Chapter 8: Chapter 08

Kitazawa returned to his office.

After settling into his chair, he pulled out Class 1-A’s schedule and studied it carefully.

As the homeroom teacher, he didn’t have quite as many classes as Iruka Umino, but each of his lessons carried significant weight.

He taught three subjects: Will of Fire, Konoha History, and Combat Drills.

Of those, Combat Drills had the most sessions on the schedule.

’A ninja could get away with knowing little about history—but they couldn’t afford to be weak.’

Combat drills covered essential skills: the Clone Jutsu, Transformation Jutsu, and Substitution; basic ninja tool usage, trap detection and setting, and more.

Time slipped by, and before long, it was time for the final class of the day: Combat Drills.

Just like in his previous life, there were eight periods per day—four in the morning and four in the afternoon—each lasting forty-five minutes.

“This period is Combat Drills.”

Kitazawa stood at the classroom door, addressing his students.

“Everyone, follow me to the training ground.”

” Kitazawa-sensei, are we learning ninjutsu today?”

Uzumaki Naruto’s eyes shone with hope as he bounced forward, practically buzzing with energy.

Though the others didn’t speak up, the anticipation was written all over many of their faces.

Only Uchiha Sasuke and Nara Shikamaru remained utterly unfazed, calm as still water.

That was hardly surprising.

They hailed from prominent ninja clans, and had already learned inherited ninjutsu at home.

While most civilian students struggled to master even the basic three jutsu, kids from clans like the Uchiha and Hyuga were already proficient in Fire Release, Gentle Fist, or specialized secret jutsu.

Besides, the ninja academy teachers often weren’t authorized—or skilled enough—to teach clan-specific jutsu, even if they wanted to.

For most clan heirs, attending the academy was less about jutsu and more about building connections and gathering knowledge.

Uzumaki Naruto was the glaring exception.

Despite being the son of the Fourth Hokage—and the vessel for the Nine-Tails—no one had ever taught him a thing.

“Your chakra control isn’t quite there yet, so we won’t be covering ninjutsu for now,” Kitazawa explained, meeting the eager stares around him. “Today, we’re practicing kunai throwing.”

“Ninja tools are cool, too,” Naruto said, deflating only slightly.

In the ninja world, both ninjutsu and ninja tools were vital skills—neither could be neglected.

“Boring.”

Uchiha Sasuke clicked his tongue and looked away.

When it came to ninja tool techniques, few in all of Konoha could rival the Uchiha Clan.

Their Sharingan gave them a tremendous edge: extraordinary insights and genjutsu abilities and the capacity to copy jutsu.

In ninja tool mastery alone, they’d developed unique techniques like manipulating shuriken midair and curving them—a hallmark of their prowess.

Soon, everyone arrived at the training ground.

“Before we start,” Kitazawa said, clapping his hands, “I have an announcement to make.”

He scanned the crowd.

“We’ll be electing a class monitor.”

“I wanna be class monitor!”

Naruto shot upright, practically saluting in place.

“Me too!”

Several others chimed in enthusiastically.

Even Uchiha Sasuke seemed momentarily interested.

’If he became class monitor… maybe that would earn him the praise he’d been chasing for so long.’

“Do you all know what a class monitor actually does?” Kitazawa asked, smiling.

“Manage everyone!”

“It’s just like being Hokage! Let’s call it Class Kage!”

“The Class Kage position is MINE!”

The classroom erupted with laughter and wild shouts.

“The main job of a class monitor,” Kitazawa said, lips twitching, “is to help the teacher and support your classmates. Things like relaying messages, collecting homework—that sort of thing.”

He couldn’t help glancing at the kid who’d shouted “Class Kage.”

’Could it really be him?’

“Waste of time,” Sasuke muttered under his breath, scoffing.

’Him, an Uchiha, serving ordinary classmates? His father wouldn’t praise him—he’d probably beat him for stooping so low.’

“Too troublesome…” Nara Shikamaru sighed, already looking ready for a nap.

Almost instantly, the rest of the class seemed to lose interest.

“Alright then,” Kitazawa said, smiling as he pressed on toward his goal. “Those of you who still want to be class monitor—raise your hands.”

Naruto’s arm shot up like a rocket.

Three other students hesitantly joined him.

“Excellent.” Kitazawa nodded. “From today onward, the four of you will serve as vice class monitors.”

“Vice class monitor? Then who’s the class monitor?” Naruto blurted out, scratching his head in confusion.

“I’m the class monitor.”

Kitazawa maintained a perfectly straight face.

“For this semester, I’ll hold the position while I observe all of you. Next semester, whoever proves themselves the most outstanding will inherit my role as class monitor.”

Current Mission: Become the Class Monitor of Class 1-A.

Mission Reward: Water Release.

The host has completed the mission. Reward issued.

Kitazawa stared at the glowing text hovering in front of him, unable to suppress a grin.

’Heh. This idiotic system was easier to fool than he’d thought.’

“Alright, let’s get class started.”

Kitazawa unrolled a summoning scroll and spread it on the ground.

Forming a rapid series of hand seals, he pressed his palm to the paper. With a loud bang, smoke billowed outward, revealing a pile of wooden stakes and a generous bundle of kunai.

“Vice class monitors!” Kitazawa called. “Two of you, set the stakes up around the training ground. The other two, hand out kunai to your classmates.”

“Yes, sir!”

Uzumaki Naruto puffed out his chest and saluted, practically bursting with enthusiasm.

To him, becoming class monitor meant one step closer to his dream of earning everyone’s recognition.

“Alright. Time to begin combat practice.”

After spending fifteen minutes explaining proper kunai-throwing techniques, Kitazawa finally said, “Your goal is to hit the wooden stakes. Let’s see your aim.”

Thwack.

Uchiha Sasuke raised his arm, flicked his wrist—and let fly a kunai with a flawless, curving trajectory. The blade struck dead-center on the stake’s bullseye.

“Wow!!”

Sakura Haruno gasped, leading the chorus of shrieks from the girls.

Kitazawa raised an eyebrow.

Show-off.

Sasuke really was a handful—even more so with his natural tendency to draw the spotlight.

“I can do it too!”

Naruto couldn’t stand Sasuke’s smug aura for another second.

“I’m going next!” he yelled.

Gripping a kunai, he hurled it with all his might.

“Ehh? I hit it!”

Naruto blinked in disbelief, face splitting into a huge grin.

“Naruto, that’s my wooden stake,” said Nara Shikamaru dryly, rubbing his temple.

Naruto froze mid-celebration.

“Mistakes happen,” Kitazawa said, offering a patient smile. “Don’t get discouraged. You’ll improve with practice.”

He paused, then raised his voice so the whole class could hear.

“And for any student who hits the bullseye… there’s a snack reward waiting.”

“Snacks?!”

Akimichi Choji’s eyes went wide as dinner plates.

“Yay!”

The class erupted in excited squeals.

Though kids in the ninja world matured quickly, they were still kids—and snacks were a surefire motivator.

“Hmph. Childish,” Sasuke muttered, crossing his arms.

He was no longer a three-year-old baby, after all. He was practically a grown-up at the ripe age of nearly six.

Fueled by dreams of delicious treats, the class dove into practice with newfound energy.

“Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei!”

The dismissal bell rang, and Akimichi Choji barreled forward, easily outpacing everyone else to claim his prize—a living testament to what it meant to be a nimble big guy.

“Hinata, stay for a moment, okay?” Kitazawa called out gently as Hinata approached for her turn.

“A-ah… okay.”

Hinata froze under the weight of her classmates’ curious stares. Her face flushed bright pink as she clutched the corner of her uniform, fidgeting nervously.

She accepted her snack reward, then immediately lowered her head and hovered awkwardly nearby.

“Here, Naruto—this one’s for you too.”

Once the other students had left, Kitazawa tossed a snack packet toward Naruto.

“I can’t take it,” Naruto protested, shaking his head. “I didn’t hit the bullseye.”

He still remembered how poorly Naruto had performed at the academy in the original timeline—forever branded as dead last.

The truth was, Naruto was a raw powerhouse, blessed with monstrous reserves of chakra. Technique had never been his strong suit—and of course, there was also the meddling of the Nine-Tails.

But Kitazawa knew the truth: Uzumaki Naruto was a once-in-a-generation prodigy.

“It’s only a matter of time,” Kitazawa said, his voice gentle but confident. “I believe in you, Naruto. You’ll get there.”

“I…”

Naruto blinked, feeling a warmth bloom in his chest.

He looked down at the snack in his hands, unable to find the words to respond.

“Go home and rest up. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Kitazawa said, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

“Mm!”

Naruto nodded fiercely, then turned and jogged out of the school gates.

When he reached home, he stopped short at the sight waiting for him.

“Grandpa Hokage!”

Naruto’s eyes lit up with surprise and joy.

———————–

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