Part Time Teacher in Konoha

"Thanks, Kitazawa."

Yuhi Kurenai put the scroll away and said, "I'll study it thoroughly when I get home."

"Want a lollipop?"

Kitazawa casually opened a snack pack.

"Am I really at an age where lollipops are appropriate?"

Kurenai couldn't help laughing.

"They're a little childish for kids, but just right for adults."

Kitazawa unwrapped a lollipop and held it to her lips.

"You're as witty as ever."

Kurenai parted her soft lips and bit down on the candy.

"How does it taste?"

Kitazawa unwrapped a second lollipop and popped it into his own mouth.

"Very sweet."

Squinting her eyes, Kurenai asked, "Why do you always carry snacks around?"

"Rewards for my students," Kitazawa explained off‑handedly. "It keeps them motivated."

Kurenai thought of Yakumo Kurama—

—but the trick wouldn't work on her; as the young lady of the Kurama clan she lacked neither money nor sweets.

"What do you want for dinner?"

She licked the lollipop with her pink tongue. "My treat—don't hold back."

"How about yakiniku?"

Kitazawa considered for a moment.

"Sure."

Kurenai nodded, slipping into nostalgia. "The last time I had yakiniku was during the Chūnin Exams—everyone was there."

"Everyone" meant Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara, and Asuma Sarutobi—sadly, only a few of them were still alive now.

"Why the sudden nostalgia?" Kitazawa raised an eyebrow. "Looking back makes you old, you know."

"Are you stupid?" Kurenai rolled her eyes. "Age is a forbidden topic for women."

"My apologies."

He grinned, knowing she wasn't really angry—just friendly banter.

"Have you seen Kakashi lately? How is he?"

"Ran into him last month," Kitazawa said. "Still the same—dead‑eyed and lifeless."

No exaggeration: his graduating class was packed with living legends.

Kakashi Hatake, a prodigy jōnin at twelve—

cursed by fate: father dead, teammates dead, teacher dead… ultimately shutting himself away.

Obito Uchiha, Kamui wet with tears, turned dark for Rin, determined to create a world where she lived.

He killed his own teacher, helped Itachi wipe out the Uchiha clan, later masqueraded as Madara, and tried to destroy the shinobi world.

Add Might Guy, whose single kick nearly ended everything, and Asuma Sarutobi, son of the Third Hokage.

"I wonder when Kakashi will finally step out of the shadows."

Kurenai fell silent for a few seconds.

"What about Asuma?" Kitazawa changed the subject. "Still writing to you?"

"A letter every few days." Kurenai pursed her lips.

Kitazawa keenly sensed a flicker of impatience.

In the original storyline Asuma pursued Kurenai relentlessly and didn't win her heart until just before the Fourth Great Ninja War—about ten years from now in this timeline—so they weren't together yet.

"Persistent fellow," Kitazawa chuckled. "Even living in the capital of the Land of Fire, he still hasn't forgotten you."

After the Third Great Ninja War, the rebellious Asuma had gone off to be one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, elite bodyguards of the Daimyo.

Canon never said exactly when he returned, but it was likely the year Naruto graduated.

When he did, he became the leader of Shikamaru, Chōji, and Ino.

"Enough about that—how many drinks are you planning on tonight?"

Kurenai crossed her snow‑white arms overhead.

"I'll risk my life to keep a beautiful lady company."

Kitazawa's eyes lingered on her graceful figure; he smiled.

He'd never chased Kurenai before—not from chivalry but because he'd been too weak and focused on staying alive.

Now, with a system backing him, strength was no longer an issue.

He was kind‑hearted; he couldn't bear to let her end up a widow. Ahem.

Right now, Asuma and Kurenai were merely pursuer and pursued—nothing serious.

He was only engaging in fair competition.

"Really?" Kurenai teased. "You can still back out, you know."

"Then please go easy on me."

Kitazawa yielded at once.

"Since you helped me today, I'll let you off—for now."

Kurenai waved magnanimously.

With that, they stepped into the yakiniku shop.

"Try my grilling tonight."

Kitazawa sat down and started cooking the meat himself.

"I've always wondered," Kurenai said as she poured two cups of sake, "why did you become a teacher?"

In the shinobi world, ninja—especially strong ninja—were the most respected.

Academy instructors weren't exactly prestigious; many believed only average chūnin took that job.

"Just a personal interest."

"Is that so?" Kurenai nodded. "Well, you're certainly cut out for it."

"So lately you've just been home‑tutoring?"

Kitazawa flipped the pork belly, letting the aroma spread.

"Mm‑hmm," Kurenai paused, "but when the village assigns missions, I still have to go."

All shinobi, even academy teachers, had to take missions—though Konoha's higher‑ups held ultimate discretion.

Take Tsunade: after developing hemophobia she wandered, gambling, dragging Shizune along; she neither returned nor took missions, and Konoha could do nothing.

Jiraiya was much the same.

"Come find me when you're free," Kitazawa smiled, thinking of the Yakumo Kurama assignment. "I can even help tutor that student of yours."

In canon, it took years—and Naruto's team—to resolve Yakumo's problem.

"I'll hold you to that, Kitazawa." Kurenai didn't refuse.

"Deal. Any trouble—come to me." He raised his cup.

Whether he could finish his mission would hinge on this.

Kurenai paused, staring at his sincere expression; a strange feeling flickered within her.

Kitazawa seemed slightly different toward her today.

Could it be…? She quickly dismissed the notion—it didn't fit her image of him.

In her mind, Kitazawa was gentle to everyone, and with his looks yet no girlfriend, he probably just wasn't interested in romance.

"Cheers!"

She clinked her cup with his and drained it in one gulp.