Time really flew by.
Five years had already passed in the ninja world since Kitazawa defeated Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
In those five years, the ninja world had remained peaceful.
And that peaceful environment pushed the entire world into a period of rapid development.
No exaggeration—by now, the ninja world had basically become modernized.
The leading industries were computers, the internet, games, and film.
The shinobi and ordinary residents adapted quickly too.
Sure, they weren't used to it at first, but once enough time passed, they began to appreciate how good this new life was—and they threw themselves into it willingly.
Fire Country Metropolis, Hokage Office.
Compared to five years ago, almost nothing had changed here.
The only difference was a computer on the Hokage's desk.
All the paper files that used to pile up on the desk had completely disappeared, replaced by digital documents.
Of course, truly major matters still came with hard copies.
But everyday trivial work was handled through online communication—saving paper and saving time.
"Your Majesty."
Konan knocked on the door, and after receiving permission, stepped inside.
Kitazawa looked up at her.
Thanks to the Strength of a Hundred Seal, she was still as beautiful as she had been five years ago—there wasn't the slightest trace of time on her.
"This is Jiraiya-sensei's latest novel," Konan said, taking out a book. "He asked me to bring you a copy."
"Another Icha Icha Paradise?" Kitazawa asked with a light laugh.
"No." Konan shook her head.
That sparked a bit of interest in him.
He took the book. On the cover were four large characters:
Child of Prophecy.
Kitazawa paused slightly—he could already guess what it contained.
After he defeated Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku suddenly did a complete about-face.
Not only did it have the toads join Konoha's Summoning Beast Corps, it also told Jiraiya that Kitazawa was the Child of Prophecy.
Kitazawa had been a little surprised when he heard it.
After all, out of respect for Tsunade, he hadn't gone to "pressure" Mount Myōboku.
But he could guess the reason.
Nothing special—just four words:
Strength reigns supreme.
From what you could see in the original story, the Great Toad Sage's prophecies really did have some level of accuracy.
It probably learned something through foresight.
And besides, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya was in the Fire Country Metropolis.
Even if she usually wore an Anbu mask, she couldn't fool the Great Toad Sage.
Back then, when Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo and Ōtsutsuki Hamura made the painful choice to stop their own mother, the Great Toad Sage had played a major role.
So it was naturally familiar with Kaguya.
If Kaguya had gone and become an Anbu ninja, what was the Great Toad Sage supposed to do about it?
Ryūchi Cave next door had already set the example.
Kitazawa didn't really care.
With his strength, Mount Myōboku no longer mattered to him.
As long as Mount Myōboku behaved itself, he couldn't be bothered to pay it any attention.
The one who felt worst about this change was Jiraiya.
He'd spent most of his life running around for the so-called Child of Prophecy—only to be told now it was Kitazawa.
But at this point, there was nothing he could say.
Once he learned Kitazawa was the Child of Prophecy, he retired on the spot—just like Tsunade.
Now he spent his days wandering the ninja world and gathering material.
Kitazawa casually flipped open Jiraiya's novel.
He glanced at the table of contents.
It claimed to be about the Child of Prophecy, but in reality, it was about everything that had happened in the ninja world over the past ten years.
And most of it was about him.
Kitazawa shook his head.
He suspected Jiraiya was using his fame to sell books.
But the content wasn't bad—film and television could adapt it into a drama.
The Film Department had related tasks, after all; they needed to produce a show now and then tied to Konoha or the Fire Country.
"Konan," Kitazawa asked as he read, "do I have any upcoming schedule?"
"The ninja academy graduation ceremony," Konan answered immediately.
"So Naruto and Sasuke are graduating again in the blink of an eye…" Kitazawa said, stunned for a moment, then sighed.
Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke had already graduated once when they were twelve.
But after the academy was reformed—expanding from a six-year system to a twelve-year system—Kitazawa made them continue their studies.
The reason was simple.
They weren't just shinobi anymore; they needed to become multidisciplinary shinobi.
Besides ninjutsu, they had to master a huge amount of other knowledge.
"Pure" shinobi only existed in the Five Great Shinobi Forces now.
Especially Hyūga Hinata and Yamanaka Ino.
As the Hokage's secretary and the Emperor's secretary, if they didn't have comprehensive knowledge, they wouldn't even be able to handle day-to-day work.
And with their strength—plus the Shadow Clone Technique—they could manage school and work without missing either.
Now, five years later, they were all eighteen and it was time to graduate.
"The ninja academy graduation ceremony is this Sunday," Konan reminded him.
Kitazawa nodded slightly.
Today was Friday, which meant the ceremony was the day after tomorrow.
He fell into thought.
Since Sasuke and Naruto were graduating, their positions should be adjusted.
Especially the Emperor's Guard—it was a waste, basically a ceremonial post.
Sasuke and Naruto were eighteen now. They could absolutely handle important roles.
After all, in the original story, they became the saviors of the ninja world at seventeen.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," Kitazawa said, snapping back to reality.
Konan stepped back and slipped into the duty room behind the bookshelf.
It was called a duty room, but it was really just a bed.
The door opened.
"Kitazawa-sensei."
Yamanaka Ino peeked her head in and greeted him with a smile.
Her blonde ponytail spilled over her snow-white shoulder, swaying lightly in the air.
"Why are you sneaking around?" Kitazawa asked, amused.
"I'm not! I just didn't want to interrupt your work," Ino said as she straightened up and walked into the office.
She had changed into the tight outfit she wore in the original story.
With her flat midriff and long, pale legs revealed, she looked youthful, bright, and tall.
"What do you need?" Kitazawa asked casually.
"I'm here on behalf of the Advanced Class to invite Kitazawa-sensei to tomorrow's graduation photo shoot," Ino said, tilting her head playfully. "No refusing allowed."
"If you put it like that, of course I'll be there," Kitazawa said with a light laugh.
"The shoot starts at nine in the morning," Ino added.
"I'll be there on time," Kitazawa said, nodding.
Now that the ninja world was running smoothly, he was basically an emperor with nothing to do.
Because most matters and work could be handled by the Hokage Secretariat.
"Then I'll go—Kitazawa-sensei." Ino was about to leave when she suddenly thought of something.
She stepped closer and bent forward slightly.
Her blonde ponytail slid down again.
"What is it?" Kitazawa caught a faint, pleasant scent.
"Head pat," Ino blinked.
Kitazawa couldn't help but laugh.
He raised his hand and ruffled her hair.
Ino narrowed her eyes, like a little golden cat.
Reluctantly, she straightened up, then turned and left the office.
Ino let out a long sigh without meaning to.
She was a total looks-first kind of girl.
In the original story, she married Sai partly because he looked a lot like Uchiha Sasuke—both handsome.
But now, in her eyes, the best-looking person in all of Konoha was Kitazawa.
Especially since, with his strength, he still looked eternally young.
In other words, unless something unexpected happened, it would be hard to find a second shinobi who could stand beside him for a very long time.
But the problem was: Kitazawa was her teacher, and he already had a girlfriend—Yūhi Kurenai.
Ino had the nerve but not the courage. At most, she could do little intimate gestures like just now.
She returned to the ninja academy with a gloomy face.
"Ino, why do you look like that? Did Kitazawa-sensei refuse?" Kurama Yakumo asked, puzzled.
"Even if he refused, that would be normal," Nara Shikamaru said with his hands behind his head. "He's busy."
"It'd be a shame if Kitazawa-sensei doesn't come," Inuzuka Kiba shook his head.
"It feels like our youth would be missing the most important part," Uzumaki Naruto said, scratching his head.
Hyūga Hinata drifted into a daze.
She had been hesitating about whether to ask Kitazawa to take a private two-person photo with her.
"I never said Kitazawa-sensei isn't coming," Ino snapped back to her senses.
Hinata lifted her head without thinking, her heart suddenly light with excitement.
So her wish hadn't fallen through.
"Huh?" Yakumo froze. "Then what was that expression just now?"
"I was thinking about something else," Ino said a little embarrassed.
"As long as Kitazawa-sensei can come, that's what matters," Haruno Sakura said with a smile. "If he doesn't come, our Advanced Class won't be complete."
"Even though Kitazawa-sensei hasn't taught us in a long time, he's influenced us the most," Aburame Shino said, adjusting his glasses.
"The strength we have today is all because of Kitazawa-sensei," Tenten agreed.
Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Neji, Karin, and the others all nodded in agreement.
"The only regret is that there's no real combat in the graduation exam," Naruto said with deep disappointment.
"There's no need for combat—either way, we can't beat you and Sasuke," Kiba couldn't help but complain.
After five years, the gap between them hadn't narrowed—it had only grown wider.
"If you want to fight, I'll oblige," Sasuke said calmly.
He and Naruto had sparred countless times by now; they were basically evenly matched.
"I suggest you ask Kitazawa-sensei tomorrow," Kaguya Kimimaro said after a moment's thought.
"That works," Naruto said with a grin. "The last time Kitazawa-sensei served as our sparring referee was five years ago."
The next day arrived.
Kitazawa woke up from the warmth of his blanket.
He patted Yūhi Kurenai's thigh, then brushed a hand over Tsunade's chest, and only then got up satisfied, changed clothes, and started his day.
After breakfast, he went to the Hokage Office.
But to his surprise, he didn't see Konan.
He saw Hyūga Hinata instead.
Hinata now looked very much like she did in the original story.
Waist-length hair, a Konoha forehead protector hanging at her neck, long sleeves and long pants.
But conservative clothes couldn't fully hide her figure.
Especially the "treasure" beneath that forehead protector—practically bursting into view.
"Kitazawa-sensei." Hinata stood up instinctively.
"Morning, Hinata." Kitazawa reached out and patted her head.
Hinata's eyelashes trembled, and a blush immediately spread across her pretty face.
Back when she was younger, head pats didn't do much to her.
But as she grew up, her feelings had changed.
Kitazawa chuckled, pinched her cheek lightly, then pulled his hand back.
"K-Kitazawa-sensei…" Hinata steadied herself, then took out a bento box. "I… I made this bento for you."
Worried he might refuse, she bent forward and bowed slightly, offering it with both hands.
With the motion, the curve of her clothes became much more obvious.
Kitazawa thought of Tsunade.
Grown-up Hinata really didn't lose to anyone.
"Thanks," Kitazawa said, taking the bento.
"Today… we're taking the graduation photos," Hinata said, clenching her small hands. Gathering her courage, she asked, "Kitazawa-sensei, could you take a picture with me then?"
"However many you want," Kitazawa replied.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei." Hinata couldn't help smiling.
With the blush still lingering, she looked even cuter.
"Come on. Let's go to the ninja academy," Kitazawa said, holding out his hand.
Hinata fought down her shyness and placed her hand in his.
Kitazawa took her hand and used the Flying Thunder God Technique.
In an instant, the two of them appeared on the academy field.
Kitazawa looked around, taking in the ninja academy.
He hadn't been here in quite a while.
And compared to five years ago, the academy had expanded dozens of times over.
After all, students now came from the entire ninja world.
Hinata instinctively glanced at Kitazawa.
Then she quickly looked away again and lowered her head.
Feeling the warmth from his palm, she was happy—and the blush on her face deepened.
It wasn't until she noticed Sasuke and Ino and the others that she panicked and pulled her hand back.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Naruto and Kiba waved excitedly.
The others were just as thrilled, but they didn't show it as much—they were more composed.
"Your Majesty."
Umino Iruka and Hiruzen Sarutobi—along with the rest of the Advanced Class instructors—walked over.
"It's about time. Let's start the graduation photos," Kitazawa said with a nod.
There wasn't really a process to it—each class just stood together while the photographer took pictures.
Cameras already existed in the original story, and after years of development, they were now even closer to what they'd been in Kitazawa's previous life.
"I'm standing next to Kitazawa-sensei!" Ino rushed over the moment Kitazawa picked his spot, hugging his arm.
Hinata didn't say a word, but hurried to his left side.
She didn't dare cling to him like Ino did—she could only envy her in silence.
Everyone else quickly found their places.
After the group photo was done, it was time for individual shots and small group photos.
Naturally, Kitazawa was the most popular.
He took a photo with every student.
When it was Hinata's turn, she gritted her teeth, copied what Ino had done earlier, and hugged Kitazawa's arm.
Kitazawa immediately felt a soft, yielding sensation against his arm.