"The so-called Hokage,"Kitazawa said calmly, "is someone who earns everyone's recognition."
He looked around the classroom and continued,"Naruto is your classmate—your companion. If you mock a companion, how can you possibly become Hokage?"
Hearing this, many students lowered their heads, shame evident on their faces.
As for Uzumaki Naruto, he suddenly felt as if sand had been blown into his eyes.
His expression hardened with determination.From this day on, his dream was no longer just to surpass the Hokage—but to surpass the Hokage and gain everyone's recognition.
In Naruto's heart, Kitazawa's position now ranked second only to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"This teacher is pretty amazing,"Nara Shikamaru said, sitting up straight for once, seriousness replacing his usual laziness.
Born into a ninja clan, Shikamaru naturally knew that Naruto was not some so-called monster.
Yet Kitazawa was just a civilian ninja, someone who shouldn't know the truth.
The only explanation was that he was genuinely kind.
Hyuga Hinata unconsciously clenched her hands.
As she looked at Kitazawa, a trace of admiration flashed in her eyes.
First he helped her.Then he helped Naruto.
He was really… yasashii.
[Current Mission: Become the first student in the class to attract the attention of Principal Sarutobi Hiruzen.][Mission Reward: Wind Release – Great Breakthrough.][Mission Completed. Reward Issued.]
Knowledge related to Wind Release: Great Breakthrough instantly surfaced in Kitazawa's mind.
Sure enough, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen had been spying on them all along.
What Kitazawa had just said must have pleased him greatly—otherwise the mission wouldn't have cleared so smoothly.
Unfortunately, aside from Hyuga Hinata and Uchiha Sasuke, none of the other rookies triggered new missions.
"We'll start the lesson now,"Kitazawa said, picking up the chalk and smiling gently."Today's class is called the Will of Fire."
The atmosphere in the classroom shifted immediately, losing its earlier heaviness.
"Do any of you know the relationship between the Will of Fire and the Hokage?"Kitazawa asked after writing the words Will of Fire on the blackboard.
"I do!"
Uzumaki Naruto raised his hand without hesitation.
"Naruto, go ahead,"Kitazawa nodded.
"The Will of Fire was created by the Hokage!"Naruto stood up and answered loudly.
"Then do you know why the Hokage proposed the Will of Fire?"Kitazawa asked again.
Naruto froze, his expression turning awkward.
This question was a bit too profound for him.
"It was for you,"Kitazawa said, dropping a verbal bombshell.
"For us?"Naruto asked in surprise.
He wasn't the only one—every student wore the same stunned expression.
"Wherever leaves dance, fire will continue to burn,"Kitazawa explained."The fire will illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout."
"The core of the Will of Fire lies with you—because you are Konoha's future. You are its hope."
"I've never heard it explained that way before.""So… does that mean I'm amazing?""Does that mean even the Hokage-sama has to protect me?"
Listening to their excited chatter, Kitazawa couldn't help but smile.
The Will of Fire itself wasn't flawed—but putting it into practice was another matter entirely.
Take the darkness of the ninja world, for example—Shimura Danzo, the so-called First Pot Shadow.
He often waved the banner of the Will of Fire while doing things that couldn't see the light of day.
In the end, theory without action was just an empty castle in the sky.
But none of that concerned Kitazawa right now.
All he needed was to use the Will of Fire to bluff Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Turning the world upside down, you might say.
"Class dismissed. Ten-minute break."
When the bell rang, Kitazawa gathered his materials and left the classroom.
As a teacher, he had one good habit—he never dragged class overtime.
"Ino, I won!"Haruno Sakura shot like an arrow toward Uchiha Sasuke, then turned back proudly.
"Nooo!"Yamanaka Ino reached out in despair.
Heh. Women.
Nara Shikamaru collapsed onto his desk, radiating lifelessness.
To him, women were trouble—especially pretty women.
All he wanted was to marry an ordinary woman and live out his life peacefully.
Akimichi Choji, on the other hand, had very simple thoughts.
He pulled out a bag of chips.
I eat, I eat, I eat.jpg.
Yamanaka Ino glared at the flamboyant Haruno Sakura, then suddenly thought of Kitazawa.
If she couldn't get a little handsome guy, she'd go for the big handsome one.
Just as she was about to head for the office, a blond head had already dashed out ahead of her.
I clearly came first!
Ino sighed and sat back down.
Hyuga Hinata hesitated for a moment, then took out her textbook and began reviewing.
She was a good student.
"Kitazawa-sensei, wait for me!"
Uzumaki Naruto accelerated like a race car cutting through a drainage ditch and rushed up beside him.
"Naruto, was there something in class that I didn't explain clearly?"Kitazawa stopped and asked.
"No!"Naruto shook his head vigorously."Kitazawa-sensei, you explained everything really well—I could understand all of it!"
What do you mean, even you could understand it?How little confidence do you have?
But thinking about it, Kitazawa understood.
There had been an entrance assessment—and Naruto had ranked dead last.
"Then what did you want to ask me about?"Kitazawa smiled.
"I want to know how I can gain everyone's recognition,"Naruto asked eagerly.
"You're still…"Kitazawa paused and quickly changed course.
This question is actually very simple. Just learn from the Hokage.
He had originally wanted to say you're still young—you'll understand when you grow up, but then remembered that Sarutobi Hiruzen might still be watching.
"Oh! Right!"Naruto's eyes lit up."I get it now! Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei!"
"See you next class,"Kitazawa said with a smile and turned away.
There were two types of teachers' offices at the Academy.
One was a private single-person office.The other was a shared office.
Kitazawa had a private one.
The reason was simple.
He was considered middle management—roughly equivalent to a vice principal in his previous life.
After all, he had been teaching for five years and had been named Outstanding Teacher for three consecutive years.
Ahem.
Aside from his teaching ability, the most important reason was that the theory of the Will of Fire he proposed had won Sarutobi Hiruzen's approval.
Surviving wasn't shameful.
In Konoha, being able to cling to the Hokage's leg was something countless people envied.
Of course, if he had to choose, he'd rather cling to the Fifth Hokage's leg.
After all, he was a fan.
Instead of returning to his private office, Kitazawa headed to the shared office.
Six desks were pushed together there, representing six teachers—all first-year instructors.
"Kitazawa-senpai."
Umino Iruka noticed him and stood up quickly.
"Iruka,"Kitazawa smiled."Nervous about your first class?"
Iruka had only become a teacher this year—he wasn't even eighteen yet.
"A little,"Iruka admitted sheepishly.
"Being nervous your first time is normal,"Kitazawa reassured him."I just finished teaching—your students are all quite good. No need to worry too much."
"Thank you, Kitazawa-senpai,"Iruka said gratefully.
After watching Iruka leave, Kitazawa walked over to the bookshelf in the corner of the office.
It contained the student records for all first-year classes.
He needed to find the three troublemaking brats who had bullied Hyuga Hinata.