"Choji."
Kitazawa's gaze fell on the newly joined Akimichi. "Your chakra control still needs work. Start with tree climbing."
He led Choji to the thickest tree by the training ground, demonstrated the key points, and left him to practice on his own.
"Shikamaru."
By the time Kitazawa returned, ten minutes had already passed.
Shikamaru sighed and stood when called, clearly reluctant.
"Your Yin Release training is coming along nicely," Kitazawa said, almost offhand. "It's time you learn a new secret technique. Your Shadow Imitation and Shadow Strangle have their flaws—so start with Shadow Imitation Shuriken."
Shikamaru's eyebrows lifted despite himself. A flicker of surprise crossed his otherwise lazy face.
The Shadow Imitation Shuriken—by infusing Yin chakra into a shuriken, it could pin down an opponent's shadow. Unlike his current techniques, this one gave him two advantages: a ranged attack, and freedom of movement once the enemy's shadow was caught.
It was a clever workaround to the usual drawback—being tethered to his opponent.
Shikamaru was quietly impressed. For someone outside the clan, he knows our secret techniques too well. Then he remembered—Kitazawa was Tsunade's student. Of course he'd picked up all sorts of knowledge.
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei." Shikamaru gave a resigned nod.
"Ino, you stay the course," Kitazawa instructed. "Report back once you've completed your current training."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei!" Ino replied with a bright smile, full of energy. She knew exactly what he meant: master Hundred Petals first, then move on.
"Hinata, Karin, Shino, Sakura—you're the same. Stick with your current programs."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei," they answered in unison.
"What about me?" Kiba cut in impatiently. His winter break training had given him Fang Over Fang, but since entering the Genius Class, he couldn't shake the pressure of being surrounded by so many talented peers.
"I've got something for you." Kitazawa tossed him a scroll.
Kiba unrolled it, eyes widening. "Three-Headed Hellhound?!"
Excitement surged through him. The Hellhound technique combined himself with one shadow clone into a two-headed beast. This version added a third head—larger, fiercer, more destructive. Of course, the difficulty also spiked.
"Go find a spot and practice. If you hit a wall, ask me." Kitazawa waved him off.
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei!" Kiba bolted to an open area, clutching the scroll like treasure.
"Lee, stick to the regimen Guy gave you," Kitazawa continued.
He'd already sparred Lee with a clone and reached his conclusion: Lee was essentially Naruto without clones or Rasengan—purely Taijutsu-driven. And when it came to Taijutsu, Guy's training plan was more than enough. Once Lee mastered the Leaf Whirlwind series, the Eight Gates would be next. No need for Kitazawa to interfere.
Lee agreed without hesitation. He trusted his sensei completely.
"Tenten." Kitazawa turned to the bun-haired girl. "Your weapon mastery is impressive. Push it further."
He recalled her techniques from the original timeline—Heavenly Chain Disaster, Binding Meteor, Twin Rising Dragons. She had enormous potential.
"But tools alone won't be enough. You should add another angle of attack." His lips curved into a smile. "Summoning beasts."
"Summoning… animals?" Tenten blinked.
"Whether it's summoning weapons or creatures, the principle's the same," Kitazawa explained. "With the right contracts, your versatility in battle will skyrocket."
The idea lit up Tenten's face. Against powerhouses like Sasuke or Hinata, her tools alone might fall short. But if she had beasts for offense, defense, and distraction? Her effectiveness would multiply.
"There's just one problem," she admitted. "I don't have any suitable summons. Kitazawa-sensei, could you help me find one? I'll pay!"
Kitazawa twitched at her earnestness. Rich loli problems. It figured—her family ran a weapon shop. Even Hinata's treasured ninja blade came from her father's forge. Money wasn't the issue.
Still…
[Current Mission: Help Tenten find a Summoning Animal.]
[Reward: Based on the beast's strength.]
Kitazawa's eyes narrowed slightly. A variable-reward mission—just like the old "find a teacher" quest. Promising, but tricky.
The great summoning realms are out of reach. I can't hand her slugs, snakes, or toads. Even I can't touch them yet. And the rare ones—Enma, Baku, Hanzō's salamander—are all claimed.
That left the ordinary: dogs, cats, crows, hawks, turtles… useful, but limited. At best, a C or B-rank reward.
"Summoning animals are rare," he admitted at last. "But I'll ask around."
If nothing else, he could lean on the Inuzuka for a hound or the Uchiha for a cat. With his current standing, that much was doable.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei!" Tenten bowed deeply, her eyes shining.
"Now, back to your weapons practice. Relying only on summoning scrolls makes you predictable. Today, I'll teach you the Manipulating Shuriken paths using ninja wire."
Tenten gasped. "Really? I've always wanted to learn that!"
"Without a Sharingan, it's weaker," Kitazawa warned, pulling two shuriken from his pouch. "But still effective."
He passed them over. She noticed thin, translucent cords tied to the hilts.
"These rubber strings can be swapped for steel wire if you want more lethality. But rubber gives flexibility and snap. Both have their uses."
After fifteen minutes of careful explanation, Kitazawa sent her off to practice.
"Hana, same as Choji—work on chakra control first." He turned to Kiba's elder sister.
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei." Hana nodded firmly.
For his familiar students, Kitazawa had tailored individual paths. For the new recruits—fifth and sixth years mostly—the plan was simple. Those with three solid basic jutsu moved to tree climbing. Those without it stayed back to master the basics.
By the two-hour mark, all three groups were set. A quick tour showed the Water, Lightning, and Earth divisions equally focused under Kakashi and Kosuke, who clearly shared Kitazawa's philosophy: master fundamentals, then climb to the higher arts.
Satisfied, Kitazawa created two shadow clones. One to oversee training, the other to assist Shino with his kikaichu experiments.
The real Kitazawa found a quiet corner of the grounds, formed hand seals, and began refining Earth Release.
By noon, the Genius Class finally earned their break after an intense morning of training.
Like the regular Academy schedule, lunch and rest stretched over two full hours.
Kitazawa didn't join Hinata or Sasuke this time. Instead, he invited Kosuke and Kakashi to share a meal with him. The three slipped into a cozy izakaya just down the street from the Academy.
"How was your first day in class?" Kitazawa asked once the food was ordered.
"It was fine," Kakashi replied with his usual brevity. Yet, behind his calm exterior, the truth lingered—life here was nothing like Anbu. Training beside these lively children had lit something inside him again, a faint warmth, as though he had stepped out of the shadows and back into life.
"These kids are extraordinary," Kosuke said with a gentle smile. "Give them time, and they'll be the pillars of Konoha. Being able to guide them… it's an honor."
For years, Kosuke had punished himself for mistakes of his youth, deliberately refusing promotion. Teaching now gave him a new form of atonement.
"Kitazawa-kun," Kosuke hesitated, then spoke with quiet resolve. "I have a request—perhaps impertinent."
"Kosuke-senpai, no need for formality. Please, speak freely," Kitazawa said, waving a hand dismissively.
He truly respected the man. To shoulder a single mistake for an entire lifetime—such discipline and resolve were rare in the shinobi world.
"Although every child in the Genius Class is remarkable, their talents differ. I'd like to choose two… one to pass on my Water Release, the other to inherit my swordsmanship."
Kitazawa blinked in surprise. Even Kakashi's single visible eye widened. But the reasoning was clear enough.
Kosuke had always remained a Genin, never leading a squad. Decades of solitude had followed. Now, as an Academy teacher, he finally had the right to pass on his legacy. He could have gone directly to Hiruzen, but Kosuke was a man of strict principles—never once bending the rules to suit himself.
"Kosuke-senpai, of course," Kitazawa said at last. "It would be their fortune to learn under you."
Kosuke chuckled softly. "Nothing so grand. I'm simply an old man who doesn't want his skills buried with him. Hiruzen gave me this chance—I intend to use it."
Kitazawa thought privately: Only Kosuke could so casually call the Hokage by his first name. Few in the shinobi world showed such restraint and humility. He couldn't help but wonder which two students would be chosen. Likely one of the Konoha Twelve… perhaps even Karin or Yakumo. After all, Kosuke's Water Release and Leaf-Style Kenjutsu were jōnin-class techniques. Ordinary students would never be able to master them.
Kitazawa decided not to interfere. This was a good thing. Besides, he wouldn't mind picking up some Leaf-Style Swordsmanship himself—Hinata's gift, that finely crafted blade, still hadn't seen proper use.
"Come, I'll take you to your offices," Kitazawa said after their meal.
Normally, only grade heads earned private offices, but exceptions were made for shinobi like Kakashi and Kosuke. Kitazawa had arranged rooms on either side of his own, even placing a bed in each corner for rest.
"See you this afternoon," Kakashi said, vanishing into his office.
Kitazawa and Kosuke exchanged brief farewells before Kitazawa headed home. The academy was close to Kurenai's house, and nothing beat the comfort of his own bed for a nap. Since he had afternoon classes, he resisted the urge to linger with her and returned refreshed later.
When class resumed, the students threw themselves back into training. Kitazawa practiced Earth Release on the side while his mind wandered back to Tenten's mission.
Then it struck him. A memory surfaced—the Kubisaki Koza's Shiromari.
Once, in the Land of Neck, the last Daimyo had summoned the massive creature to guard his castle. Camouflage that fooled even the Byakugan. A towering size that rivaled a fortress. The power to transform into a castle itself. Naruto, Hinata, and Kiba had once stumbled upon its contract scroll during a mission in the original timeline.
Kitazawa rubbed his chin. The Land of Neck had long since fallen; he wasn't even sure where its ruins lay now. Still, letting such power go to waste felt wrong. He could ask Itachi—between Anbu resources and Uchiha intelligence, finding the site shouldn't be difficult. Itachi would likely even welcome the request, as it drew him closer to Tsunade.
For elite shinobi, the Giant Lizard might not seem impressive—little more than a defensive wall. But for genin or chūnin, it was an overwhelming force. If Tenten claimed its contract, her growth would skyrocket. Kitazawa guessed such a mission might even net him an A-rank ninjutsu reward.
That evening, after class, he caught Itachi at the Anbu office.
"The ruins of the Land of Neck?" Itachi repeated. "It shouldn't be hard to trace. I'll have results soon."
"Thanks." Kitazawa left the Hokage building, already planning his next move.
Walking through the village streets, he mused: it would be far easier to act with his own forces at hand. But there was no rush. Once Tsunade took the Hokage's seat, building his own network would be simple—she'd likely hand him the Anbu outright, given her well-known aversion to work.
The week passed swiftly. By Friday, school had just let out when Kitazawa spotted Itachi at the gate.
But Sasuke reached him first. "Brother!"
"Kitazawa-sensei," Itachi greeted politely, ruffling Sasuke's hair before handing over a scroll. "This is the map of the Land of Neck."
"Much appreciated," Kitazawa said, tucking the scroll away. "I'll leave you two alone. Until next time."
At home, he unrolled the parchment. The Land of Neck lay just west of the Fire Country, only two days' journey.
But there was a snag. He had promised to arrange a meeting for Izumi and Itachi on Sunday. Both missions clashed.
After a moment's thought, he decided to entrust the Izumi matter to Kurenai. It was safe, after all—just a staged rescue mission with no real danger. Tenten's summoning quest, however, was tied to a rare, valuable mission reward. Only he, with knowledge of the original timeline, could handle it.
"What's that you're studying?" Kurenai asked, stepping close with her familiar soft scent.
"A map of the Land of Neck," Kitazawa admitted. "There's supposed to be a powerful summoning beast there. I want to see for myself."
"You're still looking for a summoning beast?" she asked, puzzled.
"Not for me," Kitazawa grinned. "For one of my students. But I do need your help with something…"
He explained the staged mission involving Izumi and Itachi.
"The Uchiha clan really…" Kurenai trailed off, unable to find the right word. She admired the Sharingan's power, but its cost was steep.
"Then you'll take my three students and go in my stead," Kitazawa said, pinching her cheek playfully.
"Mhm." She nodded, already resigned. The plan was simple: Izumi's team would stumble upon Itachi, cornered by enemy shinobi. A fierce "battle" would ensue, all of it staged by Itachi himself. In truth, Kurenai wouldn't need to lift a finger.
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