Chapter 204: Chapter 204

After wrapping up his conversation with Itachi, Kitazawa didn’t head to the mission hall. Instead, he made straight for the Hokage’s office.

“Come in.”

At the sound of the knock, Hiruzen tucked away his crystal ball with practiced ease.

“Hokage-sama.”

Kitazawa slid the door open and stepped inside.

“Ah, Kitazawa.” Hiruzen’s smile was tinged with curiosity. “Isn’t today registration day? What brings you here so soon?”

“Registration’s already finished. I came to report on the Genius Class.”

Kitazawa gave a brief but detailed rundown of the new chakra attribute groups, instructor assignments, and overall plans for the term.

“I look forward to seeing how those students perform after graduation,” Hiruzen chuckled. “With your guidance, I imagine many of them will be Chūnin-level the moment they leave the Academy.”

Kitazawa inclined his head. For most, the basic jutsu was enough to earn Genin rank. Chūnin demanded a bit more—usually just a handful of low-level ninjutsu. But like any rank, the gap between the weakest and strongest could be enormous.

“Hokage-sama, I also had another idea,” Kitazawa continued respectfully. “What if we introduced a mentorship system?”

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. “Mentorship?”

“Outstanding students from the Genius Class could serve, from time to time, as ninjutsu instructors for the other classes,” Kitazawa explained. “Not only would this help them consolidate their own skills, it would raise the standard of the rest of the Academy—and give those students a reason to aspire toward the Genius Class themselves.”

Hiruzen exhaled softly, intrigued. Another new system.

“You’ve thought this through,” he said with genuine admiration. “Most would never consider such an approach. Even my own sensei would’ve been impressed.”

Kitazawa waved the compliment away quickly. “The Second Hokage was the true innovator. I wouldn’t dare compare myself to him.”

“Still,” Hiruzen decided after a pause, “we’ll implement it. But not at the expense of the Genius Class’s own progress. Their training takes priority.”

“Of course.” Kitazawa smiled faintly. The real goal, after all, was to stir up competition—subtly applying pressure to his prodigies by raising the level of everyone else.

He then shifted the subject. “There’s also Uchiha Izumi. She’s on the cusp of awakening her Three-Tomoe Sharingan. I’d like permission to involve the Anbu in… encouraging that progress.”

Hiruzen stroked his beard, then gave a permissive nod. “If it’s for a Sharingan awakening, I’ll allow it. With your standing, Kitazawa, some rules can bend.”

They briefly touched on Tsunade as well, Hiruzen’s face tightening with concern. Kitazawa assured him her hemophobia treatments were showing incremental improvement—each session lasting longer before collapse.

“Excellent. Keep me informed,” the Hokage instructed.

Kitazawa bowed, then excused himself.

That evening, back home, a familiar voice called from the training yard.

“Registration’s finished?”

Kurenai wiped sweat from her brow and walked toward the door.

“Mm.” Kitazawa opened his arms, his eyes warm. “Come here. Let me hold you.”

She arched a brow, a teasing smile curving her lips. “You hug me every day. Aren’t you tired of it yet?”

“Never. I’d have you clinging to me morning, noon, and night if I could.”

Kurenai’s cheeks colored faintly. “Pervert,” she muttered, though the corners of her mouth betrayed her amusement as she stepped into his embrace.

Their usual banter spiraled quickly, Kitazawa stealing kisses and whispering wicked suggestions in her ear until her body softened against him.

“It’s daytime,” she protested weakly, though her voice had dropped.

“So?” he countered smoothly. “The sun should get to enjoy you too.”

“Tonight,” she finally relented, cheeks blazing. “But only tonight.”

Kitazawa’s grin widened. “Deal.”

Later, after a round of earth-style training beneath the cooling January sky, Kurenai wandered out and tilted her head at the mud wall rising before him.

“Isn’t that the Earth Flow Wall Kakashi uses? Where’s the dog head?”

Kitazawa deadpanned. “Why would I waste chakra carving a dog head?”

She laughed lightly. “Fair point. I’ve watched Kakashi so often I forgot it wasn’t part of the jutsu.”

“If I carved anything, it’d be the faces of the Hokage,” Kitazawa mused. “Or the enemy Kage, if we ever fought outsiders.”

Kurenai gave him a look. “You really do come up with the strangest ideas.”

“That’s called inspiration.” He kissed her cheek, then leaned close with a murmur: “It’s evening now, Kurenai.”

She froze, flustered, before stammering, “F-first, dinner.”

“There’s always time to eat after exercise,” Kitazawa teased.

Her cheeks flared crimson. “Pervert!” she snapped, storming off toward her room.

When she finally emerged, Kitazawa’s eyes nearly popped. She’d dressed in a fitted suit that clung to her curves, her skirt swaying over long, black-stockinged legs, lips painted a glossy red.

“Are you satisfied?” she asked coolly, though a faint blush betrayed her.

Kitazawa reached up, tracing a thumb over her lips. “More than satisfied.”

The night that followed left both of them flushed and breathless, their playful barbs giving way to soft, wordless exchanges.

By the time Kitazawa stood in the kitchen later, preparing a proper dinner, he could still feel the ghost of her lipstick against his skin.

The next day—Monday.

During the day, Kitazawa continued honing his Earth Flow Wall. By evening, he once again “educated” Kurenai thoroughly, coaxing her into agreeing with his playful requests despite her flustered protests.

The price of victory? Being kicked out of bed the next morning.

Not that it mattered. Today was Tuesday—the first practical combat lesson of the newly reformed Genius Class.

When Kitazawa arrived at his office, he was surprised to find Hinata already seated on the sofa.

He hadn’t expected her. Ever since moving into Kurenai’s place, he no longer ate breakfast at school. More often than not, Tsunade and Shizune even dropped by to freeload a meal.

“Kitazawa-sensei!” Hinata jumped up, eyes bright with delight as she hurried over.

“Had breakfast yet?” Kitazawa asked with a smile, patting her head.

“I was just about to,” Hinata admitted shyly. “I didn’t think you’d come today.”

She had fallen into a routine—eating breakfast in Kitazawa’s office, even when he wasn’t around.

“I haven’t eaten either,” Kitazawa teased. “Think I could freeload off you this time?”

Hinata’s cheeks turned pink, but she beamed. “Of course!”

She offered him a box of rice balls, watching nervously as he took a bite.

“Not bad,” Kitazawa said, his eyes lighting up. They weren’t plain either—packed with ham and shredded meat, obviously made to be filling.

Hinata exhaled in relief, her smile blooming. She hadn’t shared a meal with him in a while.

After finishing, they headed to the training grounds, where the Genius Class students were already gathered.

“Good morning, Kosuke-senpai.” Kitazawa greeted Kosuke with a nod.

Kakashi, of course, was nowhere in sight. Typical. Though, since the bell hadn’t struck nine yet, technically he wasn’t late.

Sure enough, moments later Kakashi strolled in, as casual as ever.

“Did a lost cat delay you?” Kitazawa asked dryly.

Kakashi didn’t even blink. “I’m not that childish.”

Clapping his hands, Kitazawa took charge. “Alright, everyone. According to Sunday’s grouping, form six teams.”

The thirty students quickly assembled into six neat rows of five. Compared to the four-person setup of a regular ninja squad, this was more like mid-sized unit training.

“Fire Release, Wind Release, and Special Groups—follow me.” Kitazawa left the rest to Kosuke and Kakashi. As Jonin, their guidance was more than enough.

He led his seventeen students to the neighboring training field. Nearly all of Konoha 12 stood with him, aside from Sasuke, who had joined the Lightning Release group. It made sense—most of them came from clans with unique secret techniques, so they had little need for the standard elemental ninjutsu.

Hinata, Shino, Kiba, Ino–Shika–Cho, Lee, Tenten, Karin, Sakura, and Yakumo—all stood waiting.

“For our first lesson, I won’t be teaching you anything new,” Kitazawa announced. “First, I need to measure your current strength.”

He formed hand seals. Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!

With a puff of smoke, sixteen Kitazawas appeared.

“Neji,” the original said, pointing. “You’ll spar with me.”

Neji bowed his head. “Yes, sensei.”

The reason was simple: Kitazawa had a mission tied to Neji, and nothing revealed true ability better than a fight.

“Begin.”

Neji activated his Byakugan immediately, his hands blurring as he launched into Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!

But Kitazawa didn’t flinch. At the moment Neji struck, he countered with a powerful whirlwind kick. Neji managed to deflect, but the force still sent him skidding back several steps.

Before he could recover, Kitazawa pressed the attack.

Is this… Gentle Fist?! Neji’s pupils contracted in disbelief.

Kitazawa’s palm slammed into his chest, knocking him back.

“Don’t lose focus in battle,” Kitazawa said calmly. “I may not have the Byakugan, but after watching you train, I’ve picked up a trick or two.”

Neji steadied himself, stunned. Without Byakugan, Kitazawa’s Gentle Fist was incomplete—but even so, his form and pressure surpassed Hiashi’s.

The duel escalated. Neji tried to create space, unleashing Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm! But Kitazawa dodged with ease, noting, “Good effort, but still rough. You’re only at entry level.”

Eventually, Kitazawa raised a hand. “That’s enough. I’ve seen what I needed.”

Neji collapsed to the ground, drained but not embarrassed—he had lasted longer than most. Only Hinata and Naruto had kept up for a comparable time, and Naruto only because of his bottomless chakra.

Kitazawa dispelled his clones, memories rushing back into him in an instant. Aside from Yakumo’s dangerous potential with Genjutsu, none had truly pressured him.

“Now, for your training assignments.”

Naruto waved eagerly. “Kitazawa-sensei!”

“Yours remains the same—Wind Release nature transformation.”

Naruto groaned but nodded. He wanted new ninjutsu, but Kitazawa’s word was final.

“Neji,” Kitazawa continued, “keep refining Gentle Fist, but also dedicate two hours daily to special combat training.”

“Yes, Kitazawa-sensei.”

“Yakumo,” Kitazawa said last, “you’ll start with physical conditioning. Later, I’ll teach you Taijutsu.”

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