Kitazawa's grades at the Ninja Academy were anything but stellar.
Uchiha Itachi graduated at the age of seven; Kitazawa only just scraped through at thirteen.
Uzumaki Naruto became the world's savior at seventeen, while Kitazawa, at the same age, exhausted himself merely to earn the rank of chūnin.
In this ninja world where people kill without blinking an eye, Kitazawa is a "triple‑zero" shinobi — no natural talent, no inherited bloodline, and no influential backing.
To survive until the "final chapter," he chose to take refuge in the Academy as a teacher, and he has been teaching for five years now.
"Another peaceful day in Konoha,"
Kitazawa murmured as he rose and walked to the window.
It was the first day of the new school year; the training field outside bustled with people.
He lowered his gaze to the new‑student files in his hands. One familiar name after another leapt off the page:
Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata, Yamanaka Ino, Haruno Sakura, Akimichi Chōji, Nara Shikamaru, Inuzuka Kiba, and so on.
"Five years — five whole years — and the main characters have finally arrived,"
Kitazawa thought with emotion.
Only two major calamities remained in his life:
1. Orochimaru's Konoha Crush Plan.
2. The Akatsuki invasion led by Nagato (Pain).
The first wouldn't involve the Academy; no big deal.
The second was harder: "Pain" would level half the village.
Kitazawa's plan was to take leave and get out of town in advance.
He could estimate the timing by the date Naruto and company entered school.
While he was still calculating, a clear ding sounded in his mind:
[Host detected to be six years old. Enrollment successful. Activating the Ultimate Hokage‑Raising System.]
Kitazawa froze.
After waiting twenty‑one years, the door finally opened the moment he'd abandoned hope.
Wait—what do you mean I'm six?
"System, is something wrong here?"
[Please complete Phase‑One Main Quest: Dominate the Ninja Academy and become the strongest graduate.]
Seriously, bro? That dumb?
I'm glad you arrived, but you messed up the timeline and I'm not amused.
How am I supposed to graduate again? Answer me!
No wonder they say blue is the color of "wisdom."
Now Kitazawa understood: this blasted system was fifteen years late.
Was all that waiting for nothing?
[To dominate the Academy, first win over your classmates.]
[Current quest: Obtain the initial approval of your classmate Uzumaki Naruto.]
[Reward: Fire Release – Great Fireball Technique.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa was speechless.
He wasn't Naruto's classmate—how was he supposed to do the quest?
If he applied to re‑enroll, Hiruzen Sarutobi would probably tell him to hire an exorcist—or a medic—to check whether a zombie had eaten his brain.
"Who designed this system, the legendary 'i‑team'?"
(A pun implying an "idiot" or introvert team.)
Kitazawa rubbed his temples. The headache was real.
He had no choice but to play along.
If he failed the quest… well, nothing much would happen, aside from a bout of anger and a few choice curse words.
But what if this idiot system's quest could be cleared?
Fortunately, there was no penalty for refusing or failing.
"A guy can't be unlucky forever, right?"
He accepted the quest, set the files aside, and left the office.
…
The Playground
No sooner had he arrived than he heard a stream of crude whispers:
"Stay away—he's a monster."
"Don't play with him; keep your distance."
"I don't get why the Hokage even lets him attend school."
Kitazawa looked toward a blond boy sitting alone on a swing.
Head bowed, silent, cut off from the surrounding bustle by a pitiful, invisible wall.
Amazing, Kitazawa thought.
Taunting a kid with a nuke inside him—aren't you afraid of becoming charcoal?
Ignoring everyone's stares, he walked up.
Naruto heard footsteps, looked up, and met a pair of calm black eyes.
He froze; the man's expression was gentle, utterly devoid of malice.
"What's your name?"
Kitazawa asked patiently, sighing inwardly.
Winning Naruto's approval was actually simple: until now only two people had ever acknowledged him—Hiruzen Sarutobi and Teuchi the ramen chef.
"I… I'm Uzumaki Naruto,"
the boy answered, feeling a spark of warmth.
"And you?"
"Kitazawa."
"Hi, Kitazawa-oniisan!"
"Don't call me 'oniisan,'" Kitazawa winced.
"Call me sensei."
"Sensei? Are you the teacher for First‑Year Class A?"
"Mm‑hm."
"Great! I'm in Class A too!"
"I'll take you to register," Kitazawa said, giving Naruto's shoulder a gentle pat.
"Thanks, Kitazawa‑sensei!"
Naruto hopped off the swing but, after a couple of steps, his smile froze and his head dropped. The hateful stares were back—and this time even Kitazawa was caught in them.
"Sensei, I can register myself—you don't have to bother."
"If you care too much about other people's eyes, you become their prisoner,"
Kitazawa replied without turning.
Naruto stared at his back—half understanding, half confused.
"Keep up,"
Kitazawa ordered, crooking a finger.
Naruto snapped out of it and hurried after him.
…
First‑Year Class A
The moment Naruto appeared, the room fell silent; every gaze locked onto him—even that of the registration teacher, Iruka Umino.
Naruto instinctively lowered his head, but Kitazawa's words echoed in his mind. He straightened and met those eyes.
"Iruka," Kitazawa said with his usual smile.
"Senpai," Iruka answered, suppressing his feelings.
(In the original story, Iruka's parents died in the Nine‑Tails attack, so he initially resented Naruto, the supposed 'monster.')
"He's Uzumaki Naruto, a new student for Class A," Kitazawa continued calmly. "Please register him."
Iruka entered Naruto's name in the roster and handed him textbooks and a timetable.
Registration done, Kitazawa led Naruto to the school gate.
"Tomorrow's the first day of term—don't be late," he reminded.
"Got it! Thank you, Kitazawa‑sensei!"
"See you tomorrow," Kitazawa waved.
Because Naruto was the Nine‑Tails jinchūriki, he was monitored by Sarutobi and the Anbu, so Kitazawa couldn't act too suspiciously.
Thank goodness he was a teacher and not an Uchiha ninja—otherwise, by morning he'd have eight kunai in his back, ruled a suicide.
"Bye, sensei!"
Naruto bounded away, clearly in high spirits.
…
[Quest complete. Reward delivered.]
A flood of information burst into Kitazawa's mind.
In an instant he fully mastered Fire Release: Great Fireball—from beginner to expert.
His face lit up like a dramatic quick‑change mask.
So the system really is… conscientious.
The Great Fireball might be a meme for "never killing anyone," but for a run‑of‑the‑mill chūnin like him, it was a genuine finishing move.
"What are you grinning at? So happy?"
A sudden voice called out.
Kitazawa looked up instinctively.
Not far away stood a tall, shapely woman with long hair.
Sunlight danced in her ruby‑red eyes as she smiled at him.