Ichiraku Ramen.
"Kiba, I'm full. Thanks for treating me today." Naruto patted his stomach with a satisfied expression.
"Next time, it's your turn to treat. Get your wallet ready." Kiba elbowed him playfully as he spoke.
"Don't worry, I've got plenty of money," Naruto replied nonchalantly.
Kiba was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected Naruto not to retort—somehow, it made him feel a little awkward.
"See you tomorrow, Naruto," Kiba grinned and waved.
The two parted ways in front of Ichiraku Ramen.
After Kiba disappeared from view, Naruto retracted his gaze and walked toward home with a smile on his face. A few minutes later, he opened the door, stepped into the room, and quickly located the green jumpsuit.
He changed out of his clothes and put on the green tights, preparing to head out in search of Might Guy.
Just then, a voice startled him.
"Heading out right after school, Naruto?" Hiruzen looked at Naruto, dressed in green tights, and couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth. But as Hokage, he maintained his composure.
"Grandpa Third!" Naruto's face lit up with joy.
"Have you eaten yet?" Hiruzen glanced around and didn't see Naruto's usual instant noodles.
"Yeah, Kiba treated me to Ichiraku Ramen." Naruto's grin widened.
"Oh? Why did he treat you?" Hiruzen asked, sitting down.
"I ranked sixth in the class this month—one spot above Kiba!" Naruto took out his report card and said excitedly, "Look, Grandpa Third!"
"Congratulations. Your hard work is paying off." Hiruzen studied the report card. Though surprised, he found it reasonable. He knew exactly what Naruto had done over the past month.
"Yeah!" Naruto nodded enthusiastically and added, "Teacher Kitazawa helped me a lot."
"Then you should definitely thank Kitazawa." Hiruzen smiled. Without Kitazawa's semi-cheating homework assistance, Naruto wouldn't have placed sixth.
"I understand." Naruto beamed. "He also taught me the Shadow Clone Technique!"
"Kitazawa certainly has keen eyes." Hiruzen sighed.
He hadn't expected Naruto to be so compatible with the Shadow Clone Technique, but Kitazawa had seen it immediately.
It was just a pity—his strength was still somewhat lacking. Otherwise, Kitazawa could have been Naruto's Jonin squad leader.
"I heard your class is going to have a friendly match with Second-Year Class A?" Sarutobi Hiruzen changed the subject.
"Next week." Naruto nodded.
"The second-years are the elite students. Do you have confidence?" Hiruzen asked, watching him.
"Yes!" Naruto clenched his fists. "I'm fighting against elites!"
"A one-year gap isn't easy to overcome." Hiruzen shook his head.
"But we've got Teacher Kitazawa!" Naruto said confidently, "We're definitely going to win!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was quiet for a moment. It seemed Naruto trusted Kitazawa deeply.
Thinking back, it was understandable. He himself had never met such a dedicated teacher during his school years. Not only did Kitazawa help with academics, but he also taught ninjutsu.
"The outcome doesn't matter. What matters is having no regrets." Sarutobi Hiruzen said after some thought, "Just do your best."
Even with Kitazawa's guidance, defeating students with a year more experience wasn't an easy task.
"I will!" Naruto nodded.
"Want to hear more about the Fourth Hokage today?" Hiruzen offered.
"Maybe next time." Naruto looked conflicted. "I promised Guy-sensei I'd train with him today."
"Then go. A promise is a promise." Hiruzen patted his head. "I'll tell you next time."
"Bye, Grandpa Third!" Naruto dashed out without another word.
"This kid—he didn't even close the door. He's not like Minato at all." Hiruzen closed the door, stood still for a moment, then left.
Not long after, he arrived at Kitazawa's house.
Just as he was about to knock, a surge of strong chakra caught his attention. Hiruzen let out a soft "hmm" and walked around to the back.
There, he saw Kitazawa practicing ninjutsu. He recognized it immediately—Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu.
"Hokage-sama?" Kitazawa noticed him and quickly walked over.
"How long have you been practicing the Great Dragon Fire Jutsu?" Hiruzen asked curiously.
"A week and a half," Kitazawa answered honestly.
"You've learned the Great Dragon Fire Jutsu in a week and a half? Your Fire Style talent is quite good." Sarutobi Hiruzen looked genuinely surprised.
Until now, he had thought of Kitazawa as just an average Chunin. But judging by this Fire Jutsu, he was anything but average—at least an elite Chunin.
"Hokage-sama, you flatter me," Kitazawa replied humbly.
"No need to be modest. I am the Hokage, after all—I have some judgment." Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and added, "In two days, I'll be holding a Special Jonin selection. I'll recommend you."
Special Jōnin were shinobi recognized for their exceptional skills in specialized fields like education, espionage, surveillance, interrogation, or assassination."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!" Kitazawa said gratefully.
He didn't mind becoming a Special Jonin. It would allow him to take on more advanced missions and increase his salary and benefits as a teacher.
"It's nothing. I'm only signing you up." Hiruzen smiled. "Whether you pass depends on your ability."
In Konoha, promotions from Genin to Chunin, Special Jonin, and Jonin required official assessments. But the Hokage could hold private evaluations for individuals—a rare privilege.
This was clearly for Naruto's sake.
[Your strength has caught the attention of Principal Sarutobi Hiruzen. He has opened the Special Jonin assessment for you.
Current Task: Pass the Special Jonin assessment.
Task Reward: Mastery-level Chakra Form Transformation.]
[Do you accept?]
Kitazawa stared at the text in front of him, momentarily stunned.
An unexpected bonus? Mastery-level Chakra Form Transformation? That's basically the foundation for learning the Rasengan.
Of course, it applied to many other jutsu as well—most ninjutsu involved chakra form manipulation.
"I'll give it my best." Kitazawa nodded.
"Your class is facing Second-Year Class A next week. What are your chances?" Hiruzen asked.
"Fifty-fifty." Kitazawa thought for a moment before answering modestly.
"You're quite confident." Hiruzen raised his brows with a smile.
"Are you free next Friday?" Kitazawa recalled his earlier boast to Mizuki. "I'd like to invite Hokage-sama to be the referee."
"Sure." Hiruzen agreed without hesitation. "I want to see how you defeat Class A of the second year."