After lunch, Kitazawa headed to the Hokage building.
He was just about to go in when he suddenly stopped and stepped back.
A moment later, he spotted an office window left slightly ajar.
Kitazawa bent his knees and vaulted up to it.
He'd always seen Jiraiya come and go through the window—today he figured he'd give it a try himself.
Balancing on the sill, he glanced into the Hokage's office.
Shizune wasn't there. Tsunade was sprawled across the Hokage's desk, fast asleep.
Kitazawa couldn't help but chuckle.
He hopped down from the window and walked inside, but he didn't wake her.
Settling onto the sofa, he rubbed his brow.
Running through his to-do list, he realized it was… a lot.
On top of learning Wood Release and teaching his students, he still had to train Yakushi Nonō and the others in limb regrowth.
At least the Anbu side didn't need much babysitting.
But the Sword of the Thunder God, puppet-making, and finding Haku—those three would have to wait.
Earliest he'd have time would be next week.
A thought struck him and his brow arched.
He'd forgotten something.
The Advanced Class's monthly exam.
He planned to shake that up this time.
Kitazawa glanced at Tsunade.
She didn't look like she'd be waking anytime soon.
He pulled out the Medical Forbidden Technique: Body Activation and started reading.
Once he finished overhauling the Medical Forbidden Technique: Body Revival, it would be this one's turn.
Time slipped by.
Half-awake, Tsunade stirred.
She automatically sat up and stretched.
Her blouse, flattened by her nap, regained its shape.
She opened her eyes and saw Kitazawa on the sofa, studying a ninjutsu scroll with total focus.
Tsunade blinked.
Say what you will about Kitazawa—he really was easy on the eyes. Exactly her type.
She shook her head on reflex.
She'd made that mistake once already. No way was she making it twice.
"Kitazawa, when did you get here?"
She yawned as she asked.
"Didn't notice—maybe an hour or two."
Kitazawa put away the scroll, looked over at her, and couldn't stop smiling.
"What are you laughing at?"
Tsunade felt oddly at a loss.
Kitazawa stood and walked up to her.
He raised his hand toward the right side of her face.
"W-what are you doing?"
A flicker of nerves pricked at Tsunade.
"It's all ink."
Kitazawa lightly traced her cheek, then held his fingertip up for her to see, grinning.
Tsunade froze, then realized.
She'd been napping on the paperwork; of course her face picked up ink.
She scrubbed at her cheek a few times—only to see Kitazawa smiling even broader.
No question, she'd made it worse.
"Got a mirror?"
She couldn't help giving him a kick as she asked.
"Nope."
Kitazawa shook his head at her cat-whisker face.
"You do it."
Tsunade frowned, shot him a glare, then angled her face so the right side was toward him.
Kitazawa reached out.
He shifted his chakra to Water Release; a thin ribbon of water coiled around his fingers.
With a few careful swipes, the right half of Tsunade's face returned to snow-white.
"Tsunade-sensei, you look even more stunning than before."
Kitazawa offered the compliment.
His smile reflected in her eyes and, for a second, she drifted.
"Let's start on the Yin Seal."
She came back to herself.
Lately she didn't feel as natural around Kitazawa as before, and she knew it.
"Okay."
Kitazawa nodded.
"Go sit on the sofa. We'll talk it through."
Tsunade stood. "The Yin Seal's complicated—we'll be here a while."
Kitazawa took the sofa across from her, gaze falling naturally on her.
Tsunade was casual as ever.
She leaned back, crossed those long legs, and her pale bare feet swayed lightly.
"The Yin Seal is an S-rank medical jutsu. But calling it 'medical' is only half right—it fuses medical ninjutsu with sealing arts."
She began her lecture.
With S-rank ninjutsu, you don't just jump to hand signs. You start with theory and key points.
Kitazawa already had the Yin Seal from the system. Listening to the basics was inevitably a little dull.
His eyes lingered on Tsunade—pulled, against his will, by certain… gravitational volumes.
"Repeat what I just said."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, voice carrying a warning.
Not paying attention and still letting your eyes wander?
If he didn't satisfy her, she really would smack him.
"Yes, ma'am."
Kitazawa straightened.
He repeated her explanation verbatim—and even added his own understanding.
Tsunade stared.
He'd fully digested what she'd said in that short a time?
She had the sudden feeling he might learn sealing faster than she had.
"Not bad."
Ignoring where his eyes had been, she continued on the Yin Seal.
The afternoon flew by.
"That's it for today."
Tsunade stood and looked at Kitazawa. "You really are bold."
"Tsunade-sensei, feel like hitting the casino?"
Kitazawa blinked.
He knew what she meant.
No boldness, no hope.
Tsunade wasn't Kurenai; she'd long since sealed her heart away.
If not for that tipsy, accidental kiss not long ago, Kitazawa would've assumed he had no chance.
"You do know the way to a woman's heart."
At the word "casino" her mood flipped. "You're helping me deal with Shizune."
"No problem."
Kitazawa smiled. "We'll just tell Shizune-senpai we studied the Yin Seal till midnight."
"Perfect. Let's go!"
Energized, Tsunade headed out.
Kitazawa shut the door and hurried after her.
She'd only gone a few steps when she suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?"
Kitazawa almost bumped into her.
He took one look at that peachy backside and retreated half a step.
"My money's all with Shizune."
Tsunade looked back at him.
"Then I'll cover what you lose."
He understood immediately and volunteered.
"What do you mean 'what I lose'?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Just lend me a stake. I'll pay you back when I win."
"Sure."
Kitazawa's mouth twitched.
How do you manage to lose every time and still sound that confident?
He really needed to figure out a money-maker.
Otherwise Tsunade was going to bankrupt him sooner or later.
He thought of the Limb Regeneration medical jutsu.
Konoha shinobi he could treat for free. But shinobi from other villages? They'd pay.
And not just shinobi—daimyō, nobles, merchants… all potential clients.
The moment they stepped into the casino, Tsunade's eyes lit up.
She sped toward a table—
And then remembered she had no money.
She grabbed Kitazawa, hauled him in front of the table, then let go without actually pulling her hand back, palm open in front of him.
Message received.
"I'll start you with three hundred thousand ryō."
He handed her a stack of cash.
"Plenty! Watch me win it all back!"
She was brimming with confidence.
Kitazawa didn't believe a word.
He sat beside her and watched her gamble—and, right on cue, lose, lose, lose.
"Again!"
Tsunade's face darkened.
Kitazawa gave her another three hundred thousand.
Watching her, he thought someone could shoot an anti-gambling film with her as the lead and it would be a hit.
"Damn it!"
Tsunade clenched a fist, thoroughly annoyed.
"Here."
Kitazawa turned into an unfeeling money dispenser.
Tsunade snatched the cash and kept going.
Night fell.
By Kitazawa's count, she was down nearly two million ryō.
That was two S-rank mission payouts.
"Tsunade-sensei, still going?"
He glanced at the window. "If we get back too late, Shizune-senpai will get suspicious."
Looking sour, Tsunade stood and headed for the door.
The streetlights along the road were already on.
A few deep breaths later, she'd mostly calmed down.
"Log what I borrowed today."
She glanced at Kitazawa. "I'll pay you back next time."
"No need."
He waved it off. "As long as you had fun."
Besides, the influence and value Tsunade had brought him already far exceeded two million ryō.
Like being named Anbu Commander… the Yin Seal… and the Ninjutsu—Creation Rebirth: Strength of a Hundred she'd teach him later.
Tsunade paused.
After so long under Shizune's tight rein, a Kitazawa who let her spend freely felt… unfamiliar.
But she also doubted his motives.
He wasn't exactly subtle.
She could just lay it out and shut him down, but for some reason, she couldn't quite bring herself to do it.
"Tsunade-sensei, Shizune-senpai's probably already had dinner. Want to find an izakaya and grab a drink?"
He asked before she could answer.
Her first instinct was to agree—then she bit her lip.
She shook her head. "No drinking. Let's get Ichiraku ramen."
"That's… not really your style."
Kitazawa said, surprised.
"The three taboos for shinobi—no drinking. Got it?"
She shot him a glare.
"Tsunade-sensei, nobody's going to believe you just said that."
Kitazawa muttered.
"Huh?"
Tsunade stopped, leaned in, and with her most threatening look asked, "What was that?"
Her pretty face filled his vision.
In his peripheral vision: a hint of pale rise and fall. He was momentarily dazzled.
"I mean—Tsunade-sensei is always right."
He corrected himself at once.
Tsunade sniffed, then realized how close they were and quickly stepped back half a pace.
"If we're doing Ichiraku, I recommend the chashu-rib ramen."
Kitazawa smiled.
"You go to Ichiraku a lot?"
she asked as they walked.
"I live next door."
Kitazawa explained. "I used to be a regular."
"Your place?"
Tsunade blinked. "Right—your current house is Kurenai's place, not yours."
Kitazawa coughed twice.
Now that she mentioned it, he hadn't been home in ages, and his general store was still shuttered.
Not that he needed it anymore.
As Anbu Commander, the Hokage's student, and the Ninja Academy's vice principal, making money wasn't exactly hard.
"Teuchi, two chashu-rib ramen."
Kitazawa called as he stepped into Ichiraku.
"Kitazawa? Long time no—Hokage-sama!"
Teuchi was mid-greeting when he saw Tsunade and froze.
"Teuchi, Hokage-sama doesn't drop by often—you'd better bring your A-game."
Kitazawa laughed.
"Absolutely!"
Teuchi promised. "Hokage-sama won't be disappointed!"
With that, he squared his shoulders and hustled back into the kitchen.
"You didn't have to put that much pressure on him," Tsunade said offhandedly.
"Pressure makes diamonds."
Kitazawa took the stool beside her. "And Teuchi's not afraid of a challenge. His goal is to make the best ramen in the shinobi world."
"Sounds like you really know him."
Tsunade looked up at the menu on the wall. "Why only recommend the chashu-rib? Are the others bad?"
"Everything Teuchi makes is solid."
Kitazawa paused. "It's just my taste—and it's Naruto's favorite too."
"Naruto, huh?"
Tsunade murmured. "I read his file at the old man's place. He's obsessed with Ichiraku."
"Well, Teuchi's one of the few villagers who always treated him like a normal kid."
Kitazawa studied her profile. "Tsunade-sensei, will you make his real identity public?"
"You mean the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, or the Fourth's son?"
Tsunade blinked.
"Keep the jinchūriki part under wraps for now. But I think it's time to announce he's the Fourth Hokage's son."
Kitazawa said evenly. "You know his childhood wasn't exactly happy. There's no reason he should bear that burden alone."
"Konoha owes him on this one."
Tsunade sighed.
Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina gave their lives to save the village.
Their son never got the treatment he deserved.
Now that she was Hokage, that couldn't continue.
"At the next jōnin meeting, I'll announce it to the village."
She thought for a moment, then decided.
"As expected of Tsunade-sensei—bolder than the Third."
Kitazawa praised.
"Aren't you afraid the old man will hear you?"
Tsunade laughed.
"I've got you. What's there to be afraid of?"
Kitazawa said, perfectly at ease.
Tsunade bit her lip.
This Kitazawa really was getting shameless.
"Tsunade-sensei, I think we should also tell Naruto about the Nine-Tails itself."
Kitazawa said, serious now. "Let him know early, and start working toward controlling its power."
"Is he ready?"
Tsunade frowned slightly. "Feels like we should wait a few years. After he graduates, he can try to handle the Nine-Tails."
The whole point of a Nine-Tails jinchūriki was to wield that power to protect Konoha.
That had always been true; Naruto would be no exception.
She just felt starting now was too early—at least wait until he was twelve.
"He doesn't have to master it right away."
Kitazawa shifted tack. "Start with the bond. With Naruto's personality, he can befriend the Nine-Tails."
"Friends?"
Tsunade caught on instantly. "You mean a perfect jinchūriki?"
Ordinary jinchūriki force the power out of their beasts.
A perfect jinchūriki is a partner—the tailed beast lends its power willingly.
Obviously, the latter can reach far beyond the beast itself.
"Exactly."
Kitazawa nodded. "I believe Naruto can do it."
Tsunade fell silent, thinking.
If Naruto became a perfect jinchūriki, everyone would win.
She just worried he'd get hurt along the way.
Her gaze slid back to Kitazawa, and she suddenly smiled. "All right. I'll leave that to you."
"No problem."
Kitazawa exhaled in relief.
Finally, he could complete the system task about telling Naruto the Nine-Tails existed!
"If he really becomes a perfect jinchūriki, you'll have a massive achievement to your name."
Tsunade promised. "Ask me for a reward—anything."
"Anything?"
Kitazawa met her eyes.
Heat flickered there; Tsunade's heart skipped. She turned away. "Anything the village can offer."
[Mission from the Hokage.]
[Current Mission: Help Uzumaki Naruto become a perfect jinchūriki.]
[Reward: 20% of Hashirama Senju's bloodline.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa's eyes flew wide.
Grass!
As in, the plant.
Hashirama Senju's exact bloodline?
What kind of ridiculous reward was that?
He remembered Hashirama saying in the original story that Naruto plus half of the Nine-Tails' chakra could only barely compare to him.
Even twenty percent of Hashirama's bloodline would blow past a full-blooded ordinary Senju.
How many chakra bars is that?
A hundred? Five hundred? Basically impossible to run dry.
Of course, fat rewards meant tough tasks.
In canon, Naruto didn't become a perfect jinchūriki until way down the road—nine or ten years from now at least.
But with Kitazawa's butterfly effect, it wouldn't take that long this time.
Either way, he was absolutely accepting this one.
At the same time, his hunch was confirmed—so long as he had the system, he'd surpass Hashirama sooner or later.
"Chashu-rib ramen's up!"
Teuchi popped out, cutting their talk short.
"Thanks."
Tsunade accepted the bowl.
"Hokage-sama, please enjoy. Any feedback, just say the word."
Teuchi beamed.
"I will."
Tsunade picked up her chopsticks.
"Kitazawa, here's yours."
Teuchi set the second bowl in front of him.
"Thanks."
Kitazawa inhaled deeply. "Smells exactly the same."
"Of course."
Teuchi grinned. "You just haven't been by in a while."
"I'll come when I can."
Kitazawa glanced at Tsunade—she was already slurping noodles.
"You're a hero of Konoha now. Being busy makes sense."
Teuchi paused. "If you want ramen, tell me ahead of time. I'll have Ayame deliver."
"No need."
Kitazawa shook his head.
Ichiraku was always slammed; Teuchi and Ayame were already stretched thin.
Making her deliver would just add to the load.
"You two are close."
Tsunade's lips curved.
"We've been neighbors for years."
Teuchi said warmly. "Kitazawa has helped me a lot."
"Then tell me about his past."
Tsunade took a sip of broth.
"Wait!"
Kitazawa's face changed. "How did this become about me?"
"I'm your teacher. Can't I learn a little about your past?"
Tsunade teased.
"You just want my black history."
Kitazawa's mouth tugged.
"Black history? Sounds about right."
Tsunade perked up, straight to the point. "Teuchi, give me all the juicy bits."
"…"
Kitazawa was speechless.
Gossip truly is human nature—even Tsunade wasn't immune.
"Haha!"
Teuchi chuckled twice. "No problem!"
~~~
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