Kitazawa looked at the now-revived Sasuke and couldn't help smiling.
In the end, he was still a kid—easy to read, easy to steer. On the flip side, it also said something: in Sasuke's mind, the Sharingan held enormous weight.
But does a two-tomoe Sharingan really boost you that much?
Kitazawa's answer was: it depends.
For most students, two tomoe is a downgrade-from-the-gods kind of power gap. But against Kurama Yakumo and Uzumaki Naruto… not necessarily. Their "cheat codes" are every bit as broken as Sasuke's.
Yakumo's genjutsu bloodline limit is capped for now by her age and body. She's not truly at Mangekyō level yet. But purely in terms of genjutsu, she's already past a three-tomoe Sharingan.
And Naruto? Come on—he's got the Nine-Tails inside him. Genjutsu barely scares him. Add Multi Shadow Clone and the Rasengan he's about to learn, and Sasuke will have a hard time hanging on.
Of course, there was no need to tell him all that right now.
"Sasuke, come find me tomorrow. I'll have a new special training regimen ready," Kitazawa said after a beat of thought.
Honestly, his first reaction to the "mission" had been: if you want Sasuke to awaken two tomoe, he needs to get beaten up more. But that kind of training is too brutal—too demonic. What if he ended up breaking the kid?
He'd take a gentler route: build the fundamentals. The stronger the base, the higher the odds of unlocking two tomoe.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei!" Sasuke said, genuinely grateful. As expected, Kitazawa-sensei could do anything.
"You can pause the Fire Style chakra nature training, but keep studying genjutsu," Kitazawa added.
"Mm." Sasuke nodded. He didn't want to stop genjutsu anyway—because of Itachi. To teach him, Itachi had carved out a lot of time to be with him—something that had never happened before.
"Only Sensei could swing that," Yamanaka Ino sighed from not far away.
"For real," Akimichi Choji said, still rattled. "Sasuke's face just now was scary dark."
"Well, to a proud Uchiha, losing twice in one go is hard to swallow," Nara Shikamaru yawned. "Gotta relax—eat when you're hungry, drink when you're thirsty. Life's easier without goals."
"Then why are you in Kitazawa-sensei's special training?" Ino shot back.
"It's a boss from upstairs," Shikamaru said, pointing up. "Orders are orders—I don't get a say."
"What boss?" Naruto looked up at the sky, puzzled.
"He means his parents," Inuzuka Kiba said, patting Naruto's shoulder like a wise elder. "Use your head."
"But Naruto's ranked higher than you," Shikamaru said dryly.
"…" Kiba's grin froze.
"If only I could do what Kitazawa-sensei does—make Sasuke smile in three lines," Haruno Sakura said, envy thick in her voice.
"That'll probably never happen," Ino said after giving her a once-over and shaking her head. She knew Sakura too well. Just on gentleness alone, she'd never beat Kitazawa.
"Ino!" Sakura exploded, jumping to her feet and glaring.
"Sasuke's back," Ino said, blinking innocently.
"Sasuke!" Sakura's face flipped instantly to sunshine as she hurried over with a big smile.
"Women are terrifying," Shikamaru shivered. He only felt more determined than ever to marry an ordinary, low-maintenance wife.
"I'll announce the midterm rankings now," Kitazawa said, taking the roster from Iruka Umino and stepping up in front of Class 1-A.
Both the written and practical rankings were about the same as last time.
"I'm first in the practical again!" Naruto blurted, unable to hold back his grin.
Sasuke glanced over despite himself, a flicker of envy in his eyes. He'd almost forgotten what first place felt like.
"Second, Kurama Yakumo," Kitazawa continued after a look at Naruto.
Naruto and Yakumo hadn't sparred this time, but he still put Naruto first because Yakumo hadn't really progressed this month. Not that it was her fault. Her bloodline was too absurd—starting point too high—which actually slowed her growth.
"Third, Uchiha Sasuke." Kitazawa paused. "Fourth, Hyuga Hinata."
Sasuke and Hinata hadn't fought either, but Sasuke had fallen into his setups several times; giving him third was a kind of consolation. Not that Sasuke felt there was anything consoling about it.
"That's it for this midterm. The next one is finals, around mid-December," Kitazawa said with a smile once he'd finished. "Finals are the real deal. I hope you all take them seriously."
Sasuke clenched his fists. Once he unlocked two tomoe, he was going to win everything.
"Sasuke, I've got a surprise for you at finals!" Naruto said suddenly, excited.
"…?" Sasuke was full of question marks. A surprise? He didn't want one. The last "surprise"—Multi Shadow Clone—had nearly given him a heart attack.
"You all did great today," Kitazawa said, smiling. "Pick up your report cards and head home. See you tomorrow."
"Bye, Kitazawa-sensei!" the Class 1-A kids chimed, then swarmed over to Iruka for their report cards and poured out of the school.
For most students, grades matter—but not that much. Making time to play is the real top priority.
"Come on, Naruto, ramen's on me at Ichiraku," Kiba sighed. He felt like this bet of theirs should probably end; he lost every time. Still, a man's word is his bond. He could afford a bowl of ramen.
"Why don't I pay this time?" Naruto scratched his head, embarrassed. Sponging meals every time didn't feel great—especially with Kiba's terrible luck.
"What are you talking about?" Kiba smacked him on the shoulder. "Look down on me, do you?"
"No! Not what I meant!" Naruto waved his hands.
"Then move it!" Kiba snorted.
"Thanks, Kiba!" Naruto beamed.
"I'm Inuzuka's Clan head second son. This is nothing," Kiba said, thumping his chest at Naruto's bright grin.
They headed off to Ichiraku together. After eating, Naruto hummed a tune on his way home, mood sky-high.
"You're this happy—did you get first again?" he heard a familiar voice as he opened the door.
His smile bloomed even wider. "Grandpa!"
"Naruto, you still haven't answered my question," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a chuckle. He didn't really need the answer; Naruto's joy said it all.
"I took first in the practical again!" Naruto nodded.
"Now if you could snag first in the written sometime, that'd be perfect," Hiruzen said, hopeful. After all, Minato had been top of the class every year at the Academy.
"I… I'll try." Naruto's smile stiffened. It wasn't that he didn't work hard—his classmates were just monsters. Even taking first in the practical had taken everything he had. As for the written… if you don't know it, you don't know it. Trying harder doesn't help.
"Hahaha, no need to look so glum," Hiruzen laughed.
"Whew, good," Naruto exhaled. He was worried Hiruzen would make him chase first in the written, which would mean drowning in practice tests again.
"It's November second," Hiruzen said, pulling out a stack of bills. "Here's your living expenses for the month."
"Thanks, Grandpa!" Naruto's eyes lit up. "I can buy the limited-edition instant noodles again!"
"You really do love your noodles," Hiruzen said, shaking his head.
"Heh." Naruto tucked the money away and said, "Grandpa, when I fought Sasuke today, I saw that tail again."
Hiruzen made a small sound. Why did the Nine-Tails seem so much easier to deal with than the legends said? In under two months it had already helped Naruto twice. Odd.
"What is that tail?" Naruto asked.
"I'll tell you in a while," Hiruzen said, clearing his throat and changing the subject. "You might want to save some of that money for December."
"Why?" Naruto asked, confused.
"What do you think of Kitazawa?" Hiruzen countered.
"Kitazawa-sensei? He's great!" Naruto grinned. "Great at everything!"
"December twenty-first is Kitazawa's birthday," Hiruzen reminded him.
"Oh!" Naruto straightened. "He gave me a birthday present last month. I've got to get him an even bigger one!"
"What did he give you?" Hiruzen asked, curious.
"A kunai," Naruto said.
"A kunai?" Hiruzen blinked. He'd expected something more… special—not just a kunai.
"Kitazawa-sensei said it's the same model as the Fourth Hokage's!" Naruto said proudly.
"Show me," Hiruzen said on impulse.
"I'll go grab it!" Naruto dashed to his room and came back with a kunai. It was a standard kunai, but on the handle four characters were engraved: "Blade of Shinobi Love." It was the very style of Namikaze Minato's Flying Thunder God kunai. Of course, this one was a knockoff—no actual Hiraishin seal.
Hiruzen took the kunai, and memories flooded in. He sighed. "Kitazawa did put thought into this. Keep it safe."
As for why Kitazawa chose this gift—he probably heard from Tsunade that Naruto was Minato's son. Hiruzen wasn't surprised. Tsunade and Kitazawa were close; becoming teacher and student felt like only a matter of time.
"Have you decided what to get him?" Hiruzen asked, watching Naruto twirl the kunai.
"No idea," Naruto admitted after thinking. "I'll ask Sasuke and the others tomorrow."
"If you're short on money, come to me," Hiruzen said generously.
"Thanks, Grandpa!" Naruto pumped a fist. "Then I'm buying the most expensive present—better than Sasuke's or anyone else's!"
Hiruzen couldn't help laughing. A kid's a kid—turning even gift-giving into a competition.
…
A new day—Wednesday.
Once November hit, Konoha turned noticeably colder. By December, it would be snow. Snow meant the New Year was close. The shinobi world used the "new calendar," with January 1 as New Year's Day.
Kitazawa hadn't cared much about New Year's before. Alone, the date didn't matter. This year was different—he had Kurenai and Tsunade and the others. This New Year would be lively.
He stopped mid-stride, a thought striking him. Sarutobi Asuma served as a Guardian Ninja in the Land of Fire's capital, so unless it was urgent, he rarely returned to Konoha. But for the New Year, he'd come back.
"That'll be a headache," Kitazawa muttered. Asuma was a good guy. Unfortunately, he "stole" Kurenai. No—stole wasn't fair. Asuma and Kurenai weren't a couple.
"Whatever. I'll deal with it later," he said, dropping the thought and heading for the Academy training field—only to find it empty. Frowning, he checked the nearby artificial lake. Still no one.
"Weird," he said, rubbing his chin. Was everyone mooching breakfast today? Usually, only Hinata ate breakfast with him, with Ino or Sakura occasionally joining. Sasuke, Naruto, and Kiba all ate at home.
…
Kitazawa's office.
"Naruto, what are you up to? All mysterious like this," Sakura asked, unable to help herself. First thing in the morning, Naruto had called everyone to meet in Kitazawa's office.
"Yeah," Tenten said, baffled. "Why'd you call us, too?"
Hyuga Neji didn't speak, but he was just as confused.
"Naruto!" Rock Lee burst out, excited. "Are you founding the Youth Club and making us members?"
"Youth Club?" Ino shook her head immediately. "I'm not joining that!"
"Me neither," Shikamaru agreed.
"Not a Youth Club—something way more important!" Naruto threw his fist up. "I hereby declare the first meeting of Operation Big Mission officially open!"
"Don't waste my time," Sasuke said from the doorway with a slight frown. When he got home last night, neither his mother nor his brother scolded him. That just made him feel even more guilty toward the Uchiha. He was itching to start today's training.
"It's Kitazawa-sensei's birthday!" Naruto said straight out.
"When is it?" the usually quiet Hinata blurted.
"December twenty-first," Naruto said.
"That's more than a month away," Kiba said, glaring. "Do we really need to start this early?"
"Kitazawa-sensei's been so good to us. We've got to pick his present carefully," Naruto said, righteously.
"He's not wrong," Ino said, thoughtful. "So what do we get?"
"What does Kitazawa-sensei like?" Shikamaru asked, rubbing his chin.
"I know!" Naruto shot his hand up. "He likes teaching!"
"...?" Everyone stared at him. "So what—have him teach class on his birthday?" Shikamaru deadpanned.
Naruto scratched his head, sheepish.
"Hinata, you know Kitazawa-sensei best. What does he like?" Ino asked suddenly, turning to her.
"Eh?" With everyone staring, Hinata went pink. "I-I don't know either…"
"Maybe he likes jutsu," Sasuke said as an idea clicked. "I could give him a jutsu."
"If you give a jutsu, the rest of us can't very well repeat it," Shikamaru said, startled.
"Then it's settled. I'm heading to the training field," Sasuke said, unable to wait. "Kitazawa-sensei's probably there already. I'll buy you time."
He spun and left. The moment he stepped out of the building, he ran into Kitazawa.
"Sensei," Sasuke said, stepping forward. "Are we starting the new training now?"
"Let's go to the field," Kitazawa said, then paused. "Why are you by yourself? Where are Naruto and the others?"
"No idea," Sasuke said, keeping his face calm even as his heart thumped.
Kitazawa let it go. They walked to the training ground.
"This new training is mainly to sharpen your Sharingan," Kitazawa said, stopping. "What's the most important ability of a one-tomoe Sharingan, in your view?"
"Perception," Sasuke said after thinking. "Seeing the target's movements more clearly so I can respond."
"Good," Kitazawa nodded. "So this training targets that one-tomoe perceptive edge."
He flicked his hand. Chakra became wind, and the wind lifted the fallen leaves. Wind-style chakra wrapped them, turning them razor-keen. A second later, the leaves all sank into a nearby tree with a hiss.
Sasuke's heart gave a thump. The chakra control—and the Wind Style nature change—was terrifying.
"I'll attack you with the leaves. You turn on your Sharingan and try to dodge," Kitazawa said with an easy smile.
Sasuke blinked. Wasn't this the same training Hinata did before?
~~~
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