As soon as Uzumaki Naruto, Hyūga Neji, and others reached the training field, they saw Uchiha Sasuke in a world of hurt.
His Sharingan was open as he hopped in place, letting out a muffled grunt every so often—an involuntary sound each time a leaf smacked into him.
With Wind Release chakra infused, those leaves were no worse than ordinary kunai.
Of course, to avoid injuring Sasuke, Kitazawa stripped out the cutting property of the wind chakra and kept only the speed.
"This looks similar to Hinata's leaf training from before," Nara Shikamaru mused. "It's probably training aimed at the Sharingan."
"The Sharingan has one-tomoe, two-tomoe, and three-tomoe stages," Yamanaka Ino said in surprise. "Don't tell me Sasuke's about to awaken two tomoe?"
"Is two-tomoe Sharingan really that strong?" Naruto asked, curious.
"Once you open two tomoe, you're basically at chūnin level," Hyūga Neji said in a low voice.
A flicker of pressure ran through him. Uchiha Sasuke was one of the opponents he intended to challenge—especially since Sasuke had beaten him before. Neji planned to wait until his Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms improved further before challenging again. But clearly, while he was progressing, so was Sasuke.
"Chūnin?!" Naruto's eyes went wide. He wasn't even a genin yet, and Sasuke was about to hit chūnin?
"As expected of my lifelong rival!" Naruto gave a thumbs-up. "So fired up and youthful—I can't lose to that!"
"If we keep chatting, Kitazawa-sensei will notice us," Yakushi Kabuto said, pushing up his glasses in reminder.
He wasn't actually an Academy student, but since he trained with Ino and the others, Naruto dragged him into the "meeting," too.
"Kitazawa-sensei will definitely notice we're acting weird," Shikamaru said. "Just make sure none of you slip up—especially you, Hinata."
"I…I'll do my best!" Hinata squeezed her hands together, nervous.
"Hinata, you got this!" Ino pumped a tiny fist. "You can definitely finish your mission!"
Her mission wasn't "don't spill the beans"—it was to figure out what Kitazawa likes.
"Relax." Haruno Sakura patted her chest. "Even if you strike out, I'm on it too!"
She and Hinata had been given the same mission, mostly because Sakura also spent a lot of time around Kitazawa—though usually at Konoha Hospital.
"I can do it too!" Naruto said, itching to help.
"You can't," Shikamaru deadpanned. "You're way too easy to expose us."
"Facts," Ino said, remembering how Naruto was the first to blow their cover when they tried to dogpile Tsunade.
"Fine…" Naruto scratched his head.
"Time's about up. Everyone to your stations—training starts," Aburame Shino said—his first and last sentence of the day.
Everyone dispersed on cue.
Inuzuka Kiba headed to the artificial lake alone.
Since Sasuke had started new training, he didn't need the lake anymore. Sakura could train anywhere, so she chose to stay and keep Sasuke company.
Fired up, Naruto sprinted to his personal training ground. If Sasuke was working this hard, he couldn't fall behind. He had to master the Rasengan before finals.
Ino continued working on the Mind Clone Switch Technique. It had the same effect as the Mind Body Switch Technique, but could control two people at once. Because it required splitting your focus in two, it was very hard.
Shikamaru's second clan secret, Shadow Gathering Technique, wasn't quite as hard. After studying it for so long, he was finally in the home stretch. He might even nail it today.
Compared with Shadow Imitation, Shadow Gathering was much more flexible and had more applications. If he learned it, Shikamaru figured he could climb a place or two in the practical exam rankings.
Hinata glanced at Kitazawa, then started practicing Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms on her own.
In the distance, Neji was practicing the same technique. He could already chain eight palms and was pushing toward ten.
Karin sat at a desk for remedial lessons, while Yakushi Kabuto found a tree and practiced Wind Release: Vacuum Shuriken.
"Ki—Kitazawa-sensei, I…I'm out of strength…"
Two hours later, Sasuke plopped down on the ground in an undignified heap. Drenched in sweat, he felt like his body had hit its limit; even breathing burned. His eyes were exhausted, too—his vision had gone noticeably blurry.
"Looks like it isn't just your Sharingan—your body needs work as well," Kitazawa said, thoughtful.
Sasuke looked up on instinct. Mention "body training" and he thought of Might Guy. Don't tell me…?
"From now on, do leaf training in the mornings and see Guy in the afternoons for physical conditioning," Kitazawa decided.
No! Please no!
Sasuke's expression froze and, despite the winter chill, he felt heat flush through him. The thing he dreaded most had become reality. But for two-tomoe Sharingan… he'd endure.
"Once you've recovered, go find Guy," Kitazawa said with a chuckle, catching the look on Sasuke's face.
"...?" Sasuke almost spoke but stopped. You're doing this on purpose, right? He didn't dare ask more—for fear Kitazawa would force him into a green jumpsuit.
[Current Mission: Help Nara Shikamaru learn his clan's second secret technique.]
[Mission Reward: Shadow Gathering Technique.]
[Mission Completed. Reward Granted.]
Kitazawa made a small, surprised sound and instinctively looked over at Shikamaru. Under Shikamaru's control, his shadow morphed into two vaguely human arms. From the system's info, Kitazawa also knew that with enough chakra, you could split even more tendrils. In theory, you could go full "Thousand Arms."
Of course, an ordinary Nara could usually manage only a few.
"Congrats, Shikamaru," Kitazawa said, walking over. "Mastering two secret techniques at your age makes you a genius among geniuses."
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei." Shikamaru dispelled the jutsu and shook his head. "I'm not a genius. Sasuke and Naruto are."
"They're so gifted you might as well consider them aliens," Kitazawa joked.
"So Kitazawa-sensei thinks so too?" Shikamaru's eyes lit up—finally, a kindred spirit.
"Hey, I'm like you—just a normal human," Kitazawa said, spreading his hands.
If not for his system cheat, he wouldn't even match Shikamaru.
"Kitazawa-sensei," Shikamaru asked hopefully, "since I've learned Shadow Gathering… does that mean I can…?"
He'd trained half a term. He was mentally and physically done—he just wanted to go home and sleep for days.
"You can rest today," Kitazawa smiled. "But tomorrow we start Yin Release nature transformation practice—shadow sculpting."
"…" Shikamaru froze. You're not a normal human—you're a demon!
"Don't want to head home and rest? Then we—"
Before Kitazawa finished, Shikamaru spun and bolted like a wild deer.
Kitazawa shook his head and laughed under his breath. After confirming everyone was on track, he walked to the school's artificial lake.
"Kitazawa-sensei?" Kiba, who was water-walking, brightened the moment he saw him.
"Want to finish the water walking training faster?" Kitazawa asked, rubbing his chin.
"Yes!" Kiba said, moved. "Sensei still cares about me!"
It made sense Sasuke didn't keep him company. But Sakura? Traitor to beauty.
"Good." Kitazawa's face turned serious. "While you're water walking, I'll attack you with Water Style jutsu."
He'd get Water Style practice; Kiba would finish water-walking sooner. A bright future for both—a win–win.
"Huh?" Kiba went slack-jawed. What kind of torture training was that?
"Careful—my Water Style is new. My aim might be off," Kitazawa warned.
"Uh?" Kiba realized it. He was the practice dummy. He took back the warm fuzzy feelings—this teacher had no heart!
Kitazawa recalled the seals for Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet and started weaving signs. He wasn't yet proficient in Water Release nature transformation, but he had mastered chakra shape manipulation.
Under his control, the artificial lake began to roil. Massive volumes of water gathered and coalesced into a dragon midair.
Most ninjutsu, Water Style included, has a hidden rule: environmental amplification. Near rivers, lakes, or the sea, Water Style gets a boost—less chakra for more punch. That's why Kitazawa came to the lake. Kiba was… a bonus.
"Run," Kitazawa said, guiding the water dragon. "The key to water walking is the rhythm of your chakra output."
Kiba started zigzagging across the surface.
"Breathe. Don't panic," Kitazawa reminded him. "I'm not actually going to hurt you."
That calmed Kiba down. Aside from the water dragon, training felt similar to before—only now he was running instead of walking, so it was faster. Once he adjusted—
Kiba's eyes flew wide as the dragon suddenly accelerated and flattened him, dunking him into the lake. He swallowed several mouthfuls of water.
"My bad—slipped up," Kitazawa said, fishing him out.
"I—I'm fine," Kiba managed. To suffer less, he chose silence.
"Keep going," Kitazawa clapped his shoulder. "You don't want to come in behind Naruto every practical, do you?"
"Wait—does Sensei have a way for me to beat Naruto?" Kiba asked, suddenly excited. Ichiraku wasn't expensive, but always footing the bill was embarrassing.
"Without your ninken, beating Naruto in a spar is unlikely," Kitazawa said after a pause. "But you can aim to pass him in overall ranking."
"My written scores are about the same as his," Kiba said, not sounding confident.
"You can grind practice problems to improve written scores," Kitazawa said. "If you also move up one or two spots in the practical, you've got a real shot."
"I got it!" Kiba gritted his teeth. "I'll try!"
"Good." Seeing Kiba buy the big promise, Kitazawa nodded.
"Sensei, one question," Kiba scratched his head. "If my current strength won't jump much, how do I move up a place or two in the practical?"
"Your problem is not having a ninken," Kitazawa said with a smile. "So go find one."
"Inuzuka are strict about choosing a ninken. They're partners for life," Kiba said seriously. "I need a hound that syncs with me—not a random substitute."
"I have another idea," Kitazawa said after thinking it over. "No ninken? Then be the ninken."
"Huh?" Kiba blinked. What kind of logic was that?
"Your clan has a secret technique where you transform into a ninken, right?" Kitazawa said bluntly.
In canon, Kiba had a secret technique—Human Beast Mixture Transformation — Three-Headed Wolf. Basically, he, his shadow clone, and Akamaru fused into a three-headed wolf. (Never mind why it wasn't a three-headed dog.)
"We do," Kiba said, then asked, "but those techniques require a ninken partner. How do I use it alone?"
"Why not? You still have Shadow Clone," Kitazawa coughed lightly. "Remember?"
"Shadow Clone?" Kiba said. "Could that work? I've never heard of anyone doing that in the clan."
"What's the harm in trying?" Kitazawa smiled. "Even if it fails, you'll still have learned Shadow Clone."
"Oh, right!" Kiba thought of Naruto's clones. He couldn't make that many, but even two would be a big boost.
"Want to learn it?" Kitazawa asked with a grin.
In canon, Kiba did know Shadow Clone. Lots of ninja did—among B-rank techniques, it was simple and practical.
"Yes!" Kiba said firmly. "Please teach me, Sensei!"
[Current Mission: Help Inuzuka Kiba develop a new technique.]
[Mission Reward: 10% Senju clan bloodline.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa froze for a beat. He'd expected a new mission, but not a reward like "10% Senju bloodline." What did the Inuzuka have to do with the Senju? Or was it because their secret techniques involved Yang Release?
He let it go. In truth, the mission was hard enough to deserve that reward. Inuzuka secrets fuse human and ninken; switching to human plus shadow clone meant lots of adjustments. Thankfully, Kitazawa had proficient-level Yang Release nature transformation—worth a shot.
"If I teach you, it won't be now," he said, shaking his head. "Master water walking first."
Shadow Clone might be straightforward for a B-rank, but it still needed solid chakra control.
"Then let's go!" Kiba said, fired up. "Don't hold back!"
He stepped onto the lake again. Kitazawa didn't—summoning another water dragon to chase him down.
Time passed. Under high-intensity training, Kiba improved quickly. So did Kitazawa's proficiency with Water Dragon Bullet.
"See you tomorrow, Kitazawa-sensei!" After the final practical class, the first-years and second-years headed out.
"Hinata, something on your mind?" Kitazawa immediately spotted Hinata hovering nearby, looking hesitant.
"Ki…Kitazawa-sensei." She startled, lowered her head, and walked over. Her mouth opened and closed without words; her fingers poked at each other, fidgeting.
"Want me to walk you home?" Kitazawa asked with a smile, seeing how nervous she was.
"I…I want to treat you to dinner!" Hinata stammered twice, then somehow smoothed out—because she'd just thought of a plan. The others wanted her to find out what Kitazawa likes. She hadn't known where to start; now she'd try food.
Her first thought after learning his birthday had been to give him money—but that felt crass and insincere.
"What do you want to eat?" Kitazawa asked, ruffling her hair.
"I want to eat—no, I'm treating," Hinata corrected herself, then looked up hopefully. "What would Kitazawa-sensei like?"
"Me?" Kitazawa thought for a moment. "I'm partial to barbecue—yakiniku."
"I see." Hinata wore an enlightened look, then blurted, "Then I'll treat you to yakiniku every day from now on!"
"Nobody eats barbecue every day," Kitazawa tapped her forehead. "Once in a while is fine."
"Eh? Why?" Hinata asked, genuinely puzzled. If you like something, shouldn't you eat it every day? She did; the meals Kitazawa brought her were always good.
"It's not healthy," he said casually. "Come on—let's hit a yakiniku place."
"Sensei, besides barbecue, what else do you like to eat?" Hinata asked, following behind.
"I like some snacks and sweets too," Kitazawa replied.
"Which ones exactly?" Hinata's eyes brightened.
"You're a lot chattier than usual today," Kitazawa said with a sideways smile.
"I…I just want to get to know you better, Sensei," Hinata said, flustered, her voice trembling.
Kitazawa couldn't help smiling. Kids were just too easy to read. But he didn't call her out—he was genuinely curious what Hinata was planning.
~~~
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