A new day, Wednesday.
Kitazawa changed his clothes and went next door to Ichiraku Ramen for breakfast.
While eating, he organized his missions mentally.
Since acquiring the System, he had triggered a total of eight missions.
Now, only three remained unfinished: those involving Yakumo Kurama, Hinata Hyūga, and Sasuke Uchiha.
Among them, helping Yakumo Kurama return to the Ninja Academy was the trickiest.
Fortunately, Kitazawa had Kurenai's assistance.
They had already agreed yesterday to visit the Kurama Clan together this coming Saturday.
After finishing breakfast, Kitazawa headed to the classroom.
The first period today was The Will of Fire, taught by him.
"Kitazawa-sensei."
The moment Hinata saw Kitazawa, a surge of joy rose in her heart.
However, her strict upbringing and shy personality prevented her from expressing her emotions openly, so she still appeared quite reserved.
Kitazawa naturally sat down next to her.
The System had designated Hinata as his desk mate.
To prevent the mission from failing, he had to play along with the System, at least for show.
Besides, Hinata was so cute—who wouldn't like sitting next to her?
"Hinata."
Kitazawa turned to her. "Come to my office after class."
"O... Okay."
Hinata paused, then nodded obediently.
"Aren't you going to ask why?"
Kitazawa asked with a smile.
"What is the reason?"
Hearing his prompt, Hinata tilted her head slightly and asked dutifully.
"Special training."
Kitazawa answered.
Hinata immediately recalled the events in the grove yesterday.
In one month, she was set to duel Toranosuke, and Kitazawa had promised to help her with special training.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei."
Hinata looked away as she spoke, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Thinking back to yesterday, she remembered how terrified she had been—so scared that she had hugged Kitazawa—and felt a wave of embarrassment.
Why are you blushing?
Kitazawa noticed the change in her complexion and couldn't help wondering.
Just then, a sudden buzz of noise erupted in the classroom.
Kitazawa turned to see Sasuke Uchiha walking in.
He couldn't help recalling the proverb: Read more books, see fewer Uchiha.
Sasuke looked around, paused for a moment, and then changed direction.
He walked straight up to Kitazawa's desk and said, "Good morning, Kitazawa-sensei."
"Good morning."
Kitazawa nodded slightly, smiling as he spoke.
Not far away, Shikamaru Nara and the others exchanged glances.
Did the sun rise from the west today?
"Is this the first time Sasuke has actively greeted a teacher?" Kiba asked, staring out the window as if looking for signs of the apocalypse.
"As far as I know, it is the first time," Shikamaru said thoughtfully.
Sasuke Uchiha came from the prestigious Uchiha Clan and was a genius himself, making him inherently arrogant.
Combined with having an overly powerful brother, he usually ignored the Academy teachers completely.
But why is he suddenly so polite today?
"I think it's because Kitazawa-sensei teaches well," Shino Aburame said, adjusting his sunglasses.
"Sasuke-kun!"
Sakura didn't care about the dynamic between Sasuke and Kitazawa.
With stars in her eyes, she rushed forward.
"..."
Sasuke's mood instantly cooled, and he returned to his seat without a word.
"Women are terrifying," Shikamaru sighed.
Nudge.
Choji raised his arm and elbowed him.
Shikamaru suddenly realized something and turned his head stiffly to look at Ino.
"Am I terrifying?"
Ino stood with her hands on her hips, blowing a puff of air at her blonde bangs, looking thoroughly annoyed.
"I'll treat you to barbecue tonight," Shikamaru said, thinking fast.
"What about me?"
Hearing the word "barbecue," Choji suddenly became excited.
"You too."
Shikamaru felt a pang in his wallet as he spoke.
The Akimichi Clan members were heavy eaters; his hard-saved allowance was likely going to be decimated.
Ino huffed, shot a glare at Sakura, and then marched over to sit in the seat to Kitazawa's left.
"If Kitazawa-sensei were our age, he might have stolen Sasuke's thunder," Shikamaru noted, looking at Hinata on Kitazawa's right and Ino on his left.
"Hehe, barbecue."
Choji had already started fantasizing about what cuts of meat to order tonight.
"We aren't eating beef tonight," Shikamaru said, turning back.
Beef was the most expensive; cutting it out would save a fortune.
"No beef? Okay," Choji said regretfully.
The bell rang.
Kitazawa ended the class on time and left the room with his lesson plan.
Hinata hesitated for a few seconds, then, taking advantage of a moment when no one was watching her, quickly stood up and chased after him.
Kitazawa stopped at the door of his office.
He turned around to find the sneaking Hinata.
"Why are you acting like a thief?" Kitazawa teased.
Hinata lowered her head, embarrassed.
"Come in."
Kitazawa opened the office door and walked inside.
Hinata breathed a sigh of relief.
"Do you have a habit of previewing lessons?"
Kitazawa put down his lesson plan and asked.
"Yes."
Hinata replied, "I already read through all the content for today's classes last night."
"Good."
Kitazawa smiled. "In that case, skip class with me."
"Eh?"
Hinata looked up instinctively.
The teacher is taking her to skip class? She must be under a Genjutsu.
"This is called efficient time management."
Kitazawa said with a straight face. "You've already mastered the textbook knowledge, so there's no need to attend class."
"But... but..."
Hinata was instantly overwhelmed.
Skipping class went completely against the education she had received since childhood.
She didn't know whether to listen to Kitazawa or not.
"No buts."
Kitazawa said coolly. "Isn't it just skipping class?"
This was part of the plan.
A person's character is largely influenced by their environment.
Hinata grew up in the Hyūga Clan, bound by numerous rules and restrictions, which formed her current personality.
To change her character, he first had to break the rules in her heart.
"I... mm."
Hinata looked at the smile on his face and nodded as if possessed.
"Let's go."
Kitazawa patted her head.
Under his guidance, the two arrived at a wall on the perimeter of the school grounds.
"There are guards at the school gate," Kitazawa explained. "We'll climb over the wall to get out."
"Ah?"
Hinata looked confused.
Kitazawa leaped up, landing lightly on top of the wall.
He said nothing, just beckoned to her.
Hinata's mind went blank, her heart pounding in her chest.
She never dreamed that on the third day of school, she would be skipping class and climbing over the school wall.
But somehow, she felt an unprecedented thrill.
Hinata bit her soft lip, hesitated for a few seconds, and then jumped up with force.
Kitazawa caught her wrist, helping her stabilize her body.
The two flipped over the wall and landed together on the other side.
Hinata instinctively pressed her hand to her chest, her small cheeks flushed with excitement.