Chapter 24: Teaching...

Hyūga Hinata wandered dazedly along the main street.

When she skipped classes before, Kitazawa had always been with her, so all she needed to do was follow him. But now she was on her own.

After walking for a while, an idea struck her and she headed back to the small grove.

This time, the fear that used to fill her mind was gone.

Taking a deep breath, Hinata began her tree‑climbing training.

Perhaps because of her new state of mind, everything felt especially smooth today.

By midday she managed, for the first time, to reach the top of the tree.

Clenching her fists, she gave a small wave and a smile blossomed on her face.

She glanced at the sun, realized the time, and quickly jumped down to run toward the Ninja Academy.

…

"Kitazawa‑sensei!"

Hinata trotted into the office.

"So punctual?"

Setting down each tier of his bento, Kitazawa jokes, "Looks like my Meal Summoning Technique is now perfect."

"I…"

Hinata's cheeks flushed; she didn't know how to explain.

She really hadn't sprinted back just because she was eager for lunch.

"Come eat."

Seeing her embarrassment, Kitazawa couldn't help but laugh.

Hinata grew even shyer, but her body obeyed and she sat opposite him.

"Where did you go this morning?"

Kitazawa handed her a pair of chopsticks as he asked.

"I finished the tree‑climbing training," Hinata said, quickly looking up at him when the reminder clicked.

"Well done. You're the first to complete it— even Sasuke hasn't matched you."

Meeting her eyes and sensing her emotions, Kitazawa praised her.

Hinata's lips curled upward, and her little feet swung happily in the air.

She'd been praised before, but never by someone whose approval she truly desired.

In her heart, Kitazawa now ranked just below her father, Hyūga Hiashi.

"Better chakra control will really help you master Gentle Fist," Kitazawa added after thinking for a moment. "Of course, climbing trees alone isn't enough."

"I'll work hard!"

Hinata's eyes lit up instantly.

If she could master Gentle Fist quickly, her father was sure to be pleased.

Kitazawa knew exactly what she was thinking.

Like Uchiha Sasuke, she craved her father's recognition—yet both faced the same problem.

As the saying goes, "Comparisons kill."

Sasuke was measured against Itachi; Hinata against Neji—undeniably a once‑in‑a‑generation genius.

In the original story, Neji had self‑taught the Eight Trigrams Sixty‑Four Palms, techniques supposedly reserved for the Hyūga main family.

"Have you awakened your Byakugan yet?" Kitazawa asked, biting into a piece of tempura shrimp.

The Uchiha needed talent and emotional stimulus to awaken the Sharingan; the Hyūga required only training.

Theoretically, every Hyūga ninja could awaken it.

But once they did, their path for further upgrades ended, unlike the Uchiha's one‑tomoe, two‑tomoe, three‑tomoe, and Mangekyō stages.

That's why Neji, in the middle and later arcs, couldn't keep up with Sasuke—though strictly speaking, Neji never reached those later arcs.

"No." Hinata shook her head.

Kitazawa wasn't surprised. In the original, Hinata first used the Byakugan during the Chūnin Exams; its actual awakening couldn't have been much earlier.

He shoveled a spoonful of rice and chewed slowly.

He knew nothing about the Byakugan or Gentle Fist and therefore couldn't help Hinata directly—though hope remained: if he completed Hinata's side mission, he would earn the Byakugan himself.

"There's a monthly test in April," Kitazawa mused. "Want to take first place?"

"Me?" Hinata blinked, puzzled.

"I can give you special training."

His new idea for building her courage was a school‑wide speech—nothing demands bravery like speaking before so many people. After the test, outstanding students would be invited to give one.

"Thank you, Kitazawa‑sensei."

Hinata didn't fully grasp it, but she couldn't bear to refuse him, so she agreed.

"It's nothing," Kitazawa said with a smile, keeping the speech plan to himself.

…

Afternoon came.

Today's combat‑practical lesson was still throwing ninja tools, but this time shuriken instead of kunai.

Each tool had its own quirks, so practice had to start anew. For clan prodigies, though, this wasn't hard.

At a secluded academy training ground, what began as extra coaching for Sasuke had expanded to include Hinata, Yamanaka Ino, Uzumaki Naruto, and Kurama Yakumo.

"Naruto and Yakumo, go for a run," Kitazawa ordered. "Ino and Sasuke, practice tree‑climbing."

"Yes, Kitazawa‑sensei!"

Naruto, all enthusiasm, spun around and dashed off.

Yakumo watched his vitality with envy, then started jogging as she'd been taught.

"Kitazawa‑sensei," Ino asked curiously, "Isn't Hinata doing tree‑climbing?"

"She's already completed that training," Kitazawa replied with a smile.

"Amazing!" Ino exclaimed. She'd tried it herself and knew how tough it was.

Sasuke stiffened and subconsciously clenched his fists. He was actually one step behind Hinata? The genius everyone praised felt a surge of unwillingness. He turned and began climbing again.

"Sasuke‑kun, wait for me!" Ino hurried after him.

"Hinata, let's head to that tree," Kitazawa explained. "Still tree‑climbing—but this time, you have to dodge the tools I throw."

He produced two wooden kunai.

"Understood!" Hinata nodded hard.

Climbing while under interference was far more difficult, but though gentle, she was resilient—she wouldn't run from hardship.

Chakra surged to her feet and she started up the trunk.

"Hinata, watch out." Kitazawa warned and flung a kunai. Considering it was her first day under disruption, he gave advance notice; once she adapted, he'd stop warning her.

Hinata dodged quickly.

…

Half an hour later, Sasuke reached the treetop.

He exhaled and smiled—then, struck by inspiration, leapt down.

Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!

In an open clearing, Sasuke eagerly formed hand seals. Chakra welled up and became a fireball. He froze. His fireball had been barely fist‑sized before; now it was two and a half times larger than a basketball. Hit directly, an enemy would be badly injured.

More importantly, this fireball was already about a quarter of the size of the one Itachi had shown. One week of practice had achieved this—could a month earn his father's praise? Imagining Uchiha Fugaku saying "As expected of my son," Sasuke clutched his forehead and trembled—then burst into triumphant laughter.

The corner of Kitazawa's mouth twitched; he looked up—yep, perfectly sunny.

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

[Your lifelong rival Uchiha Sasuke, brimming with pride, has challenged you.]

[Current Mission: Once Sasuke's Great Fireball surpasses Itachi's, outdo his with yours.]

[Reward: Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation.]

[Accept?]

Oh come on, what's with you?

What an evil system!

But Kitazawa liked it. For the reward alone, he'd do it.

Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation is a B‑rank jutsu in learning difficulty—in the original, its power is well documented. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, it took more than twenty Water Style users—most of them jonin—simultaneously casting Water Formation Wall to block Uchiha Madara's Majestic Destroyer Flame.

In short, a high learning threshold doesn't mean low power—this jutsu's potential is immense.

~~~

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