Chapter 228: Chapter 228

Kitazawa and Kabuto stepped out of the Hokage Building, the weight of their new Jōnin vests hanging proudly on their shoulders.

Of course, becoming a Jōnin wasn’t as simple as just slipping on a vest—the paperwork, file updates, and official announcements across the village would all follow. But Konoha’s system would take care of that. For now, the two could breathe easy.

“Kabuto,” Kitazawa suddenly asked as they paused on the street, “are you planning to stay with our squad or lead a team of your own?”

At the Jōnin level, a shinobi was expected to command their own squad. Having two Jōnin in a single team was considered inefficient. Still, the rule wasn’t absolute—after all, even Kakashi had remained under Minato’s wing despite his promotion.

“I’ll stay,” Kabuto replied without hesitation. His glasses caught the sunlight as he smiled faintly. “I still have much to learn from you, Kitazawa-sensei.”

Kitazawa gave a small nod. “Good. You’re still young—no need to rush into leading others.”

Kabuto let out the breath he’d been holding. For a moment, he had feared the question was a dismissal.

“Then get back to training,” Kitazawa waved him off. “When a high-difficulty mission comes along, I’ll bring you and the others with me.”

“Understood.” Kabuto bowed lightly and turned toward the Academy, relief still written across his face.

Kitazawa watched him leave before his thoughts drifted elsewhere. Shinno.

The so-called doctor-monk’s strength wasn’t to be underestimated. In his base form, he was at least Tokubetsu Jōnin level. With the Zero-Tails’ chakra and his forbidden medical jutsus, he could push to Elite Jōnin. Against Kabuto’s three-man squad and Kurenai, the outcome would be uncertain. With Kitazawa himself in the mix, however, the battle would tilt in their favor.

Still, the real challenge wasn’t beating him—it was finding him. Shinno was a slippery one. But if the monk vanished, the temple remained. Locate the Hidden Sky Village, and the rest would fall into place.

Kitazawa stroked his chin, already planning to consult Anbu later, perhaps enlisting Itachi’s help.

But first—there was something far more pressing.

His newly awakened Senju Chakra Mode.

Kitazawa headed to the northernmost training ground. After confirming the area was clear, he activated the mode. Instantly, his chakra roared to life, flowing through his body with startling intensity.

Without hesitation, he formed hand seals.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!

A massive ball of fire burst from his lips and shot into the sky, vanishing over the treetops. Kitazawa’s eyes gleamed. The entire process—from seals to release—was faster by nearly a third.

So this was the improved chakra efficiency.

He raised a hand, chakra whirling to life almost instantly.

Rasengan!

A perfect sphere of compressed chakra spun in his palm, formed in record time. The speed made his breath catch—it was practically instant now.

“All my ninjutsu… reduced by a third in time,” Kitazawa whispered, a chill of excitement running through him. In battle, that kind of advantage was lethal. Enemies unfamiliar with his capabilities would fall before they even realized what hit them.

Suppressing his excitement, he tested the next effect. He approached a nearby tree and drove his fist forward—no taijutsu form, no technique.

Crack!

The tree shuddered violently before snapping clean in half. Kitazawa blinked in disbelief. That had been nothing more than a casual punch, yet it carried the weight of half a Super Strength strike.

He followed with a swift kick.

Leaf Whirlwind!

The broken trunk exploded into splinters. He couldn’t help but whistle. His power output wasn’t limited to fists—every inch of his body radiated crushing force.

On a whim, he sat down heavily. Even that created a deep impression in the earth. Kitazawa rose, his grin widening. Terrifying output indeed.

Bracing himself, he drove his fist into the ground.

Boom!

A crater blossomed beneath him. Dust and dirt erupted into the air. Kitazawa’s eyes sparkled. His raw power was already approaching Tsunade’s monstrous strength.

“Next—the recovery and self-healing.”

Drawing a kunai, he sliced the back of his hand. Blood welled up—then, before his eyes, the wound closed in just three seconds.

Kitazawa nodded in satisfaction. Seal-less healing. Not on Hashirama’s level, but still leagues above ordinary shinobi. Enough to shift the tide in prolonged duels.

Finally, he stilled himself, focusing on the strain inside his body. His chakra burned faster than ever, draining away like a raging river.

Time trickled by.

Three minutes later, his body shuddered. The mode collapsed. He swayed slightly, vision hazy, nine-tenths of his chakra gone.

Kitazawa steadied himself and exhaled slowly. “So… the drawback is stamina.”

Even so, the Senju Chakra Mode was more than worth it.

A trump card, safer than the Eight Gates, and his first true step into the legendary strength of the Senju.

“Three minutes isn’t bad.”

Kitazawa exhaled slowly, steadying his breath as the dizziness faded. His body still ached from the strain, but the discomfort was worth it.

Three minutes of Senju Chakra Mode—three minutes where his strength rivaled Tsunade’s. In the entire shinobi world, how many could survive Tsunade’s full-powered blows for that long? Not many.

A grin tugged at his lips. This time, I’ve truly profited.

Seventy percent of the Senju bloodline was enough to unlock this ability. What would happen at one hundred percent? The thought made his blood stir with anticipation.

After tidying the training ground, Kitazawa left the shattered tree behind—one casualty among Konoha’s endless forest—and made his way toward the Hokage Building.

At the Anbu office, Itachi wasn’t present. But Kitazawa’s name carried weight now. Several masked shinobi recognized him instantly and went to summon Itachi without hesitation.

“Itachi, I need your help,” Kitazawa said directly when the Uchiha arrived. “Can you track down the ruins of the Hidden Sky Village?”

Itachi agreed without pause. This wasn’t the first time he’d assisted—last time he had even tracked down the Land of Neck for him.

“Thank you,” Kitazawa said with a rare smile.

“It’s nothing.” Itachi’s voice was calm, almost detached. “Locating a place is far simpler than hunting a man.”

That reminded Kitazawa of something. “How is your clan faring these days?”

“The situation is stable.” A faint trace of relief softened Itachi’s expression. “Since Root disbanded, the external pressure has eased.”

Kitazawa nodded slowly. He had wanted to probe about Obito, but Itachi’s words already gave him the answer—Obito hadn’t made contact.

“Without enemies outside, beware of enemies within,” Kitazawa cautioned.

Itachi’s gaze hardened. “As long as I live, they won’t stir up trouble.”

Kitazawa accepted the reply with a nod. It was exactly what he expected—after all, in another timeline, Itachi had resolved the Uchiha’s rebellion with his own blade. With Root gone and Danzo less meddlesome, the Uchiha massacre would never occur here. The only true wild card left was Obito.

“Then I’ll leave you to it, Itachi.”

But before Kitazawa could turn away, Itachi stopped him. “One more thing. There will be a Jōnin meeting this Friday at 2 p.m.”

Kitazawa raised a brow. “Another major event?”

“This one involves you,” Itachi replied flatly. “A delegation from the Hidden Mist will arrive in Konoha next Monday.”

“I see.” Kitazawa’s eyes narrowed. So the Mist had finally chosen to act. Not for Kurosuki Raiga’s death—his life meant little—but for the Kiba, the twin thunder swords, a symbol of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Of course they’d want them back.

Still, the delay nagged at him. Could Obito be involved? He dismissed the thought just as quickly—what use would Obito have for Raiga’s fate? And yet, Kitazawa decided to stay vigilant. If Obito slipped into Konoha disguised within the Mist’s envoy, trouble would follow.

After parting ways with Itachi, Kitazawa returned to the Ninja Academy. Training was still in session for the Genius Class.

His gaze swept over the grounds until it landed on Ino. Her new jutsu was already close to mastery. Not surprising—it was essentially a refined throwing jutsu with flower-shaped shuriken. Effective, yes, but simple.

Kitazawa paused. I’ve been approaching this wrong.

Ino’s potential wasn’t just in ninjutsu. The fact she could learn jutsus like Hundred Petal Storm and Moonlight Beauty showed a talent for genjutsu. And genjutsu suited her role perfectly—control within the Ino–Shika–Chō trio.

“Ino,” Kitazawa called.

She practically skipped over, eyes sparkling. “Kitazawa-sensei!”

He arched a brow. “Why are you so happy?”

“Because if you’re calling me, it means you’ve got a new jutsu to teach me, right?” she said with a confident grin, brushing a strand of blonde hair from her face.

“Would you be disappointed if I said no?” Kitazawa teased.

“Of course not!” Ino shook her head quickly, though her curiosity sharpened. “Then… what is it?”

“To teach you a new jutsu.” Kitazawa chuckled, tapping her lightly on the forehead. “Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Jutus.”

“Genjutsu?” Ino blinked, surprised. She had expected another custom ninjutsu crafted just for her.

“Exactly.” Kitazawa stepped back. “Watch carefully.”

He wove the seals. Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing jutsu!

An invisible wave rippled out. Ino stiffened, her pupils dilating as terror spread across her young face.

Kitazawa dispelled the illusion almost immediately, letting her taste it for only a second. Even so, Ino stumbled back, shaken, the fear lingering in her expression.

Ino patted her chest, still a little pale. “I saw Sakura… cutting off our friendship.”

Kitazawa nodded, his tone calm. “Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing jutsu. Its effect is simple—it makes the victim see the darkest fear buried in their heart.”

“Is that so?” Ino tilted her chin with a faint huff. Her lips curved upward as she declared proudly, “But breaking off friendship with Sakura isn’t what I fear most.”

“Oh?” Kitazawa asked with a teasing smile. “Then what is it you fear?”

Her eyes flicked nervously to the side before she blurted out with mock playfulness, “That you, Kitazawa-sensei, would leave our class!”

Kitazawa chuckled. “That depends entirely on your performance.”

“I’ll work hard, I promise!” Ino said quickly, nodding with such vigor her ponytail bounced.

After guiding her through the Hell Viewing jutsu for another half hour, Kitazawa left the classroom and strolled toward the Academy’s artificial lake. He had planned to practice Earth Release: Earth Replacement there, but before he could begin, a low rumble shook the air.

Thunder?

Looking up, Kitazawa spotted a bank of dark clouds rolling over the sky, faint arcs of lightning crawling within. His brows furrowed in thought, and instead of beginning his own training, he followed the thunder.

In a quiet corner of the Academy grounds, he found Kakashi standing alone, gazing up at the heavens.

Kitazawa’s eyes instinctively caught the sight of Kakashi’s Sharingan—fully revealed, the three tomoe spinning lazily. Normally, he kept it hidden beneath his forehead protector.

“How’s it going?” Kitazawa asked, tilting his head toward the thunderclouds.

“Lightning Release: Kirin

has reached the stage of drawing lightning.” Kakashi’s voice was calm, unhurried. “Summoning it down isn’t hard. Controlling all of it at once… that’s the problem.”

Kitazawa’s mind flashed to Raiga’s twin blades—Kiba, the Thunder Swords. With those, drawing lightning would be effortless, leaving Kakashi free to focus entirely on control.

“Have you heard of the Thunder Swords of the Mist?” Kitazawa asked.

“One of the Seven Ninja Swords.” Kakashi’s visible eye narrowed slightly. “Wait—aren’t they in your possession?”

“I had them reforged into two standard ninjutsu blades,” Kitazawa admitted, then smiled faintly. “One of them I intend to give to either you or Sasuke.”

“I don’t need it.” Kakashi blinked in surprise before instinctively shaking his head.

“All seven blades carry unique properties.” Kitazawa’s smile widened. “Kiba’s function is simple—it draws lightning.”

Kakashi froze. That ability… perfectly suited for Kirin.

“…Didn’t you say you also wanted to give it to Sasuke?” he asked, dead-fish eyes narrowing. “I’d hardly feel right taking his weapon.”

“It’s not really taking.” Kitazawa shook his head. “Sasuke can’t even use Lightning Release properly yet. He won’t be ready for Kirin for years. You, however, can use it now.”

And Sasuke would have other options. Kusanagi swords weren’t rare, and Konoha itself held a legendary weapon—the Sword of the Thunder God, once wielded by Tobirama Senju himself. Whether that blade still remained in the village was another matter…

“Thank you.” Kakashi finally spoke after a moment of silence.

Kitazawa lifted his hands in mock surrender. “Don’t thank me yet. The reforging isn’t complete. For now, you’ll just have to figure out how to tame Kirin the hard way.”

Kakashi gave him a look that mixed amusement with exasperation. “Then why are you even here?”

“Checking in on you,” Kitazawa replied casually, clapping him on the shoulder. “Keep at it. Call me if you run into trouble. I’ve got my own training to do.”

“…You’re unbelievable,” Kakashi muttered, though a small smile ghosted across his face. In his own way, Kitazawa reminded him of Gai—annoying at times, but undeniably reliable.

By Friday, the day of the Jōnin meeting, Kitazawa appeared at Kakashi’s side.

“Kakashi, let’s go. Meeting time.”

Kakashi dismissed his training group, giving his students final instructions before joining Kitazawa. As they walked, Kitazawa glanced at Maruboshi Kosuke.

“Kosuke-senpai, will you be attending?”

The old man chuckled warmly. “No, no. You two go on. An old Genin like me prefers training with children to sitting in meetings.”

Kitazawa smiled faintly and said no more. Together, he and Kakashi headed for the Hokage Building.

The conference room was already filling with clan heads and notable shinobi—Tsunade, Hyūga Hiashi, Uchiha Fugaku, Nara Shikaku, and more. Tsunade, serving as Konoha’s representative, had taken her place at the front.

“Kakashi! Kitazawa!” Gai immediately shot to his feet, waving enthusiastically.

Before Kitazawa could answer, Tsunade’s voice called from the front. “Kitazawa.”

“I’ll go to Gai,” Kakashi said, leaving him behind.

Kitazawa walked forward and sat beside Tsunade. The motion drew immediate glances from across the room. A newly promoted jōnin, even if he is the vice-principal of the academy, already seated in the front row? Protocol said otherwise.

But no one spoke. If Tsunade had arranged it, they would hold their tongues.

Instead, whispers shifted. A new understanding—of Kitazawa’s closeness to Tsunade—spread quietly through the clan heads.

——————

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