"I'm Yamanaka Ino."
Ino stepped forward, her pale-blue eyes bright with curiosity. "Are you our teacher?"
"I am," Kitazawa replied with a gentle smile. "Kitazawa."
"Kitazawa-sensei, it's nice to meet you!"
Ino extended her hand confidently.
Children in the ninja world always seemed to mature early—and Ino was no exception.To be honest, everyone was a bit of a sucker for looks. People naturally turned their heads when a handsome guy or pretty girl walked by. Some just hid it better than others.
"Kitazawa-sensei! I'm Haruno Sakura!"
A round-faced girl peeked out from behind Ino, smiling brightly.
"Nice to meet you both," Kitazawa said with a nod.
Off to the side, Hinata Hyuga watched them shyly, a flicker of envy passing through her pale lavender eyes.
Then, suddenly—
"Hahaha! Behold, the great me has arrived! I see! I conquer! I'll be Hokage one day!"
A short-haired boy burst through the classroom door, striking a dramatic pose like a wannabe hero straight out of a manga.
Then his eyes met Kitazawa's, and his confidence immediately deflated.
"Uh… hello, sensei. I'm… Inuzuka Kiba."
He scratched his head awkwardly, forcing a grin.
"Take any seat you like," Kitazawa said casually.
This was an age of wild dreams and boundless imagination. Reality's cruelty would come soon enough.
Kitazawa's eyes swept the classroom. Strangely, he didn't see Akamaru anywhere.
The Inuzuka Clan didn't have a kekkei genkai, but their secret beast-fusion techniques were impressive nonetheless.
"Yes, sensei," Kiba mumbled, glancing around before slinking toward a window seat in the back.
If it were possible, he looked like he'd rather dig a hole and bury himself right there—like when you're goofing off in class, reading a comic, and suddenly realize the homeroom teacher's been watching you from the window.
"Shikamaru! Choji! Over here!"
Ino waved her slender arm high, calling out loudly.
The pineapple-haired Nara Shikamaru glanced up lazily and groaned.
Three pretty girls and a teacher? That looked like way too much trouble.
"Troublesome…" he muttered under his breath.
Choji Akimichi, on the other hand, didn't think much of it. He munched on a bag of chips as he waddled over.
"Kitazawa-sensei, want some?" Ino asked, reaching into the bag.
"I'll pass." Kitazawa smiled and shook his head. "I prefer fries."
What a good man, Choji thought with visible relief.
Kitazawa didn't realize he'd just earned himself a "Nice Guy" card. Without acting like a superior, he quickly blended in with the students, chatting and laughing freely.
As time passed, the classroom gradually filled up. It was the first day of term—most students didn't know each other yet.
Except, of course, around Kitazawa's desk, where things were already lively.
The only one who didn't quite fit in was Hinata. From start to finish, she stayed quiet, speaking only when Kitazawa gently drew her into conversation.
"Alright, that's enough for now," Kitazawa finally said, standing and walking toward the podium. "We can talk more next time."
"He's so gentle and handsome—he's totally my type!" Ino said excitedly.
"Too bad he's too old," Sakura sighed.
"Yeah…" Ino's tone turned wistful.
"Look! Another hottie!" Sakura suddenly exclaimed.
Ino turned instinctively toward the door.
A boy with black eyes and raven hair walked in, hands in his pockets, his cool demeanor radiating silent confidence.
The classroom buzzed instantly.
Uchiha Sasuke didn't so much as glance at them. He just found a seat and sat down, gaze lifting toward the podium.
I wonder how strong this teacher is… Could he even be one-tenth as powerful as my brother?
Kitazawa's eyes narrowed slightly.
Right now, Sasuke was just playing the "cool guy."After the massacre, that would turn into genuine isolation.
But what caught Kitazawa's attention wasn't Sasuke's attitude—it was the voice of his system.
[Current Mission: Earn Uchiha Sasuke's initial approval.][Reward: Fire Style — Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu.][Accept mission?]
The same type of quest as the one with Naruto… but far more difficult.
After all, Sasuke still had his parents—and an older brother, the prodigy Uchiha Itachi.
Kitazawa was just a regular chunin. Earning Sasuke's respect wouldn't be easy.
But not impossible, he thought.
Just like Hinata, Sasuke longed for his father's approval—Uchiha Fugaku's acknowledgment.
So the key might be… the Fireball Jutsu.
Kitazawa's gaze deepened thoughtfully.
Then, the classroom went silent again.
Because someone big had just arrived.
Uzumaki Naruto.
The moment he stepped inside, the whispers began.
Naruto froze, feeling that all-too-familiar sting in his chest.Even here, even in school—nothing had changed.
"Find a seat, Naruto," came a calm, familiar voice.
Naruto's eyes widened slightly. He looked up at the podium—and then nodded hard. "Right!"
"Quiet down," Kitazawa said firmly.
The chatter vanished instantly. But the eyes—the stares—remained.
Kitazawa scanned the room and suddenly blinked in mild surprise.
There, near the back, sat a boy in a long robe and dark sunglasses—Aburame Shino.
When did he get here?
Kitazawa couldn't even recall him entering.
"Alright, let's begin class. But first, as tradition dictates, we'll start with introductions."
He picked up a piece of chalk, wrote his name cleanly across the board, and stepped aside.
"Start from the first row and come up in order."
One by one, the students took the stage.Most were unfamiliar faces, except for the well-known Konoha rookies.
The remaining three—Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and Rock Lee—were still in the second-year class.
"I'm Nara Shikamaru," Shikamaru said with a yawn. "Don't really have any dreams. Just wanna live a peaceful life."
"I'm Uchiha Sasuke," said Sasuke, his voice flat and cold. "There are many things I hate, but not much I like. My goal is to become a ninja like my brother."
Only when he mentioned "brother" did a faint flicker of admiration soften his expression.
Then it was Naruto's turn.
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto! I like cup ramen and Ichiraku ramen. I hate waiting the three minutes it takes to cook them!"
He took a deep breath, clenching his fists."My dream… is to surpass the Hokage!"
Kitazawa nodded slightly. It was almost identical to Naruto's introduction from the original story.
In some ways, he thought, this kid's obsession is terrifyingly pure.
"Yeah right!"
"What a joke!"
"How could a monster like him become Hokage?"
"Surpass the Third? No way—impossible!"
The laughter spread through the class.
Kitazawa's eyes hardened.
"Is that funny to you?" he asked, stepping up to the podium. His tone carried quiet authority."Because all I see is a boy who truly carries the Will of Fire."
The room fell dead silent.
"You all want to be Hokage," Kitazawa continued, his voice calm but firm. "But the moment you mock Naruto, you've already lost the right to dream it."
Every whisper, every giggle—vanished.