Teacher Leads the Truancy

New day, Wednesday.

Beizawa changed clothes and headed next door to the Ichiraku Ramen Shop for breakfast.

As he ate, he sorted through his tasks.

Since getting the system, he'd triggered eight tasks in total.

Now only three remained unfinished, from Yakumo Kurama, Hinata Hyuga, and Sasuke Uchiha.

Helping Yakumo Kurama return to the Ninja Academy was the trickiest.

Luckily, Beizawa had Kurenai Yuhi's help.

They'd already agreed yesterday to visit the Kurama Clan together on Saturday.

After breakfast, Beizawa went to the classroom.

First period today was the Will of Fire, which he taught.

"Teacher Beizawa."

The moment Hinata Hyuga saw Beizawa, a flutter of joy welled up in her heart.

But her strict upbringing and shy nature kept her from showing it; she remained quite reserved.

Beizawa naturally sat down beside her.

The system had designated Hinata Hyuga as his deskmate.

To avoid the task failing, he had to play along with the system, at least put up a front.

Besides, Hinata Hyuga was so cute—who could dislike her?

"Hinata."

Beizawa turned to look at her and said, "Come to my office after this class."

"O-okay."

Hinata Hyuga paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Aren't you going to ask why?"

Beizawa asked with a smile.

"What's the reason?"

Hinata Hyuga tilted her head slightly at that and asked obediently.

"Special training."

Beizawa replied.

Hinata Hyuga immediately recalled what had happened in the grove yesterday.

She was going to spar with Toranosuke in a month, and Beizawa had promised to help her with special training.

"Thank you, Teacher Beizawa."

Hinata Hyuga looked away, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Thinking about yesterday, she remembered being so startled she'd hugged Beizawa, and felt a bit embarrassed for a moment.

Why are you blushing?

Beizawa noticed the change in her expression and couldn't help wondering.

Just then, a sudden commotion broke out in the classroom.

Beizawa turned and saw Sasuke Uchiha walking in.

A saying came to mind: read more books, stare less at Uchiha.

Sasuke Uchiha swept his gaze across the room, paused, then changed direction.

He came up to Beizawa and said, "Good morning, Teacher Beizawa."

"Good morning."

Beizawa nodded slightly and replied with a smile.

Nearby, Shikamaru Nara and the others exchanged glances.

"Did the sun rise from the west today?"

Kiba Inuzuka looked out the window and asked, "Isn't this the first time Sasuke's voluntarily greeted a teacher?"

"First time I can remember."

Shikamaru Nara said thoughtfully.

Sasuke Uchiha came from the Uchiha Clan, was a genius himself, and had plenty of pride.

Add in an overly impressive brother, and he'd always ignored the teachers in class.

But today, why was he so polite?

"I'm guessing it's because Teacher Beizawa teaches well."

Shino Aburame adjusted his sunglasses and spoke.

"Sasuke-kun!"

Sakura Haruno didn't care what had happened between Sasuke Uchiha and Teacher Beizawa.

Her eyes turned into hearts as she rushed forward.

"..."

Sasuke Uchiha grew even colder, returning to his seat without a word.

"Women are terrifying."

Shikamaru Nara remarked.

"Ahem."

Choji Akimichi raised his hand and elbowed him.

Shikamaru Nara suddenly realized his slip, his face stiffening as he turned to look at Ino Yamanaka.

"Am I terrifying?"

Ino Yamanaka put her hands on her hips and blew at her golden bangs, looking furious.

"I'll treat you to grilled meat tonight."

Shikamaru Nara said, thinking on his feet.

"What about me?"

Choji Akimichi perked up at the mention of grilled meat.

"You too."

Shikamaru Nara said, wincing at the cost.

Every member of the Akimichi Clan was a bottomless pit; the allowance he'd painstakingly saved would probably be half gone.

Ino Yamanaka snorted lightly, glanced at Sakura Haruno, and promptly sat down to the left of Teacher Beizawa.

"If Teacher Beizawa were our age, he might steal Sasuke's spotlight."

Shikamaru Nara said, looking at Hinata Hyuga and Ino Yamanaka flanking Beizawa on either side.

"Hehe, grilled meat."

Choji Akimichi was already fantasizing about what meat to grill tonight.

"We're not having beef tonight."

Shikamaru Nara turned and said.

Beef was the most expensive; skipping it would save a lot of money.

"No beef? Fine."

Choji Akimichi said regretfully.

The bell rang.

Teacher Beizawa ended the class right on time, picked up his lesson plan, and left the classroom.

Hinata Hyuga hesitated for a few seconds, then, seizing the moment when no one was watching, quickly got up and chased after him.

Beizawa stopped at the office door.

He turned around and spotted the sneaky Hinata Hyuga.

"Why are you acting like a thief?"

Beizawa teased.

Hinata Hyuga lowered her head, a bit embarrassed.

"Come in."

Beizawa opened the office door and walked inside.

Hinata Hyuga breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

"Do you have a habit of previewing lessons?"

Beizawa set down his lesson plan and asked.

"Yes."

Hinata Hyuga replied. "I went over all of today's material last night."

"Good."

Beizawa said with a smile. "In that case, you can skip class with me."

"Huh?"

Hinata Hyuga instinctively looked up.

A teacher taking her to skip class? She must be under a genjutsu.

"This is called effective time management."

Beizawa was talking nonsense with a straight face. "Since you've already mastered the textbook material, there's no need to sit in class."

"B-but..."

Hinata Hyuga was instantly at a loss.

Skipping class was the complete opposite of the upbringing she'd received since childhood.

For a moment, she didn't know whether to listen to Beizawa.

"No buts about it."

Beizawa said casually. "It's just skipping class."

This was part of the plan.

A person's character is largely shaped by their environment.

Hinata Hyuga had grown up in the Hyuga Clan, a place full of rules and restrictions, which was why she had this personality now.

To change her character, he first had to break the rules in her heart.

"I... okay."

Hinata Hyuga looked at the smile on his face and, as if possessed, nodded.

"Let's go."

Beizawa patted her head and said.

Under his lead, the two of them arrived at a wall on the school grounds.

"There's a guard at the main gate," Beizawa explained. "We'll climb over the wall."

"Huh?"

Hinata Hyuga looked completely bewildered.

Beizawa leaped up and landed on top of the wall.

He didn't say anything, just waved at her.

Hinata Hyuga's mind went blank; she could only feel her heart racing.

She'd never imagined she'd skip class on the third day of school and climb over the wall to get out.

But somehow, she felt a thrill she'd never experienced before.

Hinata Hyuga bit her soft lip, hesitated for a few seconds, then jumped up with all her strength.

Beizawa caught her wrist and helped her steady herself.

Together, they jumped down and cleared the wall.

Hinata Hyuga instinctively pressed a hand to her chest, her face flushed pink.