"What kind of ninjutsu is this?" Naruto, who was about to charge, stopped abruptly, eyes fixed in amazement on the massive crater before him.
He could vividly imagine that if he had taken that attack head-on, it would have torn through his body without mercy.
"It's called the Rasengan," Kitazawa said slowly. "A ninjutsu created by the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."
"What?!" Naruto's eyes widened with excitement. "Kitazawa-sensei, I want to learn this!"
"I'll come see you the day after tomorrow," Kitazawa replied, unsurprised by Naruto's eagerness.
After all, Naruto's dream was to surpass all previous Hokage. Of course, he would want to learn a jutsu created by the Fourth Hokage.
"As expected, it's Kitazawa-sensei's victory," Ino said with a smile. "And it looked effortless."
"What kind of jutsu was that? I've never seen it before, it looked insanely powerful!" Kiba exclaimed, his curiosity piqued.
"And he didn't even use hand seals," Aburame Shino observed quietly. "Can a jutsu be that powerful without any seals?"
"That jutsu..." Nara Shikamaru's eyes lit up. "It's the Rasengan, created by the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze!"
"Yeah, I heard about that from my dad," Sakura added, nodding. "The Fourth was famous for two techniques—the Flying Thunder God Jutsu and the Rasengan."
Sasuke's mind stirred. He recalled that the Rasengan was classified as an A-rank jutsu. Could he ever have a chance to learn it? Then again, it seemed unlikely. Kitazawa probably wouldn't teach such a technique so easily.
Still, Sasuke shook his head; no A-rank jutsu could ever compare to the Uchiha clan's Sharingan.
"Rasengan?!" Iruka stood stunned.
He had once viewed Kitazawa as just a highly capable senior, but the difference in power now seemed vast. Kitazawa could wield even the Rasengan. Clearly, he wasn't just any special jonin.
At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he became a jonin—or even the next principal of the ninja academy.
[Current Mission: Take first place in the final exam with an overwhelming Strength.
Mission Reward: Unlock the First Gate of the Eight Gates Technique.]
[Host has completed the mission. Reward issued.]
Here it comes! Kitazawa exhaled in relief. The system had approved his actions. A flood of information surged into his mind. His eyes widened in astonishment.
The Eight Gates Technique was no joke. Even unlocking the first gate offered a substantial boost, more than worth the difficulty. Of course, his body already had the strength needed.
But to unlock more gates, he'd have to push himself hard through training unless he leaned on the system again. A little more Senju bloodline—or perhaps some Uzumaki blood—might help him break through.
"Naruto, back in line. Results will be announced soon," Kitazawa said, patting him on the shoulder.
"Okay!" Naruto nodded eagerly. He had beaten Sasuke; first place in the practical exam was definitely his!
"I'm back, everyone!" He waved with excitement as he ran over.
"Don't act so smug!" Kiba huffed. "It's just the first semester!"
"Yeah!" Sakura added quickly. "Next semester, Sasuke-kun will take back the top spot!"
Sasuke glanced sideways at her. He noticed something strange. Sakura sounded even more confident than he felt, and it made him uneasy. Why did her support feel like a curse? He sensed something... off.
"I won't stop improving. I'll get even stronger next semester!" Naruto shouted, fists clenched. "That's the power of youth!"
Nara Shikamaru winced at the mere mention of youth. During practical training, just when it seemed like they were done, Naruto would shout about youth and charge in like a madman.
As his teammate, Shikamaru always ended up being dragged into it—forced to work overtime.
Uchiha Sasuke took two steps back, saying nothing.
He suffered even more than Shikamaru. Might Guy's training was harsh—not only on the body but on the mind. Those three—Naruto, Rock Lee, and Might Guy—shouted about youth and perseverance every single day.
He couldn't even out-shout them, let alone outrun them. It was unbearable. Thankfully, that phase was ending soon. Over summer break, he only needed to participate in Kitazawa's training.
"Kitazawa-senpai!" Iruka rushed over with the report card, visibly excited.
"What are you so worked up about?" Kitazawa chuckled, accepting the folder.
"I'm just thrilled that Class A, Year 1, has so many standouts," Iruka explained, scratching his head.
Kitazawa skimmed through the report. As expected, the rankings aligned closely with his predictions.
"Silence!" He turned to address the class. "I'll announce the practical exam results now."
In previous monthly exams, rankings had been based on combined theory and practical results, with no separate announcements.
But this was the final exam—a true practical exam. As the saying goes, 'In studies, there's always someone ahead; in battle, there's only one who stands at the top.'
Since this was all about real combat, announcing the full rankings was essential—to inspire and motivate them.
"First place: Uzumaki Naruto." Kitazawa smiled.
"Yes!" Naruto jumped into the air in celebration.
Up till now, the only time he'd come in first was during the physical fitness test—just a small part of the practical score. He had never ranked first overall in theory or practice—until now.
His dream had finally come true.
Watching him rejoice, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled warmly. Taking first place in Class A—a class full of rising stars—was no small feat.
He couldn't help but recall how often Minato Namikaze had topped the rankings back in his day.
Sakura sighed to herself. She had already lost half of her bet with Ino.
Luckily, she was confident she still had the edge in theory. If she secured first place there, the bet would be a draw.
"Second place, Uchiha Sasuke," Kitazawa continued calmly.
Logically, both Hinata Hyuga and Shino Aburame should have battled Sasuke directly. But that would have required a round-robin format, and this was just a standard final exam—there was no need for something so complex.
Besides, even if the matches had taken place, Sasuke likely would've won.
Hinata and Shino weren't as fast as Naruto, making it harder for them to evade Fire Style attacks. All things considered, Sasuke firmly held second place.
Now the question was: once he awakened his Sharingan next semester, would he reclaim the top? That's assuming, of course, that Sasuke could successfully awaken it using Kitazawa's method.
Kitazawa, for his part, was looking forward to it.
By then, with Naruto and Hinata also growing stronger, the competition might be more unpredictable than ever.
"Third place, Hinata Hyuga. Fourth place, Shino Aburame," Kitazawa announced. "Fifth place, Shikamaru Nara. Sixth place, Ino Yamanaka."
While Naruto beamed with excitement, Sasuke remained stoic. To him, second place meant nothing. But for Shikamaru, fifth place exceeded expectations. It saved his summer break—no need for any remedial training.
"This concludes the rankings for the practical exam," Kitazawa summed up. "Everyone has made real progress, but don't grow complacent. Keep striving to improve next semester."
"Teacher Kitazawa," Naruto raised his hand. "Will all future practical exams follow this format?"
"Yes," Kitazawa nodded.
Sasuke's eyes flashed. With three to four practical exams per semester—nearly nine a year—he had only failed once.
Clenching his fists, Sasuke was determined to reclaim everything after awakening his Sharingan.
"Now, I'll announce the results of the theory exam." Kitazawa raised his hand, quieting the chatter among the students of Class A, Year 1.
Everyone fell silent, watching him with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The practical rankings were already set—now, the final positions depended on the theory scores.
Sakura looked especially nervous. Part of her believed she'd claim first place, but a lingering fear of upset gnawed at her. After all, even Sasuke had lost his guaranteed spot to Naruto.
"First place, Nara Shikamaru," Kitazawa declared with a faint smile.
"That's impossible!" Sakura gasped, stunned.
"What?! Shikamaru got first place?" Naruto turned to Shikamaru in disbelief. In class, he'd always seen Shikamaru as even more lazy and inattentive than himself.
"How could that happen?" Kiba was equally confused. He remembered Shikamaru barely scraping past with 60s in all three previous exams. Was he being lazy the entire time?
"Shikamaru, you're actually trying now?" Choji was less surprised by the result itself and more by the fact that Shikamaru had finally stopped being lazy.
Thinking back to his explosive effort in the practical exam, Choji suspected Kitazawa might have something to do with it.
The only person who wasn't shocked was Ino. She knew the full story.
Even Sasuke had made a small error this time. Usually, Sakura, Sasuke, and Hinata topped the theory rankings. How did Shikamaru leap ahead?
"Second place, Haruno Sakura," Kitazawa said after the room had quieted again.
Sakura opened her mouth, but words didn't come. Second wasn't bad, but it wasn't first. She felt a swirl of emotions at this unexpected loss.
Uchiha Sasuke glanced her way and felt a rare moment of empathy. Naruto had taken first from him. Shikamaru had taken first from her. Misery, it seemed, loved company.
"Sakura, don't worry," Ino patted her on the shoulder. "There'll be more chances to come out on top."
Knowing Shikamaru, unless Kitazawa pushed him again, he'd probably return to scoring 60.
"Sasuke-kun also got second place," Sakura suddenly thought aloud. "We both came in second... Maybe it's destiny!"
Yamanaka Ino stared at her in disbelief. Second place, and you're already spinning it into romance? Seriously?
"Get your money ready. See me tomorrow at nine," Ino reminded with a smirk.
"I'm already heartbroken, and you're still talking about money?" Sakura cried, eyes wide.
"You don't seem that heartbroken to me," Ino replied with a knowing smile.
Their not-so-subtle rivalry was on full display.
"The final exams are officially over. Summer vacation starts tomorrow," Kitazawa announced with a grin. "Enjoy yourselves!"
"Thank you, Mr. Kitazawa!" the students of Class A chorused with excitement.
"Iruka, I'll leave the rest to you," Kitazawa said as he noticed Sarutobi Hiruzen departing. He handed the report folder to Iruka. "I have something to take care of at the Hokage Building."
"Got it," Iruka nodded, clearly a little envious. "Leave the rest to me."
Kitazawa gave a final wave to the class, then turned and walked off toward the Hokage Building.
"Okay, now come up one by one to get your report cards," Iruka clapped his hands and called out loudly. "Once you have your report card, you're free to go home!"
---
Meanwhile, Kitazawa and Sarutobi Hiruzen walked into the Hokage's office one after the other.
"Kitazawa," Sarutobi Hiruzen began as he settled into his seat behind the Hokage's desk, "First-Year Class A really surprised me today."
"It's the result of their hard work," Kitazawa replied humbly.
"Their hard work, yes—but also yours," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with sincere appreciation. "I've served as Hokage for many years and watched countless classes come and go, but none have matched yours."
"This class just happens to have more talented students," Kitazawa said with a faint smile. "I was just fortunate enough to be their instructor."
"Even so, your contribution has been significant," Hiruzen said with a chuckle. "Let's not argue the point. A reward is well-earned."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Kitazawa responded, a wave of excitement rising within him.
"You won't need to keep monitoring Terai any longer," Sarutobi Hiruzen said after a thoughtful pause. "I'll inform Danzo to retrieve him."
Kitazawa couldn't help but feel a bit surprised. It seemed his value had risen. Otherwise, Hiruzen wouldn't bother crossing Danzo over something so seemingly minor.
"Once Terai leaves, you'll take over his class," Hiruzen added, then smiled knowingly. "Don't worry about time constraints—you can use your Shadow Clones for teaching."
"Understood," Kitazawa nodded. The decision was already made—there was no room to refuse anyway.
"This is for you," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, pulling out a scroll.
Kitazawa's eyes lit up as he stepped forward to receive it. Opening it with anticipation, he was momentarily stunned.
It was the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique—an A-rank forbidden jutsu, and the very first one recorded in the Book of Seals. Though similar to the standard Shadow Clone Technique, this version had no cap on the number of clones.
But unlimited didn't mean safe.
Too many clones could rapidly deplete chakra, even leading to death. Worse, when all those clones returned, the combined feedback of their memories and experience could overwhelm the user's brain.
In the original series, only rare exceptions like Naruto could handle more than twenty clones. For most shinobi, even Jonin, it was too dangerous.
Kitazawa suspected the scroll wasn't really intended for him but rather for Naruto.
With Hiruzen's foresight, it was obvious Naruto was the ideal candidate. Still, Kitazawa couldn't complain—he'd just landed a high-level forbidden technique for free.
Combined with the Eight Gates Ninjutsu he'd recently acquired, this made two forbidden Jutsus in a single day. If someone told him this would happen, even he wouldn't have believed it.
"With your current strength, forming a dozen Shadow Clones shouldn't be a problem," Hiruzen advised. "Still, for safety, don't overdo it."
"Understood." Before acquiring the system, Kitazawa's main strategy had been to lie low. Now, with the system, he lived somewhere between stealth and strength—using power only when necessary, never needlessly risking himself.
As long as he stayed in Naruto and Sasuke's good graces, survival until the end was entirely possible.
"This jutsu is forbidden, so you can't take the scroll with you. Memorize it and return it," Hiruzen added.
"Of course," Kitazawa replied. He'd encountered the same rule when learning the Rasengan; it didn't surprise him.
"Go find Haru outside and have him show you a room," Hiruzen instructed. "And ask him to summon Danzo to my office as well."
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Kitazawa turned and exited the room, spotting Haru just outside the door. He approached and relayed the instructions.
"Can I use the room next door to memorize it?" Kitazawa asked, pointing to the office beside the Hokage's.
"Sure," Haru said after a glance. "That's the Jonin Commander's Office, but it's rarely used."
Jonin Commander? Nara Shikaku? Kitazawa considered this as he stepped inside.
Haru didn't leave; instead, he asked another Anbu to summon Shimura Danzo—his duty was to remain and watch Kitazawa.
Kitazawa didn't mind. In fact, he was more curious about the soundproofing in the room. Because more than anything, he wanted to hear the legendary showdown between Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo.
As he focused on memorizing the scroll, he kept an ear trained toward the next room. Just when he thought he'd missed it, muffled shouting broke through.
"You will regret it, I'm...—bang!" He only caught a couple of sentences, but it was enough to feel satisfied. His only regret was not seeing the spectacle with his own eyes.
Once he finished memorizing the technique, Kitazawa returned the scroll to the Hokage's office.
"I had Danzo take Terai back under the pretense that he wasn't qualified to teach," Sarutobi Hiruzen said as he reclaimed the scroll. "You don't need to concern yourself with him any longer."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Kitazawa replied solemnly.
"If you run into trouble while learning the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, don't hesitate to come to me," Hiruzen said with a wave.
"You've done well today. Go home and get some rest." Kitazawa gave a slight bow before leaving the Hokage's office.
As he stepped onto the street, he stretched his limbs and let out a breath. This final exam had been more than fruitful.
He'd completed two system tasks and triggered two new ones. And with Sarutobi Hiruzen eliminating Terai as a threat—and gifting him the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu—he now had even more tools at his disposal.