Chapter 154: Chapter 154

Monday noon, Ninja Academy conference room

The probationary Student Council gathered for its second meeting.

“You all did well,” Kitazawa said approvingly after reviewing the weekly report that Sasuke had submitted.

The Will of Fire Club’s recruitment drive had been a resounding success. Practically every student in the academy had joined.

Some were inspired by the “Will of Fire,” some out of admiration for Hiruzen, and others simply because it looked fun. After all, student activities at the Academy were rare, and few wanted to miss the novelty.

The only drawback? The Will of Fire Club had too many members. Normally, no club could afford to balloon to such a size. But since it was the Academy’s only trial club, rules were lenient. More members simply meant Hiruzen could better observe the Student Council’s influence.

“Of course! We must give it our all! This is the path of youth!” Uzumaki Naruto threw an arm around Sasuke’s shoulders, grinning proudly. “Right, Sasuke?”

“…”

Sasuke’s lips twitched. “During official meetings, use titles. Are you the president, or am I?”

“The first activity turned out well too,” Kitazawa continued, turning his gaze to Inuzuka Hana.

Hiruzen had sponsored fifty thousand ryō, while the Uchiha clan contributed forty thousand more. Ninety thousand ryō—an astronomical figure for students.

To make good use of the funds, Hana’s first proposal had been a knowledge competition: a quiz blending textbook material with questions about the Will of Fire.

“The October monthly exams are approaching,” Kitazawa mused. “We’ll hold the activity after the exams. It’ll be a good way for everyone to unwind.”

’The exams again…’

Sasuke’s fists clenched unconsciously. The sting of his previous disastrous performance still haunted him. This time, he was determined to restore the Uchiha name. At the very least, he would take second place.

“Meeting adjourned. If you have time, get some rest.”

Kitazawa rose and left the conference room.

After a short nap in his office, he headed for Konoha Hospital.

“Good afternoon, Nono-senpai.”

He pushed open the office door and found Nono inside. Pausing briefly, he greeted her with a polite smile.

“Good afternoon, Kitazawa,” she replied gently.

“Is there an emergency surgery?” he asked, pouring her a glass of water.

“You’ve nearly mastered the Rehabilitative Regeneration Technique,” Nono said with a faint smile. “Do you feel confident using it on patients?”

“Yes,” Kitazawa answered without hesitation.

Any surgery requiring that technique would be high-risk—exactly the sort that would push his skills and advance his mission progress.

“Good. In half an hour, you’ll join us.”

The Rehabilitative Regeneration Technique wasn’t like ordinary medical ninjutsu. It required a pre-drawn jutsu array, and half an hour was just enough to prepare it.

“Should we call Shizune-senpai as well?” Kitazawa asked. The technique required a team—five at minimum. He and Nono alone wouldn’t be enough.

“It would be best,” Nono admitted, “but will Lady Tsunade allow it?”

“She’s practically itching to send Shizune away,” Kitazawa said dryly. “Without her, no one can stop Lady Tsunade from gambling.”

Nono sighed, unable to find words.

“I’ll go fetch her,” Kitazawa said, turning toward the door.

Konoha only had a handful of casinos, and it didn’t take long for him to find Tsunade and Shizune.

Tsunade stood at the table, her eyes sharp as she tracked the dealer’s movements. Shizune, by contrast, looked utterly numb. After so many years with Tsunade, she didn’t even need to look to know the outcome.

“Lost again! Damn it!” Tsunade cursed as the dealer collected her chips.

“Lady Tsunade,” Kitazawa greeted as the round ended.

Her golden eyes lit up. “Kitazawa! Perfect timing—come gamble with me!” She hadn’t forgotten how lucky he’d been with the slot machines before.

“Sorry,” Kitazawa said, “I’m here for Shizune-senpai. There’s a surgery at the hospital.”

“You’ve already learned the Rehabilitative Regeneration Technique?” Tsunade blinked, caught off guard.

Though she was his nominal teacher, it was really Shizune who’d been guiding him. Tsunade herself had been… otherwise occupied.

Now hearing he’d mastered such a complex jutsu startled her.

“This is thanks to Shizune-senpai,” Kitazawa said modestly.

Shizune, however, only felt conflicted. ’Thanks to me?’ From her perspective, Kitazawa had advanced so quickly she’d barely taught him anything. It was hard to feel pride when she hadn’t truly contributed.

“You two should hurry to the hospital,” Tsunade said, waving them off.

“Lady Tsunade—only three more hours of gambling, at most,” Shizune pressed firmly.

“I know, I know! You’re such a nag,” Tsunade muttered irritably.

After they left, she stared at the table, suddenly losing her taste for it.

If Kitazawa had already reached this level, then the only things left for him to learn were her Yin Seal and Creation Rebirth. Which meant… it was about time she accepted him as her student.

Yet, as she wandered out of the casino and onto the street, Tsunade’s steps slowed.

She wasn’t against taking Kitazawa in—he had talent, skill, and a decent heart. But she still hadn’t decided if she could remain in Konoha. Unlike Shizune, Kitazawa had roots here: friends, responsibilities, and a post at the academy. He couldn’t just wander the world at her side.

Her gaze drifted to the Hokage Rock, where the stone faces of Hashirama, Tobirama, Hiruzen, and Minato stood in silent vigil.

“Then I’ll gamble one last time—for Konoha,” she whispered.

This time, the gamble wasn’t on cards or dice, but on herself—her crippling hemophobia. No matter how many psychological medical techniques had been developed to treat it, none could guarantee success. And hers was among the most severe.

Konoha Hospital, Operating Room

Kitazawa took in the scene. Though he’d assisted in many surgeries before, this was the largest yet. Including himself, five medical-nin jonin stood ready.

The patient: a Hyūga discovered half-dead after a mission in Hidden Mist territory.

“Begin the surgery,” Nono commanded, her face grave.

Everyone nodded and moved into position. Hands blurred through seals.

Rehabilitative Regeneration Technique!

The patient lay at the center of the massive jutsu array. As chakra poured in, his body was bathed in a soft green glow.

Nono plucked a strand of the man’s hair. Under the technique’s power, fresh cells sprouted from it and spread, filling torn tissue and sealing wounds.

Kitazawa’s mind flickered back to the scene from the original timeline—the one where Shizune’s team had saved Neji in much the same way.

The hours dragged on. Adjusting cell ratios, generating new tissue—each step demanded flawless chakra control and unyielding focus.

From two in the afternoon until nearly seven at night, they worked without pause.

By the end, Kitazawa’s chakra reserves were nearly empty. He had planned ahead, asking Iruka to cover his evening classes. A shadow clone might have sufficed, but with the strain of the surgery, it would’ve dispelled midway.

At last, Nono let out a weary breath. “The surgery was a complete success. Thank you, everyone.”

Her forehead glistened with sweat. The others looked no better, drenched and exhausted. Long surgeries like this were battles in their own right, every bit as grueling as combat.

“See you tomorrow, Nono-senpai,” Kitazawa said softly.

Kitazawa stepped out of the operating room, heading toward his office.

It was already late. The hospital glowed with light, every corridor illuminated against the night.

He stifled a yawn, exhaustion weighing on both body and mind. Still, it hadn’t been for nothing—today he’d made another step forward in his arduous surgical mission.

Just as he neared his office, his brow furrowed. The door wasn’t fully shut; a faint gap remained.

Someone inside?

Sakura had returned to the Academy hours ago. She couldn’t help with the Rehabilitative Regeneration Technique anyway.

Kitazawa pushed the door open carefully. His eyes swept the room until they landed on the sofa.

Kurenai Yūhi lay curled on her side, fast asleep.

For a moment, Kitazawa was caught off guard. Then he understood—she must have come looking for him when he hadn’t returned home. But since he’d been in surgery, she had waited here.

He crouched in front of her.

Her face rested against her arm, making her cheek look soft and flat. Her lithe figure curved gently on the cushions, her clothes outlining her form under the pull of gravity.

Something stirred in his chest. Slowly, he reached out and brushed her cheek.

Kurenai shivered at the touch, but didn’t open her eyes.

Feigning sleep?

A small smile tugged at Kitazawa’s lips. His hand trailed from her face down the line of her neck, across the graceful arch of her back, and finally settled on her firm hips.

Her breathing faltered, less steady than before, but still she didn’t stir.

So she was playing along?

Kitazawa chuckled inwardly. Dangerous game.

His hand slid toward the hem of her clothes, fingers brushing against the waistband of her pants.

It was then he noticed the bandage wrapped only around her thigh. Her hips were bare.

Kurenai’s eyes flew open in shock—only to meet Kitazawa’s calm gaze as his hand squeezed lightly.

Her face flushed crimson in an instant.

With a sharp whoosh, she vanished with the Body Flicker Jutsu.

“As expected,” Kitazawa muttered to himself, stretching lazily. “That touch was perfect.”

All his fatigue seemed to melt away.

He sat down on the sofa, lips curled in satisfaction.

Moments later, Kurenai reappeared.

Without a word, she stomped hard on his foot.

“Pervert!” she snapped, her face burning with equal parts anger and embarrassment.

“You scoundrel—you’re getting bolder!”

Kitazawa blinked innocently. “What did I do?”

Her glare could have pierced stone. “You touched! Don’t tell me you don’t know what you just did!”

“You were the one pretending to be asleep,” he shot back smoothly. “Didn’t that mean you agreed?”

“I—I—!”

She faltered, cheeks blazing. It was true—she’d feigned sleep, curious what he’d dare to do. But she hadn’t expected that.

Kitazawa stood, pinching her cheek with a grin. “Come on. Let’s head home. Have you eaten?”

“No,” she admitted, lips pouting before softening. “I’ll cook when we get back. You’ve been in surgery all afternoon.”

“You’re too good to me, Yūhi,” Kitazawa murmured, leaning in to steal a kiss.

She stiffened, hands pressing weakly against his chest—but didn’t push him away. Their lips lingered, clashing and melting in a long, heated kiss.

When they finally broke apart, she lowered her head—only to feel his hand again on her rear, this time over her clothes.

“You really don’t know when to stop.”

She rolled her eyes, flustered, and turned toward the door. “If I beat you up properly, maybe you’d behave. Close the door behind you!”

“Coming,” Kitazawa said cheerfully, following her out of the hospital.

As they walked, Kurenai suddenly remembered. “Oh—Lady Tsunade is at our place. She’s the one who told me you and Shizune were stuck in surgery.”

Kitazawa raised a brow. “And you two didn’t eat first?”

“I wanted to,” Kurenai admitted. “But she said cooking twice would be troublesome, so she’d wait for you both.”

“…Strange,” Kitazawa muttered, rubbing his chin. “That doesn’t sound like Lady Tsunade.”

“You know her too well,” Kurenai said quietly. “She did seem… off today.”

“Maybe she just lost big at the casino again,” Kitazawa replied dryly.

“Maybe,” Kurenai sighed, dropping the thought.

They soon arrived home.

Just as Kurenai said, Tsunade was sprawled casually on the sofa. Shizune had already arrived and followed Kurenai into the kitchen to help.

Kitazawa’s eyelid twitched as he sat opposite Tsunade. Without her coat, her blouse strained against her figure. Truly a sight.

“What did Hiruzen tell you?” Tsunade asked suddenly.

Kitazawa blinked. “Hokage-sama? I haven’t seen him today.”

“Before, then,” she pressed, her gaze sharp.

Kitazawa hesitated. “…Which matter?”

“The one concerning me.”

His scalp prickled under her stare.

At last, he exhaled. “He asked me to persuade you to accept treatment for your hemophobia.”

“As expected,” Tsunade said calmly, not surprised in the least.

Kitazawa frowned. Her tone was too measured.

Then Tsunade leaned forward, eyes locking on his. “Let’s make a bet.”

Kitazawa’s pulse quickened. “What kind of bet?”

“I’ll be Yakumo’s first patient.” Her lips pressed into a thin line. “If she fails to cure me, I’ll leave Konoha. But if she succeeds… I’ll stay and perfect the psychological Ninjutsu system with her.”

Kitazawa’s eyes narrowed. ’So it’s come to this…’

He understood—when someone proposes a bet, their heart has already chosen. Tsunade knew she always lost bets, yet she insisted anyway. Deep down, she wanted to stay.

“Lady Tsunade,” Kitazawa said softly, “the past will eventually fade.”

“You talk too much,” she snapped. “So—do you accept or not?”

Kitazawa smiled faintly. “How could I refuse a bet from you?”

“Hmph.” She crossed her arms. “Don’t be so sure of yourself. The outcome is far from decided.”

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