Hinata, Shino, and Shikamaru quickly spotted three figures on the distant rock—Suzume, Kurobachi, and Jibachi of the Jōmyaku Clan.
"You brat from the Aburame Clan!"
Suzume's eyes blazed with hatred, her face twisting with fury as memories of her fallen clan flashed before her.
"Die!"
Without another word, she flung her arms forward.
From her sleeves burst a torrent of bees—buzzing furiously, their wings cutting through the air like blades.
"It's those exploding bees again!" Hinata shouted, her Byakugan already flaring to life.
"Secret Technique: Kikaichu Wall!"
Shino reacted instantly. A black wave of insects surged from his hands to intercept the incoming swarm.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The bees detonated midair, shaking the valley floor. This time, however, the trio was ready—they'd already leapt back, avoiding the fiery shockwave.
"Shino, below you!"
Hinata's warning came just in time. The ground beneath Shino cracked open, and Jibachi burst forth, lunging upward with a kunai aimed for his chest.
But before the blade could strike—
Jibachi froze mid-motion, his muscles locking rigid.
"What—?" His eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn't move.
"You don't need to thank me, Shino," came a familiar, lazy drawl.
Shikamaru's shadow stretched across the ground, linking seamlessly with Jibachi's.
"Shadow Imitation—success."
Shino wasted no time. His kikaichu swarmed forward like a black tide, rushing to engulf Jibachi.
But before they could reach him, hundreds of bees erupted from Jibachi's own body, forming a spinning barrier that cut them off.
"Shikamaru, behind you!"
Hinata's voice rang out again.
Kurobachi had already formed hand signs.
"Honey Technique!"
A dozen bees shot from his sleeves toward Shikamaru, their abdomens glowing faintly.
"Tch!" Shikamaru clicked his tongue, releasing his jutsu and diving aside. He sprinted toward Hinata, who was already stepping forward to cover him.
"Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms!"
Hinata's hands blurred, striking each incoming bee in a precise, rhythmic storm of chakra-infused blows.
But the moment her palm hit the first bee, it burst apart—splattering thick, sticky wax across her hand.
She froze for a split second, realizing the trap.
"Shikamaru, retreat! Now!"
Hinata abandoned her combo and vanished in a flicker.
Shikamaru, though confused, obeyed her immediately.
"Too late!"
Kurobachi clapped his hands together.
The bees around him exploded in unison, scattering molten beeswax in every direction.
Hinata, already airborne, dodged easily. But Shikamaru wasn't so lucky—the wax splattered across his legs and hands, hardening almost instantly.
"Crap!" he cursed, struggling—but the more he moved, the more the sticky substance pulled tight.
He lost balance and fell hard.
"Bee Senbon Technique!"
Kurobachi pressed his advantage. The air filled with the hiss of stingers, hundreds of venomous needles raining toward Shikamaru.
"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"
Hinata's chakra flared. She thrust both palms forward, releasing a powerful shockwave that scattered half the needles.
"Secret Technique: Kikaichu Wall!"
Shino's kikaichu surged up like a black barrier, intercepting the rest.
The poisonous needles clattered harmlessly to the ground.
"Let's take out the Byakugan girl first!" Jibachi shouted, lunging toward Hinata from behind as Kurobachi attacked from the front.
Pinned between them, Hinata didn't flinch.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In a puff of smoke, a second Hinata appeared beside her.
Her heart pounded—she could feel the pressure of facing two enemies stronger and older than her. But she refused to falter.
For Shino. For Shikamaru. For Kitazawa-sensei.
"Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms!"
The two Hinatas charged together, their synchronized movements creating a seamless rhythm of strikes.
"Damn it!"
Shikamaru gritted his teeth, struggling desperately to break free from the beeswax.
Shino wanted to help, but Suzume was already on him, releasing another wave of bees.
"Hmph. Worry about yourself, Aburame!" She sneered, sending her swarm crashing into his kikaichu.
The two insect colonies collided midair, tearing into each other in a frenzy.
Shino said nothing—but his silence carried weight.
Shikamaru was immobilized. Hinata was outnumbered. If this continued, they'd lose.
He needed to end it—fast.
His eyes sharpened behind his glasses.
He pulled a flash bomb from his pouch and hurled it at Suzume's feet.
Bang!
A blinding white light exploded across the battlefield.
At that same instant, dozens of Exploding insects—nearly microscopic—scattered invisibly with the light.
Suzume reacted quickly, springing backward and tossing a giant beehive in front of her as a shield.
But no explosion followed.
The light faded.
Suzume squinted—Shino was still standing where he'd been, calm and motionless.
"What did you just do?" she demanded.
Shino didn't answer. His hands moved.
"Secret Technique: Insect Cocoon."
Chakra rippled from his palms, forming a spinning shell of insects. From it, countless kikaichu hatched and swarmed outward.
"Tch, playing games with me?" Suzume snarled. "You'll regret that!"
She raised her arms—but froze.
Her expression twisted in confusion.
Her chakra felt wrong. Draining.
She looked down—and her breath caught.
A bulge crawled beneath her collarbone. Something was moving.
"Insects…?" she whispered, horror-stricken.
Her body convulsed.
Shino's kikaichu swarmed again, tearing through her bees in midair—boom, boom, boom!—as explosions lit up around them.
Suzume staggered back, trembling, realizing the truth too late.
When the flash bomb went off, the invisible exploding insects had already infiltrated her chakra network.
Each time she used ninjutsu, they multiplied.
"What… did you do to me?!" she screamed.
Shino said nothing.
He thrust his hand toward Jibachi, who was attacking Hinata.
The swarm obeyed instantly, pouring across the ground like liquid shadow.
Jibachi cursed and broke off his assault to defend himself, leaving Hinata breathing hard but alive.
Taking advantage, Shino redirected his kikaichu toward Suzume once more.
"Jibachi, help me!" Suzume shrieked, trying to run.
But without chakra reinforcement, she was slow—far too slow.
The swarm closed in.
"Damn it!" Jibachi turned, but he was a heartbeat too late.
Suzume vanished beneath the sea of black insects.
"Stop!" Jibachi roared. He lunged toward Shikamaru, grabbing him by the collar.
"You Aburame brat! Stop your bugs—or I'll kill your teammate!"
Shino's eyes flickered.
He raised his hand slightly—and the kikaichu froze midair. They stopped attacking Suzume, simply circling her like a living barrier.
Kurobachi and Hinata also withdrew, regrouping cautiously.
A tense silence hung between the two sides.
Shino's voice was calm when he finally spoke.
"We trade. Your hostage for mine."
Jibachi hesitated—then nodded. "Fine."
Shikamaru, still bound by beeswax, felt a rush of shame burn in his chest.
He'd been completely useless—worse than useless.
If not for him, Hinata and Shino might have already won.
For the first time, he truly felt the weight of weakness.
He had mastered all three Nara Clan shadow techniques far earlier than most—and that had made him complacent. He'd thought that being a "genius" was enough. That strategy could cover every flaw.
But now he understood—all the intelligence in the world meant nothing without strength, discipline, or preparation.
If his taijutsu were sharper, if his reflexes were faster, if he'd learned even the simplest Body Flicker Jutsu…
He could have avoided the beeswax. He could have fought back.
Instead, he'd hesitated—and nearly cost his team the battle.
This… is my weakness, he realized bitterly. And Kitazawa-sensei knew it all along.
"Before we trade," Suzume snapped, panic seeping into her voice, "you'll remove this thing inside me first!"
Jibachi frowned, tightening his grip on Shikamaru's collar. "What thing?"
"It's… some kind of insect," Suzume said through clenched teeth, her face pale. "It's feeding on my chakra. If it drains me completely, I don't know what'll happen—but it won't end well."
"Hey, brat from the Aburame Clan," Jibachi snarled. "Take it out. Now."
He squeezed harder, and Shikamaru winced in pain, struggling to breathe.
"I can't," Shino Aburame replied calmly. "Only my teacher, Kitazawa-sensei, can remove it."
"Kitazawa?" Jibachi echoed, his expression faltering. "Why does that name sound familiar?"
Kurobachi's face darkened. "You idiot—Kitazawa is Tsunade's student. The Fifth Hokage's apprentice!"
Suzume froze. "Impossible! Isn't your teacher that black-haired woman?"
Realization struck her like lightning. If what he said was true, they hadn't just attacked any Konoha squad—they'd attacked Kitazawa's students.
And that name… even she'd heard it whispered throughout the shinobi world lately—the prodigy who rivaled Tobirama Senju in creativity and power.
Shino inclined his head slightly. "Kitazawa-sensei had other duties, so Kurenai-sensei led us this time."
Suzume's confidence crumbled. Even Jibachi and Kurobachi exchanged uneasy glances.
Hinata, watching their faces, finally understood just how terrifying Kitazawa's reputation truly was.
The three Jōmyaku shinobi fell silent. Regret flickered across their faces—deep, bitter regret.
If they'd taken even a moment to investigate, they would've realized who they were dealing with. But hatred had blinded them.
Suzume suddenly gritted her teeth. "They're Kitazawa's students! If we capture them alive, Lord Tsuchikage will protect us!"
Her eyes lit with desperate determination.
"Aburame brat," Jibachi growled, tightening his grip again, "if you don't remove the insect, we can't trade. So here's my offer—take your teammate's place."
"Shino, don't!" Shikamaru rasped, his voice raw. "If they capture you, Hinata and I won't stand a chance!"
"Choose," Jibachi sneered. "Switch—or I kill him right now."
The pressure around Shikamaru's throat intensified. His vision blurred.
His feet dangled inches off the ground. Air refused to enter his lungs.
Is this… where I die?
In that brief, suffocating moment, Shikamaru's mind went quiet. A single thought echoed through him.
If I survive this… I'll never be lazy again.
Then, suddenly—
The grip vanished.
Shikamaru dropped to the ground, gasping desperately for air.
"What—?" Jibachi's eyes widened.
A split second later, his head separated cleanly from his shoulders.
Blood sprayed the dirt.
Kitazawa stood behind him, catching Shikamaru's limp body with one arm and setting him down gently.
"You…"
Kurobachi's voice trembled as he turned toward the newcomer.
Kitazawa didn't bother replying. His left hand flicked forward—
"Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique."
Kurobachi froze, his pupils dilating in horror as his mind shattered within the Genjutsu.
Kitazawa's right hand followed through—Zangetsu flashed once, piercing the man's heart.
Kurobachi exhaled a final, broken gasp before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
"Kitazawa-sensei!" Shikamaru's voice broke the silence, trembling with shock and relief.
"Kitazawa-sensei!" Hinata cried, her shoulders relaxing as all the tension drained from her body. She ran toward him instinctively.
Kitazawa didn't take his eyes off the last surviving enemy. "Shino," he said coldly, "finish her."
Shino nodded without hesitation. His kikaichu surged forward in a black tide.
Suzume screamed—but only for a few seconds.
When it was over, the valley fell silent once more.
Hinata turned away, unable to watch. She pressed herself against Kitazawa's arm, trembling faintly.
Shikamaru, still recovering from his near-death experience, didn't look away. His face was pale, but his eyes were different—harder.
"You all did well," Kitazawa said finally, scanning the three of them.
"Sorry, Kitazawa-sensei," Shikamaru muttered, lowering his head. "I… was the one who slowed everyone down."
Kitazawa smiled faintly. "You're young. It's natural your strength hasn't caught up yet. What matters is that you learn from it—and train harder."
Shikamaru blinked, startled. No scolding. No anger. Just… understanding.
Somehow, that made him feel even worse.
At that moment, three glowing lines appeared briefly before Kitazawa's eyes.
Current Mission: Improve Nara Shikamaru's lazy personality.
Mission Reward: Shadow Imitation Shuriken.
Status: Mission Complete.
Kitazawa's lips twitched slightly. So the trap worked after all.
He turned back to his students. "Remember, Shikamaru," he said quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder, "a ninja's life is filled with moments like this. You can't control when they come—but you can control whether you're strong enough to survive them."
Shikamaru straightened, eyes steady. "I understand, Kitazawa-sensei."
"Good." Kitazawa turned toward Shino next. "You handled yourself perfectly, Shino. Full marks."
Shino blinked, stunned. "Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei."
It was the first time he'd ever earned a perfect score in a practical exam. Pride flickered beneath his calm exterior.
Hinata watched silently, her hands clasped nervously. She didn't care about the score itself—but she longed for Kitazawa's praise.
Kitazawa smiled, catching her gaze. "Hinata, you held your ground against two opponents. Your reaction time and technique were excellent."
He patted her head gently. "You also get a perfect score."
Hinata's eyes widened, then lit up like stars. "Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei!"
The score didn't matter. What mattered was his recognition.
Shikamaru, meanwhile, sighed. He already knew what was coming.
"Shikamaru," Kitazawa said finally, his tone softening, "although you were captured, you didn't betray your comrades. For that, I'm giving you an excellent grade—ninety-one."
Shikamaru blinked in disbelief. "Ninety-one?"
A perfect score was one hundred. He'd never scored that high in any practical exam before.
"Your judgment was sound," Kitazawa added with a faint grin. "You just need to train your body to keep up with your mind."
For a moment, Shikamaru couldn't speak. Then, slowly, a small smile tugged at his lips.
Kitazawa-sensei wasn't just strong. He was fair.
And in that instant, Shikamaru made a silent vow—
Next time, I won't need saving.
"Why are you all standing around chatting? Did you forget about me?"
Kurenai approached with a faint smile, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"I trust Kurenai-sensei's strength," Kitazawa said, blinking innocently. "Dealing with a Queen Bee should've been nothing for you."
Kurenai's smile froze. She shot him a sharp glare.
Really? In front of the students?
There were still three of them here—Hinata, Shino, and Shikamaru—and he had to call her 'Kurenai-sensei' now of all times? Couldn't he wait until nightfall?
"Shino."
Kitazawa tossed him a sealing scroll. "Pack up their bodies."
Shino caught it, his expression calm as always.
Kurenai frowned. "They weren't even jōnin. Why bother taking them back? And if I remember correctly, the Jōmyaku Clan's been in decline for years—some forgotten offshoot of Iwagakure."
"I'm not interested in them," Kitazawa replied casually. "I'm interested in their techniques. Their insect-handling methods are unique. The Aburame Clan can study them."
Shino's eyes widened slightly behind his glasses. "Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei."
It made sense. Though the Aburame Clan had once crushed the Jōmyaku, the enemy's methods weren't without merit. The explosive bees and that adhesive beeswax had caused them serious trouble during the battle.
"That's true," Kurenai admitted with a nod. "Their control methods were different. Precise, almost mechanical."
Kitazawa turned to the group. "Rest for a bit, then head back to the village."
"You're not coming with us?" Kurenai asked.
"I still have something to take care of," Kitazawa said.
She studied him for a moment, then sighed softly. "Fine. Do what you need to. We'll be fine."
Kitazawa smiled faintly. He wasn't worried in the slightest—and with good reason.
Every academy team that left Konoha for missions was shadowed by ANBU. It was a precaution Tsunade herself had demanded, and he'd agreed to it without argument.
When Shikamaru's life had been in danger earlier, the ANBU were ready to intervene. But Kitazawa had quietly ordered them to stand down.
None of the students knew about their presence, of course. And with experienced shinobi like Hiruzen, Kosuke, Kakashi—and Kitazawa himself—watching over missions, they'd rarely needed to act anyway.
After saying his goodbyes, Kitazawa turned and headed toward Iwagakure.
Moments later, Konan appeared behind him, her paper wings fluttering lightly before folding against her back.
She cast him a sideways glance, her expression unreadable.
From the shadows, she had witnessed everything—the battle, Kitazawa's calm efficiency, and the way he'd shielded his students without ever stealing their growth.
He was, without question, a good teacher.
But as she thought about his ventures—Gatō's shipping company, the undersea exploration project—Konan couldn't help but think he was something rarer still.
A strange kind of ninja, she mused. Not bound by the World's rules.
"There's no need to engage any Iwagakure shinobi," Kitazawa said as they walked. "Our target is only the blue rock powder."
He spoke lightly, as if it were a simple errand—but both of them knew the risk.
Iwagakure's power far exceeded that of the Hidden Mist. If they were unlucky enough to be caught by a patrol led by the Third Tsuchikage himself, it would be a problem even for them.
Fortunately, blue rock powder wasn't a resource Iwagakure would go to war over. Its value was high—but not strategic.
Konan nodded. "Understood. I'd rather not fight them either. The Akatsuki still takes contracts from the Land of Earth. It would be… unwise to offend clients."
"Exactly."
The two traveled quietly, moving through valleys and across ridges with practiced ease. By noon, they reached the mountain range near Iwagakure—vast stone spires touching the clouds.
Kitazawa scanned the slopes, his Byakugan faintly glowing. "Let's split up. Once you find it, meet me under that tree."
He gestured to a crooked cedar standing at the center of the valley.
The surrounding peaks all had traces of mineral veins—any of them could yield blue rock powder. Searching separately would double their efficiency.
Konan hesitated. "And if you run into Iwagakure ninja?"
"If that happens," Kitazawa said with a grin, "you'll sense my chakra instantly. Just fly over and whisk me away."
Konan raised an eyebrow. "You sound oddly confident."
"I've got faith in you," he said, chuckling. "Besides, when else will I get the chance to be carried by an angel?"
She gave him a long look—half amusement, half disbelief—before shaking her head. "You're unbelievable."
"Mm. I'll take that as a compliment."
Konan turned away, her paper wings unfolding once more. "Fine. I'll check the left ridge."
"Then I'll take the right."
The two separated, disappearing into the rugged expanse of stone and sky.
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