"What a terrifying explosion!"
Once the colossal blast had subsided, Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yūhi returned to the scene of the battle.
Perched on the branch of a tree, they gazed upon the massive crater before them – even once the river water flowed in, it would take some time to fill. Their expressions quivered in awe.
Asuma suddenly turned to Kurenai. "Hey, Kurenai, are you sure your student hasn't awakened a Storm Release Kekkei Genkai, or a Dust Release Kekkei Tōta?"
"Izayoi isn't one to lie—unless he just doesn't want to say," Kurenai replied, shaking her head. "I asked him about it during the Chūnin Exams. He said his 'Storm Release' is formed by taking that large-scale Rasengan of his, injecting two elemental natures into it, and using extremely high-speed rotation plus top-grade shape transformation to forcibly merge them. He can't simply convert his chakra into a true Storm Release nature yet."
Hearing this, Asuma couldn't help marveling: "Such terrifying chakra control and ninjutsu talent… 'Genius' doesn't even begin to cover it. Even the Third Hokage in his prime wasn't on that level."
"Right…" Kurenai's face showed both a wry smile and faint relief. "Once the Fifth Hokage is in office, I might consider retiring. If we ever go on a mission that requires a jōnin-sensei's leadership and it ends up being my students protecting me, that'd be too shameful."
"Hahaha…" Asuma couldn't help laughing, but as he thought of his own three students—one lazy slacker, one vain bossy girl, and one glutton—his laughter faded.
Kurenai, on the other hand, could step aside comfortably and live the carefree jōnin life, trusting her strong team to back her up. Asuma bit down on a cigarette, sighing over his own problems.
Before long, Kakashi Hatake arrived—along with Might Guy and a group of jōnin, finally trailing in. As for their reactions to that enormous crater and its implications, Izayoi neither knew nor cared.
After throwing that "Dust Release–like" energy sphere, Izayoi had whisked Sasuke back into the city. Along the way, he let Sasuke down, gently adjusting the boy's dislocated wrist. Looking at Sasuke's dark, sullen face, Izayoi teased, "Feeling frustrated? Hate how weak you are?"
"…Yeah." Sasuke gave a heavy nod.
Although he hadn't been forced to relive the clan massacre via Tsukuyomi, he was consumed by the same hunger for power, seething at his helplessness. He'd finally confronted his sworn enemy, only to be utterly powerless.
"Want to get stronger?" Izayoi asked, sounding every bit as seductive as Orochimaru.
"Mm!" Sasuke nodded fiercely, eyes locked on Izayoi.
Knowing precisely what that look meant, Izayoi smirked. "Using Judgment or Maser Light Cannon alone won't kill that man. Even that move I used earlier, with full intel on my side, failed to finish Uchiha Itachi off."
Seeing Izayoi's confident smile despite his words, Sasuke's eyes lit up. "Izayoi…you have a way to make me even stronger—enough to kill that man?"
"It's risky," Izayoi replied, gazing at Sasuke. "Afraid to die?"
Sasuke froze, then bared a hate-filled grin. "Remember what I said before the Chūnin Exams? If it'll give me the strength to kill him, I'd hand my soul and my life over to the devil! The real me died five years ago—what's there to fear?"
Staring intently at Izayoi, he added, "No matter what method, do it to me! If I die, that means I was only so strong. In that case…once you're strong enough someday, please kill him for me, for the Uchiha clan. I'm begging you!"
He prepared to prostrate himself, set on a dogeza.
But a hand grabbed him before he could bow. "Don't be so grim." Izayoi patted Sasuke's shoulder, half joking. "I said there are risks, but we can reduce them. Besides, you're the first hench—er, subordinate I've taken on. I can't have you dying that easily. Once you get your revenge, you'll still owe me a lifetime of servitude."
"Once I kill him, my life is yours," Sasuke vowed. "I give you my word."
"Deal. Prepare for hellish training." Izayoi waved dismissively, though the corner of his mouth curved in satisfaction. My second subordinate—and perfect right-hand man—secured!
…
"Onii-chan, the view here is gorgeous!"
The day after Izayoi moved into Sasuke's home, the Hyūga sisters dropped by to visit. Along the banks of the Naka River, Izayoi lounged in a beach chair, fishing with Hanabi. She lay in his lap, munching her favorite banana, eyes drifting to a waterfall glimmering like a silver river.
Spotting a cave behind the falling water, Hanabi said excitedly, "Onii-chan, look—the cave in that waterfall! Think there's treasure inside?"
"Nope, just rubble." Izayoi chuckled. "I blasted that cave open during ninjutsu practice."
"Amazing—you're awesome, Onii-chan." Hanabi beamed in admiration.
Izayoi, soaking in her praise, smiled contentedly. "Back then, I was about seven or eight—your age now."
But hearing that, Hanabi's face fell into a pout. "You were already that strong at seven or eight, and taught my sister so many techniques. But you only taught me to climb trees and walk on water. You're playing favorites!"
Izayoi patted her cheek. "It's because you're still building a start. Consider yourself lucky—two years ago I awakened my physical healing ability. By then, your sister was ten. Wait till you turn ten—you'll outshine what Hinata was at ten in every way."
"Every way?" Hanabi's eyes sparkled. She glanced at her flat chest, tilting her head hopefully. "Will I be that big, too?"
"Er…" Izayoi fell silent. Rather than dash her hopes, he looked away, changing the subject: "The fight's almost over. Your sister's about to win."
Far off on the river, Hinata and Sasuke dueled fiercely, exchanging taijutsu on choppy waters. Lacking her massive chakra pool, Sasuke struggled to maintain full speed on the water's surface.
With her Byakugan's 360° insight, he couldn't land a blow. Meanwhile, Hinata kept spotting openings but never followed up with a finishing strike, using each moment to help train his chakra control.
Only when his stamina or focus flagged did she unleash her Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists and end the match in a single palm. Drained of chakra, Sasuke slipped under the water, then clambered ashore, soaked and gasping.
Izayoi called over, "Take a rest, then it's on to the next step."
Sasuke trudged back in silence, grabbed some food to recover, then stared at Izayoi impatiently. "What's next?"
"What's with you?" Izayoi arched a brow. "Hatred might fuel your drive to get stronger, but negative emotions can also make you reckless and extreme. I know you're hungry for power, but if it suddenly surges without the mindset to handle it, you're just a wild beast, right?
"I was going to teach you the 'Super Typhoon Serial Spheres,' but on second thought, maybe not. It'd be hilarious if you killed yourself by accident."
He retrieved a scroll from the pack beside his chair and tossed it to Sasuke. "Spend the next half-month reading everything in there. Put all other training on hold—aside from chakra control—until you completely absorb it."
"…Got it."
Sasuke didn't snap or complain. He realized his mental state had gotten unstable, and needed reflection.
If any other adult had lectured him, he'd have brushed it off, but Izayoi's words he respected.
They'd known each other for years, and Izayoi had always acted mature and courteous, with unwavering logic that impressed them all.
Possibly that equanimity explained how he fused multiple elemental natures and tamed those novel powers.
Seeing Sasuke's compliance, Izayoi smiled wryly and offered a bit of a treat: "You won't be studying for nothing. The knowledge in that scroll is the start of an S-rank ultimate move."
Sasuke's eyes shone as he clutched the scroll. Izayoi then produced another one, handing it to Hinata. "Hinata, here's yours. Check it out whenever you have free time."
"Mmf," Hinata managed, cheeks stuffed full of grilled meat as she devoured it with hamster-like pouches. She tucked the scroll into her kimono sash. Izayoi, seeing that adorable sight for the umpteenth time, couldn't resist snapping a photo with his camera—drawing a disdainful glance from Sasuke.
"Yes!" came a mischievous chirp from a smaller figure popping up in front of the lens. Flash! The shot captured Hanabi holding a V-sign.
"Ack, you brat—take that!"
"Oww! S-sorry, Onii-chan—ow!"
Well past sunset, the four of them packed up their things and left the Naka River. Izayoi and Sasuke walked Hinata and Hanabi to the city center before returning to the Uchiha district themselves.
While on the move, Izayoi glanced at Sasuke. "Tomorrow we're clearing out old buildings on the plot for my new house. I want you there to help. Try roping Chōji in too—tell him I'll buy him yakiniku afterward."
"Tch, why me? Why not go yourself?" Sasuke grumbled.
Izayoi replied matter-of-factly, "Aren't you my underling now? This is exactly the sort of errand underlings are for."
"…" Sasuke fell silent, suddenly wishing he could time-travel and throttle the version of himself that chose this "Onii-san-Otouto" arrangement.
But a glance at the scroll reminded him how badly he wanted Izayoi's techniques. Fine…he would endure. A bit of sugar in the midst of the bitterness.
~~~
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