On the Way to School
Breakfast this morning was absolutely fantastic.
Not because it had anything particularly special, but because…
Satoru had devoured an entire giant pot of rice along with a massive portion of braised pork.
He patted his stomach in satisfaction, let out a loud burp, and closed his eyes, savoring the lingering flavors on his tongue.
Beside him, Kakashi's face darkened.
Whether it was because he regretted the pot of rice that had just been annihilated or because of the presence of this freeloading teacher, no one knew.
But Satoru reassured himself that it was definitely not the latter.
"Kakashi is just upset because he still hasn't beaten his sensei."
"That must be it."
"A student like him is lucky to have me as his mentor!"
Behind them, Gai was still walking on his hands, loudly shouting endless motivational slogans.
Meanwhile, Obito…
Normally bursting with energy, this morning he looked a bit shifty, occasionally glancing left and right like a thief.
Satoru raised an eyebrow, glanced at Obito, and smirked.
"Alright, kids, same spot tonight—West Forest."
"A bit later this time. I'm being watched, so we need to be more cautious."
His voice lowered slightly, more serious than usual.
But before anyone could react—
"WHO'S WATCHING YOU, SENSEI!?"
Obito shouted at full volume right in the middle of the street, causing birds in the trees to scatter in panic.
*THWACK!*
Kakashi smacked Obito's head without hesitation, nearly knocking him over.
"You idiot."
"I understand, Sensei," Kakashi replied calmly, his tone utterly composed.
Obito clutched his head but quickly realized his mistake, lowering his head in embarrassment.
However, that didn't stop the fiery glare he shot at Kakashi.
Watching Obito's indignant expression, Satoru had to hold back a chuckle.
---
**A Meeting with Colleagues**
The moment he stepped into the teachers' lounge, Satoru was immediately surrounded.
"You got promoted!?"
"Congrats, Satoru!"
The atmosphere was lively, with colleagues happily patting his back, celebrating his official appointment as a full-fledged teacher.
Kimura Sugito—a kind-hearted instructor who always looked out for his peers—smiled warmly.
"You finally have a proper salary now, huh? Feeling less broke?"
Isamu Ikeya—a teacher notorious for constantly seeking dating opportunities—nudged Satoru's elbow, his tone full of implication.
"So now you can freely ask out some of the lady teachers for dinner, huh?"
Satoru laughed heartily, ready to respond when…
A sweet yet teasing voice whispered beside his ear.
"Satoru-kun…"
A pair of soft arms wrapped around him from the front, warmth spreading along with a faint feminine fragrance.
Aya Ueda.
A beautiful female teacher, always knowing how to grab a man's attention.
"Congratulations on officially joining us as a colleague."
Her warm breath tickled his ear, and her fingers lightly traced down his arm, seemingly unintentionally but undeniably deliberate.
Satoru: "…"
He froze for two seconds, then—
SHIVERS.
"Damn it!"
"This world is dangerous!"
"She's trying to eat me alive!?"
His senses screamed in alarm.
For a brief moment…
He even seriously considered using Observation Haki to dodge this close-contact assault.
Clearing his throat, he subtly stepped back and forced a nervous laugh.
"Thank you, everyone! I'm really happy!"
But as he glanced toward Ayane, standing not far away…
He saw her lips pressed together, her brows furrowed, looking… unusually displeased.
Satoru: "…!"
Oh no!
Without hesitation, he quickly found an excuse, squeezed through the crowd, and bolted for his classroom.
---
**The First Lesson Begins**
When he entered the classroom, it was already a chaotic scene.
In the middle of the room, Obito was wildly gesturing as he enthusiastically spoke to Rin.
Rin smiled softly, while Kakashi stood nearby, as usual, calmly reading a book.
Satoru narrowed his eyes, silently cursing.
"They're already dealing with a love triangle at this age!?"
But he didn't waste any more time.
Stepping up to the podium, he clapped his hands, his voice dropping slightly.
"Class."
Everyone immediately turned to him.
"Do you all want to become stronger, faster?"
The room erupted.
"Yes!!!"
Anko jumped up, eyes sparkling.
"I knew it! Satoru-sensei is the best!"
Then she tilted her head, her expression mischievous.
"But… will there be a prize for whoever finishes first?"
Kotetsu and Izumo immediately chimed in.
Satoru grinned and raised his hand.
"Of course, there will be prizes!"
"And today, I got special permission from Renji-sensei for our class to have a special outdoor lesson!"
"We're heading to the western riverbank of the village!"
Class: "YEAHHH!!!"
---
**Chakra Control Training: Tree Climbing**
Upon arrival, Satoru began explaining.
"Chakra control is an essential foundation for any ninja."
"Today, we will practice tree climbing using chakra."
He detailed the mechanics—how to focus chakra into the soles of their feet to adhere to the surface, adjusting the flow to avoid slipping or overloading.
"Most importantly, your mental state affects your chakra control."
The class listened attentively before—
The moment Satoru gave the signal, everyone charged at the trees to begin.
But…
No one expected—
"Damn it! This is way harder than it looks!"
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
A body crashed from above, landing heavily on the ground.
Obito lay sprawled out, hair a mess, mouth full of grass.
"Cough! Cough! Damn it!"
He sat up, smacking the ground in frustration, glaring at the towering tree before him as if it were a mortal enemy.
Then—
*Thwack!*
A loud impact, followed by a figure plummeting like a meteor.
Izumo clutched his forehead, groaning in agony.
"My forehead… it's definitely cracked…!!!"
Nearby, Kotetsu was slowly picking himself up, clutching his ankle with a pained expression.
"I think I twisted my foot…"
And then—
"Ahhh!!! Somebody help!!!"
Anko was clinging to a tree trunk, dangling upside down, her legs flailing wildly.
All around, students were struggling—some slamming into trees, others sliding down as if on a playground slide.
Watching his class tumble and roll, Satoru simply crossed his arms and nodded approvingly.
"Good. This is what real training looks like."
---
**Obito's Determination!**
After several failures, Obito slammed his hand on the ground, yelling.
"Damn it! If Kakashi sees this, he'll definitely laugh at me!"
Clenching his kunai tightly, his eyes burned with determination.
But just as he was about to try again—
*Thud!*
A "loving" fist landed squarely on his head, nearly knocking him flat.
Satoru pulled his hand back, raising an eyebrow.
"Obito-kun, focus on your training. Why worry about Kakashi?"
Obito shot up, hands on his hips, glaring at Satoru indignantly.
"What do you know, Sensei!?"
Satoru simply smirked.
"Your biggest enemy isn't Kakashi…"
"It's yourself."