After being promoted to chūnin, Izayoi finally had permission to come and go from Konoha freely.
Following a small celebration with Hanabi and the rest of Team Eight for his and Hinata's promotions, Izayoi set off the next morning—together with Hinata—to pick up Karin.
Much like Izayoi's earlier trip with Hanabi, they traveled at a leisurely pace, snapping photos and sightseeing on their way to Sakura Street.
Because it was the first time Hinata had ever left the village alone with Izayoi, she was excited as a child, taking the initiative in everything. She seized control of the camera, never letting it out of her hands. Far more active than usual, she kept asking Izayoi to strike various poses or transform into other forms for single or group photos.
They took shots of:
Izayoi at a waterfall, floating in midair with his hands behind his back, holding an orb of Storm Release in one palm, exuding an awe-inspiring "ruler of the world" aura.
Izayoi transformed to his younger self (looking both awkward and forced-smile in Hinata's arms) while an extra Hinata Shadow Clone snapped the picture.
The "jealous princess," in turn using Transformation Jutsu to become her childhood self, fulfilling her dream of riding on Izayoi's shoulders, their fingers interlaced in a bright, cheerful scene.
Hinata hooking her arm around Izayoi's while resting happily against his shoulder—only to have Izayoi sneak in a kiss on her cheek, capturing her astonished face.
And then, after Izayoi "pleaded shamelessly," a red-faced Hinata in a school swimsuit under the waterfall, plus the breathtaking moment she emerged from the water in spectacular style.
They had owned a camera for months by now, and with both Izayoi's and Hinata's natural talent, they were already adept photographers. Whether it was light, angles, or composition, every shot could have been a magazine cover—and each one they developed went into their personal photo albums.
During this trip, Izayoi made up for how busy he'd been on the previous mission by taking Hinata everywhere: from villages to small towns, bustling cities, sampling all kinds of local delicacies.
Whenever Hinata found something especially delicious and ended up eating a lot more, Izayoi would discreetly dispatch a Wood Clone afterward to buy or bargain for the recipe—so that he could surprise her with it later. After all, genuine affection lies in the little details, the honest effort that warms the heart.
And so they took over a week to reach Sakura Street, leisurely enjoying each other's company. That included shared lodgings at inns, plus typical perks like help washing each other's hair and scrubbing each other's backs, with Hinata's Gentle Fist–style acupressure massages.
Though Hinata had done this sort of thing before (when Izayoi's Tenseigan was in its transitional phase and he couldn't see), back then she'd been more worried than embarrassed.
Now, she was seeing him clearly as she helped him bathe—an almost overwhelming experience. Even wearing a bathrobe, her cheeks burned red and she felt half-dizzy, struggling to breathe. At least she didn't faint. That showed how much her "immunity" had improved.
…
"Izayoi-kun, Hinata-sama, welcome!"
Karin greeted them the instant they arrived at the villa in Sakura Street, as though she'd sensed their approach and come outside to meet them.
"Karin, it's been a while," Hinata said with a small wave and a gentle smile. "Please, just call me Hinata."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony—Hinata, long time no see!" Karin nodded, returning her smile.
Izayoi, meanwhile, gave Karin an approving once-over.
"Not bad, your energy's leveled up again. This is what being an Uzumaki is all about."
"Hehe… It's all thanks to you, Izayoi-kun. I've been eating so well every day, I'm worried I'll get fat!" Karin gave a mock-complaint, placing her hands on her slender waist.
"Hope you haven't been slacking," Izayoi teased. "You learn that jutsu yet?"
"Yeah! I've already got down the Rasengan," Karin said enthusiastically. She raised her hand, and an orb of swirling blue-white chakra formed above her palm.
"Great," Izayoi praised. "That means your chakra control and shape manipulation are at a decent level. Go ahead, get packed. You'll be coming back to Konoha with us, and then we'll start the next phase of your training."
Eyes shining, Karin snapped to attention. "Yes, sir!" Although life here was like paradise—ample food and advanced jutsu to practice—Karin would far rather stay by Izayoi's side.
Every breath felt sweet there. Even those days she spent helping only a Shadow Clone felt satisfying. The idea of joining Konoha and having Izayoi's real self guide her made Karin practically tremble with excitement, silly grin plastered on her face.
Watching Karin's dreamy expression, Hinata tilted her head in mild sympathy. "Just joining Konoha makes her that happy?"
She thought. "She must've lived through real hell before." Hinata resolved to treat Izayoi's "clan members" extra kindly from now on.
Inside the villa, Izayoi left Karin and Hinata to tour the house and pack. Meanwhile, he headed once again down to the basement. The basement was full of puppets—no, human puppets.
Every last one, a reconfigured corpse retaining its former abilities, rigged to produce weaponry at will or fire energy beams. Most were once members of Root or part of the three-way conflict during Konoha's collapse. Leading the pack was Danzo himself, now sporting both arms and a Mangekyo Sharingan in his right eye.
Though "Kotoamatsukami" was out of commission, Sharingan's power still remained. Supported by the Hashirama cells in his right arm, its energy usage was drastically reduced. Combined with Danzo's other techniques, he was effectively Kage level.
Once Izayoi mastered Yin–Yang Release, Danzo might even reawaken Kotoamatsukami, making him all the stronger. Indeed, Danzo made a fine commander for the puppet legion: even in death, Konoha's "shadow" would remain in the shadows, continuing to "serve" in anonymity. So moving…
Storing the puppets in giant sealing scrolls, Izayoi moved on to the twin safes. He packed away the one containing Gatō's fortune.
Opening the other, lined with an assortment of scrolls both large and small, he took out the massive stolen Scroll of Seals.
From that, he produced a red scroll labeled "Uzumaki," then withdrew a blank yellow one from his person and settled at the desk to begin copying. Because he was forging it all in a hurry, the pen strokes looked downright scribbly, but he still transcribed every last bit of sealing technique from the red scroll to the blank.
After all, with his newly official identity as an Uzumaki–Senju, Izayoi could easily explain away monstrous strength or the Yin Seal. But these complicated Uzumaki fūinjutsu were something else.
Konoha had only existed for sixty years, so if he suddenly claimed a big inheritance of sealing scrolls from "the family," people would find that odd—his parents had never possessed such status.
So if Hinata and Sasuke were to train openly in fūinjutsu or the Yin Seal, it was best for Karin to serve as cover. Once finished copying, Izayoi replaced the safes, slung the two giant scrolls on his back, and returned upstairs.
He found Karin and Hinata finishing up. Izayoi handed the yellow scroll to Karin, adopting a serious tone:
"Karin, this is an Uzumaki fūinjutsu scroll. Going forward, if anyone asks where you got it, just say it was your mother's legacy hidden in some secret spot, which you only retrieved once you were free of Grass Village and able to show it to me."
"Yes!" Karin answered quickly. After witnessing top-level jutsu and traveling to the Land of Waves, she knew Izayoi had many secrets—and she didn't mind. Even if he was a villain, she'd follow him anywhere.
Hinata felt likewise. Ever since the Final Round of the Chūnin Exams, where she saw the "Izayoi" who competed was merely a clone, she suspected he had secretly played some role in Konoha's collapse. Monstrous strength and the Yin Seal were, to her, plausible evidence of that. But it didn't really matter.
They left for Konoha the same day. By the time they got back, it was already September 10. After registering Karin's arrival at the gate, Izayoi dispatched a Shadow Clone to take the two large scrolls into safekeeping and then led Karin to meet Tsunade.
"So, you're Karin?"
"Y-Yes, Lady Hokage."
In the Hokage's office, Karin kept her head down, looking rather tense as Tsunade studied her. After a moment, Tsunade's eyes softened.
"You've had it rough all these years—welcome to Konoha."
"Th-thank you, Lady Hokage…" Karin stammered, bowing repeatedly. She never imagined it would be this easy to join.
Tsunade smiled.
"Need me to arrange housing? Or you'd rather stay with me directly, as my secretary and student?"
Keenly aware of the potential behind any Uzumaki—particularly one with awakened special powers—Tsunade, who shared both Senju and Uzumaki blood herself, wanted to teach Karin personally.
Just a few years under Tsunade's tutelage, and she'd become a powerhouse in fighting, sealing, sensing, and medical ninjutsu.
"Huh? Th-this is…"
Karin blanked out in shock at Tsunade's offer, turning to Izayoi for help.
Izayoi just chuckled:
"Lady Hokage, Karin is my clanswoman, and also my subordinate."
"So? We share the same blood, so technically she's my family too. Besides, I'm the Hokage, and you're my subordinate, so your subordinate is my subordinate—why shouldn't I borrow her skills?" Tsunade retorted, arms folded.
"Also, can a kid your age really mentor others properly? Don't you have missions to do? Following me would let Karin reach her full potential as a proper Uzumaki, and that would help you, too."
Izayoi frowned a bit, realizing Tsunade did have a point. But before he could respond, Tsunade turned to Karin:
"I know you want to repay that kid, so the best way is to study under me. I'll train you into a superb ninja, giving you the power and standing you need to help him in the future."
Karin's eyes lit up at that, no longer looking to Izayoi for rescue but for permission. She clearly wanted it. Still, she said nothing until Izayoi nodded, after which she spoke:
"Lady Hokage, I— I'd be honored to become your student."
"But in that case," Tsunade said, faking annoyance, "stop calling me 'Lady Hokage.'"
"S-Sensei…" Karin corrected herself, scratching her head and grinning just like Naruto might. Seeing that, Tsunade felt another wave of nostalgia; the memory of Uzumaki Kushina's smile flashed in her mind, furthering her fondness for Karin.
"From now on, you'll be living with me," Tsunade declared.
"No, I'd like to stay with Izayoi-kun," Karin said at once, refusing without hesitation. She cast a trusting look at Izayoi.
Tsunade shrugged, not pressing the point.
"Fine, but starting tomorrow, be at my place every morning by nine sharp."
"Understood."
"All right, you're dismissed. If you need anything, come find me."
When Izayoi and Karin stepped out, Hinata—who'd waited outside—reacted with mild surprise.
"Karin, you became Lady Hokage's student? That's wonderful!"
"Heh, as long as I can help Izayoi-kun!" Karin said bashfully, scratching her head.
Izayoi merely smiled. Letting Karin become Tsunade's student was obviously best—Tsunade had better resources to develop her than he did.
While he had monstrous-strength taijutsu, Uzumaki fūinjutsu, plus stacks of ninjutsu and forbidden techniques, he lacked two key assets: Tsunade's unique creation, Byakugō no Jutsu (Strength of a Hundred), and the Slug Summoning Contract at Shikkotsu Forest. Tsunade's studentship could unlock Karin's fullest potential, turning her into a new top-tier ninja.
And if she gained the Slug contract, she might nudge Tsunade—or the slug sage—toward letting Hinata sign as well. A perfect outcome all around.
…
That night, the four of them held a welcome party for Karin at Sasuke's place. Naturally, Sasuke was away on a mission—he'd been gone for half a month.
With the bizarre track record of Team 7, it was no shock if he ran into big complications. After the party ended, Izayoi personally walked the Hyūga sisters back to their compound.
Thus, Karin officially joined Konoha, snatching the role of Tsunade's second student even before Sakura could, setting forth on her own path to change her fate.
…
"I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me…"
Several days later, after more than a month off, Izayoi and Hinata finally reported for their first chūnin-level mission.
Waiting where they'd agreed to meet was Shino Aburame, who watched them arrive in their brand-new green flak jackets—the two of them exuding a "first-time team captain" air. He greeted them in his usual dispassionate tone.
Sensing faint indignation behind Shino's words, Hinata unconsciously glanced away. Izayoi laughed nervously.
"We had to fetch Karin at Hokage-sama's request, and it ended up taking a while," Izayoi explained. "Just finished wrapping it up and came straight here to get you."
Shino stood there with his hands in his pockets, saying nothing, but Izayoi and Hinata both felt as though his hidden gaze behind those dark glasses was full of quiet reproach.
"Ahem… Let's go pick up our mission," Izayoi hastily changed the subject, clearing his throat a bit.
Under the high collar of his coat, the corners of Shino's mouth twitched into a faint grin, as though he'd forgiven them… for now. But the next moment, that amusement froze on his face as a terrible realization dawned.
Kurenai-sensei wasn't coming. Izayoi would lead the mission. Meaning that, for the entire trip, Shino would have to endure the inevitable onslaught of Izayoi–Hinata "togetherness"—forced to chow down on a giant helping of third-wheeler rations, day in and day out.
~~~
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