"Class dismissed." Kitazawa said with a smile, "See you tomorrow."
"Goodbye, Teacher Kitazawa!" After bidding farewell, the students from both classes began to leave one after another.
Although it was their first joint class, everyone felt it was a refreshing experience, except Uchiha Sasuke.
After losing to Hyuga Neji, Sasuke had a gloomy look the entire class, as if everyone owed him five million ryo.
"Sasuke," Kitazawa called out, stopping him. "Neji is a year older than you and has already awakened his Byakugan. Losing to him is completely normal."
"But—" Uchiha Sasuke hesitated.
He understood the logic, but emotionally, he couldn't accept it. He was a proud member of the Uchiha clan.
If word got out that he lost to Neji, it would be humiliating. But more than anything, he dreaded seeing Uchiha Fugaku's disappointed gaze.
"Then have you considered why you lost?" Kitazawa looked at him and asked.
Uchiha Sasuke was stunned. He hadn't. After losing to Neji, all he could think about was learning more Fire Style jutsu and why his Sharingan still hadn't awakened.
Kitazawa saw the look on his face and couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth. Typical Sasuke—the type to forget the pain once the wound closes.
Every time he powered up, he'd get beaten down immediately afterward. A classic example: after unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan, he went after the Eight-Tails, then crashed the Five Kage Summit—both events ended disastrously.
If not for Uchiha Itachi, he probably would've gone blind the fastest in Uchiha history.
"Because he had his Byakugan activated." Sasuke finally answered, "That's why my Shuriken Manipulation Technique didn't work on him."
"What else?" Kitazawa nodded and asked again.
Sasuke frowned slightly. What else was there? He tried to think deeply.
"His taijutsu is better than mine!" Sasuke suddenly realized, raising a finger. "Once he gets in close, I can't do anything."
But even as he said that, his mood worsened. The Uchiha clan was known for their Sharingan and genjutsu. The Hyuga clan excelled in Byakugan and Gentle Fist.
Taijutsu was Hyuga Neji's specialty; it was almost impossible to beat him in that field.
"If I could awaken my eyes, I could definitely defeat him!" Sasuke clenched his fists.
With the Sharingan, he could predict Neji's movements and counter. Without it, he simply couldn't keep up.
He hadn't even seen the last four strikes that sent him flying.
"Don't be obsessed with the Sharingan. You have other strengths." Kitazawa shook his head and reminded him.
"You mean Fire Style?" Sasuke thought about it.
Fire jutsu was the only thing that had threatened Neji. But unlike Kitazawa, he couldn't cast it as effortlessly. And Neji had dodged it with the Byakugan.
"Yes, Fire Style is your advantage." Kitazawa smiled, "If your Fire jutsu can hit Neji, then you can win."
"But I can't hit him." Sasuke's shoulders slumped. "Not unless I awaken my Sharingan."
Kitazawa was speechless. There he goes again—always back to the Sharingan.
The Uchiha had developed a dependence on their kekkei genkai, and understandably so. The Sharingan was indeed overpowered.
"Let's leave your eyes out of it for now." Kitazawa patted Sasuke's shoulder and asked, "So after all this, do you know what you should be doing now?"
"Uh?" Sasuke looked blank.
"You really don't like using your brain." Kitazawa sighed. "You need to continue training your Fire Style and improve your taijutsu."
"That's all?" Sasuke gave a small smile.
"Neji's Gentle Fist may be strong, but he's only a year ahead of you—not invincible." Kitazawa explained, "You don't have to master taijutsu. You just need enough to keep up with him once. That one chance is enough to land your Fire jutsu."
In truth, Kitazawa was thinking not of taijutsu, but Lightning Style. Lightning was known for its speed, and Sasuke had a high aptitude for it.
In the original story, Sasuke's Lightning Style even outshone his Fire Style. Unfortunately, Kitazawa didn't know Lightning Style himself.
But others did—like Hatake Kakashi. With Raikiri as his signature move, Kakashi was one of the few jonin proficient in Lightning Style.
Even if Kakashi didn't help, surely the Uchiha clan had Lightning Style techniques in their archives. Still, for Kitazawa, what mattered most was whether a mission would be triggered. Without a mission, he could take things slow.
Besides, without the Sharingan, Sasuke couldn't even learn Raikiri.
"I see!" Uchiha Sasuke's eyes lit up as he felt a sense of purpose. "Teacher Kitazawa, can you teach me taijutsu?"
"You can train with Naruto," Kitazawa thought for a moment before replying.
"No, no, no!" Sasuke shook his head vigorously, his face full of resistance. "I'm not wearing those green tights!"
"It's just training together. You don't need to wear the green tights," Kitazawa chuckled.
It was rare to see Sasuke so adamantly against something.
"Really?" Sasuke asked, still suspicious. "Why would I lie to you?"
Kitazawa wasn't lying. In the original timeline, Hyuga Neji and Tenten were also students of Might Guy—and they didn't wear the green tights either.
"I just go directly to them?" Sasuke asked, slightly hesitant. "Will they even let me join?"
"Yes," Kitazawa nodded. "Even if you don't learn taijutsu specifically, just training with them will make you stronger."
Might Guy's training could be considered hellish. Anyone who trained under him for even a short while would develop a stronger body, and a stronger body means better speed, faster reactions, and more chakra.
"That effective?" Sasuke still sounded doubtful.
But then he thought of Naruto, who had been improving rapidly lately. That alone gave the claim some credibility.
"You'll know once you try it." Kitazawa smiled.
"Alright." Sasuke took a deep breath. "I'll go to him right now."
Kitazawa watched his departing figure, and a thought suddenly crossed his mind. If Sasuke did end up wearing those green tights, would the sheer shame and public attention open his eyes?
And knowing his personality, he wouldn't blend in—he'd stand out like a sore thumb. It would be extra humiliating.
Everyone knows emotional stimulation triggers the Sharingan. And while most Uchiha rely on negative emotions, it's possible to awaken them through positive feelings too.
Judging by how violently Sasuke resisted the tights just now, it might actually work.
[As the monitor of First-Year Class A, you must be able to defeat more than just the strongest of another class.
Current Task: Help Uchiha Sasuke defeat Hyuga Neji.]
[Task Reward: One Magatama Sharingan.]
[Do you accept?]
Kitazawa looked at the mission prompt and couldn't help blurting out, "Wow!"
After receiving the Byakugan, now the Sharingan shows up? If this news got out, both the Uchiha and Hyuga clans would start investigating which of them had slipped up first.
But this mission wouldn't be easy.
Byakugan plus Gentle Fist was a massive advantage in early and mid-game combat. Even with Kitazawa's help, Sasuke beating Neji wouldn't be simple.
At the very least, unless Sasuke somehow learned the Eight Gates Technique, ordinary taijutsu wouldn't be enough.
The only hope was to rely on Fire Style, but that would come down to luck.
Kitazawa stroked his chin. It looked like Sasuke would need to awaken his Sharingan.
With it, he could counter Byakugan's field of vision and reaction speed. Fire Style would also become more effective.
Kitazawa also remembered Naruto's mission—to defeat Sasuke. If they both kept pushing against each other, it would increase the chances of Sasuke awakening his eyes.
And if all else failed, Kitazawa had a backup: Kurama Yakumo.
Genjutsu—especially realistic genjutsu—could confuse the mind and create intense emotional triggers.
In the original series, Itachi used illusions to make Sasuke repeatedly relive the night of the massacre for this very reason.
But for now, Kitazawa shook his head and let the thought go. He had something more important to do today—continuing his study of medical ninjutsu under Tsunade.
---
Meanwhile, Sasuke quickly located Naruto.
He had no trouble spotting the three weirdos in green tights—they were as conspicuous as the sun. Just looking at Might Guy, Rock Lee, and Naruto yelling about youth made his expression tighten with inner conflict.
If anyone from the Uchiha clan saw this… his dignity would be incinerated. How would he even explain it?
Thankfully, Kitazawa promised he wouldn't have to wear that.
"Sasuke?" Naruto, who was currently running upside-down, spotted him.
He immediately flipped forward, twisted midair, and landed perfectly on both feet.
"It really is you!" Naruto grinned. "What brings you here?"
"I want to train with you," Sasuke said after a deep breath.
"Huh?" Naruto's eyes widened.
"W-Why? I can't?" Sasuke was startled by the reaction.
"Sasuke, you've finally embraced the path of youth!" Naruto gave him a thumbs-up, grinning with gleaming teeth. "Come! Let us burn with the flames of youth together!"
"I'm just here to train!" Sasuke frowned and clarified.
"Welcome!" Rock Lee overheard them and shouted, "Training is youth, and youth is training!"
"What? Even the legendary Uchiha acknowledges our youth?" Might Guy suddenly appeared before them, tears streaming. "Marvelous! I feel youth burning brighter than ever!"
"I—" Sasuke was at a loss for words.
"Here! I have a spare outfit!" Might Guy whipped out a green bodysuit. "You want to—"
"I'M NOT WEARING THAT!" Sasuke yelled, recoiling instantly. "I said I'm just here to train!"
"Alright then." Might Guy replied, looking disappointed. Despite his eccentricity, he never forced anyone.
--
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P@atreon/Arvinstorm (45+ Advanced Chapters)