Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!-Chapter 326: Osamu Suzuki

"Ahem..."

With a light cough, the teacher instantly silenced the noisy classroom. It wasn't because the children were particularly obedient, but because the teacher himself looked intimidating.

He limped on one leg, and a scar stretched across his face, leaving only one eye open. As his single eye scanned the room, a wave of unease rippled through the students.

"My name is Osamu Suzuki," he began, his voice slow and deliberate, "a retired Chūnin."

His gaze lingered on each student as he continued, "Over the next few years, you will learn about the knowledge and skills of ninjas under my guidance. Most of you come from ninja clans, so I hope you won't let me down."

The deep tone of his voice echoed through the classroom. Some of the more timid children dared not even lift their heads to look at him.

This arrangement had been Kawakaze's idea—a plan to give retired ninjas meaningful work while ensuring young ninja-in-training received proper guidance. The wisdom these veterans carried was hard-earned, paid for in blood and sacrifice.

"We'll work hard," a few students murmured hesitantly.

Among them, Guy's voice rang out the loudest, startling Kakashi beside him so much that he clapped his hands over his ears. Guy's enthusiasm was palpable; he clearly admired this new Sensei, and his excitement was already beginning to boil over.

"Speak up! I can't hear you," Osamu Suzuki barked, his energy filling the room.

The startled students quickly responded in unison, raising their voices to match his demand.

"Very good," Osamu Suzuki nodded approvingly. "Next, you will introduce yourselves briefly so that everyone can get to know each other."

Satisfied with their spirited response, he gestured for the first row of children to begin. Without further prompting, the introductions started, moving from left to right.

When it was Kakashi's turn, Osamu Suzuki took a moment to observe him more closely. This boy, the son of Lord Sakumo, was already known as the most outstanding student in the class.

Although Kawakaze had advised against favoritism, it was hard for Osamu not to feel a sense of partiality. It wasn't about flattery; it was natural.

In rank, Sakumo had once been his direct superior. In gratitude, Kawakaze had personally secured him this job. Both duty and sentiment gave him a soft spot for the Hatake family.

Once all the children had finished their introductions, Osamu Suzuki moved seamlessly into the next part of the lesson.

"Come with me, all of you. Line up."

Osamu walked out first and waited quietly outside. Before long, the children formed a long line and followed him out in an orderly manner.

He led the group to the training ground. Normally, training would not begin immediately after enrollment, but since the class was composed primarily of children from ninja clans, he deemed it necessary to conduct a test. This would help him gauge the starting point for his teaching.

"Do you see that wooden target across the street?" Osamu asked, pointing at a target nearby, used for Shurikenjutsu training.

"Yes, Sensei," the children responded loudly, slowly adapting to his commanding presence.

"Those who have practiced, stand on the left. Those who haven't, stand on the right," he ordered. The children quickly split into two rows.

Predictably, the left row was significantly larger, composed of those with ninja clan backgrounds. Only a few children, like Rin, stood on the right. These were mostly commoners, with no one at home to teach them the basics or even let them handle shinobi tools.

"Better than I expected," Osamu muttered under his breath. He then distributed kunai and shuriken to the children on the left, who eagerly took them.

The children on the right watched with wide eyes, some looking slightly envious.

"Today is not a practice session. You will all have your chance in the future," Osamu reassured them once he finished handing out the weapons. Despite his stern appearance, his words carried a gentler tone.

"Yes, Sensei," Rin replied, gaining a bit of confidence as she sensed his encouragement.

"Well, you will have to work hard in the future," he continued. "Being slow isn't the problem. Letting yourself fall further behind is. Do you understand?"

"Yes!" the children on the right answered together, this time with more spirit.

"Alright. You can watch from the side," Osamu instructed, turning his focus back to the group on the left.

He had the children line up to perform a quick Shurikenjutsu test, with each child throwing two shuriken. The test moved quickly.

The results were mixed—some children couldn't hit the target at all, while others, notably the best among them, landed both shots squarely on the bull's-eye.

However, there were only a handful of students at this level, including the three members of Kakashi's team.

One of the other two was Asuma. He stared at the red target without blinking, his focus intense. If it weren't for the two stern figures standing protectively near Kurenai, he might have charged over to show off his skills.

The last person was harder to identify; his clan was unclear, but he was definitely not Obito. That much was obvious—Obito hadn't even managed to hit the target.

"Alright, next up is practical combat," Osamu announced. "Participation is completely voluntary—no pressure."

At some point, Osamu had pulled out a pen and paper, quietly taking notes on each child's performance with meticulous attention to detail.

"Sensei, I want to challenge Kakashi."

The moment the words left his mouth, Guy stepped forward, unable to contain his excitement. He was clearly thrilled by the idea of practical combat and simply couldn't hold back. For him, Osamu's announcement felt like someone handing him a pillow when he was exhausted—perfect timing.

"Very good. Then you and Kakashi will set an example," Osamu said, cutting off any chance for Kakashi to decline and settling the matter immediately.

"I really..." Kakashi began, but he didn't get the chance to finish his thought. Guy grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out of the lineup before he could protest.

"Guy, do your best!" Kurenai, enjoying the unfolding spectacle, cheered him on with a bright smile.

"You can't cheer for him," Kakashi muttered, completely unfazed and far from jealous of the support Guy was receiving.

"I will defeat Kakashi!" Guy declared, brimming with energy. He turned toward Kurenai and flashed his trademark enthusiastic pose.

Kurenai responded in kind, raising a thumbs-up in encouragement.

There's no doubt about it—he is Lord Duy's son, Osamu thought as he watched Guy's antics. Memories of the green whirlwind on the battlefield came to mind, and the resemblance was uncanny. Guy truly was cut from the same mold.

"Fight without restraint. No need to hold back."

Although Osamu was limping, he still exuded confidence. If not for the injury he sustained on that mission, he would have likely become a Jōnin by now.

"Understood."

Kakashi and Guy exchanged an OK sign before stepping apart, ready to face off directly on the training ground.

"Three, two, one... Begin."

With Osamu's command, Guy moved first. He knew he wasn't yet on Kakashi's level, and if he didn't take the initiative, he would stand no chance.

He was shocked by how quickly Kakashi reacted.

"Good."

Kakashi's lips curled into a slight smile, his silver hair catching the breeze. He seemed calm and composed, carrying an air that might already have captured the heart of some girl—though which one, Osamu could only guess.

So fast, Osamu thought, narrowing his one eye. Guy's speed at such a young age surprised him, instantly shifting him from his previously relaxed demeanor to a state of heightened attention. If either of the boys got hurt, it would reflect poorly on him as their instructor.

Asuma was equally taken aback. Despite his own rigorous training, he knew he couldn't match that kind of speed. He had always believed that even if he wasn't the strongest among his peers, he wouldn't fall too far behind. But this first day of school shattered that illusion.

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For the other children, especially those who were less skilled, Guy's performance completely upended their expectations.

Is this the speed someone my age can actually achieve?