Chapter 47

Sunday morning

Kitazawa stumbled out of bed, still half-asleep, and automatically shuffled toward the bathroom.

But after a few steps, his eyes flew open, and he was suddenly wide awake.

Standing in front of him was Kurenai Yuhi.

In a rush, memories of last night came back. Just like the previous weekend, they'd stayed up late working together on Yakumo's new genjutsu—the Truth Extraction Jutsu.

"Good morning, Kitazawa."

Kurenai eyed him up and down, a flicker of surprise glinting in her crimson eyes.

Kitazawa froze, realizing something, and quickly fumbled to button his pajama top.

"I'm not afraid, so what are you so shy about?"

Kurenai teased him with a sly smile.

"I'm not afraid," Kitazawa shot back, adjusting his collar. "I just don't want things to be unfair. Why should only you get to look?"

At that, Kurenai chuckled. She was still dressed in her low-cut red dress, showing off a flash of cleavage.

This morning, though, she wasn't wearing her usual black stockings—probably because she'd just woken up.

"Oh?" she purred, trailing her slender fingers along her moist, red lips. "Then… where exactly do you want to look?"

Kitazawa blinked, momentarily stunned.

He'd never seen Kurenai act so flirtatious and playful.

'Is this the real her… or have we just spent too much time together?'

"…Your legs," Kitazawa said finally, utterly honest.

"You actually dared to say it!"

Kurenai froze for a second, then stepped closer, lifted one elegant foot, and planted it lightly against his leg.

The touch was soft and cool—and far too brief.

Kitazawa swallowed, feeling an immediate pang of regret.

'If only she were… cough cough.'

"How is this my fault?" Kitazawa protested, hands raised. "I was just answering your question!"

"You talk like you're the one being bullied here."

Kurenai rolled her eyes at him.

"I am being bullied!" Kitazawa insisted. "I didn't even see anything!"

"…."

Kurenai studied him for a moment, feeling like she'd underestimated him.

After a huff, she turned away, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"I'm making breakfast," she said over her shoulder as she disappeared into the kitchen.

Kurenai exhaled deeply as she went about her cooking.

'I was just trying to tease him… When did this guy get so good at talking back?'

Then, remembering the brief glimpse she'd caught earlier, she allowed herself a small, private smile.

'Though I have to admit… he's got quite a nice body.'

A few minutes later, the two of them sat at the table.

"Thanks," Kitazawa said, eyeing the steaming bowl of char-siu ramen before him.

"It's nothing special," Kurenai replied. "Not as good as Ichiraku Ramen. Just make do with it."

"That's not necessarily true," Kitazawa said, flashing a grin. "Ever heard the phrase 'feast for the eyes'?"

Kurenai paused, chopsticks halfway to her mouth, then snorted.

"You and your weird sayings. Where do you learn this stuff?"

"I'm a teacher at the Ninja Academy," Kitazawa said loftily. "It's normal for me to know more than most people."

"Hah. As if being a Ninja Academy teacher makes you some great sage."

Kurenai shook her head.

In many people's minds, only ninja with no ambition ended up teaching at the Academy.

And honestly… that perception wasn't entirely wrong.

Ninjas with big dreams usually aimed higher—training hard, climbing the ranks, and even aspiring to become Hokage.

That was why, upon graduating from the Academy, young genin were immediately assigned to squads under seasoned team leaders.

"Have you ever thought about going back to active duty?" Kurenai asked, slurping her ramen. "Taking missions again?"

"I actually think teaching's pretty good," Kitazawa mused. Then he added with a grin, "But hey, if you're ever short a teammate on a mission, you know who to call."

He wasn't speaking idly. He'd thought it through carefully.

As the system kept rewarding him, his power would keep growing.

Eventually, he'd have to reveal some of his true strength—but dropping it all at once would shock everyone too much.

Better to reveal it little by little, at the right moments.

"Okay."

Kurenai agreed without hesitation. "If I find a suitable mission, I'll definitely call you."

According to Konoha's regulations, Genin couldn't take missions alone—but Chunin were free to form teams for various assignments.

No sooner had Kitazawa and Kurenai finished breakfast than Yakumo arrived right on time.

But instead of joining them to work on the Truth Extraction jutsu, she headed straight up to the rooftop. There, she unpacked her drawing tools and began practicing her bloodline limit.

"It's already nine o'clock. I have to head out."

Kitazawa glanced at the clock on the wall, then quickly stood up.

Today was the day of Hinata's duel with Toranosuke.

"Mm."

Kurenai simply nodded, not pressing him for details.

Once again, it was that same small forest.

Hinata stood quietly under the trees, waiting for Kitazawa's arrival.

In the past, just passing through this forest had filled her with anxiety and fear. But today, her heart felt unexpectedly calm.

Footsteps rustled through the leaves.

Hinata looked up instinctively, but when she saw Toranosuke emerge instead of Kitazawa, her eyes flickered with disappointment.

'Why isn't Kitazawa-sensei here yet?'

Meanwhile, Toranosuke glanced around, clearly nervous. But when he realized Hinata was alone, he relaxed, confidence returning to his posture.

Without that scary teacher around, he thought, there was nothing to fear.

"Hey, Byakugan freak!" Toranosuke sneered. "Aren't you gonna surrender the moment you see me?"

His familiar taunting tone dragged Hinata's mind back to darker memories.

But that was the past. This was now.

"Form the Confrontation Seal."

Hinata's voice was gentle—but this time, it carried an unmistakable firmness.

"You really think you can beat me? Don't make me laugh."

Toranosuke scoffed, folding his arms. "Last time, if it weren't for that bastard of a teacher—"

"Shut up!"

Hinata's expression hardened, her lavender eyes blazing with a rare fury. "Don't you dare insult Kitazawa-sensei!"

Toranosuke flinched, startled by the sudden fire in her voice. But he quickly recovered and spat back defiantly, "Or what? What'll you do if I curse him again? He's just some—"

Before he could finish, Hinata sprang forward like a striking hawk. Her fingers darted out, sharp and precise, jabbing at Toranosuke's right wrist.

He felt a sudden blockage in his chakra flow, his arm going limp.

He didn't even have time to react before Hinata attacked again, her five fingers flaring open, then snapping together as she drove her palm into his chest.

"AAAHHH!"

Toranosuke howled in pain, staggering backward before collapsing to the ground. He rolled on the forest floor, clutching his chest and shrieking in agony.

Hinata froze in place, staring down at her trembling hands.

'I didn't even use that much force… Why did he fall so hard?'

"Well done, Hinata."

Kitazawa's voice echoed through the trees, calm and warm.

"Kitazawa-sensei!"

Hinata's head snapped up. She broke into a beaming smile and jogged over to him, cheeks flushed pink.

Kitazawa returned her smile, feeling quite pleased—because a notification had just flashed across his system interface.

Mission Completed: Help your deskmate Hyuga Hinata defeat Toranosuke.

Reward Issued: Water Release: Water Bullet Jutsu.

Water Release: Water Bullet Jutsu was quite similar to Fire Release: Great Fireball—except one spat torrents of water instead of roaring flames.

Kitazawa reached out and gently patted Hinata's head.

At this point, Hinata's personal mission only had one objective left: for her to voluntarily reveal the secret behind her impressive appetite—a confession that would earn Kitazawa the Byakugan as a reward.

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