The message was brief, almost clinical.
"Please proceed to the Principal's Office immediately."
The entire office froze.
Ueda Aya blinked."The… Principal?"
She wasn't exaggerating. Ninety percent of the Academy's instructors were ordinary chūnin—hardworking, unremarkable, replaceable. But the "Principal" wasn't some middle manager.
The position belonged only to two people in the entire history of the academy:
Senju TobiramaandSarutobi Hiruzen — the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen never showed up unless it was the opening ceremony… or something critical.
For him to summon a teacher alone?
It was unheard of.
Mu Yue—no, Hanyū Yuuma—stood up quietly.
"I'll head there right away," he said, bowing lightly to the others.
Iketani Isamu looked like his soul had been peeled out with jealousy."O-Of course! Don't keep the Third waiting! Go!"
Hayato and Kotetsu stared in awe.Yuuma's class had shattered every metric—average scores twenty to thirty points above the norm, flawless basics, top two combat rankings, and a prodigy whose name was already spreading through the Academy like wildfire.
If that kind of teacher gets summoned by the Hokage… yeah, that tracks.
Yuuma walked out of the office, calm on the surface.
Inside, a silent voice murmured:
So the Hokage finally noticed, huh? This world never lets power stay quiet for long.
The Principal's Office sat at the peak of the fifth floor—far above the cramped, noisy teacher cubicles two floors below.
Yuuma paused at the door.
A single, polished metal plate gleamed:
PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE
He knocked.
"Enter," came a voice—deep, composed, stern without effort.
Yuuma slid the door open.
It was a simple room. Bookshelves lined the far wall, desks placed squarely by the window, and a small sitting area near the entrance.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat there—not yet the weary, gray old man of legend. His hair was mostly black, his posture straight, his gaze sharp enough to pin a man in place.
He didn't wear the Hokage hat today, but the authority clinging to him was unmistakable.
"It's Hanyu, yes? Please, sit."
He stood and approached the small table himself—Hokage or not, he played the polite host.
Yuuma bowed."Lord Third."
He sat.
The Hokage's presence was heavy. In Yuuma's previous life, Hiruzen's reputation was a battlefield soaked in contradictions—hero, coward, meddler, martyr. Here, Yuuma swallowed his biases. Whatever history he remembered didn't matter.
Right now, he was a teacher speaking to the leader of the village.
And he needed to play this perfectly.
"Hanyu," Hiruzen began with a soft smile, "you have a remarkable gift for teaching."
He folded his hands.
"I've reviewed your class's results. Theoretical scores—twenty to thirty points higher than other first-year classes. Practical skills—top two in the entire grade. The invigilators noted exceptional mastery of basic ninjutsu."
Yuuma bowed his head slightly.
"I do my best. But the students worked tirelessly—that deserves most of the credit."
A humble answer, but he didn't undersell himself.
Hiruzen nodded approvingly."Well put. If more instructors taught with such dedication, the future of Konoha would be far brighter."
Yuuma remained silent, respectful, offering no dangerous agreement.He wasn't stupid enough to imply the rest of the staff were useless.
Hiruzen chuckled softly at Yuuma's tact.
"Based on your class's performance, I will personally designate you as this semester's Outstanding Teacher."
Yuuma widened his eyes, letting genuine surprise touch his expression.
He bowed deeply."Such recognition… I am honored, Lord Third."
Yuuma paused, then added with concern,"However… I worry this may cause trouble for you. After all, it's only been one month since school began. Rumors could—"
Hiruzen lifted a hand, calm and decisive.
"The title goes to those who earn it. If others wish for it, let them achieve results like yours."
A quiet authority radiated from him.
He continued:
"If you maintain this standard for the rest of the year, I'll recommend you for promotion to Special Jōnin and appoint you as deputy overseer of the Academy's training division."
Yuuma bowed again.
"Your trust is an honor. As a teacher, all I want is for my students to grow stronger. That is the duty I carry."
Hiruzen's eyes softened.He saw sincerity—and he believed it completely.
Then the Hokage's tone shifted—subtle, but clearly moving into more personal territory.
"Hanyu… I'd like to discuss something private now. Would you be willing to listen?"
Yuuma nodded once."Of course."
Hiruzen leaned forward.
"I have a son—Sarutobi Asuma. He graduated this year and became a genin, but he lacks discipline. His attitude concerns me."A small sigh escaped him."I'd like to hire you as his personal tutor."
Yuuma paused.
Asuma? Personal tutoring?
This was no small request—this was the Hokage directly tying Yuuma into the Sarutobi family.
Yuuma lowered his gaze briefly, then looked back up.
"Lord Third… I cannot give an immediate answer."
Hiruzen blinked.
A teacher refusing the Hokage—even politely—was unheard of.
Yuuma continued in a steady voice:
"I still have classes to teach. Weekdays are fully occupied. Weekends are spent preparing next week's curriculum. Unless I can guarantee high-quality instruction for both my class and Asuma-sama… I cannot commit lightly."
Silence filled the room.
Then—
Hiruzen smiled.
A real smile, small but unmistakably pleased.
"Hanyu-sensei… you truly are a teacher."
He waved his hand gently.
"No need to decide now. Think it over. I'll await your answer."
Yuuma rose and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your understanding, Lord Third."
As he stepped out of the office, a single thought passed through his mind:
He's testing me… assessing me… and planning something long-term.
The System chimed faintly in his mind—silent, watchful.
The meeting ended, but the game had just begun.