Konan's eyes flashed with thought. Kitazawa's answer sounded reasonable. If he'd sworn up and down that he could definitely cure it, she would've been more suspicious.
"I can take you to see him," Konan said, expressionless.
"I can't go meet him in person," Kitazawa replied, shaking his head. "I don't know your Akatsuki at all, and Amegakure and Konoha are enemies."
Akatsuki wasn't yet the world's public enemy at this stage, but Uchiha Obito—under the name Uchiha Madara—was already a member.
In the original timeline, the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, was brought under control after encountering Obito, Deva Path Pain, and Konan.
Kitazawa had seriously injured Obito; he'd love nothing more than to kill Kitazawa now. Going to Akatsuki would be walking into the tiger's den.
Even without Obito, the other Akatsuki members were hardly gentle—one wrong word and they'd use force. By Kitazawa's count, the only relatively "normal" one was Konan herself.
"I guarantee your safety," Konan said earnestly.
"We've only met twice. There's no trust between us," Kitazawa refused again.
Konan bit her lip, at a loss for words. Kidnap him and drag him to Akatsuki? Kitazawa was powerful—taking him down wouldn't be easy.
And beyond strength, his position was powerful too. Attacking him would be tantamount to declaring war on Konoha. Akatsuki wasn't ready to fight the Five Great Villages, and neither Nagato nor that so-called Uchiha Madara would allow her to jeopardize the Eye of the Moon Plan.
Give up, then? She'd finally found a glimmer of hope to treat Nagato; she wasn't willing to let it slip away.
"You can bring him to Konoha," Kitazawa said.
"That's impossible," Konan answered without thinking.
"Then don't come into Konoha. Pick a spot somewhere in the Land of Fire," Kitazawa said, having expected her refusal and offering a more acceptable condition.
Konan fell silent. This might be the only way—but persuading Nagato to come to the Land of Fire would not be easy.
"I choose the location," she said coolly, lifting her gaze. Tricky as it was, she wanted to try.
"No problem," Kitazawa said after a beat. "But only the two of you can come."
He already planned to meet Nagato with a shadow clone.
"Fine," Konan said, unconcerned. With the Rinnegan and the Six Paths of Pain, Nagato's strength had skyrocketed beyond normal shinobi limits. That was why he'd grown so inflated as to call himself a god.
Konan dared to recruit all sorts of rogue ninja into Akatsuki because she believed in Nagato's power. She was confident that even if Kitazawa set a trap, she and Nagato would be the ones left standing.
"As for payment, I'll name my price after I've examined him," Kitazawa said with a smile. "Once you arrive at the designated spot, come find me."
Konan nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
Kitazawa stroked his chin as he watched her go. Nagato's crippled legs, strictly speaking, could be treated by Obito—or "Madara." After all, Obito had replaced half his body with Hashirama cells and White Zetsu tissue. Kitazawa guessed there were two reasons it hadn't happened.
First, Obito and Black Zetsu found a crippled Nagato easier to control. Second, Nagato didn't trust them; even if they offered to heal his legs, he would refuse, worried they'd tamper with him. Kitazawa felt both reasons were plausible.
Why come to him, then? First, because he'd created a limb-regeneration medical jutsu. Second, because in Konan's eyes, he had no grudge with Nagato and knew nothing about the Eye of the Moon Plan or Nagato's identity. On paper, it was a fair deal. Unfortunately for her, Kitazawa knew more than she imagined.
In any case, he'd assess Nagato first. Whether to treat him, how to do it, and the price—all of that was up to Kitazawa. Nagato's real problem wasn't his crippled legs but the Gedo Statue draining too much of his chakra and life force.
Even if his legs were healed, it wouldn't boost him much. If the payoff was high enough, though, Kitazawa didn't mind helping.
"I'm back!" Kitazawa called as he returned to Kurenai's home, pushing the door open.
"Kitazawa!" Kurenai appeared in front of him in a flash. "I've got good news!"
"Did you master Wind Release: Rasengan?" His gaze fell on her beautiful face—sweat on her pale forehead, cheeks flushed like twin evening clouds. Clearly, she'd been training hard.
"Can't you at least pretend you don't know?" Kurenai pouted, her excitement fading by half.
"My bad," Kitazawa said, slipping an arm around her waist. "I'll make it up to you tonight."
"All you ever think about are those ridiculous things," she huffed, shooting him a look.
"Remember our bet?" he asked, giving her rounded hips a playful squeeze.
"Hmph. I pay up when I lose," Kurenai grumbled, stepping on his foot. "What's your request?"
Kitazawa leaned down and whispered in her ear. Kurenai's eyes went wide—she could hardly believe what she'd heard.
"Well? Can you do it?" Kitazawa asked with a grin.
"I can, but you're… such a pervert," Kurenai said with open disdain.
"You just said a bet's a bet," Kitazawa reminded her. "Don't go back on your word."
"Don't underestimate me!" Kurenai snapped, cheeks burning. "I'll have you begging for mercy."
"I'll be waiting," Kitazawa said, stroking her full, toned thigh.
"I'm going to cook," Kurenai said, rolling her eyes and turning away. Her long black hair swayed, soft and voluminous.
Kitazawa admired her alluring silhouette until she disappeared into the kitchen, then pulled his gaze back. After lunch, he used the time to train Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall.
Night deepened. Kitazawa came back to the room. As soon as he stepped into the living room, he saw Kurenai on the sofa in a silk nightdress, her long pale legs wrapped in black stockings that gleamed under the light.
"Why didn't you wait and bathe with me?" Kitazawa caught a faint fragrance.
"It's not too late now," Kurenai said softly, tucking hair behind her ear. "I've drawn a hot bath for you."
"Gonna scrub my back?" The domestic goddess vibe had him itching.
"Mhm." Kurenai stood and came over. "Carry me."
Kitazawa scooped her up. Her stockinged legs swayed lightly in the air against his arms.
"Aren't you worried about getting your nightdress and stockings wet?" he teased.
"At this point, that's what you care about?" she asked, lips quirking.
"Fair," he laughed, carrying her into the bathroom and setting her down.
"Arms up," Kurenai said, helping him take off his shirt. She glanced down, a blush rising to her cheeks.
"I'll help you too," Kitazawa said, fingers finding the ties at her back. The silk fell to the floor, and her beautiful figure filled his view.
"Should the stockings come off?" Kurenai hesitated, then shook her head. "Forget it—I shouldn't even ask."
She lifted a black-stockinged leg and stepped into the tub. The stockings darkened as they soaked, their sheen stark against her fair skin.
"Let's do it here," Kitazawa murmured, pulling her close. "Let me see how practiced your Monster Strength is."
"If I beat you senseless, don't blame me," Kurenai warned, clenching a fist.
"Dream on," Kitazawa shot back. With his Yin Seal and seal-less healing, her Monster Strength would only make him more excited.
"Ugh, you—!" Kurenai, irritated by his attitude, bit her lip and tightened her black-stockinged thighs, channeling her monstrous strength. Kitazawa's heart jolted and he bared his teeth—she really was skilled and had immediately targeted his weakest points.
It still wasn't enough. He adapted quickly, while Kurenai, after using her strength repeatedly, burned through her stamina early.
Amid quickened breathing, sweat slicked her body, and she eventually lost the ability to move.
…
Wednesday arrived. Kitazawa got out of bed, smiled at the sight of Kurenai sprawled across the sheets, then made her breakfast and headed to the Academy.
He found Naruto, Sasuke, and the others more focused than usual. A moment's thought and he understood—it had to be the new practical-exam format he'd proposed yesterday.
First place in the Advanced Class was up for grabs again. On real missions, winning didn't come down to personal strength alone; it also depended on teammates and mission outcomes. It was a test of overall ability.
Under the old format, Sasuke and Neji wouldn't have been this motivated—first and second were basically reserved for Naruto and Yakumo.
Kitazawa smiled—this approach seemed promising. Leaving a shadow clone behind, he went to the Advanced Class to lecture Konoha Hospital's medical ninja. In the afternoon, he left another clone and took his real body to the Hokage's office. He knocked.
"Come in," came Tsunade's voice.
Kitazawa entered. "Oh, it's you," Tsunade said, dropping all pretense and slouching in the Hokage's chair, legs together and propped on the desk. From his angle, those long legs and generous curves were impossible to ignore.
"Tsunade-sensei, if anyone saw you sitting like that, it'd hurt the Hokage's image," Kitazawa coughed lightly.
"It's fine. Only you and Shizune ever see me like this," Tsunade said, closing her eyes. "I'm taking a nap. Go practice your Yin Seal."
Her breathing soon evened out. Kitazawa watched her chest rise and fall—she really was exhausted. Understandable: she'd just become Hokage, the busiest time.
In a week, once the Hokage's secretary was in place, she'd have it easier. He didn't disturb her, stepping outside to train—not the Yin Seal, but Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall.
At four in the afternoon, he finished and returned to the office.
"Run into any problems?" Tsunade asked, back to work.
"No," Kitazawa said, then added, "There's something I want to run by you," and outlined the new practical-exam format.
"Bold as ever," Tsunade frowned. "They're strong, but they're still too young."
"Only low-rank missions. No real danger," Kitazawa said. "I'll have Anbu shadow them."
"Then trial it for two months," Tsunade conceded after a moment. He'd thought it through too well to refuse.
"Just as well—I've got something for you too," she said. "Two weeks from now, negotiations with Kirigakure—are you going?"
"Shikaku-senpai's more suitable than me," Kitazawa said after a pause. "If you want me as a delegate, that's fine."
"You really are my student," Tsunade smiled. "As lazy as I am."
"That's not laziness—that's efficiency," Kitazawa corrected. "As Hokage, your job isn't to do everything yourself; it's to give it to the person who'll finish it fastest."
Tsunade blinked, then bit her finger thoughtfully. "Makes sense."
"How many Hokage secretaries are you planning on?" Kitazawa asked with a grin.
"Three—for now, you, Shizune, and Shikaku," she said, fingers steepled. "But the way you put it, I think I should add two more."
"What's this got to do with me?" Kitazawa asked, puzzled.
"Nothing—just adding a title for you," Tsunade said offhandedly. In truth, "Anbu Commander" didn't carry the same visibility as "Hokage's Secretary." She was already grooming Kitazawa as the next Hokage.
"Got any recommendations for secretary candidates?" she continued before he could answer.
"If there are going to be that many, why not make it a proper department?" Kitazawa suggested.
"What's the difference?" Tsunade asked, doubtful.
"A lot," Kitazawa said, and outlined the functions of a modern secretariat as he remembered them: 1) handle Konoha's day-to-day—small matters solved without escalation; 2) serve as a relay between the Hokage and other bodies; 3) draft rules and documents; 4) oversee agency operations and execution; 5) coordinate and mediate among institutions.
"You be Hokage," Tsunade said outright when he finished. She knew secretaries were useful, but she'd never heard such a systematic breakdown.
"Is now really the time for jokes?" Kitazawa asked, exasperated.
"Fine—then you can be the next Hokage," she said after a beat.
"Let's stick to business," he said, giving her a look.
"Do it your way," Tsunade said excitedly. If the Secretariat did what Kitazawa described, her workload would drop by at least two-thirds. In short—more time to slack off happily.
"I've got another idea," Kitazawa said with a smile. "Call the head of the Secretariat a 'Hokage Advisor.'"
"You're trying to siphon power from those two current advisors?" Tsunade said, tempted. Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane's advisory roles were largely ceremonial—but the Secretariat's Advisor wouldn't be. Over time, the old advisors' influence would dwindle; everyone could see who actually got things done.
"Exactly," Kitazawa nodded. "Deputies keep the 'Hokage Secretary' title; other members are regular secretaries."
"Make Shikaku the new advisor?" Tsunade mused. "Backed by the Ino–Shika–Cho, he won't fear the other two."
"That's the best choice," Kitazawa agreed. "You can have three secretaries. Besides Shizune-senpai, add one Uchiha and one Hyuga."
"Uchiha and Hyuga?" Tsunade tapped the desk. "They've practically never held roles like this."
"At least one Uchiha—like Kagami—served in the Hokage Guard once," Kitazawa said. "But no Hyuga's ever been in Konoha's true core."
"Times have changed. Give them seats and they'll be more loyal," Kitazawa chuckled. "In the end, the shinobi world respects strength."
"You've got more nerve than me or the old man," Tsunade said after a brief silence, oddly reminded of Hashirama—so confident he could overwhelm anyone that power struggles hardly mattered to him.
"I learned it from you," Kitazawa smiled. "I am your student, after all."
"Now that's what I like to hear," Tsunade said, lips curling. "How will you fix the Uchiha clan's image problem?"
A Hokage secretary counted as Konoha's upper echelon. To seat an Uchiha there, most jōnin would have to agree.
"Power-sharing and cooperation," Kitazawa said. "I'll talk to the Uchiha myself."
"Care to explain?" Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Who's Hokage here?"
"It's simple," Kitazawa said. "Have the Uchiha give up some of the Police Force's authority in exchange for support from other clans."
"Enough—go do it," Tsunade said, instantly switching to hands-off mode. "Tell me the results, and we'll announce them at next week's jōnin meeting."