Dusk
The sun had slipped behind the horizon, and the air grew noticeably cooler.
"Your Genjutsu: Optic Delusory is basically mastered. Tomorrow we'll switch to another genjutsu."
Kurenai thought for a moment, then said, "We'll learn the Sly Mind Affect Technique next."
"Alright."
Kitazawa smiled.
"I'll follow whatever you arrange, Kurenai-sensei."
"You're still calling me sensei?"
Kurenai folded her arms under her chest, visibly displeased.
"Why shouldn't I?"
Kitazawa eyed her slightly puffed, tightly-fitted business suit.
"Give it some time, maybe you will be calling me Kitazawa-sensei."
"Impossible."
Kurenai didn't believe a word of it.
"Then just wait and see."
Kitazawa grinned mysteriously.
"When the time comes, don't beg me for help."
Once he mastered five genjutsu, he would obtain the Genjutsu: Infinite Darkness Jutsu.
"Fine then."
Kurenai's curiosity rose.
"I'd like to see why I would ever have to beg you."
"I'm heading to the Ninja Academy."
Kitazawa checked the sky.
"Mm."
Kurenai stretched, relieved.
"I can finally get out of this outfit. It's so uncomfortable."
"Can you wear it again tomorrow?"
Kitazawa spoke solemnly:
"Look, my learning speed today was amazing. Definitely because of that outfit."
"Nonsense!"
Kurenai shot him a glare and marched back into the room.
Kitazawa sighed in disappointment, but didn't push it. He put on his shoes and headed to the academy.
At the artificial lake, the first thing he did was release his Shadow Clone Technique.
The memories rushed back in an instant. Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata's training progress for the day entered his mind clearly.
The fastest learner: Naruto.
He'd already begun to grasp the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique; two or three more days and he'd have full mastery.
Sasuke had shortened his water-evaporation training time to one minute, decent progress.
And Hyūga Hinata was attempting to unleash the Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms in one go.
Still some distance from success, but she was trying.
Overall, all three gained something.
"That's it for today. Come tomorrow at nine sharp."
Kitazawa clapped his hands for attention.
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei!"
All three answered in unison.
"Sasuke, don't forget you're still training under Guy tomorrow morning."
Kitazawa suddenly remembered and reminded him.
Sasuke's mouth twitched, but he had no choice except to nod.
"See you tomorrow."
Kitazawa paused, then said:
"Hinata, I'll walk you home. I need to talk to you."
"Yes!"
Hinata's heart skipped in excitement.
"Sasuke! I'll walk you home!"
Naruto threw an arm around Sasuke's shoulders enthusiastically.
He'd eaten Mikoto-san's bento at noon and felt he'd gotten much closer to Sasuke.
"My house is far. No need."
Sasuke shoved him off.
"How far?"
Naruto asked curiously.
"I've never been to your place."
"On the west edge of the village."
Sasuke shook his head.
"It's already late. Just go home."
"…Alright then."
Naruto waved.
"I'll visit next time!"
He turned and jogged down another street.
"H–Hinata."
As they walked, Kitazawa asked, "In a couple of days, Ichiraku will hold a Big Eater Contest. Want to go?"
"M–Me?"
Hinata froze, wanting to refuse… but stopped.
Lots of people would participate for sure.
Even though her ability to eat was now public knowledge, scarfing down food in front of a huge crowd… she still found it embarrassing.
"Are you entering too, Kitazawa-sensei?"
Hinata asked timidly.
"Entering? Not exactly. Just going to see the fun."
"Then I'll go too."
Hinata tilted her head.
"If you join, I bet you'll take first place."
Kitazawa smiled in relief.
"And the prizes for first place are pretty good. You'll definitely like them."
"Mm!"
Hinata tightened her tiny fists.
"I'll try my best to win first place!"
Talking along the way, they soon reached the Hyūga compound. Seeing Hyūga Hiashi standing at the gate, Kitazawa almost jumped. Since when did the clan head become a door guardian!?
"Kitazawa-sensei, see you tomorrow."
Hinata bowed and then stepped forward.
"Father."
"Come to the courtyard."
Hiashi glanced once at Kitazawa and said,
"Let me see today's training results."
He doubted that Kitazawa's training helped Hinata much. But since he'd agreed earlier, he wouldn't go back on his word.
His plan:
If Hinata hadn't improved, he'd use that to make her withdraw voluntarily.
"Yes, father."
Hinata followed him to the courtyard without thinking much.
"Begin."
Hiashi took his stance. The moment they exchanged blows, he felt something was off. After the brief spar ended, he was thrown into deep confusion. Why had Hinata improved this quickly? Was it really because of Kitazawa?
Impossible. Absolutely not!
This was clearly Hinata's own high talent!
That had to be it.
Hiashi, after convincing himself, let it go. Geniuses had privileges. No need to damage their relationship over something small.
Time flew through training, two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Thursday morning.
Kitazawa opened his eyes right on time. He sat up, stretched, and yawned.
In two days, he had already mastered the Sly Mind Affect Technique.
Since he was learning fast, he decided to alternate between genjutsu and medical ninjutsu,
genjutsu today, medical ninjutsu tomorrow.
Medical ninjutsu was slower to learn, especially the B-rank Medical Technique: Delicate Illness Extraction Technique.
Truth be told, he'd already fully mastered it through the system. But so he wouldn't scare Tsunade or Shizune, he planned to spend a bit of time pretending to learn it.
Kitazawa dressed, ate breakfast, and arrived at the academy's artificial lake.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Naruto spotted him and yelled. Kitazawa instantly felt a tidal wave approaching,
If "a sea of people" could describe one person, this was it.
Everywhere he looked, was Naruto.
Hinata was also stunned speechless. She had seen shadow clones before… but seventy? This was a first.
"A-Amazing…"
Hinata whispered. She knew that the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique was an A-rank jutsu, requiring enormous chakra. A typical jōnin would max out at twenty clones.
So seventy meant… what the heck!?
"Since you've learned Multi-Shadow Clone, we'll start water-walking training."
Kitazawa told Naruto.
"Huh?"
Naruto blinked.
"We're not learning Rasengan yet? Why water-walking?"
"Because your chakra control is terrible."
Kitazawa pointed at the lake.
"You and all your clones, go stand on water."
The Rasengan, pinnacle of chakra shape transformation, required extremely fine control. In the original timeline, Naruto learned it only by using a loophole, having shadow clones help him shape it.
Basically turning a solo jutsu into a team jutsu.
Pro: Lower control requirement.
Con: Takes longer, more steps, easier to interrupt.
Still, he learned it. Kitazawa planned to sharpen Naruto's control first, then teach Rasengan. And shadow clones were the key to both.
"If you want Rasengan, hurry up and go."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei!"
Naruto raised his arm.
"For Rasengan, let's have a Youthful Water-Walking Training!"
"My Youthful Charge comes first!"
"My Youthful Leap!"
"And my Youthful Flying Kick!"
A whole crowd of Narutos, all wearing green spandex suits, dove toward the lake.
Water exploded everywhere.
Kitazawa pressed his fingers to his forehead.
"This isn't Multi-Shadow Clone… this is Multi-Youth Jutsu."
Only seventy Narutos and already this much chaos. He didn't dare imagine a thousand. He imagined Madara and Obito's faces when confronted with this army of Youthful Narutos.
No way either of them would keep a straight face.
"Hinata."
Kitazawa regained focus.
"Don't forget the Big Eater Contest at noon."
"I won't."
Hinata nodded.
"Let's begin your training."
They trained until noon. Then Kitazawa brought both of them to Ichiraku.
"W-Whoa! So many people!"
Naruto's eyes widened.
"I've never seen such a huge crowd!"
The entire street around Ichiraku was packed tight, kids, teens, adults, elders.
"Kitazawa-sensei! Over here!"
Ino waved excitedly.
Beside her were Sakura, Chōji, and Shikamaru.
Kitazawa nodded, scanning the crowd, and spotted Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Itachi. The stage and audience were set.
Only one thing missing:
The main event.
Deep inside the Forest of Death
"All squads, turn and head toward Ichiraku Ramen!"
Might Guy checked the sky.
"Today I'm treating you! Both of you must come!"
Sasuke wanted to refuse… but had no choice.
Guy had always treated him well, in taijutsu and general training, he never held back.
And besides… it was just a meal.
Nothing to complain about.