Kitazawa returned to his office and sat down with a small sigh.
Pulling open a drawer, he took out the Class 1-A schedule.
As the homeroom teacher, he didn't have as many classes as Iruka Umino, but every subject he did teach was crucial.
There were three in total — The Will of Fire, Konoha History, and Practical Combat Training.
Among them, combat training took up the most time.
A ninja could afford to be uneducated — but not weak.
The class covered essentials like the Three Basic Techniques, kunai handling, trap detection, and setting ambushes.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was the final period of the day — combat class.
The academy's schedule wasn't that different from Kitazawa's old world: eight periods a day, four in the morning, four in the afternoon, forty-five minutes each.
"Alright, everyone, this next class is combat training," Kitazawa announced, standing at the door. "Follow me to the training field."
"Sensei, are we finally learning ninjutsu?!"
Naruto Uzumaki's eyes sparkled as he blurted out the question.
Most students didn't say anything, but their faces were full of anticipation.
Only the children from prominent ninja clans — like Sasuke Uchiha and Shikamaru Nara — looked calm and uninterested.
After all, they already had clan techniques passed down at home.
While the ordinary students were still struggling with the Three Basic Techniques, these heirs had long since mastered Fire Release, Gentle Fist, or secret family arts.
And those were techniques even academy teachers couldn't teach.
They weren't here to learn ninjutsu — they were here to build connections and broaden their knowledge.
Naruto, however, was the exception.
Despite being the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki and the Fourth Hokage's son, no one had ever taught him a thing.
"You're all still unfamiliar with chakra refinement," Kitazawa said evenly. "So, no ninjutsu today. We'll start with kunai throwing."
Naruto's shoulders slumped. "Aw, man…"
But he perked up quickly.
To a ninja, both jutsu and tools were vital — one couldn't survive without the other.
"Boring," Sasuke muttered, shaking his head.
When it came to weapon mastery, few could rival the Uchiha clan.
Their Sharingan gave them enhanced perception, insight, and even the ability to copy movements.
That natural advantage had turned them into weapon prodigies, even inspiring several new techniques — such as the Manipulated Shuriken Technique.
The class gathered at the training field.
"Before we begin," Kitazawa clapped his hands, smiling, "I have an announcement to make. We're going to elect a class representative."
"I want to be class rep!" Naruto shouted, standing at attention.
"Me too!" came several voices from around the group.
Even Sasuke's expression stirred with faint interest.
If he became class rep, maybe he'd finally earn his father's approval.
"Do you all know what a class representative actually does?" Kitazawa asked, grinning.
"Manage the class!"
"It's like the Hokage — I'll be the Class Kage!"
"I'm the Class Kage!"
The training field erupted in laughter and chaos.
Kitazawa rubbed his temples. "The class rep's main job is to assist the teacher — helping classmates, collecting homework, passing messages…"
His eyes flicked toward the boy who had declared himself "Class Kage."
He's definitely Naruto.
"Waste of time," Sasuke said coldly.
A proud Uchiha serving as messenger boy? His father would probably spin him like a top.
"Troublesome…" Shikamaru muttered, yawning.
In an instant, most of the students lost interest.
"Alright," Kitazawa said, smiling faintly, "anyone still wanting to be class rep, raise your hand."
Naruto's arm shot up immediately — followed by three others.
"Good," Kitazawa nodded. "From today onward, you four are assistant class reps."
"Assistant? Then who's the real class rep?" Naruto scratched his head, puzzled.
"I am," Kitazawa said with a straight face. "For this semester, I'll observe you all. Next semester, the best one among you will inherit my title."
[Current Mission: Become Class 1-A's Class Representative.][Reward: Water Attribute Chakra.][Mission Complete. Reward Granted.]
Kitazawa's eyes gleamed as the text flashed before him.
Heh. This dumb system is way too easy to trick.
Water Attribute — acquired.
"Alright, let's begin class," Kitazawa said cheerfully.
He unrolled a summoning scroll on the ground and pressed his hands together in a seal.
With a poof and a cloud of white smoke, several wooden training posts and bundles of kunai appeared.
"Assistant reps," he called out, "two of you set up the posts, the other two hand out the kunai."
"Yes, sensei!" Naruto shouted energetically.
In his mind, being class rep — or assistant — was a step toward his dream: earning everyone's recognition.
After a fifteen-minute explanation on throwing techniques, Kitazawa smiled.
"Alright, let's begin. Your target is the center of the wooden posts."
With a whoosh, Sasuke raised his hand and threw a kunai in one smooth motion.
It curved midair — a perfect arc — and landed dead center in the target.
"Wow!"
The girls, led by Sakura Haruno, erupted in squeals.
Kitazawa's eyebrow twitched.
Show-off.
He could practically smell the Uchiha pride radiating off the boy.
This one was going to be difficult to deal with.
"I can do that too!" Naruto shouted, unwilling to lose.
Gripping his kunai tightly, he threw it with all his strength.
Thunk!
He blinked. "I hit it!"
"...Naruto," Shikamaru sighed, "that was my target."
Naruto froze mid-celebration.
Kitazawa couldn't help but laugh. "Mistakes happen. Don't get discouraged — just practice more."
He smiled knowingly. "And for those who hit the bullseye, I'll be handing out a snack prize pack."
"Snacks?!"
Choji Akimichi's eyes widened like saucers.
"Alright!"
The class erupted with excitement.
Even in the ninja world, children were still children — snacks were the ultimate motivator.
"Immature," Sasuke muttered under his breath.
He wasn't a little kid anymore — almost six, after all.
Still, with everyone suddenly full of energy, the rest of class passed in laughter and motion.
When the bell finally rang, Choji sprinted to the front, proving that fat could, in fact, be fast.
"Thanks, Sensei!" he said between breaths as Kitazawa handed him his prize.
"Hinata, wait a moment before you leave," Kitazawa called gently as the class filed out.
"Ah— yes…" Hinata Hyuga froze, blushing as everyone's eyes flicked her way.
She quickly lowered her head, accepting her snack quietly, fingers fidgeting with the hem of her jacket.
Once everyone had gone, Kitazawa turned to Naruto and tossed him a small snack pack.
"Here, this one's for you."
Naruto shook his head immediately. "I can't take it. I didn't hit the target."
Kitazawa smiled. He remembered how, in the original timeline, Naruto's grades had been terrible — always last in class.
Not because he lacked talent.If anything, Naruto was a prodigy among prodigies — he just never had proper guidance… and the Nine-Tails didn't help matters.
"Don't worry," Kitazawa said, patting his shoulder. "It's just a matter of time. I believe you'll get it."
"I…"
Naruto's voice caught. His chest felt warm, almost strange.
He clutched the snack pack tightly, unsure what to say.
"Go home and rest. I'll see you tomorrow," Kitazawa said kindly.
"Yeah!" Naruto beamed, then turned and ran toward the academy gate.
When he arrived home, a familiar figure was waiting for him.
"Grandpa Third!" he shouted, face lighting up with joy.
The old Hokage smiled kindly in return.