"Kitazawa-sensei, what's going on?"
Uchiha Sasuke couldn't help asking.
Although he trusted Kitazawa, losing the long‑anticipated chance to fight left him completely puzzled.
He wasn't the only one—Naruto Uzumaki, Ino Yamanaka, and several others felt the same confusion.
The reason was that Kurama Yakumo had practically no presence in Class 1‑A.
She often skipped class and only occasionally attended a combat lesson.
After Tsunade returned to the village, she simply took a leave of absence.
Class 1‑A students had only one impression of Kurama Yakumo: frail and sickly.
And now that very "little white rabbit" was about to take on the "big bad demon king" Hyūga Neji—it seemed unbelievable.
"Watch the match and you'll understand why I'm sending Yakumo out," Kitazawa said calmly.
"But…"
Sasuke still felt unwilling.
He had wanted to fight Neji himself and test the legendary power of the Byakugan.
"Sasuke, be patient," Kitazawa patted his shoulder. "If Yakumo loses, I'll let you spar with Neji."
Sasuke froze for a moment, then accepted.
He wanted to see what Kurama Yakumo was really capable of.
"The Kurama Clan?"
Nara Shikaku looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "The genjutsu clan that used to rival the Uchiha?"
"Exactly," Hiruzen's eyes flashed. "I didn't expect Kitazawa to pit her against Neji, but the idea suits me fine."
He also wanted to see how far Yakumo had developed her kekkei genkai.
Shikaku thought it over.
With his intellect, one possibility came to mind at once:
Kurama Yakumo had awakened her kekkei genkai.
A Kekkei Genkai said to be on par with the Sharingan.
If so, the Kurama Clan might rise again—perhaps it was wise to befriend them early.
…
"Begin, please."
Hyūga Neji made the seal of confrontation.
He didn't know why his opponent wasn't Uchiha Sasuke, but whoever it was, he meant to win.
Kurama Yakumo nodded nervously.
Neji's fame was intimidating, and she wasn't very confident.
Yet since Kitazawa said she could win, she had to try.
"Match start!"
Before Kitazawa's voice had even faded, Neji activated his Byakugan.
In an instant he saw the flow of chakra inside Yakumo.
"What!?"
Neji's pupils contracted.
An enormous amount of Yin‑release chakra was concentrated in Yakumo's small body—shocking to behold.
"Look out!"
Yakumo hesitated not at all: she tore open a prepared painting.
Scorching flames sprang from thin air and instantly became a sea of fire.
The surrounding temperature soared; sweat beaded on Neji's forehead.
"What Fire Style is that?"
Amazement showed on Sasuke's face.
Its range and power already surpassed the Fireball and Phoenix Flower techniques he had learned.
"Yakumo's really strong!"
Naruto now understood why Kitazawa had chosen her.
"Something's off," Shikaku frowned. "She cast that jutsu without weaving hand seals."
Ino Yamanaka and Shino Aburame were startled.
Hinata Hyūga stared in disbelief as Neji scrambled to dodge the flames.
Could someone as gifted as he be this powerless?
"Damn it!"
Neji leapt clear of the fire and suddenly accelerated forward.
Halfway there, Yakumo produced another painting—
Boom!
A dark cloud materialized overhead; bolts of lightning crashed down.
Neji had to stop and dodge.
Yakumo kept going, pulling out a third picture.
Gales burst forth, turning in mid‑air into transparent kunai.
"Fire Style, Lightning Style, Wind Style—what kind of monster is she?"
The first‑year students were dumbstruck.
Even Sasuke wondered: "Is she really our age?"
"It's a kekkei genkai!" Shikamaru blurted. "She's from the Kurama Clan—that genjutsu Kekkei Genkai said to rival the Sharingan!"
Sasuke snapped to attention.
Rival the Sharingan? Impossible—yet Yakumo's display was terrifying.
"No wonder they once matched the Uchiha," Shikaku muttered, shaken.
As a jōnin he saw more than the children, and what he saw was outrageously strong.
"Illusions made real," Hiruzen said quietly.
Even he was surprised by Yakumo's performance—the future of this bloodline could not be underestimated.
"A genjutsu that becomes reality?" Shikaku was speechless.
Genjutsu was supposed to be fake, yet this bloodline made it real.
Without intel, facing Yakumo meant no chance of victory.
Indeed, Neji could not strike back under her relentless assault—dodging alone took everything he had.
Kitazawa thought, This is practically a concept‑level ability. With enough paintings, Yakumo was nearly invincible.
Someone's definitely cheating here!
Yūhi Kurenai sighed. She had long known Yakumo's genjutsu was absurd, but seeing it still felt hopeless.
As a normal genjutsu kunoichi, she felt the ninja world was cruel: whether Uchiha or Kurama, awakening a bloodline limit let them outclass her effortlessly.
…
Mizuki felt targeted—he hadn't won a single bout all day. Even the highly‑rated Neji got flattened by an unknown girl.
Am I dreaming? Mizuki smiled bitterly, half mocking himself.
"Winner: Kurama Yakumo."
Hiruzen announced cheerfully, "Class 1‑A wins the friendly match!"
"We won!"
Class 1‑A erupted in cheers.
Neji stood, breathing hard. Hearing Hiruzen's verdict felt unreal. He'd lost—just like that—to Kurama Yakumo?
Who was the real genius?
Touching the Caged‑Bird mark on his forehead, Neji wondered if this was simply his fate.
Mizuki collapsed to the ground. He'd lost so badly there was no anger left, only confusion.
Why does Class 1‑A have so many prodigies?
Then it hit him—he'd been played by the devious Kitazawa. This match had been choreographed from the start. Yet he himself had agreed to it.
Still, he blamed Kitazawa entirely. Given a chance, he'd kill him without hesitation.
[Current mission: Defeat Class 2‑A in the friendly match.]
[Reward: Gentle Fist—Eight Trigrams Sixty‑Four Palms.]
[Mission complete. Reward delivered.]
Kitazawa's lips quirked upward. At last the prize he'd long awaited.
With Mountain‑Crushing Strike plus Sixty‑Four Palms, he now needed only Rotation to match Hiashi Hyūga. The system's jutsu came maxed‑out; even Hiashi's lifetime of training might not reach that mastery.
Now this is real cheating.
"Kitazawa."
Hiruzen stepped forward. "I'll be going first. When you've wrapped up, come to my office."
Nearby teachers looked on enviously—clearly a signal Hiruzen meant to reward him.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
After Hiruzen and Shikaku left, the first‑years celebrated even more freely.
"Mizuki," Kitazawa approached. "You lost, so you owe me a favor."
"What favor?" Mizuki stifled his murderous urge.
"Simple," Kitazawa smiled. "Be my bodyguard next weekend on an out‑of‑village mission."
Mizuki's head shot up. An outing—just the two of them? A golden opportunity!
"I accept," Mizuki grinned. Exactly as Kitazawa wanted; in the original story, Mizuki had murdered teammates for a mission.
Turning, Kitazawa saw Neji walking toward Hinata and raised an eyebrow.
"Hinata-sama, I'd like to challenge you," Neji said evenly.
"N-Neji-niisan, I…" Hinata was tongue‑tied.
Kitazawa was about to speak when four lines of text appeared before his eyes:
[As class representative you must accept challenges from outside classes.]
[Mission: Help your deskmate Hinata defeat Neji.]
[Reward: Gentle Fist—Rotation.]
[Accept?]
"Neji," Kitazawa stepped in. "Hinata only just awakened her Byakugan and you've trained a year longer. How about sparring next term instead?"
"I'll do as Kitazawa-sensei says!" Hinata, flustered, clung to him as her anchor.
"Very well—fairer that way," Neji turned and left.
"Don't worry, I'll give you special training," Kitazawa told the anxious Hinata with a smile. After a word to Kurenai, he headed for the Hokage Building—best not keep the Hokage waiting.
…
Hokage's Office
Admitted inside, Kitazawa bowed.
"Kitazawa," Hiruzen looked up, praising him. "Today's match was a pleasant surprise. You and Class 1‑A impressed me."
If only Sasuke and Naruto had improved, that wouldn't prove Kitazawa's teaching—they were gifted already. But today he'd seen many civilian students progress, especially Sakura Haruno.
"Thank you for the praise, Hokage-sama," Kitazawa said modestly. "I don't deserve it."
"Nonsense. No teacher in the academy surpasses you," Hiruzen waved. Kitazawa thanked him again.
"The annual 'Best Teacher' award hasn't begun, but I guarantee it will be you," Hiruzen smiled—clearly a reward.
Yet that was not all.
"Moreover, I'd like you to head the Academic Affairs Office."
That office managed class schedules, teacher plans, student exams—if Kitazawa had been first‑year director, he'd now be director for the whole academy, power second only to principal and vice‑principal. A meteoric rise.
Kitazawa was pleased: with this position he'd be safe in Konoha under Hiruzen's protection, so long as he made no mistakes.
"You're already a special jōnin—you should have an A‑rank jutsu," Hiruzen added. "Go with Haru to the archive and choose one."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!" Kitazawa answered sincerely—an A‑rank technique was generous; most jōnin had only one or two.
"You may go," Hiruzen nodded. This was an exceptional reward: part for Kitazawa's value, part for Naruto's sake, which made Hiruzen happy.
Just as he returned to his paperwork, the door burst open.
Hiruzen looked up to meet the single eye of Danzo Shimura, and his good mood faded.
"Hiruzen," Danzo said sternly. "I hear Kurama Yakumo has awakened her kekkei genkai."
"Well informed as always," Hiruzen snorted.
"The Kurama bloodline is not inferior to the Sharingan. I want Yakumo to join Root under my personal guidance," Danzo stated.
"No." Hiruzen refused without hesitation.
"Hiruzen," Danzo's eye narrowed. "Her ability is dangerous—she must be guided."
"No need. She already has good teachers," Hiruzen replied.
"Kitazawa and Kurenai aren't qualified," Danzo insisted. "Yakumo's kekkei genkai can be used against the Uchiha."
"Enough!" Hiruzen glared. "The Uchiha are Konoha ninja too—they don't need to be 'dealt with.'"
"Our teacher once said the Uchiha are born evil—we must be prepared," Danzo pressed. "Hand Yakumo over to me."
"Impossible!" Hiruzen said firmly. "There's no room for discussion."
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!" Danzo snapped.
"Danzo, I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen shot back.
Bang! Danzo stormed out, slamming the door.
~~~
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