Hiruzen Sarutobi's Reward

Beizawa walked along, pondering why Hiruzen Sarutobi had summoned him.

He was sure of one thing: Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't punish him with the Monkey King Staff for a one-second, six-hit combo, because he hadn't done anything wrong.

He guessed it had something to do with his recent monthly exam results, and maybe there would even be a reward.

"You can go in."

The Anbu ninja stopped in front of the Hokage's Office door.

Beizawa nodded slightly before pushing the door open.

"You're here, Beizawa," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, looking up.

"Lord Hokage," Beizawa quickly bowed.

"I saw your class's report card; it's very good," Hiruzen Sarutobi praised. "The number of students scoring over eighty is the highest in the entire academy."

The theoretical exam was out of one hundred points, as was the practical exam.

The final ranking was a combination of the theoretical and practical exam scores, also out of one hundred points.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, students scoring above eighty were enough to be considered the future hope of Konohagakure.

"It's all due to your excellent guidance, Lord Hokage," Beizawa said earnestly.

"No need for pleasantries. I've seen everything you've done," Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled. "Entrusting First Year Class A to you was indeed the right choice."

"I will do my best to teach them well and cultivate a group of outstanding inheritors of the Will of Fire," Beizawa declared.

"Very good," Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction and asked, "I've always been fair with rewards and punishments. What reward do you want? Money? Or ninjutsu?"

"I want a Wind Style ninjutsu," Beizawa replied after some thought.

Although money was important, he wasn't lacking for now. Solving the source of the ninjutsu rewarded by the system was the pressing matter.

"You can follow Haru later to choose a B-rank Wind Style ninjutsu," Hiruzen Sarutobi said after a moment's consideration.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage," Beizawa was surprised.

Aside from ninjas from ninja clans, ordinary ninjas rarely had access to B-rank ninjutsu.

Giving away a B-rank ninjutsu for just one monthly exam was undoubtedly very generous.

For Beizawa, it was like receiving charcoal in the snow.

The Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere he had just obtained was already a B-rank Wind Style ninjutsu.

"You've earned it," Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and asked again, "What do you think of Naruto?"

"Naruto?" Beizawa organized his thoughts. "He's an optimistic, cheerful, and loyal child."

"Naruto's parents were indebted to Konohagakure," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, looking at Beizawa with appreciation. "I hope you can look after him more, especially with his studies."

He didn't directly state that Naruto Uzumaki was the son of the Fourth Hokage.

After all, that was a top secret in Konohagakure.

With Beizawa's current strength and status, he wasn't qualified to know.

"Understood," Beizawa agreed without hesitation.

He already had a mission from the system, and now he had Hiruzen Sarutobi's mission as well. It was a win-win, and he'd win twice.

"Then I'll be counting on you, Beizawa," Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand. "Haru is already waiting for you outside."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage, I'll take my leave now." Beizawa understood the dismissal and turned to leave.

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched his retreating figure, a look of daze on his face as various memories surfaced.

He thought of Minato Namikaze from years ago.

Although Minato gained fame during the Third Shinobi World War, he was already a renowned prodigy at the Ninja Academy, famous throughout Konohagakure.

He was first in both theory and practical combat, and he was also a civilian ninja.

It was precisely because of his extraordinary talent that he was assigned as Jiraiya's student.

Minato Namikaze did not disappoint, saving Konohagakure from collapse and helping it win the Third Shinobi World War.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.

That vibrant, thriving spirit was still vivid in his mind.

"I hope Naruto can become the next Minato," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, snapping back to reality.

Beizawa, led by Haru, arrived at the ninjutsu storage room.

"The scrolls on this bookshelf all contain B-rank Wind Style ninjutsu," Haru said, pointing to a nearby bookshelf. "You can take one scroll, but remember not to look at any others."

"Understood," Beizawa nodded and approached the bookshelf.

He scanned the scrolls and immediately locked onto Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere.

However, he didn't act immediately, instead dawdling for a few minutes before picking it up.

"Once you take it back, memorize the contents. I'll come find you in a week to retrieve the scroll," Haru reminded him.

"Okay," Beizawa put away the scroll and returned to the Ninja Academy.

For the students, the monthly exams were over.

But for him, as a teacher, there were still things to do.

After lunch, the teachers gathered for a meeting.

As soon as Beizawa entered the conference room, all eyes fell on him.

It couldn't be helped, as he had just been summoned by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Senior Beizawa!" Umino Iruka excitedly waved at him.

He and Beizawa both taught First Year Class A, so he felt honored and was very happy.

Only Mizuki, standing beside him, had a complex expression, like a Sichuan opera mask changing faces.

"Beizawa, congratulations," Mizuki finally put on his usual smile.

"Thank you," Beizawa replied and sat down.

"What did you feel when you met the Hokage?" Umino Iruka asked enviously.

"Nothing much," Beizawa shook his head. "It's not the first time I've met the Hokage."

Subtle bragging is the deadliest.

Umino Iruka was instantly speechless.

Mizuki instinctively clenched his fist.

If the situation were different, he would have loved to punch him.

After all, in the original story, he was capable of killing an injured teammate to complete a mission.

"What did the Hokage say?" Umino Iruka asked curiously.

"He just praised the achievements of the students in First Year Class A," Beizawa paused. "And he also gave me a B-rank Wind Style ninjutsu."

"B-rank?" Umino Iruka gasped, immediately exclaiming, "The Hokage is truly generous!"

"If you work hard, you can also receive rewards from the Hokage."

Beizawa patted his shoulder and said.

"I'll work hard!"

Umino Iruka said, full of fighting spirit.

Mizuki watched them, grinding his teeth. He had taught a perfect student, so why wasn't there a reward?

How was this Hokage generous? He was clearly biased!

After chatting for a while, Hisao Sarutobi walked in.

The first thing he did was distribute the full-year class ranking list.

Beizawa glanced at it.

The top ten in the entire year were the top ten in First Year Class A.

He wasn't surprised, as when they divided the classes, they had put the most outstanding students into Class A.

"Now, I will announce the outstanding student representatives for this month's exam."

Hisao Sarutobi paused and said, "Hinata Hyuga."

The smile on Mizuki's face froze.

When he heard the first two words, he couldn't suppress the inner ecstasy, but the last two words sent him plunging into an ice cave.

"Why isn't it Neji Hyuga?"

Mizuki immediately lost his composure and subconsciously stood up, asking.

"This is the Hokage's decision."

Hisao Sarutobi said calmly.

"But..."

Mizuki was extremely unwilling.

Beizawa had been given more questions than him, this was the first loss.

Being summoned by the Hokage, this was the second loss.

Losing the outstanding student representative, this was the third loss.

Three losses in one month, what was the point of his living?