The Land of Waves lay quiet under the moonlight.
Since Team 7 had finally received a Class-C mission to escort Tazuna to this country after much difficulty, they had already encountered quite a few unexpected incidents along the way.
Not long ago, Team 7 led by Kakashi had their first clash with Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Mist. Though they emerged victorious, they carelessly allowed Haku—a self-proclaimed member of Kirigakure's hunter squad—to carry Zabuza away.
Kakashi himself had exhausted his body from overusing the Sharingan and now required rest.
In the meantime, in preparation for the enemy's next attack, he began teaching the three members of Team 7 chakra-control exercises like tree-climbing and water-walking.
At night, under a full moon casting silver light like flowing water,
Inside the forest, on the very tops of two trees about seven or eight meters apart, twelve-year-old Naruto and Sasuke faced each other from a distance, their eyes blazing with fierce rivalry.
After an entire day of competing against each other, they finally both climbed to the treetops at the same time, completing the training to scale trees using chakra.
Though both were exhausted, neither boy was willing to acknowledge defeat or back down.
Suddenly, an unexpected visitor broke the tension between the two boys.
"Phew, finally found you guys."
Izumi Uchiha landed atop a third tree, exhaling in relief as she spoke. She'd been following Team 7 all the way here and had finally tracked them down.
"Uh, who are you?"
Naruto tilted his head, staring wide-eyed at Izumi Uchiha as he asked curiously. He was a naturally sociable person—whether in Konoha or while traveling—he always made friends easily, yet he didn't recognize this girl at all.
Especially since she was so pretty and cute—on par with Sakura.
Naruto could've sworn he'd remember seeing someone this cute before.
"You're really laid-back, aren't you? Not even a bit cautious."
Sasuke scoffed coldly, habitually mocking [Mockery] Naruto with a couple of words before turning his gaze toward Izumi and stating flatly, "Anyone lurking around here this late can only be an enemy."
"So, Sasuke... You're saying she's one of Zabuza's accomplices?"
Upon hearing that, Naruto panicked immediately, almost falling off the tree. He stared nervously at Izumi, watching her every move.
"The teacher said you two are the reincarnations of Asura and Indra's chakra—one destined to become the Child of Prophecy who will save the world, while the other will awaken the Rinnegan. Really? I don't believe it."
Izumi rubbed her chin thoughtfully, eyeing both Naruto and Sasuke suspiciously.
"What are you talking about? I can't understand a word you just said!"
Naruto gave her a completely bewildered look.
Sasuke also frowned, equally puzzled by the strange woman's words. However, silently, he memorized the terms "Indra," "Asura," "Child of Prophecy," and "Rinnegan."
"Forget it if you don't get it. Pretend I never said anything."
Izumi shrugged her shoulders, a glint of mischief flashing across her eyes. Before her voice faded, she suddenly leaped into action, dashing straight toward Naruto.
"Whoa!"
"Sasuke, you're right. This guy is definitely an enemy!"
Naruto shouted loudly while rolling up his sleeves and throwing a punch straight at Izumi Uchiha.
Peng peng peng!
After just a few punches and kicks during their initial clash, Naruto was already defeated. Izumi kicked him off the tree, sending him flying down to the ground.
"Naruto Uzumaki, is this really all you've got? You truly disappoint me."
Izumi Uchiha landed lightly from the air, wearing a disappointed expression.
She didn't expect much from Naruto, who had just become a Genin, but even so, his performance was way too weak. He was practically the dead last among Genin.
Could someone like this really become the prophesied savior?
"Tch! You bastard! Don't underestimate me!"
Seeing Izumi's expression, Naruto immediately became angry. Unwilling to be looked down upon, he without hesitation unleashed his signature Ninjutsu—the [Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu]!
Peng peng peng peng peng!
As Naruto formed Hand Seals, over fifty Shadow Clones appeared, filling up the small woods and completely surrounding Izumi Uchiha.
"Oh?"
Slightly surprised, Izumi remained calm. Her figure flickered as she used the Body Flicker Technique, appearing like a black lightning bolt darting through Naruto's Shadow Clones.
Peng peng peng peng!
With each strike of hers, Naruto's clones burst apart like balloons, disappearing without a trace.
Soon, only Naruto's original body remained in the woods, standing there in shock.
"That's it?"
Izumi lightly chuckled, then suddenly appeared before Naruto with a swoosh, punching him again and sending him flying backward.
Although she intentionally held back her strength, Naruto still let out a startled cry as he tumbled across the ground more than ten times before slamming painfully into a tree trunk.
Still refusing to accept defeat, Naruto managed to push himself up from the ground, determined to keep fighting, but Sasuke stopped him.
"Stop being stubborn. You can't handle this opponent. Let me take over."
Sasuke said quietly, keeping his head lowered. Right after finishing his sentence, when he lifted his head again, both his eyes had secretly turned crimson red.
Sharingan.
Sasuke generally disliked using these eyes because they awakened during that nightmare-filled Night of the Clan's Destruction five years ago. They brought back his worst memories.
But now facing such a strong enemy, he had no choice but to reveal this trump card.
However, to Sasuke's surprise, after glancing at his eyes, Izumi commented disdainfully,
"One eye has a double-tomoe, and the other is still at single-tomoe? Unbelievable—after five years, your ocular power hasn't improved at all. It seems like you haven't properly developed its abilities over these years."
"Who exactly are you? Speak now!"
Startled and furious inside, Sasuke roared. He thought nobody else besides That Man should know about his awakening Sharingan. Yet this woman before him seemed quite familiar with everything about him.
Whatever. Priority number one: capture her.
Without waiting for Izumi to respond, Sasuke attacked preemptively with full force.
Unfortunately, his outcome turned out nearly identical to Naruto's.
Just one minute later.
Thud.
Sasuke took a heavy kick to the gut from Izumi and collapsed to his knees, writhing in pain with no strength to get back up.
"You're too weak," Izumi said. "Even though you're Itachi's younger brother, your talent is far inferior to his—Itachi's. With strength like this, how do you even think you can succeed in taking revenge on him?"
Izumi shook her head, openly showing her contempt for Sasuke.
At his age, she had already awakened her triple-tomoe Sharingan even before meeting Master Heiyan. She was regarded as a genius of the Uchiha clan second only to Itachi.
Judging from this, Itachi's younger brother couldn't even measure up to her former self.
No wonder Itachi was so worried—he risked returning to Konoha as an S-class Rogue Ninja just to visit his disappointing younger brother.
"You... how can you also have the Sharingan..."
Sasuke stared in shock at Izumi's pair of triple-tomoe Sharingan eyes and asked with difficulty.
"What an idiot question. Obviously because I'm also a member of the Uchiha clan," Izumi chuckled lightly.
She no longer felt like torturing these two pathetic boys any further.
Under Naruto and Sasuke's fearful gazes, she released a cascade of silvery laughter, then turned gracefully and lightly, like a celestial being gliding beneath the moonlight, vanishing into the night.
Soon, she disappeared into the forest bathed in moonlight.
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