A week passed in a flash.
Over the past five days, the students of First Grade Class A had been preparing for the monthly exam on Sunday, as well as the friendly match with Second Grade Class A scheduled for next week.
After a month of intensive training, Sasuke and Hinata had essentially met Kitazawa's expectations.
The chances of defeating Second Grade Class A were high, but the outcome would ultimately depend on the situation during the match.
---
Saturday.
Behind Kurenai's house. Kitazawa stood in the open space and formed a one-handed seal.
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
A large amount of chakra surged into his throat as he leaned back slightly and exhaled a blazing fire dragon.
Uchiha Sasuke had given him four Fire Style ninjutsu. Aside from Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique, which was a C-rank jutsu, the other three were all B-rank techniques.
Among them, Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation had already been granted to him as a system reward and had been mastered long ago.
Between Phoenix Crimson Claw and Great Dragon Fire, he had chosen the latter. After four days of study, he had now grasped the Great Dragon Fire Jutsu.
His mastery was still preliminary—he could only release a single fire dragon. Once perfected, he would be able to unleash three, greatly enhancing its power.
At that moment, a round of applause echoed from behind. Kitazawa was slightly startled. He withdrew his chakra and turned around, only to see Tsunade clapping with a smile, and Shizune looking pleasantly surprised.
"With your level of strength, why would you become a teacher at the ninja academy?" Tsunade stopped clapping and said, "Being able to form one-handed seals alone—very few shinobi can do that."
"I like working with children," Kitazawa responded with a smile, already familiar with this line of questioning.
"Do you have a good relationship with the Uchiha clan?" Tsunade nodded slightly and asked. She had immediately recognized the jutsu he used—Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique.
While the Great Fireball Technique was widespread, B-rank Fire Style ninjutsu was rarely seen outside the Uchiha clan. For a Chunin like Kitazawa to use it was certainly intriguing.
"It was a gift from Sasuke. I taught him ninjutsu." Kitazawa explained truthfully.
He had no intention of hiding it—on the contrary, he wanted Tsunade's acknowledgment. With her as a witness, using one-handed seals or advanced Fire Style techniques in the future wouldn't cause trouble.
"Mikoto's second son?" Tsunade sighed. "I can't believe Mikoto's younger son is already old enough to attend the academy."
The last time she had seen Uchiha Mikoto was at the funerals of Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina. In the blink of an eye, six years had passed.
"Your training is on hold for now." Tsunade got to the point. "Come with me to see the old man."
"Did you complete the third jutsu?" Kitazawa's eyes lit up.
"Yes, it's finally finished," Tsunade replied and started walking away.
"What's the name of the new technique?" Kitazawa asked as he walked alongside Shizune.
"Magic Heart Technique, a C-rank genjutsu." Tsunade said casually, "Its effect is to trigger the patient's psychological illness."
Previously, Kitazawa and Kurenai had envisioned a jutsu that could locate a patient's negative emotions. But after Tsunade's modifications, it had evolved into a genjutsu capable of reproducing a patient's mental illness directly.
In short, no matter the condition, the patient couldn't escape. Of course, it wasn't the most comfortable technique for the one being treated. But for the sake of healing, some sacrifices were inevitable.
Bang! Tsunade raised her leg and kicked open the Hokage's office door.
"How many times must I tell you to knock when I'm working?!" Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly hid his crystal ball and looked serious.
"Disrespectful old man." Tsunade sneered, clearly unimpressed. Jiraiya's peeping habits were clearly inherited from him.
"I was just patrolling the village." Hiruzen cleared his throat and asked, "Why are you here?"
"Here." Tsunade tossed him a ninjutsu scroll.
Hiruzen opened it and examined its contents. Moments later, he nodded with satisfaction. "A technique designed to treat mental illness…"
He put the scroll aside and said, "Kitazawa, go to the Anbu and collect one million ryo."
"One million per person?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"One million per ninjutsu." Hiruzen corrected her. Tsunade might want to take advantage, but he wouldn't let her get too greedy.
"You're so stingy." Tsunade frowned, clearly displeased.
"The village's funds aren't for casual use," Hiruzen replied with a stern expression.
"Enough. I don't want to hear another word." Tsunade impatiently grabbed Kitazawa's hand and pulled him out.
"Tsunade-sama, how are we splitting the money?" Kitazawa asked, glancing at her soft, fair hand.
"I'll take 400,000. You and Kurenai will get 300,000 each." Tsunade decided after a moment's thought. Though she wanted more, she still had her principles.
"Alright." Kitazawa had no objections. Tsunade had contributed the most, and 400,000 wasn't excessive.
If anything, he was the one benefiting—his role was the smallest. But as the saying goes: If there's profit on the table and you walk away, the only loser is you.
"Kitazawa, want to go gambling?" Tsunade asked, eyes gleaming as she took the money.
"I'm not interested." Kitazawa shook his head.
In his past life, he was an upstanding young man—he kept clear of gambling and drugs.
"Then lend me 100,000?" Tsunade extended her hand hopefully.
"Nope." Kitazawa smiled. "Unless you take me as your student."
"It's not that easy to become my student." Tsunade was briefly stunned, then parted her red lips. "You're not qualified—yet."
She was one of the Legendary Sannin. Her apprentice had to be a medical genius. At 21, Kitazawa was still a Chunin—not promising enough.
In the original series, her only students were Shizune and Haruno Sakura.
"Maybe one day, you'll change your mind." Kitazawa wasn't surprised by the rejection. He'd only been testing the waters and hadn't expected a yes.
He actually had another idea Tsunade might find more acceptable: a mutual exchange of knowledge.
Tsunade could teach him medical ninjutsu, and he could one day teach her Wood Style—or something similar. After all, the system only required a nominal teacher-student bond.
But his current strength wasn't enough to teach her. Still, with the system, anything was possible. System… let me see your limits!
"Then I'll be waiting." Tsunade didn't take it seriously. She quickly forgot the matter and headed for the casino. "See you, Kitazawa."
Shizune gave him a glance, unsure what he was thinking.
---
Saturday came and went. Sunday arrived.
Today was the monthly May exam—the written portion. Tomorrow's exam will cover practicals, just like April's: Clone Technique, physical fitness, and ninja tool throwing.
"Naruto, are you ready?" Kitazawa entered the classroom with the test papers.
"First place is mine!" Naruto grinned brightly. "Just watch me unleash my youth, Teacher Kitazawa!"
"Here comes the braggart again. You didn't even make the top ten last time, and now you're aiming for first?" Kiba snorted.
"You were only sixth!" Naruto put his hands on his hips. "This time, I'll surpass you!"
"Really?" Kiba raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "If you do, I'll treat you to Ichiraku Ramen."
"Deal!" Naruto agreed instantly.