Kitazawa came to a halt.
If this had been an ordinary second‑year class, he would have agreed on the spot.
After all, his own class was packed with talent—the entire "Konoha Twelve" could already fight opponents above their level.
But Class 2‑A was no ordinary class; it had Hyūga Neji.
In the original storyline, early‑arc Neji was unquestionably the strongest of the Konoha Twelve.
Even Uzumaki Naruto needed the Nine‑Tails' chakra to beat him in the Chūnin Exams.
Right now, Naruto had no way to draw on that power.
Uchiha Sasuke hadn't awakened his Sharingan, and the rest of the class definitely couldn't handle Neji.
Still, with a different kind of contest, they might have a chance—
—for example, a match that tested chakra control.
The real reason Kitazawa paused, however, was a mission prompt that had suddenly appeared:
[A rival class has challenged yours. As class monitor, you must respond.]
[Current mission: Defeat Class 2‑A in a friendly competition.]
[Mission reward: Gentle Fist – Eight Trigrams Sixty‑Four Palms.]
Kitazawa's eyes lit up.
That was an excellent reward.
Byakugan plus Gentle Fist had been the Hyūga clan's ticket to a thousand years of prestige.
Although the Hyūga never produced a monster on the level of Uchiha Madara, their style was more than enough against most ninja.
"Gentle Fist" was a broad term; its signature moves were Eight Trigrams Sixty‑Four Palms and Rotation.
If Rotation was S‑rank difficulty, then Eight Trigrams Sixty‑Four Palms was about A‑rank.
Both, notably, were main‑family secrets never taught to branch members.
"How about it, Kitazawa?" Mizuki pressed, sensing a chance.
He was desperate to beat Kitazawa—just once.
Even an unglorious win was still a win.
"Alright," Kitazawa said after a moment, "but I have one condition."
"What condition?" Mizuki asked at once.
"If Class 1‑A wins, you have to grant me one request," Kitazawa said evenly.
He was thinking of that mission to send Mizuki to prison.
Given Mizuki's nature, he'd act the moment an opening appeared.
Kitazawa planned to create that opening with this wager.
"Fine," Mizuki agreed, then hesitated. "And if Class 1‑A loses?"
"Wouldn't losing be perfectly normal?" Kitazawa countered.
"…?"
Mizuki's mouth twitched.
You shameless jerk—won't risk even the tiniest disadvantage!
"I'll come find you once I've decided what the friendly match will include," Kitazawa said with a smile, turning toward the staff office.
"When your class gets crushed, let's see if you're still smiling," Mizuki muttered, unconsciously clenching his fists.
He didn't know what weird events Kitazawa might propose, but they certainly wouldn't favor Class 2‑A.
Still, Mizuki was confident: tricks meant nothing against overwhelming strength.
Class 2‑A was a full year ahead of Class 1‑A—if they lost despite that, he might as well bash his head against the Hokage Rock.
Back in the office Kitazawa found Uchiha Sasuke waiting.
No need to ask why.
"My shadow clone will take you for training," Kitazawa said, forming the seals and splitting off a clone.
"Thank you, Kitazawa‑sensei."
Sasuke followed the clone out.
Kitazawa watched him leave, thinking:
If Sasuke awakened the Sharingan, could he beat Neji?
Possible, but unlikely.
A single‑tomoe Sharingan had no clear edge over the Byakugan.
Besides, forcing Sasuke to awaken his eyes was troublesome—he'd only done it during the Uchiha massacre.
Kitazawa couldn't think of anything that would shock him that badly now.
As for messing with Naruto and the Nine‑Tails—no way.
"Looks like I'll have to tackle this from another angle."
He picked up a brush and wrote two lines on a scroll: Chakra Form and Chakra Control.
A chakra‑form contest was simple: whose ninjutsu packed the bigger punch.
He immediately thought of Sasuke's Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique—that should net first place.
Chakra control was the usual tree‑climbing and water‑walking.
But Mizuki might not accept only those two events.
Kitazawa pondered and added two more: Physical Fitness and Sparring.
With Naruto in the fitness test, victory was almost certain.
Sparring was obviously what Mizuki really wanted.
If every student in both classes fought one‑on‑one, Class 1‑A would surely lose.
Geniuses could punch above their level, but geniuses were rare.
Most of Class 1‑A were ordinary; missing a year of training, they'd naturally fall short.
So Kitazawa planned a best‑of‑five format.
After all, there was only one Hyūga Neji.
In short: quality over quantity.
When should we hold it?
Kitazawa stroked his chin.
Once Mizuki saw the four events, he'd start targeted training.
Kitazawa wasn't worried—same training meant talent would decide, and of the Konoha Twelve he had nine while Mizuki had three. Advantage, obvious.
He calculated and scheduled the match for after the next monthly exams.
One month—neither long nor short.
Mizuki wouldn't have time for full special training, while Sasuke, Hinata, and Ino would be just about ready.
Kitazawa drafted the plan and handed the scroll to Mizuki.
Mizuki read it and agreed readily.
To him, none of the four events were in doubt.
Neji would take first in the first three, and in the sparring he only needed one more win from the other students.
All in all, the advantage is mine.
Kitazawa didn't return to his own office; he went straight to Kurenai Yūhi's house.
He needed to help Kurama Yakumo qualify as a psychological medical ninja as quickly as possible; then he could link up with Tsunade and push another mission forward.
"Kitazawa, perfect timing," Kurenai called, waving him over.
"You're this happy—did you master the Truth Revealing Technique?" he asked.
"Not that," Kurenai said, smiling. "It's Yakumo's Kekkei Genkai. Yakumo, show him."
"Okay."
Kurama Yakumo produced a painting.
Under Kitazawa's gaze, the white cat in the picture seemed to come alive, leaped down, and landed on the floor.
"Meow."
The cat walked over and rubbed its head against his trouser leg.
Kitazawa crouched, gently stroking its head.
"Feels like a real cat, doesn't it?" Kurenai explained. "This genjutsu comes from Yakumo's bloodline limit. It's called Illusion Art: True Manifestation."
"Thanks to Kitazawa‑sensei's advice," Yakumo added softly. "He suggested I channel my bloodline through painting."
Kitazawa was surprised, but only slightly; the original story had mentioned True Manifestation—a genjutsu that makes what's drawn become reality.
Suddenly he thought of the bet with Mizuki.
Kurama Yakumo's Kekkei Genkai was easily Mangekyō‑level; she might even be able to defeat Hyūga Neji.
~~~
Thank you for reading! Please add this to your Library!
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 100 Chapters Ahead of Others!