CHAPTER 129: CHAPTER 129

The certificate itself wasn’t very useful, but the 300,000 ryo prize wasn’t bad at all.

Not that Kitazawa cared much for that kind of money anymore.

He already had a steady income and was living quite comfortably.

After the staff meeting, he returned to First Year Class A.

The first lesson of the semester was still Will of Fire, though this time the content went deeper than before.

Last semester had focused on understanding the concept.

This semester, it was about truly comprehending it.

"Before we wrap up, I have an announcement."

When the bell rang, Kitazawa didn’t immediately grab his textbook and leave as usual.

The students perked up, curious.

"I told you at the start of last semester that I would temporarily serve as your class monitor until a more suitable candidate could take over this semester," he said with a small smile.

"Well, the time has come for me to step down and let someone else lead."

"Kitazawa-sensei, who’s the new class monitor?" Uzumaki Naruto asked eagerly.

"It’s you."

Kitazawa didn’t even hesitate.

"Eh? Me?!"

Naruto’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"Does anyone have any objections?" Kitazawa asked the class.

"If not, Naruto will officially be your new class monitor."

"No objections!" Kiba barked immediately.

"I support Naruto as class monitor!"

"Thanks, brother!" Naruto’s eyes glistened dramatically.

"I support him too," Choji added with a gentle smile.

"I don’t mind," Shikamaru muttered, followed by the rest of the class voicing agreement.

Naruto’s performance over the last semester had spoken for itself—

strong, passionate, and brimming with energy.

He was a perfect fit for class monitor... and it wasn’t like the job came with any perks anyway.

"Thank you, everyone!" Naruto declared with a thumbs-up.

"By the power of youth, I’ll never betray your trust!"

"Then it’s settled," Kitazawa said with a nod.

"From today, Naruto is officially the class monitor of First Year Class A. Work hard."

With that, he grabbed his textbook and headed out.

"Sasuke-kun!"

Sakura immediately bolted after Sasuke, her eyes sparkling.

"Do you want to go train at the practice field together?"

"Sorry." Sasuke stood and slipped his hands into his pockets.

"I already have an appointment—with Naruto."

"Eh?!"

Sakura froze, completely blindsided.

"Oi, Naruto," Sasuke called lazily and started walking away.

"Huh?" Naruto blinked, still basking in the glory of his new title.

His expression mirrored Sakura’s.

’Wait... is he challenging me?’

Excitement replaced confusion in an instant.

"Hey! Wait up!" Naruto yelled, sprinting after him.

Sakura gritted her teeth.

She could lose to Ino... but she absolutely refused to lose to Naruto.

"I don’t know whether to pity Sasuke or Sakura..." Shikamaru sighed.

"Or maybe... I should pity myself."

With his intelligence, he immediately saw through Sasuke’s excuse—this "appointment with Naruto" was just a clean getaway from Sakura’s constant chasing.

As for himself... he was doomed to suffer in Kitazawa’s special training.

"What’s with them?" Yakumo asked.

She hadn’t attended many classes and wasn’t familiar with the endless drama of the class.

"It’s a long story," Ino Yamanaka giggled.

"I’ll explain later."

’Ah, so that’s what a plastic sisterhood looks like,’ Shikamaru thought, watching her enjoy the gossip.

"Come on, Shikamaru. Training time," Ino said with a glare.

"..."

He immediately deflated like a withered eggplant.

"You guys have fun!" Yakumo waved, free from the horrors of special training now that Tsunade had healed her body.

Her only focus now was developing her Genjutsu Bloodline Limit, something Kitazawa couldn’t really help with.

At the Ninja Academy Training Ground, Kitazawa stood with his arms folded, considering the new training plan for his students.

Just then, four lines of glowing text appeared before his eyes:

[The class monitor position can no longer contain your talent. Please establish the first student council in Ninja Academy history.]

[Current Mission: Form a proper student council with outstanding members and become the Student Council President.]

[Mission Reward: Acquire Lightning Release and Mastered Lightning Release Chakra Nature Transformation.]

[Do you accept?]

Kitazawa blinked.

A student council? That was... unexpected.

But the reward made his heart race.

’Mastered Lightning Release Chakra Nature Transformation...’

With that, he could reach or even surpass Kakashi in Lightning Release mastery overnight.

He might even develop the Cloud Village’s Lightning Chakra Mode by himself.

There was no hesitation. He accepted.

’High reward means high difficulty,’ he thought.

’The real problem will be convincing the vice-principal, Hisao Sarutobi.’

Forming a student council wasn’t standard.

And if he filled it with Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, and the others, the principal might start thinking he was... building a future Konoha government.

Before talking to Tsunade about it, he’d better prepare a plan.

A school-wide selection competition could be a good start—

The system did say the council had to be "complete and proper."

"Kitazawa-sensei!"

Naruto arrived first at the training ground, followed by Sasuke and Sakura.

Moments later, Hinata, Ino, and Shikamaru joined.

"Sasuke," Kitazawa said, eyeing him, "how’s your Sharingan control?"

"About... eighty to ninety percent," Sasuke answered confidently.

He’d awakened it at six and received personal guidance from both his father and Itachi.

"Good. Go to the Artificial Lake and work on Fire Release Chakra Nature Transformation."

"Got it."

Sasuke didn’t need further explanation.

When it came to Sharingan, Kitazawa was an outsider, but Fire Release training was essential.

Without another word, Sasuke left for the lake.

"Shikamaru, your training stays the same," Kitazawa continued.

"But since you skipped summer training, we’re intensifying it."

Shikamaru’s eyes bulged.

Sculpting with shadows was already hard enough—intensifying it sounded like torture.

"Ino, you’ll train with him," Kitazawa said with a sly smile.

"Your job is to continuously interfere with him."

"???"

Shikamaru froze.

Interfere... meaning she’d use the Mind Body Switch Technique?

That meant multitasking hell:

Control shadows with Yin Release.

Fight Ino for control of his own body at the same time.

Ino’s eyes sparkled.

"Sounds fun. Shikamaru, I won’t go easy on you."

Shikamaru’s expression was pure despair.

"What about me?" Sakura asked, puzzled.

"You’ll learn a new medical ninjutsu," Kitazawa said.

He was teaching to their strengths.

Sakura and Ino had trained over the summer, but Sakura’s medical talent was much higher.

Ino’s secret techniques were complex and slowed her medical ninjutsu progress, while Sakura could start racking up C- and D-rank medical jutsu quickly.

"Finally!" Sakura’s eyes lit up.

Ino felt a twinge of envy but said nothing. Their paths were different.

"I’ll have a Shadow Clone teach you," Kitazawa said, forming a seal.

"No problem, Kitazawa-sensei!" Sakura beamed.

Original or clone—it didn’t matter. What mattered was learning new jutsu.

"Begin training."

Kitazawa’s voice cut through the morning air as he turned to Hinata.

"Your training today is to spar with me."

Spending an entire morning practicing Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms wouldn’t lead to any sudden breakthroughs.

If she wanted last-minute progress, real combat was the best cram session.

"Mm."

Hinata nodded obediently.

Whatever Kitazawa said... she would follow.

"Let’s go over there."

He led her to a secluded corner of the training ground where no one would disturb them.

The spar began.

Hinata’s Byakugan flared open.

With a sharp push of her foot, she shot forward like a white blur, her small hands already forming the rhythm of Gentle Fist: Sixty-Four Palms.

Pak! Pak! Pak!

Her palms lashed out in rapid succession, aiming for Kitazawa’s chakra points.

Kitazawa’s response was deceptively simple—he met her palms with his own.

Four hands collided.

Chakra against chakra.

Invisible shockwaves rippled through the air.

Hinata faltered for just an instant.

It felt... as if she was sparring with Father.

’Why...?’

There weren’t many taijutsu that released chakra directly from the palms.

The Gentle Fist was the most iconic.

’Can someone outside the Hyuga... really learn it?’

Hinata thought of all the times Kitazawa had corrected her form and explained her strikes.

A realization dawned on her.

She firmed her expression and launched her next series of strikes.

Just as she expected—none of them landed effectively.

After ten consecutive palms, she prepared for the next when a sudden jolt froze her body.

A wave of shock rippled through her eyes.

Her chakra flow... had stopped completely.

Kitazawa stepped forward, gently took her hand, and rolled up her sleeve.

Four tiny red marks dotted her pale arm.

"Ki... Kitazawa-sensei, you..."

"You want to ask why I know Gentle Fist?" he said with a calm smile, tapping her blocked chakra points with two fingers.

The points released, and her chakra surged back to life.

"I learned it from you."

"Eh?" Hinata’s eyes went wide.

There was no doubt about it.

Only someone who truly understood Gentle Fist could hit and release chakra points with such precision.

"Don’t tell anyone," Kitazawa said lightly.

"If your father finds out... I might not survive."

"I won’t!" Hinata said quickly, almost panicked.

"Even if I die, I won’t tell a second person! Not even Father!"

Kitazawa chuckled and patted her head.

"It’s not that serious. Come on, let’s keep training."

Learning Gentle Fist wasn’t the same as stealing a Byakugan.

Still, less trouble was always better—he wasn’t strong enough to stir up Hyuga politics yet.

And with Hinata’s personality, she’d guard his secret tighter than anyone.

By noon, Hinata was drenched in sweat, her bangs sticking to her forehead.

"Alright, that’s enough," Kitazawa said.

"Go home, take a bath, rest, and come back for the afternoon practical class."

Though he hadn’t used his full strength, his pressure far exceeded Neji’s.

The fact that Hinata had lasted all morning was impressive.

She still had to face Neji later—pushing her further now might leave her exhausted for the real match.

"Tha... thank you, Kitazawa-sensei," she panted, wiping sweat with the back of her hand.

"I’ll walk you home."

"N-no need..."

"It’s fine. I’m heading to Konoha Hospital anyway."

She didn’t refuse after that.

Kitazawa escorted her to the Hyuga residence before taking his leave.

Hinata lingered at the entrance, watching his back disappear before she turned inside.

"Back so early today?"

Hiashi was seated in the courtyard, holding little Hanabi on his lap.

"Sister!" Hanabi chirped.

"I just finished special training with Kitazawa-sensei," Hinata said softly.

"He told me to rest at home and only attend the afternoon practical class."

"Special training... even after the semester started?" Hiashi’s brow furrowed.

His feelings toward Kitazawa were... complicated.

"I-it’s because I’ll be sparring with Neji-nii-san during class," she admitted after a brief pause.

"Oh?"

Hiashi’s interest sparked immediately.

Since childhood, Neji had always outshone Hinata.

To avoid crushing her confidence, Hiashi had even banned direct spars between them.

But now... things might have changed.

"Go rest," he said, waving her off.

Inwardly, he had already decided to sneak over to the academy and watch the spar with his own eyes.

The afternoon came quickly.

First Year Class A and Second Year Class A gathered at the training ground for the last class of the day.

Kitazawa’s senses prickled.

Someone was watching from afar.

The faint, familiar feeling of being "seen" from all angles...

’Byakugan.’

’Heh. Hiashi, you couldn’t resist after all.’

"Before we start, there will be a spar," Kitazawa said.

"Hinata. Neji. Step forward."

Neji hesitated briefly, then walked out.

He hadn’t expected the spar to happen so soon.

From a tactical standpoint, dragging it out would’ve given Hinata more time to improve.

But it didn’t matter.

’Talent can’t be bridged by time.’

Hinata inhaled deeply and stepped forward, facing her cousin.

"What’s going on?" Naruto whispered.

"Did you forget?" Shikamaru said.

"After our class’s friendly match with Second Year A, Neji challenged Hinata."

"Eh... I don’t remember that..." Naruto scratched his head.

"I do," Ino said.

"Kitazawa-sensei postponed the spar until this semester because Hinata had just awakened her Byakugan."

"So that’s now?" Sakura glanced between the two.

"They both have Byakugan... who’s stronger?"

"My bet’s on Neji," Ino admitted.

"For Hinata, this is gonna be tough," Shikamaru added with a sigh.

"Not necessarily!" Naruto pumped his fist.

"I believe in Kitazawa-sensei’s special training!"

"A one-year gap isn’t that easy to close," Kiba muttered.

"And Neji’s a certified genius."

"Watch and learn," Sasuke said coolly.

He didn’t care who won.

He just wanted to study the Byakugan and Gentle Fist up close.

’After Neji wins... I’ll challenge him myself.’

"Both sides, form the Seal of Confrontation," Kitazawa instructed.

"You’re nervous," Neji said calmly.

"Your gaze flicked up and left—recalling your many past defeats."

"You..." Hinata trembled.

Kitazawa’s brow lifted.

’Already using psychological warfare... he’s ahead of schedule.’

"Thinking like that means you’ve already accepted defeat," Neji continued.

"Just like before... every single time you lost."

"I am recalling the past," Hinata admitted, clenching her fists.

"But this time... I won’t lose!"

Neji’s eyes sharpened.

"Then show me the strength to back those words!"

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