Chapter 292: On the way to Iwagakure!

Kiba arrived at the Ninja Academy training ground to find the same sight he saw every morning—Shikamaru lying flat on the grass, hands tucked behind his head, eyes half closed in blissful idleness.

“Shikamaru, you really won’t stand if you can sit, and won’t sit if you can lie down.”

Kiba shook his head, sounding half exasperated, half impressed.

“I’m conserving energy,” Shikamaru replied lazily, not even bothering to open his eyes.

“Conserving energy? You mean being lazy,” Ino shot back, folding her arms.

“I feel like only Kitazawa-sensei can actually handle Shikamaru,” Choji Akimichi said with a chuckle, munching on his ever-present bag of chips.

“I hope Kitazawa-sensei ends up being your team leader for the final exam,” Kiba said, smirking.

The memory of his own disastrous encounter with Kitazawa—the trap incident that forced him to relearn the basics of trap-making—was still painfully vivid.

“Don’t jinx me like that!”

Shikamaru bolted upright, glancing around nervously before relaxing when he saw no sign of Kitazawa.

“How dare you talk like that about Kitazawa-sensei!” Ino scolded, planting her hands on her hips.

“I didn’t say anything bad,” Shikamaru protested, rubbing the back of his neck. “He told me to learn Shadow Imitation Shuriken, but I haven’t mastered it yet. I’m just… embarrassed to face him.”

“I’ve already mastered Fang Over Fang!” Kiba grinned proudly. “When Kitazawa-sensei gets here, I’m asking him to teach me a new secret technique!”

“I envy you,” Tenten sighed. “I’m still stuck on Shuriken Shadow Clone. It’s going to take me ages to learn it properly.”

“Are you kidding me?” Kiba groaned. “That’s an A-rank Ninjutsu! I should be the one envying you!”

“Indeed,” Shino adjusted his glasses and said calmly, “That’s the same level of technique given to Sasuke and Naruto.”

Tenten blushed lightly. She hadn’t meant to sound like she was bragging. The jutsu fit her fighting style perfectly, but it was brutally hard to master—and her chakra reserves were still lacking.

“Anyway, we just have to follow Kitazawa-sensei’s training plan,” said Hana with a confident smile.

“Right. Kitazawa-sensei’s arrangements are always spot-on,” Hinata added softly, nodding in agreement.

Just then, two green blurs streaked across the training ground.

“I won!”

The first blur skidded to a halt—Naruto, grinning triumphantly.

“As expected of my lifelong rival!” shouted Lee, stopping right behind him. “I lost again, but this too is youth!”

“Lee, this is the power of youth!” Naruto said with a sparkling grin and a dramatic thumbs-up.

Tenten and Ino both groaned and covered their foreheads.

Too much youth.

“They’re certainly… spirited,” remarked Kosuke as he and Hiruzen walked onto the training field together.

Hiruzen’s mouth twitched. “Spirited is one word for it.”

He could already feel a headache forming. If Naruto ever became Hokage, he thought grimly, Konoha might turn into one giant festival.

“Grandpa Third!”

Naruto spotted him immediately and bounded over, still brimming with energy despite his morning run.

The others quickly gathered to greet the Third Hokage and Kosuke-sensei respectfully.

Kitazawa arrived at the academy, right on time—which, in his case, was already a small miracle.

To his mild surprise, someone else showed up just as late.

“Kitazawa-sensei,” said Sasuke, giving a curt nod.

Kitazawa’s gaze shifted—Kakashi was walking beside him, hands in his pockets, looking as casual as ever.

“Oh? And how did you two end up together?” Kitazawa asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I took him for morning training,” Kakashi said, eye-smiling beneath his mask. “Taught him Chidori Nagashi while we were at it.”

Kitazawa chuckled. “It’s rare to see you this diligent, Kakashi. Looks like the lazy Copy Ninja is evolving.”

“I just didn’t have anything better to do,” Kakashi replied nonchalantly.

The three reached the training ground, where the students immediately perked up.

“Sasuke, go join the others,” Kitazawa instructed.

“Yes, sensei.”

Sasuke nodded and headed toward Naruto and his classmates.

“Lord Third,” Kitazawa greeted respectfully. “Kosuke-senpai.”

“Good morning, Kitazawa,” Kosuke replied warmly. Ever since his leg had healed, he looked years younger—cheerful and full of life. Kitazawa suspected it might have something to do with the White Zetsu cells, but it could just as well be the happiness of recovery.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Kitazawa got straight to business.

“The final exam’s coming up,” he said. “Let’s decide the team formations.”

“I’ll take Naruto again,” Hiruzen said immediately. “But the other two can rotate.”

“I’ll take Sasuke,” Kakashi added after a short pause. “That way I can keep training his Lightning Release during the mission.”

“I’ll choose Sakura, for similar reasons,” Kosuke said with a nod.

Kitazawa nodded thoughtfully. “Alright, that settles it.”

In truth, it didn’t matter much who went where. With only four instructors, every student’s turn under each of them was inevitable.

“Before we begin today’s training,” Kitazawa said, walking to the front of the Genius Class, “I’ll announce the team assignments for the final exam.”

The students instantly straightened up. Naruto, Sakura, Ino, and the others all wore expressions of eager anticipation.

“Team One: Uzumaki Naruto, Akimichi Choji, and Inuzuka Hana,” Kitazawa read calmly. “Led by Lord Third.”

Naruto scratched his head. “So I don’t get to team up with Sasuke this time? What a drag.”

Sasuke felt a flicker of disappointment but quickly brushed it aside. This was an opportunity—a chance to surpass Naruto once and for all.

The last two times they’d teamed up, Naruto had somehow managed to steal the spotlight. Especially during their mission to Sunagakure—Naruto and his clones had practically flattened the entire enemy squad before Sasuke even got the chance to draw a kunai.

Not this time.

Without Naruto as a teammate, Sasuke could finally fight on his own terms and prove who really deserved first place.

“Naruto as my teammate? Sounds good to me,” Choji said cheerfully, patting his stomach.

Hana smiled. “With Naruto and Lord Third, I think we’ve got this one in the bag.”

Kitazawa moved on. “Team Two: Hyuga Neji, Ino Yamanaka, and Sakura Haruno—led by Kosuke-senpai.”

“Huh?” Ino and Sakura said at the same time, blinking.

“Why isn’t Sasuke-kun on my team?” Sakura demanded, almost pouting.

“Why is Sakura on mine?” Ino countered instantly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sakura snapped, glaring. “You saying you’re not happy to have me?”

“Hmph! I’m just worried you’ll hold me back,” Ino shot back, tilting her chin proudly.

Sakura clenched her fists. “We’ll see about that! My Water Release is way stronger than yours now!”

“What’s so great about that?” Ino retorted, putting her hands on her hips. “I’ve got the Genjutsu Kitazawa-sensei personally taught me. Do you?”

Shikamaru sighed. “How troublesome. These two are gonna argue the entire mission.”

Neji pinched the bridge of his nose. Just listening to them was already giving him a headache.

“Team Three: Uchiha Sasuke, Rock Lee, and Tenten,” Kitazawa said smoothly, cutting through the noise. “Led by Kakashi.”

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed slightly. Lee and Tenten, huh?

Neither would challenge him directly—meaning he’d have full freedom to display his own strength. And with Kakashi leading the team, he knew he’d get solid guidance and plenty of chances to test his power.

The only issue? Lee’s obsession with “youth.” Sasuke still hadn’t recovered from the memory of that one day—green jumpsuit, bushy eyebrows, and all. The day he awakened his Sharingan was also the day he swore to never, ever, wear green again.

“Wait!” Shikamaru suddenly exclaimed, panic creeping across his face.

Kitazawa had already announced three teams—and somehow, his name wasn’t in any of them. Nor was Kitazawa himself leading a team yet.

No way…

“Team Four: Hyuga Hinata, Shino Aburame, and Nara Shikamaru,” Kitazawa announced with a small smile. “Led by me.”

It’s over.

Shikamaru froze like he’d just been struck by lightning. Out of all possible outcomes, this was the one he’d dreaded most. Not only was Kitazawa his leader—which meant no slacking—but also both his teammates were strong and serious types. This exam was going to be exhausting.

Hinata, meanwhile, clenched her fists tightly, unable to hide her excitement. She was finally teamed up with Kitazawa-sensei!

Shino adjusted his collar slightly. He didn’t seem surprised—just quietly accepting. Team composition didn’t matter much to him anyway.

“These are the team assignments for the final exam,” Kitazawa concluded. “Now, let’s begin today’s training.”

Kakashi and Kosuke led their respective groups away, leaving only Kitazawa’s students behind.

But Kitazawa wasn’t leading them alone today—Hiruzen stood nearby, watching with interest.

“Kiba,” Kitazawa called.

“Kitazawa-sensei!” Inuzuka Kiba bounded over eagerly. “Are you going to teach me a new Secret Technique?”

He knew Kitazawa’s methods well—sensei always knew exactly when his students were ready to move up. And since his Fang Over Fang was nearly perfected, Kiba figured the timing was right.

“Yes and no,” Kitazawa replied with a faint smile.

Kiba blinked. “Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“The new technique I plan to teach you is an advanced form of Fang Over Fang,” Kitazawa explained. “It’s called Earth Fang Bullet. But you’re not ready to learn it yet. You’ll need to master Earth Release chakra nature transformation first.”

“I get it,” Kiba said quickly, eyes bright. “Then I’ll learn it! Let’s do this!”

He had always loved the Fang Bullet technique—the thought of combining it with Earth Release made his blood race.

“What do you think defines Earth Release chakra?” Kitazawa asked, leading him a few steps away to a patch of open ground.

Kiba thought for a moment. “It’s sturdy. Strong defense.”

“That’s right,” Kitazawa nodded. “That’s one aspect. But Earth Release also embodies suppression.”

“Suppression?” Kiba repeated, puzzled.

“Earth jutsu are both offensive and defensive,” Kitazawa explained patiently. “Defense protects, but offense restrains. By changing the hardness, mass, or terrain of the earth, you can suppress your opponent’s movements.”

Kiba’s eyes widened slightly as the concept clicked.

“Sturdiness and suppression,” Kitazawa continued, “are what make Earth Release so versatile. For the user, there’s another key benefit—the ability to move underground.”

“So what about Earth Fang Bullet?” Kiba asked. “What kind of traits does it have?”

“Ninjutsu rarely has just one defining trait,” Kitazawa said. “Earth Fang Bullet combines sturdiness and suppression—you generate and fire three massive boulders at once.”

“Whoa! That sounds awesome!” Kiba exclaimed, tail wagging metaphorically.

“Then let’s begin your training in Earth Release nature transformation,” Kitazawa said, crouching down. He scooped up a handful of soil. “Start by changing its hardness.”

He infused chakra into the dirt. Within seconds, it solidified into a dense, stone-like clod. He handed it to Kiba.

“Try breaking it.”

Kiba squeezed—and winced. The clod didn’t even dent.

“It’s solid as rock!”

“When you can make the soil this hard yourself,” Kitazawa said with an approving smile, “you’ll be ready for Earth Fang Bullet.”

“Yes, Kitazawa-sensei!” Kiba said enthusiastically, already mimicking the motion.

Since it was his first day attempting Earth Release transformation, Kitazawa left a Shadow Clone to guide him through the basics.

Meanwhile, the real Kitazawa found a quiet spot nearby to practice.

And if he got stuck, well, Hiruzen was right there to consult.

At this rate, Kitazawa thought, he should be able to master the Five release combination within half a month.

That afternoon, Kitazawa arrived at the ANBU base.

On the training grounds, Haku was hard at work practicing chakra control—currently tree climbing. His progress was impressive; he had already learned to extract chakra and master the three basic jutsu.

Kitazawa watched him silently, thoughtful.

It seemed about time to start training him in Ice Release.

After all, Haku’s Ice Release wasn’t something that needed to be created—it was a bloodline inheritance. In other words, the boy already possessed Ice Release by nature; he simply hadn’t learned how to use Ice Release ninjutsu yet.

Back then, when his father and the villagers tried to kill him, Haku had awakened his kekkei genkai by accident—his Ice Release had activated instinctively, freezing them to death.

If it had been an artificial ice release, it wouldn’t have manifested so easily. To synthetically combine it, one had to first master Water Release and Wind Release perfectly.

The first technique that came to Kitazawa’s mind was Ice Release: Ice Dome—a defensive jutsu that conjured an oval dome of crystalized ice in midair, its hardness comparable to solid stone.

He himself had already mastered Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall and Water Release: Water Formation Wall—both excellent defensive techniques. Drawing inspiration from them, he could easily reconstruct the Ice Dome for Haku’s training.

With that thought, Kitazawa returned to his office and began drafting the jutsu on a scroll. Once completed, he would hand it over to Haku for study.

Four days passed in a blur.

It was now Friday afternoon, the last class before the weekend.

Kitazawa planned to stop by the Hokage Building’s mission hall after class. Saturday was free, so it would be a perfect time to take Hinata, Shino, and Shikamaru on a mission.

But before he could leave, an ANBU operative suddenly appeared before him.

“Lord Kitazawa.”

The ANBU bowed. “The Blood-Boosting Grass has been successfully purchased. However, the Rock Blue Powder could not be found.”

Kitazawa frowned slightly.

Without one of the ingredients, the medicine’s effectiveness would drop sharply.

“Investigate where the Rock Blue Powder originates,” Kitazawa ordered after a moment’s thought. “If it can’t be bought, we’ll go directly to the source.”

“Yes, Lord Kitazawa.”

The ANBU vanished as silently as he’d come.

Kitazawa leaned back, thinking. There was no point heading to the mission hall just yet. Once he knew where the powder came from, he could accept a mission near that area—two birds with one stone.

ANBU efficiency didn’t disappoint.

Barely half an hour later, a report arrived. The Rock Blue Powder originated from Iwagakure, in the Land of Earth.

Apparently, the “Rock Blue Powder” was made from the crushed remains of a rare type of mineral—a unique natural product formed under specific environmental conditions, similar to lightning-struck wood.

The Land of Earth, true to its name, was full of rocky mountain ranges. Iwagakure itself sat encircled by jagged peaks, easy to defend and nearly impossible to invade. The special rock that yielded the powder was mined from the highest ridges surrounding the village.

No wonder it couldn’t be bought—Iwagakure refused to export it. The mineral was precious, used in concocting secret medicines that enhanced the abilities of Earth Release shinobi.

In the original sttory, the most famous of such elixirs was the Akimichi Clan’s three-colored secret medicine—green, yellow, and red.

Especially the Red Pill—once ingested, it multiplied an Akimichi’s strength a hundredfold and caused their chakra to take the shape of massive butterfly wings. It was what made the Akimichi the “Chō” in Ino–Shika–Chō.

“It looks like I’ll need to make a trip to Iwagakure,” Kitazawa murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

He considered whether to bring Hinata and the others along. But then he realized his mistake.

They could go on a mission—yes—but there was no need for them to head all the way to Iwagakure.

He would have Kurenai take charge of the students’ mission, while he and Konan went to retrieve the Rock Blue Powder.

Konan could fly.

And Kitazawa, proficient in seven chakra natures, had more than enough power to ensure their safety—even if they ran into Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage himself, he was confident he could escape.

“Konan.”

Kitazawa called softly.

A swirl of paper fluttered into the room, and Konan appeared silently before him.

“You heard the report?” Kitazawa asked.

Konan nodded lightly.

“Good. Then tomorrow, you and I will go to Iwagakure,” Kitazawa said with a small grin. “I’ll also take the students on a mission—two tasks at once.”

Konan blinked in mild surprise but quickly nodded her assent.

“The time is set for nine a.m. tomorrow,” Kitazawa added. “Don’t reveal yourself right away—just follow us in secret. Once we reach the Land of Earth, I’ll signal you.”

“Understood,” Konan replied quietly.

The next morning

After breakfast, Kitazawa and Kurenai headed to the mission hall.

Their goal: to find a mission set in or near the Land of Earth, and maybe use it as a chance to push Shikamaru a little.

Technically, missions in that region should fall under Iwagakure’s jurisdiction, but exceptions weren’t unheard of. Even Naruto’s team had once taken missions beyond the Land of Fire’s borders.

After reviewing the listings, Kitazawa finally selected an escort mission.

Just then, a familiar blue panel appeared before his eyes:

[As a future Hokage, you must properly motivate your subordinates.]

[Current Mission: Improve Nara Shikamaru’s lazy personality.]

[Mission Reward: Shadow Imitation Shuriken.]

[Accept?]

Kitazawa stared at the glowing text, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

An unexpected opportunity indeed.

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