"I can waive the rule, and then you won't have to do the assignment."
Kitazawa looked into Yamanaka Ino's blue eyes, then changed tack and asked, "But would you really be satisfied?"
"Absolutely not!"
Ino froze for a beat, then nodded vigorously.
"I have to make Sakura taste the pain I went through!"
As expected of a best friend.
Seeing this, Kitazawa couldn't help laughing.
There was no doubt he had said it on purpose—to ignite Ino's competitive fire.
Though the two were close friends, they were also rivals—practically lifelong enemies.
"In terms of chakra control, Sakura does have a slight edge over you," Kitazawa said unhurriedly. "But when it comes to fundamentals, she's far weaker."
"M‑hm, m‑hm!"
Ino agreed wholeheartedly.
"Diligence can make up for shortcomings," Kitazawa went on. "You just need to free up a bit of time from something else and devote it to chakra‑control training."
"What should I do?"
Ino asked, eager for instructions.
"Cut class."
Kitazawa said it with a gentle smile.
Ino was taken aback.
A moment later, she thought of Hyūga Hinata and suddenly understood.
Kitazawa's meaning was simple: skip subjects she had already mastered and spend the time practicing water‑walking.
"I'll set it up for you right now."
He pulled out a timetable, adding casually,
"Don't worry about Iruka—I'll talk to him."
"Thank you, Kitazawa‑sensei!"
Ino happily flicked aside her long blonde fringe.
"All right—any class I've crossed out, you can skip this week."
He handed her the schedule.
One glance told her that more than half her lessons were gone.
With so much extra practice time, she was sure Sakura would end up beneath her heel.
"Sensei," Ino said hopefully, "could you train me yourself?"
"Sure."
He agreed without hesitation.
"You'll train together with Hinata."
"Thank you, Kitazawa‑sensei."
Ino turned to Hinata, held out her hand and said,
"Let's give it our all."
"Y‑Yes…"
Hinata, unused to Ino's enthusiasm, still shook her hand.
"Let's go."
Kitazawa led them to the school's artificial lake.
Hinata could train anywhere as long as there were trees, but Ino's water‑walking required the lake.
"Ino," With a casual flick, Kitazawa sent two leaves whirling through the air.
"I'll use the leaves to disrupt you."
Ino's eyes sharpened.
Judging by their speed and force, Kitazawa's leaves out‑matched Sakura's wooden kunai by far.
A hit would definitely sting.
But to make Sakura do more homework, she was willing to endure it.
Ino gathered chakra in her feet and stepped onto the water's surface.
"Hinata, get ready," Kitazawa reminded her, then raised both hands.
Chakra surged out; leaves on either side were drawn toward him.
With a thought, the leaves shot forward.
Ino and Hinata immediately found themselves scrambling to respond.
After half an hour, the rigorous training overwhelmed them; they flopped down to rest.
"H‑Hinata, you're amazing," Ino panted admiringly.
"Eh?"
Startled by the praise, Hinata looked bewildered.
"To hold out this long under training like that—I can't match you," Ino explained, waving a dismissive hand.
Hinata stared, momentarily at a loss for words.
Under the Hyūga clan head Hiashi's high‑pressure upbringing, she had never had much confidence.
Only after meeting Kitazawa had she begun to regain it.
Now, with Ino's compliment, she finally discovered she wasn't as hopeless as she'd thought.
"Thank you," Hinata said earnestly.
"You're kind of odd, you know," Ino laughed. "Why thank me all of a sudden?"
"I…" Hinata instinctively looked to Kitazawa.
"What would you two like for lunch? My treat,"
Kitazawa asked with a smile, catching her glance.
"Yakiniku!" Ino sat up, rubbing her stomach.
"After burning so much energy today, I need to refuel!"
"Anything's fine with me," Hinata said, secretly relieved.
After a brief rest they resumed training.
At noon, Kitazawa took them to a yakiniku restaurant.
Hinata had already confessed her prodigious appetite to Hiashi, so she no longer hid it.
"Y‑You—" Ino gaped.
Pile after pile of grilled meat vanished into Hinata's stomach, overturning Ino's entire worldview.
"I‑I've been a big eater since I was little," Hinata mumbled, half embarrassed, half anxious.
She worried Ino might avoid her because of it.
"That is… unbelievably enviable!" Ino finally exclaimed.
"Eh?" Hinata looked puzzled—what was enviable about that?
"Eat like crazy and never get fat—every girl dreams of that!"
Ino clarified.
"Is… that so?" Hinata tilted her head, still somewhat dazed.
Kitazawa‑sensei was right—having a big appetite really was a blessing.
Her mindset transformed completely in that moment.
…
After school, Kitazawa went to the staff conference room.
Yet another meeting about the monthly exams—the same as last time: teachers writing test questions.
Kitazawa didn't care much about the May exam.
The only thing on his mind was whether Naruto Uzumaki could break into the class's top ten.
"Kitazawa," After the meeting, Mizuki walked over.
"Don't forget the friendly match between our two classes."
"Of course I won't."
Kitazawa nodded mildly.
"Good," Mizuki chuckled. "I was afraid you'd back out."
"I'm more afraid you'll lose and try to renege,"
Kitazawa replied calmly.
"You—!" Mizuki's fists clenched.
"I won't—no, our class won't lose!"
"We'll see soon enough."
Kitazawa gave him a look and left.
Blinded by resentment, Mizuki treated a reward‑less friendly match like life or death.
Still, that worked to Kitazawa's advantage.
He was sure Hiruzen Sarutobi would attend—or at least spy on—the match.
If Naruto performed well, Kitazawa might snag a few more rewards.
…
Wednesday — Hokage's Office
Bang! The door was kicked open.
"Who—"
Startled, Hiruzen looked up and saw a familiar figure.
They were back—everyone was back.
Only Tsunade dared kick his door; even Danzo merely slammed it.
"Old man," Tsunade said bluntly, "Where are Yakumo Kurama and Kitazawa? I want to see them."