"The exam starts now and will last two hours."
When the bell rang, Kitazawa made the announcement.
The first‑year Class A students immediately picked up their pens and plunged into the test.
After thinking for a moment, Kitazawa created a shadow clone.
He left the clone to invigilate the exam and headed to the academy's training field himself.
Because this month's test wasn't tied to any system quest, he couldn't be bothered to sit and solve the problems again.
Kitazawa began practicing Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique.
Two hours later, he returned to the Class A classroom.
"Tomorrow at 9 a.m. there will be a practical exam on the school field. Don't be late."
After collecting the papers, Kitazawa went back to his office.
He sat down and started grading.
He could already guess roughly how the practical exam would go; once he saw the written‑exam scores, he'd know where Naruto Uzumaki would rank.
Because the mission required Naruto to place in the top ten this month, he had to take it seriously—missing the target would void the quest.
Before long it was noon.
"Hinata didn't come today?"
Kitazawa set down his pen and stretched.
The next second, someone knocked.
"Speak of Hinata, and Hinata appears," he chuckled. "Come in."
"Kitazawa‑sensei."
Hinata Hyuga stepped through the door.
"What are you holding?"
Noticing the scroll in her hands, Kitazawa asked curiously.
"It's a summoning‑storage scroll."
Hinata opened it; a delicious aroma burst out, and plates of grilled meat appeared on his desk.
"You bought all this?" Kitazawa blinked—rich girl indeed.
"I asked Tokuma to pick it up for me," Hinata said softly, looking down. "I figured you'd be too busy grading to get lunch."
"Hinata, you really are thoughtful."
He reached out and ruffled her hair.
Last month, after the written exam, she'd also come to share lunch. That time he'd taken her to Ichiraku Ramen because the afternoon was a half‑day.
Clearly, that memory prompted her to bring food today.
"I… I didn't do much," Hinata said shyly. "I'm always troubling you."
"Enough with the polite talk—let's eat."
He handed her a pair of chopsticks.
"Mm." A small smile curved Hinata's lips.
Ever since she no longer had to hide how much she could eat, mealtime had become her favorite part of the day; it always lifted her mood.
"Sensei, may I keep training this afternoon?"
After they finished eating, Hinata hesitated a few seconds before asking.
"The practical exam is tomorrow—don't you want to rest?"
"It's fine," she shook her head. "A night's rest will be enough."
"Hinata," Kitazawa looked her in the eyes, "try activating your Byakugan."
"Eh?" Hinata's face showed bafflement.
"Why so surprised?" he laughed. "What do you think the ultimate purpose of your leaf‑training was?"
Hinata froze, then understood: he had said the leaf exercise was to sharpen her eyesight and reflexes—exactly what a Hyuga needed to awaken the Byakugan.
The thought warmed her heart and filled her with anticipation. She wondered what expression Hiashi would wear when she succeeded.
"Byakugan—activate!"
Following Hiashi's instructions, she focused chakra into her eye sockets—but nothing happened. She stood there, crestfallen.
"Don't move."
Kitazawa covered her eyes with his hand. "Try again."
Bewildered, she complied.
Kitazawa activated his own Byakugan and watched the chakra flow around her eyes.
"One more week of training and you'll open them," he concluded, closing his Byakugan.
"Really?" Hinata's disappointment turned to joy.
"Why would I lie?" He patted her head. "Come on, let's hit the training field."
Grading? He left that to the clone.
…
Dusk
After Hinata's session, Kitazawa walked her home and returned to his office.
The clone had finished grading; he picked up the score sheet.
Last month Hinata had topped the written exam, but this time—having skipped extra drills—she'd fallen to third.
First was Sasuke Uchiha, second Sakura Haruno, and Naruto Uzumaki placed sixth.
Kitazawa breathed a sigh of relief. With Naruto's current strength, a top‑ten finish in the practical exam was no problem; combined with his written score, he would land safely in the top ten.
…
The next day
"Kitazawa‑senpai."
This time Iruka Umino arrived early, unlike before.
"It's about time—line them up and start the practical."
"Right."
Iruka had Class A form ranks.
"Same four events as last time—physical fitness, Clone Technique, kunai throwing, shuriken throwing," Kitazawa announced, roster in hand. "First up: Clone Technique."
Because of the quest, his attention stayed on Naruto.
A month's practice plus the Shadow Clone Technique had brought Naruto's basic Clone Technique to an excellent level—better than when he graduated in the original story. His kunai and shuriken skills hadn't leapt forward, but were solid, and he ranked first in physical fitness—no surprise after training daily with Might Guy at max intensity.
"Sensei, what's my rank?" Naruto blurted the moment the testing ended.
Sasuke, Sakura, Choji and the others also turned to Kitazawa. Most nervous was Kiba Inuzuka—he dreaded losing to Naruto. Sasuke was tense too; missing first place last time still stung—an Uchiha had to be number one.
"Naruto, you're sixth," Kitazawa said with a smile.
"Yes!" Naruto leapt for joy.
"What? Then what about me?" Kiba yelped.
"You're seventh."
"Ah?" Kiba felt as if the world had ended—he'd actually lost to Naruto?
"Hahaha, I win!" Naruto gave the stunned Kiba a thumbs‑up. "That's the power of youth!"
"Who's first?" Sasuke finally asked, unable to hold back.
"You." Kitazawa grinned. "Congratulations, Sasuke."
Sasuke froze, then a smirk tugged at his lips—he'd reclaimed the first place that was his.
~~~
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