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[NSSSG] [ARC-01] Chapter : 15
🕑 Added 2025-07-04 14:21:26 +0000 UTCWednesday dawned bright and clear.
Kitazawa changed into fresh clothes and headed next door to Ichiraku Ramen for breakfast.
As he ate, he mentally reviewed his current missions.
Since gaining his system, he’d triggered eight in total.
Now, only three remained unfinished—linked to Yakumo Kurama, Hinata Hyuga, and Sasuke Uchiha.
Of those, helping Yakumo return to the Ninja Academy promised to be the most troublesome.
Thankfully, Kitazawa had Kurenai’s support. They’d already arranged to visit the Kurama Clan together on Saturday.
Once he finished breakfast, Kitazawa made his way to the classroom.
Today’s first lesson was The Will of Fire, a class he personally taught.
“Kitazawa-sensei.”
The moment Hinata saw him, a shy but unmistakable joy sparkled in her pale lavender eyes.
Yet her strict upbringing and naturally timid personality kept her from showing too much emotion outwardly. She remained quiet and reserved in her seat.
Kitazawa sat down beside her without hesitation.
After all, the system had specifically assigned Hinata as his deskmate.
And if he wanted to complete his mission, he needed to keep up appearances.
Not that he minded. Hinata was adorable—it would be hard for anyone to dislike her.
“Hinata,” Kitazawa said gently, turning to her. “Come to my office after class.”
“O-Okay…”
Hinata blinked, then gave a tiny nod.
“Aren’t you going to ask why?” Kitazawa teased with a smile.
“What’s the reason?” Hinata tilted her head, curiosity lighting her gaze as she asked obediently.
“Special training,” Kitazawa replied.
Instantly, Hinata’s thoughts flew back to yesterday in the small forest.
She remembered the challenge against Toranosuke, looming only a month away—and Kitazawa’s promise to help her train.
“Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei.”
Hinata dropped her eyes, pink dusting her cheeks as she spoke.
A flash of yesterday’s memory surfaced in her mind—the way she’d been so terrified she clung to Kitazawa in a trembling hug. The thought made her squirm with embarrassment.
'Why is she blushing?'
Kitazawa noticed the faint color rising in her cheeks and couldn’t help wondering.
Just then, noise broke out across the classroom.
Kitazawa turned to see Sasuke walking in.
He couldn’t help recalling a saying: Read more books, meet fewer Uchiha.
Sasuke strode forward, dark eyes sweeping the room. He hesitated a moment, then abruptly changed direction and headed straight toward Kitazawa.
“Good morning, Kitazawa-sensei.”
“Good morning,” Kitazawa answered with a small smile and a nod.
Nearby, Shikamaru and the others exchanged shocked looks.
“Did the sun rise in the west today?” Inuzuka Kiba exclaimed, glancing out the window. “Is this the first time Sasuke’s ever willingly greeted a sensei?”
“As far as I remember, yeah,” Shikamaru replied, scratching his head thoughtfully.
Sasuke, coming from the proud Uchiha Clan and gifted with considerable talent of his own, carried himself with a natural arrogance.
And with an older brother as powerful as Uchiha Itachi, he usually gave the teachers the cold shoulder altogether.
So what had changed today?
“I guess it’s because Kitazawa-sensei is a pretty good sensei,” Shino Aburame murmured from behind his sunglasses.
“Sasuke-kun!”
At that moment, Sakura rushed forward, stars practically shining in her eyes.
She didn’t care about whatever business Sasuke and Kitazawa might have. All that mattered to her was Sasuke.
“…”
Sasuke froze, his expression icing over as he turned on his heel and walked away without a word, retreating to his seat.
“Women are scary,” Shikamaru muttered with a weary sigh.
“Ahem.”
Choji nudged him with an elbow.
Shikamaru froze, realizing his slip, and stiffly turned to look at Ino Yamanaka, who was glaring daggers in his direction.
“Am I scary?”
Ino Yamanaka planted her hands on her hips and blew a puff of air at her golden bangs, her expression full of righteous indignation.
“I’ll treat you to barbecue tonight,” said Shikamaru, thinking fast to defuse the situation.
“What about me?”
At the mention of “barbecue,” Choji's eyes lit up, practically sparkling with anticipation.
“You too,” Shikamaru sighed, already imagining the hit his wallet was about to take.
After all, the Akimichi Clan were legendary for their appetites. The pocket money he’d carefully saved would probably vanish in a single evening.
Ino gave a little huff and shot a glance toward Sakura, then stomped over to drop into the seat to Kitazawa’s left.
“If Kitazawa-sensei were our age, he might steal all of Sasuke’s spotlight,” Shikamaru muttered, eyeing Hinata and Ino, who now sat on either side of their teacher.
“Heh… barbecue,” Choji murmured dreamily, already picturing piles of sizzling meat.
“We’re not eating beef tonight,” Shikamaru announced firmly.
Beef was the priciest option—and skipping it might just save his finances.
“No beef? …Okay,” Choji replied, visibly crestfallen.
The class bell rang.
Kitazawa ended the lesson precisely on time, tucked his lesson plan under his arm, and exited the classroom.
Hinata sat frozen for a few moments, hesitating. Then, seizing the chance when nobody was looking, she slipped quietly from her seat and followed after him.
Kitazawa stopped at the office door. When he turned around, he found Hinata lurking behind him like a tiny shadow.
“Why are you creeping around like a thief?” Kitazawa teased, a hint of laughter in his eyes.
Hinata dropped her gaze, her cheeks pink with embarrassment.
“Come in,” Kitazawa said, opening the door and stepping inside.
Hinata exhaled a small sigh of relief and followed.
“Do you usually preview your lessons ahead of time?” Kitazawa asked as he set his papers on the desk.
“Yes.” Hinata nodded shyly. “I went over everything for today’s class last night.”
“Good.”
Kitazawa flashed a small smile. “In that case… you’re skipping class with me.”
“Eh?”
Hinata blinked, lifting her gaze in shock.
Her sensei… was inviting her to skip class? Surely this had to be some kind of genjutsu.
“This is what’s called effective time management,” Kitazawa declared solemnly. “You already know the material in the textbooks, so there’s no need for you to sit through the lecture again.”
“But… but…”
Hinata stammered, her entire upbringing warring against the very idea. Skipping class went against every rule drilled into her since childhood.
“There’s no ‘but’ about it,” Kitazawa said lightly. “It’s just skipping class.”
This, he knew, was part of the plan.
A person’s character was shaped by their environment—and Hinata had grown up surrounded by rigid rules and expectations within the Hyuga Clan. To help her break free of her timid shell, he first had to help her break the invisible rules in her mind.
“I… um…”
Hinata looked at his gentle smile, wavered a moment—and finally, as if possessed, gave a small nod.
“Let’s go.”
Kitazawa reached out and gently patted her head.
Guiding her along, he led her through the school until they arrived at the outer wall.
“There are guards at the main gate,” he explained matter-of-factly. “So we’re climbing the wall instead.”
“Ah…?”
Hinata stared at him, eyes wide with disbelief.
Without further warning, Kitazawa bent his knees and launched himself lightly onto the wall’s edge. Once there, he glanced back and waved her forward.
Hinata stood rooted to the spot, mind blank and heart thudding wildly.
'Skipping class… Climbing the school wall… On only my third day of school…'
The thought alone felt so outrageous that she almost swayed on her feet.
Yet mixed into her fear was a strange, thrilling rush—a spark of excitement she’d never felt before.
Biting her lip, Hinata hesitated for a heartbeat longer… then gathered her courage and leapt upward.
Kitazawa caught her wrist, steadying her as she landed beside him.
Together, they jumped down the far side of the wall.
Hinata instinctively pressed a hand to her racing heart, her small face flushed scarlet.
