"What a terrifying explosion!"
After the earth-shaking blast faded, Sarutobi Asuma and Yuhi Kurenai returned to the battlefield.
Perched on a treetop, they stared at the massive crater, which would take time to fill even with the river's flow, their eyes trembling with awe.
Asuma suddenly turned to Kurenai. "Kurenai, are you sure your student hasn't awakened Storm Release kekkei genkai or Dust Release kekkei tota?"
"Izayoi doesn't lie unless he chooses not to speak," Kurenai replied, shaking her head. "During the Chunin Exams, I asked him. His Storm Release starts with that oversized Rasengan as a core, infused with two nature transformations, forcibly fused through ultra-high-speed rotation and masterful shape manipulation."
"He can't yet convert chakra directly into Storm Release."
Asuma marveled, "Such terrifying chakra control and ninjutsu talent—it's beyond genius. Even the old man in his prime couldn't compare."
"Indeed…"
Kurenai, as if recalling something, gave a bittersweet yet proud smile. "Once the Fifth takes office, I might consider retirement. Otherwise, it'd be embarrassing to lead missions only to have my student protect me."
"Hahaha…" Asuma burst out laughing.
But his laughter faltered as he thought of his three students, and his smile vanished.
A lazy slacker, a beauty-obsessed team leader, a gluttonous heavyweight…
Kurenai could retire early, living freely as a Jonin, with a powerful subordinate to back her up on major missions.
But what about him?
Sighing, Asuma lit a cigarette.
Soon, Hatake Kakashi arrived with Might Guy and a group of Jonin, late to the scene.
Izayoi, unaware and indifferent to the Jonin's shock, had already fled.
After hurling the Dust Release sphere, he'd flickered back to the village with Sasuke.
On the way, he set Sasuke down and reset his dislocated wrist.
Seeing Sasuke's grim silence, Izayoi grinned. "Feeling frustrated? Hating your own weakness?"
"Yeah!" Sasuke nodded heavily.
Spared from Tsukuyomi's torment of reliving the clan massacre, he avoided the original story's warped psyche and descent into darkness.
But his heart now burned with a thirst for power.
He was too weak!
So weak that, facing his nemesis at last, he was utterly powerless.
"Want to get stronger?" Izayoi's tone echoed Orochimaru's, laced with temptation.
"Yeah!"
Sasuke nodded again, eyes locked intensely on Izayoi.
Knowing that look, Izayoi smiled. "Just Judgment and Roaring Light Cannon won't kill that man. Even that technique earlier, with the advantage of surprise, couldn't take down Uchiha Itachi."
Despite his words, Izayoi's confident grin made Sasuke's eyes light up. "Izayoi, do you have a way to make me stronger—or to kill that man?"
"It's risky," Izayoi said, staring at Sasuke with a smile. "Are you afraid to die?"
Sasuke paused, then gave a hateful, feral grin. "Remember what I said before the Chunin Exams? To gain the power to kill that man, I'd give my life and soul to a demon!"
"The real me died five years ago. What's there to fear?"
Sasuke faced Izayoi earnestly. "Whatever the method, use it on me! If I die, it just means I'm not enough. But if you grow strong enough someday, please kill that man for me and the Uchiha clan. I'm counting on you!"
With that, the proud second son prepared to lower his dignity, ready to perform a dogeza.
A hand stopped him.
"Don't be so serious."
Izayoi patted Sasuke's shoulder, teasing, "I only said it's risky. Risks can be managed. Besides, you're my first little brother—how could I let you die so easily? After your revenge, you'll owe me big time."
"When I kill that man, my life is yours," Sasuke vowed solemnly, a man's promise.
"We'll see. Get ready for hellish training."
Izayoi waved it off casually, but his lips curved upward.
A second subordinate, and a perfect right-hand man, was now his!
---
"Onii-chan, the scenery here is gorgeous!"
Izayoi had just moved into Sasuke's home.
The Hyuga sisters visited the next day.
By the Naka River's bank, Izayoi lounged on a beach chair, fishing and picnicking with Hanabi.
Nestled in his arms, Hanabi munched on her favorite banana, scanning the surroundings. Her gaze landed on a waterfall sparkling like a galaxy, and she perked up. "Onii-chan, look at that waterfall! There's a cave inside! Think there's treasure?"
"Nope, just a pile of rubble," Izayoi chuckled. "That cave was blasted open when Onii-chan practiced ninjutsu."
"So cool! That's my Onii-chan!" Hanabi gazed at Izayoi with adoration.
Basking in her admiration, Izayoi grinned proudly. "Back then, Onii-chan was about seven or eight, around your age."
But Hanabi's mood shifted, her praise drying up. Pouting, she huffed, "Onii-chan was already so amazing at seven or eight, teaching Big Sis so much, but you only taught me tree-climbing and water-walking. You're playing favorites!"
Izayoi pinched his little sister-in-law's cheek, laughing. "I'm not teaching you yet because you're still building your foundation. Be grateful—Onii-chan only awakened physical healing a couple of years ago. By the time you're ten, you'll surpass Hinata at that age in every way."
"Every way?"
Hanabi's eyes sparkled, then she glanced at her flat chest, looking up hopefully. "Will I be as big as Big Sis by then?"
"Uh…"
Izayoi was struck silent.
Rather than crush her dreams, he turned away, changing the subject. "The fight's almost over. Your sister's about to win."
On the river's rapids, Hinata and Sasuke clashed in a fierce taijutsu duel.
Outmatched in chakra, Sasuke couldn't move at full speed on water, constantly suppressed. Against Hinata's Byakugan, he couldn't even graze her sleeve.
Hinata, spotting his openings, didn't end it swiftly, instead helping Sasuke train chakra control.
Only when Sasuke's stamina faltered or his emotions wavered did Hinata unleash Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists, ending the bout with a single palm.
His chakra network drained, Sasuke fell into the river, then dragged himself ashore, panting heavily.
"Rest up, then we'll move to the next phase."
At Izayoi's call, Sasuke trudged over.
Silently eating to recover, he then fixed Izayoi with an eager stare. "What's the next phase?"
"What's with you?"
Izayoi, serving grilled meat to Hinata, frowned at Sasuke, scolding, "Hatred fuels your drive to grow stronger, but negative emotions can also weaken you, making you reckless."
"I know you crave power, but if you gain it without the mind to match, how's that different from a beast?"
"I was going to teach you Super Hurricane Chain Sphere, but now? Forget it. You'd probably blow yourself up."
Izayoi pulled a prepared scroll from his bag, tossing it to Sasuke. "You've got half a month to read everything in there. Until you've mastered it, focus only on chakra control—no other training."
"…Fine."
Sasuke didn't protest or lash out, recognizing his recent mindset was off and needed calming.
If anyone else had said it, he'd scoff.
But coming from Izayoi, it rang true.
Over the years, Izayoi's maturity left a deep impression.
Polite, respectful, always rational no matter the person or situation.
Perhaps that mindset let him fuse multiple nature transformations, wielding those novel powers.
Seeing Sasuke so compliant, Izayoi smiled warmly, offering a surprise. "It's not just busywork. That knowledge is the foundation for an S-rank technique."
Sasuke's eyes gleamed, clutching the scroll tightly.
Izayoi handed another scroll to Hinata. "Hinata, this one's for you. Check it out when you have time."
"Mm."
Hinata, rapidly piling meat into her mouth, cheeks puffed like buns, took the scroll and tucked it into her kimono's obi.
Though he'd seen this adorable sight countless times, Izayoi, under Sasuke's disdainful glare, grabbed a camera and snapped a photo.
"Yay!"
Before the flash, a peace sign popped into the frame, followed by a kid's cheeky voice.
"Naughty! Take that!"
"Ow, ow… Onii-chan, I'm sorry!"
At dusk, the four packed up and left the Naka River.
After escorting the Hyuga sisters back to the village, Izayoi and Sasuke returned to the Uchiha compound.
On the way, Izayoi seemed to remember something. "Oh, tomorrow my new place starts demolishing the old house. Come help out, and bring Choji to clear the rubble. I'll treat him to barbecue."
"Such a hassle. Why don't you go?" Sasuke grumbled instinctively.
Izayoi replied matter-of-factly, "Aren't you my little brother? Isn't this the kind of thing little brothers do?"
"…"
Sasuke was speechless, suddenly wishing he could time-travel to strangle the him who'd called a 'dog' his brother.
But glancing at the scroll, he thought, Worth it.
Fine… it's like sugar in the muck—bitter, but bearable.
---
Every 200 power stones 1 bonus chapter will be uploaded faster.
And if you want to read 30 chapters early, you can visit: Patre on . com / KangTL (REMOVE SPACE)