Chapter 240: Chapter 240

Lightning Release: Lightning Blade—in the original story, it was a technique wielded by Killer Bee of the Hidden Cloud.

By channeling Lightning Release chakra into a blade, the user forced it into an ultra-high frequency vibration. The result—razor-edge sharpness and terrifying penetration, enough to slice through even the toughest defenses.

Though born from the Cloud, this jutsu wasn’t bound to it. Any shinobi skilled with a blade and Lightning Release could make it their weapon.

Kitazawa accepted the mission without hesitation. He was, after all, half a swordsman himself.

“Lady Tsunade, which stronghold are you planning to strike?” Kitazawa asked, already catching on to her intent.

She wanted a raid—one of the three Mist strongholds would have to fall.

“The Hidden Mist’s advance force numbers only five hundred,” Tsunade explained, extending a finger to the map. “This island here houses just one hundred shinobi.”

Kitazawa narrowed his eyes. “And their strength?”

“Seven jōnin,” Tsunade replied. “The rest are all chūnin.”

Kitazawa arched a brow. “So many chūnin? That’s unusual.”

Tsunade let out a short, cold snort. “Advance force, in name only. In truth, they’re a strike force—every shinobi handpicked. The weakest among them is still chūnin-level.”

She elaborated further. Konoha’s advance team may have left first, but the Mist outmaneuvered them, landing sooner, ambushing under the cover of the Hidden Mist Jutsu. Konoha paid heavily in blood. Only after seizing victory did the Mist retreat to their fortified sea bastions.

Kitazawa nodded, realization dawning.

“Our position,” Tsunade continued, “is one night’s march from the Fire Country border. I intend to send a jōnin squad under cover of darkness. A strike they will not expect.”

“Agreed,” Kitazawa said. “Their eyes should still be fixed on our vanguard.”

“I’ve left the selection to Shizune,” Tsunade added. “She’s choosing jōnin as we speak.”

“Count me in,” Kitazawa said instantly.

Tsunade blinked, then shook her head. “No. It’s far too dangerous.”

Kitazawa cleared his throat, half-smiling. “If I go, morale rises. Because in their eyes, I represent you.”

He wasn’t wrong. A raid like this should have been led by Tsunade herself—the Sannin’s name alone would ignite courage. But her hemophobia shackled her to command, unable to step onto a battlefield drenched in blood.

Kitazawa, regarded as her disciple—if not by blood, then by trust—was the next best thing. His presence carried weight.

Tsunade frowned. “As long as the raid succeeds, that’s what matters. You don’t need to go.”

“But I can raise the odds,” Kitazawa pressed, confidence in his voice. “I’ve mastered many of the Second Hokage’s Water Release jutsu. On the sea, I’ll be in my element.”

That gave Tsunade pause. Tobirama’s Water Release had been legendary, and few in Konoha had inherited even a fragment of that skill. Among the handful who had, Kitazawa was notable—not only for his victory over Kurosuki Raiga, but also for the sheer versatility of his water-style ninjutsu.

“Lady Tsunade, this hesitation doesn’t suit you,” Kitazawa said lightly, smiling.

“Don’t you understand what concern is?” Tsunade snapped, glaring.

“I do.” His smile faded, replaced by a steady resolve. “I know you worry for me. But I’m a shinobi. Once I stepped onto the battlefield, I accepted the risk.”

His words startled her. She, too, had once embraced that same resolve. But when it came to Kitazawa… her heart faltered. He had become too important—nearly as dear to her as Shizune.

Tsunade lay back on the carpet, staring at the ceiling. Nawaki’s face flashed in her mind, along with his stubborn refusal to heed her warnings. The battlefield had stolen him, just as it had Dan. Her hemophobia, her fear, all stemmed from that truth. And yet—here she was again, watching another reckless soul walk into danger.

Kitazawa placed a hand over his chest. “I can’t rely on your protection forever.”

He was touched by her concern, but his mission—and the system’s demand—left no room for retreat. Besides, the danger wasn’t as dire as it seemed.

A full squad of jōnin, attacking prepared against the unprepared—victory was more than possible. And if not? Retreat was always an option.

He had one ultimate safeguard: water release—hydrification.

By liquefying his entire body, he could nullify most physical attacks, vanishing into the sea itself. Unless someone found a way to evaporate the entire ocean, he would survive.

And so, for Kitazawa, the sea truly was home.

“You’re all talk.”

Tsunade waved her hand dismissively. “Fine. You’ll lead the squad.”

“Thank you, Lady Tsunade.”

Kitazawa exhaled quietly, relief hidden beneath his calm facade.

“Remember—your mission is to raid, not to occupy,” Tsunade warned sharply. “You’ll have only three minutes. Any longer, and reinforcements from the other two strongholds will arrive.”

Kitazawa nodded firmly.

Just then, Shizune entered the tent. She glanced briefly at Kitazawa before passing a scroll to Tsunade.

“This is the list of jōnin chosen for the raid. Eight in total.”

Tsunade unrolled the scroll, skimmed it, and then handed it to Kitazawa. “Be careful, Kitazawa.”

Shizune blinked. “Wait… Kitazawa is going too?” she asked in surprise.

Kitazawa gave a small smile. “Shizune-senpai, just wait for news of our victory.” With that, he rose and strode out of the tent.

At the camp entrance, eight jōnin stood waiting.

Kitazawa immediately recognized four: Uchiha Yashiro, Aburame Shibi, Hyūga Hizashi, and Akimichi Chōza.

Chōza was one of the famed Ino–Shika–Chō trio, though his two teammates were absent. At their level, even split apart, each could still unleash formidable strength.

“I am Kitazawa,” he introduced himself with composure. “I’ll be serving as captain of this surprise attack squad.”

Under their questioning stares, Yashiro Uchiha stepped forward with a rare smile. “With Captain Kitazawa leading us, success is assured.”

The words shocked a few of the others. Since when did an Uchiha—especially Yashiro, second only to Fugaku—offer flattery so openly?

“Time waits for no one,” Kitazawa said, voice deep with command. “We move now. We must strike the Mist stronghold before dawn.”

“Yes!”

Their answer rang in unison. Though Kitazawa was younger than all of them, his reputation—slayer of Kurosuki Raiga, backed by Tsunade herself—commanded respect.

The nine figures vanished into the night, their speed rivaling the wind.

By the time the moon reached its peak, they arrived at the shore.

Kitazawa halted and looked at his two scouts.

“No Mist-nin in the area,” Hizashi reported after a sweep with his Byakugan.

“The kikaichū have found a safe route through the sea.” Shibi added five minutes later.

“Shibi, take point,” Kitazawa ordered immediately.

Shibi nodded, chakra flowing to his feet as he sped across the water’s surface. The others followed closely behind.

Soon, an island emerged from the darkness.

“The thousand-meter perimeter is laced with traps,” Hizashi muttered grimly, Byakugan scanning the area.

“At our pace, a thousand meters is two seconds at most,” Yashiro scoffed confidently. “We should just charge through.”

Kitazawa shook his head. “Not wise. The traps won’t kill us, but they’ll waste precious time.”

“Agreed,” Chōza rumbled, folding his arms.

“Then what’s your plan, Captain?” Yashiro asked.

Kitazawa’s eyes sharpened. “Hizashi, mark the traps with your Byakugan. Shibi, have your kikaichū trigger them all at once. The moment the traps are sprung, we rush at full speed.”

“That’s a sound plan,” Shibi replied, already uncorking the large gourd on his back. A black cloud of kikaichū surged forth, guided by Hizashi’s precise instructions.

Within minutes, the traps were exposed and disarmed.

“Once we land, move without hesitation,” Kitazawa reminded. “We have two minutes. When the time is up, we retreat—no exceptions.”

“Yes!” the squad answered together.

They knew well the meaning of that two-minute window—it was their only guarantee of survival. Any longer, and the Mist reinforcements would cut them off.

“Wait.” Kitazawa suddenly formed hand signs.

Summoning Jutsu!

With a puff of smoke, a massive slug—half the height of a man—appeared.

“Lady Katsuyu,” Kitazawa said, “split into nine and accompany each of them. Through you, I can provide medical ninjutsu during the battle.”

Shock rippled through the squad.

Lady Katsuyu of Shikkotsu Forest—Tsunade’s personal summon. One of the three great holy contracts.

Yashiro’s eyes widened. “So the rumors were true… you really are Tsunade-sama’s disciple.”

Shibi adjusted his glasses, visibly impressed. Even he hadn’t expected this.

“With Captain Kitazawa, it’s like having a medic-nin on the battlefield itself,” Hizashi added, a rare note of relief in his tone. “I’ve never fought under such conditions before. It feels… reassuring.”

The others nodded in agreement.

No wonder Tsunade was revered as the greatest medical ninja alive. With Katsuyu by her side, she was in a league of her own.

And now, so was Kitazawa.

“Split”

The Katsuyu split into nine and slithered onto their shoulders. Kitazawa’s gaze shifted to Shibi.

“Three, two, one!” Shibi counted down.

At his signal, every trap was sprung at once.

Nine figures darted forward without hesitation.

Kitazawa slid on a pair of sunglasses with practiced ease. Of course, shades couldn’t truly conceal the Sharingan or Byakugan. Their activation always carried a distinct chakra ripple. In ordinary circumstances, even sunglasses would raise suspicion.

But here—amidst the chaos of so many chakra signatures colliding on the battlefield—no one would notice when his Sharingan flared to life.

“Enemy attack!”

The Hidden Mist shinobi responded instantly, but too late. The initiative was already lost.

Senju Chakra Mode.

Water Release: Great Waterfall Jutsu!

Kitazawa’s hands blurred through signs. The sea churned violently as chakra drew in the surrounding waters. Within seconds, a towering wave ten meters high roared into existence.

Amplified by Senju Chakra Mode and the sheer abundance of seawater, the waterfall swelled into something far greater—an overwhelming Exploding Water Colliding Wave.

Shock flickered across the faces of Yashiro, Shibi, and the rest. Most had never witnessed a Water Release so vast it could conjure a tsunami in an instant. Only a few elder jonin could recall something similar—echoes of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

What terrifying chakra… what mastery of Water Release.

Their awe transformed into surging morale. Their surprise attack had struck with devastating effect.

The colossal wave crashed down, erasing half the Hidden Mist outpost in a single strike. Dozens of shinobi were swept away or knocked unconscious—an unthinkable blow for a village famed for its Water Release.

“Two minutes. Scatter and act,” Kitazawa ordered coolly.

“Understood!” The reply carried a new weight of respect. Kitazawa’s Water Release had already outstripped their own.

Giantification Technique!

Choza landed heavily on the island, his body expanding into a towering colossus. His first stomp shook the ground and drew screams from all directions. With a body that size, even the simplest movement became a weapon of mass destruction.

Naturally, the Mist jonin responded immediately. Two surrounded Choza in an instant.

“Choza, I’ll assist!” Hizashi Hyūga flickered into the fray.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

Meanwhile, Yashiro Uchiha’s three-tomoe Sharingan spun as he targeted the densest cluster of enemies. A massive fireball erupted, detonating among them. Flames blossomed, and screams followed.

Kitazawa’s own Sharingan whirred to life. His gaze locked onto an Earth Release jonin. But instead of charging recklessly, he stayed his hand. Wasting Senju Chakra Mode in a one-on-one would be foolish. He was artillery—best used where the enemy was thickest.

Two Mist shinobi lunged at him with Body Flicker, while more closed in behind—including the Earth Release jonin he had marked.

Uchiha Style: Raging Wind Sword!

Kitazawa drew Zangetsu and Kiba, slashing wide. Twin blades of flame cleaved through the air. Both Mist shinobi were bisected mid-flicker, their bodies collapsing before they realized they’d been cut.

Such was the deadly precision of the Sharingan’s dynamic vision.

Wind Release: Vacuum Bullets!

A hail of compressed air tore through the shinobi rushing from behind, leaving their bodies riddled with bloody holes.

Wind Release: Gale Palm!

Kitazawa clapped his hands together, sending another pair of enemies flying with startled cries.

Then the Earth Release jonin struck—hand seals rapid. The ground heaved, shaping into a dragon’s head that spat mud bullets.

Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!

Kitazawa’s lips curled in satisfaction. His Sharingan spun, copying the technique instantly. Another earthen dragon burst from beneath his feet, jaws opening in perfect mimicry.

The Mist jonin’s eyes widened. “You can use Earth Release too?”

Kitazawa had already unleashed Wind, Water, Fire—and now Earth. No ordinary jonin could wield four chakra natures.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!

A massive water dragon roared forth. The jonin reacted quickly, raising an earth wall—only for it to shatter under impact, forcing him to evade at the last second.

Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!

Kitazawa swept his gaze across the battlefield, molding chakra. Three blazing fire dragons surged outward, engulfing several Mist shinobi at once. Six or seven more were caught in the flames, shrieking as they burned.

“Damn you!” the Earth Release jonin cursed, slipping underground in a blur. Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish.

Kitazawa smirked. His Sharingan had already copied the technique.

A mission notification flickered through his mind:

“Objective complete: Learn four Earth Release techniques before the end of the third term.”

“Reward: Proficient Earth Release Chakra Transformation.”

He barely had time to register the boon when the jonin burst from the ground behind him, kunai aimed for his spine.

Kitazawa turned smoothly, fist already cocked.

Monster Strength!

His punch drove into the jonin’s gut with bone-shattering force. The kunai clattered uselessly to the ground as the Mist shinobi’s eyes bulged in pain. He crumpled backward, gasping, before falling limp.

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