"Winner: Uzumaki Naruto."
Kitazawa announced the final result.
Hyūga Neji lost in almost the same way Sasuke did.
Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu plus Wind Release: Gale Palm plus a barrage of tools—about all they could do was barely handle the thrown weapons.
The storm's area was too wide; if they couldn't get out in time, they'd be blasted away.
"That's the end of today's practical exam. Take a short break; I'll announce the rankings in a bit."
With that, Kitazawa went to find Umino Iruka.
"So it's Naruto after all," Tenten sighed.
She'd been rooting for Neji, but there was nothing illegitimate about Naruto's win.
"Who's even supposed to beat Naruto now?" Inuzuka Kiba felt a wave of helplessness.
With Naruto's current strength, he figured even ten years of hard work might not be enough to surpass him.
"There's no such thing as an unbeatable jutsu," came a calm voice—Maruboshi Kosuke.
"Kosuke-sensei!"
The Advanced Class greeted him in unison.
"Sensei, then how do we beat Naruto?" Kiba blurted.
Sasuke, Neji, and the others instinctively looked to Kosuke.
Even Naruto leaned in; he wanted to know where his strategy's weak points were.
"The simplest way is defensive techniques," Kosuke said evenly. "And Earth Release."
"Exactly," Hatake Kakashi added.
Kosuke nodded.
The two of them traded ideas on how to break the gale-storm Naruto created with Gale Palm.
Meanwhile, as Kitazawa and Umino Iruka tallied the results, three lines of text flashed before Kitazawa's eyes:
[Current Mission: Help Uzumaki Naruto defeat Uchiha Sasuke and Hyūga Neji in the next monthly exam.]
[Reward: +1/5 to chakra cap.]
[Mission Completed. Reward Granted.]
Kitazawa's expression went a little distant.
A surge of chakra poured into him, leaving him with a tangible sense of fullness.
His chakra had now reached a staggering three and a half "cards."
More concretely, with Senju Chakra Mode active he could now last an extra thirty seconds.
"Rankings are all set, Kitazawa-senpai," Iruka prompted.
"Thanks, Iruka."
Kitazawa took the roster. "Go bring over the challengers from the other classes."
"Got it."
Iruka smiled. "After last month's shutout, I doubt there'll be many challengers this time."
"Can't be helped—the Advanced Class has too much of an edge," Kitazawa said, scanning the list. "But I'm planning to have them spend this last month serving as teaching assistants for the other classes."
This was the TA program he'd mentioned to Sarutobi Hiruzen earlier.
His students had been grinding special training every day; over time, the pressure mounted.
Acting as TAs would let them relax a bit and also review their fundamentals—both theory and jutsu.
"Teaching Assistants?" Iruka looked puzzled.
"They'll go teach the other classes jutsu—say, the Three Basic Techniques," Kitazawa explained.
"Won't that slow the Advanced Class down?" Iruka asked after a moment's thought. For the other classes, it sounded great.
"Not if we schedule it right," Kitazawa said. "We'll sort out the details in a meeting later. I'll go announce the rankings first."
He stepped back before the class.
Kosuke and Kakashi broke off their discussion and moved aside.
Sasuke and Neji looked reluctant; what Kosuke and Kakashi had been sharing was priceless.
"First, the written rankings," Kitazawa said, opening the roster and reading down the list.
"Shikamaru, you're gaming your score again!" Kiba couldn't help complaining when he heard it.
"What do you mean, gaming it?" Nara Shikamaru spread his hands, grinning. "That's just my true level."
Everyone else gave him the look—yeah, right.
Who else can keep ping-ponging between first and tenth?
"I seriously don't get it," Naruto scratched his head, brain already overheating.
"You're in no position to say that," Ino huffed. "You and Shikamaru both defy understanding."
Naruto chuckled sheepishly. He really didn't understand why he had so much chakra.
"Next up, the Practical Rankings," Kitazawa cut in.
The class fell silent at once.
Compared to theory, they cared a lot more about the practical list.
"First place: Uzumaki Naruto," Kitazawa said with a smile.
"I'm back at number one!" Naruto whooped, even though he'd expected it.
"Don't get cocky—Kosuke-sensei and Kakashi-sensei just laid out plenty of counters to you," Kiba said, clenching his fists.
"I won't let you take first so easily next time," Sasuke said flatly.
"Agreed," Neji added for once.
After time in the Advanced Class, he was starting to enjoy the competition.
Chasing and being chased—it drove him to improve faster.
"Youth means accepting every challenge!" Naruto burned with fighting spirit. "I'll be waiting!"
"So fired up," Shikamaru muttered, shaking his head. "I'll never understand why you have to fight for first."
"That's the charm of youth!" Rock Lee gave a thumbs-up.
"Not everything has to be about youth," Tenten groaned.
"Second: Kurama Yakumo. Third: Uchiha Sasuke. Fourth: Hyūga Neji. Fifth: Hyūga Hinata," Kitazawa continued, motioning them to quiet down. "Sixth: Aburame Shino. Seventh: Yamanaka Ino."
Aside from Naruto jumping to first, the top seven were basically unchanged from last time.
Everyone had improved—but Naruto's jump had been the biggest.
"Eighth: Haruno Sakura. Ninth: Inuzuka Hana. Tenth: Tenten. Eleventh: Inuzuka Kiba."
Kitazawa paused. "Twelfth: Nara Shikamaru. Thirteenth: Rock Lee. Fourteenth: Akimichi Chōji…"
"I'm eighth?" Sakura's eyes went wide with surprise.
Last time, Ino had been the big mover; this time it was her—up from thirteenth to eighth.
That's the advantage of mastering a B-rank Water Release in the Academy.
Most students would never touch that level.
"But you're still one rank behind me," Ino said, flicking her golden bangs.
"Hmph, just you wait!" Sakura shot back.
"The competition's brutal," Tenten sighed.
In just one month she'd slipped from eighth to tenth—even though she'd gotten stronger and learned Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Sakura and Hana had just improved even more.
In her old Class 2-A, rankings never swung this wildly.
"I'm doomed!" Kiba clutched his head. "I fell out of the top ten!"
"It's fine," Hana laughed, patting his shoulder. "Your sis made the top ten."
"How is that the same?!" Kiba groaned.
"Twelfth, huh? Miscalculated," Shikamaru frowned.
He'd been tenth in theory but twelfth in practical, which would knock him out of the overall top ten.
He'd aimed for exactly tenth overall, but he hadn't accounted for Sakura and Hana's explosive growth.
Now he had a problem—how was he going to explain this to his mom, Nara Yoshino?
Kitazawa was about to continue when his brows lifted; he turned toward the Academy gates.
A figure approached and landed before them.
Naruto, Neji, and the rest looked over curiously.
He wore a gray flak vest.
Sasuke recognized it at a glance—Anbu. He'd seen Itachi wear the same kind.
"Kitazawa-sama. Kakashi-senpai," the Anbu said. "The Hokage requests you in the conference room at once for a jōnin meeting."
Kitazawa's heart gave a thump.
Jōnin meetings are usually announced days ahead.
A last-minute summons meant Konoha was in serious trouble.
"Understood. We're on our way," Kitazawa replied with a nod.
The Anbu vanished.
"Kosuke-senpai," Kitazawa said, handing him the roster, "I'll leave the rest to you—there's still the challenge segment."
"No problem," Kosuke answered immediately.
He wasn't a jōnin, but he knew how these meetings worked—and that something big must've happened.
Kitazawa glanced at Kakashi.
They shared a look, then headed for the Hokage Building.
As they walked, Kitazawa ran through the original plot.
In canon, this year had nothing major besides the Night of the Uchiha Massacre.
Because of his butterfly effect, that night was off the table.
That left only one likely culprit: Uchiha Obito.
Kitazawa and Kakashi reached the conference room quickly.
Plenty of people were already there—Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his seat, right on time.
So this kind of emergency meeting meant Hiruzen had gotten the news first—and then called them in.
Shimura Danzō, who'd skipped the last jōnin meeting, was here as well.
"Over here," Tsunade waved him over.
"Kakashi, I'm going ahead," Kitazawa said, then took the seat by Tsunade.
"Kirigakure has declared war," she murmured.
"The reason isn't the Thunder Blades: Kiba… is it?" Kitazawa asked, expression odd.
"You guessed it. That's exactly their stated reason," Tsunade teased. "Looks like you've made history in Konoha—starting a war with the Mist all by yourself."
"Tsunade-sama, is this really the time for jokes?" Kitazawa couldn't help retorting.
But he'd already pieced together the real cause.
Sure enough—Obito.
Grievously wounded and furious, he'd simply had the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura—whom he controlled—declare war on Konoha.
Just to stick it to them.
To Obito, one Mist Village was nothing.
Even if they lost and Yagura slipped his control, Obito wouldn't care.
His true aim was Akatsuki and the Eye of the Moon Plan.
"Relax—the old man won't pin this on you," Tsunade said coolly. "Anyone with eyes can see Mist didn't come at us over a pair of swords."
The Thunder Blades were valuable, but not priceless.
And once war starts, the Mist's losses will be far more than a single set of weapons.
Kitazawa nodded.
In truth, the spark really was him—plus Kakashi.
"The only one you need to watch is Danzō," Tsunade warned. "He'll make a move off this."
"That would fit," Kitazawa mused. "And he'll drag you into it."
Danzō wanted the Hokage's seat.
Tsunade was the biggest obstacle in his way.
Kitazawa had "erred," and he was tied to Tsunade. Perfect for Danzō to exploit.
"Mm." Tsunade had expected as much.
"But picking a fight isn't the end goal," Kitazawa said, rubbing his chin. "He'll try to seize command while he's at it."
War is risk, but also opportunity.
If Danzō became the commander, he'd claw back to the peak of power.
"The old man won't let that happen," Tsunade shook her head. "Danzō's too old to command a war."
"What about you?" Kitazawa coughed lightly.
"…"
Tsunade fell silent.
No one in Konoha was better suited to command than she was.
Among the middle and younger generations, her strength and status were unmatched.
Anyone else was either too old—like Danzō—or too young—like Kakashi.
Hyūga Hiashi and Uchiha Fugaku were options, but they were clan heads first and Konoha ninja second.
Hiruzen would never trust them with it.
Any way you sliced it, Tsunade was the only choice.
"Ever since I met you, nothing good has happened to me," Tsunade rubbed her temples, annoyed.
She had a bad feeling she wasn't dodging this one.
"My fault," Kitazawa said solemnly. "When it's over, I'll go to the casino with you."
"As if war ends that easily," Tsunade shot back.
"Mist is weaker than we are. Figure out why they started this and it'll end fast," Kitazawa said.
"That part's true," Tsunade nodded slightly.
She just couldn't imagine a rational reason for Mist to pick a fight with a stronger village—over a pair of swords, no less.
"All right, everyone's here. Let's begin," Hiruzen rapped the table. "I've just received a letter from the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura—he's declared war on Konoha."
Shock and silence washed through the room.
"Didn't we just negotiate with them? Why a sudden declaration?"
"How did their stance flip so fast?"
"With Mist's current strength, declaring war on us is suicidal!"
The jōnin couldn't help murmuring.
Most simply couldn't understand why Mist would do this.
"Hiruzen, why not state their specific reason?" Danzō cut in.
"They say it's because we won't hand over the Thunder Blades: Kiba," Hiruzen said after a pause. "Clearly, that's a ridiculous pretext."
Just like Tsunade, he believed there had to be another reason.
"Ridiculous? Why?" Danzō snorted. "This started with Kitazawa. He kept the spoils for himself and triggered this war."
"Kitazawa killed Kurosuki Raiga. The Thunder Blades should belong to him," Hiruzen frowned. "How is that 'keeping them for himself'?"
"Fine, but when war breaks out, how much will Konoha lose because of his personal greed?" Danzō abruptly shifted tack, accusing, "I blame Tsunade as well—for failing to teach him properly."
"Danzō!" Hiruzen's tone sharpened. "That's twisting the facts!"
Hiashi, Fugaku, and the others exchanged looks but held their tongues.
This was clearly a power struggle among the village's top brass.
To them, it was the Hokage race—Tsunade versus Danzō.
"Kitazawa followed Konoha protocol. Where's the fault?" Tsunade asked evenly.
"He started a war. That's a fact," Danzō deflected.
"In that case, let him end it," Tsunade said, unbothered.
"Him?" Danzō scoffed. "You think he can?"
"What if it's him and me?" Tsunade lifted her chin, meeting his eyes.
A jolt ran through Danzō—he sensed danger.
He'd come to this meeting to secure command of the war.
He could not allow Tsunade to take it.
If she won, she'd have every reason to become the Fifth Hokage.
"Excellent," Hiruzen said, delighted. "Then I hereby appoint Tsunade—"
He'd expected a fight to make Tsunade commander. He hadn't expected her to volunteer—thanks to Danzō's own "assist."
"Wait!" Danzō cut in. "I object!"
"And why is that?" Hiruzen asked, displeased.
"Kitazawa erred. As his Sensei, Tsunade erred as well," Danzō declared. "How can those at fault lead our forces?"
Ah, so that's your play.
Hiruzen, Tsunade, and Kitazawa understood at once.
"It was an honest mistake," Hiruzen said, giving him a look. "If you think she bears fault, then let her end this war and atone with merit."
"I meant—" Danzō's eyes bulged.
How had this turned around on him?
"Any objections?" Hiruzen raised a hand, cutting him off, and looked to Hiashi and the others.
"None," the jōnin answered as one.
A chill ran through Danzō—broad daylight felt suddenly cold.