Bluffing, Then Keep Bluffing

"The so-called Hokage is someone who earns everyone's recognition."

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

Quite a few students lowered their heads, shame showing on their faces.

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

His face was filled with determination. From now on, he would amend his dream: he would surpass the Hokage and earn everyone's recognition.

In his heart, Beizawa had become someone second only to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"This teacher is pretty good."

Shikamaru Nara cast off his lazy demeanor, sat up straight, and looked serious.

He came from a ninja clan, so he naturally knew Naruto Uzumaki was not some so-called monster.

But Beizawa was merely a civilian ninja and did not understand the specifics behind it.

The only explanation was that he was kind.

Hinata Hyuga unconsciously clenched her hands.

As she looked at Beizawa, a trace of admiration flickered in her eyes.

First he had helped her, then he had helped Naruto Uzumaki. He really was... yasashii.

[Current mission: Become the first student in the class to catch Principal Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention.]

[Mission reward: Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.]

[The 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, had been spying on them.

His words just now must have pleased him, which was why he had completed the mission so smoothly.

Unfortunately, aside from Hinata Hyuga and Sasuke Uchiha, none of the other rookie nine had triggered a new mission for him.

"Let's begin class."

Beizawa picked up a piece of chalk, smiled as warmly as a spring breeze, and said, "Our lesson today is called the Will of Fire."

The atmosphere in the classroom immediately changed, no longer as silent as before.

"Do you know what relationship the Will of Fire has with the Hokage?"

After writing the four words "Will of Fire," Beizawa asked.

"Me!"

Naruto Uzumaki immediately raised his hand.

"Naruto, you answer."

Beizawa nodded at the sight.

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

Naruto Uzumaki stood up and declared loudly.

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

Beizawa asked again.

Naruto Uzumaki's expression froze, and he became embarrassed.

That question was far too profound for him.

"It was for your sake."

Beizawa said something earth-shattering.

"For us?"

Naruto Uzumaki asked with a look of astonishment.

Not only him—every other student wore the exact same expression.

"Where the leaves dance, the fire lives on. The firelight will continue to illuminate the village and make the newly born leaves sprout."

Beizawa explained, "The key to the Will of Fire lies with you, because you are Konoha's future and its hope."

"This is the first time I've heard it explained like that."

"So I'm actually that amazing?"

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

Beizawa could not help but smile as he listened to their animated chatter.

There was indeed nothing particularly wrong with the Will of Fire itself, but putting it into practice was not so easy.

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

He often waved the banner of the Will of Fire while doing things that could not see the light of day.

At the end of the day, theory alone was nothing but a castle in the air.

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

He only needed to use the Will of Fire to bluff Hiruzen Sarutobi.

And he could call that setting the world right side up.

"Class dismissed. Ten-minute break."

When Beizawa heard the bell ring, he gathered his materials and left the classroom.

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

"Ino, I won!"

Like an arrow loosed from a bow, Sakura Haruno sprinted to Sasuke Uchiha's side, turned back, and spoke smugly.

"No!"

Ino Yamanaka stretched out a hand, her face full of anguish.

Heh, women.

Shikamaru Nara flopped directly onto his desk, radiating lifelessness.

In his view, women were all troublesome, especially pretty women.

He just wanted to marry an ordinary woman and peacefully live out the rest of his life.

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

I'm gonna eat, eat, eat.jpg.

Ino Yamanaka gritted her teeth as she stared at the brightly dressed Sakura Haruno, then suddenly thought of Beizawa.

If she could not have the handsome little guy, then she would go for the handsome grown-up.

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

I was here first!

Ino Yamanaka sighed and sat back down.

After hesitating for a moment, Hinata Hyuga took out her textbook and began reviewing.

She was a good student.

"Teacher Beizawa, wait for me!"

Naruto Uzumaki accelerated, took a drainage-ditch corner at full speed, and rushed forward.

"Naruto, was there something I didn't explain clearly during class?"

Beizawa stopped and asked.

"No."

Naruto Uzumaki hurriedly shook his head. "Teacher Beizawa, you explained everything really well. Even I could understand it!"

What did he mean, even he could understand it?

How little confidence did he have in himself?

But after giving it some thought, Beizawa understood.

There had been an assessment upon enrollment, and Naruto Uzumaki had ranked dead last.

"Then what did you need from me?"

Beizawa asked with a smile.

"I want to know how I can earn everyone's recognition?"

Naruto Uzumaki raised his head and asked expectantly.

"You still... This question is very simple. Just learn from Lord Hokage."

Beizawa paused and changed his words.

He had originally wanted to say that Naruto was still young and would naturally understand once he grew up, but then he remembered that Hiruzen Sarutobi might still be watching.

"Right!"

Naruto Uzumaki suddenly understood. "I get it. Thank you, Teacher Beizawa!"

"See you next class."

Beizawa smiled, turned around, and left.

There were two kinds of teachers' offices: private single-person offices and shared multi-person offices.

Beizawa's office was a private single-person office.

The reason was simple.

He could be considered middle management, roughly equivalent to a dean of discipline in his previous life.

After all, he had been teaching for five years and had been named the best teacher for three consecutive years.

Ahem.

Besides his teaching ability, the most important reason was that his Will of Fire theory had earned Hiruzen Sarutobi's favor.

Making a living was nothing to be ashamed of.

In Konoha, being able to cling to the Hokage's thigh was something countless people envied.

Of course, if he could choose whose thigh to cling to, he would prefer the Fifth Hokage's.

After all, he was a ball fan.

Beizawa did not return to his own office. Instead, he went to the large shared office.

The large office had six desks pushed together, representing six teachers, all of them first-year instructors.

"Senior Beizawa."

Umino Iruka noticed him and hurriedly stood to greet him.

"Iruka."

Beizawa smiled and asked, "Are you nervous about teaching for the first time?"

Umino Iruka had only become a teacher this year, and he was not even eighteen yet.

"A little nervous."

Umino Iruka said awkwardly.

"It's normal to be nervous your first time."

Beizawa comforted him. "I just finished teaching a class, and the students were all quite good. You do not need to worry too much."

"Thank you, Senior Beizawa."

Umino Iruka said gratefully.

After watching him leave, Beizawa walked over to the bookshelf in the corner of the office.

It held the student files for every first-year class.

He wanted to find the three bratty children who had bullied Hinata Hyuga.