Chapter 197: Chapter 197

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“Kazuma!”

The Daimyo’s desperate cry rang out just as Asuma and his comrades appeared on the scene.

“Asuma?!”

The three Guardian Ninja behind Kazuma stiffened in panic.

“What does it matter if he’s here?” Kazuma sneered confidently. “No matter who comes, their fate will be the same—death!”

“You’re overestimating yourself, Kazuma.” Asuma’s voice was firm, his expression grim. “Know your place.”

Kazuma’s eyes glinted coldly. “Arrogant words. Once the new Daimyo takes power, Konoha will vanish from the map.”

“Nonsense!” Asuma snapped, raising his hand. “Take them down!”

Chiriku and four Lightning Release users charged forward at once, while Asuma himself drew his Chakra Blades, sprinting straight for Kazuma.

“Kabuto, protect the Daimyo with the others!” Kurenai ordered.

“Yes!”

Kabuto wasted no time, pulling the terrified Daimyo back into the palace. He and Torune could still defend themselves if necessary—but Izumi? One blow could endanger her life. Guarding the Daimyo was their safest, most vital role.

Outside, the courtyard erupted into chaos. Four against seven—steel, chakra, and fury colliding.

Kazuma took on Asuma and Kurenai alone, and from the first exchange, it was clear he was being pushed back.

Asuma’s fists, charged with the deadly edge of his Chakra Blades, forced Kazuma on the defensive, striking with unrelenting ferocity. Kurenai, meanwhile, launched her Genjutsu from range, weaving illusions that disrupted Kazuma’s flow.

Asuma didn’t question her approach—it was how he’d always seen her fight.

Earth Release: Stone Spikes!

Kazuma slammed his palms to the ground, raising a massive stone wall.

Asuma roared, his Chakra Blades cleaving through the rock like paper. Dust exploded outward—then darkness swallowed his vision.

“Bringer of Darkness Genjutsu?” Asuma froze mid-step, muscles coiled tight. He recognized the technique instantly—the jutsu once used by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. And since Kurenai was the only Genjutsu user nearby… “Yuhi, is that you?”

“Asuma, I’ll cover you!” Kitazawa’s voice cut through the void.

Screams followed.

“Kitazawa, what’s happening?” Asuma demanded, unwilling to move blind.

Then the darkness shattered. His vision returned—and his eyes fell on Kitazawa standing over Kazuma’s lifeless body.

Kazuma’s arms had been torn apart, his throat slashed open.

Asuma’s chest heaved, but he quickly swallowed his frustration. “Well done!” he barked and turned to rejoin the others.

With their leader slain, the remaining Guardian Ninja crumbled under the combined assault. Some were struck down, others knocked unconscious.

The Daimyo’s guards, recovering from earlier, cheered in relief.

“Kitazawa!” Asuma’s urgent call pulled him back. “Seito’s badly wounded!”

Kitazawa strode over, frowning as he knelt beside Seito, one of the Lightning Release users. A blade had pierced near his heart—a death sentence without immediate intervention.

“Kabuto, with me—we’ll perform surgery together.”

The two medical ninja worked swiftly, chakra glowing steadily beneath their hands.

Minutes dragged like hours. Finally, Kitazawa exhaled deeply. “He’s stable. Out of danger.”

Kurenai was at his side in an instant, dabbing sweat from his brow.

Asuma’s lips twitched at the sight, but he said nothing. Kitazawa had just pulled off a feat worthy of a Jonin-class medical ninja.

“Kitazawa,” Asuma said solemnly, “thank you. Without you, Seito wouldn’t have survived.”

Kitazawa only smiled faintly, noting with satisfaction the mission progress bar advancing in his mind. Six high-difficulty surgeries done—three more to unlock the Forbidden Jutsu he sought.

“Forgive me for delaying your mission this long,” Asuma continued. “If you can’t complete it, I’ll explain everything to the old man myself.”

Kitazawa hesitated, then spoke honestly. “There’s no need. Our mission was to end the Guardian Ninja Rebellion. Hokage-sama sent us here.”

“…What?”

Asuma froze. A storm of emotions crossed his face, but finally he drew in a deep breath. “Then I owe you all even more.”

Kitazawa offered gently, “Will you return with us to Konoha?”

Asuma’s eyes darkened with thought. “Not yet. The Daimyo won’t trust me after this. I’ll resign my post and return later.”

Kitazawa nodded, accepting his choice. Soon after, he and his team departed with Kurenai, leaving Kazuma’s corpse for Asuma to handle.

The next afternoon, they arrived back in Konoha. They’d traveled through the night, half the winter break already gone, and with Tsunade’s hemophobia treatment looming.

“Rest up tonight. Training ground tomorrow morning,” Kitazawa instructed his squad.

“Yes, Kitazawa-sensei,” the three chorused before hurrying home.

Kitazawa turned to Kurenai. “Want to come with me to Hokage-sama, or head home first?”

Her tired face softened. “Home. It’s your squad’s mission—you should report.”

Kitazawa leaned down, brushing her lips with his own. “Wait for me.”

She smiled. “Always.”

At the Hokage’s office, Hiruzen looked up sharply as Kitazawa entered.

“How did it go?”

“Mission accomplished,” Kitazawa reported, recounting the events.

“Well done,” Hiruzen praised, satisfaction in his eyes.

Kitazawa hesitated, then bowed slightly. “There is something I must apologize for. I told Asuma the truth.”

Hiruzen’s eyes narrowed. “And his reaction?”

“He intends to resign soon and return to Konoha.”

For a heartbeat, silence. Then Hiruzen chuckled, the sound swelling into a hearty laugh. “So Asuma has finally grown up!”

Kitazawa allowed himself a small smile. He’d earned Hiruzen’s trust—and perhaps, something more.

“You’ve done well, Kitazawa,” Hiruzen said warmly. “As a reward, each member of your squad may select a B-rank or lower Ninjutsu.”

Kitazawa’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Hokage-sama!”

It seemed Asuma’s family card had worked.

With four people in their squad, Kitazawa was entitled to claim four B-rank or lower ninjutsu. He wasn’t hoarding the rewards from Kabuto and the others—it was simply that they didn’t need them. His teaching schedule already had their training mapped out.

After collecting the one-million-ryō mission reward, Kitazawa headed for the Ninjutsu Archive.

Inside, he scanned the scroll racks, lost in thought.

Fire Release? Wind Release? He had more than enough of those.

Water Release? Not urgent—he still had two A-rank techniques waiting to be mastered.

His weakest affinities were Lightning and Earth. Lightning he had covered—Chidori was in his arsenal. But Earth? Not a single technique.

His recent mission in the Fire Capital had shown him just how versatile Earth Release could be. Kazuma and his subordinates wielded it with frightening efficiency. Earth techniques could shape the battlefield itself, using local terrain and saving chakra in the process.

Decision made, Kitazawa pulled out four scrolls:

Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall—the classic defensive technique Kakashi himself favored.

Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet—straightforward offense.

Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu—a sneaky underground strike.

Earth Release: Earth Clone—a sturdier version of the Body Replacement Technique, once used by Hiruzen against Orochimaru.

Together, they covered defense, offense, stealth, and misdirection—a well-rounded set.

[Current Mission: Learn four Earth Release Ninjutsu before the end of the third semester.]

[Mission Reward: Proficiency in Earth Release nature transformation.]

[Accept?]

Here it comes.

Just like the Water Release mission. Kitazawa had expected this, so his acceptance was immediate.

The text shifted again:

[Current Mission: Choose a high-level task that can raise your squad’s reputation.]

[Mission Reward: combination Ninjutsu—Lightning Water Dragon Bullet.]

[Mission completed. Reward issued.]

A rush of information flooded his mind. Kitazawa stood silently, digesting it—then smiled.

The Lightning Water Dragon Bullet was no ordinary technique. At least A-rank, maybe higher.

Bloodline Limits fused two chakra natures into a new element—once combined, their techniques were easier to replicate. But combination ninjutsu was different. It demanded a fresh combination every single time. Twice the effort, twice the precision.

This one fused Water Dragon Bullet with Lightning Release: Ground Current. Conveniently, the system had already granted him mastery of the lightning half.

Leaving the Hokage Building, Kitazawa slipped away to a secluded spot in the north.

“Combination Ninjutsu: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet.”

His hands blurred, weaving two sets of seals in the time it would take most to form one. To the untrained eye, it looked like a single jutsu. That was the essence—and the risk—of combination techniques.

A water dragon roared into existence, its body crackling with flickers of blue-white lightning.

With a thunderous crash, it slammed into the ground. The earth split and quaked. Water drenched the battlefield, and arcs of lightning spread outward in a deadly web, scorching everything in their path.

Kitazawa’s lips curved. Stronger than he imagined. This would be his fourth trump card, alongside Super Strength, Rasengan, and Chidori.

Back on the main street, he turned not for home but for the Kurama compound.

He found Yakumo sketching on a hillside.

“Yakumo.”

“Kitazawa-sensei?” She dropped her brush, surprised, and stood. “Do you need something?”

“How’s your progress with the Emotion Displacement Ninjutsu?”

“…I haven’t mastered it yet,” she admitted honestly.

Kitazawa nodded. “It’s A-rank—it should take time. Come to Kurenai’s house tomorrow at ten.”

“For special training?” she asked curiously.

“No. A house call.” His tone softened. “The framework for psychological medical ninjutsu is stable now. It’s time you tried treating an actual patient.”

Yakumo blinked, startled, but didn’t refuse. “Who’s the patient?”

“You’ll see tomorrow. Be ready—she’s not an ordinary case.”

Her chest tightened, but she answered firmly. “Understood.”

“Good. See you then.”

Kitazawa left her to her drawings and headed home.

Sunday.

After breakfast, Kitazawa walked into the Academy courtyard.

“Kitazawa-sensei!” Naruto and Kiba bounded over, loud as ever after a week apart.

He exchanged a few words before sending them back to training.

Soon, Kabuto, Torune, and Izumi approached.

“Here’s your mission reward,” Kitazawa said, handing each a scroll. “One hundred and fifty thousand ryō apiece.”

Izumi quickly shook her head. “I can’t accept this. I hardly helped at all.”

Kitazawa smiled, ruffling her hair. “Don’t say that. We’re a team.”

“She’s right,” Torune added. “Your restraint was why I could finish him.”

“Exactly. Now, enough talk—time for training.” Kitazawa clapped his hands.

“Yes, sensei.” Izumi tucked away the passbook, warmth blooming in her chest.

“Izumi, I’ll teach you a new fire technique—Phoenix Sage Fire: Crimson Claws.”

Her eyes lit up. “Really?!”

“Mm. Kabuto, you’ll learn Wind Release: Vacuum Bullet.”

Finally, his gaze settled on Torune. Offensive power he had plenty—what he lacked was movement.

“For you, Torune: Leaf Body Flicker. It’ll sharpen your defense and evasion.”

He spent the next hour explaining the principles of each jutsu before dismissing them. His destination: Tsunade’s home, with Yakumo in tow, to begin her very first consultation.

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