A new day dawned — Tuesday.
After checking Kurenai's progress with the Rasengan, Kitazawa made his way to the Ninja Academy.
"Kitazawa-senpai!"
Iruka Umino spotted him and quickly ran over.
"Kitazawa."
Mizuki suppressed his irritation and greeted him with a neutral face.
"Good morning," Kitazawa nodded. "You two heading to the meeting as well?"
"Yeah," Iruka said with a hint of nostalgia. "Can't believe I've already been teaching for three months."
"You've got a long road ahead," Kitazawa smiled teasingly. "Who knows — maybe one day you'll become principal."
He wasn't wrong — in the original timeline, Iruka did become principal of the Academy.
"Ah— no way! Not me!" Iruka waved his hands frantically. He wanted to, sure, but he knew full well his strength wasn't enough for that.
"That's a good joke," Mizuki couldn't help but chuckle. "Iruka, principal? If that ever happens, I'll swallow a kunai whole!"
"By the way, Mizuki — don't forget. Saturday morning at nine, we meet at the village gate," Kitazawa reminded him calmly.
"I know."
Mizuki's smile froze. His voice dropped.
But inside, his killing intent boiled over — he wanted to gut Kitazawa right then and there.
Why did that bastard have to ruin everything for him?
Kitazawa always found a way to block his plans!
"What are you two planning to do?" Iruka asked warmly. "If you need help Saturday, I'm free."
"No need," Mizuki said sharply before Kitazawa could answer. "It's between me and him."
With Iruka around, it would be too inconvenient to kill Kitazawa.
"Next time, for sure," Kitazawa said with a friendly pat on Iruka's shoulder.
"You two…" Iruka started to ask, but Kitazawa cut him off.
"The principal's here — let's head to the conference room."
Spotting Vice Principal Hiruzen Sarutobi in the distance, Kitazawa ushered them inside.
Iruka, curious as ever, swallowed his questions and followed.
At 8:30 a.m., every teacher from all six grades of the Academy had gathered. The room was packed.
"Before we begin, I have an announcement on behalf of the principal," said Vice Principal Hisaoh Sarutobi as he stood.
The "principal," of course, was the Third Hokage — Hiruzen Sarutobi himself.
Here, however, titles followed their workplace — thus, "principal," not "Hokage."
"The principal has decided to appoint Kitazawa as the new Head of Academic Affairs."
Hisaoh's voice carried across the room.
"What?!"
Mizuki shot to his feet, face dark. "Why him?"
He had considered the possibility of Kitazawa becoming his superior one day — but this fast? It was unbearable.
"That's the Hokage's order," Hisaoh replied calmly. "If you want to know why, you can ask him yourself."
Mizuki fell silent and slumped back into his chair.
Iruka wanted to congratulate Kitazawa but, seeing Mizuki's expression, held his tongue.
Still, deep inside, he felt a pang of admiration — and yearning.
He hoped that someday, he too could rise through the ranks like Kitazawa and earn the Hokage's recognition.
"From now on, Kitazawa will chair the monthly exam meetings," Hisaoh continued. "Kitazawa, why don't you come up — starting with today's meeting."
"Understood."
Kitazawa stood, walked up front, and took the seat Hisaoh vacated for him.
"Thank you, Vice Principal."
He cleared his throat lightly and opened the meeting.
Although this was his first time as Academic Director, he'd attended many exam meetings before. It wasn't difficult — just follow the format. And if something went wrong, Hisaoh could always step in.
The monthly exam conference had only two purposes:
Have each teacher create questions based on their current progress.
Collect and review the questions, then compile them into the written test.
Normally, Hisaoh handled the reviewing — but now, Kitazawa did.
That suited him just fine.
It made it easier for him to complete his personal goals — and secure first place when needed.
Thankfully, the June exams didn't include him; his next focus was the July final exam.
"Meeting adjourned."
Kitazawa rose and dismissed the group.
"Well done," Hisaoh said with a laugh. "For your first time leading, you handled it like a pro — no flaws at all."
"I was just following your example, sir," Kitazawa replied modestly. "You've always led by example."
"Hah! You're quite the smooth talker."
Hisaoh chuckled warmly. "If you ever need anything, come to me anytime."
"Of course."
After the vice principal left, the other teachers crowded around Kitazawa — congratulating him, asking him to look after them in the future.
Only Mizuki stood apart, feeling utterly alone — like he was fighting against the whole world.
Everyone else was celebrating.
Even his so-called friend Iruka was laughing among them, toasting the rise of a new "king."
Mizuki clenched his fists.
For the first time, he was looking forward to Saturday.
He turned and left the room, already planning how to kill Kitazawa.
For safety's sake, he decided to hire two rogue chunin to help.
When the time came, they'd take the blame for the murder.
Nine o'clock arrived.
Kitazawa finally let out a breath of relief.
The teachers' enthusiasm was exhausting.
Still, it taught him something: being too friendly had its downsides.
No wonder the Uchiha always looked so cold — nobody dared approach them.
"Let's start class," he said, stepping into First-Year Class A.
A quick glance told him Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, Hinata Hyuga, Shikamaru Nara, and Ino Yamanaka were all absent.
Before the meeting, he had sent one of his shadow clones to take them to the Academy's artificial lake.
After all, missing class wouldn't affect their theory grades — so he might as well teach them differently.
That's what "teaching to one's strengths" meant.
"Class dismissed."
Kitazawa finished his lecture effortlessly.
He picked up his notes and walked to the door — then paused.
"Naruto, come here a second."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei!"
Naruto Uzumaki ran up, his face bright with excitement. "You gonna teach me another new jutsu?"
Clearly, the Shadow Clone Jutsu had spoiled him.
Ever since learning it, his strength had skyrocketed.
"You sure you've got the energy for more?" Kitazawa shook his head. "For now, focus on taijutsu with Guy."
With the Nine-Tails constantly disrupting his chakra, Naruto took much longer than others to learn new techniques — sometimes ten times as long.
To be honest, it wasn't worth it.
Unless it was something simple and brutal like Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu or Rasengan, it wasn't efficient.
Besides, Might Guy's training was anything but humane — endless physical drills until you dropped.
"Okay!" Naruto scratched his head. "Then why'd you call me out, Sensei?"
"How's your Konoha-Style Taijutsu. coming along?" Kitazawa asked.
"Almost got it down!" Naruto replied. "Guy-sensei taught me some moves that feel kinda similar."
Kitazawa nodded thoughtfully.
That made sense — the Leaf Whirlwind and other Guy-style techniques probably evolved from the original Konoha-Style Taijutsu..
"Then you don't need regular sparring classes anymore," Kitazawa said. "From now on, meet me at the Academy's lake during practical periods. I'll give you a different kind of training."
"Really? That's awesome!" Naruto beamed. "I've always wanted to train with you, Kitazawa-sensei!"
He'd been jealous for months watching Sasuke and Hinata "skip class" to train privately.
Now, he could finally join them.
Kitazawa couldn't help but smile.
Only Naruto could see extra training as a gift.
Anyone else would hesitate — especially Shikamaru, who'd run the other way.
"We don't have much time in class," Kitazawa said. "After lunch, meet me by the lake."
"Got it!"
Naruto nodded eagerly — thrilled at the chance for extra work.
"Go on then," Kitazawa said, patting his shoulder and leaving the classroom.
He didn't head for the training grounds where Sasuke and the others were. Instead, he walked toward the Hokage Tower's mission hall.
His goal was simple — to take on an outside mission, one he could use as cover for his plan with Mizuki that Saturday.
The hall was busy, filled with shinobi coming and going even in the morning.
Kitazawa studied the mission board — tasks arranged neatly by rank.
After a moment, he turned his attention to the B-rank section.
A-rank missions were allowed for special jōnin like him, but they weren't worth the risk right now.
He wasn't after money, after all.
He scanned each listing carefully — until one caught his eye.
A bandit extermination mission.
A group of raiders had taken over Guozi Mountain, preying on travelers and nearby villages.
Kitazawa chose it for a reason — one of his students' hometowns was near that mountain.
That gave him the perfect justification: a teacher eliminating threats to ensure his student's safety.
Even if that student only returned home once a month and lived in Konoha most of the time.
"I'd like to take the Guozi Mountain bandit suppression mission," Kitazawa said to the staff member at the counter.
"How many members in your team? And what's their rank?" the clerk asked.
"Two — one Special Jōnin, one Chūnin."
"Meets requirements," the clerk said, then added, "Though I'd recommend finding one more teammate — just to be safe."
"No need," Kitazawa declined with a calm smile. "Two will do."
The clerk nodded and handed him a mission form.
"Thank you."
Kitazawa accepted it.
Walking away, he couldn't help but feel like he was playing an open-world RPG — dialogue options, quest boards, and all.