Call Tsunade Back?

"Right here." Kitazawa stopped. In front of him stood two cherry trees—one to the left and one to the right.

He leaped up and stepped firmly onto the tree trunk. Spreading his arms wide, Kitazawa used chakra to pull in the air, and soon a handful of leaves gathered into his palms.

He released his grip, and the chakra-infused leaves fluttered downward.

"Hinata, catch all the leaves." Kitazawa gave the command.

Hinata acted immediately upon hearing him. She extended her hands, moving with lightning speed to catch the falling leaves. Stuffing the ones she caught into her arms, she darted after the remaining leaves.

Though she was quick, she couldn't catch them all in time.

"I'm sorry, Teacher Kitazawa." Hinata lowered her head, holding the leaves with embarrassment. She felt useless, unable to complete something as simple as catching leaves.

"It's already excellent for your first try. There's no need to apologize." Kitazawa smiled and asked, "Do you know what this leaf-catching training is for?"

"I don't," Hinata answered honestly.

"It's meant to train both your eyesight and reaction time." Kitazawa spoke nonsense with confidence, "They say this method came from the ancestor of your Hyuga clan."

"Huh?" Hinata thought hard but couldn't recall such a thing.

"When your ancestor first tried this, he was much worse than you. He couldn't even catch one-third of the leaves." Kitazawa paused, then said, "Hinata, you're very talented."

Hinata nodded firmly. Even though she didn't know if the story about the ancestor was true, Kitazawa's words restored her confidence.

"Let's continue." Kitazawa waved his hand, and the leaves floated back into his palms.

This method of leaf-catching actually came from the system. It was designed to help awaken the Byakugan.

Hinata's small figure moved swiftly as she concentrated, her hands grabbing at the leaves.

Time passed slowly, and the class soon ended.

"That's it for today." Kitazawa jumped down from the tree.

Hinata instantly relaxed at his words. Fatigue surged through her body, and she gasped for breath. Sweat trickled down her forehead, soaking her hair and fair skin.

"Sit down and rest for a bit." Kitazawa pulled out a water bottle from his space storage scroll and handed it to her.

"Thank you, Teacher Kitazawa." Hinata took the bottle, sipped the water, and felt refreshed.

"You should do more physical training when you can." Kitazawa reminded gently.

"Mm." Hinata nodded, then hesitated before asking, "Um... Teacher Kitazawa..."

She trailed off mid-sentence, feeling embarrassed.

"What is it?" Kitazawa looked at her curiously.

"It's... It's nothing." Hinata gripped the bottle with both hands, nervously poking at it with her fingers.

"School's over, time to head home. Let's go." After resting for a few minutes, Kitazawa stood up.

Hinata quickly followed behind him.

---

"Teacher Kitazawa!" The first-year Class A students had all left—except for Uzumaki Naruto.

"Here." Kitazawa handed him a scroll. "This is your homework for tonight."

Naruto accepted it with a pained expression. To remain in the top ten of the class, he had stuck to his routine for a week. He couldn't quit halfway.

"Teacher Kitazawa, I want to do it too." Hinata, upon seeing the scroll, remembered how fulfilling it felt to work on exercises last month.

Naruto stared at her in disbelief. Who would willingly ask for homework?

Terrifying!

"You don't need to." Kitazawa shook his head. "There's no reason to waste extra time when you're already ranked first."

Hinata thought it over and obediently dropped the subject.

"Naruto." Kitazawa reminded, "Be sure to come early tomorrow—I'll go over your wrong answers with you."

"Yes, Teacher Kitazawa," Naruto replied weakly.

Homework is the worst! 

---

A week flew by, and Saturday arrived quickly.

Kitazawa had just gotten up when a knock sounded at his door. He went to open it. Sure enough, it was Kurenai Yuhi.

"So early?" Kitazawa yawned. "Did you eat breakfast yet?"

"No." Yuhi Kurenai stepped inside. Naturally, she bent down and removed her shoes. As she looked up, she noticed Kitazawa staring at her feet.

"Why no black stockings today?" Kitazawa asked without changing expression.

"Because I'm not wearing a matching dress." Kurenai placed her shoes on the cabinet and walked barefoot across the floor into the living room.

"What do you want for breakfast?" Kitazawa asked, closing the door.

"Something simple." Kurenai sat on the sofa, ran her fingers through her black hair, and asked, "Do you have rice balls or sushi?"

"I'll go get them." Kitazawa went to the kitchen.

When he returned, Kurenai was lying on the sofa. Her head rested on the armrest, waist, and abdomen curled, her pale legs elegantly aligned.

"You really don't treat yourself like a guest." Kitazawa smiled and shook his head.

"I was up all night." Kurenai glanced at him. "Can't I relax a little?"

"Why were you up all night?" Kitazawa asked after a pause.

"See for yourself." Kurenai pulled a scroll from her waist and tossed it to him.

Kitazawa caught the still-warm scroll. Upon reading it, surprise lit up his face.

"You really completed the Art of Truth Technique?" He asked in disbelief.

"Inspiration struck yesterday." Kurenai lifted the corners of her mouth. "Impressive, right?"

"You're not just impressive—you're beautiful and brilliant." Kitazawa complimented.

"Not bad," Kurenai said smugly while taking a bite of sushi.

"Have you told Yakumo yet?" Kitazawa asked as he rolled up the scroll.

"Not yet," Kurenai answered casually. "She'll be coming later anyway."

"Mm." Kitazawa nodded slightly. "With her talent, it probably won't take her a day to master this genjutsu."

"Don't jinx it. I have a headache." Kurenai waved dismissively. "No more genjutsu studies today."

"Got it." Kitazawa laughed at her tired expression.

"These two new illusions—the Art of Speech and the Art of Truth Technique—can be reported to the Hokage." Kurenai sat up. "You'll go later. If there's any reward, accept it for me."

"What about you?" Kitazawa blinked in surprise.

"I'm going to sleep!" Kurenai suddenly raised her voice.

---

Kitazawa brought the scroll to the Hokage's office.

"You two did a wonderful job." Sarutobi Hiruzen examined the techniques with great interest. He hadn't expected Kitazawa and Kurenai to create two original genjutsu in such a short time.

Most importantly, it made him consider the real potential of establishing a psychological medical ninja system.

"According to Konoha's rules, submitting original jutsu will earn you rewards," Hiruzen said after a moment. "You and Kurenai may each choose three B-rank or lower jutsu."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage." Kitazawa was elated.

He now had three more techniques to choose from. After Kitazawa left with an ANBU escort, Hiruzen sat in deep thought.

He was debating whether to contact Tsunade. There were so few reliable ninja leaders left in Konoha. Hatake Sakumo had committed suicide. Namikaze Minato had died. Orochimaru had defected.

Jiraiya and Tsunade were both long absent.

The Uchiha clan remained dangerously unstable. If Tsunade returned, it could ease some of the burden on his shoulders.