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Kitazawa and the others returned home.
Not to Tsunade's place next door—but to Kurenai's house.
Shizune and Uzumaki Rina wouldn't be coming back for lunch. Both of them were now high-level officials in Konoha and usually ate at the Hokage Building during work hours.
Karin rarely came home at noon either. She either ate at the Ninja Academy with Ino and the others, or tracked down Rina to share a meal.
In short, Tsunade's house was empty. There was no reason to go back there.
"You two talk. I'm heading to the kitchen."
After a quick greeting, Kitazawa went straight to cook. Tsunade had personally requested it, after all.
Tsunade slipped off her shoes and dropped onto the sofa the moment she entered the living room. She was far too familiar with both Kitazawa and Kurenai to bother maintaining any formal image.
"Lady Tsunade, what would you like to drink?" Kurenai asked as she stopped by the coffee table.
"It's mealtime," Tsunade replied automatically. "Alcohol."
"Lady Tsunade… there's still the team battle this afternoon," Kurenai reminded gently.
"…Fine. Water, then. Otherwise Kitazawa will start lecturing me again." Tsunade waved her hand, reluctantly surrendering.
Kurenai froze for a second.
She'd seen Kitazawa talk back to Tsunade before—but it still surprised her that Tsunade actually listened.
"Lady Tsunade."
Kurenai quickly poured a glass of water.
"Thanks."
Tsunade took a sip and sighed. "Looks the same. Still tastes worse than alcohol."
"I can't argue with that," Kurenai said with a small smile.
"If you liked casinos too," Tsunade added lazily, leaning back, "we'd have identical hobbies."
Kurenai hesitated.
She genuinely couldn't understand how someone who lost every time could keep going back so faithfully. Shouldn't gambling require at least occasional wins to stay motivating?
"Lady Tsunade, what would you like for lunch?" Kurenai asked, smoothly changing the topic. "I'll tell Kitazawa."
"I'll check the fridge myself." Tsunade sat up. "If there's nothing there, don't make a fuss."
"It's in the kitchen," Kurenai said with a nod.
Tsunade headed that way.
"Tsunade-sensei."
Without even turning around, Kitazawa spoke as soon as he heard footsteps.
"Come to supervise me?"
"What are you making?" Tsunade leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.
Kitazawa glanced back—and paused for half a beat. Her relaxed posture showed off her figure far too well.
"Your favorite."
"Tender chicken?" Tsunade blinked. "When did you buy that?"
"I stocked up and sealed everything in a summoning storage scroll. Emergency supplies," he replied casually.
"…Right. You've always done that." Recognition flashed across her face.
"It's been a while since you've gone on missions with me," Kitazawa laughed lightly. "You forgot my habits."
"You say that like I can just leave whenever I want," Tsunade snorted. "I'm the Hokage."
"…Fair point," he admitted.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed slightly. "Then come work for me for a few days."
"You should ask Shizune," Kitazawa said.
He paused.
"…Did she refuse because she knew you were planning to sneak off to the casino?"
Tsunade fell silent.
"…I'll take that as a yes," he said, grinning.
"She won't agree, and you won't either?" Tsunade snapped, annoyed at his smug face.
"I'm busy," Kitazawa said simply. "And if you go to the casino alone… do you even have money?"
"You'll give me some, obviously," Tsunade replied without shame.
"Then I can't give you much," he said seriously. "Unless I'm going with you. You have zero restraint when gambling."
"What did you just say?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "Are you the teacher, or am I the teacher? Why are you trying to control me more and more?"
"You're the teacher," Kitazawa said smugly.
"…but I'm the one with the money."
Tsunade got so irritated her chest tightened. She stepped forward and kicked hard on Kitazawa's leg.
"If the food tastes bad later, it's your fault."
Kitazawa glanced sideways—and his gaze briefly caught on the snow-white curve above her necklace.
"If it's bad, I'll punch you again," Tsunade warned, raising her fist.
"And if it's delicious?" Kitazawa's eyes flicked to her lips. "Any reward?"
"None!"
She stepped back immediately. "Wait until you've done some great service in the future!"
"…Fine."
Kitazawa shook his head and went back to cooking.
"I'm going to the living room," Tsunade muttered, biting her lip as she turned away.
Somewhere else, she might've agreed.
But Kurenai was right outside. There'd be no explaining it if she got caught.
At exactly noon, Kitazawa brought the dishes out.
Tender chicken was the centerpiece, accompanied by grilled fish, vegetables, and miso soup.
"The final match is at two," Kitazawa said, picking up his chopsticks. "Tsunade-sensei, you can head back and nap. We'll call you."
"No need to go back," Kurenai said casually. "Shizune and the others aren't there anyway. Lady Tsunade, if you don't mind, you could rest here."
Tsunade blinked. "You have a spare room?"
"Yes," Kurenai nodded. "Kitazawa and I—"
She stopped mid-sentence, realizing what she'd implied, her cheeks warming slightly.
Tsunade understood immediately.
They shared a room. Which meant there was an empty one.
"No need to trouble yourself," Tsunade said. "I'll go back. No reason to clean just for me."
"It's no trouble," Kurenai insisted quickly. "It'll only take a few minutes."
She shot Kitazawa a look.
"Since Kurenai offered, stay," Kitazawa coughed lightly. "I'll tidy it up."
Tsunade considered… then nodded.
The meal ended soon after.
"I'll handle the dishes," Kurenai said, standing. "Kitazawa, go prepare the room so Lady Tsunade can rest."
"Mm."
He nodded. "Tsunade-sensei, this way."
She followed him into a room on the left.
To her surprise, it wasn't dusty at all—it was spotless.
"Your old room?" she guessed, glancing at the wardrobe.
"I used to live here," he said, changing the sheets.
"That explains it."
She stepped forward and sat on the bed while he finished.
"Get some rest," Kitazawa said. "I'll wake you when it's time."
"Mm."
Tsunade lay back.
The mattress dipped—and her whole body bounced slightly.
Kitazawa's eyelid twitched.
"Something wrong?" she asked, rolling onto her side. Her clothes shifted, and the necklace slipped free.
He was suddenly certain.
She was doing this on purpose.
Kitazawa sat on the edge of the bed and leaned down.
Tsunade's lips curved faintly. When he kissed her, she wrapped her arms around his neck without hesitation and kitazawa's hands kept wandering around her breasts.
Time stretched.
When she finally pulled back, breathless and flushed, she sucked in air sharply.
"Let go!"
She snapped back to her senses and glared at him.
"Tsunade-sensei," Kitazawa said lightly, removing his hand and standing, "have a good rest."
He left the room and quietly closed the door.
In the hallway, he flexed his fingers, memory flashing absurdly to pickup basketball games from his university days in another life.
He stopped outside Kurenai's door.
…Why does this feel like walking into a battlefield?
Tsunade had been unusually bold at noon.
After a moment's thought, he waved a hand. A gentle Wind Release breeze swept through the hall, carrying away any lingering scent on him.
Insurance.
At two in the afternoon, the three of them returned to the Forest of Death.
Teachers and students were already assembled. They were the last to arrive—but right on time.
"The third and final round," Kitazawa announced.
"Uzumaki Naruto's team versus Uchiha Sasuke's team. Fifteen minutes to start!"
"Sasuke!" Naruto shouted, giving a thumbs-up.
"I'll be waiting in the center!"
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked, startled.
"I want a battle full of youth!" Naruto declared. "Face-to-face!"
"That's… very you," Sakura sighed.
"I agree!" Lee added enthusiastically. "Youth means confronting challenges head-on!"
As a taijutsu specialist, hiding in the forest held zero appeal.
Better to gather and fight properly.
"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura looked to him.
"It doesn't matter how we fight," Sasuke replied calmly.
"First place belongs to the Uchiha."
"Then it's settled!" Naruto grinned.
Sasuke gave him one last look before turning toward the forest. Sakura and Kimimaro followed immediately.
"Naruto's team isn't weaker than us," Sasuke said quietly as they walked.
"They revealed their position." He smirked faintly.
"We'll go straight there and ambush them the moment it starts."
Sakura and Kimimaro both nodded.
Honestly, this was the optimal plan.
Naruto had already proven he could reshape the battlefield itself. His earlier match against Hinata's squad showed just how easily he could demolish terrain.
Trying to rely on traps or a drawn-out war of attrition inside the Forest of Death wasn't realistic.
If the battlefield could be erased at any moment, it was better to strike first—and steal the initiative.
"If conditions allow," Sasuke said after a moment of thought, "Kimimaro, you take Lee. Shikotsumyaku counters pure taijutsu fighters."
"If you finish him quickly, we'll have a much better chance against Naruto."
"But Lee learned Chen-sensei's Konoha Dragon God," Sakura reminded him.
That technique directly countered Shikotsumyaku. At high-speed rotation, the Dragon God struck from every angle. Even if Kimimaro's bones were indestructible, he was still flesh and blood.
"The Konoha Dragon God has a weakness," Sasuke said quietly.
"The eye of the storm."
Sakura blinked. "How do you know that, Sasuke-kun?"
"I saw it with the Sharingan," he replied. "Inside the tornado, only the eye has no chakra flow at all."
Sakura's eyes lit up. "You're incredible!"
Kimimaro nodded slowly. "Then I can defeat Lee."
"Jugo is also a taijutsu fighter," Sasuke added, glancing at Sakura, "but his Curse Mark changes things. You probably can't overpower him."
"Use Water Release. Stall him."
"Sasuke-kun, don't worry!" Sakura clenched her fists. "I'll hold him!"
"Good. That's the plan."
Meanwhile, in the central clearing—
Naruto had kept his word. He stood openly in the middle of the field, waiting.
Lee waited beside him.
"I'll talk to the forest animals," Jugo said after a moment. "Standing around is pointless."
They still had fifteen minutes. And there was no guarantee Sasuke would honor the meeting point.
If he could gather intel first, they'd gain the advantage.
Jugo stepped into the forest, closed his eyes, and released his chakra.
It spread outward like ripples.
Soon, nearby animals responded.
Jugo's ability wasn't mystical—it stemmed from natural energy. His innate Sage Transformation made him hypersensitive to nature itself. Through that connection, he'd developed an instinctive way to communicate with animals.
Moments later, he returned.
A small bird perched on his shoulder, chirping urgently.
"Jugo, that ability is seriously enviable," Naruto said sincerely.
If he'd had that power when he was younger, boredom wouldn't have existed.
Still… now he had friends. That was enough.
"Sharing youth with animals anytime, anywhere," Lee said, giving a thumbs-up. "That's beautiful!"
Jugo nodded faintly.
The Sage power inside him carried a violent instinct, a constant urge to kill. Talking with animals calmed it. Quieted it.
Fifteen minutes later, Kitazawa's voice echoed.
The final match began.
A bird dropped from the sky and landed on Jugo's shoulder.
"They're here," he said instantly. "Five hundred meters."
Naruto grinned. "Perfect. Sasuke's mine!"
"Then Kimimaro is my opponent!" Lee declared.
"I'll take Kimimaro," Jugo said calmly. "His Curse Mark and Shikotsumyaku counter you too heavily."
Lee blinked. "Then… I fight Sakura?"
"Sakura isn't weak," Jugo replied, assuming Lee was underestimating her.
"That's not it!" Lee scratched his head. "Water Release is just… really annoying to fight."
"We adapt when the battle starts," Jugo said. "Plans rarely survive contact."
Lee nodded. "True!"
Another bird descended—and the air suddenly warped.
A massive fireball crashed toward them.
Jugo's pupils shrank. He snatched the bird and jumped back.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
Naruto clapped his hands.
A violent gust exploded forward, colliding with the fireball in a roaring stalemate.
"Scatter!" Jugo shouted, releasing the birds.
"Sasuke!" Naruto roared, pouring in more chakra.
The gale swallowed the flames and blasted them apart.
Naruto sprinted forward—but the position was empty.
"Naruto!" Jugo shouted urgently.
Naruto spun back—his expression changed instantly.
"Water Release: Water Bullet!"
Sakura's attack streaked toward Jugo.
Lee turned, expecting Kimimaro—instead, Sasuke appeared.
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan flared.
Lee froze.
Caught in genjutsu.
"Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Willow!"
Kimimaro burst from the left forest line, white bone blades extending from his arms as he lunged toward the immobilized Lee.
Naruto reacted instantly.
"Wind Release: Shuriken!"
His throw reached blinding speed—
clang!
Sasuke intercepted it midair with the Thunder God Sword.
At that critical instant, Jugo roared.
His body erupted into Curse Mark Stage Two.
He hadn't wanted to use it this early. The form had a strict limit.
But if he didn't—Lee was finished.
A pure taijutsu fighter had no defense against genjutsu.
Jugo accelerated—and placed himself directly in front of Lee.
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