Thursday.
When Kitazawa arrived at the office, he found an uninvited guest already waiting.
"Kitazawa."
Mizuki stood with a smile that looked all too practiced.
His disguise was flawless, nothing in his tone or manner hinted at the jealousy festering inside.
"What do you need from me?" Kitazawa asked calmly, nodding once.
Mizuki's smile faltered. Dissatisfaction twisted in his chest. What kind of attitude is that? So damn arrogant!
"Next Monday, after school, there'll be a meeting in the second-floor conference room," Mizuki explained, forcing his tone to remain steady. "We'll be deciding the content of this month's exam."
"Thank you."
Kitazawa gave a polite reply.
Mizuki turned and left. Only after stepping out of the office did his real face emerge, dark with irritation.
Kitazawa, however, didn't spare him a thought. His mind was already on the sudden new mission that had appeared before him.
[Current Quest: Take first place in the April monthly exam.]
[Reward: Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere]
[Accept?]
Normally, teachers weren't allowed to participate in exams.
But this system of his… it was nothing if not clever.
If he sat down and wrote the test alongside the students, would that count as completing the mission?
Kitazawa stroked his chin.
Either way, he had to try.
After all, Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere was a B-rank technique.
B-rank might not sound too high, but in truth it was already rare, plenty of chunin never managed to learn a single B-rank jutsu.
As a "three-nothing" chunin, Kitazawa possessed no B-rank techniques at all.
Vacuum Sphere would be his first.
Not only that, it was an exceptionally powerful ninjutsu, in the original story, it was none other than Danzo Shimura's trademark move.
The class bell rang. Kitazawa entered the classroom.
At once, the chatter quieted. Every student returned to their seat.
"Open your textbooks. Today we'll continue with the story of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama."
Kitazawa stood at the podium, his voice carrying. "Under Hashirama's leadership, Konoha flourished. But good times never last forever."
Curiosity lit in every pair of young eyes.
With Hashirama around, how could an invincible Konoha possibly fall?
"Back then, Uchiha Madara, leader of the Uchiha clan, split with the village due to conflicting ideals," Kitazawa continued. "At the Valley of the End, he and the First Hokage clashed in an unprecedented battle."
Sasuke's eyes went wide.
There was such a story?
Could the clan's present decline be connected to this Uchiha Madara?
"In the end, Madara was utterly defeated. He died at the Valley of the End."
The classroom immediately erupted into noise.
"As expected of the First Hokage!"
"Wood Release is invincible!"
"Of course! The 'wood' in Konoha's name comes from Wood Release!"
Hashirama was hailed as the God of Shinobi, and his Wood Release was legendary.
These children were young, and like all young ones, they worshiped strength.
Only Sasuke stayed silent.
Because the one defeated was none other than his dazzling forefather.
"This afternoon's combat class will include physical training. Don't stuff yourselves at lunch," Kitazawa reminded them, stepping down just as the dismissal bell rang.
Noon came.
A knock at the door.
Hinata entered, carrying a lunchbox.
"Come over here."
Kitazawa sat on the sofa, pulling out a storage scroll. With a puff, eight lunchboxes appeared at once.
Hinata froze.
Only then did she understand why Kitazawa had asked her to join him for lunch, he'd prepared all these meals for her.
"What are you standing there for?"
Kitazawa picked up his chopsticks. "Sit. Eat."
Hinata hesitated, then quietly took out a small pink wallet and offered it to him.
"What's this?" Kitazawa raised an eyebrow.
Does she think I'll live off her? What kind of man does she take me for?
"It's… for the lunch," Hinata explained.
"This little bit of money doesn't matter." Kitazawa shook his head.
"No!"
Hinata, for once, was firm.
Kitazawa studied her for a moment, then chuckled. "That spirit isn't bad."
Hinata flinched, lowering her head, cheeks glowing red.
"Alright then, I'll take it. Now eat."
He accepted the wallet, and lunch went on.
Afterward, Hinata returned to class for her nap.
Afternoon combat class.
The students stood neatly on the track.
"This is your first physical training session," Kitazawa announced. "No time limits, no set laps. I want to see your limits. The top ten will get snack packs as rewards."
"Yeah!"
Cheers rang out.
"The top spot is mine!" Naruto shouted confidently.
"No, it belongs to me!" Kiba folded his arms, just as sure.
He wasn't just bragging, raised among hounds, his speed was naturally exceptional.
Sasuke simply shoved his hands into his pockets, indifferent.
In his eyes, none of them were real competition.
From this moment on, the track would be renamed Uchiha Square. Everyone else was just here to watch his performance.
"They're so fired up," Shikamaru yawned. "Chōji, let's put in a little effort, then bow out early, yeah?"
"No problem," Chōji agreed readily.
Snacks were tempting, but winning them was uncertain, and running was pure torture for him.
"Ino, want to compete?" Sakura stretched her arms. "If you lose, no chasing Sasuke today."
"No need. He's all yours," Ino replied, eyes glinting toward Kitazawa.
She had other plans, like tree-climbing practice with Sasuke later. Sakura was destined to eat her dust.
"…What?"
Sakura stared at her in disbelief. Since when did you become a different person?
"Quiet down."
Kitazawa clapped his hands. "I'll run with you. If anyone manages to surpass me, there's a special prize."
At that, Sasuke's gaze sharpened.
Finally, a worthy opponent.
Among his peers, no one could rival him. But if he could outpace a chunin like Kitazawa, it would prove he already possessed a chunin's speed.
Maybe then, his father and brother would acknowledge him.
"Ready, " Kitazawa's voice cut across the track. "Go!"
The students shot off like arrows loosed from a bow.
Kitazawa jogged lightly, unhurried.
Going full sprint at the start was suicide in a long run.
At first, Naruto led the pack, Sasuke and Kiba close behind, Sakura trailing them.
But time wore on.
After thirty minutes of burning energy, Naruto slowed to a crawl, ceding the lead to Sasuke.
Sasuke's breathing stayed steady, rhythm unbroken.
Kitazawa followed just behind, running with ease.
This was the peak of his youth, his body stronger than ever.
These six- and seven-year-olds, geniuses or not, simply couldn't keep up.
After fifty laps, most students collapsed to the sidelines, cheering from the ground.
"Go, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura shouted weakly.
But Sasuke couldn't hear her anymore.
His entire focus was on Kitazawa. No matter how hard he pushed, he couldn't close the gap.
"Still holding up?" Kitazawa glanced back at him.
By now, only Sasuke remained on the track.
The sight of Kitazawa's effortless stride made his whole body tremble in fury. In the blazing heat, cold sweat drenched him, his limbs turning icy.