Chapter 22: Chapter 22

“Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei,” Yakumo said as she stood and bowed deeply.

The gloom that once clouded her eyes had vanished, replaced by a blazing determination that lit up her entire expression.

“It’s too early to thank me just yet,” Kitazawa said with a warm smile. “The reason I came today is to bring you back to the Ninja Academy.”

“Really?” Yakumo froze for a moment, stunned—then her voice rose with uncontainable excitement.

“It’s true,” Kurenai added, stepping forward with a rare softness in her voice. “I had my doubts before… but after hearing what Kitazawa had to say, I fully support your return.”

“Thank you, Yuhi-sensei!” Yakumo beamed, her smile radiant and unrestrained.

Kurenai blinked in surprise. It was the first time she’d ever seen Yakumo so genuinely happy. Until now, she’d always been a quiet, melancholic girl burdened with invisible chains. But in this moment, that weight seemed to lift.

“This whole idea of a Psychological Medical Ninja… it really opened my eyes,” Kurenai said thoughtfully. “Where did you even come up with something like that?”

Kitazawa scratched his head, chuckling lightly. “Call it a flash of inspiration.”

In truth, it was an idea rooted in the concept of psychologists from his previous life—but in the shinobi world, such roles didn’t exist. With death lurking in every mission, there’d never been room to treat emotional wounds. Soldiers fought, survived, or died—and the pain was buried with them.

“Even a moment of inspiration doesn’t happen without a foundation of knowledge,” Kurenai mused. “As someone trained in Genjutsu myself, I never once considered that kind of path.”

“It’s just a concept for now,” Kitazawa said humbly. “If Yakumo wants to walk this road, there are still many hurdles ahead.”

“I’m not afraid,” Yakumo declared, clenching her fists tightly. The fear that once gnawed at her heart was gone. Her parents, Kurenai-sensei—even her own reflection—had all questioned her dream of becoming a ninja.

But now, with the path before her, she refused to let it slip away.

“You’ve got Kitazawa-sensei, haven’t you?” Kurenai said with a gentle grin. “He’ll walk this path with you.”

Yakumo turned to Kitazawa, her gaze filled with newfound trust and admiration. He didn’t just offer encouragement—he offered a future.

For a girl who had been drowning in doubt and isolation, his words had been nothing short of salvation.

“When it comes to Yin Release, you’re the expert—not me,” Kitazawa said, lifting his hands in mock surrender. “I’m counting on you.”

“No problem,” Kurenai said with confidence, patting her chest. “Anytime you need help, you know where to find me.”

Yakumo glanced between the two. Somehow, their conversation felt… close. Maybe even a little too close. Were teachers always this friendly?

“Alright, let’s head back,” Kurenai said, affectionately brushing Yakumo’s hair back. “Don’t worry. I’m sure your parents will understand.”

“Mm!” Yakumo took a deep breath to steady her nerves, her heart pounding with nervous excitement.

She packed away her brushes and followed her two teachers down the hill, back toward Satomioka Villa.

Inside the spacious residence, Murakumo frowned slightly as Kitazawa explained his proposal.

“You’re saying… you want Yakumo to return to the Academy?” he asked, his brows furrowed.

“Clan Head,” Kurenai began, stepping in to relay Kitazawa’s theory again—this time with clarity and emphasis.

Terms like Specialized Genjutsu Ninja and Psychological Medical Ninja were completely foreign to Murakumo. At first, he looked bewildered.

But slowly, realization began to dawn—and along with it, hope.

If Yakumo truly held this kind of rare potential, she might just be the key to restoring the Kurama Clan’s lost prestige.

“I’ll leave her in your hands, Kitazawa-sensei,” Murakumo finally said with a solemn nod.

Even if this plan seemed unorthodox, it offered something invaluable: possibility.

“Thank you, Father!” Yakumo said, her voice trembling slightly as she bowed.

For the first time in a long time, her heart felt light.

She was going back.

After finishing their business at Satomioka Villa, Kitazawa and Kurenai made their way down the path leading back toward the village.

“You should report this to Hokage-sama,” Kurenai said suddenly, as if struck by a thought.

Kitazawa blinked, then quickly understood her meaning.

The Kurama Clan, possessing a rare Bloodline Limit, was naturally under close watch by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Especially given that Yakumo had been frail and sickly since childhood, news of her awakening her Kekkei Genkai wouldn’t go unnoticed by the Hokage.

“Besides,” Kurenai added, her lips curling into a small smile, “this is good news. You might even get rewarded for it.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Kitazawa replied with a grin. “In that case, dinner’s on me next time.”

“Then I won’t be shy,” Kurenai laughed, giving a playful wave. “See you Monday.”

Kitazawa watched her go, a thoughtful expression on his face.

[Current Mission: Help classmate Yakumo Kurama return to the Ninja Academy.]

[Mission Reward: Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death.]

[Mission complete. Reward has been issued.]

Kitazawa felt a surge of excitement as the data flowed into his mind.

Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death was a powerful Genjutsu unrelated to the Sharingan. In the original timeline, Kurenai had famously used it against Uchiha Itachi.

Its effect was to plunge the target into a hallucination of being trapped by enormous trees, while the caster emerged from the trunk to strike.

Interestingly, the technique was devised to mimic Senju Hashirama’s legendary Wood Release, sowing fear and confusion in enemies who believed they were facing the God of Shinobi himself.

A small smile tugged at Kitazawa’s lips. ’This system really is generous.’

Brushing off his thoughts, he turned and headed toward the Hokage’s office.

Unlike Senseis, who enjoyed weekends off, the Hokage worked relentlessly, year-round.

Kitazawa recalled how, in the original story, Naruto practically lived at his desk once he became Hokage—an unstoppable workhorse buried under paperwork.

After announcing himself, Kitazawa was ushered into the spacious office.

“Ah, Kitazawa.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up with a warm smile, greeting him as though welcoming a trusted comrade.

“Hokage-sama,” Kitazawa said, bowing politely.

He wasn’t surprised by the friendly reception. Though he’d only met Hiruzen a few times, Kitazawa was certain that, given his connection to Naruto, the Hokage had already investigated his entire lineage several times over.

’The village has to keep its records clean, after all…’

“I went to see Yakumo Kurama today,” Kitazawa said, getting straight to the point. “I’ve already spoken to her parents and arranged for her to return to the Academy.”

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. “And how exactly do you know Yakumo Kurama?”

“Kurenai and I were classmates at the Academy,” Kitazawa explained. “She asked me to help.”

“Ah… I’d forgotten about that,” Hiruzen murmured, stroking his beard thoughtfully. “But surely that’s not the only reason you came here in person?”

To Hiruzen, Yakumo’s return to the Academy seemed a relatively minor affair, hardly worth a personal visit. After all, his schedule was already overflowing with matters of life and death.

“There’s more,” Kitazawa said. “I have an idea regarding Yakumo Kurama’s Bloodline Limit.”

Hiruzen’s interest piqued. He listened as Kitazawa recounted his entire conversation with Yakumo, describing the notion of her becoming a Psychological Medical Ninja.

At first, Hiruzen seemed only mildly curious. Given Yakumo’s delicate health, the possibility that she could ever harness her true abilities was still uncertain.

But when Kitazawa began to explain the concept of a Psychological Medical Ninja, Hiruzen’s entire demeanor changed.

He sat up straight, eyes sharpening with sudden realization.

Medical-nin traditionally focused on healing the body—a domain rooted in Yang Release. Yet here Kitazawa was proposing the possibility of medical ninjutsu grounded in Yin Release, targeting the mind itself.

Even for the man known as “The Professor of Ninjutsu,” it was a revelation.

And beyond mere curiosity, Hiruzen recognized the potential impact.

’Could such a ninja… heal Tsunade’s hemophobia?’

Tsunade’s value to the village was immeasurable. If someone could restore her to full fighting form, it would be a monumental gain for Konoha.

But that wasn’t all. Another thought crept into Hiruzen’s mind—the Uchiha Clan.

The Uchihas were known for their extraordinary talent… and their equally extraordinary instability.

Kitazawa’s idea of psychological intervention—and perhaps the ability to absorb or neutralize negative emotions—was tantalizing.

’If Yakumo Kurama could master that skill… could she help ease the darkness that plagued the Uchiha’s hearts?’

Hiruzen’s gaze grew distant as countless possibilities unfurled in his mind.

Yakumo Kurama might not just be the hope of her clan—she might be the key to stabilizing the village itself.

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