"I won!"
Haruno Sakura shouted, overjoyed.
"In the end you beat me to it. Congratulations, Sakura."
Yamanaka Ino said with a smile.
She had always been a good sport, and because the winner was her best friend Sakura, she could offer her blessing naturally.
"Sasuke‑kun!"
Sakura fluttered toward Uchiha Sasuke like a butterfly.
"..."
Ino could not help shaking her head.
Sure enough, no matter what, it was hard to change Sakura's nature—she was a hopeless fangirl whose mouth snapped shut only when no handsome guy was in sight.
"Barely passable."
Seeing Sakura's face full of "please praise me," Sasuke suddenly thought of himself and spoke off‑handedly.
"Huh?"
Sakura's eyes instantly went wide.
Did Sasuke‑kun just compliment me?
Stars sparkled in her eyes; she almost wanted to pounce on him like Uzumaki Naruto.
Noticing danger, Sasuke hurriedly widened the distance.
"Nice going, Sakura!"
Naruto and the others crowded around.
Class 1‑A was once again filled with laughter.
Bridging a one‑year gap and defeating Class 2‑A twice in a row felt like a dream to them.
But they all knew who deserved the most credit, and they could not help turning to look at Kitazawa.
…
"How could this happen?"
Mizuki could not handle the blow and subconsciously stepped back.
How had the invincible Hyūga Neji lost again?
For a moment he even resented Neji:
You look so strong every day, yet when it counts you fall flat?
"Ino's chakra control is already at this level?"
Nara Shikaku marveled.
"She could definitely try learning the Yamanaka clan's secret Mind Body Switch Technique."
Mentioning secret arts made him think of Nara Shikamaru—so bright and talented, yet wasting it all out of laziness.
"Inoichi. has a worthy heir."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in agreement.
Yet compared with Ino, he was even more interested in Haruno Sakura, because she was the daughter of a civilian shinobi.
For someone so young to have such chakra control meant her future potential was high.
As Hokage, Hiruzen especially favored civilian ninja—they were extremely loyal, whereas clan shinobi sometimes put clan above village,
the Uchiha most of all.
"It's that she works hard enough," Shikaku sighed.
"Shikamaru is so lazy his mother has to force him just to go to school."
"I have an idea," Hiruzen said, glancing at Kitazawa.
"You could invite Kitazawa to tutor Shikamaru at home."
Shikaku was taken aback.
His first reaction was that it wasn't necessary—Kitazawa already taught his son daily at school.
Then he understood Hiruzen meant special training.
Under Kitazawa's coaching, Ino and the others had transformed.
Shikamaru had skipped all of it.
If Kitazawa became his private tutor, perhaps things would change.
"I'll find time to ask him," Shikaku said after brief thought.
It was worth a try.
He respected Shikamaru's choices, but what parent doesn't want their child to excel?
Maybe Kitazawa could do it.
…
"The second event is won by Class 1‑A!"
Acting as referee, Sarutobi Hiruzen announced the result.
Compared with the noisy first‑years, Class 2‑A was silent.
With an extra year of training, they had counted on sweeping the "friendship" match.
Now their opponents had taken two straight wins, leaving them bewildered.
"The key round is live combat," Mizuki said after a deep breath.
"They can only beat us in these side events."
He was cheering for Class 2‑A—and for himself.
Hearing this, Hyūga Neji's spirits lifted.
He believed in the supremacy of the strong and the humiliation of the weak.
Having lost twice, he would not make excuses; he only hoped to reclaim victory in the combat match.
As long as he defeated Uchiha Sasuke, he would not consider himself beaten.
"The third event: endurance test."
When the break ended, Kitazawa announced,
"There is just one rule: whoever lasts to the end wins."
Normally endurance training was measured in laps, which also brought speed into play.
Worried Naruto might lose to Neji in speed, Kitazawa changed the rule.
Mizuki trusted Neji too much to alter anything—hence half his plan had already been toppled.
Still, Class 1‑A had not secured overall victory yet; they had to stay sharp.
"Run the way you do in regular training; don't burden yourselves," Kitazawa reminded his students.
"Don't worry, sensei!"
Naruto said confidently.
"I'll be first again!"
"Neji is on the other side—don't get carried away,"
Inuzuka Kiba elbowed him.
While facing a common foe, he refrained from bickering with Naruto.
"Why is everyone only talking about Neji?"
Naruto scratched his head.
"I think Lee isn't bad either."
He trained with Rock Lee and knew they were equals in effort and youthful passion.
"Lee? Who's that?"
Kiba asked in puzzlement.
"Rock Lee," Naruto said, pointing.
Kiba recognized the familiar green tights and instantly understood.
"Naruto!"
Rock Lee noticed him and greeted him loudly, drawing the second‑years' attention—his vivid style clashed with their gloomy mood.
"Lee!"
Naruto gave a thumbs‑up.
"For youth!"
"For youth!"
Lee answered solemnly.
"I won't lose the endurance test to you again!"
"These two are hopeless," Tenten muttered, eyes stinging.
Neji wanted to sneer but let it go; they were both easy prey.
Lee challenged him often—never once winning.
If Naruto hung out with Lee, he was likely not that strong either.
Neji's target had always been Uchiha Sasuke, the top of Class 1‑A.
…
"Ready!"
Kitazawa shouted.
Everyone hurried into starting position; at the command they shot forward.
Neji took the lead, followed by Sasuke, Naruto, and Lee.
"Kitazawa," Mizuki walked over, "why is one of your students not competing?"
He meant Kurama Yakumo, who stood watching at the side.
"Her health is poor, so she's sitting out,"
Kitazawa explained.
Genjutsu has no physical form, so she could not enter the chakra‑form contest;
as for control or endurance tests, her body truly could not handle them.
"I see."
Mizuki cast her a look and lost interest.
He had skimmed Class 1‑A's top‑ten list—Yakumo was not on it, so she posed no threat.
Time crept by.
After fifty laps, more than half the students had dropped out; fewer than ten were still running.
Neji remained in first.
"This one's in the bag!"
Mizuki exhaled in relief.
"It's not over till it's over," Yūhi Kurenai interjected.
"…?"
Mizuki was full of question marks.
What's with you? You're not even a first‑year teacher—why side with Kitazawa?
"Kurenai's right," Kitazawa smiled; naturally he backed his girlfriend.
Kurenai returned a dazzling smile.
"???"
Suddenly Mizuki realized:
Kitazawa, you bastard—
You actually landed Kurenai?
Even though Mizuki had a girlfriend, jealousy stabbed him.
Kurenai was famed as a Konoha beauty and a top‑tier genjutsu kunoichi.
Why would she choose Kitazawa?
"Neji will win!"
Mizuki growled.
Were the Hokage not present, he might have acted on the murderous urge—this guy had stolen all his glory.
Kurenai frowned slightly, sensing Mizuki's mood.
But she thought: being envied proves excellence; she had chosen well.
By the eightieth lap only five runners remained:
Neji, Sasuke, Naruto, Kiba, and Lee.
"Where did it all go wrong?"
Mizuki's vision darkened.
Wasn't this the same pattern as the last event?
Class 2‑A had two left, Class 1‑A three.
Unbelievable!
He had imagined a second‑year sweep of the top ten—the one‑year gap was obvious.
Yet Class 1‑A now led in both numbers and quality, an implicit slap at his teaching compared with Kitazawa's.
He regretted ever arranging this "friendship" match.
"I… I'm done. Good luck, guys."
Kiba left the track and plopped down.
Neji wiped sweat from his face, growing solemn—Naruto and Lee were putting huge pressure on him.
"Lee!"
Naruto gasped, "What a youthful fight!"
"Y‑Youth must be like this!"
Lee, even more drained, still answered forcefully.
"..."
Sasuke felt his mind break—
How were there such monsters?
One lap later he hit his limit and withdrew.
Neji panted hard; stamina was failing.
"Burn with youth—haaa!"
Naruto suddenly accelerated.
"Such a youthful sight!"
Lee stopped, tears and snot flowing; he had no strength left.
Neji sensed danger.
What was with this guy—where did he get so much energy?
Gritting his teeth, he gave chase.
But Naruto glanced back, flashed a thumbs‑up, then kicked into another burst of speed.
"..."
Neji nearly choked; he knew it was hopeless now, and conceded.
The moment he stopped, the entire field fell silent.
~~~
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