A year later, Izumi woke up in the morning and practiced Taijutsu, then brushed her teeth, washed her face, and started getting ready.
She found that after absorbing spiritual energy, her body became much stronger. Although she was still a child's body, her physical strength was incredibly high.
After all, with spiritual energy plus Chakra, her classes were much more effective than others who only had Chakra.
"Izumi! We're leaving!" her mother called out to her.
"Oh! Coming!" Izumi immediately ran up, took her mother's hand, and followed.
Today, Izumi didn't tie her hair in a ponytail, but let it down, making her look a bit more mature, as she had started school and needed a change. She put on a purple plane top, a black skirt, safety shorts, black fingerless gloves, and happily walked hand-in-hand with her mother to the Ninja Academy.
Today was the first day of the Ninja Academy, and all the new students had to undergo the baptism of the Third Hokage's Will of Fire.
Upon arriving at the Ninja Academy, the teachers arranged for them to stand in neat formations, while parents watched their children from behind, all smiling.
Izumi also saw Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto; they were both happily watching Uchiha Itachi.
Uchiha Hazuki was also looking at her daughter, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Time really flies, she's already starting school."
Soon, the Third Hokage came to the stage and said with a kind smile, "Everyone, congratulations on your enrollment. From now on, I hope you all aim to become Ninja and study diligently…"
Izumi became a bit impatient listening to him speak for so long, and the other kids below were the same.
At this moment, Izumi saw Itachi, and she waved to him from behind.
Uchiha Itachi also saw Izumi, and he nodded, greeting her.
After the Third Hokage finished his speech, the students were divided into classes.
This time, Izumi was not in the same class as him. None of the Uchiha Clan students were in Itachi's class, perhaps because he was the Clan Head's son, so he was kept away from his clan members.
What's more, Uchiha Itachi was surrounded by sunny people like Naruto or children who particularly loved the Village, constantly whispering words of love for the Village into his ear.
Izumi couldn't help but sigh that these old men really had a trick up their sleeve; from a young age, they made him distant from his clan members, and instead constantly instilled the idea that the Village was paramount, constantly brainwashing him, which no one could resist.
During training class, Izumi held a Kunai and deliberately threw a few off target. After one finally hit the bullseye, she jumped up and happily shouted, "Yay! It hit!"
A boy next to her said disdainfully, "Tch, you're so happy just because you hit one? Seriously, women!"
Another boy nearby immediately said, "Oh! Izumi, that's amazing! You're getting closer and closer to the bullseye, it looks like you've got the knack!"
Izumi looked at the two boys' attitudes towards her and couldn't help but sigh, "No wonder most people like those who say nice things; the difference becomes clear when you compare them to the person next to them."
She smiled at the boy who was flattering her, "Hahaha… That's right, I've got the knack! I think you're pretty good too! You hit so many, you're even better than him! I'll have to ask you to teach me sometime!"
"No problem! Haha!"
The arrogant boy on the side couldn't help but shout, "What did you say? I'm not as good as him?"
Izumi deliberately turned her head and said, "That's right, look at him, he's much better than you!"
The arrogant boy said, "That's because he threw more. You didn't see how many he missed on the ground and next to him, he's nowhere near as good as me!"
"You!…"
"That's not true! He's much better than you!" Izumi defended the boy, "Don't look down on him!"
The arrogant boy said, "Hmph, I do look down on him, so what?"
"Huh? What are you saying? Come on, let's have a match. Whoever loses calls the winner 'Dad'! Do you dare?"
"Bring it on! Who's afraid of who!"
"Come on! You be the referee… Huh? Where did she go?"
The two realized that Izumi had disappeared, so they didn't bother with her and started their competition.
Izumi watched from the side as the two eventually started fighting because they wouldn't call each other 'Dad,' and she couldn't help but laugh.
Izumi was in class, and after class, a group of girls were looking outside.
Izumi also looked out curiously and saw Uchiha Itachi.
One girl said, "Look, Itachi is over there."
"Where, where?"
"There!"
"Ah, Itachi is so handsome, but he's a bit too aloof and doesn't talk to people. After talking to him once, I don't want to talk to him again."
"Yeah, yeah, but his grades are really good! I heard he's first in the whole year!"
"He's also the Clan Head's son from a major clan, truly excellent!"
"If only he were a bit more approachable!"
Izumi didn't speak, but watched Uchiha Itachi with them. What she needed to do now was to hide herself and not stand out so much.
"He's looking this way, ah ah ah ah ah!" The girls all screamed excitedly.
The boys on the side grumbled, "Ah! How annoying!"
"Let's go take him on!"
"Oh!"
"Oh!"
A few people ran off to challenge Uchiha Itachi.
Izumi remembered that someone had tried to teach Uchiha Itachi a lesson before. Just like in the novel, she stopped them, revealing her Sharingan and scaring them away.
Izumi even showed off fiercely in front of Uchiha Itachi, and although she said it was difficult and she didn't know how to use the Sharingan, she was full of pride.
Suddenly, Uchiha Itachi said he was fine, but he was actually extremely anxious inside.
Izumi was overjoyed with pride. It feels like Hero saving the beauty plot. Just this time, Itachi is the beauty.
Just like in the plot, when these kids returned, they all became Uchiha Itachi's subordinates.
"Children are truly happy. When Izumi thinks about growing up and having to eliminate her past childish self, she feels a bit helpless. However, people always have to grow."
Soon after, Izumi secretly followed Uchiha Itachi to the training ground in the forest.
Here, Izumi could watch him use Ninjutsu.
Izumi could use her Sharingan to observe the enemy's Chakra circulation, perceive their Chakra changes, detect their usage of Chakra and physical energy, and then learn and copy their Ninjutsu.
Normally, Izumi had very little exposure to Ninjutsu, and her Sharingan couldn't be easily shown to others. She couldn't let them know that she had already awakened her Sharingan at this age, or it would be troublesome.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Itachi used the Shadow Clone Technique, and two clones simultaneously used the Great Fireball Technique, colliding with each other.
With a "boom!" two fireballs met.
"Hmm!" Izumi looked to the side.
Uchiha Shisui had arrived.
Izumi watched Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui meet below, and then learned their Kunai throwing techniques.
Izumi was interested and used her Sharingan to analyze them, observing Uchiha Shisui's Chakra and physical changes, and his techniques, learning their Kunai throwing skills.
"Oh! Amazing! The Kunai can even collide in mid-air and then all hit the target!"
Izumi couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
Izumi saw Shisui looking her way, and she immediately cautiously left the area.
As Shisui watched Izumi leave and was deep in thought, Uchiha Itachi asked, "Is something wrong?"
Shisui laughed, "Nothing, it's just that your charm is too great, Itachi, hahahahaha."
"Hmm?" Uchiha Itachi looked at him in confusion.
Uchiha Shisui didn't say anything more and said, "Nothing, let's continue."
"Okay."
Izumi returned home and set up hidden and illusionary talismans in her own yard, then began to practice.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" Izumi spewed out a large ball of scorching flames, which continued to burn in the sky.
"Oh, interesting! Haha!"
Izumi looked at the Ninjutsu she had released and couldn't help but feel proud: "Who isn't a genius! If you're not a genius, you can't even get by in Hokage."
[ + 1 chapter, 20 Collection already! ]