Kitazawa had one fewer class today compared to yesterday.
The morning was devoted to Will of Fire indoctrination, and the afternoon was Practical Combat Training.
After his morning class, Kitazawa returned to the office.
He casually picked up the homework stack on his desk and began grading.
Practical classes didn't have written homework, so he was reviewing assignments for Konoha History and The Will of Fire.
Neither subject was particularly difficult, so everyone passed. A few assignments were even exceptionally well-written.
To Kitazawa's surprise, Naruto Uzumaki was among the top performers.
It seemed his teaching methods were actually working.
This wasn't Kitazawa blowing his own trumpet; in the original story, Naruto was the "dead last." Being dead last meant exactly that—he was at the absolute bottom of the class in both theory and practice.
Time passed until the final period: Practical Combat Training.
"Today's lesson is still kunai throwing."
Kitazawa stood before the students. "Those who haven't mastered it should continue practicing. Those who have mastered it are free to do as they please."
Hearing this, many students were surprised—especially the clan geniuses led by Sasuke Uchiha and Shikamaru Nara.
After all, "free time" was basically equivalent to skipping class with permission.
"Damn it! The Great Me miscalculated!"
Kiba Inuzuka turned to stone instantly, wailing in regret. "If I had known, I would have shown my true power yesterday!"
"I'm definitely going to hit the bullseye today!"
Naruto clenched his fists, determined.
He had already received a snack pack from Kitazawa yesterday. If he couldn't perform today, it would be too embarrassing.
Hinata glanced at Kitazawa.
After a moment of hesitation, she decided to stay and continue practicing throwing, even though she had mastered the basics long ago.
"This teacher is really unique. I like him."
Shikamaru found a nice patch of grass, laced his fingers behind his head, and lay down comfortably.
"Indeed."
Choji sat next to him, ripped open a bag of chips, and began crunching loudly.
"Sasuke-kun!"
Sakura flew over to Sasuke. "Can you teach me that trick you did yesterday with the curving kunai?"
"I don't have time."
Sasuke rejected her ruthlessly.
Without looking back, he walked to the far side of the training ground.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Sasuke formed the hand seals, chakra surging as he exhaled a fireball about the size of a fist.
A look of disappointment crossed his face.
Although everyone called him a genius, compared to his brother Itachi, he was mediocre.
His brother had mastered the Great Fireball Technique after seeing it just once. Sasuke couldn't do that.
"Why?"
Sasuke gritted his teeth.
He just wanted to learn it quickly so he could get praise from his father and brother. Whenever he imagined that scene, the corners of his mouth would turn up involuntarily.
But unfortunately, it remained a fantasy.
"Your chakra control isn't good enough."
A voice suddenly spoke from behind him.
Sasuke whipped around to see Kitazawa.
He froze for a second, his expression shifting, but he quickly regained his composure.
Kitazawa was just an ordinary Academy teacher, not even an Uchiha. How could he possibly know the intricacies of the Great Fireball Technique?
Sasuke didn't believe he had any special insight.
"Follow me."
Kitazawa saw right through Sasuke's thoughts.
He wasn't surprised; this was the pride of the Uchiha, after all.
But this was a rare opportunity to complete his mission, and he didn't intend to miss it.
"Where are we going?" Sasuke asked, confused.
"You'll know soon enough."
Kitazawa led him to a secluded training area within the school grounds.
Just as Sasuke was about to ask another question, the scene before him left him dumbstruck.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Kitazawa unleashed his chakra, exhaling a colossal sphere of roaring flame.
To Sasuke's shock, this jutsu was even more powerful and massive than the one his brother Itachi performed.
This completely shattered his worldview.
"Want to learn? I'll teach you."
Seeing the boy's blank expression, Kitazawa couldn't help but smile.
Although the Great Fireball Technique was the signature jutsu of the Uchiha Clan, because it was easy to learn and powerful, many non-Uchiha jonin knew it too.
This included Kitazawa's late, cheap sensei.
Because of this, Kitazawa didn't have to worry about anyone questioning the source of his jutsu.
It took Sasuke a long while to recover his senses.
If he could produce a fireball that huge, his father and brother would definitely look at him with new eyes.
"Kitazawa-sensei, I want to learn."
Sasuke's spirit ignited, and he answered immediately.
He wasn't as socially withdrawn as he would become later in the story, so he didn't hold back his desire out of pride.
"If you want to master the Great Fireball Technique, you need to start with two things."
Kitazawa smiled. "First is Chakra Control, and second is Chakra Nature Transformation."
The original story didn't explicitly detail how to train Fire Nature Transformation, but it went into great depth for Wind.
This was seen when Naruto learned Wind Release from Asuma.
Step one: Cut a leaf with wind chakra.
Step two: Cut a waterfall with wind chakra.
Step three: Apply the nature transformation to the jutsu.
"Nature Transformation is too early for you. I'll teach you how to improve your chakra control first."
Kitazawa pointed to a tall tree nearby. "Focus your chakra into the soles of your feet and climb up that tree. Without using your hands."
The Great Fireball Technique actually involved Shape Transformation as well. But since it was just a C-rank jutsu and not the Rasengan, the shaping wasn't difficult; you just had to make it big and round.
Just that simple?
Sasuke looked skeptical.
"Go try it."
Kitazawa smiled without explaining further.
He remembered that in the original story, Sasuke failed his first attempt at tree climbing. That was after he had graduated. Now, having just entered the Academy, it would likely be even worse.
"Watch me climb to the top in one breath!"
Sasuke sensed Kitazawa's doubt and huffed softly, walking toward the tree.
He applied chakra to his feet, stepped onto the vertical trunk, and began to walk up.
"Isn't this easy?"
Sasuke took two steps, a smug smile forming on his lips.
But popping the champagne too early always signaled trouble.
As Sasuke reached the middle of the trunk, his expression changed, and he slipped, falling to the ground.
"How was it?"
Kitazawa grinned.
"It... the bark was too slippery!"
Sasuke's face turned red, and he argued stubbornly.
He scrambled up, took a deep breath, and charged at the tree again.
[Current Mission: Gain the initial recognition of your classmate, Sasuke Uchiha.]
[Mission Reward: Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique.]
[Host has completed the task. Rewards have been distributed.]
Kitazawa raised an eyebrow. Being a tsundere is so out of style.
A flood of information instantly entered his mind.
As Kitazawa watched Sasuke struggle with the tree, a problem surfaced in his thoughts.
How should he explain the source of the jutsu rewarded by the System?
For low-level jutsu, he could claim they were taught by his late captain or teammates. After all, dead men tell no tales.
But starting from B-rank and up, that excuse wouldn't hold water.
Ninjas had two main ways to acquire jutsu: being taught by a teacher, or receiving them as rewards from the village for merit.
Kitazawa rubbed his chin, falling into deep thought.
[Your lifelong rival, Sasuke Uchiha, is studying Fire Release hard; you cannot slack off.]
[Current Mission: Master a C-rank difficulty Ninjutsu faster than Sasuke Uchiha.]
[Mission Reward: Shuriken Manipulation Technique.]
[Do you accept?]
The sudden text made Kitazawa pause.
Me, an ordinary teacher, becoming the lifelong rival of the Savior of the World? This System really is setting me up.
Although he was happy to see a new mission, this one was deceptively simple.
Because he didn't actually have a new C-rank jutsu to learn.
Should I go see Hiruzen Sarutobi?
Kitazawa rubbed his temples.
He didn't have enough seniority yet. Acting too rashly would seem arrogant.