Kitazawa and his group returned to Konoha Village on Sunday evening. The Land of Rivers borders the Land of Fire, and the round trip normally takes two days.
They had defeated Aoi Rokusho in less than an hour, spending most of their time traveling, so they finished half a day earlier than the mission to find Haku last weekend.
"You all go home and get some good rest," Kitazawa said, looking at Sasuke and the others. "I'll give you your mission rewards tomorrow."
"There are still mission rewards?" Naruto asked in surprise.
"Completing a mission naturally comes with mission rewards." Kitazawa raised his hand and tapped him on the head. "Do you think I'd pocket your money?"
Naruto smiled sheepishly and quickly shook his head.
"See you tomorrow."
Kitazawa and Kurenai turned and went home. It was already late, and Tsunade had left work long ago. He planned to turn in the mission the next day.
"I'm leaving first!" Sasuke couldn't wait to go home.
Of course, his purpose wasn't just to rest—it was to tell Uchiha Fugaku and the others about the details of this mission.
He had killed a Jonin, and he was sure to receive their praise.
"Why is Sasuke walking so fast?" Naruto scratched his head.
"Maybe he wants to go home early to eat," Hyuga Neji guessed.
"Neji, do you want to go to Ichiraku Ramen with me?" Naruto asked eagerly, remembering they hadn't eaten dinner yet.
"Sure," Neji nodded.
Like Naruto, he was an orphan, and he would have eaten alone if he went home—so he might as well join him.
---
Uchiha Clan Compound
"Dad! Mom! Brother!" As soon as Sasuke arrived home, he couldn't wait to shout, "I'm back!"
"You're back so soon?" Uchiha Mikoto heard his voice, walked to the door, and asked, "Did you finish your mission?"
"Yes! Perfectly completed!" Sasuke quickly asked, "Where are Dad and Brother?"
"They're in the study." Mikoto reached out and grabbed Sasuke, who was about to run off. "Have you eaten?"
"No," Sasuke turned to her eagerly. "But I want to talk about my mission first!"
"You child." Mikoto smiled helplessly.
She already knew what Sasuke wanted—nothing more than to be praised by Uchiha Fugaku and Itachi for his excellent performance.
"I'll go call them," Mikoto said, patting his head.
"Thank you, Mom!" Sasuke ran to the sofa and sat down, waiting.
A moment later, Uchiha Fugaku and Itachi appeared.
"Dad! Brother!" Sasuke said excitedly, "I killed a Jonin on this mission!"
"A Jonin?" Mikoto was astonished. "You aren't even a full-fledged Ninja yet. How did your mission involve a Jonin?"
Fugaku and Itachi, who had not paid much attention initially, were also surprised.
"It was a mission chosen by Kitazawa-sensei—to track down a rogue Ninja named Aoi Rokusho," Sasuke explained.
"Aoi Rokusho?" Itachi thought for a moment. "I remember him. He defected after stealing the Second Hokage-sama's Sword of the Thunder God."
Apprehending rogue Ninja was usually the work of ANBU. As a member of ANBU, Itachi knew many such names.
Although Aoi Rokusho's strength wasn't great, the act of stealing the Sword of the Thunder God was infamous.
"Did your Kitazawa-sensei severely injure him and then hand him over to you to finish off?" Fugaku asked. That was how he himself had trained Itachi as a child.
"No!" Sasuke said proudly. "Kitazawa-sensei didn't interfere at all from beginning to end!"
"How is that possible?" Fugaku frowned in disbelief.
Aoi was still a Jonin, and with his experience, it was hard to imagine him being defeated by a mere seven-year-old.
"Tell me in detail," Itachi said, smiling as he sat beside Sasuke. He was curious too.
"It's like this!" Sasuke immediately began recounting the battle—how they planned, coordinated, and finally defeated Aoi.
"Your two teammates are no worse than you," Uchiha Mikoto commented after listening. "The effective cooperation of three geniuses produced an astonishing result."
"Sasuke, you did very well. You are indeed my son." Fugaku's praise was rare and sincere. Even by his high standards, Sasuke's performance was impeccable.
"You're already much stronger than I was at your age," Itachi added.
To be fair, even he, at seven, couldn't have defeated a Jonin with his teammates.
Sasuke, receiving the expected praise, couldn't suppress his grin.
"I've said what needed to be said. I'll go make you dinner," Mikoto said gently.
"Oh, right!" Sasuke suddenly remembered. "Kitazawa-sensei also gave me the Sword of the Thunder God!"
He took it out and showed them.
"What?" Fugaku's expression changed instantly—his surprise no less than when he heard Sasuke had killed a Jonin.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke looked puzzled.
"The Sword of the Thunder God is the Second Hokage-sama's personal Ninja tool," Fugaku said.
Itachi smiled faintly. "Your Kitazawa-sensei might be grooming you to become Hokage."
"That's what I thought too!" Fugaku laughed. "It seems our Uchiha Clan isn't far from reaching its peak!"
"...?" Sasuke blinked, still not fully understanding why receiving the Sword of the Thunder God meant so much.
In reality, Fugaku and Itachi had overthought the situation, leading to an amusing misunderstanding.
Yet, they couldn't be blamed for it.
After all, the Sword of the Thunder God was once the personal weapon of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama—a relic of immense power and significance.
Under normal circumstances, such a legendary blade would never be entrusted to a seven-year-old child.
Therefore, to Fugaku and Itachi, there was only one reasonable explanation: Kitazawa must have placed extraordinary value on Sasuke.
Given the current state of affairs, Kitazawa himself was highly likely to become the Sixth Hokage.
If that happened, Sasuke—his most gifted student—would naturally stand at the forefront to become the Seventh Hokage.
However, what the Uchiha father and son didn't know was that Kitazawa had already given the great sword Samehada to Naruto.
The reason he handed the Sword of the Thunder God to Sasuke was purely to maintain fairness and balance between his disciples.
In short, this was a beautiful misunderstanding—one that would quietly reshape future expectations within the Uchiha household.
---
Just like that, time flowed into a new week.
As June began, the skies over Konoha Village grew ever clearer. Monday dawned bright and sunny, with a gentle breeze rustling through the village streets.
Kitazawa finished breakfast and made his way toward the Ninja Academy. He didn't know exactly what missions Kakashi and Maruboshi Kosuke had undertaken, but he was certain their difficulty wouldn't exceed B-rank.
Today, he planned to finalize the Genius Class rankings, completing both the academic schedule and his own system mission.
Inside the Genius Class classroom, the atmosphere was lively.
Naruto was animatedly recounting how they had defeated Aoi Rokusho, gesturing dramatically as he relived the fight.
Beside him, Sasuke stood with his hands in his pockets, quietly basking in the admiring gazes of his classmates.
"Damn it!" Kiba growled through gritted teeth. "Such an awesome mission happened, and I wasn't part of it?!"
"Sasuke-kun is amazing!" Sakura said dreamily, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
Although the victory had been a combined effort by Sasuke, Naruto, and Hyuga Neji, in Sakura's eyes, the story was different.
To her, Sasuke had single-handedly slain a Jonin with his Sharingan, while Naruto and Neji merely played supporting roles.
"As expected of the strongest geniuses," Shikamaru muttered, clicking his tongue. "To kill a Jonin at seven years old… I can't imagine what they'll accomplish after graduation."
Shino Aburame nodded silently.
He had initially thought that their team's feat of defeating three Hidden Mist Chunin would be enough to secure a top-three ranking in the practical exam.
But now, seeing Sasuke, Naruto, and Neji's overwhelming strength, he knew the top three spots were as good as decided.
"This isn't fair! Why was our team's mission just an escort?" Ino huffed, folding her arms. "I think with Yakumo, we could've defeated a Jonin too!"
"With Yakumo's genjutsu, it's indeed possible," Tenten agreed sincerely.
Shikamaru subconsciously glanced at her. He remembered that Tenten possessed a Chameleon, a formidable summon. If used effectively, it might also be able to deal with a Jonin-level opponent.
The thought made Shikamaru's mouth twitch. Why are there so many monsters in this class?
Every single one of them seemed capable of defeating a Jonin before even graduating. It's completely defying the heavens! I feel like a husky that wandered into a pack of wolves...
At the entrance of the classroom, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Kakashi, Maruboshi Kosuke, and Iruka stood listening quietly to the students' chatter.
"What terrifying geniuses," Kosuke said in amazement. "When I was seven, I didn't even know what a Jonin was!"
"The future of Konoha rests on them," Hiruzen said warmly, feeling both pride and relief.
Defeating a Jonin at seven years old—such a feat had never before appeared in the history of the village. It was almost unimaginable.
Without question, Sasuke and Naruto were destined to become powerhouses who would one day shake the entire Ninja World.
"They already possess Chunin-level strength," Kakashi observed thoughtfully.
"Only a little weaker than you were," Hiruzen teased with a chuckle. "You were the prodigy who became a Chunin at six years old."
"When I first became a Chunin, I wasn't as strong as they are now," Kakashi admitted, shaking his head.
"For the next Monthly Exam, have Kitazawa assign Naruto to me. I'll take him on a mission," Hiruzen said, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
He wanted to witness their strength firsthand. After all, hearing about it was one thing; seeing it with his own eyes was another.
"I estimate I wouldn't be able to beat Naruto and the others anymore," Iruka said half-jokingly.
"You're a theoretical instructor," Hiruzen replied kindly. "There's no need to compare yourself to them."
Iruka nodded, though his expression was complicated. Even if it was true, being surpassed by seven-year-old students still stung a little.
"You're all here so early?" came a familiar voice.
The group turned to see Kitazawa walking in with a calm smile.
"We were listening to Naruto recount his mission," Hiruzen said. "You're quite bold, letting your students face a Jonin."
"Aoi Rokusho's strength was average," Kitazawa replied casually. "He was at the bottom tier among Jonin—perfect for them to practice with."
"But the results were outstanding," Hiruzen admitted, nodding in praise. "Their teamwork was exceptional. It shows you've taught them well."
Team coordination was, after all, a core subject in the Ninja Academy's curriculum.
"Thank you for the compliment, Hokage-sama," Kitazawa said with a modest smile. "It's also thanks to their diligence and intelligence."
"For the next Monthly Exam, let me lead their team," Hiruzen said with an amused glint in his eye.
"Alright," Kitazawa agreed after a slight pause, though he couldn't help feeling that the Hokage looked a bit too excited—like someone who'd just discovered a new toy to play with.
Still, given Hiruzen's strength, even if they encountered one of the other Kage, he could protect Naruto and the others well enough to retreat safely.
Of course, meeting a Kage in a routine mission was unlikely.
I can only mourn for the unfortunate Ninja from other villages who might cross paths with them, Kitazawa thought to himself with a wry smile.
"What the hell did we do wrong? We just came out for a simple mission and ended up being chased by the Third Hokage himself! We're just small fries!"
— The likely lament of any enemy Ninja who encountered them.
"Kosuke-senpai, Kakashi—have your grading results been finalized?" Kitazawa asked, returning to business.
Upon hearing his question, the two handed him a scroll each.
On the scrolls were the detailed scores and evaluations of the twelve students they had led during the past two weeks.
Kitazawa unrolled the scrolls and quickly scanned through them.
Students like Kurama Yakumo and Shikamaru had all received good scores.
"Iruka," Kitazawa asked again, "give me the practical exam scores of the other students in the Genius Class."
"I'll get them right away," Iruka said as he scurried back to the office.
Kitazawa took out another scroll. These were the scores he had given to the six students under his charge.
Among them, Sasuke, Naruto, and Hyuga Neji all received perfect scores. After all, three students defeating a Jonin warranted full marks.
As for Shino Aburame, Hyuga Hinata, and Inuzuka Hana, they had also performed admirably. If a perfect score was 100, each of them had scored above 90.
However, there were seven scores listed on the scroll. The remaining one was his own.
There was no other way—his system mission required him to achieve first place in the practical exam. To satisfy its condition, he had added his own name, awarding himself a perfect score plus ten points.
The reason given was simple: he had single-handedly taken down a Jonin from the Hidden Mist Village.
Sasuke and the others had worked together as a team of three, so they naturally couldn't compare to that feat.
"Kitazawa-senpai," Iruka reappeared.
Kitazawa nodded and began ranking the practical exam results. As expected, he secured first place with the highest score.
[Current Mission: Achieve first place in the new practical exam.]
[Mission Reward: Proficient Fire Release Chakra Nature Transformation.]
[Host has completed the mission. Reward issued.]
After finishing the ranking, three lines of glowing text appeared before his eyes. From that moment on, all seven of his Chakra nature transformations had reached the proficient level.
Among them, his Lightning Release had even advanced to the master level.
For Kitazawa, the most exciting part was that he could now begin training in the Five Release Great Combo Technique.
Coincidentally, his Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall was nearly mastered, so he could put that on hold for now.
Kitazawa could now truly be called a Seven Elemental Release Ninja—an all-attribute shinobi. In this regard, even Kakashi paled in comparison.
He estimated that he could already compete with Sarutobi Hiruzen himself. But being merely at the proficient level was still a bit lacking.
If all seven nature transformations reached the master level, he would undoubtedly surpass the Third Hokage.
"Quiet," Kitazawa said as he regained his focus and stepped into the classroom.
Naruto had already finished most of his story, and upon seeing Kitazawa, he immediately returned to his seat.
"I will now announce the rankings for this practical exam," Kitazawa said, standing at the podium as he looked over the class.
Sasuke and the others instantly perked up, their faces filled with anticipation.
In previous practical exams, Naruto and Yakumo were always too strong, making first place a foregone conclusion. But now things were different.
With the introduction of the new mission-based exam format, no one could be sure who would come out on top.
"First place, Uzumaki Naruto," Kitazawa announced, pausing briefly before continuing, "Uchiha Sasuke and Hyuga Neji."
Sasuke's face initially fell, but the moment he heard his name, his expression changed at light speed—the corners of his mouth curling upward.
"That's great!" Naruto exclaimed happily. "Our squad really is the strongest!"
The battle with Aoi Rokusho had made him realize the true importance of teamwork. Sasuke and Neji's performance had been remarkable—beyond words—and Naruto was more than satisfied.
If he could, he'd gladly team up with them for life.
The other students had no objections. After all, the three had defeated a Jonin.
"Next, I will announce the final rankings for this Monthly Exam," Kitazawa said once the practical results were done.
Sasuke's heart leaped. First place in the practical exam was good, but the final ranking was what truly mattered. If he failed to secure that, his earlier joy would be meaningless.
"First place, Sasuke," Kitazawa declared with a faint smile.
Sasuke's theoretical exam scores had surpassed both Naruto's and Neji's, earning him the top overall position.
"What a pity," Neji muttered regretfully. His theoretical ranking was only one spot lower than Sasuke's, and their scores were extremely close.
A bit more luck, and he could have taken first place himself. He hadn't achieved that position once since joining the Genius Class.
Meanwhile, Sasuke couldn't help but grin. Were it not for the classroom setting, he would have laughed out loud.
"Congratulations, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura said with a bright smile.
Ino and the others also offered their congratulations. This time, first place was well-deserved.
"Second place, Hyuga Neji," Kitazawa continued reading.
Naruto's theoretical ranking had dragged him down. Though not terrible—he had placed fourteenth—it was still far behind Sasuke and Neji.
Naruto didn't seem to mind. He knew academics weren't his strong suit. As long as he maintained his top-tier practical ranking, that was enough for him.
"The rankings have been announced. Everyone, continue with the lesson."
With that, Kitazawa exited the classroom, leaving Iruka to take over.
Since it was Monday, the Genius Class had theoretical lessons. After bidding farewell to Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others, Kitazawa made his way toward the Hokage's Office.