Suddenly, three lines of text appeared in front of Kitazawa's eyes.
[Current Mission: Help your lifelong rival — Uzumaki Naruto — place in the top ten of the next monthly exam.]
[Mission Reward: Yin nature.]
[Completed the mission. Reward delivered.]
Kitazawa nodded slightly.
Whatever else might be said, the system certainly handed out rewards promptly.
Yin nature became Kitazawa's fourth chakra affinity; before this he already had Wind, Fire, and Water.
All he lacked were Earth, Lightning, and Yang. With those he would have all seven affinities — the full set.
In the original work, ninja who possessed every affinity were exceedingly rare.
In theory, once a shinobi mastered every element, they could unlock Yin–Yang Release and even form Truth‑Seeking Balls.
Of course, that presupposed total mastery of both shape and nature transformation for every element.
Given Kitazawa's innate talent, that was basically impossible, so he left the pressure on the system.
"The May monthly exam is now over."
After reading out the rankings, Kitazawa added, "Everyone head home early and get some rest."
"Kiba!"
Uzumaki Naruto beamed and reminded him, "Don't forget our bet."
"Hmph! Of course I haven't!"
Inuzuka Kiba waved a hand grandly. "Just Ichiraku Ramen, right? Eat all you like."
"Great!"
Naruto said excitedly, "I won't hold back!"
"Don't get too cocky, brat — next time you're definitely losing!"
Kiba came over, slung an arm around Naruto's shoulders, and said.
"We'll see about that!"
Naruto froze for a second at Kiba's friendly gesture, then laughed.
Watching them, Kitazawa suddenly thought of the idiom "foxes and dogs in cahoots."
Ahem — no insult intended. He was genuinely pleased that Naruto had a friend like Kiba;
the kid's early years really had been lonely.
Sadly, no new mission triggered.
On reflection, that might be just as well — he might not be able to clear it anyway.
The next task would probably be getting Naruto into the top five, top three, or even first place.
That would be about as hard as sending Kakuzu to assassinate Hashirama Senju.
"Sasuke‑kun, want to walk home together?"
Haruno Sakura hurriedly blocked Uchiha Sasuke's path.
"No. We don't go the same way."
Sasuke glanced at her, then picked up the pace.
"Argh!"
Sakura clenched her fists. "Am I really that unlikable?"
"Sasuke dislikes everyone equally."
Yamanaka Ino shook her head.
Though she was a fangirl too, she was a bit less love‑addled than Sakura — able to pick it up and put it down.
For that reason she had seen through Sasuke's personality, though not completely.
Sasuke wasn't speeding up because he hated Sakura; he just wanted to get home early.
He had come first this time, and that would surely let him achieve his goal.
Dad, praise me! Oniisan, praise me!
"Kitazawa!"
A familiar voice rang out.
Mizuki appeared before Kitazawa, smiling.
"Neji scored full marks again?"
Kitazawa asked off‑handedly.
"…"
Mizuki froze.
Being pre‑empted felt awful — his chance to show off ended before it began.
"Congratulations," Kitazawa said blandly.
"I actually came to ask you — what day should we hold the friendly match between our two classes?"
Mizuki had to change the subject.
"How about next Friday?"
Kitazawa thought a moment.
"No problem," Mizuki answered confidently. "Any day is fine."
"I think we ought to invite a referee," Kitazawa said, watching his face.
"How about we ask the Hokage?"
"Are you joking?"
Mizuki shook his head. "Why would Hokage-sama care about a friendly match between two classes?"
"Under normal circumstances, you're right," Kitazawa said with a faint smile.
"But if I invite him, there's a good chance he'll come."
In fact, even if he didn't invite him, Hiruzen Sarutobi would probably sneak over to watch.
"You?"
Mizuki's expression was doubtful.
Though Kitazawa had been summoned by the Hokage before, to Mizuki he was just a chūnin teacher — hardly worth the Hokage's time.
"Wait and see," Kitazawa said, offering no further explanation, then turned and left.
"Hmph!"
Watching him go, Mizuki dropped the façade, showing a dark scowl.
"I'll enjoy seeing just how capable you are!"
As for Kitazawa actually bringing the Third Hokage over? Impossible, in Mizuki's view.
A routine friendly match between first‑ and second‑years was mere trivia to the Hokage, let alone worth serving as judge.
…
Uchiha Sasuke jogged all the way home.
"Bath first," Uchiha Mikoto cut him off before he could speak.
"Your father and brother aren't back yet."
"Really?"
Sasuke's excitement cooled a bit.
"You took first in the monthly exam, didn't you?" Mikoto asked, heading for the bathroom.
"Eh? How did you know?"
Sasuke asked, surprised.
"You're my son — how could I not know?"
Mikoto turned on the hot water and smiled.
"Once you're done bathing, they should be back. No need to rush."
"Got it!"
Sasuke closed the door and stepped into the tub.
Half an hour later, Uchiha Fugaku pushed the door open.
"Dad!"
Sasuke hurriedly held out his report card.
"First place, eh?"
Fugaku glanced at it and praised, "Nicely done."
"I also learned Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Sasuke lifted his chin, wearing a keep‑praising‑me look.
"You haven't shamed the Uchiha," Fugaku said, actually smiling.
"Worthy son of mine."
"Thanks, Dad!"
Sasuke almost burst out laughing, he was so excited.
Just then the door opened again.
"Oniisan!"
Sasuke stuffed the report card into Uchiha Itachi's hands.
"Congratulations on taking first," Itachi praised without stint.
"You'll end up with more firsts than I did."
He had entered the Academy at six and graduated at seven.
Three terms a year, four monthly exams a term.
As long as Sasuke stayed long enough, he really could surpass Itachi in total first‑place finishes.
Sasuke hadn't thought of that, and the corners of his mouth lifted uncontrollably — he felt like the happiest kid in the ninja world.
"Itachi, come to my room; we need to talk," Fugaku said, heading for his study.
"Sasuke, wait a moment," Itachi told his brother, patting him.
The smile vanished as soon as he turned away.
"What's the situation in Konoha, especially in Root?" Fugaku asked bluntly.
He had allowed Itachi to join the ANBU precisely to spy for the clan, keeping tabs on the village.
"Everything is normal," Itachi replied.
"I asked you to find out why Tsunade returned. Any results?" Fugaku continued.
"It's because of Kitazawa," Itachi explained.
"He proposed building a psychological medic‑ninja system to Hokage-sama."
"Kitazawa? Who's that?" Fugaku looked blank.
"A teacher at the Academy, and Sasuke's teacher," Itachi sighed to himself.
Clearly his father paid no attention to Sasuke's day‑to‑day life.
Then again, a mere chūnin proposing something so revolutionary really was hard to believe.
"Explain in detail," Fugaku said, puzzled.
"Yes."
Itachi recounted everything.
"I see…" Fugaku frowned slightly. "No telling how long Tsunade will stay."
"I think Tsunade-sama's presence is a good thing," Itachi said after a pause.
"At least it may quiet the Uchiha for a while."
Tsunade was one of the legendary Sannin, granddaughter of the First Hokage Senju Hashirama, and student of the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.
In the village she stood at the pinnacle of both strength and prestige.
Since Shisui Uchiha's death, the clan's hawks — the hard‑liners — had grown ever louder.
But Tsunade's return unsettled them; with her around, even rebellion had much slimmer odds of success.
"Itachi, remember your place," Fugaku said sternly.
"You are a shinobi of the Uchiha clan."
"I understand," Itachi answered after a brief silence.
~~~
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