A dull thud echoed.
Uchiha Sasuke fell from the tree yet again.
Kitazawa nodded slightly.
Even with his face bruised and scraped, Sasuke didn't utter a single sound.To earn praise from Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi, he was truly giving it everything he had.
Unfortunately, even after an entire class period, he still couldn't smoothly climb to the top of the tree.
"Sasuke,"Kitazawa spoke up to stop him. "That's enough for today. We'll continue tomorrow."
"Kitazawa-sensei, you go on ahead,"Sasuke said stubbornly.
"Rushing things only slows you down,"Kitazawa shook his head. "Training needs balance—tightening and relaxing at the right times. That's how you improve."
Sasuke froze when he heard that.
He didn't fully understand it, but it sounded very reasonable.
Coupled with the shock from Kitazawa's Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique earlier, Sasuke hesitated for a few seconds before finally nodding.
"When you get back, remember to see a medical-nin for your injuries,"Kitazawa reminded him.
"…Alright. Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei."
Sasuke limped toward the school gate.
Kitazawa returned to the training field.
Since class had already ended, most of the students had gone home.Only Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuga Hinata remained.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"Naruto sprinted over excitedly. "I hit it!"
"You hit what?"Kitazawa raised an eyebrow.
"The bullseye!"Naruto shouted proudly.
"Congratulations,"Kitazawa paused, then added, "but don't get cocky. This is just the basics."
"Yes!"Naruto nodded vigorously.
"See you tomorrow,"Kitazawa patted his shoulder. "Next practical class, we'll switch to moving targets."
"I'll work hard!"Naruto waved enthusiastically, completely unfamiliar with the concept of fear, then ran off.
"Hinata,"Kitazawa asked with a smile, "are you nervous?"
"A little,"Hinata replied softly. Looking at his gentle smile, her nervousness eased somewhat.
"Let's go,"Kitazawa said, extending his hand.
Hinata froze for a moment, then instinctively took it.
The warmth of his hand made her cheeks flush slightly.
The two left the academy and arrived at their agreed location—a small grove of trees.
Seeing the familiar surroundings, Hinata's heart trembled.
The last time she'd encountered those three boys, it had been here.
The only difference was that last time it had been snowing—this time, the sky was clear.
"They're not here yet,"Kitazawa said after a brief thought. "Let's set up an ambush first."
Hinata looked up at him, confusion written across her face.
"Well… I am a teacher,"Kitazawa coughed lightly.
Isn't it natural for a teacher to educate students?
Hinata blinked, still not quite understanding.
"I can tell—you really don't understand at all,"Kitazawa said, seeing her dazed expression, and gently pinched her soft cheek.
Her face grew even redder, her pale skin tinted pink.
"Hinata, remember this,"Kitazawa said in a low voice."If you want to overcome fear, you have to face it head-on."
Hinata pressed her lips together, then a determined look appeared in her eyes.
When she blinked again, Kitazawa was already gone.
For some reason, fear suddenly surged in her chest again.
She took a deep breath, turned around, and looked toward the three boys approaching from the distance.
"So you really came alone?"Toranosuke glanced around, surprise in his voice.
"Does she really think she can beat the three of us by herself?"The boy on the left snapped angrily."Boss, she's clearly looking down on us!"
"Hey!"Toranosuke stepped forward and shouted."What do you mean by that?"
Hinata froze in place.
Although Kitazawa had given her courage, she couldn't transform her personality in just two days.
Once fear took hold, everything vanished—her mind went completely blank.
Move, Hinata! Move!
She screamed at herself inwardly, but her body felt powerless, unable to respond.
"I'm talking to you!"Toranosuke barked impatiently."What—are you mute?"
Hinata shuddered and instinctively stepped back.
Kitazawa-sensei… please save me.
"You've successfully angered a male lion!"Toranosuke lost patience and reached out toward her.
At that moment, a violent gust of wind roared through the grove.
Hinata's hair was blown wildly into the air.
She instinctively raised her hands to hold it down.
But when she looked again, her eyes widened in shock.
The fierce wind had slammed the three boys into separate trees.
"AAAHHH—!"Toranosuke let out a beast-like scream.
His whole body felt like it had been torn apart.
The other two boys weren't any better—faces pale, caught between pain and terror.
Kitazawa stepped out from the shadows.
The gust just now had been his doing—Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
This C-rank Wind Release technique's power depended entirely on how much chakra was poured into it.
In the original story, Orochimaru had used it to whip up a gale strong enough to flatten part of a forest.
"W–who are you?!"Toranosuke asked, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
"Just a passing ninja,"Kitazawa said with a light smile."Three boys bullying one little girl. You've completely disgraced your parents."
"N–no, that's not right—you're a teacher!"The boy on the left suddenly remembered."I've seen you at school!"
"How shameless!"Toranosuke pointed at Hinata and shouted."You actually called a teacher for help?!"
"Quiet, snow leopard,"Kitazawa's gaze hardened."And you dare call yourself a lion?"
"T-this isn't fair!"Toranosuke shrank back.
"Fair?"Kitazawa stepped closer."You actually hit the point."
He stopped right in front of Toranosuke.
"You three against one wasn't fair.Hinata asking me for help isn't fair either.So that evens things out."
He continued calmly,"One month from now, right here.You and Hinata—one-on-one. A fair fight."
The same principle applied:only by facing fear could it truly be overcome.
One month was more than enough time for Kitazawa to change Hinata.
When she defeated Toranosuke, that would be real growth.
"Well?"Kitazawa clenched his fist and asked."Do you agree?"
"I agree!"Seeing a fist the size of a sandbag, Toranosuke shouted immediately.
"What about the scarf you stole last time?"Kitazawa remembered his task and asked.
"I threw it over there,"Toranosuke pointed to the left.
"See you next time,"Kitazawa said with a smile after spotting the scarf on the ground.
To Toranosuke and the other two, that smile looked like a demon's grin.They scrambled away in panic, crawling and running all at once.
Kitazawa wasn't worried about them bringing their parents.
He'd already checked—their parents were just ordinary civilian ninja.
Besides, they had attacked first.As a teacher, protecting a student was only natural.
Even if this reached Sarutobi Hiruzen, Kitazawa would still be in the right.
"Hinata, are you alright?"Kitazawa turned back and walked toward her.
She had been frozen in place the entire time.
Hearing his voice and seeing his warm smile, Hinata finally moved—she rushed forward and hugged him tightly.
Kitazawa froze slightly.
He could feel her body trembling.
After all, she was still just a little girl.
Kitazawa raised his hand and gently stroked her head.