The Hyūga Clan compound.
Kitazawa spotted Hinata Hyūga standing at the entrance.
As always, she wore long sleeves and long pants, wrapped tight and proper. Under the blazing July sun, it almost made one feel hot just looking at her.
Kitazawa thought back to the original timeline, from childhood onward, Hinata's clothing was always conservative. No doubt, that was tied to the Hyūga clan's tradition-bound style.
He looked to the stern figure standing beside her, Hiashi Hyūga.
His posture was straight, his expression rigid. One glance told you he wasn't someone easy to approach.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Hinata brightened when she saw him and jogged forward.
"…?"
Hiashi's brow tightened.
As the Hyūga heiress, behaving this forwardly toward an outsider, how improper.
"Hinata."
Hiashi's voice was low and commanding.
"Wait. I have something to discuss with your teacher."
"Yes, Father."
Hinata glanced at Kitazawa, nodded obediently, and stepped back.
"Clan Head Hiashi."
Kitazawa greeted him.
"Hinata's special training is not a bad thing," Hiashi said expressionlessly.
"But she is still a Hyūga. Gentle Fist is what she must master."
"I'll make sure to schedule extra Gentle Fist practice for her."
Kitazawa immediately understood his meaning and answered smoothly.
But Hiashi's eyes flashed with displeasure. What he meant was that Kitazawa should cancel this special training entirely, and instead Kitazawa answered with "more Gentle Fist practice."
Are you even a Hyūga shinobi? Do you understand what you're doing, teaching random things?
"If her Gentle Fist progress slows, the training ends immediately."
Unable to reprimand him in front of Hinata, Hiashi offered a condition instead.
"I understand."
Kitazawa nodded. He wasn't afraid of offending Hiashi. As long as things didn't escalate, a bit of friction didn't matter.
Besides, with Hinata standing on his side, and with Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi behind him, any small conflict would be smoothed out.
"You may go."
Hiashi narrowed his eyes, watching Kitazawa like someone guarding against a home intruder.
"Goodbye, Father."
Hinata bowed politely, then happily followed Kitazawa.
Once they left the Hyūga compound, Hinata suddenly stepped ahead and blocked his path.
"What is it, Hinata?"
Kitazawa asked, confused.
"Kitazawa-sensei…"
Hinata puffed her cheeks slightly, looked serious, and said:
"Even if Father doesn't trust you… I believe in you!"
"I know."
Kitazawa chuckled softly and patted her head.
Hinata finally relaxed. Although she'd changed somewhat personality-wise, her formerly shy nature left her with very keen sensitivity. She had sensed Hiashi's distrust, so she spoke up.
Kitazawa glanced at her.
Hinata was very sensible, but then, shinobi children matured early. In this world, even four-year-olds could step onto a battlefield.
They soon reached the Ninja Academy's artificial lake. Since it was summer break, the school grounds were empty.
Technically, no one was allowed inside during break, but Kitazawa, as the head of the Academic Office, had special access.
"Kitazawa-sensei!!"
Naruto Uzumaki, who was practicing Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, waved excitedly.
"Hinata!"
"Don't lose focus!"
Kitazawa's shadow clone snapped, arms crossed.
Naruto hurriedly returned to his training.
"Hinata, let's begin."
"Yes!"
Hinata nodded vigorously.
She raised her hands and took a Gentle Fist stance, then began practicing Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms under Kitazawa's watch.
Time passed.
Soon it was noon.
Meanwhile, Forest of Death
"I… I can't… anymore…"
Sasuke Uchiha collapsed onto the ground, legs giving out. He had been training all morning under Might Guy and Rock Lee, utterly exhausted.
"Sasuke! You're the genius of the Uchiha clan! How can your youthful flames burn out here?!"
Lee stopped in front of him, fist raised passionately.
"Sasuke, has your youth already faded?!"
Guy wiped sweat dramatically.
Sasuke felt his eyes twitch. Two green spandex-wearing weirdos hovered over him shouting about "youth." He wondered if he'd stumbled into a genjutsu.
"Sasuke! That's enough for today!"
Seeing that Sasuke wasn't responding at all, Guy didn't push. He called Lee and ran off.
Silence returned.
Sasuke felt like he'd been reborn. After resting, he forced himself up and headed toward the Academy.
But as soon as he entered the village, villagers started giving him strange looks.
Sasuke suddenly remembered, he was still wearing that hideous green jumpsuit.
He tore it off immediately.
"Good… Father and Itachi didn't see that…"
He let out a long sigh.
Since he usually trained outside the village, the chances of running into them were low.
But wearing this, he really didn't want to risk it.
Back at the Academy Lake
Naruto and Hinata had finished their morning session.
Kitazawa was preparing lunch , laying out a large cloth and placing a small tatami table on top.
"Sasuke, you're here. Sit anywhere."
Kitazawa said, sitting cross-legged as he opened bento boxes.
Naruto mimicked him.
Hinata knelt formally beside Kitazawa.
"Kitazawa-sensei."
Sasuke lifted two bento boxes.
"These are from my mother."
"Thank you."
Kitazawa blinked in surprise, then accepted one , refusing would be rude.
"I didn't know Hinata and Naruto were joining, so I only have two today. Tomorrow, I'll bring extra."
Kitazawa passed the bento to Naruto.
"Here. I brought plenty."
"Thanks, Sensei!!"
Naruto opened it and gasped.
"It's beautiful!"
"Of course."
Sasuke smirked proudly.
"My mom's bentos are the best."
"Naruto, thank Sasuke."
"Thanks, Sasuke! I'll treat you to Ichiraku Ramen someday!"
Sasuke froze.
He wasn't used to people being this warm toward him. But unlike Sakura, Naruto had actually defeated him once. The Uchiha respected strength.
"It's delicious!!"
Naruto yelled mid-bite of tempura shrimp.
"I've never had anything this good!"
And Sasuke knew he wasn't lying, he'd seen Naruto's usual pitiful bentos. Sasuke then remembered asking his mother about Naruto's parents. She hadn't told him, but from what he gathered, they were gone.
No parents, yet this energetic…
Sasuke couldn't help but respect him a bit.
"Kitazawa-sensei."
Sasuke asked, "Do I have to train with Guy-sensei again this afternoon?"
"Your body can't handle another round like that."
Kitazawa thought for a moment.
"This afternoon, you'll practice Fire Release chakra nature transformation."
"Good."
Sasuke exhaled in relief. Facing Guy and Lee again would break him. Fire nature training, on the other hand, he'd already done before.
After lunch, Naruto and Hinata resumed training.
Kitazawa led Sasuke to the lake.
He dipped his hand into the water, letting it soak, then lifted it out.
"You already understand Fire Release nature, so I won't lecture you. Just start."
He extended his hand , Fire-nature chakra surged, instantly evaporating the water droplets.
"Is there a time limit?"
"The faster, the better."
Kitazawa said.
"If you can do it within one second, that means you've entered the beginner level."
"One second is just entry level?!"
Sasuke was stunned.
"This is only one aspect of Fire nature transformation."
Kitazawa patted his shoulder.
"Practice. Ask my shadow clone if you need anything."
Sasuke nodded and began. But his mastery was shallow, one minute wasn't even enough to evaporate the water.
Kitazawa observed a moment, then left a clone behind and walked off. He had private lessons with Kurenai this afternoon. Before heading home, he visited the Forest of Death again to find Guy.
"Guy, Ichiraku Ramen is holding an eating contest in two days. Interested?"
Guy thought.
"It sounds great… but we have training."
"Training and eating don't conflict."
Kitazawa suggested:
"After morning training, bring Lee and Sasuke to Ichiraku to compete."
"That's a great idea!"
Guy beamed.
"We'll be there!"
"And Guy, be sure to bring Sasuke."
Kitazawa reminded him.
Because if Sasuke didn't show up, the trap he'd set would be meaningless.