Ichiraku Ramen Shop
"Kiba, I'm stuffed—thanks for treating me today."
Uzumaki Naruto patted his stomach, wearing a thoroughly satisfied grin.
"Next time it's your turn, so have your money ready."
Inuzuka Kiba nudged him with an elbow as he spoke.
"Relax, I've got plenty of cash," Naruto replied off‑handedly.
Kiba blinked in surprise.
He still wasn't used to Naruto not snapping back at him.
"See you tomorrow, Naruto."
Kiba flashed a hearty smile.
The two parted ways in front of Ichiraku Ramen.
Only after Kiba disappeared from view did Naruto turn away, still smiling as he headed home.
A few minutes later he opened the door to his room and quickly found a green jumpsuit.
He undressed, slipped into the green suit, and was about to go look for Might Guy.
Just then a pleasantly familiar voice sounded:
"Heading out right after school, Naruto?"
Hiruzen Hiruzen looked at Naruto in the green jumpsuit; the corner of his mouth twitched, but as Hokage he kept a straight face.
"Gramps!"
Naruto lit up with joy.
"Have you had dinner?"
Hiruzen glanced around but didn't see Naruto's beloved instant ramen.
"I did. Kiba treated me to Ichiraku."
Naruto's smile grew even wider.
"Oh? And why did he treat you?"
Hiruzen asked after sitting down.
"I placed sixth in the class on the monthly exam—one spot higher than Kiba!"
Naruto pulled out his score sheet excitedly. "Look, Gramps!"
"Congratulations. Your hard work has paid off."
Hiruzen studied the sheet, surprised yet unsurprised—he knew exactly what Naruto had been up to this past month.
"Yeah!"
Naruto nodded vigorously. "Kitazawa-sensei helped me a lot."
"Then you should really thank Kitazawa."
Hiruzen chuckled.
Without Kitazawa's half‑'cheating' homework drills, Naruto would never have ranked sixth.
"I will," Naruto said happily. "Kitazawa‑sensei even taught me the Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Kitazawa has a keen eye," Hiruzen remarked.
Even he hadn't realized how well suited Naruto was to Shadow Clones, but Kitazawa had seen it.
A pity his overall strength is a bit low—otherwise he could serve as Naruto's squad leader.
"I hear your class is having a friendly match with Class 2‑A?"
Hiruzen changed the topic.
"Next week," Naruto answered.
"Class 2‑A has the elite second‑year students. Confident?"
Hiruzen asked, watching him.
"Totally!"
Naruto clenched a fist. "I'm gonna beat those elites!"
"A whole year's gap isn't easy to bridge," Hiruzen cautioned with a shake of the head.
"But we have Kitazawa‑sensei!"
Naruto declared, brimming with confidence. "We'll definitely win!"
Hiruzen mused silently.
Naruto certainly trusted Kitazawa—understandable; Hiruzen himself had never had such a dedicated teacher: one who both tutored and taught ninjutsu.
"The result isn't what matters—what matters is having no regrets," Hiruzen said at last. "Just do your best."
Though Kitazawa taught well, Hiruzen still felt it was hard for first‑years of only two months to beat students with a full year's head start.
"I will," Naruto nodded.
"Want to hear more stories about the Fourth Hokage tonight?"
Hiruzen offered.
"Maybe next time," Naruto said, torn. "I promised Guy‑sensei I'd train with him today."
"A promise is a promise—keep it."
Hiruzen ruffled his hair. "I'll tell you next time, then."
"I'm off, Gramps!"
Without another word, Naruto dashed out.
"That kid—doesn't even close the door. So impatient, nothing like Minato," Hiruzen muttered, shutting the door. He stood thinking a moment, then left.
…
Not long after, he arrived at Kitazawa's house.
Just as he raised his hand to knock, he sensed a strong surge of chakra.
"Hm?"
Hiruzen made a small sound and walked to the back.
There he saw Kitazawa practicing ninjutsu—
Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu.
"Hokage‑sama?"
Noticing him, Kitazawa hurried over.
"How long have you been working on the Great Dragon Fire?"
Hiruzen asked curiously.
"A week and a half," Kitazawa answered honestly.
"To master it in just a week and a half—you're quite gifted with Fire Style," Hiruzen said in amazement.
He had thought Kitazawa an ordinary chūnin, but judging by this jutsu he was at least elite‑chūnin level.
"You flatter me, Hokage-sama,"
Kitazawa said modestly.
"No need to be so humble—I am the Hokage; I know talent when I see it," Hiruzen mused. "In two days I'll hold a Special Jōnin evaluation. I'll put your name in."
Special Jōnin are shinobi with outstanding skill in a specific field—education, R&D, interrogation, assassination, and so on.
"Thank you, Hokage‑sama!"
Kitazawa said gratefully.
He didn't mind becoming a Special Jōnin; it meant higher‑rank missions and, as a teacher, better pay.
"It's nothing—I'm only submitting your name.
Whether you pass depends on your own ability,"
Hiruzen smiled.
By Konoha rules, each promotion—genin, chūnin, Special Jōnin, Jōnin—requires an exam, but holding one just for a single person is the Hokage's prerogative.
Clearly, this was for Naruto's sake.
[Your strength has caught Principal Sarutobi Hiruzen's attention. He has initiated a Special Jōnin evaluation for you.]
[Current Mission: Pass the Special Jōnin evaluation.]
[Reward: Master-level Chakra Shape Transformation Level.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa stared at the text before him, momentarily stunned.
An unexpected bonus?
Master‑level Chakra Shape Transformation—
An invitation to learn the Rasengan, and really, a key element in almost every ninjutsu.
"I'll give it my all," Kitazawa nodded.
"Your class plays Class 2‑A next week—what do you think your chances are?"
Hiruzen asked, shifting topics again.
"Fifty‑fifty, I'd say," Kitazawa answered modestly after some thought.
"Pretty confident, aren't you?"
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow with a smile.
"Does the Hokage‑sama have time next Friday?"
Remembering the bold claim he'd made to Mizuki, Kitazawa said, "I'd like to invite you to referee the match."
"Certainly."
Hiruzen agreed without hesitation. "I want to see how you plan to beat Class 2‑A."
~~~
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