagawa froze, then smiled. "Congratulations, Tsunade-sama!"
Tsunade said, "Starting tomorrow, Shizune and I won't come anymore."
"Of course, I'll still send a shadow clone to instruct you."
Kitagawa felt slightly disappointed but smiled anyway. "Understood. I'll master superhuman strength soon and complete the bet."
"How about... the last day of break for the competition?"
Tsunade waved dismissively. "No rush."
"Your talent is decent, but truly mastering superhuman strength takes at least a year."
After all, we agreed to stop home visits during training.
So the longer the training, the better!
Kitagawa saw right through her scheme, but since no home visits didn't mean no meetings, he nodded. "I'll master it as quickly as possible."
Tsunade didn't care and immediately became impatient. "Alright, let's start today's training!"
The day's training began.
Sure enough, the next day Shizune didn't come, and Tsunade only sent a shadow clone.
But Kitagawa didn't mind. He threw himself completely into training.
Meanwhile, his shadow clone continued advanced Wind Style nature transformation training at the waterfall.
This summer break was destined to be incredibly productive for him.
Days passed. Before long, over a month of summer vacation had gone by.
September came. Leaf Village Ninja Academy reopened.
Kitagawa's training time inevitably shortened dramatically.
Especially Wind Style nature transformation training—cutting waterfalls at night at home wasn't feasible.
So Kitagawa adjusted his training schedule. During class, shadow clones continued waterfall cutting. Superhuman strength mastery, advanced Shave training, and Moon Walk development happened after classes with his real body.
One during the two-hour lunch break, one after afternoon classes.
Of course, weekends offered more flexibility for different arrangements.
That evening, after washing up, Kitagawa came to the study and frowned.
Someone left a note on my desk!
Kitagawa picked it up. Sure enough, a Root operative's message.
Danzo wants the list!
Kitagawa snorted lightly, crumpled the paper into a ball, wrapped it with his palm, and his Wind Style chakra instantly shredded it into countless fragments.
He tossed the scraps in the trash, sat down, and thought for a moment before writing a list.
The next day at noon, Kitagawa went to the Hokage's office and submitted the list to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Third Hokage's eyes scanned it, and his expression became slightly odd.
Looking up at Kitagawa, he paused thoughtfully before asking instead, "Kitagawa, how is young Gai doing?"
Kitagawa spoke seriously. "He has tremendous potential. Though Gai struggles with basic Clone Technique, he shows high talent in taijutsu."
"Most importantly, he works hard and perseveres."
"I've developed taijutsu suited for his future training. Even without further techniques, I'm confident Gai will become an excellent chunin."
If I can develop all of the Kitagawa Six Techniques and Gai masters them all, even without Eight Gates, I think he could reach special jonin level.
If we add Eight Gates...
But it's too early to say such things.
Just mastering Shave and Moon Walk would be enough for Gai to become an excellent chunin.
The Third Hokage smiled. "Is that the one you and Tsunade have been training together?"
Kitagawa feigned embarrassment. "Yes, Hokage-sama. Tsunade-sama and I exchanged jutsu."
He wasn't surprised at all that Hiruzen knew about him and Tsunade.
Maybe he's even been secretly watching our training sessions.
The Third Hokage added, "Though Tsunade's temper is explosive, she's an excellent ninja. Kitagawa, you should continue learning from her."
Kitagawa agreed readily, though something felt odd about the comment.
Leaving the Hokage Tower, Kitagawa thought to himself. The Third supports me and Tsunade... does he hope I'll help her overcome her troubles?
He knows about her hemophobia? Probably.
Tsunade's hemophobia...
Kitagawa scratched his head.
This isn't easy. You need heart medicine for heart disease.
He decided to visit Tsunade tonight.
Or rather, to consult with her.
After afternoon classes ended, Kitagawa still went to train, but brought Gai and Obito along.
After a summer break, Obito had forgotten most of what he learned—so Kitagawa just had him do extra physical training to refresh his memory.
After training, dinner, and sending the exhausted Gai and Obito home, it was already 9 PM.
Should I still go this late?
Kitagawa hesitated, but decided to go anyway.
However, when he reached Tsunade's house, he got unexpected news.
Tsunade hadn't come home yet!
Kitagawa smiled at Shizune. "If I haven't brought Tsunade-sama back by 10, get some rest. You can't be late for class tomorrow."
"Don't worry. In the Leaf Village, Tsunade-sama couldn't possibly have problems."
Shizune nodded.
Actually, she wasn't very worried. Tsunade used to stay out late all the time before.
But since meeting Teacher Kitagawa, things changed. Tonight was an exception.
Seeing the calm, sensible Shizune, Kitagawa sighed internally and left to find Tsunade.
Though the Leaf Village was large, finding Tsunade wasn't difficult.
Soon Kitagawa found her at an izakaya. His eyes immediately landed on the person sitting across from her.
Though their back was turned and the seat obscured most of them, Kitagawa only saw their hair.
But he recognized them instantly.
Jiraiya!
Kitagawa's footsteps hesitated, then he approached quickly.
By then, Tsunade was flushed from drinking, her eyes slightly hazy.
When she saw Kitagawa suddenly beside her, she sobered up three degrees and felt some panic internally. Damn it, why is this little brat here?
After the panic came embarrassment. Why am I afraid of this little pervert?
I just need to wait until Shizune falls asleep before going home. Then it doesn't count as breaking my promise!
With that thought, Tsunade regained her confidence and spoke with a drunken tone. "Why did you show up here?"
Kitagawa smiled sweetly. "Tsunade-sama, you're drunk. Shizune's worried about you at home. Let me take you back."
Before Tsunade could respond, the man across from her—Jiraiya, mid-conversation and in good spirits—became annoyed. "Hey, Tsunade, who's this brat?"
Kitagawa turned to face Jiraiya and smiled. "This must be Jiraiya-sama, who shares fame with Tsunade-sama, right?"
"I'm Kitagawa, a teacher at the ninja academy."