Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Hinata’s mind finally gave up trying to think.

Everything was spinning, and all she could feel was an overwhelming warmth and a soothing sense of peace.

After what felt like an eternity, she snapped back to her senses.

Like a startled rabbit, Hinata suddenly jumped back two steps. Once she regained her balance, she bowed her head, her cheeks so red they looked as though steam might rise from them.

“She’s so adorable,” Kitazawa murmured with a faint smile. “Wait here for a second.”

He turned and strode northward, stopping a short distance away.

Lying half-buried under a scatter of leaves was the scarf Toranosuke had thrown away.

The scarf was dusty and tattered, far from the pristine piece it once was.

Kitazawa frowned slightly.

It wouldn’t have been so bad if it were just dirty, but several long tears marred the fabric.

He bent down and picked it up.

Current Mission: Help your deskmate Hyuga Hinata recover her scarf.

Mission Reward: Leaf Whirlwind.

Mission Complete. Reward Granted.

Leaf Whirlwind—a taijutsu technique created by Might Gai.

A spark of inspiration flashed in Kitazawa’s mind.

He’d been racking his brain about how to quickly learn a new C-rank jutsu—and now he had an idea.

He’d find Gai.

Taijutsu technically fell under jutsu classification, and it didn’t require chakra nature transformation, making it perfect for his goal.

Originally, Kitazawa had considered learning genjutsu from Kurenai. But genjutsu depended on having Yin Release chakra nature, and without it, progress would be painfully slow.

His current mission demanded that he master a C-rank jutsu faster than Sasuke masters the Great Fireball.

Genjutsu wouldn’t help him there—but taijutsu might be the key.

Especially now that he’d acquired the Leaf Whirlwind.

He already knew what his next step would be: find Might Guy and learn Leaf Great Whirlwind—the advanced version of Leaf Whirlwind, distinguished by an added spinning motion.

“Hinata,” Kitazawa said, glancing at the damaged scarf in his hand, “this scarf’s beyond saving. I’ll buy you a new one.”

“Eh?”

Hinata blinked, flustered, and quickly waved her hands. “No… no, that’s not necessary!”

“Think of it as an apology,” Kitazawa replied gently. “For making decisions on your behalf.”

“Apology? For what?” Hinata asked, looking confused.

“I accepted a challenge on your behalf,” Kitazawa explained. “Toranosuke challenged you to a one-on-one match in a month.”

“Me… fight him?” Hinata’s voice quavered. “I… I can’t possibly do that…”

“You haven’t even tried yet—why say you can’t?”

Kitazawa crouched down to meet her eyes directly. “Hinata, you’re stronger than he is. You just don’t know how to fight back yet.”

Hinata stared at him, wide-eyed and speechless.

At that moment, four glowing lines of text appeared before Kitazawa’s eyes:

Unity is strength. As class monitor, help your classmates if they’re bullied by students from other classes.

Current Mission: Help your deskmate Hyuga Hinata defeat Toranosuke.

Mission Reward: Water Release: Water Bullet Technique.

Accept Mission?

Kitazawa narrowed his eyes slightly.

The system’s missions truly were all over the place, rewarding him with random jutsu of various kinds.

But on second thought, it made perfect sense.

After all, this was the Strongest Shinobi System.

To surpass all previous shinobi, one would eventually have to master every kind of ninjutsu—including bloodline limits.

“It’s fine,” Kitazawa said, folding the damaged scarf and slipping it away. “We’ve got a whole month. I’ll give you special training.”

Hinata’s blush deepened, but she gave a tiny nod of determination.

“I’ll walk you home.”

Kitazawa took her small hand in his and led her out of the quiet grove.

“Goodbye, Kitazawa-sensei.”

Hinata stood at the gate, quietly watching Kitazawa’s figure disappear into the distance. Only when he was completely out of sight did she finally turn and step into the courtyard, her footsteps soft and reluctant.

Meanwhile, Kitazawa made a quick detour to the commercial street and picked up a scarf nearly identical to the one lost. Then he returned home and opened the shutters of his small general store.

“Teuchi! One bowl of char-siu ramen!” he called out toward Ichiraku Ramen next door.

“Coming right up!” came the cheerful reply.

Kitazawa leaned on the counter with his chin resting on his hands, thoughts drifting. He was considering how to approach Gai—but after a moment, he chuckled.

With Gai’s personality, he wouldn’t need much of a reason. Just shout something about youth and he’d probably start training you immediately.

“I’m coming in, Kitazawa-nii!”

A sweet, familiar voice rang out as a girl in a white chef’s uniform stepped through the door. It was Ayame, Teuchi’s daughter.

“Thanks,” Kitazawa said, taking the bowl of steaming ramen from her hands.

“You’re welcome!” Ayame replied with a bright smile. She lingered for a second, sneaking another glance at him before heading back out. Like Ino, she was clearly a fan of handsome faces.

After finishing dinner, Kitazawa returned the bowl, settled the bill, and walked back into his shop—only to find someone already waiting for him.

Leaning casually against the counter was Yuhi Kurenai, her long legs elegantly crossed, curvy silhouette framed by the setting sun. Arms folded, a playful smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Framed by the warm light, she looked like she’d stepped out of a dream.

“Kurenai, what are you here for?” Kitazawa asked with a grin as he walked over. “I’ll give you a discount.”

“Then I’ll take a bottle of soda,” she said, reaching for one from the fridge.

“A bottle of soda doesn’t quite cover the breakfast I gave you. It’s on the house,” Kitazawa said nonchalantly.

“Thanks,” Kurenai said, taking a sip. “I just came back from visiting the Kurama Clan.”

“Did the method I suggested help?” Kitazawa asked curiously.

“A little,” she admitted, then sighed. “But the core issue isn’t me—it’s Yakumo.”

“Her genjutsu talent isn’t good?”

“It’s too good,” Kurenai replied, brows knitting slightly. “Her body can’t handle the strain of it.”

Kitazawa nodded thoughtfully. “Then why not teach her taijutsu to build her body?”

“That’s difficult. She’s naturally frail—physically unfit for intense training.”

“That is tricky…” Kitazawa muttered, frowning.

In the original timeline, the root of the issue was Ido—Yakumo’s inner yin-based manifestation, born out of the suppression of her talents and dreams. And right now, Ido hadn’t yet awakened fully.

“Prevention is better than suppression,” Kitazawa said, offering, “I can try teaching her some basic taijutsu.”

In the canon timeline, Yakumo’s problems escalated because her dreams of becoming a ninja were crushed by those around her. If that fate could be changed now, perhaps Ido wouldn’t manifest at all.

“It’s too much trouble, no need,” Kurenai replied, shaking her head. “Besides, I can teach her taijutsu too.”

“No trouble at all. Aren’t we friends? And honestly, she was supposed to be my student to begin with,” Kitazawa said with a light smile. “I’ve been a teacher for five years—I can tailor her lessons to suit her body.”

Kurenai blinked, a little caught off guard. “You already have a full-time job. Where would you even find the time?”

“That’s easy. Have her come to the Ninja Academy,” he offered.

“Classes?” Kurenai frowned. “Her parents wouldn’t agree, and her condition wouldn’t allow it.”

“She doesn’t need to attend full time—just come in for practical lessons,” Kitazawa reasoned. “Hands-on experience, tailored for her pace.”

Kurenai went silent.

Today, following Kitazawa’s advice, she had talked to Yakumo as an equal—for the first time. And in that conversation, she had seen something she hadn’t noticed before: Yakumo’s unwavering desire to become a ninja.

Maybe… just maybe… letting her attend the academy wouldn’t be a mistake.

“…Which day are you free?” Kurenai finally said. “Come with me to the Kurama estate.”

Kitazawa smiled. That was more than enough.

——————————–

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