August 31st.
Kitazawa woke up on time. After changing his clothes and having breakfast, he arrived at the Ninja Academy. He stopped in front of his office.
Leaning forward, he vaguely heard Hinata softly humming her rice ball song. Kitazawa chuckled and pushed open the door.
Hinata subconsciously turned her head, and when she saw him, her face instantly flushed. She quickly let go of the half-person-tall stuffed toy, squatted down, lowered her legs, and sat upright on the sofa. But her tightly closed legs and curled toes betrayed her emotions.
"When did you get here?" Kitazawa asked as he walked to the desk.
"Half... half an hour ago," Hinata replied in a very soft voice, her head lowered.
"Have you had breakfast?" Kitazawa asked casually while tidying up his desk.
"At home." Hinata paused, then gathered her courage and asked, "Kitazawa-sensei, can we start eating here again from tomorrow?"
"Of course," Kitazawa said, turning to look at her. "You ate here last semester, too."
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei!" Hinata smiled, but upon noticing Kitazawa's gaze, she quickly lowered her head.
"Do you remember your sparring session with Neji?" Kitazawa asked as he casually picked up the schedule from the desk.
"Yes." Hinata was momentarily stunned, then quickly recovered. Her blush faded considerably.
"When do you want to spar with him?" Kitazawa glanced at the schedule, which was mostly the same as last semester's.
"I... I'm fine," Hinata answered after a short hesitation, leaving the decision to Kitazawa.
"Then let's schedule the practical class for tomorrow afternoon," Kitazawa explained. "The longer you delay it, the more nervous you'll become."
Hinata was taken aback. Tomorrow afternoon? Even though she had spent the entire summer preparing for this match, now that the moment was near, her nerves overwhelmed her.
"Hinata," Kitazawa said seriously, "You're stronger than Neji right now."
Hinata's cheeks turned slightly red, embarrassed by her lapse in focus. But Kitazawa's words reassured her.
"I'll do my best!" Hinata said firmly. Even if she didn't believe in herself, she had to believe in Kitazawa.
"Let's go," Kitazawa said, putting down the schedule. "I'll walk you to the classroom."
Hinata changed into her indoor shoes and trotted over to him. Kitazawa reached out and gently patted her head. Hinata's lips curved into a small smile, her heart skipping joyfully as she followed him to First-Year, Class A.
"Kitazawa-sensei!" Naruto was the first to spot him and called out excitedly. Uchiha Sasuke, Inuzuka Kiba, Nara Shikamaru, and the others followed suit.
"Kitazawa-senpai is really popular," Iruka said with emotion. As the one in charge of registration, he now found himself being ignored.
"Iruka, go grab the new textbooks. I'll handle the registration," Kitazawa said as he walked to the podium and handed over a summoning scroll.
Summoning scrolls were expensive and unaffordable for most ordinary ninjas. Kitazawa was concerned Iruka might not have one, so he gave him his. After all, a whole class's worth of textbooks would be far too heavy for one person to carry alone.
"Alright." Iruka nodded, took the scroll, and left the classroom.
Kitazawa glanced at the roster. Most of Class A was already present. Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Teacher Kitazawa," Kurama Yakumo entered. Behind her stood her father, Kurama Murakumo.
In the original timeline, he had died at the hands of Yakumo after she lost control. But now, such a tragedy seemed unlikely.
The once-bustling classroom immediately quieted down. Although Yakumo had barely attended classes last semester, her defeat of Neji Hyuga had left a deep impression.
Sasuke instinctively crossed his arms. Even after awakening his Sharingan, he wasn't fully confident against her. The reason was simple—they both possessed bloodline limits that specialized in illusions.
However, Yakumo had a major flaw: her fragile body. In that area, Sasuke felt he had the clear advantage.
"Yakumo-san, are you taking the exams this semester?" Naruto, ever eager for a good fight, asked energetically. Last semester, Yakumo hadn't taken the practical exam, which he had greatly regretted.
"I'll take it this semester," Yakumo replied with a gentle smile. Her demeanor had completely changed from the original storyline—no longer haunted or unstable.
"Looks like the top spot's up for grabs again."
"Hard to say, though. I'm still rooting for Naruto."
"Don't count out Sasuke. He's a Uchiha. Once he activates his Sharingan, he'll make a comeback!" The classroom erupted with chatter.
"Quiet," Kitazawa raised his hand, and the noise died down immediately.
"Teacher Kitazawa," Murakumo stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Clan Leader Murakumo, there's no need for such formality," Kitazawa quickly helped him up.
"It's a gesture of thanks," Murakumo said earnestly. "Yakumo's progress is all thanks to your help."
"You're too kind," Kitazawa replied with a slight smile. "Please proceed with the registration."
He himself had benefited greatly from Murakumo, especially through his connection with Tsunade. It was a mutually beneficial relationship.
"Then I won't take up more of your time. If you're ever free, please come to my house for dinner." Murakumo was tactful and said no more.
His deference toward Kitazawa came not only from gratitude but also because of his relationship with Tsunade.
He had already learned through Yakumo that Kitazawa was studying medical ninjutsu under Tsunade. It was no exaggeration to say Kitazawa's future would surpass even his own. It was only natural to build a strong connection early on.
Moreover, Yakumo and Kitazawa shared a teacher-student bond, even if it was only formed within the walls of the ninja academy.
After Kurama Murakumo left, Yakumo quickly registered. When she returned to her seat, many classmates approached and engaged her in conversation.
Strong people are always welcome, no matter where they are.
Although Uchiha Sasuke didn't like it. He grew irritated upon seeing the nearby girls—led by Sakura—gathering around her, and his expression turned increasingly cold.
Uzumaki Naruto, on the other hand, was enthusiastically chatting with a group of boys—especially Kiba, Akimichi Choji, and Shikamaru.
In a sense, both Sasuke and Naruto had very high charisma. Kitazawa couldn't help but smile.
By ten o'clock in the morning, all the students in Class A of the first grade had arrived.
"Kitazawa-senpai," Iruka called, handing over a summoning storage scroll. "These are the new textbooks for this semester."
"Distribute them." Kitazawa opened the summoning storage scroll and took out all the textbooks. In the blink of an eye, several piles of books were stacked neatly on the ground.
Iruka began distributing the books according to subject. Ten minutes later, every student had received their full set of textbooks for the new semester.
"Registration is now closed. Everyone may go home. There will be no classes this afternoon," Kitazawa said, standing up. "If you have time, you can also read through the new textbooks."
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
"Kitazawa-senpai, wait for me!" Iruka called out, hurrying after him.
"Anything else?" Kitazawa stopped and looked at him.
"When I went to get the textbooks, I ran into Vice-Principal Sarutobi Hisao," Iruka explained. "He asked me to inform you that there'll be a short meeting in the conference room at 8:30 tomorrow morning."
"I see. Thank you." Kitazawa suddenly remembered something and asked with a smile, "How are things going between you and Tsubaki?"
"What are you talking about?" Iruka shook his head quickly. "Kitazawa-senpai, don't say such things. Tsubaki and I are innocent!"
"When the flower is in bloom, it must be picked," Kitazawa said as he patted Iruka on the shoulder and turned to leave.
"What does that even mean?" Iruka scratched his head, feeling the sting of his limited education.
Kitazawa didn't go home but headed straight for Konoha Hospital. Although he had many tasks now, not many could be completed in a short time.
He had two urgent priorities: one was to learn more medical ninjutsu, and the other was to master Wind Release ninjutsu. As for the other missions, there was no point in rushing.
"Senior Nono." Since Shizune wasn't present, Kitazawa sought out Nono.
"You came at the right time," she said gently. "Your office is ready. I'll take you there."
"I have an office?" Kitazawa asked, surprised.
"Do you think just anyone can be a temporary medical ninja at Konoha Hospital?" Yakushi Nono smiled. "Only medical ninjas at Jonin level get invited."
Kitazawa, though only a special Jonin, shouldn't have qualified to serve as a temporary medical ninja. But he was half a student of Tsunade, and his overall strength wasn't lacking—only experience.
Experience, however, could be gained by performing more surgeries. So Yakushi Nono made an exception and promoted Kitazawa.
"Thank you," Kitazawa said, quickly understanding the gesture. She truly lived up to being Tsunade's protégé.
"It's here," Yakushi Nono said, stopping in front of a room.
She led him into the office. It was an ordinary room—very similar to Nono's own, except it lacked a bookshelf.
"From now on, you can rest here when you're free," she said. "Every morning, a nurse will bring you the surgery schedule. If it's an emergency, she'll come to notify you."
"Okay," Kitazawa nodded.
"One more thing," Nono added after a short pause. "I'm going on a mission next week. In my absence, you can report to Kaori."
Kaori, whose full name was Kiyota Kaori, was a Jonin-ranked medical ninja—second only to Yakushi Nono and Tsunade in the hospital hierarchy.
"Is it far?" Kitazawa asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Nono replied without hesitation. "I'm going to the Land of Earth. I won't be back for a while."
The Land of Earth? Could this be the mission that led to Yakushi Nono's death?
In the original story, Kabuto Yakushi was caught stealing information from Iwagakure and ended up encountering Nono while on the run.
But by then, she had been manipulated by Shimura Danzo and had forgotten Kabuto, leading to the tragedy. However, how could it be happening this early?
Kitazawa recalled that this incident occurred the same year as the Uchiha clan massacre, which would be the following year. Then a sudden realization struck him—and he understood why.
Perhaps it had something to do with him—or more precisely, Tsunade.
Because of his training in medical ninjutsu, Yakushi Nono had grown close to them. Danzo would certainly not want to see this happen.
Nono knew many of Root's secrets, and if she were ever exposed to Tsunade, it would cause unnecessary trouble. Even if she wasn't, her connection to Tsunade alone could be seen as a threat—possibly even rebellion.
Danzo would never allow a Root member to align with Tsunade. The best solution was to eliminate her once and for all.
"You're a medical ninja. Why are you still being sent on missions?" Kitazawa asked, frowning.
"Medical ninjas are still ninjas," Nono said, looking away. "Familiarize yourself with the office first. I'll check if there are any surgeries for you today."
With that, she turned and left the room.
Kitazawa stood in silence. Nono hadn't told him the truth—but he understood. After all, Danzo controlled two critical pieces of her life: the orphanage and Kabuto Yakushi.
Kitazawa rubbed his brow. Helping Nono was going to be particularly troublesome. Given Danzo's nature, if Nono slipped out of his grasp, he would most likely retaliate against the orphanage—or Kabuto Yakushi.
Especially Kabuto Yakushi. He had already been sent to another village as a spy, his whereabouts unknown outside of Root.
"We still have a week, so there's no rush. Let's try talking to Tsunade first," Kitazawa murmured, stroking his chin.
In terms of value, Kabuto Yakushi far surpassed Nono Yakushi. If he could be kept in Konoha and properly trained, he could become the next Orochimaru—only this time, an Orochimaru with weaknesses.
"I wonder if Tsunade will become Hokage once her hemophobia is cured," Kitazawa muttered, stretching as he walked to the window.
Naturally, Tsunade becoming Hokage would bring many advantages to him. Though Sarutobi Hiruzen treated him well, he was still a step behind and hadn't reached Konoha's higher level.
He had to become the man behind Tsunade.
Sitting down at his desk, Kitazawa took out the Wind Release scroll that Uchiha Mikoto had given him. The scroll recorded six Wind Release jutsu. He had already learned two and had four left to master.
Kitazawa skimmed through it and decided to start with Wind Style: Rotating Shuriken. It seemed the simplest—though it wasn't simple at all, having a B-rank difficulty.
In terms of effect, Wind Style: Rotating Shuriken resembled Naruto's Wind Release: Rasenshuriken. But one used physical shuriken, while the other formed a shuriken entirely from chakra.
Wind Style: Rotating Shuriken, simply put, involved infusing a normal shuriken with Wind Nature chakra, causing it to spin at extreme speeds and greatly enhance its cutting power.
Kitazawa picked up the scroll and began studying. It wasn't easy to train in ninjutsu indoors, so he focused on mastering the theory first. Before long, Nono returned—this time with Shizune.
Kitazawa stood up and followed them into the operating room, where he performed surgery while also learning Mystical Palm Technique.
---
A new day. A new month. September 1st, the first day of the new semester.
As Kitazawa walked through the Ninja Academy, he could clearly feel that the atmosphere was livelier than usual. It was the first day of school, and the students were filled with excitement.
But after a few days, that excitement would fade—leaving behind only the longing for summer vacation.
Kitazawa headed toward the artificial lake. He thought Naruto, Hinata, and the others might still be training—but to his surprise, they weren't there.
When he arrived at his office, he found all of them already waiting: Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, Hyuga Hinata, Haruno Sakura, Yamanaka Ino, and Nara Shikamaru.
"Shikamaru, it's rare to see you so self-aware," Kitazawa joked.
"..." Shikamaru's mouth twitched.
He hadn't wanted to come, but both Shikaku and Yoshino had issued a death sentence—if he didn't show up, there would be consequences.
Since escape was impossible, he decided to accept it voluntarily. That way, the suffering would be less.
"After the first class, go to the training ground and wait for me. I'll arrange new training for you then," Kitazawa instructed. "I have a Teacher's meeting to attend."
"Yes, Teacher Kitazawa," they all responded in unison.
"Hinata, stay." Kitazawa stopped Hinata and asked, "Have you had breakfast?"
"No," she replied softly.
"Then why are you leaving?" Kitazawa tapped her forehead, smiling.
"I... I can eat by myself," Hinata said shyly. "Kitazawa-sensei, don't you have a meeting?"
"The meeting doesn't start for another half hour," Kitazawa replied. "There's definitely time for breakfast."
"Yeah!" Hinata immediately smiled.
"Eat a full meal. That way, you can defeat Neji by this afternoon," Kitazawa said, patting her head and taking out the breakfast he had bought.
"Kitazawa-sensei is right!" Hinata said, clenching her fist.
"Okay, let's eat." Kitazawa couldn't help but laugh.
Hinata was quite adorable after her personality shift. Though she'd changed, it wasn't a complete transformation. Still, she was already doing quite well.
If Hinata really turned into a bad-girl, big-sister type, it might not be as charming.
---
After breakfast, Kitazawa made his way to the meeting room.
"Kitazawa-sensei, over here!" Iruka waved when he saw him.
Kitazawa walked over and sat beside him. At exactly 8:30, Hisao entered, and the first meeting of the new semester officially began.
For the first twenty minutes, Kitazawa was drowsy. It was all predictable speeches—hope for the future, shared vision, etc. The real announcements didn't start until the final ten minutes.
"After careful deliberation by the academy, Kitazawa has once again been selected as this year's Outstanding Teacher," Hisao Sarutobi declared.
"Senior Kitazawa, congratulations!" Iruka turned to him, his tone serious.
"Thank you," Kitazawa replied, standing to accept the certificate—and a bonus of 300,000 taels.
--
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P@atreon/Arvinstorm (45+ Advanced Chapters)