CHAPTER 141: CHAPTER 141

Ino and Shikamaru were both busy mastering their clan’s secret jutsu, so Kitazawa couldn’t lend them a hand for now.

His gaze shifted to Kabuto.

After a week of working on his Wind Release chakra nature transformation, Kabuto had finally learned his first wind-style jutsu—Wind Release: Gale Palm.

It was a C-rank technique, neither too simple nor too complex—perfect for Kabuto’s current level.

Kitazawa watched him for a while, decided he didn’t need to interfere, and headed toward Hinata.

The Body Flicker Technique was a D-rank jutsu. But its leaf-style variation? That was B-rank territory.

Hinata had been practicing it for over a week and had barely gotten the hang of it. She still looked clumsy in execution, and Kitazawa doubted she’d pull it off cleanly in the upcoming monthly exam.

Not far away, Neji was working on the Gentle Fist: Sixty-Four Palms. He’d already mastered the first eight strikes and was pushing toward ten. Hinata was at the same stage... but her form was sharper.

After a moment’s thought, Kitazawa formed a quick set of seals, produced a Shadow Clone, and made his way to the school’s artificial lake.

Sasuke, Sakura, and Kiba were training there.

Kiba had wrapped up his tree-climbing exercises and moved on to water-walking drills. Sasuke was doing both at the same time—while also refining his Fire Release chakra nature and learning his second Sharingan genjutsu from Uchiha Itachi. Ever since defeating Neji, Sasuke had started taking genjutsu a lot more seriously.

But Kitazawa wasn’t here for Sasuke or Kiba.

He was here for Sakura.

In just two weeks, she’d picked up two D-rank medical jutsu—solid proof of her talent in the field. But now she’d hit a wall: her chakra reserves were still too small for more advanced work.

"Sakura," Kitazawa called out.

She perked up and ran over. "Kitazawa-sensei, what is it?"

"As a medical ninja, learning medical jutsu is crucial," Kitazawa said with a small smile. "But there’s something just as important. Do you know what that is?"

"Uh... knowledge?" she guessed after thinking a moment.

"Practice," Kitazawa corrected. "A medical ninja’s real goal is to apply those jutsu to actual patients."

"You mean... you want me to treat patients?" Her eyes widened.

"You’re half-right," Kitazawa chuckled, tapping her forehead. "I want you to be my assistant. Or rather—my apprentice."

"Assistant?" she repeated, blinking.

"I’m currently assigned as a medical ninja at Konoha Hospital," Kitazawa explained. "I can already perform surgeries on my own. Having you as my assistant will give you a head start—experience you won’t get in the classroom."

Sakura’s jaw dropped. She’d always known him as an academy teacher, but she also knew how prestigious an assignment at Konoha Hospital was. Those medics were some of the finest in the village.

"Kitazawa-sensei, you’re amazing!" she blurted.

"Come on," he said, turning toward the village. "We’re going to the hospital."

Truthfully, bringing her was half for her benefit... and half to see if it might trigger a mission. The real reason he was headed there was because he’d finally mastered the Mystic palm jutsu—and Nono had cleared him for solo surgeries, even the high-difficulty kind.

He still had a mission that required him to complete nine of those.

At the hospital, Kitazawa introduced her. "Nono-senpai, this is Haruno Sakura, my student."

"To be taken as your student, she must be exceptional," Nono said, clearly surprised at how young she looked.

"She’s a first-year, Class A," Kitazawa clarified.

"I see," Nonou nodded. "And she’s talented?"

"Very," Kitazawa replied. "I’d like her to be my assistant."

Nono hesitated. "Is she old enough for that?"

"I can do it!" Sakura piped up, hand on her chest.

"Well, with you watching her, nothing should go wrong," Nono decided. And if something did... they could always call Tsunade.

"Thank you, Nono-senpai," Kitazawa said.

"I’ll have a nurse uniform made for her," Nonou added. "The hospital doesn’t have anything in her size."

Back in his office, Sakura looked around curiously. "So... what will I be doing as your assistant?"

"I’ve written everything down for you," Kitazawa said, handing her a scroll.

"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei." She plopped onto the sofa and began reading. Kitazawa did the same—his scroll, however, was on advanced medical techniques.

Only one remained on his list: the Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Technique, an A-rank jutsu he considered worthy of S-rank status. It was a large-scale, team-based technique that only medical-nin of jōnin level or higher could perform. And it was required for most high-difficulty surgeries.

The problem? Peace meant there weren’t many such surgeries.

Until Friday.

"Kitazawa-sensei, how do I look?" Sakura asked, twirling in her new uniform.

"It suits you," he said. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t beautiful—but it was undeniably cute, especially at her age.

"Hehe... I wonder when I’ll get to treat Sasuke," she giggled.

"Maybe during the monthly exam," Kitazawa said dryly. "If he gets hurt, I’ll leave him to you."

"That’s perfect!" she beamed.

A knock at the door interrupted them.

"Come in," Kitazawa called.

He expected a nurse with the details of his next surgery. Instead, Nono stepped in.

"There’s an emergency operation," she said, her tone grave. "I think you’re the best one to handle it."

"Where’s the patient?" Kitazawa was already on his feet.

"Follow me," Nono replied. "This time, you’ll be in charge—

and I’ll be your assistant."

Kitazawa’s eyebrows rose.

Two medical-nin jōnin, operating together?

Finally—the high-difficulty surgery he’d been waiting for.

"Itachi? What are you doing here?"

Kitazawa reached the operating room, only to find Uchiha Itachi standing at the doorway.

"You’re... performing the surgery?" Itachi asked, surprise flickering in his usually composed eyes.

He knew Kitazawa had been training in medical ninjutsu under Lady Tsunade, but had he already risen to the rank of jonin medical ninja?

"Yes." Kitazawa gave a curt nod. "We’ll talk after the operation."

Without another word, he stepped into the room alongside Nono.

"Lady Nono. Lord Kitazawa."

The nurse bowed respectfully and handed over a patient file.

Uchiha Yashiro.

The moment Kitazawa read the name, understanding crossed his face. No wonder Itachi was here. Yashiro wasn’t just a senior jōnin of the Uchiha clan—he was one even Fugaku valued highly.

"Prep for surgery," Kitazawa ordered, placing the file down.

Yashiro lay before them, his body battered and torn. He had barely escaped with his life. The worst injury was a kunai slash to the heart—dangerous, but mercifully not fatal.

Hours passed. By the time the surgery was over, the sun had shifted toward evening.

Before Kitazawa’s eyes, an invisible progress bar ticked forward. Another high-difficulty procedure—one of nine—successfully completed.

"How is he?"

Itachi approached immediately.

"He’s stable. With two or three months’ rest, he’ll make a full recovery."

"...Good." Itachi let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

Nono quietly led Uchiha Yashiro toward the patient’s room. Sakura trailed after her.

"Are you Tsunade-sama’s student now?" Itachi asked, his gaze sharpening.

Kitazawa knew why. That level of healing wasn’t something a casual apprentice could pull off. Only someone who had received Tsunade’s true teachings could treat wounds like Yashiro’s.

"Not yet," Kitazawa replied with a calm smile. "For now, it’s temporary."

Itachi studied him in silence. Every medical ninja dreamed of becoming Tsunade’s disciple, but Kitazawa’s composure hinted at his confidence.

"How was he injured?" Kitazawa asked. "From the wound patterns, I’d guess Water Release."

"He was ambushed by Kiri shinobi," Itachi said after a pause. "I believe Root’s intel was wrong."

"What did Root say?"

"They insist there was no error."

Kitazawa frowned. That was troublesome. In the original timeline, Itachi had still chosen to trust Danzo and Root—even when they targeted the Uchiha clan. For him, Konoha’s survival outweighed clan loyalty.

But with Tsunade here, things were different. Between her and Danzo, Itachi would know whom to trust.

"We have no proof Root lied," Itachi said, resignation in his voice. "For now, we can’t act."

"Tsunade-sama won’t let Danzo keep running unchecked," Kitazawa said thoughtfully.

Itachi’s eyes brightened slightly. Rumors already swirled through the village after Tsunade’s bold move to take Nono and Kabuto from Root’s grasp. Some whispered she was eyeing the Hokage seat—though she had since gone quiet.

"If Tsunade-sama ever needs anything, she’s welcome in the Uchiha compound," Itachi said.

"I’ll pass along the message," Kitazawa replied, making a mental note to keep Itachi far from Danzo’s influence.

There were still other threats—Obito, for one—and he wasn’t yet sure how to deal with them.

"I’ll check on Yashiro. We’ll talk another time," Itachi said before leaving.

Kitazawa watched him go, mind already racing. Time was short—two months until year’s end, and no way of knowing when the Uchiha massacre might strike in this altered timeline.

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