A brand‑new day.
Kitazawa arrived at the Ninja Academy early.
The training field, usually quiet, was bustling—many students were warming up.
"Kitazawa."
Mizuki walked over from a distance and stopped in front of him.
"Mizuki."
Kitazawa gave a slight nod. "Iruka isn't here yet?"
"He's probably sleeping in."
Mizuki smiled pleasantly. "You didn't know? He's been a procrastinator since childhood—and a coward too. He once cried after being scared."
The truth: Mizuki had deliberately failed to notify Iruka Umino.
"So, if you managed to become his good friend, did you cry from fright as well?"
Kitazawa asked leisurely.
As the saying goes, "When three walk together, one of them must be a fool."
"W‑What? Impossible!"
Mizuki's smile froze. His face changed as he hurried to deny it.
"I see."
Kitazawa patted Mizuki's shoulder and gave him a meaningful look.
See what? You jerk!
Mizuki instinctively wanted to explain, but it was too late.
Kitazawa had already returned to 1‑A.
"Damn you, Kitazawa!"
Mizuki ground his teeth. "One day you'll regret this!"
He fumed in silence.
Right now, Kitazawa was under the Third Hokage's close watch; Mizuki's usual dirty tricks would be hard to pull off.
Taking a deep breath, he glanced at Hyūga Neji not far away.
He had come to show off his "genius student," but ended up humiliated instead.
Kitazawa, still on the spot, stroked his chin.
There's a saying: "A gentleman's revenge can wait ten years." But he wasn't a gentleman.
He could tolerate a woman holding a grudge against him—never a man.
Yet dealing with Mizuki wouldn't be easy; the guy hadn't committed any real crime—yet.
"Kitazawa‑sensei!"
Uzumaki Naruto's energetic voice rang out.
A peculiar gleam flashed in Kitazawa's eyes.
An idea struck him—use Naruto to take Mizuki down.
In the original story, Mizuki had tricked Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals.
Kitazawa had always found that suspicious: the Scroll, packed with Konoha's most dangerous forbidden jutsu, stolen so easily?
Something fishy—maybe the Third Hokage's subtle manipulation.
[An evil "Teacher Mizuki" has set his sights on you, a budding flower. Send him a song of Prison Bars and Tears.]
[Current Mission: Send Mizuki to jail.]
[Reward: Fire Style — Heavenly Prison.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa's eyebrow shot up. Delight filled his heart.
Mizuki, your rat‑life ends with one click!
Prison—straight to prison!
In the Land of Grass stood Hōzuki Castle, and within it a skilled warden named Muui.
His signature technique: Fire Style: Heavenly Prison—sealing the target's chakra so it can't be molded. Even worse, if the target strays too far, they burst into flames.
Nominally a Fire‑Style jutsu, it was really Fire Release plus a sealing technique.
And sealing arts—together with Sage Mode—are practically the "source code" of the shinobi world: absurdly overpowered.
"Kitazawa‑sensei."
Uchiha Sasuke glanced at Naruto, hesitated a moment, then stepped forward.
"Sasuke!"
Naruto greeted him with a big grin.
"I won't lose to you in today's physical test," Sasuke said coolly. He felt Naruto's smile was mocking him.
"If I beat you once, I can beat you again!" Naruto declared, full of confidence. "See you at the top!"
Have you even trained? Sasuke retreated half a step.
If he stayed too long near Naruto, he'd be dragged down to that level.
"Aaaargh!"
A beast‑like yell echoed.
Iruka Umino dashed in at top speed—seventeen years old, yet already a teacher.
Kitazawa glanced at the clock: 8:55 a.m.—almost late.
"S‑Sorry, Kitazawa‑senpai!"
Iruka stopped, panting and drenched in sweat.
"It's fine—you made it."
Kitazawa paused. "Watch out for Mizuki."
"H‑Huh?"
Iruka looked blank.
What does that mean? A spy in our midst? Cancel the exam?
"All right, everyone gather up! I'll explain today's practical‑exam rules."
Kitazawa clapped, drawing the students' attention.
Normally a practical exam would be an all‑out fight, but they'd been in school barely a month; they hadn't even mastered the Three Basic Techniques—just rookies pecking at each other.
Letting clan heirs fight civilian kids would be a slaughter, so the first practical had no match‑ups.
"Four events: Clone Technique, Physical Test, Shuriken Throw, and Kunai Throw."
He raised four fingers. "I'll demonstrate first."
"Demonstrate" was really his excuse to sneak into the exam.
Kitazawa produced a kunai and a shuriken, twirled both, and threw.
CLANG!
The two weapons collided mid‑air, then arced away and nailed two bull's‑eyes.
Obviously deliberate—a pre‑emptive strike against any show‑boating by Sasuke.
"Amazing!"
Naruto cheered wholeheartedly; the blind throw really was cool.
Hyūga Hinata clenched her fists unconsciously, eyes sparkling with admiration.
If only she could dominate like Kitazawa‑sensei… Perhaps, if she took first place, Hiashi would finally look at her differently.
Sasuke sensed a kindred challenger.
What's with this teacher? Even a demo shows that much skill?
Too bad Sasuke hadn't learned Shuriken Manipulation yet; he couldn't steal the spotlight.
"First event: Clone Technique."
After demonstrating, Kitazawa said, "Come up in order."
He opened a roster and readied his pen.
"My turn!"
Naruto strutted to the center of the field like a battle‑cock.
"Naruto, do your best!"
Shikamaru Nara and Chōji Akimichi shouted.
Naruto scanned the crowd—most clearly doubted him.
But Kitazawa's encouraging gaze moved him.
If I fall here, my school life ends!
"Clone Technique!"
Naruto roared the name while flashing hand signs.
Kitazawa tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Who taught you to shout the jutsu name while casting it?
POOF!
Two lifelike Naruto clones appeared.
"Not bad," Kitazawa praised. "You really outdid yourself this time."
"Thank you, Kitazawa‑sensei!"
Naruto exclaimed, thrilled.
…
Hokage's Office
A crystal ball sat on the desk, showing Naruto's face.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stroked his beard and mused to himself:
"Kitazawa really does have some talent."
~~~
Thank you for reading! Please add this to your Library!
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 70 Chapters Ahead of Others!