The thought flashed through his mind and vanished. Then he remembered that Qiushui was a new teacher who had skipped the assistant-teacher position and gone straight to becoming the homeroom teacher of an upper-grade class. In his very first month, he had brought Class 1 of the 4th Grade—which no one else could manage—under perfect control.
The whole school's teachers had seen just how unruly that class was. Yet after Qiushui took over, its average score had soared from around sixty to seventy-five in just one month.
Fujino Okuma asked himself honestly: even if he set aside Naruto, an unpredictable factor, there was no way he could have achieved results like that.
After Qiushui finished speaking, he turned and followed the Chunin who had come to deliver the message. As they walked down the corridor, he felt several teachers' gazes on him—some curious, some probing, and some openly envious.
The principal's office was on the top floor of the school, the sixth floor. Few people came up here on an ordinary day. The Chunin led Qiushui to a dark wooden door, straightened his collar, and gently knocked.
"Come in," Sarutobi Hiruzen's warm voice called from inside.
"Lord Hokage, Qiushui, the teacher of Class 1 of the 4th Grade, is here." The Chunin opened the door and respectfully addressed Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was seated at his desk.
"Mm. Thanks for your effort. Go take care of your other duties."
"It's no trouble. It's an honor to serve Lord Hokage," the Chunin replied sincerely, inclining his head slightly. "Compared to how busy you are every day, I only had to deliver a message. It's really nothing."
Standing to one side, Qiushui listened to their smooth exchange and couldn't help marveling inwardly. The man really knew how to talk. It was just a