Kitazawa returned to the office. After he sat down, he took out the schedule for First-Year Class A.
As the homeroom teacher, although he had fewer classes than Umino Iruka, each one was of great importance. There were three subjects: Will of Fire, Konoha History, and Practical Exercises.
Among them, Practical Exercises had the highest frequency. Ninjas can afford to be uneducated, but they cannot afford to be weak.
Practical Exercises primarily cover the Three Basic Techniques, the use of standard ninja tools, trap detection and placement, and more. Time passed slowly, and soon it was time for the last class—Practical Training.
It was similar to students in the previous world: eight classes a day, four in the morning and four in the afternoon, each lasting forty-five minutes.
"This class is a practical lesson." Kitazawa stood at the classroom door and said, "Everyone, follow me to the training field."
"Teacher Kitazawa, are you going to teach us ninjutsu?" Uzumaki Naruto's eyes lit up as he asked excitedly.
Though most students remained quiet, their faces were filled with anticipation. Only Uchiha Sasuke and Nara Shikamaru, who were born into ninja clans, remained calm.
They already had access to clan-exclusive ninjutsu. While civilian students struggled with the Three Basic Techniques, they had already mastered Fire Release, Gentle Fist, or secret clan techniques.
These were not something even the academy teachers could teach. Their reason for enrolling was simple: build connections and broaden their knowledge.
Uzumaki Naruto was an exception. Though he was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki and the son of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, no one had ever trained him.
"You're not yet fully proficient in chakra control, so we won't cover ninjutsu today. Instead, we'll practice kunai throwing." Kitazawa met their eyes as he spoke.
"Ninja tools aren't bad either." Uzumaki Naruto looked slightly disappointed, but not discouraged.
In the world of ninjas, both ninjutsu and tools were vital and commonly used.
"How boring." Uchiha Sasuke shook his head. When it came to ninjutsu, few in Konoha could rival the Uchiha clan.
They possessed the Kekkei Genkai, Sharingan. The Sharingan granted powerful abilities like perception, hypnosis, and copying techniques.
Even in ninja tool usage, the Uchiha had centuries of experience, even creating jutsu like the Shuriken jutsu.
Everyone arrived at the training field.
"Before we begin, I have one more announcement." Kitazawa clapped his hands and said, "We'll be selecting a class monitor."
"I want to be class monitor!" Uzumaki Naruto stood up straight and declared.
"I want to too!" Several students echoed.
Even Uchiha Sasuke was tempted. Becoming a class monitor might earn him the recognition he craved.
"Do you know what the class monitor does?" Kitazawa asked with a smile.
"Manages the whole class!"
"It's like being the Hokage—I call it Class-kage!"
"The Class-kage is mine!"
Various chaotic answers followed.
"The monitor's main job is to assist the teacher and help classmates, like passing along announcements or collecting homework," Kitazawa said with a twitch of his mouth.
He couldn't help but glance at the boy who called it Class-Kage. What nonsense.
"A waste of time." Uchiha Sasuke scoffed.
He was a Uchiha. If he served ordinary students, his father would probably spin him like a top—not praise him.
"Too troublesome." Nara Shikamaru muttered.
Most students quickly lost interest.
"Those still interested in being class monitor, raise your hand." Kitazawa smiled, having achieved his goal.
Uzumaki Naruto raised his hand first. Three others followed.
"Very good." Kitazawa nodded. "From now on, the four of you are vice monitors."
"Vice monitor? Who's the main monitor?" Uzumaki Naruto scratched his head in confusion.
"I'm the class monitor. This semester, I'll observe you."
Kitazawa replied calmly. "Next semester, the best among you will take over my position."
[Current task: Become the class monitor of First-Year Class A.
Task reward: Water Attribute.
Task complete. Reward issued.]
Kitazawa read the system prompt and couldn't help but grin. 'This idiotic system is so easy to fool.'
He had successfully acquired the water attribute!
"Alright, let's begin." Kitazawa took out a storage scroll, laid it on the ground, and unsealed it.
With a bang, the smoke cleared to reveal wooden stakes and a pile of kunai.
"Vice monitors," Kitazawa instructed, "Two of you set up the stakes, and two distribute the kunai."
"Yes!" Uzumaki Naruto responded enthusiastically.
To him, becoming a class monitor meant getting closer to his dream—earning everyone's acknowledgment.
"Now we begin actual combat training." Kitazawa spent fifteen minutes explaining kunai throwing and said, "Your goal is to hit the target stakes."
'Thud!'
Uchiha Sasuke raised his hand, flicked a kunai, and used a graceful spin. The weapon curved midair and nailed the stake's bullseye.
"Wow!" Haruno Sakura cheered, followed by excited cries from many girls.
Such a show-off.
Kitazawa sensed a performance. This Uchiha kid was going to be a handful.
"I can do it too!" Uzumaki Naruto, unable to stomach Sasuke's smug look, shouted, "Watch this!"
He gripped the kunai tightly and hurled it.
"Hey, I hit it!" Naruto cheered, thrilled.
"Naruto, that's my target." Nara Shikamaru shook his head, helpless.
Naruto froze.
"Mistakes are normal. Don't get discouraged—just keep practicing." Kitazawa smiled. "Anyone who hits the bullseye gets a snack reward."
"Snacks?" Akimichi Choji's eyes widened like lanterns.
"Awesome!" The class erupted with cheers.
Though ninja children matured early, they were still kids—and snacks were irresistible.
"Childish." Uchiha Sasuke sneered.
He wasn't a toddler anymore—he'd be six soon!
Thanks to the snack reward, the class buzzed with enthusiasm. "Thank you, Teacher Kitazawa!"
As soon as the bell rang, Akimichi Choji bolted forward and secured the front spot—showing what a nimble big guy could do.
"Hinata, wait a moment." Kitazawa reminded Hyuga Hinata when it was her turn.
"Ah… okay." Feeling the others' eyes, Hinata's face flushed.
She took the snack, lowered her head, clutched the edge of her clothes, and stood nervously.
"Naruto, this is for you." After the others left, Kitazawa tossed a snack to Naruto.
"I don't deserve it." Naruto declined. "I didn't hit the target."
In the original timeline, his academy grades were always the worst—the so-called dead last.
But truth be told—
Naruto was a stat monster. He didn't rely on skill; he bulldozed through everything. Brute strength made bricks fly.
And of course—there was the Nine-Tails. In reality, Naruto was a once-in-a-generation genius.
"You'll hit it soon." Kitazawa smiled. "Sensei believes in you."
"I…" Naruto felt a warmth in his chest. He held the snack, unsure what to say.
"Go home and rest. See you tomorrow." Kitazawa patted him on the shoulder.
"Yeah!" Naruto turned and walked home. When he arrived, a familiar figure stood outside.
"Grandpa Third!" Naruto beamed with joy.