Chapter 224: Chapter 224

“Someone’s coming—it’s Kitazawa-sensei’s Shadow Clone.”

Torune paused, then spoke quietly.

Moments later, Kitazawa’s clone stepped into the tent, carrying Ranmaru. With a flicker, the original dispelled it.

“Why’d you bring back a little girl?” Kurenai asked, puzzled.

“It’s a boy,” Kitazawa corrected with a faint smile.

“So feminine-looking?” Kurenai leaned closer, her brows knitting. “He really does look like a girl.”

“He’s not ordinary.” Kitazawa explained Ranmaru’s past and the terrifying ability of his Red Eye.

“A bloodline limit like that actually exists?” Kurenai’s disbelief was plain.

Kabuto and the others looked equally astonished. The Byakugan was famous across the world—yet here was its natural counter.

“The shinobi world is vast, full of strange abilities,” Kitazawa said. “And the Hidden Mist is no stranger to bloodline limits.”

“That’s true,” Kurenai murmured, then frowned.

“But after the Fourth Mizukage took power, he ordered mass hunts of bloodline shinobi,” Kabuto recalled grimly.

Kitazawa nodded. In truth, it hadn’t been Yagura’s will, but Obito’s manipulation—vengeance twisted from Rin’s death. Implanted with the Three-Tails, Rin had chosen to die by Kakashi’s hand rather than endanger Konoha. And behind even that… lurked Madara.

“I don’t get it,” Kurenai muttered. “Bloodline shinobi are strong. Shouldn’t their existence benefit a village? Look at the Hyūga and Uchiha.”

“Who knows?” Kitazawa shrugged lightly. “Either way, let’s rest. We’ve got a mission tomorrow.”

“Mm.” She hesitated, glancing at Ranmaru. “And him?”

“It’s unsafe to send him back with a clone. We’ll take him along.” Kitazawa formed seals. “Sealing Art: Heavy Limbs Seal.”

His palm pressed to Ranmaru’s forehead. Black script spread over the boy’s body, locking his movements.

“Kabuto, watch over him. If anything happens, find me.”

“Understood.” Kabuto nodded at once.

Kitazawa and Kurenai slipped into the other tent.

“Your strength must be on par with Kakashi’s now, isn’t it?” she asked suddenly, sitting on the mat.

Kakashi and Kurosuki Raiga both carried heavy reputations. In her eyes, they were equals.

“Haven’t fought him, so I can’t say,” Kitazawa replied, lying down. “But it shouldn’t be far off.”

The current Kakashi was unpolished, far from his peak. Unless he wielded the Mangekyō, he’d stand little chance.

“This feels unreal…” Kurenai’s voice softened. She’d known Kitazawa was growing rapidly, but now, with Raiga dead, she finally had perspective. Among the jōnin, Kitazawa already stood near the top—below only the Kage.

Then she gasped, glaring at him.

“Still dreaming?” Kitazawa teased, his hand sliding under her clothes, brushing her thigh.

“We have a mission tomorrow!” Kurenai leapt back, face flushed. “None of that tonight!”

“I wasn’t planning anything.” His chuckle was low, amused. “You’re the one imagining things.”

“I—I am not!” she sputtered, cheeks scarlet.

“Alright then, come here and sleep.” He patted the mat.

In the wild, they all slept clothed in case of danger.

Reluctantly, Kurenai returned, curling into his arms, head resting on his shoulder. With a small smile she whispered, “Good night.”

Kitazawa kissed her forehead.

The night passed quietly.

By dawn, Ranmaru had awoken, but the sealing art left him motionless, eyes hollow. Kitazawa didn’t waste words trying to sway him. Once back in Konoha, his memories would be erased. Harsh, perhaps—but merciful in its own way. Ranmaru had met the wrong man at the wrong time. Without Raiga, he might not have survived at all. But Raiga was no savior.

Soon, the group reached the capital of the Land of Rivers.

“This is our target’s location.” Kitazawa handed Kabuto a marked map. “Eliminate him quickly.”

Kabuto nodded and set out with Torune and Izumi.

“We’re just watching?” Kurenai asked.

“The target isn’t strong. Not even jōnin-level. They can handle it.” Kitazawa’s tone was casual.

“Hmph. Too easy—it’s boring! Next time, pick a mission where I get to fight.”

“There will be.” Kitazawa smiled faintly.

Compared to the Fire Capital, the Land of Rivers’ capital was far smaller. With the map, Kabuto and his team found the target’s residence in no time.

“Torune, send in your insects first,” Kabuto instructed after a moment’s thought. “If he survives, Izumi—finish it with your Sharingan.”

“Mm.”

Izumi’s Sharingan spun to life, its crimson glow reflecting in the dim light.

Without a word, Torune lifted his hand, releasing a cloud of nano-sized poisonous insects that slipped silently through the window.

A scream followed almost instantly.

Izumi kicked the door open. The target ninja spun around, only to lock eyes with her Sharingan. His face went blank for the briefest moment.

“Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!”

Kabuto drew a kunai and sliced across the man’s throat in one clean motion. The ninja collapsed, falling into eternal silence.

“Torune. Bag the body,” Kabuto said flatly, sheathing his kunai. The fight had been far too easy to stir his interest.

Torune produced a storage scroll, sealed the corpse, and the three of them slipped out of the city without a sound.

“Kitazawa-sensei.”

Outside the city walls, Torune handed the scroll to Kitazawa.

“Good. Let’s head back to Konoha,” Kitazawa said, tucking it away before leading the group down the road.

By afternoon, they crossed through Konoha’s gates.

“You all should rest,” Kitazawa told his squad with a faint smile. “Tomorrow morning, nine sharp, come find me. I’ll hand out your rewards.”

Normally, a B-rank mission didn’t require reporting directly to the Hokage. But the unexpected appearance—and death—of Kurosuki Raiga changed everything. One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist wasn’t just a rogue missing-nin; his corpse carried weight, secrets, and a hefty bounty.

With Ranmaru still unconscious, Kitazawa went straight to the Hokage’s office. He knocked, and at Hiruzen’s permission, pushed the door open.

“Kitazawa?” The Third Hokage’s brows furrowed. His eyes shifted to the boy in Kitazawa’s arms. “Who is this? He’s not one of your students.”

“Hokage-sama, we’ve just returned from the Land of Rivers,” Kitazawa began. His tone was calm, direct. “There, we encountered Kurosuki Raiga of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.”

Hiruzen’s expression hardened instantly. “And?”

“We killed him.”

The Hokage blinked, stunned. “What?”

“This is his body,” Kitazawa said, producing the scroll.

Hiruzen quickly moved to the center of the room and unsealed it. Raiga’s corpse materialized with a dull thud.

“It really is him!” Hiruzen’s eyes lit up. Then, to Kitazawa’s surprise, the old man laughed heartily. “Splendid work!”

Raiga was a dangerous Mist rogue ninja but not officially tied to their current regime—no risk of sparking war. His death was nothing but an asset to Konoha’s reputation. And Kitazawa himself… his fame would inevitably surge after this.

“Haru, summon Inoichi at once!” Hiruzen ordered. Raiga’s rank in the Mist meant he carried valuable intel. With the Mist Village so secretive and closed off, Konoha had been starving for information. Raiga’s mind could open a door.

Turning back, Hiruzen gave Kitazawa a rare smile. “Since you brought down Kurosuki Raiga, your mission is upgraded to S-rank. You’ll be awarded 1.2 million ryō.”

“Thank you, Hokage-sama,” Kitazawa replied, unsurprised.

“But money alone won’t cut it,” Hiruzen went on. “What do you want, Kitazawa? Ninja tools? Ryo? Or… ninjutsu?”

Kitazawa arched a brow. It was the first time the Hokage had ever offered him such a choice. Raiga’s corpse truly was worth its weight in gold.

He considered. Ninja tools? He already had sword from Hinata and Raiga’s own Kiba blades. Money? He wasn’t hurting for ryo. That left… ninjutsu.

“I choose ninjutsu.”

“Very well. Pick any S-rank ninjutsu you desire,” Hiruzen said generously.

Kitazawa’s first thought was the Flying Thunder God. But he quickly dismissed it. His raw talent wasn’t cut for mastering it anytime soon, and with his system—and Tsunade’s eventuality in becoming Hokage—it would fall into his hands eventually. No need to waste this rare opportunity.

Forbidden jutsu like the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, Edo Tensei, or the Eight Trigram Seal were powerful, but impractical—too risky or simply unusable. What he wanted was something he could wield in battle.

Spirit Transformation Jutsu came to mind: projecting the soul to strike at any distance, seizing control of an enemy’s body. The drawback, however, was leaving his physical form defenseless.

Then, another idea struck him—a rare, devastating option.

Not a single jutsu. A combination.

The Hokage’s own ultimate technique.

The Five Style Massive Combo Jutsu—an apocalyptic fusion of Fire, Lightning, Water, Earth, and Wind in one overwhelming strike.

Kitazawa’s lips curved faintly.

Yes. That was the one.

“Hokage-sama,” Kitazawa said, his decision firm, “I’d like to choose the Five Style Massive Combo Jutsu.”

The Spirit Transformation Technique had its merits, but Kitazawa disliked leaving his life in the hands of others. The Combination jutsu, though terrifyingly difficult, wasn’t just raw power—it carried another weight. Learning it would make him, in a sense, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s student.

“The Five Style Massive Combo Jutsu?” Hiruzen’s eyes widened slightly. “You do realize—merging five elemental releases is far more demanding than any ordinary S-rank jutsu?”

“I do,” Kitazawa replied evenly, “but it suits me. And I want to try.”

Because of the system, Kitazawa was a rare shinobi who wielded all elemental affinities. On top of that, he had already refined several nature transformations to a high degree.

“You’ve completed Earth and Lightning as well?” Hiruzen leaned forward, astonishment flickering in his voice.

Most shinobi were born with one or two affinities. The gifted might unlock a third through training, but mastering all five? That was nearly unheard of. Among living shinobi, only Hiruzen himself and Kakashi could claim it—perhaps Orochimaru, before his betrayal. And now, before his very eyes, another stood.

Hiruzen had seen Kitazawa employ Fire, Wind, and Water before. Even that was enough to place him among the elite. But to have command of all five—on top of genjutsu mastery and advanced medical ninjutsu—was staggering.

“I’ve only just gotten the hang of it,” Kitazawa said modestly, not bothering to conceal his growth.

Hiruzen chuckled. “Kitazawa… you never stop surprising me.” His expression softened. “You’re Tsunade’s disciple, one of the Hokage’s line. To see another all-element shinobi rise from that lineage… it fills me with pride.”

Then, with a wistful sigh, he added, “If I were twenty years younger, I’d insist on making you my own student.”

The Combination Jutsu was his personal masterpiece, a jutsu no one had inherited—not even his three famed pupils. He had long assumed the technique would die with him. And yet here stood Kitazawa, the perfect inheritor.

“Your kindness honors me, Hokage-sama,” Kitazawa replied.

“The Five Style Massive Combo Jutsu is mine alone,” Hiruzen said after a pause. “If you’re serious, come to me when you have time. I’ll guide you myself.”

Kitazawa’s eyes lit up. To study under Hiruzen’s direct instruction was worth more than any scroll. “Thank you, Hokage-sama.”

Hiruzen produced a sealed scroll and handed it over. “This contains the training requirements. Study them carefully. Don’t attempt practice until you’re certain you’ve met the standards. If anything confuses you, come straight to me.”

Kitazawa accepted it with both hands. “Understood.”

Hiruzen’s gaze shifted to the small figure slumped on the sofa. “We’ve spoken so long, I haven’t even asked about this child.”

“His name is Ranmaru,” Kitazawa explained, “and he carries the kekkei genkai known as the Red Eye.” He outlined its unique abilities.

“What a peculiar bloodline limit,” Hiruzen murmured, intrigued. “No less dangerous than the Byakugan… if cultivated properly, he could one day stand among the greats. Perhaps even create a clan.”

Then, smiling faintly, the Hokage added, “As you suggested—once his memory is cleansed, he’ll be placed in the orphanage. In time, he’ll join the Academy.”

Kitazawa nodded. Originally he’d considered pushing the boy into the Genius Class, but his age and lack of foundation made the orphanage the wiser first step.

A knock sounded.

“Enter,” Hiruzen called.

Inoichi stepped in, greeting cut short when his eyes landed on the corpse sprawled on the floor. “That’s… Kurosuki Raiga?”

“Indeed,” Hiruzen said with a grin. “Your Analysis Division will dig through his mind. Extract every scrap of intelligence.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama.” A spark of eagerness lit Inoichi’s eyes; opportunities to dissect the thoughts of a ninja of Raiga’s caliber were rare.

“Kitazawa,” Hiruzen said suddenly, “you still have his sword?”

“Yes. Kiba, the Lightning Blades.” Kitazawa produced the twin swords.

“Ah… the Seven Blades of the Mist,” Hiruzen mused. “They carry summoning contracts. To be safe, I’ll mark them with a sealing formula.”

The offer was unexpected—and generous. As Tsunade’s disciple, Kitazawa had the right to keep them, but sealing the swords would require expertise few in Konoha still possessed. He had planned to ask through Tsunade, but with Hiruzen volunteering, the path was clear.

Inoichi glanced sideways, surprise flitting across his face. If Kitazawa carried Raiga’s swords, then… he had truly slain him.

Inoichi’s impression of the man shattered and rebuilt itself. He had thought of Kitazawa as Tsunade’s talented medical student and a skilled teacher. But this? To defeat a member of the Seven Swordsmen meant his ninjutsu had reached the heights of elite jonin. Only a handful in the village now stood clearly above him.

Inoichi resolved, then and there, to discuss Kitazawa with Shikaku and Choza. Their Ino–Shika–Cho alliance could not afford to underestimate him.

“Hokage-sama,” Kitazawa said, “Kiba is a twin blade, which doesn’t suit me. I plan to have it reforged.”

“Then bring it to me once you do,” Hiruzen advised, eyeing the swords. “But consider reforging them into two weapons—better than wasting the material.”

Kitazawa paused. He hadn’t considered it. But it was true—the blades were ample enough to split. He only needed one. As for the second… Kakashi, perhaps. Or Sasuke. Lightning-users would draw out the blades’ full potential.

The thought lingered only briefly. He would let the future decide.

“Anything else?” Hiruzen asked.

“No, Hokage-sama.” Kitazawa bowed. “I’ll take my leave.”

He left the office, collected the 1.2 million ryō bounty from the mission desk, and made straight for the commercial district. His next stop: a forgemaster capable of reshaping the Lightning Blades.

——————

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