第5章

Chapter 5: Izayoi’s Invitation, Summer Break

Unbeknownst to most, the first semester was already nearing its end.

For first-years, the curriculum consisted solely of academic classes and physical training. Day after day, students either studied, exercised, or practiced extracting chakra.

Except for Class 1-A, every other class had students who’d been asked to leave.

Ninjas were that rare. Not only was the entrance exam grueling, but the graduation exam was just as brutal. Even graduating didn’t mean true graduation—students still needed approval from a Jōnin instructor. Without it, they’d be sent back to repeat, and the attrition rate was astronomical.

And this was only the process for aspiring Genin. Above them stood Chūnin and Special Jōnin ranks, with fully-fledged Jōnin considered elite.

But all of this was irrelevant to Izayoi and the nine prodigies he’d targeted.

Except for the first two weeks, Izayoi hadn’t attended school in person since then. He wouldn’t return until the taijutsu duels began.

Truthfully, his only reason for enrolling at the Academy was to observe Hinata, Naruto, and Sasuke.

More precisely, to acquire their red-inked traits.

Before the trio graduated from the Academy, Izayoi needed to trigger their red-inked traits—preferably at least one or two of them. If he waited until after graduation, the odds of encountering them again would drop drastically.

It wasn’t a matter of strength disparity, but sheer opportunity. Once they graduated, the chances of meeting and fighting would plummet.

In the original timeline, the nine prodigies didn’t reunite until the Chūnin Exams—graduating in late March and competing in the exams starting July 1st.

That left a gap of one full season.

Ding ding ding!

The dismissal bell rang, ending another day.

Students, despite having spent the afternoon in physical training, still brimmed with energy.

“Izayoi-kun, wanna join us for a ninja game?”

“Izayoi, walk home together?”

Some students left campus, while others stayed behind, forming small groups. Izayoi received countless invitations—he was a popular figure in class.

Though his clone attended classes, and his true goal was only Hinata, Naruto, and Sasuke, Izayoi’s clone never showed coldness. He smiled warmly at everyone, even when politely declining.

Today was no different.

Faced with invitations from classmates, Izayoi’s clone clasped his hands apologetically. “Sorry, I’ve already made plans. Next time, definitely!”

“Again? Izayoi-kun’s so popular.”

“Then next time it is—let’s play ninja games together.”

The students nodded, disappointed but understanding.

After leaving school, Izayoi’s clone slipped into an alley and dispersed itself. Memories and fatigue flowed back to the original.

Back home, Izayoi—who had already finished training and was resting while waiting for fatigue to accumulate—murmured, “The break starts soon. Time to act.”

On July 20th.

After morning classes, lunchtime arrived. Some students lived close enough to return home, while others brought bento boxes to school. Conversations buzzed in classrooms or spilled outdoors.

Since Izayoi attended school via clone, he usually went home for lunch.

But today, he’d come in person, bringing bento with him.

He shared the meal with Hinata in the classroom.

Over three months, the two had become friends. Not yet the kind to share every secret, but they knew each other’s hobbies and small quirks.

Like how Hinata enjoyed pressing flowers.

And Hinata knew her seatmate was actually a clone.

When she first learned, Hinata had gasped, her wide eyes blinking in shock. From that day on, her admiration for Izayoi only deepened.

At a school where even the Three Sealing Techniques hadn’t been taught yet, he’d already mastered the Shadow Clone Technique—an astonishing feat.

As they ate, Izayoi suddenly asked, “Hinata, what are your plans for break?”

“I’ll probably train at home,” she replied softly.

“How about training together?” Izayoi invited.

“R-really?” Hinata’s eyes lit up, surprised.

Then her expression fell as she shook her head. “No… Father won’t let me go out alone.”

After the kidnapping incident, Hyūga Hiashi had tightened security. Hinata needed guards to leave, and even then, couldn’t go often—especially now that she was in a class with an Uchiha.

For the clan’s pride, she had to train diligently to avoid being overshadowed.

“Heh… forget about that.” Izayoi grinned. “I’m asking if you want to go out and train with me.”

“…Mm.”

Hinata ducked her head, nibbling rice as she whispered, “Okay.”

“Great. Tomorrow I’ll help you. But…”

Izayoi leaned close, his breath tickling her ear as he whispered his plan.

Her face flushed crimson, chopsticks trembling.

Three months of training hadn’t raised her immunity stats at all.

Her personality hadn’t devolved into the extreme shyness of the original timeline, so she didn’t faint—but her mind went blank, forgetting everything Izayoi said.

“…Remember, you need to act natural tomorrow. Otherwise, they’ll see through my plan,” Izayoi warned.

“O-oh… okay.”

Hinata nodded dazedly, adorably clueless.

Then she blinked up at him. “I-Izayoi-kun, what was the plan again?”

Izayoi facepalmed.

Pop!

He flicked her forehead without mercy, then repeated his instructions to the girl’s pitiful pout.

Rubbing her forehead, Hinata’s eyes sparkled with understanding.

The next day, the Academy entered its forty-day summer break.

Stepping out of his home, Izayoi turned into a nearby alley.

Poof!

Like a balloon bursting, a Kagebunshin dispersed.

Out dashed a girl with a hat pulled low, golden hair peeking beneath. She sprinted toward the Hyūga Clan compound.

Had any of Class 1-A been there, they’d have recognized her instantly—Yamanaka Ino.

“I’m Yamanaka Ino,” the girl chimed sweetly at the compound gates, using Transformation Technique. “I’m here to pick up Hinata! We made plans yesterday!”

The two guards exchanged glances.

“Please wait.”

One guard scrutinized her, bowed politely, then entered the compound.

Soon, he reappeared.

Behind him hurried a white-clad girl—Hinata.

The moment Hinata and “Ino” locked eyes, both grinned.

The plan worked. The little lady had left the compound.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end