After sending Hinata and Ino off for their respective training, Kitazawa remained at the Ninja Academy to instruct the Genius Class a while longer.
More precisely, he was filling in for Kakashi, who was still away on a mission with his team.
As he observed the students sparring across the training field, a familiar thought crept into his mind, should he increase the number of teachers for the Genius Class?
Up until now, Kakashi and Kosuke had alternated leading missions, taking two teams each. If they added two more teachers, the cycle could be completed in a week instead of two.
With eighteen students, six teachers, one per team, would be the ideal setup. It would make the monthly practical exams smoother, faster, and more efficient.
Kitazawa rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Kurenai immediately came to mind.
Lately, apart from missions with him, she had a fair amount of free time. Teaching the Genius Class wouldn't take much, a few hours of guidance and supervision each week at most. She could even delegate to Shadow Clones while continuing her own training.
The second candidate, however, was trickier.
Gai was a tempting option, his Taijutsu mastery was unquestionable, but the potential collateral damage to Kitazawa's sanity (and the students') made him hesitate.
He could already imagine the chaos. If Gai's brand of "youthful passion" spread among the Genius Class… that would be a nightmare for everyone involved.
Kitazawa exhaled through his nose. "No, definitely not."
Then, suddenly, a thought struck him, a name buried deep in his memory.
Master Chen.
Known as Konoha's Strongest Taijutsu Ninja, the man who had created the legendary techniques Konoha Gale and Konoha Dragon God.
In some ways, Chen was an even better choice than Gai.
Not because his personality was calmer, far from it, but because his Taijutsu style could benefit Naruto and Lee immensely. Especially Lee.
Lee's growth had plateaued because his young body couldn't yet handle the strain of the Eight Gates Formation. Without it, his progress would be slow.
But if Lee could learn the Konoha Gale or the Konoha Dragon God instead… his strength could soar to new heights.
Kitazawa recalled the old stories.
Officially, Chen had "died" during the Third Shinobi World War. In truth, he had vanished into seclusion after the death of his student.
When Lee later visited his supposed grave, he met the man's granddaughter, who brought offerings to the site daily, and she had hinted that her grandfather was still alive.
If Chen truly survived… bringing him back could change everything.
Kitazawa's eyes narrowed slightly.
He immediately dispatched an ANBU unit to investigate the location of Chen's grave, while he himself remained behind to continue teaching.
Half an hour later, the memories of one of his Shadow Clones returned, not from the Academy, but from Amegakure.
Kitazawa closed his eyes briefly, processing the information.
As expected, Nagato's recovery was going well. Another round of medicine, and he would be ready for the final stage, limb regeneration.
At noon, Kitazawa made his way to the ANBU Base.
Konan arrived shortly after.
She had been waiting there quietly, not wanting to disturb him during class.
"I'll prepare Nagato's next prescription now," Kitazawa said, sitting at his desk and pulling out pen and parchment.
Konan stood silently at his side, calm, but visibly more trusting than before. After the success of the previous two treatments, her doubts about him had vanished entirely.
"Done," Kitazawa said, exhaling softly as he handed her the note. "Take this and get the medicine ready."
"Thank you," Konan replied, taking the paper carefully. Then she added, "By the way, the processing plant in the Land of Rain has been completed. It's ready to begin operations."
Kitazawa leaned back slightly, intrigued. "Good. Now, tell me, do you know what market segmentation is?"
Konan blinked, caught off guard. After a moment of thought, she shook her head.
Kitazawa smiled faintly. "It's simple. There are two major markets."
He raised a finger. "The first is the high-end market, aimed at daimyo, nobles, and wealthy merchants."
Konan's expression brightened in understanding.
The expensive jewelry designs Kitazawa had created for Konoha's Ocean Heart brand clearly belonged to that category, luxury items that catered only to the rich.
He continued, "The second is the mass market, products for ordinary citizens and shinobi. That's where the Land of Rain should focus."
Konan fell silent, considering it.
Silver wasn't as valuable as gold or gemstones, but it was accessible, perfect for affordable items. The high-end market would bring fame; the low-end market would bring stability.
"It's smaller profit," she murmured, "but greater volume."
"Exactly," Kitazawa said, smiling. "You won't compete directly with existing jewelers, and you'll give the people of the Land of Rain something they can take pride in. A livelihood."
Konan's brows furrowed slightly. "But… manpower is still limited. We don't have enough workers to scale production."
Kitazawa chuckled quietly. "You're the ruler of the Land of Rain, aren't you? Everyone there is already under your banner. Let them work, give them wages, purpose. They'll support their families and rebuild the country from within."
Konan froze.
For a moment, her calm façade cracked, and genuine emotion flickered in her eyes.
He had just echoed the dream that once belonged to her, Yahiko, and Nagato, a peaceful, self-sufficient Land of Rain.
The Akatsuki had once tried to achieve that dream through force, only to be swallowed by the wars they sought to end.
But Kitazawa's approach, pragmatic, economic, stable, might actually make it real.
"…You're serious," she said softly, meeting his gaze.
Kitazawa smiled faintly. "I don't say things I don't intend to accomplish."
Konan nodded slowly, clutching the prescription in her hand.
For the first time in years, she felt something unfamiliar bloom quietly in her chest.
Hope.
"Of course, that's still a long-term dream. Right now, your priority is simply getting production running."
Kitazawa folded his arms, already planning several steps ahead. "I'll design three silver jewelry lines for your launch and handle all the promotion. In return, I want half the profits."
Konan's brows knit instinctively.
Half?
Her first thought was that Kitazawa was asking for too much.
But after a moment of calm reasoning, she realized it wasn't unreasonable at all.
Ocean Heart's success had already proven one thing: design and marketing determined value far more than raw materials. If Kitazawa handled those two key pillars, then half was not exploitation, it was fair.
"If selling silver jewelry earns at least twice what we'd make selling raw ore," Konan said slowly, "then I agree."
Originally, her plan was to sell silver ore directly.
If crafted jewelry increased profits by even double, giving Kitazawa half posed no loss.
Kitazawa laughed softly. "You really do have a good business sense. Fine, we'll follow your condition. But you'll obey unconditionally when it comes to promotional strategy."
Twice was a severe underestimate, of course.
Ocean Heart's profits weren't double, they were dozens of times higher.
But Kitazawa understood her mindset.
To the Akatsuki, selling silver jewelry wasn't a long-term goal, it was an opportunity born from his guidance.
"I'll bring you the designs tomorrow," he added. "They'll be flashy enough for a grand opening."
Konan nodded.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Kitazawa called.
"Kitazawa-sama," an ANBU operative said, kneeling briefly. "We've located Chen's grave."
"You may go."
Once the ANBU left, Kitazawa also departed the room.
It was nearly noon, perfect timing. He might catch Chen's granddaughter delivering lunch.
He made his way through the quiet outskirts of the village until he reached an unassuming grave.
A sweep of his senses quickly confirmed it—Chen was hidden in a tree nearby.
Not in the grave after all, Kitazawa mused. Makes sense. Sleeping underground would be miserable.
He waited patiently.
Moments later, a young girl approached with a lunchbox.
"Who are you?" she asked, eyeing him curiously. "You look kinda familiar."
"My name is Kitazawa," he replied with a gentle smile. "I'm a friend of your grandfather's."
"You're way younger than Grandpa. How did you even meet?"
Kitazawa cleared his throat. "It's… a long story. Are you here to pay respects?"
"I'm not here to pray," the girl said cheerfully. "I'm here to bring Grandpa lunch."
A tired voice suddenly drifted down from the trees.
"How many times have I told you," it growled, "not to reveal that I'm still alive to strangers?"
The short old man dropped from a branch, sunglasses, hunched posture, unmistakable presence.
"Ah—! I forgot! Sorry, Grandpa!" the girl squeaked.
Chen adjusted his glasses and turned toward Kitazawa.
"Kitazawa-sama," he said. "This is our first meeting. How exactly did we become friends?"
"Gai and I are friends," Kitazawa replied easily. "Therefore, I consider you one too."
Recognizing him was no surprise.
These days, anyone in Konoha who didn't know Kitazawa was the strange one.
"What business do you have with me?" Chen asked.
"Master Chen," Kitazawa said simply, "I'd like to invite you to teach in the Ninja Academy's Genius Class."
"I refuse."
The answer was immediate.
Predictable.
He had exiled himself after losing a student in the Third Shinobi World War. Regret and guilt had swelled into a weight he could not shake.
Kitazawa stood silently for a moment, then asked:
"Don't you want your Taijutsu to be passed down?"
Chen's breath caught.
"Your Konoha Dragon God is still spoken of across the Ninja World," Kitazawa continued. "Letting it fade into obscurity would be a waste."
The teacher–student bond in the ninja world was sacred, stronger than many familial ties. And Chen was nearing the twilight of his life. No matter how he pretended otherwise, he didn't want his legacy to die with him.
Kitazawa then shifted tactics.
"If you join the Genius Class faculty," he said lightly, "your granddaughter will have a legitimate chance to enter the program."
Chen's eyes flicked toward the girl.
The Genius Class held an almost mythical status in Konoha now, its students trained by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Kitazawa himself.
For any child, it meant an open path to greatness.
"You're a capable shinobi," Kitazawa said, voice softening. "Spending the rest of your days hiding here… it isn't worthy of your strength. Sometimes changing your environment is the first step toward healing."
Chen closed his eyes.
Then sighed.
"…I'll try teaching for one month," he said at last.
Kitazawa smiled.
"For what it's worth, Master Chen, I believe the Genius Class will impress you."
"I've heard much about them," Chen admitted. "Very well. I'll come to the Academy tomorrow morning."
Kitazawa gave a polite nod. "I'll see you then."
He turned and walked away.
Behind him, Chen murmured to his granddaughter, "I never imagined I'd become a teacher again."
"I remember now!" the girl suddenly shouted. "He's Hokage-sama's student! I saw him when everyone was cheering after the Hidden Mist war!"
"So you did," Chen said softly, placing a hand on her head. "Come on. Let's go home."
"Grandpa, you haven't been home in so long!"
"…Yes. That's my fault."
The old man led her away, shoulders lighter than they had been in years.
A new day—Wednesday.
By 8:30 AM, Kitazawa had already stopped by the ANBU Base to hand Konan the silver jewelry designs. Afterward, he headed to the Academy with Kurenai in tow.
Unlike Chen, who had hesitated for a long time, Kurenai accepted the position in the Genius Class almost immediately. After completing multiple missions alongside Kitazawa and interacting often with the students, she was already more familiar with them than most of them. Becoming an instructor felt natural to her.
As soon as Kitazawa stepped onto the training ground, he saw Hiruzen, Kosuke, Kakashi, and Chen chatting like old comrades. Whatever they were discussing, the laughter and relaxed expressions said it was pleasant.
"Kitazawa," Hiruzen greeted with a grandfatherly chuckle. "You were clever to recruit Chen. Truly clever."
"I think it's an excellent decision," Kosuke added, eyes shimmering with nostalgia. "I used to run missions with him—we were teammates back in the day."
"That was a lifetime ago."
Chen sighed. "Never thought I'd become colleagues with Kosuke-senpai again."
"And none of us imagined we'd be teaching together with Hiruzen again," Kosuke said with a smile.
"Indeed," Hiruzen mused. "My retirement was supposed to be fishing and mooching meals off old friends. This is far better."
Kakashi and Kurenai traded a look.
Pressure. Immense pressure.
Working alongside three legendary veterans wasn't something you simply got used to.
By 9:00 AM, all eighteen Genius Class students had gathered.
"Before we begin today," Kitazawa announced, "I want to introduce two new instructors—Yuhi Kurenai and Master Chen."
"What will they be teaching?" Ino immediately raised her hand. With Kitazawa as her current instructor, she wasn't eager for a change.
"Kurenai will teach Genjutsu and Sealing," Kitazawa replied. "Master Chen will be in charge of Taijutsu."
"Taijutsu?"
Naruto and Lee both stared at Chen with wide eyes—eyes filled with doubt.
He was short. Unassuming. Almost ordinary.
The other students shared the same thought.
Kurenai was already known to be strong—she'd proven that through missions.
But this… tiny old man?
Kitazawa saw their skepticism immediately.
"Lee, come up. Let Master Chen give you some guidance."
"You're Gai's students, right?" Chen asked, noting the matching green jumpsuits Naruto and Lee wore.
"You know Gai-sensei?" Lee exclaimed.
"Of course I do."
Chen waved dismissively. "Let me see your Taijutsu."
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
Lee dashed forward—but Chen moved faster. A sharp kick struck Lee's calf, sending him stumbling backwards.
"Amazing!" Lee burst forward again. "Then take this—Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
"Konoha Gale."
Chen called the name calmly and executed a flawless three-hit spin-kick, dismantling Lee's stance as if he were a child.
Naruto gaped.
"There's another Taijutsu monster as strong as Gai-sensei?!"
"I used to be known as Konoha's strongest Taijutsu shinobi!"
Chen puffed out his chest proudly.
"Master Chen! Can I join?!" Naruto asked, trembling with excitement.
"Come," Chen said, grinning. "Adding one more won't change anything."
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Hundreds of Narutos flooded the Training Ground.
Chen froze.
Was this a genjutsu?
How could a seven-year-old child be using that technique?!
With no room left to dodge, Chen inhaled deeply.
"Konoha Dragon God!"
A roaring blue dragon manifested, sweeping across the field like a natural disaster and obliterating the wall of Shadow Clones.
Kitazawa flickered forward and pulled Naruto and Lee back before they got hit.
Kimimaro, Tayuya, and Jugo exchanged knowing looks.
They had seen this technique before—when Kitazawa used it in the Sound Village.
Seeing the original creator perform it now only reinforced its awe.
Naruto and Lee, witnessing Konoha Dragon God for the first time, were speechless.
"Master Chen! I want to learn that!" Naruto and Lee yelled simultaneously.
"That depends on your performance," Chen said with a satisfied smile.
Performing his Taijutsu in front of eager, wide-eyed students…
He felt alive for the first time in years.
From the back, Sasuke stared in disbelief.
Multiple Shadow Clones PLUS Konoha Dragon God? How is anyone supposed to counter that?!
Of course, learning Konoha Dragon God wouldn't be easy—it was A-rank, at minimum.
But if Naruto could learn it, Sasuke refused to be left behind.
With that demonstration, Chen earned the entire class's respect.
Kurenai and Chen slipped naturally into their teaching roles, and within days, the Genius Class functioned more smoothly than ever.
Mid-October, Monthly Exam Results
The missions were finally completed.
The monthly rankings were posted.
Sasuke secured first place—and this time, he laughed.
Openly. Proudly. Triumphantly.
Kitazawa watched him, chin resting between his fingers, and a mischievous idea bloomed.
If Sasuke used the Box of Paradise…
Maybe he could bring Itachi along.
A brotherly showdown.
Early.
That would be interesting.
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