"So-called Hokage," Kitazawa said calmly, "is someone who gains everyone's recognition."
He looked around the classroom and continued, "Naruto is your classmate—and your companion. How can someone who mocks their own companion ever become Hokage?"
Quite a few students lowered their heads, shame written clearly on their faces.
As for Uzumaki Naruto, it felt as if sand had blown into his eyes.
His expression was filled with resolve.
From today onward, his dream was no longer just to surpass the Hokage—but to surpass the Hokage and gain everyone's recognition.
In his heart, Kitazawa's position rose to second place, just beneath Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"This teacher… is pretty impressive."
Nara Shikamaru straightened up, losing his usual lazy demeanor, a rare seriousness appearing on his face.
Born into a ninja clan, he naturally knew that Naruto wasn't some so-called monster.
Yet Kitazawa was only a civilian ninja—he shouldn't have known the truth.
The only explanation was simple.
He was kind.
Hyūga Hinata unconsciously clenched her fists.
She looked at Kitazawa, a trace of longing flashing in her eyes.
First he helped her.
Then he helped Naruto.
So… gentle.
[Current Mission: Become the first student in the class to attract the attention of Headmaster Sarutobi Hiruzen.]
[Mission Reward: Wind Release — Great Breakthrough.]
[Mission completed. Reward issued.]
Knowledge and experience related to Wind Release: Great Breakthrough surfaced in Kitazawa's mind.
As expected—the Third Hokage was watching.
Those words he'd just spoken must have hit all the right notes, which was why the mission completed so smoothly.
It was a pity that, aside from Hyūga Hinata and Uchiha Sasuke, none of the other rookies triggered new tasks for him.
"We'll officially begin class now."
Kitazawa picked up the chalk, smiling as gently as a spring breeze.
"The name of today's lesson is The Will of Fire."
The atmosphere in the classroom immediately shifted, no longer as heavy as before.
"Do you know what the Will of Fire has to do with the Hokage?"
Kitazawa wrote the four characters on the blackboard and asked.
"I do!"
Naruto shot his hand up instantly.
"Naruto, you answer."
"Yes!"
Naruto stood up and shouted, "The Will of Fire was proposed by the Hokage!"
"Then do you know why the Hokage proposed it?" Kitazawa asked.
Naruto froze, his expression turning awkward.
That question was far too deep for him.
"It was for you."
Kitazawa's words landed like a thunderclap.
"For… us?"
Naruto stared in shock.
The rest of the class wore the same expression.
"Where leaves dance, fire continues to burn. The firelight will go on to illuminate the village and help new leaves sprout."
Kitazawa explained calmly.
"The core of the Will of Fire is you—because you are Konoha's future. You are its hope."
"I've never heard it explained like that before."
"So I'm actually that amazing?"
"Does that even mean the Hokage has to protect me?"
Hearing their chatter, Kitazawa smiled inwardly.
The Will of Fire itself wasn't flawed.
But putting it into practice—that was another matter entirely.
Take the so-called 'Shadow of the Ninja World,' Shimura Danzō.
He often waved the banner of the Will of Fire while doing all kinds of shady things.
In the end, theory without action was just an empty tower in the sky.
But none of that mattered to him right now.
All he needed was to use the Will of Fire to sweet-talk Sarutobi Hiruzen.
A textbook case of turning the tables.
"Class dismissed. Ten-minute break."
When the bell rang, Kitazawa gathered his materials and left the classroom.
As a teacher, he upheld one good habit—never dragging class overtime.
"Ino, I won!"
Like an arrow loose from a bow, Haruno Sakura dashed to Uchiha Sasuke's side, then turned back with a smug grin.
"No—!"
Yamanaka Ino reached out, her face full of despair.
Tch. Women.
Shikamaru collapsed onto his desk, laziness radiating from his entire body.
To him, women were nothing but trouble—especially pretty ones.
All he wanted was to marry an ordinary woman and live out his days peacefully.
Akimichi Chōji's thoughts were far simpler.
He pulled out another bag of chips.
Eat eat eat.jpg.
Yamanaka Ino gritted her teeth as she watched Sakura showing off, then suddenly thought of Kitazawa.
If the young handsome guy was taken, she'd go for the older handsome one.
Just as she was about to head for the office, a blond figure had already rushed out.
I was clearly here first…
Ino sighed and sat back down.
Hyūga Hinata hesitated for a moment, then quietly took out her textbook and began reviewing.
She was a good student.
"Teacher Kitazawa, wait for me!"
Naruto accelerated like he was taking a drain corner and charged after him.
"Did I explain something unclearly in class, Naruto?" Kitazawa stopped and asked.
"No!"
Naruto shook his head vigorously.
"You explained everything really well—I could understand it all!"
What do you mean, even if you could understand it?
How little confidence do you have?
But on second thought, Kitazawa understood.
During the entrance assessment, Naruto had ranked dead last.
"Then what did you want to ask me about?" Kitazawa smiled.
"I want to know how I can gain everyone's recognition!"
Naruto looked up, eyes full of anticipation.
"You still—"
Kitazawa paused, then changed his wording.
"This is actually very simple. Just learn from the Hokage."
He'd originally wanted to say you're still young; you'll understand when you grow up.
But then he remembered—Sarutobi Hiruzen might still be watching.
"Oh! Right!"
Naruto suddenly realized something.
"I get it! Thank you, Teacher Kitazawa!"
"See you next class."
Kitazawa smiled and turned away.
There were two types of teachers' offices at the academy.
Private offices, and shared offices.
Kitazawa had a private one.
The reason was simple.
He counted as mid-level staff—roughly equivalent to a dean in his previous life.
After all, he'd been teaching for five years and had been named Outstanding Teacher three years in a row.
Cough.
Aside from his teaching ability, the most important reason was that his Will of Fire theory had won Sarutobi Hiruzen's favor.
Survival wasn't shameful.
In Konoha, being able to cling to the Hokage's leg was something countless people envied.
Of course, if he had to choose, he'd much rather cling to the Fifth Hokage's leg.
After all—he was a fan.
Instead of returning to his private office, Kitazawa headed for the shared one.
Six desks were pushed together there, belonging to the six first-year teachers.
"Senior Kitazawa."
Umino Iruka noticed him and quickly stood up to greet him.
"Iruka."
Kitazawa smiled.
"First class—nervous?"
Iruka had only become a teacher this year. He wasn't even eighteen yet.
"A little," Iruka admitted sheepishly.
"That's normal for your first time."
Kitazawa reassured him.
"I just finished teaching. The students are all quite good—you don't need to worry too much."
"Thank you, Senior Kitazawa," Iruka said gratefully.
After watching him leave, Kitazawa walked over to the bookshelf in the corner of the office.
It contained the student files for all first-year classes.
He needed to find the three little brats who had bullied Hyūga Hinata.
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