Chapter 114

"Winner, Uzumaki Naruto!" Kitazawa’s voice rang clear across the arena. For a heartbeat, First Year Class A went silent—then erupted into an explosion of shocked voices. Naruto... had won. Against Uchiha Sasuke. The boy hailed as a prodigy since the day he’d stepped into the academy. And the craziest part? Sasuke had been in control almost the entire fight. Naruto’s sudden, explosive finish left the class in disbelief. "D-Did Naruto... actually win?" Choji froze mid-bite, his potato chips forgotten in his hand. "Yeah," Ino breathed, nodding. "I didn’t see that coming at all..." In terms of image, Sasuke embodied strength—cold, precise, a genius in every sense. Naruto? His first days at the academy were a disaster. His clones barely qualified as lifeforms. And yet, here they were. "That’s just insane!" Kiba threw his hands up. "Who learns a B-rank Shadow Clone Jutsu at six years old?!" As a genius of the Inuzuka Clan, he suddenly felt painfully ordinary. Comparing yourself to Naruto or Sasuke was nothing but self-inflicted pain. "Don’t forget," Shikamaru added lazily, though his sharp eyes were serious, "Sasuke’s already got the B-rank Great Dragon Fire Jutsu. Naruto didn’t win with clones—he won with speed." "Yeah," Shino agreed quietly. His tone carried weight. "That last burst was... faster than my Kikaichū can track." Choji’s eyes widened. "So it was Gai-sensei’s training?" Ino shivered. "If it is, Naruto earned that win. I don’t even want to imagine surviving that kind of training..." Meanwhile, Sakura’s voice trembled. "S-Sasuke-kun... how could this..." Her distraught expression was all Ino needed to smirk. She’d won their little bet without question. In the stands, Hiruzen’s face was radiant with a grandfatherly pride he rarely showed. ’Well done, Naruto.’ Since the Nine-Tails attack, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this kind of hope. Not only was Naruto the son of Minato and Kushina—he was also Konoha’s Jinchūriki. A talented Jinchūriki with personal skill and determination was a blessing for the village. The Yellow Flash... the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero... combined in one boy. The old Hokage’s chest swelled with suppressed laughter. ’Yes... Konoha’s future is secure.’ And this wasn’t a lone spark. This generation brimmed with talent—Hinata, Shino, Sasuke, Naruto... a true golden age in the making. [Mission Completed: Help Uzumaki Naruto defeat Uchiha Sasuke once.] [Reward: 1/10 of Naruto’s Chakra Capacity.] Kitazawa’s eyes flicked to the glowing lines only he could see. Satisfaction bloomed in his chest. Adding this to his earlier gains—one-tenth Chakra and 10% Senju bloodline—he could feel his chakra swelling toward the level of an Elite Jonin. An Elite Jōnin’s strength. Solid, without glaring weaknesses. Yet Kitazawa knew the brutal truth of this world: in the end, bloodline reigned supreme. Raw skill could take you far—but it rarely reached the final stage. Still, with his system, he’d already leapt ahead of most of the ninja world. "Don’t... touch me." The bitter voice snapped Kitazawa’s attention back to the arena. Naruto had reached out a hand to help Sasuke up—only to be rejected. Kitazawa understood. Sasuke had been praised as a genius since childhood, had crushed his peers without effort... and now he’d watched Naruto grow step by step until he surpassed him. Being defeated like this cut deeper than any wound. "Iruka, tally the scores," Kitazawa said lightly, handing over his sheet. His eyes, however, stayed on Sasuke. This was the perfect opening. He approached slowly. "Sasuke." The boy didn’t look up at first. He was silent, fists trembling. Humiliation gnawed at him. He’d almost lost to Shikamaru. Hinata and Shino had surprised him. And now... Naruto. Why couldn’t he dominate the academy the way his brother, Itachi, once had? Wasn’t he supposed to be a genius? Kitazawa’s hand settled on his shoulder. His tone was calm, steady. "A temporary setback means nothing. You are an Uchiha." "I... I don’t deserve to be an Uchiha," Sasuke muttered, voice tight. Images of his father’s disappointment and Itachi’s quiet gaze burned in his mind. Kitazawa’s next words cut through his despair. "Have you forgotten the Uchiha’s true power?" Sasuke’s head jerked up. "The... Sharingan?" "Exactly." Kitazawa’s voice was firm. "Hinata used her Byakugan. Shikamaru, his clan’s shadows. Shino, his insects. Naruto, his taijutsu. They all showed their strongest cards. "And you?" Sasuke froze. He’d only used Fire Release. Only half of what an Uchiha truly was. The other half slept behind his eyes. "If I awaken my Sharingan... I can defeat them all," he whispered, conviction rekindling in his chest. But then doubt returned. ’How?’ He’d asked Itachi before. The answer had been maddeningly vague. His gaze snapped to Kitazawa. "...Kitazawa-sensei. Can you help me awaken it?" Logically, asking a non-Uchiha for help was unthinkable. But Kitazawa... Kitazawa had turned ordinary students strong in just three months. Naruto—who could barely make a clone—had just beaten him. If anyone could lead him to the Sharingan, it was this man. [New Mission: Help Uchiha Sasuke awaken his Sharingan.] 2 [Reward: Proficient-Level Yin Release Nature Transformation.] Kitazawa’s eyes glinted. ’Now that... is a mission worth taking.’ Kitazawa had already experienced the power of proficient-level Yang Release Chakra Nature Transformation. Its effects were remarkable—any Ninjutsu rooted in Yang Release seemed to fall into place almost effortlessly in his hands. Now, the system rewarded him with proficient-level Yin Release Chakra Nature Transformation, and he could already imagine the possibilities. Yin Release governed Genjutsu, the secret arts of the Nara and Yamanaka clans, and—perhaps most intriguingly—the Sharingan itself. ’So that’s why Sasuke’s mission reward is Yin Release,’ he mused, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "We can try," Kitazawa said lightly, meeting Sasuke’s determined eyes. "You’ll train with me during the summer break." Sasuke’s tense shoulders eased. "Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei!" Kitazawa dismissed the class with a wave. "The practical exam ends here. Go home, rest well. I’ll see you the day after tomorrow, 9 AM sharp." He wasn’t heartless enough to start brutal training the moment finals ended. Even geniuses needed one day to breathe. Sasuke inhaled deeply, the weight on his chest lifting just a little. "Kitazawa-sensei is the best," Naruto said, grinning ear to ear. He had been completely helpless at comforting Sasuke; Kitazawa always knew the right words. "Don’t get cocky, Naruto," Sasuke snapped, cold fire returning to his voice. "Next semester, first place is mine. Against the Sharingan, speed means nothing." "Competition is the flame of youth!" Naruto cheered, flashing a thumbs-up so bright it was practically a sparkle. Sasuke’s eyelid twitched. Talking to this idiot was pointless. Ever since he’d been dragged into Gai-sensei’s "path of youth," his life had been a cycle of pain and near-death exercises. Joy was... not part of the package. Then Naruto’s face lit up with an idea. "Kitazawa-sensei, is it my turn to spar with you now?" Sasuke’s eyes widened. "You’re challenging Kitazawa-sensei?!" ’Why didn’t I think of that?’ Hiruzen approached just in time to overhear. "Naruto... wants to spar with his sensei?" His tone was half-curious, half-amused. Kitazawa coughed lightly and leaned toward the Hokage to explain his reasoning. Naruto had been itching to learn techniques like the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, but Kitazawa wanted to confirm he could handle it first. If he proved himself in a spar, Kitazawa would pass down a new Ninjutsu. "I just haven’t decided which jutsu to teach him yet," Kitazawa added thoughtfully. "Teach him the Rasengan," Hiruzen said after a pause, nostalgia flashing in his eyes. ’As expected,’ Kitazawa thought. He already knew the Rasengan—and with Naruto’s heritage, this was destiny. The son inheriting the father’s jutsu. [New Mission: Help Uzumaki Naruto learn the Rasengan.] 2 [Reward: 20% Senju Clan Bloodline.] Kitazawa’s eyes widened. ’Twenty percent?!’ The previous ten percent had already strengthened him considerably. With twenty, he would leap forward yet again. He accepted instantly. "Understood, Hokage-sama," he said with a respectful nod. "After the final exams, come to my office," Hiruzen instructed, clearly pleased with his attitude. Kitazawa’s heart stirred with anticipation. If the Hokage wanted a follow-up meeting, there was likely another reward in store. Meanwhile, the noisy class fell silent. Kitazawa and Naruto had stepped into the center of the training field and exchanged the Confrontation Seal. "Wait, he’s really going to fight Kitazawa-sensei?" Ino gawked. Shikamaru squinted. "Naruto must be riding the high of first place... that, or he’s lost his mind." "I like it," Kiba said with a toothy grin. Shino adjusted his glasses. "Naruto isn’t reckless. If he’s doing this, he has a reason." "Awesome!" Choji added, munching chips. Even Sakura, clinging to Sasuke’s arm, asked, "Sasuke-kun, what’s happening?" Sasuke snorted. "Naruto’s challenging him. No idea why. But... it’s going to be interesting." "Here I come, Kitazawa-sensei!" Naruto charged fearlessly, his small frame bursting with energy. Kitazawa’s reply was a single, casual punch. Naruto’s Leaf Whirlwind met Kitazawa’s fist—and he was sent skidding back several steps. "Still so strong..." Naruto shook out his legs, then smirked. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Three Narutos swarmed forward, legs blurring with afterimages as they launched a Leaf Great Whirlwind from three angles. But Kitazawa barely moved. Even without the Byakugan, he tracked every motion. Strength, speed, skill—Naruto was still only six, closer to a Chūnin at best. A flicker of movement, two sharp punches, and two clones went flying. "Again!" They bounced back up, uninjured—Kitazawa was careful. With the Hokage watching, even a scratch on the Nine-Tails’ Jinchūriki was unacceptable. Kitazawa continued the spar using only Taijutsu. Against his speed and power, Naruto was completely on the defensive. Hiruzen stroked his beard, thoughtful. ’Plenty of chakra... but too few jutsu to use it well.’ The students whispered in awe. "Kitazawa-sensei is too strong," Kiba muttered. "If Naruto’s getting crushed, we wouldn’t even last a second," Shikamaru said flatly. Sasuke’s eyes burned with renewed determination. ’If Kitazawa-sensei can guide me... I will awaken the Sharingan.’ Naruto’s two clones launched a Konoha Double Whirlwind, attacking from front and back. Kitazawa exhaled and formed a single hand seal. Wind Release: Violent Wind Palm! A powerful gust roared outward, catching both clones. One vanished instantly in a puff of smoke. Kitazawa’s sharp gaze found the real Naruto—slightly dazed as the feedback from his clones hit him. Time to finish this. His body flickered. "Rasengan." A sphere of churning chakra bloomed in his palm before slamming into Naruto’s remaining clone. Bang! The clone popped. The Rasengan smashed into the ground with a deafening boom, leaving a crater and concentric ripples of cracked earth. The class stared, wide-eyed and speechless. ------------------ AN: Check out my P@treon For +40 extra Chapters starting at 5$. Thank You For your Support!! [email protected]/noviceauthor777