Tuesday.
Mizuki finished breakfast and invited Iruka Umino to go to the Ninja Academy together.
"I wonder if Kitazawa-senpai will come to work today," Mizuki said.
Iruka sighed. "I substituted for him yesterday, and the students really looked down on me."
Although the first-year Class A students didn't say it outright, Iruka could see their disappointment—not with him, but with the absence of Kitazawa.
After all, his teaching skills couldn't compare to Kitazawa's.
"He didn't come yesterday?"
Mizuki was surprised.
Friday was the friendship match between the two classes—could Kitazawa really be so careless? Did he already assume he couldn't beat second-year Class A and give up?
"Yeah."
Iruka nodded slightly. "He took a day off."
"Looks like our class will win the friendship match on Friday," Mizuki said with a smile.
Someone who truly wants to win wouldn't take a day off at such a critical moment.
"Maybe," Iruka said, recalling yesterday's practical class.
Whether it was Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, or Sakura Haruno, all had left him deeply impressed.
Are students really this strong now?
But he knew that it was only first-year Class A students who were impressive, because they had a teacher named Kitazawa.
"How long have you known Kitazawa?"
Mizuki asked indignantly. "Don't you trust your good friend?"
"I… I do trust you," Iruka replied awkwardly.
"…?"
Mizuki sensed the insincerity in his words.
Damn you, evil Kitazawa!
The two arrived at the Ninja Academy's faculty office building.
"Mizuki, and Iruka."
A middle-aged man approached. "This is a notice from the principal."
Mizuki glanced at the notice and was struck dumb.
"What?"
Iruka's face was shocked. "Kitazawa-senpai actually became a Special Jonin?"
The notice was simple: Kitazawa had passed the Special Jonin examination.
The reason for the announcement was related to the treatment of staff at the Ninja Academy.
In the ninja world, strength is ultimately respected above all.
It would be inappropriate for a Special Jonin to remain just an ordinary teacher.
By standards from his previous life, Kitazawa could now be considered a senior teacher or professor.
"He took the day off yesterday to participate in the Special Jonin exam," the middle-aged man explained, then went to another office to deliver more notices.
"I remember that since the Ninja Academy was founded, fewer than ten people have ever been promoted to Special Jonin solely for their teaching skills," Iruka muttered. "It's… impressive!"
Teaching well but lacking strength, or having strength but not teaching well, is the reality.
Due to these factors, there are very few Special Jonin and Jonin teachers at the Ninja Academy—the vast majority are at the Chunin level.
Mizuki instinctively clenched the notice, his face twisted.
Why does Kitazawa get to be a Special Jonin?
He must have connections!
In Mizuki's impression, Kitazawa wasn't that strong—possibly even weaker than him.
The only reason he could become a Special Jonin must be because Hiruzen Sarutobi let him through.
The more Mizuki thought about it, the angrier he got, a mixture of resentment and jealousy.
Iruka noticed his expression and instinctively stepped back.
Mizuki felt a double blow from that small gesture.
"I'm going back to the office!"
He gritted his teeth and left without waiting for Iruka's reply.
Soon, the office was filled with his furious outburst.
…
Kitazawa walked down the street, his mind on a new jutsu.
Yesterday, after eating grilled fish with Kurenai, he returned to the village and ran into Tsunade, fresh from losing all her money at the casino.
With no money left, she had to earn by creating new jutsu and pulled them into discussion.
After an afternoon and evening of deliberation, they had preliminary results: two directions for the jutsu.
One was symptomatic treatment—reducing the pain caused by mental disorders, such as emotion replacement.
The other was fundamental treatment—eliminating the root cause, like memory erasure.
Of course, the method depends on the patient's choice.
The fourth jutsu they settled on was memory erasure.
There were similar jutsu in the ninja world, but they were used for infiltration or reconnaissance.
To use it for treatment, modifications were needed.
Kitazawa walked while thinking, arriving soon at the school.
The moment he entered the office building, he felt the enthusiasm of his colleagues.
"Congratulations, Kitazawa!"
"Kitazawa-senpai, amazing! Please continue to guide us!"
"You're the only teacher in the past five years to become a Special Jonin!"
Kitazawa responded to each, taking five more minutes than usual to reach his office.
He saw the notice on his desk and realized that Hiruzen Sarutobi had publicized his promotion.
"This old man isn't bad at all," Kitazawa thought.
But he knew the reason Sarutobi did this: to ensure Kitazawa would train Naruto and others to inherit the Will of Fire.
If he acted against it, all these privileges would disappear. Kitazawa knew that strength was the most important thing.
But now that he was a Special Jonin, he wouldn't refuse—the salary and benefits were better.
"Kitazawa-sensei."
Hinata Hyuga and Ino Yamanaka entered.
"What about Sakura?"
Kitazawa brought out the breakfast he bought.
"She's eaten and went to the training field with Sasuke," Ino replied.
"Not surprising at all," Kitazawa smiled. "Let's eat."
"Kitazawa-sensei, why didn't you come yesterday?"
Ino bit her rice ball. "You have no idea how much we missed you!"
Hinata nodded in agreement, then blushed when Kitazawa looked at her. After breakfast, the three went to the training field. Ino went to practice water stepping with Sakura as usual.
Kitazawa split a shadow clone to train Fire Style: Great Dragon Flame Technique, while he trained leaf-catching exercises with Hinata.
Half an hour later, he suddenly froze in place.
[Current Task: Learn one B-rank jutsu within half a month.]
[Task Reward: 10% of Senju Clan bloodline.]
[Task Completed. Reward Granted.]
[Due to the activation of the Senju bloodline, Yang chakra nature was automatically obtained.]
Kitazawa instinctively clenched his fists.
As expected, this is a world where bloodlines matter.
Even just 10% of the Senju bloodline brought significant changes.
First, he gained the Yang chakra nature.
Second, his chakra increased—roughly 20%.
Third, his physical strength, including recovery and endurance, improved slightly.