"Begin training now!"
Iruka's voice rang across the field.
The students of the Genius Class immediately dispersed, each heading toward their respective instructors.
"Kitazawa-sensei."
Yakumo was the first to approach him.
"Has your Bloodline Limit progressed?" Kitazawa asked, one brow lifting with interest.
"Yes!" Yakumo smiled brightly. "I successfully used my new ability yesterday."
"Congratulations." Kitazawa paused, then asked, "Is it the five-senses control we discussed before?"
"I've named it Genjutsu: Reality Dream," Yakumo explained. "Once the target is caught, I can directly manipulate their five senses. They don't even realize they've fallen into a Genjutsu. The damage is physical too."
Ordinary genjutsu inflicted damage on the mind alone.
The classic example was Kakashi being struck by Itachi's Tsukuyomi—mentally shattered, yet physically unharmed.
This was different.
It attacked both mind and body simultaneously—essentially an upgraded, more vicious version of Tsukuyomi. Worse still, once the five senses were seized, the victim could no longer distinguish illusion from reality until death itself.
Now that Yakumo had mastered all three abilities, Kitazawa judged her combat value to be on par with a Mangekyō Sharingan–wielding Uchiha.
That alone was terrifying.
After all, she was still an Academy student.
Of course, her growth ceiling was likely here. Advancing further—let alone reaching the level of the Rinnegan—would be extraordinarily difficult. Even so, she already stood among the upper echelons of the Ninja World.
"Spend some time familiarizing yourself with your abilities," Kitazawa said after a moment's thought. "Once you've stabilized them, I'll teach you other Ninjutsu."
Yakumo nodded. "Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei."
After she left, Kitazawa turned his attention to the rest of the class.
He had already promised Naruto and Sasuke that he would teach them Yang Release: Rasengan and Yin Release: Rasengan, but not yet.
For now, both were still refining Konoha Dragon God and Hatake Swordsmanship. Only after fully mastering those would they move on.
At their current pace, that would take roughly two more months.
Kitazawa's gaze shifted to Ino.
She was practicing the Konoha Body Flicker Technique, and by now, she had essentially completed the fundamentals.
He rubbed his chin, pondering what to teach her next.
Then an idea surfaced—Ninja Art: Mind Telepathy Technique.
Though it didn't directly boost combat power, it was invaluable in real engagements and perfectly suited for coordinated battles. After graduation, Ino would naturally become part of the next generation's Ino–Shika–Chō formation.
And that technique was a Yamanaka Clan secret art to begin with.
Another thought followed.
Perhaps the practical exams themselves could evolve.
Up until now, assessments had focused on individual duels or solo missions. Large-scale team combat—true squad coordination—was rare.
Yet the Chunin Exams had long proven the value of such formats.
The second stage, where teams fought over Heaven and Earth Scrolls, was effectively a battlefield of squads.
"Ino."
Kitazawa set the idea aside for now and called out to her.
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei!" Ino hurried over.
"Do you know Ninja Art: Mind Telepathy Technique?" he asked.
"That's a secret technique of the Yamanaka Clan," she replied immediately.
"You'll be learning it next," Kitazawa said. "After this monthly exam, study it at home for a while."
"Huh?" Ino hesitated. "I was hoping for something more combat-oriented…"
"What, still thinking about beating Sakura?" Kitazawa asked with a faint smile.
"Of course!" Ino clenched her fists. "I refuse to lose to her!"
"Then this technique is exactly what you need," Kitazawa said meaningfully. "It will be extremely useful in the final exam."
"Really?" Her eyes lit up.
"Have I ever lied to you?" Kitazawa tapped her forehead.
"No!" Ino grinned. "I'll start practicing as soon as I get home!"
"Go train," he said, patting her head.
"Mhm!" She skipped off happily.
As Kitazawa turned away, he briefly met Hinata's gaze.
Her heart skipped, and she quickly looked away, resuming her bow practice and continuing Multiple Arrows training.
Kitazawa chuckled softly and shifted his attention to Haku.
Haku had already mastered three Ice Release techniques. Further progress would require original creation—something that demanded time Kitazawa didn't currently have.
After considering it, he decided to teach Haku Water Release next.
In the original timeline, Haku's Water Release had been exceptional. Techniques like Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death and Destroying Water Needles of Death were unique to him.
In raw Water Release talent, Haku even surpassed Sakura.
Moreover, while Ice Release was formidable, relying solely on a single element would never be enough for a true jōnin.
To advance further, Water Release was essential.
[Current Mission: Teach Haku five Water Release Ninjutsu.]
[Mission Reward: Master-Level Water Release Chakra Nature Transformation.]
[Do you accept?]
Five Water Release techniques?
It was a little on the high side—but compared to the reward, it was more than acceptable.
After all, Master-Level Water Release Chakra Nature Transformation was no small prize.
"Haku," Kitazawa called.
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei."
Haku stepped forward politely.
"For someone your age, mastering three Ice Release techniques is already impressive," Kitazawa said calmly. "Learning more would take far too long."
He continued, "So next, you'll shift your focus to Water Release."
"…Can I really learn Water Release?"
Haku asked hesitantly, a trace of uncertainty in his voice.
"You absolutely can."
Kitazawa smiled reassuringly. "We'll start with Water Release chakra nature transformation."
"Understood."
Haku nodded firmly.
"Let's head to the Artificial Lake."
Kitazawa led him over.
"Haku has talent in Water Release?" Kosuke, who was nearby teaching Sakura Haruno, noticed them and walked over curiously.
"Kosuke-senpai, your timing is perfect."
Kitazawa paused, then said, "Haku will be training here for a while. I'll need your help keeping an eye on him."
"No problem at all."
Kosuke agreed without hesitation.
Unlike Kitazawa, who was constantly juggling new Ninjutsu and responsibilities, Kosuke was now fully devoted to teaching the Genius Class.
Adding one more student wasn't a burden—especially if Haku truly had Water Release talent.
If so, Haku could inherit his techniques, just like Sakura.
After all, a ninja typically mentored three official students.
"Thank you, Kosuke-senpai."
With Haku settled, Kitazawa found a quiet spot to resume practicing the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Time passed, and afternoon arrived.
The students of the Genius Class gathered for their first theoretical exam of the semester.
As usual, Kitazawa left the proctoring and grading to Iruka, content to remain a hands-off supervisor.
First, because Iruka was more than capable.
Second, because Kitazawa genuinely had no time.
Besides the Flying Thunder God, he was also studying Wood Style: Impalement Technique.
In truth, his workload didn't stop there.
He still needed to refine Wood Release, Shikotsumyaku, and Ice Release.
He had already mastered three Shikotsumyaku techniques—for now, that was sufficient.
Ice Release, meanwhile, wasn't urgent; he practiced it only intermittently.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Kitazawa ended his training and stretched.
Only then did a thought strike him.
Why hasn't Iruka come looking for me yet?
Footsteps sounded behind him.
"Kitazawa."
He turned to see Konan approaching.
"When did you get back?"
Kitazawa looked surprised. "Didn't I give you a full month off?"
"I returned today," Konan replied. "The Akatsuki are short on manpower lately, so I couldn't stay away too long."
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized she shouldn't have said that.
While not top secret, it was still internal information.
"I see."
Kitazawa nodded calmly.
His first thought was that this shortage was probably his doing.
Because of him, Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi had never joined the Akatsuki.
"Weren't you recruiting?"
Kitazawa stepped closer, smiling faintly. "Why come back to Konoha?"
"The one-month break was only an estimate," Konan said, averting her gaze. "So I returned early to check in."
"Working for a month is an estimate," Kitazawa replied lightly, lifting her chin with one finger, "but taking a month off isn't."
"…I misunderstood," Konan said.
Her steady voice didn't quite match her slightly unsteady eyes.
"What do you need me for?"
Kitazawa withdrew his hand.
"The Genius Class's theoretical exam rankings."
Konan produced a scroll.
"Why do you have it?"
Kitazawa took the scroll, puzzled.
"You were still training," she explained. "So I intercepted it for you."
Kitazawa paused, then smiled.
"How considerate."
Konan's expression didn't change—but her face was hidden behind an ANBU mask anyway.
Kitazawa opened the scroll and skimmed through it.
The results were largely as expected.
Taking both theory and mission performance into account, Sasuke would once again rank first overall.
Previously, Sasuke sometimes lost ground in practical exams to Uzumaki Naruto or Kurama Yakumo.
But now, with missions as the core evaluation, his shortcomings had all but vanished.
On difficult missions, he consistently earned full marks.
Others could do the same—but in theoretical rankings, Sasuke often placed third.
Shikamaru and Sakura tended to outscore him academically, yet their mission performance lagged slightly behind.
As a result, Sasuke frequently claimed first place overall.
Strictly speaking, theoretical scores probably shouldn't account for half of a ninja's evaluation.
But the system had been in place for too long.
And knowledge, after all, still mattered.
He was already planning to introduce team battles into the practical portion of the final exam. Once that happened, the Genius Class rankings would undoubtedly be shaken up.
After finishing the scroll, Kitazawa looked up and asked, "So, how do you plan to recruit people next?"
"I've already sent other members of the Akatsuki to scout for suitable targets," Konan replied calmly. "I just need to stay in Konoha and wait for updates."
She didn't bother hiding it.
Earlier, she had already let slip that the Akatsuki were short on manpower, so there was no point pretending otherwise—though she still avoided unnecessary details.
Kitazawa instantly guessed who those "members" were.
White Zetsu.
It had to be said, those creatures were truly abnormal—capable of reconnaissance, infiltration, communication, and even logistics. Ridiculously convenient.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Truthfully, there weren't many ninjas in the current world qualified to join the Akatsuki.
The Five Great Villages had plenty of strong individuals, but none of them would ever defect. The Akatsuki understood this as well, which was why their recruitment pool was limited almost entirely to rogue ninja.
Kitazawa thought it over but couldn't come up with any good candidates.
Then another idea surfaced—should he plant an undercover agent inside the Akatsuki?
After brief consideration, he dismissed it.
He already knew the organization inside and out.
Besides, joining the Akatsuki was extremely dangerous. Members like Kakuzu had no qualms about killing teammates and cashing in their bounties.
There was no need to risk it.
Kitazawa put the scroll away and said, "It's about time to get off work. You should go back and rest."
Konan nodded and vanished without another word.
Kitazawa watched her leave, then turned and headed home.
The next morning, at nine o'clock sharp.
Since the practical exam had already concluded, the theoretical exam's final step was simply the announcement of rankings.
There were no holidays after this monthly exam—but Kitazawa had already decided that the next one would come with two extra days off.
After all, classes would continue immediately after the rankings were announced.
Hiruzen, Kakashi, Kurenai, and the other instructors were all present.
"I will now announce the rankings, starting with the theoretical exam," Kitazawa said, lifting the score sheet.
In less than ten minutes, the theoretical rankings, practical rankings, and final combined rankings were all announced.
"It's Sasuke-kun again!" Sakura exclaimed, eyes shining. "First place will definitely always belong to Sasuke-kun!"
Sasuke's smile froze instantly.
'Was one jinx not enough? Now she's cursing every future exam too?'
"Sakura," Ino said with a grin, "you really shouldn't say things like that so confidently."
"With Sasuke-kun's strength—"
Sakura stopped mid-sentence.
Her face stiffened.
"…Oh no."
She immediately covered her mouth and said nothing more.
"For future final exams, a new format will be introduced for the practical portion," Kitazawa announced. "However, regular monthly exams will remain unchanged."
Several students instinctively glanced at Sakura.
"This has nothing to do with me!" she protested quickly.
"How was I supposed to know Kitazawa-sensei would change the exam format?!"
"Kitazawa-sensei, what's the new format?" Kiba asked impatiently.
He desperately wanted to improve his ranking, but whether in combat or missions, he couldn't compete with Sasuke and the others. Combined with his average theory scores, first place was always out of reach.
Kimimaro and Tayuya also turned their attention toward Kitazawa.
"Team battles," Kitazawa replied simply. "You'll spar as full ninja squads."
"Huh?" Kiba blinked, stunned.
Sakura and several others were equally surprised.
Some, however, felt uneasy—especially Sasuke. In his view, teammates would only slow him down.
Ino's heart skipped.
She immediately thought of Ninja Art: Mind Telepathy Technique—the very technique Kitazawa had advised her to learn.
In team battles, it would be invaluable.
She couldn't help but smile brightly.
"How will team battles be graded?" Kiba asked eagerly.
"There will be two parts," Kitazawa explained. "First, the team score—everyone gains points if the team wins. Second, the most outstanding member earns additional 'captain points.'"
"That's amazing!"
Kiba's eyes lit up.
The strong would shine, but the weaker members wouldn't be dragged down to zero.
"Will the losing team still get points?" Ino raised her hand.
"Yes," Kitazawa nodded. "The scoring system is the same, but the team score will be significantly lower."
In essence, it wasn't that different from one-on-one sparring—just expanded to three-on-three.
"Kitazawa-sensei, can we form teams freely?" Sakura asked eagerly. "Then I want to be on Sasuke-kun's team!"
"In your dreams," Ino said, shaking her head. "There's no way it'll be free-form."
"The participants will still be the top eighteen students from the practical exam," Kitazawa said calmly. "That means six teams. The top six students will act as temporary captains and choose their teammates in order."
He deliberately avoided using the top six from the final rankings.
If Sasuke and Naruto ended up on the same team, who would even stand a chance?
"What?!"
The classroom instantly erupted.
Sasuke clenched his fists unconsciously.
First place meant first pick.
Aside from the other five captains, he could choose anyone he wanted.
That was an overwhelming advantage.
"Damn it…"
Kiba scratched his head. "So I can only wait to be picked?"
"Sasuke-kun, you have to choose me!" Sakura said immediately, eyes sparkling.
"We'll see," Sasuke replied coolly.
He was considering Sakura. A medical ninja with Water Release wasn't useless—but there was no rush to decide.
"Lee!"
Naruto suddenly gave a thumbs-up. "The Youth Team is officially formed starting today!"
"Naruto!" Lee shouted excitedly. "Excellent! Our Youth Team will be invincible!"
Kiba and several others paled.
Naruto was unquestionably top six—and now he'd taken Lee.
That meant one of them would be stuck facing the Youth Team.
"Neji, you have to save me!" Tenten blurted out.
The only hope was joining another team before Naruto picked.
"I'll do my best," Neji replied dryly.
But Naruto ranked higher than him—if Naruto chose first, Neji could do nothing.
"Just thinking about it is terrifying," Tayuya muttered. "I refuse to join the Youth Team."
"Good grief…"
Shikamaru rubbed his temples.
Kimimaro, meanwhile, felt oddly relieved.
At least he was guaranteed captain status.
Hinata was already quietly thinking about her choices.
She got along well with everyone—but unlike Sakura and Ino, she didn't have any especially close friendships.
Choosing wouldn't be easy.
"One last rule," Kitazawa said, clapping his hands. "For fairness, in the next practical exam, you may not choose teammates you've previously teamed up with."
He absolutely refused to deal with a permanent youth team every final exam.
"Kitazawa," Hiruzen asked with a chuckle, "do we teachers have any role to play?"
"Each team will have a designated instructor," Kitazawa replied after a moment's thought.
"Tactical guidance?" Kosuke asked.
"More than that," Kitazawa said. "Future team battles will take place in complex, specialized terrain—not just the Training Grounds."
At those words, several students visibly perked up.
Shino, in particular, looked intrigued.
For the Aburame Clan, complex environments were ideal—flat ground severely limited the potential of the Kikaichū.
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow.
Isn't this basically the Chūnin Exams?
Suddenly, he found himself looking forward to the real thing.
When the time came, he would definitely suggest a joint Chūnin Exam, inviting all villages.
Just imagining Naruto and the others crushing foreign prodigies made his blood stir with excitement.
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