Part Time Teacher in Konoha

"Naruto."

With a kindly expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, "Today was your first day at the Academy—how did it feel?"

"Fantastic!"

Uzumaki Naruto replied exuberantly. "Especially Kitazawa‑sensei—he's super‑extra awesome!"

As he spoke, he lifted the snacks in his hand and shook them proudly.

"Did you buy those yourself?"

Seeing how happy he was, Hiruzen asked with a smile.

"Nope—Kitazawa‑sensei gave them to me as a reward!"

Naruto opened the snack pack and let out a gasp of wonder.

Inside were far more goodies than he had imagined: lollipops, chocolate, cream‑filled cookies, potato chips, and so on.

Hiruzen glanced at it on instinct and nodded to himself.

Kitazawa—this teacher's pretty good. Easy to work with.

He recalled how many times today Kitazawa had stepped in for Naruto's sake.

Hiruzen thought to himself that the "Teacher of the Year" award could well go to Kitazawa.

Biased or not, he was the Hokage; nobody would dare dispute it.

"Here, Gramps."

Naruto held out a lollipop.

"I'm past the age for sweets."

Hiruzen patted his head. "You eat it."

Naruto hesitated for a second, then tucked the lollipop away again.

"Besides your teacher, how are your classmates? Make any friends yet?"

Hiruzen opened the door, walking with Naruto into the living room.

"I think Choji, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Ino are all nice to me," Naruto scratched his head, "but I'm not sure if we count as friends right now."

"Maybe not yet—soon enough you will."

Hiruzen wasn't surprised.

Those children all came from shinobi clans. They knew the truth behind the "monster" rumors.

And their fathers had either fought beside Minato Namikaze or been helped by him.

"Great!"

Naruto cheered. "I—Uzumaki Naruto—am finally going to have friends!"

A pang of guilt suddenly pricked Hiruzen's heart.

What Naruto had been made to endure was far too cruel for any child.

But… it was a necessary sacrifice.

The Nine‑Tails jinchūriki was Konoha's most important trump card and had to be handled carefully.

"Gramps,"

After sitting down on the sofa, Naruto took a bite of a cream cookie. "Do you know the Fourth Hokage?"

"Why bring up the Fourth all of a sudden?"

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Well," Naruto explained, "Kitazawa‑sensei said that if I want everyone's acknowledgement, I have to study the Hokage."

"Then why not ask me?" Hiruzen chuckled. "Plenty of people say I'm the strongest Hokage, you know."

"I'm planning to study all four Hokage together. If I do that, I'm sure I'll surpass every one of them!"

Naruto grinned. "Aren't I super smart, Gramps?"

Hiruzen blinked, then burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?"

Naruto asked blankly. "Is there something wrong with my idea?"

"Nothing at all."

Hiruzen stroked his white beard. "If you can truly master the strengths of all four Hokage, you really could surpass them."

"Awesome!"

Naruto said, brimming with fighting spirit.

Hiruzen merely smiled, unwilling to dampen his enthusiasm.

Master all four Hokage? Even he couldn't do that—let alone Naruto.

Frankly, no such ninja had ever existed in the entire shinobi world.

"The Fourth Hokage's name was Minato Namikaze,"

Hiruzen's face took on a nostalgic look. "He was nearly perfect—gentle, refined, immensely powerful—known as the Yellow Flash."

"Why was he called the Yellow Flash?"

Naruto asked, puzzled.

"His hair was blond like yours," Hiruzen said slowly, "and on top of that, he was the fastest ninja alive. Hence the title."

"How fast?"

Naruto pressed.

"Faster than light."

Hiruzen pondered, then added, "His foes were defeated before they even saw his face."

"That's incredible!"

Naruto was dumbstruck. "I'm going to be a ninja that fast!"

"You'll get your chance."

Hiruzen smiled.

"Then… uh…"

Something occurred to Naruto; hesitation showed on his face.

"What is it?"

Hiruzen prompted. "Ask anything you like."

"If he was that strong… how did he die?"

Naruto asked curiously.

Hiruzen's smile froze.

His memories were dragged back to that chaotic night of the Nine‑Tails' attack.

…

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Hinata."

After the other students had gone, Kitazawa walked up to Hyūga Hinata.

"I didn't wait long," Hinata replied softly.

"Here."

Kitazawa produced two more bags of snacks.

"I… I already have one bag."

Hinata quickly shook her head.

"One bag definitely isn't enough."

Kitazawa recalled that in the original story Hinata once ate forty‑six bowls of ramen in an eating contest.

"I have plenty,"

Hinata said, cheeks flushing red.

"No, you don't."

Kitazawa stuffed the two bags into her arms. "Don't be shy with me."

"Th‑thank you, Kitazawa‑sensei."

Hinata hugged the snacks, looking up at him, eyelashes trembling like a timid little rabbit.

"Okay, back to business."

Kitazawa couldn't help ruffling her hair. "I've located the three boys you told me about."

Hinata's body trembled; the memory of last time surfaced, and fear flickered in her eyes.

"Hinata,"

Kitazawa said sternly, "I've arranged to meet them after school tomorrow. I'll teach them a lesson for you."

"Mm."

Meeting his warm gaze, Hinata suddenly felt calm.

"See you tomorrow."

Kitazawa stopped walking.

"Good‑bye, Kitazawa‑sensei."

A trace of reluctance rose in Hinata's heart.

She hugged the snacks and turned to leave the school grounds.

After a few steps she looked back: Kitazawa was still standing where he'd been, as though waiting for someone.

Hinata lowered her gaze to the snacks in her arms, and a gentle smile crept over her face.

"Lady Hinata."

A sudden voice rang out.

A Byakugan‑eyed young man appeared in front of her.

"Tokuma."

Hinata instantly tucked away her smile and adopted the formal demeanor her father Hiashi had drilled into her.

As a member of the Hyūga main family, she had a branch‑family guard.

Not long after they left, the figure of Yūhi Kurenai entered Kitazawa's field of view.

"Only after becoming a teacher myself did I realize how impressive you are," Kurenai sighed.

"That's my exclusive trade secret," Kitazawa said, handing her a scroll with a grin.