Land of Rain, Amegakure.
"A Wood Release ninja, a mysterious figure with the second pair of Rinnegan…"
Pain's Heavenly Path stared at the photo and intel from Konan, expressionless. "It seems to become a true god, I must pass destiny's trials."
"No one will stop me from bringing peace!"
Unlike Pain's chuunibyou flair, Obito Uchiha and Black and White Zetsu were heavy-hearted.
"First that mystery guy, now a legit Wood Release ninja—why are surprises popping up one after another?" Obito snapped, eyeing Izayoi's intel, irritated. "The Nine-Tails chaos didn't kill this kid, fine. But at his age, with this level of Wood Release? He didn't just awaken it. How'd he keep it hidden? Doesn't he know its value? If he'd shown it, Konoha would've poured everything into him!"
Had Izayoi revealed Wood Release sooner, Obito would've dealt with him while wiping out the Uchiha.
Now?
Five chakra natures, an advanced Rasengan, flight, and Wood Release.
Unless ambushed, even Obito couldn't touch him.
Flight was the worst matchup for him.
"What if… he's the mystery guy?" White Zetsu blurted the truth.
Obito shot back, "Can Rinnegan revert to normal?"
White Zetsu clammed up.
Of course it could—if you evolved it yourself.
Black Zetsu mused silently, dismissing Izayoi as the mystery figure.
If Izayoi had Rinnegan and was the mystery guy, he'd have achieved Madara's near-death two-pole unification before graduating. Impossible.
Two-pole unification required being Asura or Indra's reincarnation, maxing out Sage Body or Sharingan, then acquiring peak Yang or Yin power, merging them to birth all-encompassing might.
Each condition was hellish, taking ages.
Black Zetsu spent a millennium crafting the second Rinnegan pair.
A fresh graduate? No way.
Even if Izayoi's Rinnegan was transplanted, he'd be like young Nagato, unable to wield its power yet.
Transplanted Rinnegan couldn't revert.
If Izayoi were a Moon Otsutsuki descendant planted in Konoha, he'd have white hair and Byakugan.
Izayoi matched none of those traits.
Just a lucky Senju, Hashirama—the greatest Asura reincarnate—whose bloodline, after decades, birthed a Wood Release ninja.
He'd never match Hashirama's Sage Body-fueled Wood Release.
But this Senju kid also inherited Tobirama's ninjutsu genius.
At his age, mastering multiple natures, crafting Storm and Dust Release ultimates.
With Konoha's full backing, he might become a second Tobirama in ninjutsu.
Another massive threat to the Infinite Tsukuyomi!
Black Zetsu cursed inwardly.
Of all times…
Damn you, Hagoromo and Hamura—dead for ages, still causing me grief!
No one knew Black Zetsu's woes.
As Izayoi's intel spread, a black market bounty emerged.
The price? A staggering 180 million ryo.
Asuma Sarutobi—elite Jonin, Twelve Guardian Ninja, Hokage's son—fetched 35 million.
Yet a near-fresh graduate topped the list at 180 million.
It showed how much the mastermind feared Wood Release, sparing no expense.
Izayoi was clueless.
If he knew, he'd flash Sasuke's signature sneer.
Chumps! That's not even enough for my new house's land. Who're you underestimating?
It also proved ninja—mere tools—were cheap.
Even chaos-taming kekkei genkai holders.
---
Izayoi taught Sasuke the Super Hurricane Chain Sphere while using Storm Release: Verdict, dialed down, to fell trees.
It took two days to clear the Uchiha compound and Naka River's towering forest.
Hinata and Karin worked hardest.
Sasuke's Chidori couldn't down a multi-man-thick tree before his chakra ran dry—young and already spent.
Karin and Hinata, early masters of Strength of a Hundred Fists, treated trees like punching bags. With vast chakra and insane stamina, they toppled dozens daily, bruising Sasuke's ego.
The Konoha 11 dropped by, too.
Izayoi's fame outshone celebrities.
"Izayoi, you sly dog, hiding that deep!"
"I thought I misheard the name—didn't expect it was really you!"
"Senju heir, legendary Wood Release kekkei genkai—nice one. You owe us dinner."
"…"
Cornered, Izayoi hosted a feast at Sasuke's, feeding his "rowdy pals."
They showed loyalty, helping fell trees post-meal, though only Naruto contributed much.
Using Multiple Shadow Clones and Rasengan combos, Naruto earned a secret reward—a ninjutsu scroll for Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere.
In the Five Elements, it matched the Uchiha's Fire Release: Majestic Dragon Flame—basic, common.
Still, Naruto was over the moon.
He'd begged Kakashi for Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, only taught after relentless pestering.
Kakashi later claimed it was enough, teaching no higher Wind Release.
Without Jiraiya's Rasengan, Naruto would still only know Great Breakthrough.
Just visiting to repay Izayoi's frequent hospitality, and he got a scroll so freely.
No wonder he was the third—after the Third and Iruka—to acknowledge Naruto, a rival Naruto respected fully.
Like a kid with a new toy, Naruto bounced off happily.
---
"Unreal. Two days to clear so few trees," Karin sighed on the engawa, wiping sweat with a handkerchief. "Hard to imagine Izayoi-kun's Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees on a battlefield—what a sight."
"Mm-hmm…" Hinata nodded, agreeing.
She hadn't seen it that day, but two days of logging showed her why the elders were suddenly warm, probing about Izayoi, teasing or hinting she should go public with him.
Wood Release was too strong!
Hinata's heart fluttered.
The elders approved Izayoi, her father wouldn't object—she could confess freely, no barriers left.
But after Izayoi cut her off last time, she lacked the courage to try again.
She was too timid.
"Wood Release: Four-Pillar House Technique!"
Elsewhere, Izayoi, done with the Konoha 11, used Wood Release: Three-Room Hall Technique to fix the Uchiha compound wrecked by his trees.
Konoha might expand here someday—prime land. Izayoi wouldn't ruin his little bro's assets.
After restoring it, he told a nonchalant Sasuke, "Pack up. We're leaving soon."
"Got it!" Sasuke's eyes lit up, flickering to gather his things.
Izayoi informed the girls.
"Eh? Izayoi-kun, you're going with Sasuke-kun?" Karin glanced around, timid. "Can I stay at Hinata's? When'll you be back?"
"Not sure. Fast, maybe two-three days. Slow, over a week," Izayoi smiled, adding, "Train harder, or Sasuke might leave you both in the dust when we return."
"…Got it!"
The girls blinked, exchanged glances, and nodded firmly at Izayoi.
"If you've got time, Hinata, check on my house's construction. No supervision, and I'm worried delays'll mess up move-in," Izayoi said.
"Leave it to me, Izayoi-kun," Hinata smiled softly, nodding.
After chatting more, Izayoi grabbed his gear, hit Naka River, got village exit papers with Sasuke, and headed for the Land of Rice Fields.
Yes, Izayoi's pick to "administer the shot" for Sasuke was Orochimaru.
More precisely, Orochimaru's knowledge and Kabuto's skill.
Izayoi had a Medical Genius trait but no medical training.
He was certain Sasuke's Hashirama Cell transplant would succeed. If it failed, he could absorb the destructive power with Wood Release.
But a makeshift medic couldn't match professionals.
Plus, Orochimaru had the Ryuchi Cave summoning scroll, perfect for boosting Sasuke.
If Tsunade and Katsuyu refused Hinata a Shikkotsu Forest contract, Ryuchi Cave was an option.
For Izayoi's future sage training, he'd pick from the three holy sites.
A trip to Orochimaru was a must.
Halfway there, Sasuke caught on, eyes wide. "Land of Rice Fields—you're taking me to Orochimaru?!"
"Bingo."
"Are you nuts?" Sasuke gaped. "You know he's after my Sharingan, and you're delivering me? What if we can't escape?"
"Chill. He's not the Death Forest Orochimaru anymore," Izayoi soothed. "During the Chunin Exams, the Third sealed his arms' souls. He can't use ninjutsu, and his body's collapsing—weakest he's ever been."
"The village'll soon pull that from those corpses' brains. Then they'll strike, and finding him'll be tough."
Izayoi grinned confidently at Sasuke. "You trust my strength, right? Would I bring you without a plan?"
Sasuke exhaled, relieved.
Not cowardice—just October, three months since the Chunin Exams.
Orochimaru's killing intent back then, making him vomit, still haunted him.
Little did he know, with his Genjutsu Eye, even a full-strength Orochimaru couldn't take him easily now.
The Land of Rice Fields bordered the Land of Fire's north.
From Konoha, cross a dense forest and grassy plain, pass the Valley of the End—blasted by the God of Shinobi's Wood Release ultimate—and you're there.
A Genin at full Body Flicker wouldn't need a day.
Izayoi and Sasuke, boosted by Lightning chakra, reached it in half.
Izayoi knew Orochimaru's exact location.
Not found en route—after Orochimaru left Konoha, Izayoi's Shadow Clone, guarding Ranmaru, tailed him across half the Land of Fire, watching him enter his underground base.
Sparing Danzo Shimura then was for Hashirama Cells.
Those, in turn, were for Sasuke's boost and Izayoi's drop rate.
Boom—
Izayoi punched the ground, chakra erupting, blasting an entrance to the base.
He led Sasuke inside.
A few steps in, Sound ninja swarmed the corridor.
Izayoi grinned at Sasuke. "Test time. Handle them, then find me."
His body vanished like teleportation.
The Sound ninja felt a breeze pass.
Sasuke, Three-Tomoe Sharingan active, stared in shock. "Lightning and Wind Release natures—Izayoi, that guy…"
Lightning chakra inside for cell stimulation, Wind nature outside to cut air resistance—Sasuke hadn't imagined high-speed movement like that.
His lips curled smugly. "I saw it. Once I learn Wind nature, it's mine!"
Like a gust or lightning flash, Izayoi sped through corridors, arriving in a dim room.
"Yo… we meet again, Lord Orochimaru."
Seeing Orochimaru, bandaged, body crumbling, bleeding from every pore, Izayoi waved cheerily, attitude warm.
---
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