At the Academy gate, three figures in matching white trench coats appeared.
"Your Kitazawa-sensei really has pull—he actually got this many people to show up," said Aburame Shibi, sweeping a glance over the stands, genuinely impressed.
It wasn't an exaggeration: half of Konoha's jōnin were already here.
"Kitazawa-sensei is indeed impressive," Aburame Shino said, pushing up his glasses.
"What a shame," Shibi shook his head. "A stage like this would've been perfect for the debut of the Exploding Insects."
The Aburame aren't exactly a minor clan in Konoha, but they've always kept a low profile—mainly because their power is balanced and they lack a headline-grabbing powerful person. The arrival of Exploding Insects was, without doubt, a shot at creating one.
The risk, though, is huge. If you don't understand their quirks, channeling chakra can trigger an explosion. Shibi wouldn't dare let Shino use them on classmates. If something went wrong, it'd be a disaster. Kitazawa had also warned them in advance: no Exploding Insects in the practicals.
"There'll be a chance," Shino said. He wanted to use them too, but he held back.
"Do your best, Shino," said Aburame Torune, who wasn't overthinking it.
"Torune, your teammates are here," Shibi suddenly noticed Yakushi Kabuto and Uchiha Izumi not far away—with Yakushi Nonō beside Kabuto.
"I'll go say hi," Torune decided.
With Shino and the others' help, the "Root" air around Torune was gradually fading. In simple terms, both his emotions and behavior were returning to normal human patterns.
"Dean," Kabuto introduced, "this is my teammate, Aburame Torune."
"Hello," Nonō said gently. She'd heard about Torune from Kabuto and knew he'd been in Root. Root operatives were bound by strict rules; unless they were on the same mission, they rarely met.
It felt surreal for three former Root members to run into each other at the Academy—thanks to Tsunade and Kitazawa.
"I'll go find the Clan Head," Izumi said after a brief exchange, then headed off to meet Uchiha Fugaku and family.
"Come on, let's find seats," Nonō said softly.
"Mm," Kabuto nodded. The three Aburame and the Yakushis moved toward the stands.
No sooner had they left than another group arrived—the two generations of Ino–Shika–Cho.
"What energetic kids," Nara Shikaku said, watching students stream by.
"Don't think I can't hear the subtext," Nara Shikamaru replied, hands pillowed behind his head, lazy as ever.
"I was talking to you," Shikaku said, shaking his head. "Since when do young folks act like you?"
"Uncle Shikaku, just have Kitazawa-sensei knock some sense into him later," Yamanaka Ino said, smirking.
"Hey!" Shikamaru dropped his hands, glanced around, and asked, "Did I offend you somehow?"
"Haha, first time I've seen that face on you," Akimichi Chōza boomed.
"I should go ask Kitazawa for advice one of these days," Yamanaka Inoichi mused.
"Dad, I'm an angel. What's there to ask?" Ino put her hands on her hips.
"Well—for now—since you've learned two secret techniques," Inoichi smiled.
"You're laying it on thick, Inoichi," Shikaku's mouth twitched. "I haven't even mentioned that Shikamaru learned two secret techniques too."
"…?" Chōza's grin froze. Were these two old friends taking a dig at him?
"It's all thanks to Kitazawa-sensei," Ino added. "Chōji, you should join our special training with him."
"Me?" Chōji Akimichi paused mid–potato chip. "I don't need special training, I just need to eat."
"That's not quite it," Chōza said, face turning serious. "Your Kitazawa-sensei is the real deal. Ask him next term."
Training is secondary; building a connection with Kitazawa matters more. The Ino–Shika–Cho move as one, but with the Yamanaka and Nara already acting, the Akimichi can't be the ones falling behind.
"Okay," Chōji said around a crunch, agreeing.
"So many people!" Ino scanned the crowd. "Wonder where Kitazawa-sensei is."
"He's definitely busy," Shikaku said after a beat. "You kids head to the field."
"Do your best," Chōza clapped Chōji on the shoulder.
"There are a lot of spectators today," Inoichi encouraged. "You don't have to take first—just show the Ino–Shika–Cho spirit."
"What a drag," Shikamaru sighed and walked out.
"We'll do our best!" Ino bounced her little fists, full of pep. Chōji said nothing—just kept eating.
"Ino!" Haruno Sakura spotted her from the field and waved.
"Morning, everyone," Ino smiled, greeting Uchiha Sasuke, Kurama Yakumo, Hyuga Hinata, Hyuga Neji, and the others.
"Where's Naruto?" Shikamaru looked around; only Uzumaki Naruto was missing.
"Overslept?" Chōji asked, worried.
"No way he'd miss something this big," Kiba Inuzuka said, shaking his head.
Just then, the noisy grounds fell suddenly quiet. Everyone turned instinctively toward the entrance.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had arrived—with Naruto at his side.
"What a flashy entrance," Kiba muttered, eyes stinging with envy.
After a word to Hiruzen, Naruto headed over to Sasuke and the rest.
"We thought you might skip out because you were afraid of losing," Kiba joked, slinging an arm over his shoulder.
"As if!" Naruto flashed a thumbs-up, cocky. "I'm here for first place!"
"Funny, so am I," Kiba snorted. "If we meet, I'm not holding back."
"You're kinda acting like Sasuke today," Naruto scratched his head, surprised.
"How is he anything like Sasuke-kun?" Sakura shot back.
"They're both very confident," Ino said, blinking.
"Kitazawa-sensei's here," Shikamaru said, spotting him. The chatter stopped.
"Line up," Kitazawa told them, then turned to corral students from other classes. Today's practical exam had the entire school participating.
If they used the old three-round format, it would take forever—like Naruto and Kiba fighting over the last bowl of ramen—messy, loud, and nobody wins.
On Kitazawa's suggestion, the Student Council selection practical had been revamped.
Using past monthly exam composites, he split the school into two brackets. The first: an elite division for students scoring ninety and above.
The second: a general division for those below ninety.
Kitazawa ran the elite bracket—center field, where everyone could see. Vice Principal Sarutobi Hisao handled the general bracket—side fields, still visible to most spectators.
Ordinarily, Kitazawa would've taken the general bracket, but his reputation and strength now eclipsed Hisao's. Hisao read the room and took the general bracket himself.
And general-division kids could still advance: Kitazawa introduced a "challenge" system. Winners from the general bracket could call out elite-bracket competitors.
"Good rules," Hiruzen said, taking the middle seat in the front row of the stands.
To help the crowd, Kitazawa had placed a flyer with the rules on every chair.
"Agreed," Shikaku said beside him. He'd expected an all-school free-for-all, but Kitazawa had curated the standouts—saving time and improving the viewing experience.
As for why Shikaku sat to Hiruzen's left—Shimura Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu hadn't come. To the Hokage's right sat Hyuga Hiashi; a little farther down were Uchiha Fugaku and his family.
Hiruzen nodded slightly, set the flyer down, and glanced back—but didn't see Tsunade.
"Looking for someone, Hokage-sama?" Hiashi asked, noticing.
"It's nothing," Hiruzen said evenly, then changed the subject. "I hear Neji and Hinata have learned Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms?"
"Not fully—just part of it," Hiashi couldn't help the faint smile.
"Promising youths," Hiruzen chuckled.
"All thanks to your leadership, Hokage-sama," Hiashi offered the polite line.
"What's so interesting about a bunch of kids scrapping? Why are you all even here?" a voice cut in.
"You're here too," Hiruzen blinked, then laughed. Tsunade was as blunt as ever.
"Tsunade-sama," the nearby shinobi greeted her. More than a few eyes flickered. The Hokage coming was only natural; he was the Third and the Academy Principal—the village's future was here. But Tsunade? She had no direct tie to the Academy. The only explanation was Kitazawa.
"Hokage-sama. Tsunade-sama." Kitazawa walked over.
"Mm." Tsunade nodded and took an open seat.
"Hokage-sama," Kitazawa asked, "before we start, would you like to say a few words?"
"In that case, I'll go say a bit," Hiruzen said, standing.
"Please," Kitazawa said, lifting a hand—and swallowing the urge to groan.
"I'll keep it short…" Hiruzen began, launching into his speech.
"You shouldn't have let him up there," Tsunade muttered, curling her lip. It was the Will of Fire again—she'd lost count of how many times she'd heard it.
"I have to follow protocol," Kitazawa bent slightly and kept his voice down. He couldn't very well badmouth the Hokage in public.
"If I'd known, I'd have come an hour late," Tsunade grumbled. She wasn't afraid to criticize the Hokage—to his face, even.
Plenty noticed the whispers. The clans reconfirmed what they'd suspected: Kitazawa was Tsunade's student—it just hadn't been announced. And even if not a student, then a trusted aide.
Some non-clan jōnin felt a twinge of envy. In their eyes, Tsunade was destined to be the Fifth Hokage. For a civilian-born shinobi like Kitazawa to catch her eye—talk about sky-rocketing.
Time ticked by. After half an hour, Hiruzen finally wrapped up. If not for the practicals, he could've gone another two hours.
"I now declare this term's finals and the Student Council selection matches are officially open!"
Kitazawa strode to the center and projected his voice. "Matchups will be randomized; outstanding performers advance."
He took out a drawing box. This time, he—not the students—would draw. The suspense made for better matches.
In the original story, the joint Chūnin Exams did it this way; Kitazawa was following that template.
He reached in and pulled two slips.
"Match One: Uzumaki Naruto versus Rock Lee!"
"First match is me?" Naruto gaped. "And against Bushy Brows?"
Double the luck—he could practically taste it. Two taijutsu fighters meant one thing: an awesome brawl.
"Naruto!" Rock Lee shouted, thrilled.
"Bushy Brows!" Naruto stuck up his thumb. "Let's show them our youth!"
"The clash of youth—just thinking about it sets my blood on fire!" Lee clenched his fists, shaking with excitement.
"Naruto! Lee! Don't let youth have regrets!" Might Guy suddenly stood and bellowed.
Nearby shinobi instinctively looked over. Kakashi and Kurenai turned their heads at the same time, instantly regretting choosing seats beside him.
"Guy-sensei!" Naruto and Lee shouted in unison. "We won't betray our youth!"
The next second, they hugged and bawled. The field's atmosphere went… weird.
Hiruzen shifted, uncomfortable. Quite a few jōnin knew he was Naruto's guardian.
"If Minato and Kushina saw this, I wonder what they'd think," Tsunade couldn't help but laugh.
"Young people—full of energy. It's normal," Hiruzen said after a two-second pause, trying to recover.
"…" Shikaku had no words. He was just glad Shikamaru was normal.
"Is he always like that?" Fugaku asked from not far away. Honestly, seeing this, you'd never convince him that Naruto—the perfect shinobi Minato's son—was that boy.
"Mm." Izumi nodded. Since becoming Kitazawa's student, she'd seen it firsthand. Naruto wasn't having a sudden fit—he was chronically like this.
"Very… spirited," Mikoto ventured, wringing out a comment.
"Good thing Sasuke isn't like that," Itachi exhaled in relief. If Sasuke turned into Naruto… he didn't want to imagine it.
"Begin!" Kitazawa couldn't watch anymore and called the start.
"Come on, Naruto!" Lee widened the gap, fists up. "Leaf Whirlwind!"
Naruto's body blurred—sweeping kick.
"Leaf Whirlwind!" Lee met kick with kick.
Thud! Shin met shin. The force clash sent both skidding back—Lee two extra steps; he was a hair behind in raw power.
"Dynamic Entry!" Naruto didn't pull a single punch. Youth meant going all out. He leapt as Lee recoiled, diving in with a straight flying kick.
Lee's arms came up on reflex. The impact drove him back—hard. At the critical instant he rolled with it, flipping midair. "Leaf Rock-Destroying Rise!" He snapped his right elbow down toward Naruto's head.
"Leaf—Strong Whirlwind!" Naruto tilted his head, dropped his body, planted a palm, and whipped a spinning back kick.
Lee's pupils tightened. He let his right elbow drop with the force, pressing his whole weight down.
A dull crack. Lee's right arm went numb—and he went flying.
"Lee's still a bit short," Might Guy said, watching.
"For their age, this is remarkable," Kurenai said with feeling. "I was nowhere near them at seven." She glanced at Kakashi—the prodigy who made chūnin at six.
"Have you taught them the Eight Gates?" Kakashi asked after a two-second silence.
"No," Guy shook his head. "They're still too young. But Naruto's body is excellent—maybe in a couple of years."
"What a monster," Izumo muttered. He'd heard of the Eight Gates—Might Duy had maimed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist with them.
"Kids these days are unreal," Hagane Kotetsu said, tugging at the corner of his mouth. They'd come to glimpse Konoha's future and ended up shocked instead. These were Academy students? It felt like the Chūnin Exams already.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 100 Chapters Ahead of Others!