"Mirror Flower, Water Moon (Kyōka Suigetsu) huh? That's actually a good name."
Tsunade paused for a moment.
Whether it was flowers reflected in the mirror or the moon rippling on the water, both were illusions born from false reflections, perfectly fitting for a genjutsu.
"Since you're back, come with me to the Hokage's Office."
Tsunade stood up, unable to wait any longer.
"L–Lady Tsunade!"
Shizune immediately guessed what Tsunade wanted to do and hurriedly cut in.
"You're going gambling again? Please rest for a bit!"
"You're annoying!"
Tsunade waved her hand impatiently.
"I'm taking Kitazawa with me. You stay here!"
Before Shizune could answer, she dragged Kitazawa out the door.
"Kitazawa!"
Shizune shouted from behind, "Make sure you bring Lady Tsunade back!"
"Are you going to listen to your big-sister Shizune?"
Outside the door, Tsunade shot him a sideways look.
"I actually thought of a new card-gambling game yesterday," Kitazawa said, blinking innocently under Tsunade's crushing aura.
"Lady Tsunade, want to learn it?"
"What game?"
Her attention immediately shifted.
"It's a bit complicated," Kitazawa said calmly.
"I'll explain when we're back."
"Hah?"
Tsunade narrowed her eyes at him, as if she could see straight through his soul.
"You're clever… but you think I'd fall for that?"
"How would I dare lie to you?"
Kitazawa tilted his head slightly, glancing at her fair face.
"Every word I said is true."
"Then I'll learn it when I get back tonight."
Tsunade glared at him.
She wasn't saying he lied, but she was aware that he said it just to keep her away from the casino.
"Lady Tsunade, if you want to gamble, why go to the casino at all?" Kitazawa asked bluntly.
"This afternoon, let's invite Kurenai and play cards here. How about that?"
"What are we betting?"
She raised an eyebrow, interest fully sparked.
"You gamble money every day. It must be boring by now, right?" Kitazawa grinned.
"So let's change the stakes: we bet on new jutsu."
"…How would we even gamble that?"
"It's simple. Usually, we work together to create new techniques."
Kitazawa explained, "This time, we use time as the wager. Whoever loses researches the technique alone for however long they lost."
"…Why does it sound like you're scheming against me?" Tsunade asked suspiciously.
"Lady Tsunade… are you scared of losing?"
"How could I be!?" she snapped instantly, falling straight into the provocation.
"Fine! I'll play, and I'll win!"
"Then it's settled."
Tsunade stared at him, realizing she had absolutely fallen for his trap. But it wasn't his fault.
The moment gambling came up, her self-control vanished.
"Lady Tsunade, you're not going to back out, right?" Kitazawa smiled.
"You are Konoha's No.1 beauty, you have to keep your word."
"…Now that is something I like hearing."
Tsunade smirked proudly.
"With your gambling skills and Kurenai's? You two can't beat me."
From childhood to now, she'd been gambling. Her experience was overwhelming. And Kitazawa and Kurenai rarely gambled at all. The advantage was completely hers.
"Then I'll ask Lady Tsunade to be gentle with us."
Kitazawa barely held back his laughter.
"You just called me Konoha's No.1 beauty. Aren't you afraid Kurenai will get jealous?"
Tsunade suddenly grinned with malice.
Kitazawa stiffened.
"Lady Tsunade… are you planning to sell me out?"
"That's what you get for trying to trick me."
Her laughter made her lean forward, and her chest shifted dangerously with the motion.
"…Is it really that funny?"
"Nothing."
Tsunade cleared her throat. "Just remembered something pleasant."
And it really did make her feel good, winning one small psychological victory against Kitazawa.
Bang!
Just like always, Tsunade kicked open the Hokage Office door.
"Kitazawa's here too?"
Hiruzen asked calmly. "Another new jutsu?"
Tsunade threw the scroll at him without a word.
"A genjutsu with great potential," Hiruzen said after reading.
"Can be used for medical treatment or combat."
As Hokage, he saw the broader applications.
Kyōka Suigetsu, Flowers in the Mirror, Moon on the Water, created an illusionary world that could shift according to the caster's will.
In different hands, it could serve completely different purposes.
"Add more money."
Tsunade smiled and held out her hand.
"The same as last time. One million five hundred thousand ryō," Hiruzen sighed.
His student had truly fallen down the money hole… and she still loved gambling.
"Don't be stingy."
"Add another five hundred thousand."
"…I can add it," Hiruzen said slowly, "but I have one condition."
"What condition?" Tsunade tensed up immediately.
"The psychological-medical ninja system you two developed is solid," Hiruzen said evenly.
"But jutsu alone isn't enough, you need practice."
"That's easy. I'll find two shinobi suffering from mental disorders."
"First-time practice shouldn't be on patients."
His real intent surfaced.
"I want you to be the test subject."
"Old man!"
Tsunade's expression darkened instantly, her killing intent exploding like a storm.
The pressure filled the entire office. Kitazawa even felt his breathing grow tight. No wonder Orochimaru's killing intent alone could paralyze Naruto and Sasuke in the original story.
"Ahem… it's just a suggestion," Hiruzen surrendered quickly.
"If you don't want to, we can find someone else."
"I'm leaving. Kitazawa."
Tsunade forced herself to say the words, then walked out, clearly upset.
"Just as expected," Hiruzen murmured.
Hemophobia wasn't the problem, the memories behind it were. He turned to Kitazawa.
"I'll keep this secret!" Kitazawa said instantly.
Even though Hiruzen hadn't spoken the word "hemophobia," he had implied Tsunade's psychological wound.
If that spread, it would shake the entire village.
"I heard you've been learning medical ninjutsu from Tsunade?"
Hiruzen finally asked, already knowing the answer from ANBU reports.
"Yes."
"How far have you gotten?"
Kitazawa explained the techniques he'd mastered so far.
"You became Tsunade's student?"
Hiruzen was stunned. She had already taught him nearly everything except Yin Seal and the highest-ranked A-level medical techniques.
"No… not yet," Kitazawa said.
"She said she's observing me."
"I see…" Hiruzen murmured.
"In my eyes, your talent already surpasses most medical-ninja."
"But I have something more important to discuss."
"Thank you for the compliment, Lord Hokage."
"I have a mission for you."
Kitazawa suddenly felt something terrible creeping up on him.
"Tsunade hasn't accepted you as a student yet, but she clearly cares about you," Hiruzen said.
"Your mission is: find a way to make her accept psychological treatment."
Kitazawa felt his vision going dark.
A hell-difficulty mission.
Am I qualified for this??
Tsunade's hemophobia touched the deepest, most painful part of her past. Could he reach that?
[Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi has issued a request.]
[Mission: Cure Tsunade's hemophobia.]
[Reward: Wood Release (Yamato-type).]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa froze.
Wood Release?
Even if it wasn't Hashirama's world-shattering version, Yamato-tier Wood Release was still Wood Release.
A true kekkei genkai, stronger than most elemental jutsu. Even Yamato was a full-fledged elite jōnin because of it. And inside Konoha, Wood Release had extreme symbolic value.
If Kitazawa gained it, even without a known lineage, Tsunade and Hiruzen would be forced to value him.
"Lord Hokage… I will try my best."
He took a deep breath.
"Everything I say next must remain secret," Hiruzen said solemnly.
"I understand."
Hiruzen then explained, in far greater detail than the original manga, the tragedy behind Tsunade's fear of blood.
"I told you all this so you can convince her more effectively," Hiruzen warned.
"This mission is known only to you and me. Tell no one."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
"Go find Koharu. She'll take you to collect the two million ryō."
Kitazawa bowed, accepted the money, and finally left the Hokage building, exhaling in relief.
He had not expected his day to escalate to this level. Hard as it was, the rewards were enormous. Both the Wood Release and, potentially, formal acceptance into the Hokage lineage.
"Why did it take you so long?"
A voice came from above.
Kitazawa looked up to see long legs swinging off a rooftop.
Tsunade.
He froze.
He thought she would storm off to a casino or a tavern. Never imagined she'd wait here.
"What are you spacing out for?"
Tsunade dropped down from the rooftop and his vision was suddenly filled with something… monumental.
"Let's go," she said calmly.
"You're teaching me that new gambling game."
"Understood."
He took out a bankbook.
"This money is for you."
Tsunade flipped it open.
Her eyes narrowed.
One million ryō.
Which meant Hiruzen had actually given two million.
"I never agreed to your terms, old man," she muttered.
"But since you already handed it to me, I have no reason to refuse."
"Truly worthy of you, Lady Tsunade."
"Didn't you tell me yourself?"
Tsunade tucked the book away and brushed hair behind her ear.
"To look forward."
She meant their heart-to-heart talk at the izakaya.
"But right now, it looks more like you're looking toward money," Kitazawa teased.
"What do you mean?"
Tsunade glared.
"Do I look like someone who only cares about money?"
"Of course not."
Kitazawa shook his head.
"I know your heart is with the Leaf Village."
"…It's not."
Tsunade looked away at the Hokage Rock.
Tsundere retreat mode activated.
Kitazawa wisely stayed silent.
"Let's go."
They returned to Kurenai's home.
Shizune ran to the door the moment she heard it open, and finally relaxed when she saw Tsunade.
"Kurenai," Tsunade said instantly while removing her shoes, "let's play cards."
"…Cards?"
Shizune instinctively looked at Kitazawa.
"Part of the price to bring her home," Kitazawa said helplessly.
"I did my best, Shizune-senpai."
"It's fine," Shizune sighed.
"At least she won't lose money here…"
"Kurenai," Tsunade said, "we're playing cards."
"Cards? But… I don't know how to play," Kurenai said honestly.
"Even better!"
Tsunade brightened.
"I came up with a new card game yesterday," Kitazawa said, taking out a deck.
"It's called… Duel of the Raikage."
"Duel of the Raikage?" Tsunade laughed.
"What does the Raikage have to do with cards?"
Kitazawa explained doudizhu, modified to match the Naruto world:
Two Leaf shinobi teaming up to defeat the Fourth Raikage.
"Sounds fun," Tsunade sat up straight.
"Start now!"
Shizune shook her head. She already foresaw disaster.
And sure enough
"Damn it!"
Half an hour later, Tsunade was furious.
They played seven rounds. She did not win a single one. Not as the Raikage. Not as the two-man team.
Kitazawa was stunned. He could understand losing as the single-player side…
But losing even when Kurenai or Kitazawa was her teammate, every single time, was statistically terrifying.
Twice, Kitazawa was her teammate. His cards were so bad he couldn't carry her at all.
"Shizune! Water! I refuse to believe I can't win even one!"
Tsunade threw off her jacket and rolled up her pale arms.
Shizune sighed silently. At least losing cards didn't cost money.
"Seventeen cards… and you're already finishing!?"
Tsunade's eyes went wide.
Kitazawa raised a brow.
Could she finally win?
No.
Kurenai's luck exploded and ended the game instantly.
Outside, the sun faded into a brilliant sunset.
"Tsunade-sama…"
Kurenai whispered, shaken to her core.
How could a person lose… all… afternoon…?
Every round?
And this person… went to casinos every day?
Kurenai suddenly understood Shizune's suffering.
"No more!!"
Tsunade threw the cards aside and collapsed onto the sofa, all life drained from her.
"I'm going to study genjutsu."
Kitazawa gathered the cards. He had one genjutsu left to learn.
The basic D-rank Misty Follower Jutsu, creates several ghost-like figures clad in black that emerge from the surrounding environment.
"Want me to teach you?" Kurenai offered.
"No need."
Kitazawa stepped outside.
"You cook. I'm learning the one you gave me yesterday, it's simple."
Half an hour later, he reached system standards.
[Mission: Learn five genjutsu during summer break]
[Reward: Journey of Darkness Technique]
[Completed. Reward delivered.]
Kitazawa let out a long breath.
With the Genjutsu: Infinite Darkness Jutsu mastered, he didn't need to learn basic genjutsu anymore.
Beyond this point, only bloodline genjutsu mattered, Sharingan and Mangekyō.
As for unlocking Sharingan, he already had that mission:
Let Sasuke defeat Neji Hyūga.