"Damn it…"
Sasuke gritted his teeth, trying to push himself off the ground. His arms trembled, his legs refused to cooperate—the sudden drain of chakra had left his body sluggish and weak.
Across from him, Naruto had already stood, dusting himself off and breaking into his usual grin as he walked closer.
"It was so close!" Naruto said, excitement still sparking in his eyes.
Sasuke's face twisted with frustration. A loss was a loss—and no amount of pride could change that.
But even so… this spar had made one thing perfectly clear.
The gap between him and Naruto—the gap he'd once thought insurmountable—was shrinking.
And for that, much of the credit went to Kitazawa.
Chidori Nagashi and Chidori Senbon he had taught him had both proven invaluable during the fight. Without them, Sasuke might not have lasted nearly as long.
"Sasuke!"
Naruto extended a hand toward him, his grin as bright as ever. "That was awesome! A fight full of youth and spirit!"
"…Next time, you won't win," Sasuke muttered, gripping Naruto's hand and pulling himself up.
Naruto just laughed, teeth flashing. "We'll see about that! The unknown is what makes youth so exciting!"
"…"
Sasuke stared at him, at a rare loss for words. Every sharp retort he threw at Naruto somehow dissolved into that ridiculous, unstoppable energy of his.
"Winner—Uzumaki Naruto."
Kitazawa's voice cut through the chatter. He stepped forward, placing a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. A soft green chakra glow enveloped Sasuke's arm, mending the bite made by Samehada and also the burns caused by the Rasengan's clash with Chidori.
"As expected, Naruto takes the win."
Kiba exhaled, half impressed, half envious.
"But Sasuke's gotten a lot stronger," Neji said quietly, arms folded. His tone was calm, but his expression wasn't. Watching their fight, he'd realized something that left a sour taste—he probably couldn't defeat either of them anymore.
So this was the difference between ordinary prodigies and true geniuses.
"Yeah," Tenten agreed. "Naruto's victory was narrow—really narrow."
"A narrow victory might not be what it looks like," Nara Shikamaru countered, scratching his head. "Didn't you notice? That last Rasengan—it was smaller than usual."
"Huh? You mean Naruto was running low on chakra?"
Ino blinked, then frowned. "No, that's impossible. He's got way too much of it. That means…" Her eyes widened. "He held back."
"Under normal circumstances, the Rasengan's power outclasses the Chidori," Shino added evenly. "Even with Samehada's support, Sasuke's loss wasn't unfair. There's still a gap."
Kiba groaned. "Yeah, well… the gap between us and them is even bigger."
He dropped onto the grass, sighing. "We're just regular people. Can't compare to monsters like those two."
"Correction—demons," Tayuya interjected dryly, arms crossed. "I've accepted it. I'm just a normal genius now."
Ino smirked. "Wow, acceptance looks good on you. Congratulations, Tayuya—welcome to the genius class."
"Hmph! I'm only a temporary member."
"Right, right. Keep telling yourself that."
Then Ino's gaze shifted. "Sakura, you've been awfully quiet…"
Sakura didn't respond. Her expression was blank—despair written all over her face.
Ino couldn't help but laugh. "Sasuke's loss has nothing to do with you, you know."
It was a gap of raw strength, not bad luck or "jinxing." No amount of wishful thinking could change that.
"Sakura," Shikamaru suddenly said, his tone deceptively serious, "next time, don't cheer for Sasuke. Cheer for Naruto."
"Eh?"
Sakura blinked in confusion—but the suggestion almost sounded logical.
Kiba snorted, barely holding back a laugh. "Yeah, but what if she cheers for Naruto and he still wins?"
"…"
Sakura's face darkened. Right—reverse jinxing was still jinxing.
She slumped forward in defeat.
While the group continued their teasing, Kitazawa had finished healing Sasuke's injuries and walked over to where Hiruzen and the other examiners stood.
"Iruka."
"Yes!" Iruka stepped forward, holding out four report sheets. "Here are the scores from all four judges."
Hiruzen and Kosuke hadn't just come to spectate—they were also serving as evaluators for the Genius Class.
Kitazawa quickly scanned the sheets.
As expected, the results were remarkably consistent—only slight variations between judges on a few individuals.
After a short while, he compiled the final rankings.
Ten minutes later, the results of the practical exam were ready.
Kitazawa held the list in his hand as he stepped before the assembled students.
Naruto, Kiba, and the others fell silent at once, their earlier chatter replaced by eager anticipation.
They had their guesses, of course—but until Kitazawa spoke, it was all just speculation.
"I'll now announce the results for this month's practical exam."
Kitazawa's calm voice immediately silenced the room. A breeze stirred the training field as every pair of eyes fixed on him.
"However," he added with a faint smile, "this ranking isn't final."
"Huh?!"
Kiba's ears twitched. "What do you mean, sensei? Don't tell me we've gotta spar again?"
Before Kitazawa could answer, Shikamaru sighed. "He already said this practical exam includes a mission, remember?"
Kiba froze, his jaw tightening. "Oh—right. That thing."
Fortunately for him, Kitazawa didn't comment further, sparing him the embarrassment of admitting he'd forgotten.
"The final ranking will be determined after the mission results are in," Kitazawa continued evenly.
At those words, Sasuke's dark eyes lit up.
There was still hope for first place.
If he performed well on the mission, he could easily overtake Naruto—especially since his theoretical score was already higher. The difference between them was small.
With a chance to reclaim the top, Sasuke's earlier gloom vanished, replaced by sharp, renewed focus.
He wasn't the only one. Neji, Hinata, and several others shared similar thoughts. Their odds might be slim, but slim wasn't zero.
Kitazawa finally looked down at his report sheet. "First place—Uzumaki Naruto."
"Alright!" Naruto threw his fists into the air, his face beaming. "This is youth!"
From the sidelines, Lee immediately burst into tears, shouting, "I too wish to learn from such youth!"
Kitazawa quickly cut in before the two could start crying together. "Second place, Kurama Yakumo."
That one came as no surprise—everyone in the class had half-expected it.
But from here on, the rankings were far less predictable.
Sasuke. Kimimaro. Neji. Hinata. Shino. Any one of them could easily occupy the next few spots.
"Third place—Uchiha Sasuke."
Sasuke exhaled softly. Third place wasn't ideal, but it was within expectations. The gap wasn't large—and he'd make it up during the mission. That much, he was sure of.
"Fourth place," Kitazawa paused for a moment before continuing, "Kimimaro."
That one had caused some debate among the examiners.
Kimimaro had lost three consecutive matches, and he hadn't fought Neji or Hinata. But Kitazawa had his reasons.
This wasn't the final ranking. Despite his losses, Kimimaro's skill was undeniable—and his restraint, during certain moments, had been deliberate. Kitazawa knew it. Giving him fourth place was both fair recognition and subtle compensation for the circumstances Kitazawa himself had arranged.
"Con—"
Tayuya stopped mid-word. She'd almost congratulated Kimimaro, but caught herself. For someone like him—proud, composed, and once the top of Otogakure—fourth place wasn't something to celebrate.
Her gaze softened briefly. At least he's in the top five…
As for herself… Tayuya bit her lip. Please, just let me make the top ten…
"Fifth place, Hyuga Hinata. Sixth, Hyuga Neji. Seventh, Aburame Shino."
Kitazawa's tone remained steady.
Shino's placement, too, had drawn some discussion. With his new Jōmyō Clan techniques and his summoning beast, Queen Bee, he arguably had the power to defeat either Hyuga sibling. But without a direct match, it couldn't be confirmed—and the Queen Bee was technically an external weapon.
"If we let Tenten use Shiromari," Kitazawa had noted earlier, "the results would look different."
"Ugh… it's over," Kiba muttered, rubbing the back of his head. "Am I seriously not even in the top ten?"
"There are three spots left," Hana reminded him gently. "Don't give up yet."
Tayuya clenched her fists and shut her eyes. Top ten. Please… just top ten.
"Eighth place—Yamanaka Ino."
Kitazawa smiled faintly.
Although Ino had lost to Sakura, she'd won two other matches decisively—largely due to her Genjutsu. For most young ninja, that was still an Achilles' heel. Even among the so-called "geniuses," few had mastered how to properly dispel illusions.
Realistically, there was even a tiny chance she could beat Kimimaro with the right setup. Not likely—but possible.
"Ha!" Ino placed her hands on her hips, chin high. "Looks like I win, Sakura!"
Sakura deflated instantly. First Sasuke, now this—a double loss.
"Ninth place—Nara Shikamaru."
Shikamaru sighed, his mouth twitching. "Figures. Even doubling my effort only gets me ninth. How troublesome."
Still, he couldn't deny he'd improved. The Body Flicker Jutsu had finally allowed him to move fast enough to make use of his intellect and Shadow Jutsu mid-battle.
"...Tenth place—Tayuya."
Kitazawa's tone softened slightly.
Despite her three losses, her power wasn't lacking. Her Nuki Oni spirits were still formidable, and once she mastered them, her combat ability would increase dramatically.
After all, in the early stages of a shinobi's development, genjutsu was king.
"Yesss!"
Tayuya's eyes lit up, her reaction a little too enthusiastic. Everyone turned to stare.
She froze. "I-I mean… I'm definitely climbing higher next time!"
Ino chuckled. "Sure you are."
Tayuya's cheeks turned bright red. "Don't look at me like that!"
Kitazawa chuckled quietly and continued.
"Eleventh place, Tenten. Twelfth, Inuzuka Kiba. Thirteenth, Haruno Sakura."
Kiba groaned, collapsing onto the grass. "Twelve?! Seriously?!"
"Fourteenth, Akimichi Choji. Fifteenth, Inuzuka Hana. Sixteenth, Rock Lee."
In truth, beyond the top seven, the rest of the class wasn't separated by much.
In a group this talented, a single breakthrough—a new jutsu, a clever adaptation, even a flash of inspiration—could change the entire ranking overnight.
Kitazawa rolled up the papers, tucking them under his arm. "Alright," he said, his tone easing. "That concludes the rankings for the sparring phase. But don't get too comfortable. Your mission evaluations start tomorrow—and those will decide the true results."
Naruto punched the air again. "Then I'll just win again!"
Sasuke gave a low, sharp "hmph."
Their rivalry sparked once more.
Kitazawa smiled faintly as the students began chattering again.
Yes—this was exactly what he wanted. Not perfection. Not obedience.
Growth.
"How is it that the stronger I get, the lower my ranking goes?"
Kiba finally blurted out, scratching his head in frustration.
"Because Kimimaro and Tayuya joined the class," his sister Hana replied calmly. "With talents like them added to the mix, staying in the top eighteen is already impressive."
She wasn't wrong—there were simply too many monsters in the so-called "Genius Class."
"Tch. Next time, I'm definitely getting into the top ten!" Kiba clenched his fists with renewed determination.
"What a passionate declaration of youth!" Lee cried, his eyes blazing. "Then I must push myself even harder!"
Taijutsu had given him an edge early on, but now that most of his classmates had started mastering high-level ninjutsu, his advantage was quickly fading. Still, Lee didn't despair—every strong opponent was just another goal to chase.
"Let's all work hard together!" Naruto said brightly, giving him a thumbs-up.
Sasuke's mouth twitched. Please don't.
The moment this "idiot" worked harder, everyone else suffered for it.
Still, Sasuke thought to himself, After this exam, I'm finding Kakashi-sensei. I need to master more Lightning Release techniques.
"...Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, rubbing his temples. "A class full of prodigies—and they're all workaholics. It's exhausting just watching them."
He sighed. No matter how much effort ordinary people put in, they'll still get crushed by geniuses.
Not far away, Kimimaro stood silently, deep in thought. He finally understood why he and Tayuya still couldn't match these Leaf ninja—it wasn't just talent or Kitazawa's training. It was their relentless drive. Their hunger to improve.
And somehow, that realization made him look forward to the next stage even more.
"Now then," Kitazawa said, pulling out another sheet. "That concludes the rankings for the practical exam. Next, I'll announce the results of the theoretical exam."
The atmosphere instantly shifted. Even Sasuke straightened up, his expression tense.
His written test score would certainly surpass Naruto's—but could he outscore Yakumo or Hinata? That was the real question.
If his theoretical ranking slipped too much, his chance at overall first place could vanish.
Kitazawa looked down at the list. "First place—Nara Shikamaru."
Shikamaru let out a long sigh. "Figures. How troublesome…"
"Second place—Haruno Sakura."
Sakura blinked, stunned, before an irrepressible smile crept across her face. For once today, her effort had paid off.
Kitazawa smiled faintly. "Third place—Uchiha Sasuke."
Sasuke's hands tightened into fists. The corners of his lips curved upward—barely noticeable, but unmistakable.
It's settled, he thought. As long as he performed well on the mission, first place was within reach.
Neji frowned slightly. With Sasuke in the top three, his own chances were effectively gone. Still, the next monthly exam was mission-only. If he could shine there, first place might yet be his.
The rest of the class took the news in stride.
Kimimaro had potential, but he'd only been studying for a month. His written scores couldn't possibly match them. As for Tayuya… her theoretical results were abysmal. Among the transfer students, she ranked dead last.
Naruto didn't look the least bit discouraged. He knew he couldn't outscore Sasuke or Sakura on paper—so he hadn't even tried.
Kitazawa closed the folder. "That's all for the theoretical rankings. The final standings will be determined after the mission portion."
He clapped his hands lightly. "You all have ten minutes to rest. After that, I'll announce the team assignments."
With that, he turned and walked toward the group of instructors—who stood a few meters away discussing the next stage.
"I can take anyone this time," the Third Hokage said thoughtfully. "I can't always accompany Naruto. It wouldn't be fair to the others."
As the lead teacher of the Genius Class, Hiruzen was responsible for every student equally—not just the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
"Same here," Kakashi added, hands in his pockets.
Kosuke nodded in agreement. "I have no preferences either."
Kitazawa gave a small nod. "Understood. I'll handle the assignments this time."
He paused to think.
His own destination was already decided—Summoning Island, located off the coast of the Land of Sea.
A strange, dangerous place inhabited by countless summoning beasts. Years ago, shinobi from the Land of Sea had tried to create an "Ultimate Summoned Beast" by stitching together parts from various creatures. Predictably, it had gone berserk and wiped out its creators.
That was exactly where Kitazawa planned to take his team.
He already had a few students in mind.
First—Karin Uzumaki. Her heritage as an Uzumaki would make it easier to earn the trust of Uzumaki Honoka, one of the island's remaining guardians.
Second—Tenten. Her current summoning beast, Shiromari, was powerful—too powerful for most training scenarios. Summoning Island might hold other, more balanced creatures suitable for her to contract.
Originally, Kitazawa had considered bringing Naruto too. The boy had always wanted a summoning beast of his own.
But he dismissed the thought quickly. If Naruto eventually signed a contract with Mount Myōboku, any other summons would only complicate things. Besides, he already carried the most powerful "summoned creature" inside him—the Nine-Tailed Fox.
Instead, Kitazawa decided on Tayuya. Her Nuki Oni spirits were particularly effective against large, beast-type enemies.
Lastly, he added Choji. His Giantification Technique would complement the others well in battles against massive opponents.
That made four students—though one, Karin, was technically unlisted.
Since she hadn't made the top eighteen and lacked combat ability, Kitazawa would keep her name off the official roster for now. It was cleaner—and it preserved the appearance of fairness.
As Kitazawa finalized his thoughts, a familiar prompt flickered in his mind.
[Mission Complete]
Objective: Prevent Tayuya from entering the top five.
Reward: Four Violet Flames Formation (Barrier Technique)
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. A useful reward—powerful and versatile.
But then, another prompt appeared.
[New Mission Complete]
Objective: Prevent Kimimaro from entering the top three.
Reward: Shikotsumyaku (Kekkei Genkai) +20%
Adding that to the 30% he already possessed… Kitazawa now had half of Kimimaro's bloodline power flowing through him.
Yet his body showed no outward changes—no protruding bones, no signs of transformation.
Perhaps that was for the best.
He exhaled slowly, folding the report cards under his arm.
Another exam done. Another mission awaiting.
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