"Sasuke."
Kitazawa called out once, then leapt down to the bottom of the cliff.
Uchiha Sasuke stopped in his tracks when he heard him, but he kept his guard up as he watched Natsuhi.
After landing, Kitazawa swept his gaze around and spotted traps packed so densely they were almost layered on top of each other.
They were nothing to him—but if Sasuke and the others had jumped down recklessly, they'd probably have gotten hurt.
That was why Kitazawa had earlier told them to climb down using the vines.
Mainly, it was to teach them.
After all, Kitazawa couldn't lead missions forever.
Especially once he became Hokage, opportunities to personally lead a team would become few and far between.
"So you're shinobi from Konoha?" Natsuhi asked as she sized up Kitazawa, Tsunade, and the rest.
Sasuke's three-tomoe Sharingan alone was enough to confirm who he was.
"I'm Kitazawa," Kitazawa nodded and answered.
Natsuhi froze for a moment, then her expression changed drastically.
She'd heard of Kitazawa—especially that he was the second Wood Release user Konoha had produced since Hashirama Senju.
But from another angle, that meant he couldn't possibly be Akahoshi's reinforcements.
Hoshigakure was just a small village. It didn't have the clout to invite someone like him.
"And this is Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage of Konoha," Kitazawa raised a hand and introduced.
"…?"
Natsuhi's face filled with question marks.
What was going on?
Kitazawa showing up here was already beyond her expectations.
But the Fifth Hokage was here too—this was pure fantasy.
Was Konoha trying to annex Hoshigakure?
"I'm just passing through. No need to be so tense," Tsunade noticed her expression and said with a light laugh.
This mission was being led by Kitazawa.
Saying she was "passing through" wasn't exactly wrong.
"Natsuhi," Kitazawa stepped forward half a pace. "Let's talk business."
"You know me?" Natsuhi looked stunned.
"I did some investigation before coming," Kitazawa paused, then got straight to the point. "You didn't get the news down here—Third Hoshikage was killed by Akahoshi."
"What?" Natsuhi's eyes widened. "How is that possible?"
"You know Akahoshi—an audacious, ruthless schemer," Kitazawa casually pulled out a scroll. "This is Anbu's investigation report."
Natsuhi quickly took the scroll and read.
It laid out, in clear detail, how Akahoshi murdered the Third Hoshikage.
And with Tsunade and Kitazawa's status, there was no reason for them to lie to her.
Natsuhi subconsciously stumbled back a step, her face turning dazed.
But the daze quickly became panic.
Because her son, Sumaru, whom she had with Hotarubi, was still in Hoshigakure.
With the Third Hoshikage dead, Akahoshi would definitely set his sights on Sumaru.
After all, only Sumaru could lead him to Natsuhi and Hotarubi—and to reclaim the meteorite.
"Do you believe it now?" Kitazawa asked.
Natsuhi nodded, took a deep breath, and asked, "Why would Konoha tell me this?"
"Cooperation," Kitazawa said casually. "We help you take down Akahoshi. Hoshigakure becomes Konoha's ally."
"You'd better make that clear," Natsuhi's eyes sharpened.
In her view, there was no way a mere alliance would be enough to bring Tsunade and Kitazawa personally to Hoshigakure.
Konoha was one of the Five Great Villages. It wouldn't be that kind.
Natsuhi believed their real objective was Hoshigakure's meteorite.
That was why she wanted everything spelled out—so Konoha couldn't turn around later and go back on its word, or simply take it by force.
After all, Hoshigakure had no ability to resist Konoha.
"You're smart," Kitazawa lifted an eyebrow and admitted. "I want your meteorite."
Natsuhi thought, As expected.
She sank into thought.
Hoshigakure had been founded because of the meteorite—its importance went without saying.
Normally, she'd never hand it over.
But if she didn't give it to Konoha, it would most likely fall into Akahoshi's hands.
And once Akahoshi got it, he would force Hoshigakure's shinobi to train the Mysterious Peacock Method on a massive scale.
The more they trained, the more they'd die.
Over time… how many shinobi would the village have left?
Better to give it to Konoha and cut off the threat at the root.
If Hoshigakure could no longer use the meteorite for training, then no one would die from it again.
"I agree," Natsuhi finally said after hesitating for a long time.
"Pleasure doing business," Kitazawa smiled.
Natsuhi had a good sense of reality—unlike some small-village shinobi who didn't know when to quit.
"Is it just you down here?" Kitazawa asked again.
"It was me and my husband, Hotarubi," Natsuhi sighed. "But he died not long ago from the meteorite's side effects."
"My condolences," Kitazawa paused briefly.
"We're going to Hoshigakure now," Natsuhi shook her head, then explained, "I'm worried Akahoshi will target my son."
"Then let's go," Kitazawa sprang up, stepped on the vines, and quickly reached the top of the cliff.
Sasuke and the others did the same.
Natsuhi flew up using the Mysterious Peacock Method.
The group headed for Hoshigakure.
As soon as they reached the entrance, they were stopped.
"Natsuhi-senpai?" The two gate guards looked shocked.
After all, Natsuhi had been labeled a missing-nin. Her return was completely unexpected.
"Go bring Akahoshi out," Natsuhi had no intention of entering the village.
First, she was worried Akahoshi might have an ambush.
Second, fighting inside the village would cause too much destruction.
"Wait here," the two exchanged a glance.
One of them turned and sprinted toward the Hoshikage building.
It wasn't long before a large group came marching toward them.
At the front was a young man—Akahoshi.
"Natsuhi," Akahoshi spread his arms warmly. "Welcome home."
"Spare me the fake kindness, Akahoshi," Natsuhi asked coldly. "How did the Third Hoshikage die?"
"From illness," Akahoshi replied without changing expression.
"What illness?" Natsuhi didn't believe him. "What illness comes from training the Mysterious Peacock Method?"
Akahoshi shot back.
"Impossible!" Natsuhi shouted. "The Third Hoshikage stopped training the Mysterious Peacock Method years ago!"
The shinobi of Hoshigakure immediately looked at one another uneasily.
"Natsuhi," Akahoshi sensed the unrest and his face sank. "You—an alleged traitor—are questioning me?"
"I'm not a traitor!" Natsuhi declared firmly. "Back then, I left with 'Star' because I was following the Third Hoshikage's orders!"
"Star" was the name Hoshigakure had given the meteorite that fell from the sky.
"Lies!" Akahoshi barked. "Star is crucial to Hoshigakure—there's no way the Third Hoshikage would order something like that!"
"Training with Star seriously endangers our shinobi," Natsuhi shot back. "The Third Hoshikage cared about our lives!"
"Just like a traitor—silver tongue," Akahoshi raised a hand. "Take her down."
Two jonin stepped out from behind him: Yotaka and Shisou.
In the original story, they were the ones who helped Akahoshi murder the Third Hoshikage.
"I'll handle this!" Sasuke stepped in front of Natsuhi.
"Three-tomoe Sharingan? Natsuhi, you actually dared to collude with Konoha?" Akahoshi's heart jolted, and he roared, "You're trying to sell Hoshigakure to Konoha!"
The moment those words hit, the shinobi who had still been hesitating changed color.
"Attack!" Akahoshi shouted.
Hoshigakure's shinobi threw shuriken and kunai.
A storm of ninja tools tore through the air toward Sasuke and the others.
Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!
Hinata thrust her palms out, chakra flowing, shielding Shion, Kitazawa, and Tsunade.
Though Kitazawa and Tsunade didn't need her protection.
Nearby weapons were slapped away.
Sasuke was too far for her to cover—
but he didn't need it.
Sasuke twisted his wrist, channeling chakra into the Sword of the Thunder God.
Dazzling lightning spread through the air.
The instant the weapons were deflected, Sasuke charged into the crowd.
Akahoshi felt trouble.
Awakening a three-tomoe Sharingan at such a young age meant Sasuke was definitely a prodigy of Konoha.
And the identities of Kitazawa and Tsunade were absolutely not ordinary.
Especially the latter—she looked familiar.
But at this point, he couldn't back down.
And in his view, once he obtained Star, he wouldn't need to fear Konoha anymore.
A roar erupted.
Akahoshi formed hand seals, and a massive bear slammed toward Sasuke.
Natsuhi was about to help, but Yotaka and Shisou tied her down.
Multiple Arrows!
Hinata drew the Moonchaser Bow.
The bowstring trembled—an arrow of Yin Release shot out.
Midair, one became nine, and Hoshigakure shinobi dropped as they were struck.
Hinata didn't go for the kill—she avoided vital points.
Lightning Release: Chidori!
Sasuke formed seals.
A bolt of lightning manifested in his palm.
Then countless streaks converged—amid the screech of birds, Sasuke drove straight through the bear.
"What?!" Akahoshi's pupils tightened.
Sasuke's lips curled slightly.
Akahoshi's expression was so satisfying.
Finally, he wasn't the one getting beaten senseless.
Leaf-Style: Willow!
Sasuke's Sword of the Thunder God left afterimages as it shifted in midair.
Akahoshi tried to dodge, but his body wouldn't move.
He immediately realized what happened and hurried to dispel the genjutsu.
But the moment the illusion broke, a lightning-wreathed blade was already in front of him.
Akahoshi roared and poured out chakra.
At the same time, wings sprouted from his back.
He flew backward—still a moment too slow.
The Sword of the Thunder God carved across his abdomen, leaving a bloody gash.
"Bastard!" Akahoshi snarled, pain flaring—furious that a little boy had wounded him.
He rose into the air and immediately formed seals.
Wind howled.
Two enormous eagles formed from chakra and dove at Sasuke.
Sasuke frowned and dodged.
Boom!
One eagle smashed into the ground, dirt exploding upward.
The other looped around and charged again.
Sasuke glanced left and right.
At the instant it arrived, he leapt up, stepped on the eagle, and shot toward Akahoshi.
Akahoshi snorted and climbed higher again.
Lightning Release: Chidori Senbon!
Sasuke sheathed the Sword of the Thunder God and formed seals midair.
In an instant, terrifying lightning crawled over his right hand.
He snapped his arm—lightning flew out, turning into countless senbon needles.
Akahoshi's heart jolted.
He formed seals quickly; a wolf took shape in front of him—
but the next second, blinding lightning erupted.
The wolf was riddled with holes.
Still, it bought Akahoshi time.
With a flap of his wings, he escaped the range of Chidori Senbon.
Body Flicker!
Sasuke accelerated and cut him off midair.
Genjutsu: Unknown Fire!
The moment their eyes met, Sasuke's three-tomoe Sharingan pulsed.
Akahoshi went blank.
He'd been caught in genjutsu—his body fell uncontrollably.
But he was still a jonin. The instant he realized it, he tried to break free.
Hatake Sword Style!
Sasuke wasn't going to give him even a sliver of time.
Using the momentum of the fall, his Sword of the Thunder God flashed like lightning.
Akahoshi had only just dispelled the genjutsu when all he saw was a single white arc of sword light.
Blood sprayed.
His corpse crashed to the ground, splattering into a mess.
Sasuke put away the Sword of the Thunder God and slowly exhaled.
These past days had been miserable!
The resentment he'd built up from getting beaten down by Naruto finally eased a little.
Sasuke immediately turned toward Yotaka and Shisou.
Even though Natsuhi was fighting two-on-one, she wasn't losing.
But she wasn't gaining much either—deadlocked.
Body Flicker!
Sasuke dove in without hesitation.
"What? Akahoshi is dead?" Yotaka and Shisou only now noticed Akahoshi's body.
They'd been going all-out against Natsuhi and hadn't had time to watch the duel.
This outcome clearly shocked them both.
Genjutsu: Unknown Fire!
Sasuke seized the opening and pinned Yotaka immediately.
Hatake Sword Style!
Sasuke used the same trick—vanishing from where he stood.
He passed Yotaka in a single crossing motion, and the Sword of the Thunder God slit his throat.
"So fast…" Natsuhi was stunned.
If Sasuke were thirty or forty, she wouldn't be this shocked.
But he was only ten or eleven—this was terrifying.
Barring accidents, his future would be as a top-tier powerhouse of the shinobi world.
With Yotaka dead, Shisou couldn't hold out and was quickly dealt with by Natsuhi.
"Everyone, stop!" Natsuhi shouted.
The remaining Hoshigakure shinobi hurriedly stopped.
In truth, once Akahoshi died, their will to fight had already collapsed.
"Let me introduce them," Natsuhi raised her hand. "These two are Tsunade of Konoha, and Kitazawa-sama."
"What?!" A wave of unrest rippled through the shinobi.
They'd all heard of Tsunade and Kitazawa.
If they'd known those two were here, none of them would have dared to attack.
After introducing them, Natsuhi explained Akahoshi's murder of the Third Hoshikage.
Only then did Hoshigakure's shinobi truly believe her.
The explanation was detailed, logically sound, and Akahoshi had clear motive.
And most importantly—Akahoshi and his two accomplices were dead. What happened next depended on Natsuhi's decisions.
Kitazawa and Tsunade didn't interfere.
Only after Natsuhi finished talking with the shinobi did she return to them.
Now that Akahoshi and the others were dead, the Third Hoshikage's death was avenged, and the crisis was over.
"This is Hoshigakure's meteorite," Natsuhi opened a summoning storage scroll and took out a meteorite.
Kitazawa reached out and grasped it.
With a thought, he sensed that the special energy inside resembled chakra—but wasn't quite the same.
After thinking, Kitazawa activated the Byakugan.
His eyes narrowed as he saw something like flesh-and-blood structure inside the meteorite.
Could this be flesh from the Gedō Statue?
It wasn't a wild guess.
Before Madara ever used the Rinnegan to summon the Gedō Statue, it had been on the moon.
And this meteorite had fallen from the sky, reacting strangely with chakra.
If a piece had broken off the statue and crashed into the shinobi world, it would make sense.
But it might not be the Gedō Statue's flesh.
Kitazawa thought of Samehada.
It had a special relationship with the Three-Tails, Isobu.
Maybe this meteorite was something similar—an entity like Samehada.
Besides the Gedō Statue, the moon also had the Ōtsutsuki clan.
And they'd fought a war among themselves due to ideological differences.
It was also possible that this meteorite had fallen during that conflict, been found by Hoshigakure, and named "Star."
"Hokage-sama," Natsuhi bowed slightly. "Please wait one day. I'll draft the alliance agreement today, and we'll sign tomorrow."
Tsunade nodded.
Tomorrow, she could return directly to Konoha with Flying Thunder God.
A round trip wouldn't even take a week—Shizune and the Hokage's secretaries wouldn't complain.
Under Natsuhi's arrangements, Kitazawa and the others stayed in a courtyard residence.
"Kitazawa-sensei," Shion said after sitting down, "the Land of Demons is north of the Land of Bears. I want to go back for a visit."
"Sure," Kitazawa thought briefly. "Tsunade-sensei, I'll send you back tomorrow first, then I'll take Shion and the others to the Land of Demons."
He happened to have a system mission to leave Flying Thunder God markers across different countries, so he could do it along the way.
Tsunade hesitated for two seconds, then agreed.
She wanted to go with him, but that would take too long.
As Hokage, she couldn't be too willful.
So she gave up and returned to work.
Missions and office work were both miserable—but they were miserable in totally different ways.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei," Shion said immediately.
"There's still time. Go train," Kitazawa said with a smile.
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei," Sasuke, Hinata, and Shion stood up and went out into the courtyard.
"Tsunade-sensei," Kitazawa took out the meteorite.
"Doesn't look special," Tsunade took it and examined it.
"I checked it. There's a radioactive kind of special energy inside," Kitazawa said casually.
"No wonder training the Mysterious Peacock Method threatens life," Tsunade returned it and asked, "How are you planning to handle it?"
"It can be used as a power source for puppets," Kitazawa thought for a moment.
Shinobi using it would get irradiated, but puppets weren't alive, so radiation wasn't a concern.
"Puppets?" Tsunade's lips curved. "Don't tell me you're a puppeteer too."
"I know a thing or two," Kitazawa chuckled.
He took out a puppet Hiruko had made for him.
"You actually have a puppet?" Tsunade looked shocked.
"I researched it when I had nothing to do," Kitazawa said, putting it away.
"You always have some new trick," Tsunade couldn't help laughing.
"Do I?" Kitazawa stood up. "Want to try a new trick right now?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes at him—
but her body was honest, and she pulled him onto the bed.
The next day came.
With cheers from the people of Hoshigakure, Natsuhi became the Fourth Hoshikage.
She signed the alliance with Tsunade on behalf of Hoshigakure.
After signing, the group left Hoshigakure.
Kitazawa stopped, formed hand seals.
He wanted to test the limits of Flying Thunder God—see if he could jump straight from here to Konoha.
Yang Release Chakra Mode!
A massive surge of chakra erupted from his body.
A shockwave expanded outward.
Strength of a Hundred Seal: Release!
Black markings spread from his forehead.
Kitazawa clenched his fist, feeling overwhelming chakra surging through his entire body.
A flash of shock crossed Tsunade's eyes.
She knew Kitazawa had a lot of chakra, but she hadn't expected this much.
"Tsunade-sensei," Kitazawa held out his hand.
Tsunade took it.
The two vanished.
The next second, they appeared inside the familiar Hokage office.
"Straight-up teleported to Konoha?" Tsunade's eyes widened.
Flying Thunder God had huge strategic value, but even in Namikaze Minato's hands, it had limits.
If Minato traveled from the Land of Bears back to Konoha, he'd need to rest multiple times along the way.
If he forced it without regard for chakra consumption, his combat power would drop sharply.
But Kitazawa was different—he looked completely fine.
As Hokage, Tsunade instantly understood how terrifying that was.
In future wars, Kitazawa would be an invisible blade, wreaking havoc deep inside enemy headquarters.
Just imagining it—Konoha's pressure on the front lines would be reduced dramatically.
"Am I impressive or what?" Kitazawa asked with a grin.
"I'll reward you when you come back," Tsunade came to her senses, running her pink tongue lightly along the corner of her lips.
"Tsunade-sensei, when the time comes, I'll make sure to thank you properly," Kitazawa said.
He vanished with Flying Thunder God.
He was worried that if he delayed any longer, he wouldn't be able to leave.
Kitazawa took Shion and the others to the Land of Demons.
After giving them a week to rest, he began traveling across the shinobi world.
With dragon vein power replenishing his chakra, he used Flying Thunder God relentlessly, leaving markers in every country.
[Current Mission: Travel the Shinobi World.]
[Mission Reward: Spiralling Flash Super Round Dance Howl Style Three.]
[Mission Completed. Reward Granted.]
Kitazawa let out a slow breath.
At last, he'd completed the system mission successfully.
Flying Thunder God was convenient, but circling the entire shinobi world still drained an enormous amount of chakra.
Without dragon vein power, even his Strength of a Hundred Seal probably wouldn't have held up.
After completing the mission, Kitazawa returned to Konoha with Shion and the others.
The midterm exams came to an end.
~~~
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