Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
The sound of slicing air echoed above Central Street.
Seeing figures darting across rooftops, both ninjas and civilians sensed something big was afoot tonight.
But with no alarms and no orders to head to shelters, the villagers relaxed.
Whatever was happening didn't involve them, nor posed any danger.
Izayoi lounged on a single sofa on his balcony, sipping juice and gazing at the starry sky.
Figures flitting over his rooftop didn't draw his attention.
After a while, when no more shadows leaped across rooftops and the streets grew quiet, Izayoi, as if bored, finally stood and went inside.
Soon, the living room lights went out.
Emerging from a bath in pajamas, Izayoi's handsome face bore a faint smile.
Multiple Shadow Clone Technique… acquired!
No one knew that in a man-made cave by a waterfall, several disguised figures, blended into the walls with a cloaking jutsu, used an eighty-kilometer farsight to track Uzumaki Naruto in his orange tracksuit.
From the moment he left the Hokage Building, every move was under their gaze.
With powerful farsight and x-ray vision, neither the Nine-Tails in Naruto nor Sarutobi Hiruzen, watching through the Telescope Technique, noticed a thing.
When Naruto opened the Scroll of Seals, these figures unfurled blank scrolls, dividing tasks to transcribe the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique's training method.
These figures were Izayoi's Shadow Clones, transformed for disguise.
After copying and hiding the method, the clones erased all traces and scents, then dispelled on the spot.
Receiving the feedback, Izayoi didn't rush to retrieve the scroll.
He had the method now—no need to hurry.
Lying in bed, he grew curious about the team assignments in two days.
As he'd said before, he was certain Sarutobi had spied on his training with Hinata and spars with Sasuke.
Not yet graduated, he'd mastered tree-climbing and water-walking—skills not taught at the academy—plus low-level Wind and Fire Release, and the B-rank Shadow Clone Technique. In both Taijutsu and no-rules fights, he dominated the Hyuga main branch heiress and the Sharingan-awakened Uchiha orphan.
A civilian genius like him might not match Namikaze Minato, taken as Jiraiya's disciple at twelve after defeating Cloud ninjas, or Hatake Kakashi, a Jonin who developed the A-rank Lightning Release: Chidori. But he was just below them.
They'd grown up in wartime; Izayoi was a product of peace.
Standing out in such an exceptional generation, surely Sarutobi wouldn't pair him with ordinary classmates under a standard Jonin instructor, even if he hesitated to upset the clans?
If that happened, it'd mean Sarutobi wasn't investing in him.
His scrutiny would lessen, letting Izayoi pull some sneaky moves.
With that thought, Izayoi stopped caring about the assignments and closed his eyes to sleep.
…
The next morning, with neither Hinata nor Hanabi visiting, Izayoi first retrieved the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique scroll.
Knowing Sarutobi's Telescope Technique was an omniscient view, Izayoi lay down to read, shielding himself from prying eyes.
Without simplified seals, the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique's hand signs and Chakra flow differed from the Shadow Clone Technique.
It used fewer seals but demanded massive Chakra. Those without vast reserves risked injury or death, making it a jutsu only for those with immense Chakra.
"They say Hatake Kakashi's a Chakra benchmark, yet at five or six, he could use Multiple Shadow Clone Technique," Izayoi mused. "Even with the Sharingan constantly draining him for years, his Chakra stays elite Jonin-level."
"Without it, in just a few years, he recovered enough to cast Earth Release: Mud Wall around Konoha, carving a dog's head on it."
"Without that drag, his Chakra would rival Kisame Hoshigaki's."
Excluding Jinchuriki, only a few in this era could handle the technique.
Izayoi was one.
He was immensely grateful he hadn't used his newbie gift on Naruto back then.
Otherwise, his only edge would be Chakra reserves.
Even with Sasuke's Sage's Eye, awakening the Rinnegan would take years, maybe decades.
Now, with Otsutsuki Bloodline (Red), Sage's Eye (Red), and Prince of the Byakugan (Red), he could feel the first stirrings approaching.
In under five minutes, Izayoi stowed the scroll. He'd mastered the technique.
No need to test it—with his Chakra, he could create hundreds or thousands of clones by following the scroll's flow.
To prevent Hanabi from finding it and trying it playfully, he didn't hide the scroll but destroyed it.
He'd learned the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
If needed, he could write a new scroll or teach it directly.
By noon, with Hinata and Hanabi still absent—likely not coming—Izayoi went to buy ninja tools.
After all, a real test awaited before missions.
On the way, he spotted Naruto, pestered by Konohamaru, with Special Jonin Ebisu trailing secretly.
Naruto's green goggles were replaced by a Genin headband, suggesting he'd just retaken his profile photo.
Talking to Konohamaru, Naruto didn't notice Izayoi.
Izayoi didn't greet him, glancing briefly before heading to the ninja shop.
Returning home, he found two pairs of shoes at the entrance.
From a first-floor room turned dojo, rhythmic sounds echoed—part clap, part impact, crisp yet heavy.
Opening the door, he saw Hinata and Hanabi, in white training clothes, Byakugan active, temple veins bulging, sparring.
Their hands blurred, blue Chakra flames swirling, each clash kicking up air gusts.
A closer look showed Hinata wasn't serious, just feeding moves to Hanabi.
If she got serious, Hanabi would be battered.
To Izayoi and Hinata, Hanabi, only knowing Gentle Fist, was too predictable.
Her footwork was weak, full of openings.
Izayoi figured it was time to teach her tree-climbing and water-walking.
Aside from slightly less pure Byakugan, Hanabi matched young Hinata in every way, ready for advanced Chakra Control.
"Onii-chan, take this!"
Lost in thought, Izayoi snapped back at Hanabi's shout.
In her training clothes, she charged, temple veins bulging, fingertips blazing blue—a daunting sight for peers.
But Izayoi's lips just curved. Without dropping his bag, he blurred, teleporting beside her.
His bare instep gently met her stomach.
A strong yet soft force sent Hanabi airborne, flying toward Hinata.
Hinata caught her sister.
"Come on, both of you!" Izayoi tossed his bag to a corner, beckoning with a taunting grin.
The Hyuga sisters exchanged a glance, nodded seriously, and rushed him.
"Onii-chan, you're too cocky! You'll regret this!" Hanabi yelled.
Hinata stayed silent, her slender fingers packing fierce power and Chakra, slicing the air like arrows.
Louder clashes erupted in Izayoi's first floor.
Occasional yelps and groans mixed in—without good soundproofing, passersby might've gotten the wrong idea.
But half an hour later, fighting gave way to playful chaos.
"Ow, ow, it hurts! Hiss… Onii-chan, I hate you! I'll bite you to death!"
"Didn't you say I'd regret it? Where's that fire now? Stop biting—your wounds are healed. Your sister's still waiting."
"I'll bite anyway! Nee-chan, bite the other side—let's make Onii-chan cry!"
"Hahaha… the marks'll fade soon. Stop licking, it tickles!"
"Hehe, we'll keep licking to get back at you, Onii-chan!"
"…"
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