After talking it over with Uchiha Itachi, Kitazawa didn't go to the mission desk. He headed straight for the Hokage's office.
"Come in."
Sarutobi Hiruzen heard the knock and casually put away his crystal ball.
"Hokage-sama."
Kitazawa pushed the door open and stepped in.
"Ah, Kitazawa." Hiruzen smiled. "Isn't today registration day? How do you have time to see me?"
"Registration's done. I'm here to brief you on the Advanced Class."
Kitazawa paused, then reported on the chakra-nature groupings, which teachers were assigned where, and so on.
"I'm really looking forward to how they perform after graduation," Hiruzen said with a chuckle. "Taught this way, they'll probably be close to chūnin level the moment they graduate."
Kitazawa gave a small nod.
Learning the Three Basic Techniques is enough to be a genin. The chūnin bar is higher, but not by that much—mastering one or two low-level Fire Release techniques will do. Of course, that's for the most ordinary chūnin. Even within the same rank, ceilings and floors vary wildly; it's the same for genin and jōnin.
"Hokage-sama, I have another idea."
Kitazawa bowed slightly. "We could add a teaching-assistant mentorship system for the Advanced Class."
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Hiruzen arched a brow.
"Have outstanding students from the Advanced Class periodically serve as jutsu TAs for other classes," Kitazawa replied. "In short, let them coach the other classes' students in ninjutsu."
While all academy teachers are chūnin, some of them really aren't as good as the Advanced Class's top students.
Hiruzen let out a small "oh?" This would be yet another new system.
"There are three benefits," Kitazawa said, raising three fingers.
"Three?" Hiruzen mused. He'd only come up with two.
"First, teaching reinforces the Advanced Students' own ninjutsu and can spark new insights. Second, it boosts the other classes' ability. Third, it makes the other classes aspire to join the Advanced Class."
"I see. You really are a natural at teaching," Hiruzen said with feeling. "Even my teacher can't hold a candle to you in that regard."
"Second Hokage was the true genius. I wouldn't dare compare."
"The TA system can go ahead," Hiruzen decided, then added a reminder: "But it mustn't interfere with the Advanced Class's studies."
Strengthening the other classes is great, but the Advanced Class remains the priority. In the end, it's the prodigies who determine Konoha's future and its upper limit. And if there are too many TAs, they'll crowd out the teachers and stir up resentment—also not good.
"I understand."
Kitazawa's real aim with this TA system was to ratchet up competition. If the other classes get stronger, the pressure on the Advanced Class will silently soar.
"Hokage-sama."
Kitazawa brought up Uchiha Izumi.
"Having another two-tomoe Sharingan user around? Borrowing her from the Anbu is fine," Hiruzen said generously.
Kitazawa's request wasn't strictly by the book, but with his current strength and standing, he could claim some privileges.
"How's Tsunade's hemophobia treatment going?" Concern showed on Hiruzen's face.
The Advanced Class is about the future. Right now, Tsunade matters most to the village.
"Pretty good so far."
Kitazawa summarized the two treatments so far. They'd both ended in failure, but she was lasting longer before the illusion collapsed.
"Excellent."
Hiruzen nodded, satisfied. "Good work. Keep me posted on any progress."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
With the business done, Kitazawa took his leave.
Today was Sunday—registration day. Tomorrow, Monday, was the first day of school. But because of the Advanced Class's special lesson plan, Umino Iruka would be teaching theory on Monday, so Kitazawa didn't have to go in. In other words, he had a day and a half free.
He planned to focus on training his Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall.
The door opened.
"Is registration over?" Kurenai paused her training and walked to the entryway.
"Mm."
Kitazawa looked at her, opened his arms. "Come here and let me hold you."
"You hold me every day. Still not enough?"
Kurenai's lips curled as she stepped into his embrace.
"I wish you could hang on me every day."
Feeling her softness, he drew a long breath.
"Pervert!"
Something flashed across Kurenai's mind; her face flushed as she shot him a glare.
"What are you calling me that for out of nowhere?"
Kitazawa gave her a firm smack on the butt.
"You know exactly why!"
Kurenai huffed.
"What are you thinking about? I say you're the pervert."
Kitazawa lowered his head to her rosy face.
"If I am, it's your fault!"
Kurenai grumbled.
"How is that on me?"
He leaned to her ear and nipped it. Kurenai's body went weak, a hazy look slipping into her ruby eyes.
"It's… it's daytime," she whispered, enduring the strange feeling in her ear.
"Daytime's no good?"
He teased.
Kurenai's breath hitched. In the end she resisted—Tsunade and Shizune might drop by if it was daytime.
"Tonight," she bit her lip and lowered her head. "Then I'll…"
"What did you say?"
Kitazawa's eyes lit up, then he worried he'd misheard and asked without thinking.
"You're still asking?"
Kurenai stomped on his foot.
"Can I make a request?"
He leaned close and whispered two sentences.
"Pervert! I'm going to train!"
She sashayed off.
Kitazawa watched her go, face full of anticipation. For all her boldness, they'd only tried that sort of "non-standard" nighttime activity once—on his birthday. Finally, a second chance at a "tongue battle."
He stepped outside and practiced the Earth-Style Wall. Time trickled by. Dusk fell, and in January the temperature dropped fast after sunset.
"Isn't that Kakashi's usual Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall?"
Kurenai's voice rang out.
Kitazawa looked back and saw her at the door.
"Why doesn't your wall have carved dog heads?"
She eyed the wall, puzzled.
"Why waste chakra carving dog heads?"
He shot back.
"I forgot Earth-Style Wall doesn't have dog heads to begin with."
Kurenai couldn't help laughing. There weren't many Earth-style users in Konoha, and the one she saw the most was Hatake Kakashi. Over time, his version had skewed her idea of the technique.
"If I were to carve anything, it wouldn't be dogs," Kitazawa said, stepping up to her. "I'd carve the four Hokage faces."
"…?"
"If we ran into enemy shinobi, I'd swap them for the enemy village's Kage."
"Where do you get all these weird ideas?"
"It's called a sudden spark." He kissed her cheek. "It's night now, Kurenai."
"L-let's eat first."
She froze for a beat; her voice softened without meaning to.
"Dinner can wait. You can eat more after you digest."
"Pervert!"
Flustered, she turned and fled into her room.
Kitazawa shut the door and went to the living room. He waited on the sofa. Before long, he heard a door open.
Kurenai stepped out.
A women's suit hugged her curves; a pencil skirt swayed over long black-stockinged legs, all effortless allure.
"Happy now?" she asked, stopping.
Kitazawa's gaze fell to her lips—she'd put on lipstick, the red glossy and lush.
Noticing his look, Kurenai blushed. After a couple seconds of hesitation, she knelt; the stockings drew taut, making her legs look even longer, and her full hips rounded with the motion like ripe peaches.
"Kurenai, you're wonderful."
His fingers traced her red lips—so soft.
The next second, his face twisted and he bared his teeth. He leaned back, his vision filled with Kurenai's moving head, the stark contrast of pale skin and lipstick. He stared up at the familiar ceiling and tried to focus—but failed. His IQ had abandoned the high ground.
His eyes went unfocused; his thoughts drifted.
He didn't know how long had passed before he suddenly sat up.
"Thanks."
Seeing her lipstick faded, he added, "I'll take you to buy more another day."
Kurenai rolled her eyes. After a few deep breaths, her throat moved; she said nothing and headed to the bathroom.
Kitazawa stretched, then went into the kitchen. Kurenai had already "snacked" quite a bit, but that wasn't dinner. She was tied up for the moment, so he'd cook.
Monday. By day, Kitazawa kept training the Earth-Style Wall. That night, he gave Kurenai quite an "education" again, coaxing her—amid breathless babble—into agreeing to all sorts of requests. The price was getting kicked out when he woke up.
No big deal. He had to head out anyway—Tuesday was the Advanced Class's first revamped field-practice session.
When he arrived at his office, Hyuga Hinata was sitting on the sofa. He blinked—hadn't expected that. Since moving in with Kurenai, he no longer ate breakfast at school; he ate with her, and Tsunade and Shizune sometimes came to mooch.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Hinata hopped off the sofa, ran over, and stopped in front of him, eyes shining.
"Had breakfast?" he asked, ruffling her hair.
"I was just about to," Hinata said. "I didn't expect you to come."
She'd gotten used to it—breakfast was usually in his office, even if he wasn't there.
"I haven't eaten," Kitazawa smiled. "Mind if I bum a meal off you?"
"Of course!"
Hinata's cheeks flushed with joy. It had been a while since she'd eaten with him.
"I made these rice balls myself," she said, offering them with expectation.
"Thanks."
He took a bite; his eyes brightened. "Tastes great."
They weren't plain—she'd packed in plenty of ham, pork floss, and more. He figured she had a healthy appetite, so she loaded the calories.
After they finished, they headed to the school field. The Advanced Class was already assembled.
"Kosuke-senpai."
Kitazawa stepped up and greeted Maruboshi Kosuke.
Hatake Kakashi wasn't here yet. Pretty normal. In the original story he loves being late. Still, it wasn't nine o'clock yet, so technically he wasn't late.
A moment later, the bell rang, and Kakashi strolled in.
"Did you run into a lost cat on the way?" Kitazawa teased.
"I'm not that childish," Kakashi replied evenly.
"Since everyone's here, let's get started," Kitazawa clapped. "Line up into six groups per Sunday's assignments."
The Advanced Class moved at once, forming six ranks. Thirty students—five per line. Compared to a four-person ninja squad, it wasn't much bigger. If squads are "small-class" education, this Advanced Class setup was a "medium-class."
"Fire, Wind, and the Special Group—come with me."
He didn't interfere with Maruboshi Kosuke or Kakashi. They were jōnin; even if they weren't born teachers, anything they taught would benefit these students.
Kitazawa led his groups to the next field. He looked over the three groups under him—more than half the class, seventeen in all. Aside from Uchiha Sasuke, who went to the Lightning Release group, all of the Konoha Twelve were with him.
Mostly because they came from clans with their own secret arts and didn't need to learn elemental ninjutsu—Hyuga, Ino–Shika–Cho, Inuzuka, Aburame.
Among the non-clan types, Haruno Sakura was studying medical ninjutsu; Karin, sealing arts; Rock Lee and Tenten, taijutsu. Other than thrown weapons, Tenten mostly fought with taijutsu. Kurama Yakumo was studying genjutsu.
"For the first class, I'm not teaching anything new," Kitazawa said. "I want to gauge everyone's strength."
He flashed through hand seals—Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
With a puff of smoke, sixteen more Kitazawas appeared on the field.
"Neji, spar with me."
As the original body, Kitazawa picked Hyuga Neji. The reason was that he had a task riding on Neji beating Uzumaki Naruto. He'd been watching Neji train, but nothing beats a live spar to pin down strengths and problems.
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei."
Neji drew a deep breath and set his stance.
Meanwhile, the clones and the students were already trading blows.
"Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
Knowing Kitazawa's strength, Neji went all out from the start. Byakugan flared; both palms thrust toward Kitazawa's chakra points.
Bad start.
Kitazawa didn't even move from his spot. The instant Neji launched his palms, Kitazawa snapped a whirlwind kick. Fast and heavy, it crashed in. Neji reacted quickly, changed his palm lines to block, but he still staggered back several steps.
Before he could steady, Kitazawa was already in his face.
Neji's pupils shrank.
Gentle Fist?
He blanked for a split-second, and Kitazawa's palm thumped his chest and sent him flying.
"In a fight, don't space out no matter what," Kitazawa said with a mild smile. "I don't have a Byakugan, but after watching your training long enough, I've picked up a move or two of Gentle Fist."
Neji stood, dawning comprehension on his face.
Kitazawa's Gentle Fist was a hollow frame; without the Byakugan he couldn't see the tenketsu. Otherwise, that palm could have sealed his chakra points and left him limp.
Neji burst forward again—but the more they exchanged, the more shocked he became. In Gentle Fist, he was the one being completely suppressed. An "empty" form without point-striking somehow put more pressure on him than even Hiashi.
"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"
Sweating through a scrappy close-quarters exchange, Neji leapt back and thrust out his right hand. Compressed chakra shot out as an invisible shockwave.
"Not bad—barely at the threshold," Kitazawa critiqued, flickering aside from the Vacuum Palm. Neji hadn't mastered it yet; it showed.
"That's enough for now," Kitazawa said, holding up a hand. "I've got a clear picture of your current state."
Relief washed over Neji; all the exhaustion hit at once and he slumped to the ground. He didn't feel embarrassed—everyone was like this. He'd actually lasted longer than most. Hinata was about the same; only Naruto held out longer—he had more chakra. But he still couldn't use it well and eventually lost to a clone.
Kitazawa dispelled the clones. A flood of memories returned to the original body. His eyes went vacant for two seconds; then he exhaled.
He'd made fifteen clones, but the Advanced Class kids were pretty green, so they hadn't put much pressure on them. The only one who strained a clone was Kurama Yakumo—so Kitazawa went for a quick finish. She was down before she could get a genjutsu off.
"Next, I'll assign individual training plans," he said, looking over the group.
"Kitazawa-sensei!" Naruto waved energetically.
"Yours doesn't change," Kitazawa said. "Keep working on Wind Release chakra nature transformation."
"Okay…" Naruto deflated a touch. He wanted new jutsu, not more Wind-nature practice—it felt too slow. But if Kitazawa said so, he'd do it.
"Neji, in addition to Gentle Fist, spend two hours a day on live-combat special training."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei."
"Yakumo, start with physical conditioning," Kitazawa told Kurama Yakumo. "I'll teach you taijutsu after a while."
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 100 Chapters Ahead of Others!