Chapter 256: Future Plans

Tsunade naturally understood what Hiruzen was aiming for.

His intentions were almost too transparent.

“I’ll need someone to assist me,” she said after a moment of silence.

“No problem.”

Hiruzen’s expression softened into a pleased smile. “You can mobilize any shinobi in the village as you see fit.”

“…”

Tsunade’s lips twitched.

’Oh? Since when were you so generous with authority?’

“The allocation of rewards and punishments is a serious matter,” Hiruzen added, his tone thoughtful. “Don’t drag it out too long.”

“I know.”

After a brief pause, Tsunade replied, “Within a week, I’ll prepare a proper reward plan.”

“A week sounds perfect.” Hiruzen nodded, clearly satisfied.

Even if she’d agreed reluctantly, Tsunade was the kind of person who always gave her best once she accepted a task.

“Did the Hidden Mist mention when they’ll send their diplomatic envoy?” Hiruzen asked.

“Next month,” Tsunade said. “No specific date yet.”

“I see.” Hiruzen chuckled faintly. “Then who do you all think Konoha should send to negotiate with them?”

“…”

Tsunade immediately had a bad feeling.

“I believe Lady Tsunade would be the most suitable,” Shikaku said smoothly, picking up on the cue.

“This war was won under her command. Having her lead the negotiations will strengthen Konoha’s position.”

Inoichi followed up immediately. “And in the last round of talks with the Mist, Lady Tsunade achieved every objective she set.”

Choza nodded in agreement. “Indeed.”

Even Shibi and several others chimed in to echo the sentiment.

“Well,” Hiruzen said with a practiced smile, “since everyone is in agreement, I’ll trouble you with this, Tsunade.”

Tsunade’s face was expressionless, though amusement flickered behind her eyes.

’What a bunch of terrible actors.’

“It’s still early. We’ll talk about it when the time comes,” she replied evenly.

Hiruzen seemed ready to push further, but something made him stop.

There was still time—enough for Tsunade to complete her Hokage appointment process.

And if she became the Fifth Hokage, there would be no need for her to personally handle negotiations with a defeated nation.

The only issue now was where to begin that process.

“Then we’ll table it for now,” Hiruzen said at last.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised. She had expected him to make the decision official—or at least pressure her into a temporary acceptance.

His sudden retreat made her wary, though she couldn’t pinpoint why.

“Ibiki,” Hiruzen said, shifting topics, “we captured quite a few Hidden Mist shinobi. Have your interrogation unit extract as much intel as possible—but no unnecessary harm.”

These captives would eventually be exchanged back, but their usefulness couldn’t be wasted in the meantime. As long as they survived, Mist couldn’t complain.

“Yes, Hokage-sama.”

Ibiki rose to acknowledge the order.

Kitazawa’s eyes flicked toward him.

Ibiki is still a special Jonin, a man with a reputation for extracting truth from anyone.

In the original timeline, he’d first appeared as the examiner for the Chunin Exams.

But what came to Kitazawa’s mind wasn’t Ibiki—it was his younger brother, Idate Morino.

The same Idate who had once stolen the Sword of the Thunder God, a relic of the Second Hokage, under Aoi Rokushō’s manipulation.

In the end, both men had fled the village as rogues, with Aoi taking the Thunder God Blade to the Hidden Rain.

’I wonder if that incident has already happened,’ Kitazawa mused, absently stroking his chin.

If it had, retrieving the sword would be simple enough.

After all, he’d already reforged Kiba and given one of them to Kakashi.

He had planned to gift the Thunder God Sword to Sasuke—

as balance for Naruto, who would soon receive Samehada.

Fairness was important, after all.

But he couldn’t leave his other students empty-handed either.

He decided to pick a few valuable items from his war spoils—tokens from the many Mist Jonin he’d slain over the past two and a half months.

He had no use for them personally, but as gifts, they would serve well to strengthen bonds and morale.

“All the shinobi who fell in this war are heroes of Konoha,” Hiruzen declared solemnly. “This Saturday, we’ll hold a mass funeral at the Memorial Stone. Attendance is mandatory for all active ninja.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama,” came the unanimous response.

“Inoichi, you’ll oversee the arrangements,” Hiruzen continued. “All related expenses will be reimbursed by the village.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama.”

Inoichi nodded. He understood perfectly.

Funerals required flowers—and the Yamanaka Clan’s flower shops would handle that naturally. But there was plenty more to prepare besides.

One issue after another was discussed and assigned.

Before anyone realized, two hours had passed.

“Let’s conclude here for today,” Hiruzen said, rising from his seat once everything had been settled.

He left the conference room, the faint scent of tobacco following him.

Moments later, the remaining Jonin also began to disperse.

“Even with the war over, there’s no time to rest.”

Tsunade frowned, biting her thumb with clear irritation.

“That’s what they call ’the more capable you are, the more you’re made to work,’” Kitazawa replied with a teasing smile.

Tsunade shot him a glare. “What are you grinning for? You’re not getting off easy either.”

She turned toward him, crossing her arms. “You’re off teaching duty this week. You’ll be assisting me instead.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Kitazawa replied after a short pause, then added with mock solemnity, “Since it’s Lady Tsunade’s command, I’ll carry it out—even if it costs my life.”

Not that it mattered much. He hadn’t taught at the Academy for two and a half months already; another week wouldn’t make a difference.

“That’s more like it,” Tsunade said with a faint smirk. “Don’t worry, you won’t be alone. I’ll have Shizune and Shikaku helping too.”

Kitazawa nodded. “Understood.”

“Then we’ll start tomorrow,” she said, glancing out the window. “I’ll send for you when it’s time to start.”

They had returned to Konoha around ten in the morning. After two hours of meetings, it was already noon. Forcing everyone to start work immediately would’ve been cruel—

and besides, Tsunade had other priorities.

After all, she hadn’t gambled for two and a half months. Two and a half months! No one knew how she’d managed to endure that long.

“Alright, see you tomorrow.”

Tsunade rose and made her way to the door—but then paused and looked back.

“Here, take this.”

She flicked her wrist, and something dark flashed through the air toward him. “Consider it your reward for assisting me this week.”

Before Kitazawa could react, his hand shot out on reflex.

The warmth of the object in his palm made him freeze.

It was a pendant necklace—its centerpiece, a gleaming green crystal that shimmered faintly under the light.

His lips twitched. He recognized it immediately.

The First Hokage’s Necklace. A keepsake of Senju Hashirama himself—and Tsunade’s most precious treasure.

That single green crystal contained Hashirama’s chakra.

In the original story, it could even help suppress Naruto when the Nine-Tails’ power went berserk.

Receiving this necklace meant one thing—Tsunade had truly acknowledged him.

But that acknowledgment came with a curse. Everyone who’d worn it before had died—Naruto included, once.

In his past life, fans had dubbed it the Death Necklace.

Kitazawa sighed. Tsunade had already vanished before he could protest, leaving him no chance to give it back.

And honestly, if he did try to return it, she’d probably beat him senseless for “refusing a gift.”

“I’ve got a system backing me,” he muttered, slipping the necklace beneath his collar. “I’ll be fine. Tough life and all that.”

Hidden under his clothes, the necklace was completely invisible.

Not like Tsunade—she wore it openly… though in truth, there were far more eye-catching things about her than a necklace.

Just then, glowing text appeared before his eyes:

[Current Mission: Make your squad famous in this war.]

[Mission Reward: Bloodline Limit and corresponding Ninjutsu.]

[Mission Complete. Reward Issued.]

Kitazawa blinked.

’Finally completed?’

He’d assumed the mission would end once the Hidden Mist surrendered, but it seemed it had only completed after returning to Konoha.

“In this war, your team achieved renown throughout Konoha Village,”

“Based on your reputation, the host has acquired Magnet Release and nine Magnet Release Ninjutsu.”

A rush of information flooded into his mind, leaving him momentarily stunned.

When he finally processed it, his first thought was simple—jackpot.

Nine Magnet Release jutsu at once. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say he’d fully mastered the Bloodline in one go.

Magnet Release—the ability to manipulate metal using magnetic force.

Only a handful powerful shinobi in history had possessed it: the Third and Fourth Kazekage of the Sand, and even Troy from the Cloud.

According to official records, Gaara had inherited his Magnet Release from his father, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa.

Each version differed slightly—the Third controlled iron, while the Fourth manipulated gold.

The techniques Kitazawa obtained were modeled after the Third Kazekage’s style:

Iron Sand Shower, Iron Sand Wall, Iron Sand Wings, Iron Sand World, and more.

The Third Kazekage—hailed as the strongest in Sunagakure’s history. Even in death, as Sasori’s human puppet, his power had been terrifying.

Now, Kitazawa could rightfully claim to be his equal.

His strength had skyrocketed. Magnet Release could attack, defend, and even grant flight—it was versatility incarnate.

With this, all his wartime missions were finally complete.

All in all, he’d come out of the war very well.

As he walked through the quiet streets, Kitazawa began sorting his thoughts.

First, assist Tsunade with the postwar merit awards—and while at it, help her find a reliable Jonin from the Hyuga Clan.

Second, return to teaching at the Academy.

The war might’ve been good for triggering missions, but it was over now. His next opportunities would probably come from Naruto and Sasuke.

Third, keep an eye on Danzo.

That old schemer wouldn’t stay quiet for long; he was bound to make a move against Tsunade soon.

Perhaps they could even set a trap for him? Something to think about.

Fourth, focus on his remaining system missions—only seven left.

He decided to start with the one about modifying the Forbidden Technique: Body Regeneration.

If things went smoothly, he could develop a medical ninjutsu capable of regenerating limbs within two weeks.

Once perfected, he’d promote it with Tsunade to maximize its impact—and, of course, the system’s reward.

He didn’t know what the reward would be yet, but given its potential, it had to be something incredible.

Fifth and sixth, both related: track down Sasori to craft puppets and recover the Sword of the Thunder God from Aoi Rokushō.

Aoi was now a rogue ninja of the Hidden Rain.

And since the village was effectively under Akatsuki’s control, Kitazawa figured he could call in a favor.

After all, Konan had once told him—if you ever need something, come find me.

And this just might be the time.

Kitazawa arrived at the Hyuga Clan compound.

“Kitazawa, what brings you here?”

Hiashi approached, greeting him with his usual reserved tone. Though not exactly warm, it was still a noticeable improvement from their earlier interactions.

“Clan Head Hiashi,” Kitazawa greeted with a faint smile. “Lady Tsunade has requested the assistance of Hyuga Kaori for some upcoming work.”

Naturally, he couldn’t say outright that Tsunade needed a Hyuga bodyguard because he was worried she might fall victim to Genjutsu.

Fortunately, during the recent Jonin meeting, Hiruzen had declared that all Konoha shinobi were to assist Tsunade as needed—part of the ongoing effort to handle postwar commendations.

Hyuga Kaori, a Jonin of the main family, was an easy choice. Kitazawa had briefly worked with her on the battlefield and knew her capabilities well.

“Of course,” Hiashi replied without hesitation.

Hiruzen’s stance that morning had made it perfectly clear—Tsunade would be the Fifth Hokage. The Hyuga Clan had every reason to strengthen ties with the future leader of the village.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll have her summoned immediately.”

A servant hurried off, and before long, Hyuga Kaori appeared before them.

“Kitazawa-sama,” she greeted, bowing respectfully.

“There’s no need for formality,” Kitazawa said with a smile before explaining the situation.

“I understand,” Kaori replied. “When do I begin?”

“Right now,” Kitazawa decided after a moment’s thought. “I’ll take you to meet Lady Tsunade.”

The two said their farewells to Hiashi and headed toward the casino.

How did Kitazawa know where to find her? Simple—intuition. Tsunade had practically sprinted off earlier, and there was only one thing in the world that could make her move that fast.

Gambling.

Sure enough, he found her seated at a table, eyes gleaming with excitement as she placed her bets.

“Lady Tsunade,” Kitazawa called out as he approached. “This is Hyuga Kaori.”

Tsunade looked up, momentarily surprised. She recalled Kitazawa mentioning he would find a Hyuga bodyguard for her, but she hadn’t expected him to deliver so soon.

“Lady Tsunade,” Kaori said, bowing respectfully.

“Mm.” Tsunade nodded approvingly. “You’ll be accompanying me for the time being.”

“Lady Tsunade, don’t stay out too late,” Kitazawa reminded her. “If Shizune-senpai finds out, she’ll be furious.”

Shizune was still at the hospital, managing the influx of war casualties—leaving Tsunade free to indulge in her favorite pastime.

“Why so much nagging?” Tsunade waved a dismissive hand. “You’re ruining my concentration.”

“Don’t forget!” Kitazawa called out again.

“I know!” she snapped, glaring at him.

Kaori blinked, puzzled by their dynamic. ’What kind of student talks to his teacher like that?’

Leaving Tsunade to her gambling spree, Kitazawa made his way toward the Ninja Academy.

At the training grounds, the Genius Class was in the middle of practice.

“Kitazawa-sensei is here!”

Kiba spotted him first, shouting excitedly.

“Kitazawa-sensei!”

Naruto immediately stopped training and dashed over, with Kiba, Hinata, and Ino right behind him.

Only a few diligent students hesitated, glancing toward Kakashi.

“Take a ten-minute break,” Kakashi said with a wave.

Since Kitazawa’s departure, Kakashi had taken over as their substitute instructor. With his mastery over all seven chakra natures, he was the most capable replacement possible.

“Kitazawa-sensei, you’re finally back!” Naruto exclaimed.

“Yeah!” Kiba chimed in. “We missed you every day!”

Hinata nodded softly, agreeing in silence.

Before long, the entire class had gathered around him, voices overlapping in cheerful chatter.

“sensei!”

Naruto suddenly looked up with wide eyes. “Is it true you defeated the Fourth Mizukage?”

Even Sasuke’s attention sharpened at that.

“I did,” Kitazawa said with a small smile. “But it was in cooperation with Lady Tsunade.”

“That’s incredible!”

Gasps and murmurs spread through the group. Even with Tsunade’s help, being part of a battle on that scale was awe-inspiring.

“Kitazawa-sensei,” Sasuke asked curiously, “who’s stronger—the Fourth Mizukage or Hokage-sama?”

“Hokage-sama,” Kitazawa answered without hesitation.

Anything else would’ve sounded suspicious—and in truth, Hiruzen’s power did surpass Yagura’s.

“As expected!” Naruto grinned, clenching his fists. “That’s why I’m gonna be Hokage one day!”

Kitazawa couldn’t help but smile at the boy’s enthusiasm.

No matter the world, comparing strength was always a favorite topic.

“Kitazawa-sensei!”

Ino stepped forward eagerly. “When are you coming back to teach us?”

“Next week,” Kitazawa replied. “I still have a few things to handle first.”

“Huh? Next week?” Ino’s face fell in disappointment.

Kitazawa chuckled and patted her head gently. “Even if I’m not teaching, I’ll drop by when I can.”

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