Part Time Teacher in Konoha

Kitazawa returned to his office.

After sitting down, he pulled out Class 1‑A's timetable.

Although, as homeroom teacher, he taught fewer periods than Iruka Umino, every one of his subjects was of prime importance:

Will of Fire, History of Konoha, and Combat Training — three courses in all.

Combat Training accounted for the most periods.

A ninja may do without book‑learning, but never without strength.

Combat Training covered the Three Basic Techniques, standard ninja‑tool skills, trap detection and placement, and so forth.

Time slipped by, and soon it was time for the final period of the day: practical combat.

Just like in his previous life, the academy day held eight periods: four in the morning, four in the afternoon, each forty‑five minutes long.

"This period is for combat practice," Kitazawa announced at the classroom door. "Everyone, follow me to the training field."

"Kitazawa‑sensei, are we learning ninjutsu now?" Uzumaki Naruto asked eagerly, eyes shining.

Most students kept silent, but anticipation filled their faces.

Only clan heirs like Uchiha Sasuke and Nara Shikamaru remained calm; they already possessed family techniques.

While the civilian students still struggled with the Three Basic Techniques, these heirs had mastered Fire Release, Gentle Fist, or unique secret arts — skills even the academy could not teach.

They had enrolled mainly to build connections and broaden their knowledge.

Naruto was the exception. Though jinchūriki of the Nine‑Tails and son of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, he had no one to tutor him.

"Your chakra control isn't solid yet, so no ninjutsu today. We'll practice kunai throwing instead," Kitazawa said, meeting their gaze.

"Ninja tools are fine too," Naruto murmured, a little disappointed but not much; both jutsu and tools mattered to a shinobi.

"Pointless," Sasuke muttered, shaking his head. In tool mastery, few in Konoha could rival the Uchiha, blessed with the Sharingan's powers of insight, hypnosis, and replication. They even created techniques such as the Manipulated Shuriken Technique.

The class reached the field.

"Before we begin, I have one announcement," Kitazawa said, clapping his hands. "We're electing a class monitor."

"I'll do it!" Naruto snapped to attention.

"Me too!" several others chimed in. Even Sasuke looked intrigued — praise from elders might follow.

"Do you know what a class monitor does?" Kitazawa asked, smiling.

"Manage the whole class!"

"Pretty much like the Hokage — I'll call it 'Class‑kage'!"

"Class‑kage is mine!"

A barrage of chaotic answers followed.

"The rep mainly assists the teacher and helps classmates: passing along instructions, collecting homework," Kitazawa explained, lips twitching. He glanced at the "Class‑kage" enthusiast. Really?

"Waste of time," Sasuke sniffed. A proud Uchiha serving ordinary students? His father would tan his hide.

"Too troublesome," Shikamaru muttered.

Interest waned instantly.

"Those still willing, raise your hand," Kitazawa said with a satisfied smile.

Naruto's hand shot up first; three others joined him.

"Excellent. From today, the four of you are vice reps," Kitazawa declared.

"Vice reps? Then who's the rep?" Naruto asked, scratching his head.

"I am," Kitazawa said matter‑of‑factly. "This term I'll observe you. Next term, the best of you will take my place."

[Current Mission: Become Class 1‑A's class monitor.]

[Reward: Water affinity.]

[Mission complete. Reward granted.]

Seeing the floating text, Kitazawa's heart leapt. What an easy‑to‑trick system. Water affinity, obtained!

"Now, class begins."

He unrolled a summoning‑storage scroll on the ground, formed hand seals, and with a puff of smoke produced a pile of wooden stakes and kunai.

"Vice reps," he ordered, "two of you set up the stakes, the other two hand out kunai."

"Yes, sir!" Naruto answered eagerly; becoming class monitor, he believed, would help him win everyone's recognition.

"Practical training starts now," Kitazawa said after fifteen minutes' explanation. "Your target: hit the fixed stakes."

Thunk! Sasuke flicked his wrist; the kunai curved mid‑air and struck the stake's bullseye with surgical precision.

"Wow!" Haruno Sakura exclaimed, echoed by several girls.

Show‑off, Kitazawa thought. Sasuke would be a tough nut to crack.

"I can do it too!" Naruto shouted, disliking Sasuke's smugness. He hurled his kunai with force.

"I hit it!" he cried, delighted — then glanced again. "Eh?"

"Naruto, that's my stake," Shikamaru reminded him, shaking his head.

Naruto froze.

"Mistakes happen. Don't be discouraged; keep practicing," Kitazawa said, smiling. "Anyone who hits the bullseye gets a snack pack."

"Snacks?" Akimichi Chōji's eyes widened like copper bells.

"Yay!" The class erupted. Shinobi children matured early, but snacks were still irresistible.

"Childish," Sasuke snorted. He wasn't three anymore—nearly six!

Driven by snacks, the period buzzed with energy.

"Thank you, Kitazawa‑sensei!" As the bell rang, Chōji dashed up first, proving what a nimble chubby kid could do.

"Hinata, don't go yet," Kitazawa said when Hyūga Hinata's turn came.

"Ah… yes." Feeling everyone's gaze, Hinata blushed, took her snacks, bowed her head, clutched her sleeves, and fidgeted.

"Naruto, this is for you," Kitazawa said after the others left, tossing him a snack pack.

"I can't. I didn't hit the target," Naruto refused. In the original timeline, his academy scores were terrible—the notorious dead last. Really, he was a raw bundle of stats: brute force over technique, plus the Nine‑Tails' mischief. In truth, Naruto was a once‑in‑a‑generation genius.

"It's only a matter of time," Kitazawa said warmly. "I know you'll manage."

"I…" Naruto felt a glow inside. He clutched the snacks, speechless.

"Go home, rest up. See you tomorrow," Kitazawa said, patting his shoulder.

"Right!" Naruto headed out of the school.

Back home, he spotted a familiar figure.

"Gramps Third!" he exclaimed, face lighting up with joy.