Chapter 317: Tsunade’s Pillow!

Kitazawa exhaled and set down the Hōzuki Castle documents.

He’d already made up his mind about how to handle the matter—it could wait.

Pulling the next folder toward him, he scanned through the remaining reports. Nothing stood out. The entire ninja world was unusually calm.

Then again, according to the original timeline, major events wouldn’t erupt until the Akatsuki began moving forward with Jinchuriki hunting.

Between now and then, there were only two significant incidents—the joint Chūnin Exams with Sunagakure and the infamous Konoha Crush. Both, however, were originally triggered by Orochimaru’s schemes while impersonating the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.

Now that Orochimaru had returned to Konoha, those disasters might never happen at all.

Perhaps only the joint exams would remain—and even that wasn’t certain.

With the paperwork done, Kitazawa rose, stretched slightly, and made his way toward the Hokage’s office.

He lifted his hand to knock… then stopped, remembering Tsunade’s daily habit.

At this hour, she was probably napping.

He turned the knob quietly and slipped inside.

The Hokage’s desk was empty. His eyes drifted toward the sofa—and there she was.

Tsunade lay curled on her side, breathing evenly, her dark green haori draped over the armrest. Her sleeveless top clung to her with the gentle pull of gravity, the fabric drawn taut and—

“Why didn’t you knock?”

Her voice cut through the silence. She hadn’t moved, but her amber eyes were already open, sharp and alert.

Kitazawa blinked. “If it were you, you wouldn’t knock. You’d just kick the door down.”

Tsunade’s lips curved into a faint smirk. “If you dare to kick the door, I’ll dare to kick you.”

“That’s a double standard, Hokage-sama,” he said, feigning indignation as he took a seat on the sofa opposite her. “Aren’t you supposed to be fair and just?”

“Fairness and justice,” Tsunade said flatly, sitting up and stretching, “are whatever I decide they are. I’m the Hokage.”

Kitazawa sighed. “So it’s true—the title automatically comes with that phrase.”

He caught himself before adding ’and a lack of shame’. Self-preservation won out.

“Didn’t you teach me that line yourself?” Tsunade countered, a sly smile curving her lips.

Kitazawa paused. That was true. He’d once told her that exact phrase—back when she needed to shut down the two old advisors.

Apparently, she’d taken the advice a little too well.

“I didn’t teach you to use it against me,” he muttered.

“Then don’t interrupt my nap next time,” Tsunade said with a yawn.

“Fair enough. To make up for it, I could offer a lap pillow service,” Kitazawa offered casually.

Her eyes narrowed like a hawk’s.

He raised his hands. “You’d be the first to enjoy it.”

Tsunade arched an eyebrow. “Did you come here just to flirt, or do you actually have business?”

He chuckled. “A bit of both, maybe. But before anything serious, the Hokage should get proper rest. Can’t wage diplomacy on no sleep.”

“Then come here,” she said suddenly, patting the sofa beside her.

Kitazawa blinked—unsure if she was joking—but moved closer.

To his surprise, Tsunade shifted, laying her head on his lap, one arm resting lazily against the cushion. Her eyes drifted to the window as the late-afternoon sunlight poured across the room.

Kitazawa’s gaze, inevitably, fell downward—and he quickly forced himself to look elsewhere.

“What is it?” she asked, voice calm, eyes still closed.

“The ANBU uncovered something concerning the Land of the Sea,” Kitazawa said. “They’re conducting research into something called the Ultimate Summoned Beast. I’m not sure what they’re attempting, but I’ll take a team tomorrow to investigate—under the guise of a regular mission.”

Tsunade said nothing for a while, though her expression turned contemplative.

Technically, Konoha shouldn’t interfere in the affairs of small nations. But history had shown that “minor” countries often caused the greatest chaos.

“The Land of Demons… Kusagakure… always the small ones that light the biggest fires,” she murmured.

The room fell quiet. The setting sun bathed them both in amber light.

For a rare moment, there was peace—before duty would call them both away again.

Kitazawa hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should tell Tsunade about the Box of Paradise—but then he heard soft, rhythmic breathing.

He looked down and couldn’t help smiling wryly.

Tsunade had fallen asleep again.

Even with her Yin Seal keeping her in perfect physical condition, she still managed to find every excuse to nap.

Truly reluctant to be Hokage, he thought with a shake of his head.

If Danzō were still alive, the man would probably crawl out of the Pure Land just to scold her for “wasting the Will of Fire.”

Leaning back against the sofa, Kitazawa closed his eyes—not to sleep, but to focus. A thought later, and the familiar blue system panel flickered into view.

The mission log unfolded before him, a long list of tasks yet incomplete.

There were… quite a few.

His gaze stopped on Kimimaro’s mission. The boy likely wouldn’t secure first place in this month’s exam. Kitazawa would have to create an opportunity—a higher-difficulty mission next month, one tailored for him to shine.

Then came Ino’s task: Defeat Sakura Haruno once.

He fell silent, thinking.

Ino’s progress in Genjutsu was impressive—she reminded him of Kurenai in her early days—but Sakura’s impeccable chakra control made her naturally resistant to illusions. Add her Water Release techniques on top of that, and the edge was slightly in Sakura’s favor.

Genjutsu is Yin Release… but Yin Release isn’t limited to Genjutsu, he mused.

An idea sparked.

What if he re-engineered the Mind Body Switch Technique—not as a possession jutsu, but as an offensive one?

Normally, the technique projected the user’s consciousness from their fingertips, allowing them to control another’s body. But if he cut the possession phase and focused that mental energy into a pure strike instead—

A Yin-based mental shockwave attack… that could work.

It wouldn’t need to be powerful—just a C- or B-rank technique, simple enough for Ino to learn quickly. She wasn’t suited for raw ninjutsu like Naruto or Sasuke; her gift lay in precision and control, not overwhelming force.

Besides, Kitazawa had already mastered the original Yamanaka technique through the system—modifying it would be simple enough.

His eyes flicked through the remaining missions.

Sasuke’s three-tomoe evolution, tied to the Defeat Satori quest—those two could be accomplished together once the Box of Paradise investigation began

And the long-term objectives: heal Nagato, form the New Legendary Sannin, nurture reliable successors, and perfect Naruto’s Jinchūriki form.

Each one demanded time—and patience.

Half an hour later, Tsunade stirred. She sat up and stretched, golden hair spilling over her shoulders.

Kitazawa glanced at her. “Not going to sleep a bit longer?”

“That’s enough,” she said with a soft yawn. “Sleep too much and I’ll be awake all night.”

“Fair point.” Kitazawa rose, straightening his cloak. “I’ll get going, then. See you next time.”

He’d decided to wait for Itachi’s investigation report before mentioning the Box of Paradise. No need to stir trouble prematurely.

Tsunade watched him leave, a small smile tugging at her lips.

When the door closed, she let out a quiet chuckle and headed toward her office, her expression returning to its usual steel.

Outside the Hokage Building, Kitazawa paused.

Two familiar figures sat perched on a tree branch nearby, their gazes fixed toward the tower like a pair of anxious sentries.

What are they up to?

Before he could call out, Ino spotted him.

“Kitazawa-sensei!” she shouted, leaping down with her usual enthusiasm.

Hinata followed silently, landing beside her in one smooth motion. The two hurried toward him, their faces full of purpose.

Kitazawa raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you were waiting here just for me?”

Ino nodded. “Kurenai-sensei said you were still here!”

Apparently, they’d gone to his house first, only to find it empty. Kurenai had told them he was at the Hokage Building, so they’d decided to wait outside.

Kitazawa folded his arms, amused. “Alright then—what’s so important?”

“I want to beat Sakura!” Ino declared, fists clenched, eyes blazing with determination.

Kitazawa smiled. “And you, Hinata?”

“M-me too,” Hinata blurted without thinking.

Ino blinked. “Eh? But you already beat Sakura before!”

Hinata’s eyes widened as her brain caught up with her mouth. Her cheeks flushed pink. “I–I mean… I want to go even further!” she stammered, fingers twisting nervously at the hem of her jacket.

“As expected of Hinata!” Ino said proudly. “Already top five and still striving to improve!”

Hinata’s face turned scarlet. She ducked her head, unable to respond.

Kitazawa hid a small grin. He could already guess Hinata’s real reason—she probably wanted him to lead her squad again next month. But Ino’s bold energy had completely derailed that confession.

“Well then,” he said after a pause, “new special training will start next week. For now, focus on your missions—clear your heads and rest.”

Ino’s eyes lit up instantly. “Really? Thank you, Sensei!”

Her excitement was contagious—pure, bright.

Hinata blinked, surprised. Special training? For me too?

But what could she possibly learn that went beyond the Gentle Fist? She hadn’t even perfected the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms yet.

As she stood there overthinking, Kitazawa reached out and gently patted her head.

“Go home and rest,” he said softly.

Hinata froze—then nodded quickly, her face burning.

“Goodbye, Kitazawa-sensei!” Ino waved cheerfully, dragging Hinata along.

Hinata turned back for a brief second, whispering a shy, “Goodbye…” before following Ino down the road.

Kitazawa watched the two of them leave—one lively and fearless, the other gentle and quietly determined.

Two very different kinds of strength.

Kitazawa watched the two girls leave, a faint smile on his lips—then his eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

He’d already planned Ino’s new special training while he was in the Hokage’s office.

But Hinata Hyuga showing up had been unexpected.

He hadn’t intended to design anything new for her, but her sudden visit had sparked an idea.

Or rather, Orochimaru had.

Of the Sound Four, only Kimimaro and Tayuya were currently in Konoha. But among the remaining members, there was one whose ability intrigued him deeply—Kidōmaru, the spider-like shinobi who could spin chakra threads and even excrete sticky gold.

That strange secretion was pliable at first, but hardened instantly when exposed to air. Kidōmaru had used it to forge deadly tools, including his most infamous weapon—the Spider War Bow.

A weapon that had once given Neji an incredibly hard time.

Back when I first saw that fight, Kitazawa mused, I thought… if Neji had been the one wielding that bow, with his Byakugan’s precision, the results would’ve been very different.

Now, standing in this world, with Byakugan at his command, that thought no longer seemed far-fetched.

But there was a reason the Hyuga clan never used bows.

Compared to kunai or shuriken, traditional bows were slow—cumbersome to draw, reload, and fire. In close combat, that delay could mean death.

To be viable, a bow needed three things: speed, penetration, and precision.

Kidōmaru’s Spider Bow had all three—but it was also incredibly expensive, made of a unique biological material impossible to mass-produce. The Hyuga clan could easily afford the cost, but arming the entire clan was impractical.

Outfitting just two people, however—Hinata and Neji—that was manageable.

The problem was materials.

The perfect bow would have to be light yet durable—and the arrows… ideally infinite. Carrying quivers into battle was inefficient, and reloading under pressure was asking for disaster.

Kitazawa frowned in thought. Infinite arrows… that’s not physically possible. Unless—

His eyes lit up.

Unless you could create them from Yin Release.

Yin Release, after all, was the power of creation—forming something from nothing. If he could fuse Yin chakra into a weapon, theoretically, arrows could be conjured at will.

And that was when his thoughts circled back, inevitably, to the Box of Paradise.

That relic had survived even Naruto’s Wind Release: Rasenshuriken—indestructible, suffused with pure Yin energy.

If I could forge a bow from that material… and seal Satori inside it…

Then, by siphoning the box’s Yin energy, the bow could generate chakra arrows infinitely.

Kitazawa grinned. “I’m a genius.”

Of course, theory and practice were two very different things.

Whether the Box of Paradise could be reforged into a weapon remained to be seen. If it were too durable to alter, the entire concept would fail.

But if it worked—if even one prototype succeeded—Hinata’s potential would soar far beyond her original path.

Just then, glowing text appeared before his eyes:

[New Mission Triggered: Forge Two Yin Release Bows.]

[Reward: Master-Level Yin Release Nature Transformation.]

Kitazawa’s brows rose. So it’s possible after all.

The system only issued missions for feasible outcomes. Still, the reward’s magnitude meant this wouldn’t be easy.

A slow smile crossed his face. “Looks like I’ve got my next project.”

That night passed quickly.

By morning, the village was already stirring with activity.

At nine o’clock, Kitazawa arrived at the Ninja Academy’s training grounds, where twelve students were waiting—divided into four mission teams.

His own team—Tenten, Akimichi Choji, and Tayuya—stood off to the side.

“Tayuya, you look half-dead. Didn’t sleep well?” Tenten asked, raising a brow.

“I’m fine,” Tayuya muttered, pouting. “Just… don’t wanna—never mind.”

She glanced toward Kitazawa, who was speaking with Kurenai in the distance, and swallowed the rest of her complaint.

Choji rustled in his bag and offered, “Potato chip?”

Tenten smiled and waved it off. “No thanks, I just ate.”

Tayuya plucked one from the bag curiously. “What flavor?”

“Barbecue,” Choji replied proudly.

Tayuya frowned. “Why isn’t there a chocolate flavor?”

Choji froze mid-chew. “…What?”

Even Tenten blinked in disbelief. “Sweet potato chips? That’s… a crime.”

“You Konoha people are too conservative,” Tayuya huffed. “Why can’t chips be sweet?”

Before the debate could escalate, a hand landed on her forehead—a firm flick.

“What are you rambling about now?” Kitazawa asked dryly as he approached.

Tayuya’s bravado deflated instantly. “N-nothing, sensei.”

Kitazawa smirked. “Good answer.” He gestured to the group beside him. “This is Kurenai Yuhi—you can call her Kurenai-sensei. And you know Karin. She’ll be accompanying us on this mission.”

“Good morning, everyone,” Karin greeted brightly, waving.

She’d only received the notice that morning, and the thought of finally leaving the village after so long clearly energized her.

“Alright,” Kitazawa said after a moment. “Let’s move out.”

They followed him through the village gates, the air crisp and full of anticipation.

“Sensei,” Tenten asked as they walked, “what’s our mission this time?”

“Destination—Summoning Island, in the Land of the Sea,” he explained. “An isolated island inhabited by all manner of summoning beasts.”

“Summoning beasts!?” Tenten’s eyes sparkled. “Can we make contracts with them?”

Tayuya perked up too. Her three Nuki Oni were powerful, but among the Genius Class, even they felt lacking. A stronger summon could raise her standing considerably.

Kitazawa smiled faintly. “You can, but don’t expect too much. Most of them aren’t as powerful as you think. Still, if you find one that suits you… I won’t stop you.”

In truth, he remembered Summoning Island vividly from the original timeline—home to an enormous eagle that once captured Gai, drawing Naruto’s team into a battle that would reveal secrets far greater than expected.

And now, future was about to change—because Kitazawa was walking into it himself.

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