Deceive, Keep Deceiving

"The so-called Hokage is someone who earns the recognition of everyone."

Beizawa asked unhurriedly, "Naruto is your classmate and your comrade. How can someone who mocks their comrades become Hokage?"

Many people lowered their heads upon hearing this, shame coloring their faces.

Naruto Uzumaki felt as though the wind had blown sand into his eyes.

His face filled with resolve—from now on, his dream was revised to surpassing the Hokage and earning everyone's recognition.

Beizawa had also become second only to Hiruzen Sarutobi in his heart.

"This teacher's not bad."

Shikamaru Nara shed his lazy demeanor, sitting up with a serious expression.

Born into a shinobi clan, he naturally knew Naruto wasn't the so-called monster.

But Beizawa was just a civilian ninja, unaware of the specifics.

The only explanation was his kindness.

Hinata Hyuga unconsciously clenched her hands.

She looked at Beizawa, a flicker of admiration in her eyes.

First helping her, then helping Naruto... how gentle.

[Current Mission: Be the first student in the class to catch the attention of Principal Hiruzen Sarutobi.]

[Mission Reward: Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.]

[Host has completed the mission. Reward issued.]

Knowledge and experience related to Wind Release: Great Breakthrough surfaced in Beizawa's mind.

Sure enough, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was spying on them.

His words just now must have pleased him, allowing the mission to complete smoothly.

Too bad, aside from Hinata Hyuga and Sasuke Uchiha, none of the other little strong ones triggered new missions for him.

"Let's start class now."

Beizawa picked up a piece of chalk, a spring-like smile on his face, and said, "The lesson we're learning is called the Will of Fire."

The atmosphere in the classroom shifted, shedding its earlier silence.

"Do you know the relationship between the Will of Fire and the Hokage?"

After writing the four characters for Will of Fire on the board, Beizawa asked.

"Me!"

Naruto Uzumaki immediately raised his hand.

"Naruto, you answer."

Beizawa nodded upon seeing this.

"The Will of Fire was proposed by the Hokage!"

Naruto stood up and declared loudly.

"Then do you know why the Hokage proposed the Will of Fire?"

Beizawa asked again.

The expression on Naruto's face froze, turning awkward.

This question was too profound for him.

"It's for you."

Beizawa's words struck like a thunderbolt.

"Us?"

Naruto asked in surprise.

Not just him, but the other students wore the same expression.

"Where leaves dance, fire burns endlessly. The firelight will continue to illuminate the village and let new leaves sprout."

Beizawa explained, "The core of the Will of Fire lies in you, because you are Konoha's future, its hope."

"I've never heard it put that way before."

"So I'm this important?"

"Does that mean even the Hokage has to protect me?"

Listening to their chatter, Beizawa couldn't help but smile.

The Will of Fire wasn't really flawed, but putting it into practice wasn't so easy.

Take, for example, the Shadow of the Shinobi World, the First Pot-Kage, Shimura Danzō.

He often used the banner of the Will of Fire to carry out shady deeds.

In the end, theory alone is nothing but a castle in the air.

But none of that had anything to do with him right now.

All he needed to do was use the Will of Fire to fool Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Truly turning the world upside down.

"Class dismissed. Ten-minute break."

Beizawa heard the bell ring, picked up his materials, and left the classroom.

As a teacher, he kept a good habit: he never ran overtime.

"Ino, I won!"

Sakura Haruno shot forward like an arrow from a bowstring, stopping right in front of Sasuke Uchiha, then turned back with a smug look.

"No!"

Ino Yamanaka reached out a hand, her face twisted in pain.

Tch. Women.

Shikamaru Nara flopped directly onto his desk, radiating listlessness.

In his eyes, women were nothing but trouble—especially pretty ones.

He just wanted to marry an ordinary woman and coast through the rest of his life.

Choji Akimichi's thoughts were far simpler. He pulled out a bag of chips.

Me eating eating eating.jpg.

Ino Yamanaka gritted her teeth as she watched the flamboyant Sakura Haruno, then suddenly thought of Beizawa.

If the little handsome guy was taken, she'd go for the big one.

Just as she was about to head for the office, a blond had already chased after him.

I was here first!

Ino Yamanaka sighed and sat back down.

Hinata Hyuga hesitated for a moment, then pulled out her textbook to review.

She was a good student.

"Teacher Beizawa, wait for me!"

Naruto Uzumaki accelerated, taking a corner like a drainpipe drift, and rushed forward.

"Naruto, is there something I didn't explain clearly in class?"

Beizawa stopped and asked.

"No."

Naruto Uzumaki quickly shook his head and said, "Teacher Beizawa, you explained it really well! I understood everything!"

What did he mean by you understood everything?

How little confidence did he have?

But Beizawa thought about it and understood.

At enrollment, there were placement exams, and Naruto Uzumaki had come in last.

"Then what do you want to see me about?"

Beizawa asked with a smile.

"I want to know—how can I get everyone to acknowledge me?"

Naruto Uzumaki looked up, his face full of expectation.

"You're still... That question is simple. Just follow the Hokage's example."

Beizawa paused, then changed his answer.

He'd originally wanted to say you're still young, you'll figure it out when you grow up, but it suddenly occurred to him that Hiruzen Sarutobi might still be watching.

"Oh, right!"

Naruto Uzumaki's eyes lit up. "I get it! Thanks, Teacher Beizawa!"

"See you next class."

Beizawa smiled, turned, and walked away.

Teacher offices came in two types: private single rooms and shared multi-person rooms.

Beizawa's office was a private single room.

The reason was simple.

He was considered a mid-level leader, roughly equivalent to a dean of discipline from his past life.

After all, he'd been teaching for five years and had been voted Best Teacher three years running.

Ahem.

Aside from his teaching ability, what really mattered was that his theory of the Will of Fire had won Hiruzen Sarutobi's favor.

Surviving was nothing to be ashamed of.

In Konoha, being able to latch onto the Hokage's coattails was something many envied.

Of course, if he could pick, he'd rather latch onto the Fifth Hokage's coattails.

After all, he was a fan.

Beizawa didn't return to his own office but instead went to the shared large office.

The large office had six desks pushed together, representing six teachers, all of whom taught the first grade.

"Beizawa-senpai."

Umino Iruka noticed him and quickly stood up to greet him.

"Iruka."

Beizawa asked with a smile, "Nervous about your first class?"

Umino Iruka had only become a teacher this year; he wasn't even eighteen yet.

"A little nervous."

Umino Iruka said sheepishly.

"Being nervous the first time is normal."

Beizawa reassured him, "I just finished my class, and the students in my homeroom are all quite good. You don't need to worry too much."

"Thank you, Beizawa-senpai."

Umino Iruka said gratefully.

Beizawa watched him walk away, then headed to the bookshelf in the corner of the office.

Here were the student files for all the first-grade classes.

He was going to find the three brats who had bullied Hinata Hyuga.