Thud!
Uchiha Sasuke tumbled from the tree once again, hitting the ground hard.
Kitazawa nodded faintly.
Even with his face swollen and bruised, Sasuke didn't make a sound. For the sake of earning praise from Fugaku and Itachi, he was pushing himself beyond reason.
But no matter how he tried, by the end of class he still couldn't make it to the top of the tree.
"Sasuke."
Kitazawa finally called out, "That's enough for today. Continue tomorrow."
"Kitazawa-sensei, you can go ahead. I'll keep practicing." Sasuke's voice was stubborn.
"More haste, less speed," Kitazawa shook his head. "Only with balance between tension and relaxation can you truly progress."
Sasuke blinked. He didn't fully understand, but somehow it sounded right.
Remembering Kitazawa's earlier display of the Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, Sasuke hesitated a few seconds before nodding reluctantly.
"When you head back, find a medical-nin to treat your injuries," Kitazawa reminded him.
"Yes. Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei."
Sasuke limped away toward the village gates.
Kitazawa returned to the training grounds. With classes over, most students had gone home. Only Uzumaki Naruto and Hyūga Hinata remained.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Naruto dashed over, his eyes sparkling. "I hit it!"
"Hit what?" Kitazawa raised an eyebrow.
"The bullseye!" Naruto announced proudly.
"Congratulations." Kitazawa paused, then added, "But don't get cocky. That's only the beginning."
"Right!" Naruto nodded furiously.
"Tomorrow then," Kitazawa clapped him on the shoulder. "The next practical lesson will be moving targets."
"I'll do my best!" Naruto shouted, fearlessness blazing in his grin. He waved cheerfully and bounded off.
"Hinata."
Kitazawa turned to her with a gentle smile. "Nervous?"
"A little," she admitted softly. But his warm expression seemed to melt much of her tension.
"Let's go." Kitazawa extended his hand.
Hinata froze for a moment, then instinctively reached out and took it. The warmth in his palm turned her cheeks pink.
They left the academy together, heading toward the small grove they'd agreed upon.
Hinata stiffened when she recognized the place. This was where she had last run into those three bullies. The only difference was that then it had been snowing—today, the sun shone bright.
"They're not here yet. Let's set up an ambush," Kitazawa suggested after a moment's thought.
Hinata tilted her head, puzzled.
"I am your teacher," Kitazawa said with a dry cough. "Isn't it natural for a teacher to instruct his student?"
Hinata blinked at him, still not understanding.
"I see you don't understand at all," Kitazawa sighed, and pinched her cheek lightly.
Her pale skin flushed deeper red, soft as satin under his fingers.
"Hinata, remember this," Kitazawa said firmly. "To defeat fear—you must face fear."
Hinata pressed her lips together, a spark of determination lighting in her eyes.
Then—she blinked, and Kitazawa was gone.
Panic fluttered in her chest. Alone again, she felt fear creeping back.
She took a deep breath, turned—and saw the three boys approaching.
"What, she really came alone?"
The leader, Toranosuke, looked around suspiciously.
"Does she think she can beat the three of us by herself?" one boy snarled. "Big bro, she's mocking us!"
"Hey!" Toranosuke marched forward, glaring. "What's the meaning of this?"
Hinata froze. Kitazawa had given her courage, but her personality wouldn't transform in just two days. Faced with their aggression, her mind went blank.
Move, Hinata! Move! she screamed at herself, but her limbs were stiff, powerless.
"I'm talking to you!" Toranosuke snapped. "Are you mute?"
Hinata flinched and stumbled backward.
Kitazawa-sensei… help me!
"You've angered a lion!" Toranosuke roared, losing patience. He lunged, hand outstretched to grab her.
A gust of wind howled through the grove.
Hinata's hair whipped upward. She instinctively clutched it down—then her eyes widened.
The three boys were hurled back, slammed into separate trees by the violent gale.
"Ughhh!" Toranosuke howled like a wounded beast. His whole body felt broken.
The other two were pale and trembling, writhing in pain and terror.
Kitazawa stepped out from the shadows.
That wind had been his doing—Wind Style: Great Breakthrough. The C-rank jutsu's power depended on chakra input, and in skilled hands it could topple entire sections of forest.
"Who… who are you?" Toranosuke stammered, sweat dripping down his face.
"Just a passing ninja." Kitazawa chuckled lightly. "Three boys bullying one girl—you've brought shame to your families."
"N-no, you're her teacher!" one of the others blurted. "I saw you at the academy!"
"Shameless! You got your teacher to fight for you?!" Toranosuke jabbed a finger at Hinata, furious.
"Shut it, snow leopard," Kitazawa said coldly. "What lion?"
"This isn't fair!" Toranosuke shrank back, voice trembling.
"Fair?" Kitazawa's eyes narrowed. He stepped closer until his shadow loomed. "Exactly. I came here for fairness."
Toranosuke scrambled back in fright.
"You three against Hinata—unfair. Hinata bringing me—also unfair. That cancels out." Kitazawa's tone hardened. "One month from now, right here—you and Hinata. One on one. A fair duel."
That was the only way. To defeat fear, Hinata would need to face it directly.
And with a month of training, he would forge her spirit. When she beat Toranosuke, it would mark true growth.
"Well? Do you accept?" Kitazawa clenched his fist before the boy's face.
"I—I accept!" Toranosuke yelped immediately.
"And the scarf you stole?" Kitazawa asked, remembering his task.
"I—I threw it over there!" Toranosuke pointed shakily to the left.
"Next time, then." Kitazawa glanced over, spotted the scarf lying in the grass, and smiled.
To the three boys, that smile was a demon's grin. They scrambled away in terror, tripping over themselves.
Kitazawa wasn't worried about them calling parents. He'd already checked—their families were just ordinary shinobi. And since they'd struck first, he was justified in defending Hinata. Even if the matter reached Sarutobi Hiruzen, he would be in the right.
"Hinata, are you alright?" Kitazawa turned back.
She had been frozen in place the entire time.
Hearing his voice and seeing his gentle smile finally broke her paralysis. She leapt forward and clung to him tightly.
Kitazawa stiffened in surprise. He could feel her body trembling against him.
After all—she was just a young girl.
Kitazawa exhaled softly and placed a hand on her head, stroking her hair with care.