Kitazawa held Hinata Hyuga's soft body in his arms, waiting for her to wake up.
Maybe because what happened was a little too intense for her, it took about ten minutes before she slowly opened her eyes.
The moment she saw him, she reflexively shut them again.
Her lashes trembled, her heart in turmoil.
Then she realized she was sitting on Kitazawa's lap, curled up in his embrace.
She could still faintly sense lingering warmth, and her heartbeat instantly sped up.
She didn't dare look at him. Head lowered, she buried her face against his chest.
"That kind of personality won't do," Kitazawa said with a smile. Looking at the shy girl, he asked, "How about joining my special training every day from now on?"
"Special training?" Hinata glanced at him—then, like a startled rabbit, immediately looked away.
"Training like what we just did," Kitazawa said, gently touching her cheek.
"Huh…?" Hinata froze.
Once she understood what he meant, her face turned red as if she'd just stepped out of a bath.
"If you don't want to, I won't force you," Kitazawa added, blinking.
"I… I want to…" Hinata said in a voice so small it was almost a whisper.
"Then it's settled. Starting tomorrow," Kitazawa said with a grin.
"Mhm." Hinata nodded, fighting down her embarrassment.
But more than that, she felt a bubbling joy—she'd finally gotten what she'd always wished for.
"That's enough training for today," Kitazawa said softly. "I don't want you fainting again."
"S-sorry…" Hinata mumbled.
"That's not something you need to apologize for," Kitazawa said, shaking his head.
Hinata paused, then nodded instinctively.
Truthfully, she still felt a little dizzy, responding more on instinct than thought.
"Go on," Kitazawa said, letting her go. "Come find me at lunch."
"Okay, Kitazawa-sensei." Hinata answered happily.
She stood, patted her legs—which still felt a bit weak—and reluctantly turned to leave.
After she closed the door, the corners of her lips lifted on their own.
She glanced at the Hokage's office, then skipped toward her own office.
But after only a couple steps, the office next door suddenly opened.
Their eyes met, and Hinata immediately stiffened.
She hurried into her office, closing the door quickly.
Ino Yamanaka wore a puzzled expression.
What was that about?
From the look of it, Hinata had just come out of the Hokage's office.
But why was she so happy?
No—"happy" didn't even cover it.
Ino remembered the flush on Hinata's face, and her curiosity grew.
Could it be because of Kitazawa…?
If that was true, then maybe she had a chance.
A plan quietly formed in her mind.
Kitazawa, meanwhile, had no idea what Ino was thinking. He casually took out a map.
It was a star chart marked with countless planets—most of them barren and lifeless.
His gaze fell on the planet at the center: the world of the Ōtsutsuki clan.
From that planet, a line stretched south, all the way to the shinobi world.
This was the route Kaguya Ōtsutsuki had drawn—the path she and Isshiki had taken to reach this world.
It was the closest and fastest route.
And if Momoshiki and the others were hunting Kaguya, they would most likely take this same route.
Kitazawa suddenly thought of something.
As Ōtsutsuki, they wouldn't be traveling on foot—they'd rely on space-time techniques or abilities.
Urashiki, for example, had Yomotsu Hirasaka.
That realization made Kitazawa feel even more relieved.
Once he completed the system task tied to the Shinobi Youth Martial Arts Tournament, he would obtain the Jōgan.
The Jōgan could perceive the landing points of space-time techniques.
Meaning: he could set an ambush for Momoshiki, Urashiki, and Kinshiki.
Kitazawa stroked his chin.
He wondered if the shinobi world could still trigger new system tasks.
The Youth Martial Arts Tournament task had come from the Advanced Class.
But at this point, those students truly had little left for him to teach.
Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, Hinata Hyuga, and Yakumo Kurama were already close to the peak of their original potential.
They could still grow stronger with time, but they wouldn't have the same explosive leaps as before.
A possibility surfaced.
If he served as the team's instructor and sparred with Team Seven, that might trigger a new system task.
It would be easy to test after the tournament ended.
After all, fighting one student was fighting—fighting three was also fighting.
He put the map away, stood up, and stretched.
Then he went to Kurenai Yūhi's office.
"You're pregnant now," Kitazawa said, looking at the busy Kurenai. "A lot of things can be handed off to Yakumo and the others."
"It's not even been a full month," Kurenai looked up and countered. "What impact could it have?"
"Even so, better safe than sorry," Kitazawa said, stepping closer and lightly pinching her cheek.
"I'll be careful," Kurenai said. Then she paused. "Did you come all the way here just to say that?"
"There's something I want to discuss with you," Kitazawa said, leaning against her desk.
"What is it?" Kurenai asked curiously.
"Marriage," Kitazawa replied.
Kurenai froze.
She'd thought about it before, but hearing him bring it up so suddenly still caught her off guard.
"After the child is born, they'll need a proper status," Kitazawa added.
"That is a problem," Kurenai hesitated, then asked, "What does Tsunade-sama think?"
"I haven't told her yet," Kitazawa said after a brief pause. "But she probably won't agree."
Kurenai frowned.
She understood why Tsunade would object—people would talk.
After all, she and Kitazawa had once been teacher and student.
But Kurenai didn't want to exclude Tsunade and marry him alone.
Over these six years, she and Tsunade had become something closer than friends—something difficult to put into words.
"I'll go persuade Tsunade-sama," Kurenai said, making up her mind.
Back then Tsunade had persuaded her. Now it was her turn to persuade Tsunade.
"I'll go too," Kitazawa nodded. "Tonight, we'll talk to her properly."
Kurenai's child needed a status—so naturally, Tsunade's child would too.
"Call me when it's time," Kurenai said, shooing him away. "I still have a lot of work."
The film and television department now controlled the shinobi world's entertainment industry.
Even though Kurenai rarely got involved personally, an enormous number of projects still required her review and approval.
"Work in moderation," Kitazawa said, kissing her forehead lightly before turning to leave.
He returned to the Hokage's office.
Night fell.
Kitazawa's room grew suddenly quiet.
Tsunade lay against him, cheeks flushed and a light sheen of sweat on her brow.
Her pale skin gleamed in the moonlight with every breath.
"Tsunade-sensei, there's something I want to tell you," Kitazawa said, gently stroking her hair.
"W-what…?" Tsunade's voice was hoarse.
"It's about marriage," Kitazawa replied.
Tsunade's eyes snapped open.
"Tsunade-sama, I don't have any objections," Kurenai said from his other side, resting her head against his shoulder as she looked at Tsunade.
"N-no… not allowed," Tsunade stammered after a moment, refusing.
"Tsunade-sensei, I know what you're worried about," Kitazawa said. "But I'm the Emperor now—what used to be the Daimyō. Many rulers have multiple wives."
"That's not the issue," Tsunade shook her head.
"A teacher-student background isn't a big deal," Kitazawa said with a light laugh. "Some rulers have done far worse."
This world was still feudal. The occasional reckless ruler wasn't exactly unusual.
"The main reason is the children," Kitazawa said, placing a hand on Tsunade's abdomen. "If we don't marry, how are they supposed to address us in public?"
Tsunade fell silent.
If the child called them "Mom" and "Dad" in front of others, their relationship would be exposed.
Were they supposed to keep the child hidden forever?
Or forbid them from even saying "Mom" and "Dad" outside?
"Why do I feel like you two set me up?" Tsunade suddenly glared at Kitazawa and Kurenai.
"What? No," Kitazawa said, and from her reaction he could tell she was already giving in.
"We're just thinking about the children," Kurenai said with a gentle smile.
"I don't believe you for a second!" Tsunade huffed. "Kitazawa—help me teach her a lesson."
"W-wait!" Kurenai barely got the words out before the other two pulled her in.
Even begging didn't help.
But since she was pregnant, Kitazawa kept things from going too far and stopped at an appropriate point.
In truth, with Tsunade and Kurenai's strength, pregnancy didn't change much.
No matter what they did, they could protect the child with chakra.
Even intense battles wouldn't affect them.
A new day.
Nine in the morning.
Hinata glanced at the clock on the wall and set down the file in her hands.
She stood, took a deep breath.
What would today's special training be?
Without meaning to, her mind flashed back to yesterday's intimate moment, and her face warmed again.
Hinata patted her cheeks, calmed herself, and left her office.
At the same time, in the office next door, Ino peeked her head out.
She waited until Hinata entered the Hokage's office, then quickly followed.
Ino soon arrived at the door—but it was closed, and she couldn't see inside.
Still, that didn't stop her.
As the Two-Tails Jinchūriki now, her strength was formidable.
She placed her hand on the door—
Inside the Hokage's office, Hinata stood before Kitazawa, head lowered, hands gripping the hem of her clothes, clearly nervous.
Kitazawa raised an eyebrow—he had sensed Ino.
Even though Ino was powerful and doing her best to hide herself, she was still completely transparent to him.
His level of strength was simply on another dimension.
"Are you having trouble with work?" Kitazawa asked Hinata.
Hinata was wearing the classic long-sleeved jacket from the original era, with a zippered front.
At the collar, a section of dark mesh was visible beneath.
"N-no," Hinata answered immediately.
Kitazawa lifted a strand of hair at the side of her face, revealing her small ear.
Because of her conservative personality, she wore no earrings.
Yet the tip of her ear was already red.
Kitazawa leaned closer, catching a faint, clean fragrance.
Hinata shivered, her mind turning blank.
He loosened the Leaf forehead protector at her neck, briefly revealing the smooth line of her throat and collarbone.
He then raised a hand toward her collar, and Hinata looked as though she might faint at any moment.
Outside the door, Ino instinctively opened her mouth in shock.
She never expected to witness something like this.
Hinata—normally so shy—was acting this boldly, standing there as if she'd entrusted everything to him.
Ino's eyes widened, and she found herself inexplicably anticipating what would happen next.
But at that moment, she sensed a sudden surge of chakra.
Inside, Kitazawa began forming the Rasengan.
Ino froze, then immediately snapped her gaze away.
She sank to the floor, clutching her chest.
Not quite Tsunade… but not far off either.
Thoughts raced wildly through Ino's head.
After steadying herself, she hurried back to her office.
This hallway had people coming and going—if anyone found her here, she'd have no way to explain herself.
Ino shut the door, leaned against it, and finally let out a breath.
She bit her lip; the slight pain cleared her head.
Patting her cheeks, she realized—this really was her chance.
After a brief hesitation, she made up her mind.
If Hinata could do it, then so could she.
Kitazawa still wasn't married. Anything was possible.
She decided to look for an opportunity and make the first move.
Back in the Hokage's office, Hinata had fainted.
Kitazawa shook his head.
She could barely endure even a small amount of stimulation.
But that was normal.
He helped her straighten her forehead protector again, then stood, lifted her in his arms, and used Flying Thunder God.
In the next instant, he arrived in Hinata's room.
After placing her on the bed, he left a small note on her desk, then returned to the Hokage's office.
"Konan," Kitazawa called, walking straight toward the bookshelf.
Konan understood immediately.
Her body trembled slightly, and her suit jacket slipped to the floor.
She stood up and walked toward him without expression.
Kitazawa pulled her into his arms with ease.
~~~
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