Kazuki didn't expect to be assigned something like this.
Vice Principal of the Ninja Academy?
That's a huge position.
Hiruzen was speaking from the podium, so Kazuki had no intention of refusing publicly. Worst case? He just wouldn't show up.
Hiruzen wrapped up the meeting with a classic Will of Fire speech.
Where there are leaves, fire burns.The fire's shadow protects the village, and new leaves sprout.
In other words, the young generation is the future. The older generation must trust and protect them.
Their sacrifices aren't meaningless. They pave the way for the next pillars of Konoha.
No wonder the Third Hokage could deliver that speech so smoothly. He must've said it a hundred times already.
After the meeting, Hiruzen patted Kazuki on the shoulder.
"Good work. I believe in you."
Minato walked over as well.
"Kazuki, looks like we'll be colleagues now."
Kazuki scratched his head.
"I'm not really cut out to be a principal."
Tsunade rolled her eyes.
"Don't be dense. Vice Principal just means senior instructor. You get it now?"
"Huh? So that's how it works?"
After Kushina explained it, Kazuki realized that "Vice Principal" was basically just a higher-ranking teacher. There were over ten of them.
So he was basically a senior instructor.
Kazuki went speechless.
You want him to teach?
Not exactly his dream job.
Later that night, Uzumaki Mito called Kazuki into her room.
"Kazuki, what do you think of Kushina?"
The sudden question caught him completely off guard.
"Grandma Mito, Kushina is great. She's beautiful, and—"
Mito waved her hand.
"Forget the polite answer. Let's be honest."
She paused, then spoke seriously.
"Kazuki, you are the last bloodline of the Senju clan. If you're willing, you can treat this place as your home. We are your family."
"I want to ask you something plainly."
"Can I entrust Kushina to you?"
Kazuki's eyes lit up.
He didn't expect Mito to be this direct.
No beating around the bush.
He nodded firmly.
"Yes, Grandma Mito. I can. I will."
Mito snorted.
"You sleep all day. What exactly are you willing to do?"
Then she continued.
"You can tell Kushina has feelings for you."
"If the two of you truly end up together, I'll be the first to approve. I just need to know where you stand."
Kazuki answered without hesitation.
"Of course I do. I love Kushina."
When opportunity knocks, Kazuki doesn't hesitate.
Mito nodded in satisfaction.
"If you want to be with Kushina, you can't drift through life like this."
"Actually, this position at the Academy? I suggested it to the Third Hokage."
Kazuki froze for a moment.
He understood.
"You want me to step up."
"Work hard. One day, you could become Hokage."
Kazuki suddenly smiled.
"So if I marry Kushina… I become Hokage? Is that the deal?"
Mito nodded calmly.
"Is that the dowry?" Kazuki asked with a grin.
"No," Mito replied evenly. "You're already Senju. If you marry Kushina… and when I pass the Nine-Tails to her… you will be Hokage."
"No one will oppose you."
"You have strength. You carry the Senju bloodline. And you'll be married to the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki."
"Understand?"
Kazuki's lips curled slightly.
"Grandma Mito… I don't want to be Hokage."
Mito blinked.
This boy isn't just lazy, is he?
Kazuki continued calmly.
"I want Kushina to become Hokage."
"That was her childhood dream."
"I've always remembered that. I want to help her achieve it."
Mito's eyes brightened.
"Really?"
She smiled faintly.
"Becoming the first female Hokage will be much harder than you becoming Hokage."
"If that's truly your goal, then show me how you plan to make it happen."
At that moment, Kushina's voice came from outside.
"Grandma Mito! Kazu! Dinner's ready!"
Mito smiled.
"Let's go."
The easiest way to make a young man grow up… is to give him something worth protecting.
She believed today's conversation would push Kazuki forward.
What she didn't say out loud was this—
Within two years, she hoped they would marry.
Have children.
Continue the Senju bloodline.
Her body might last five more years.
Maybe ten.
Time was limited.
And just like that, Kazuki officially became a Vice Principal of the Ninja Academy.
Which meant—
Instructor.
Recently, tensions between the Five Great Nations had begun to rise again. Border skirmishes were becoming more frequent.
Konoha needed more active shinobi.
Which meant they needed stronger graduates.
Which meant they needed capable instructors.
And somehow—
Kazuki was now one of them.
On his first day at the Academy, he was immediately handed a task.
"Kazuki, you just got here. We need you to take one graduating class."
[Ding — Based on the host's current situation, three choices are available.]
Option 1:Choose Team Three.Train Might Guy, Ebisu, and Gekkō Hayate.Reward: A-Rank Ninjutsu — Eight Gates Formation.
Option 2:Choose Team Five.Train Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, and others.Reward: A-Rank Ninjutsu — Thousand Hands Strike.
Option 3:Choose Team Seven.Train Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara.Reward: Supreme Gift Pack.
Kazuki narrowed his eyes.
Now this—
This was interesting.