Yesterday had been registration day for the Genius Class.

Hyuga Hanabi

Moegi Kazamatsuri

The number wasn’t large, but compared to previous years, it was impressive.

Monday was theory day. Normally, Kitazawa wouldn’t attend—he preferred training elsewhere.

The moment he stepped into the Academy grounds—

Current Mission: The passionate brotherly combination teaches Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke the Taiji Rasengan.

Mission Complete. Reward Issued.

Kitazawa looked up.

A massive Rasengan, jointly formed by Naruto and Sasuke.

The air trembled.

Recently, the two had been fighting daily. Constant clashes had sharpened not just their rivalry but also their synchronization.

Sometimes fists were the fastest path to teamwork.

He extended his palm.

A surge of molten-red chakra flared in his hand—dense, heavy, searing.

One—a magma-like chakra, wielded by Roshi and the Four-Tails.

Both were Lava Release, yet their combat applications differed greatly.

Especially since he could enter a Lava Release Chakra Mode—his entire body cloaked in molten rock, both offensively and defensively.

Unfortunately, the system had only rewarded Lava Release itself, not any specific techniques.

Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki of Iwagakure, had left the village after clashing with Onoki. Later, he was defeated by Kisame and Itachi.

Perhaps the ANBU could "invite" him for a sparring session.

The Taiji Rasengan dispersed.

Kitazawa snapped out of his thoughts and walked toward Hiruzen.

"Third Hokage-sama."

"And you’re here today as well?" Hiruzen asked with a knowing smile.

"I’m here for Konohamaru," Hiruzen replied. "That boy is too naughty. I don’t trust him unsupervised."

"Perhaps," Hiruzen said calmly. "After Naruto and the others graduate."

Naruto’s generation was simply monstrous.

They stopped outside the Genius Class classroom.

"This semester, we welcome four new classmates!"

The class followed suit.

"Please introduce yourselves."

"I’m Konohamaru Sarutobi! Naruto-nii is my idol—and I’ll become Hokage one day!"

Between Kitazawa’s birthday banquet and winter training sessions, Konohamaru had practically integrated already.

"Here!" Naruto immediately stood and waved.

Konohamaru ran over happily.

"My name is Hyuga Hanabi," she said calmly. "I like training with my sister. I dislike celery. Please take care of me."

Kiba and the others perked up immediately.

"No," Hinata shook her head gently.

Ino crossed her arms thoughtfully.

At that, several students exchanged complicated looks.

The rankings might shuffle again.

Hinata blinked in surprise for a moment—then slowly nodded.

"Hanabi is still young," Hinata said gently, offering comfort. "She definitely can’t beat you right now."

"What kind of comfort is that?" Kiba’s eye twitched.

At that moment, Hanabi stepped down from the podium and approached them with composed confidence.

"Thank you, Ino-senpai." Hanabi replied politely before taking the seat beside her sister.

"You sisters really are different," she murmured.

Hanabi, on the other hand, radiated a lively confidence that filled the room.

Of course, for Hanabi and the others, much of it was incomprehensible.

"They’re integrating quite well," Hiruzen said with visible relief.

"With his personality, he’ll adapt quickly," Kitazawa replied calmly. "Third Hokage-sama, now that introductions are finished, I’ll be taking my leave. See you tomorrow."

He vanished.

"The Flying Thunder God truly is convenient."

—

He found Antelope almost immediately and instructed her to quietly monitor any leads on Roshi of Iwagakure.

Roshi was the Four-Tails Jinchūriki—powerful and elusive. Sending ordinary ANBU after him would be meaningless. Only someone like Itachi might succeed—but Itachi was still busy keeping watch over Orochimaru.

No matter how strong it was, it still couldn’t compare to Wood Release or Sage Mode.

Master Sage Mode first.

The door opened.

Konan approached immediately.

Konan blinked in surprise, instinctively touching the corner of her lips.

Kitazawa began reviewing documents.

The second held little of note.

It came from Hidden Star Village.

Akahoshi had assumed the position of acting Star Kage.

But Kitazawa knew better.

From it, they developed a secret art known as Kujaku Myōhō.

The meteorite, however, was radioactive.

The Third Star Kage had discovered this and attempted to halt its usage.

To him, without the meteorite, the village would never rise to prominence.

Natsuhi and Hotaru stole the meteorite and fled as rogue ninja.

Kitazawa stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Such phenomena are often traced back to the Ōtsutsuki Clan.

He decided then Akahoshi would become the target of the Genius Class’s midterm mission.

He could accomplish something else.

With his current chakra reserves, teleporting across the ninja world was not a problem.

A familiar prompt appeared.

Mission Reward: Spiraling Flash, Super Round Dance, Howl: Three Styles.

Kitazawa blinked.

Unexpected—but the reward was excellent.

A fusion of Flying Thunder God and blinding light—one of the origins of Minato’s title, the Yellow Flash.

He took two steps toward the door, then paused.

He smiled and beckoned.

He pulled her close, whispering something by her ear before leaving.

Then she composed herself.

Leaving the ANBU Base, Kitazawa headed toward the vast, mist-shrouded depths of Shikkotsu Forest.

He continued training Sage Mode.

It was the first practical lesson of the new semester for the genius class.

Though a few of them had decent foundations, they were, at the end of the day, beginners who had just stepped onto the path of a ninja.

The Three Basic jutsu.

Those fundamentals would be handled by Iruka.

Today, however, his focus lay elsewhere.

Shion.

Once he succeeded, the related system mission would finally be complete.

With that, the Genius Class would now have three medical trainees:

Shion.

Kitazawa planned for them to focus on medical training for a full year. Next year—during their final academic term—he would teach them Super Strength.

—

Training continued quietly.

April 15th arrived.

Since it was purely theoretical, Kitazawa didn’t bother going to the Academy. Instead, he made his way to the Hokage Office.

"What are you planning this time?"

"How did you know I came to ask something?" Kitazawa stepped closer, eyes drifting briefly to her lips.

She casually adjusted her collar.

"As expected of Tsunade-sensei," Kitazawa praised without hesitation.

She set her documents aside.

Tsunade’s expression sharpened slightly.

"Yes," Kitazawa nodded. "Their acting Star Kage—Akahoshi—has recently taken control."

She leaned back in her chair, her posture composed once more.

Kitazawa explained calmly: Akahoshi’s ambition, the murder of the Third Star Kage, the radioactive side effects of the meteorite, and the internal division brewing in Hidden Star.

"So that’s the truth..." she murmured. "I hadn’t realized the meteorite’s side effects were that severe."

"Support Natsuhi in becoming the Fourth Star Kage," Kitazawa replied. "Form an alliance between Hidden Star and Konoha. And if possible... bring the meteorite back for research."

"That does sound like you."

Under Kitazawa’s influence, Konoha had quietly expanded its network of alliances year after year.

Tsunade hesitated.

Kitazawa’s lips curved.

Tsunade’s eyes brightened immediately.

A week-long mission could be shortened dramatically.

"...Then I’ll go."

Field missions were far preferable to paperwork.

She wouldn’t mind a few days away from the Village... with him.