“Kitazawa-sensei, what’s going on?” Sasuke couldn’t help but ask.

He trusted Kitazawa deeply, which made it even more puzzling that he had been denied the long-awaited opportunity to fight.

Not only Sasuke, Naruto, Ino, and others shared the same confusion. The reason was simple: Kurama Yakumo had almost no presence in Class A of the first year.

She often skipped classes and only occasionally showed up for practical sessions. Since Tsunade returned to the village, she had even dropped out altogether.

To the students of Class A, Yakumo was simply a frail and sickly girl.

Yet now, the quiet ‘fragile porcelain doll’ in their eyes was about to stand against the formidable Hyuga Neji, an outcome that seemed unbelievable.

“You’ll understand why I let Yakumo fight once the match begins,” Kitazawa said calmly.

“But—”

Sasuke was still reluctant. He had longed to fight Neji and test himself against the legendary Byakugan.

“Sasuke, be patient.” Kitazawa placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry. If Yakumo loses, I’ll let you fight Neji.”

Sasuke froze for a moment, then nodded. He was now curious about what Kurama Yakumo could actually do.

“The Kurama clan?” Nara Shikaku turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen and asked, “Aren’t they the illusionists who were once as renowned as the Uchiha?”

“Yes,” Hiruzen replied, eyes gleaming. “I didn’t expect Kitazawa to put her against Hyuga Neji… but his decision makes sense. I’d also like to see how far her bloodline limit has developed.”

Nara Shikaku grew thoughtful.

With his intellect, he quickly arrived at a possibility—Kurama Yakumo had awakened her bloodline limit.

And this was no ordinary kekkei genkai—it was said to rival the Sharingan. If true, the Kurama clan could rise again. It might even be wise to befriend her early.

“Please,” Neji said, forming the seal of confrontation. Although surprised his opponent wasn’t Sasuke, it didn’t matter—he intended to win either way.

Kurama Yakumo nodded, visibly nervous. Neji’s reputation was intimidating, and she lacked confidence. But if Kitazawa believed she could win, she had to try.

“The match begins!” As soon as Kitazawa announced it, Neji activated his Byakugan.

In an instant, he could see the flow of chakra within Kurama Yakumo.

“…What?” His pupils contracted. A massive amount of Yin-attributed chakra surged within her small frame, far beyond what he expected.

“Careful!” Yakumo tore open one of the paintings she had prepared in advance.

A blazing fire erupted from it, transforming the area into a sea of flames. The air temperature rose sharply, and sweat formed on Neji’s brow.

“What kind of Fire Style jutsu is this?” Sasuke stared in disbelief.

The range and intensity surpassed anything he had learned—including Great Fireball and Phoenix Fire Jutsu.

“Yakumo is this strong?” Naruto finally understood why Kitazawa had chosen her.

“Something’s off,” Shikaku muttered, frowning. “She used that ninjutsu without hand seals.”

Yamanaka Ino, Aburame Shino, and others were shocked.

Hinata watched Neji dodging through the flames in disbelief. A genius like him… completely on the defensive?

“Damn it!” Neji dodged the inferno and then accelerated toward her. But halfway there, Yakumo opened another scroll.

Boom!

Dark clouds suddenly gathered, and lightning bolts struck down from the sky. Neji was forced to stop and evade the bolts.

Yakumo didn’t let up—she unrolled a third painting. Strong gusts burst out, morphing into transparent kunai that flew through the air.

“She can use Fire, Lightning, and Wind? What kind of monster is she?” Class A students were stunned.

Even Sasuke wondered, “Is she really our age?”

“This is her bloodline limit!” Shikamaru declared. “She’s from the Kurama clan—rumored to have a kekkei genkai as powerful as the Sharingan!”

Sasuke stood upright. As powerful as the Sharingan? Impossible!

But her performance was clearly extraordinary.

“No wonder they were as famous as the Uchiha,” Shikaku said, astonished. As a jonin, he saw more than the students—and what he saw was terrifying.

“This is illusion made real,” Hiruzen said slowly. Even he hadn’t expected such an overwhelming display from Yakumo. Her kekkei genkai possessed a terrifying, almost limitless potential.

“A bloodline that turns illusions into reality…” Shikaku muttered, momentarily speechless.

Illusions are supposed to be fake—yet she made them real. Without prior knowledge, no one could beat her. And Neji was no exception.

He was completely on the defensive.

Kitazawa mused to himself—Yakumo wasn’t just gifted; she was a conceptual powerhouse. As long as she had her scrolls, she could rewrite the battlefield itself.

“This is cheating,” Kurenai muttered with a long sigh. Though she knew Yakumo’s illusions were absurd, seeing them firsthand was still crushing.

As a regular genjutsu user, she felt reality itself was cruel. Whether it was the Uchiha or Kurama clan, their bloodline limits far outshone her own.

Meanwhile, Mizuki was in shambles. He hadn’t won a single match this whole friendly event. Even Neji, his trump card, was beaten by a strange little girl.

What kind of nightmare is this? Mizuki let out a twisted smile, half-bitter, half-defeated.

“The winner is Kurama Yakumo,” Hiruzen announced. “I declare the first-year Class A the victors of this friendly match!”

“We won!” Class A erupted into joyous cheers.

Neji stood in place, panting heavily. After hearing the announcement, he felt a sense of unreality.

He lost… to Yakumo? Who was the real genius?

Neji subconsciously reached up and touched the caged bird seal on his forehead. Is this truly my fate?

Mizuki collapsed to the ground. He had lost so thoroughly, he felt no resentment—only confusion. Why are there so many monsters in Class A?

Suddenly, Mizuki realized something. He had been completely played by the cunning Kitazawa. From start to finish, he had been manipulated.

And yet… he had agreed to the match of his own free will.

Still, Mizuki wouldn’t blame himself. He dumped all his hatred onto Kitazawa. If I get the chance, I’ll kill him…

[Current Task: Defeat Class A of the second year in the friendly match.

Task Reward: Gentle Fist · Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.]

[Task complete. Reward issued.]

Kitazawa’s lips curled into a small smile. He had finally received the reward he’d been waiting for.

With Eight Trigrams: Breaking Mountain Crusher and now Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, he was just one step away from catching up to Hyuga Hiashi.

Especially since the system’s ninjutsu came at maximum proficiency. Even someone like Hiashi, who trained his whole life, might not understand the Gentle Fist better than he did.

Now this… this is the real cheat.

—

“Kitazawa.” Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward and said, “I’ll take my leave now. Once you’ve wrapped things up, come to my office.”

The nearby teachers all looked on with envy. It was clearly a sign—Hiruzen intended to reward Kitazawa.

“Yes, Hokage-sama.” Kitazawa immediately acknowledged the order.

Once Sarutobi Hiruzen and Nara Shikaku had departed, the students of Class A in the first year felt their pressure lifted and began celebrating with even more enthusiasm.

“Mizuki.” Kitazawa approached him and said, “You lost. That means you now have to agree to a request of mine.”

“What request?” Mizuki asked with an emotionless face, suppressing the murderous intent rising in his heart.

“It’s simple.” Kitazawa smiled. “Be my bodyguard next weekend. You’ll accompany me on a mission.”

Mizuki’s head suddenly snapped up. A mission? Just the two of them?

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

“I accept.” Mizuki smiled slightly.

Kitazawa wasn’t surprised. After all, this was exactly what he had planned. In the original timeline, Mizuki even killed his teammates just to complete a mission.

Turning away, Kitazawa noticed Neji walking up to Hinata and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

“Miss Hinata, I want to challenge you,” Neji said calmly.

“Brother Neji, I—” Hinata stumbled over her words, overwhelmed by the sudden challenge.

Kitazawa was just about to intervene when four lines of text appeared before him.

[As class monitor, you are responsible for responding to challenges from students of other classes.

Current Task: Help your deskmate, Hyuga Hinata, defeat Hyuga Neji.]

[Task Reward: Eight Trigrams Rotation.]

[Accept?]

“Neji.” Kitazawa stepped forward and said, “Hinata just awakened her Byakugan. You’ve trained for a year longer than she has. Let’s postpone this match to next semester.”

“I’ll follow Mr. Kitazawa’s decision!” Hinata, who had been flustered, immediately felt reassured.

“Alright, that sounds fair.” Neji nodded and turned to leave.

“Don’t worry. I’ll help you with special training.” Kitazawa said with a smile, seeing Hinata’s nervous face.

Then he waved goodbye to Kurenai and made his way toward the Hokage’s office. After all, the Hokage shouldn’t be kept waiting.

—

Hokage’s Office.

After receiving permission, Kitazawa stepped inside.

“Kitazawa.” Hiruzen looked up and said with clear praise, “Today’s friendly match—you and Class A of the first year truly impressed me.”

Had only Naruto, Sasuke, and others shown great progress, it wouldn’t necessarily reflect Kitazawa’s teaching ability—after all, their talents were exceptional to begin with.

But this friendly match demonstrated the overall growth of even the civilian students. Especially Haruno Sakura.

“Thank you for your kind words, Lord Hokage,” Kitazawa replied humbly. “I don’t dare to accept such high praise.”

“Don’t be so modest.” Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand. “There isn’t a single teacher in the ninja academy who’s performed better than you. You deserve the recognition.”

Kitazawa bowed his head in gratitude.

“Though the selection for Outstanding Teacher of the Year hasn’t started yet, I can already tell—it’ll be you,” Hiruzen added with a smile.

It was an obvious reward. But it wasn’t all.

Before Kitazawa could speak, Hiruzen continued, “Also, I want you to take charge of the Academic Affairs Office from now on.”

The Academic Affairs Office was the school’s core administrative body. It oversaw teachers’ responsibilities, academic planning, student exams, and more.

If Kitazawa had previously been the dean for the first-year class, he was now effectively the dean of the entire academy.

His authority would be second only to the principal and vice-principal—a major promotion.

Kitazawa was extremely satisfied. This new position offered real protection. As long as he didn’t make mistakes, Hiruzen would ensure his safety in the village.

“You’re now a Special Jonin. You should be qualified to possess an A-rank ninjutsu,” Hiruzen said, stroking his beard. “Go with Haru to the village’s Ninjutsu Archive and pick one out.”

“Thank you, Hokage-sama!” Kitazawa responded sincerely.

After all, an A-rank technique was a significant gift. Most Jonin possessed only one or two A-rank ninjutsu—each one extremely valuable.

“You may go.” Hiruzen nodded lightly.

This was an extraordinary set of rewards. First, Kitazawa had proven his worth in the friendly match. Second, Naruto Uzumaki—under Kitazawa’s care—was now thriving.

Just as Hiruzen was about to return to paperwork, the office door suddenly swung open.

He looked up—and saw the single eye of Shimura Danzo staring at him.

Hiruzen’s pleasant mood vanished at once.

“Hiruzen,” Danzo said solemnly. “I heard that Kurama Yakumo has awakened her bloodline limit.”

“Your sources are quick,” Hiruzen replied coldly.

“The Kurama clan’s bloodline limit rivals the Sharingan. I suggest you let Yakumo join Root. I will train her personally.” Danzo stated bluntly.

“No.” Hiruzen rejected him without hesitation.

“Hiruzen.” Danzo narrowed his eyes. “Her kekkei genkai is dangerous. She needs proper guidance.”

“She has a teacher,” Hiruzen said firmly. “Kitazawa is taking good care of her.”

“Kitazawa and Kurenai are unqualified.” Danzo insisted. “Her bloodline could be used to counter the Uchiha.”

“Enough!” Hiruzen snapped. “The Uchiha are still the ninja of the Hidden Leaf. There’s no need to ‘counter’ them.”

“Our teacher always said the Uchiha carry evil in their blood. We must be prepared.” Danzo said darkly. “I insist—Kurama Yakumo must be handed over to me.”

“Absolutely not!” Hiruzen said sternly. “There’s no room for negotiation.”

“Hiruzen, you’ll regret this!” Danzo barked, eyes filled with cold fury.

“Danzo—I am the Hokage,” Hiruzen replied, meeting his glare without flinching.

Bang! Shimura Danzo slammed the door as he stormed out.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep