"The so‑called Hokage is someone who wins the recognition of everyone."
Kitazawa asked calmly, "Naruto is your classmate and your comrade. If you laugh at your own comrade, how could you ever become Hokage?"
At those words many students lowered their heads, faces full of shame.
Uzumaki Naruto even felt as though wind‑blown grit had gotten into his eyes.
Determination filled his face; from now on his dream was upgraded—to surpass the Hokage and earn the approval of everyone.
In his mind Kitazawa now ranked only below Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"That teacher's pretty good,"
Nara Shikamaru shed his usual slouch, sat up straight, and looked serious.
Born into a shinobi clan, he knew Naruto was not the "monster" people said.
Yet Kitazawa was just a civilian ninja who should not know the truth—the only explanation was that he was kind‑hearted.
Hyūga Hinata unconsciously clenched her hands.
She looked at Kitazawa, admiration flickering in her eyes.
First he helped her, then he helped Naruto—so… yasashii (how gentle).
[Current mission: Become the first student in the class to attract Principal Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention.]
[Reward: Wind Release – Great Breakthrough.]
[Mission completed. Reward delivered.]
Knowledge and experience of Wind Release: Great Breakthrough flooded Kitazawa's mind.
So the Third Hokage really was spying on them.
What he had just said must have pleased the old man, letting the mission finish smoothly.
Unfortunately, apart from Hinata and Sasuke, none of the other "rookies" triggered new missions for him.
"Let's start class."
Kitazawa picked up a piece of chalk, smiled like a spring breeze, and said, "Today's lesson is called The Will of Fire."
The atmosphere shifted at once; the earlier silence was gone.
"Do you know what the Will of Fire has to do with the Hokage?"
After writing the four characters for "Will of Fire," he asked the class.
"Me!"
Naruto shot his hand into the air.
"Naruto, you answer."
Kitazawa nodded.
"The Will of Fire was proposed by the Hokage!"
Naruto stood and declared loudly.
"Then do you know why the Hokage proposed it?"
Kitazawa pressed on.
Naruto's expression froze—he was stumped.
That question was too deep for him.
"It's for all of you," Kitazawa said, earth‑shatteringly.
"For… us?"
Naruto asked in amazement.
Not only him—every student wore the same stunned face.
"Where the leaves dance, the fire lives on. The fire's light will keep illuminating the village and make the new leaves sprout."
Kitazawa explained, "The focus of the Will of Fire is you, because you are Konoha's future—its hope."
"I've never heard it put that way."
"So I'm really that important?"
"Then even the Hokage has to protect me?"
Listening to their chatter, Kitazawa couldn't help but smile.
The Will of Fire is fine in theory, but carrying it out isn't easy.
Take the 'Shadow of the Shinobi World,' Shimura Danzo—self‑styled Kage—who often waved the banner of the Will of Fire while doing shady things.
In the end, theory alone is a castle in the air.
But none of that concerned Kitazawa right now.
He only needed the Will of Fire to hoodwink Hiruzen Sarutobi.
In other words, turn the tables on him.
"Class dismissed—ten‑minute break."
Hearing the bell, Kitazawa picked up his materials and left the room.
As a teacher he had a good habit: never running overtime.
…
"Ino, I won!"
Haruno Sakura shot like an arrow to Uchiha Sasuke's side, turned back, and announced triumphantly.
"No—!"
Yamanaka Ino reached out, face full of anguish.
Tch, women…
Shikamaru flopped onto his desk again, radiating lethargy.
In his view, women—especially pretty ones—were all trouble.
He just wanted to marry an ordinary girl and coast through life.
Akimichi Chōji's thoughts were simpler: he pulled out a bag of chips.
"I'm just here to eat."
Gritting her teeth at Sakura's flaunting, Ino suddenly thought of Kitazawa.
If no cute boys, then go for the handsome teacher.
Just as she headed for the office, a certain blond boy had already sprinted off.
Hey, I was first!
Ino sighed and sat down again.
Hinata hesitated, then took out her textbook to review—such a model student.
…
"Kitazawa‑sensei, wait for me!"
Naruto accelerated, skidded around a drainage ditch, and caught up.
"Naruto, was anything unclear in my lecture?"
Kitazawa stopped and asked.
"No, no!"
Naruto shook his head quickly. "Sensei, you explained it great—I understood everything!"
What do you mean even if you could understand?
How low is your self‑confidence?
But Kitazawa recalled that at entrance exams Naruto had ranked dead last, so he understood.
"Then what did you need?"
Kitazawa smiled.
"I want to know—how can I get everyone's recognition?"
Naruto looked up, eyes full of hope.
"You still… Well, it's simple: follow the Hokage's example."
Kitazawa paused, then rephrased. He had wanted to say "You're still young; you'll understand when you grow up," but remembered that Hiruzen might still be watching.
"Oh, right!"
Naruto brightened. "I get it—thanks, Sensei!"
"See you next period."
Kitazawa smiled and walked off.
…
Teachers' offices came in two types: private singles and shared multiples.
Kitazawa's was a private one.
The reason was simple—he was middle management, roughly equivalent to a Dean.
He had taught five years and been named "Best Teacher" three years running.
Ahem.
Besides his teaching skills, the crucial factor was that his Will of Fire theory pleased Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Gotta survive—nothing shameful in that.
In Konoha, clinging to the Hokage's thigh was something many envied.
Of course, if he could, he'd rather cling to the Fifth Hokage's thigh—he was a fan, after all.
But instead of his own office he headed to the large shared office.
Six desks were pushed together there—one for each first‑year teacher.
"Kitazawa‑senpai!"
Umino Iruka noticed him and hurriedly stood to greet him.
"Iruka," Kitazawa smiled, "First class—nervous?"
Iruka had become a teacher only this year; he wasn't even eighteen.
"A little," Iruka admitted, embarrassed.
"It's normal to be nervous the first time," Kitazawa reassured him. "I just finished class—the kids are great. Don't worry too much."
"Thank you, Senpai," Iruka said gratefully.
After watching him leave, Kitazawa went to the bookcase in the corner.
It contained the student files for every first‑year class.
He intended to identify the three brats who were bullying Hyūga Hinata.