Chapter 104: New Home Completed, Pikachu!

Chapter 104: New Home Completed, Pikachu!

"So they didn't end up fighting? The butterfly effect is growing stronger", Izayoi mused silently.

Not only did his Wood Clone witness Jiraiya's meeting with Pain (Deva Path), but it also observed the Six Paths of Pain annihilating a Cloud Anbu squad.

After acquiring Wood Release, Izayoi created just ten Wood Clones to monitor the entire ninja world. These clones, second only to White Zetsu Clones, could transmit real-time intelligence and withstand far more damage than ordinary Shadow Clones.

Even when nearing chakra depletion, the clones could recharge by siphoning chakra from unsuspecting victims. The only limitation was the Rinnegan's vision, which could either observe from a godlike overhead perspective or switch to first-person view for detailed monitoring—but without sound. Without this limitation, Izayoi's ten Wood Clones would rival the White Zetsu Army in effectiveness.

Though unable to eavesdrop, months of surveillance revealed an impending storm. Due to the original's actions, Akatsuki's headquarters had been exposed prematurely.

To verify the Sage's Eye's existence, rival villages dispatched Anbu teams to infiltrate Amegakure. After these teams vanished, the villages pressured neighboring nations to send their own ninja. Pain (Deva Path) eliminated every intruder without hesitation, showing no intention to relocate. It was as if he welcomed open war against the combined might of the hidden villages.

The villages, now losing reconnaissance teams, hesitated. They awaited Amegakure's response—specifically, whether its leader was still the "semi-god" Hanzo. Based on his reputation from the Second Ninja World War, Hanzo would likely assert his dominance, proving Leaf's intelligence false and diverting attention from their own vulnerabilities. If Hanzo remained absent, Leaf's reports might hold truth, prompting a second wave of probes. Once confirmed, Amegakure would become the battleground for Six Paths Sage's legendary eyes—a prize rivaling the divine Wood Release.

Especially now, with Leaf's emergence of another Wood Release user, Izayoi's potential to become the next Hokage-like figure loomed. Should he achieve such status, Leaf could reclaim supremacy, disrupting the balance of power.

The logical response for rival villages was preemptive action against Leaf while Izayoi remained vulnerable. Yet cooperation was impossible. Their only alternative? Cultivate their own "Ninja World Asura" to counter the future "Sage of Six Paths." The Rinnegan, legendary apex of dōjutsu, offered the perfect solution. With its abilities still unknown, someone would inevitably gamble on seizing it.

After all, Amegakure lacked Leaf's manpower. Still...

"If someone rashly strikes first, they'll face consequences", Izayoi mused, gazing toward a distant horizon. "Chaos suits me just fine. Soon, I'll stir the pot further."

...

Time flew—November passed in a blink.

With Izayoi and his four Wood Clones using Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, construction outpaced even the natural growth of the property. From mid-August to early December, three months transformed the site into Izayoi's new home.

Located in Leaf's Central Street southeast district, the estate bordered the hot spring district to the right and lay just streets from the Hyuga Compound in the southwest. Surrounded by bustling commercial areas, Izayoi purchased all adjacent properties, creating a square bounded by four streets.

To ensure privacy from both curious crowds and ninjas prone to rooftop shortcuts, he erected towering walls like the Hyuga, with front and back gates flanked by ornate brickwork.

Inside the walled compound stood not one, but two structures. The front building, traditional Japanese architecture, blended a garden estate with modernized wooden structures. Stone bridges arched over koi ponds, artificial rock formations rose among dense foliage, and a profusion of flowers framed pathways like living paintings. Few would guess this tranquil oasis lay mere steps from Leaf's busiest streets.

Though outwardly traditional, the interior concealed advanced mechanics. Many "ancient" features were reinforced with Wood Release, automated systems, and chakra-powered devices. Embedded formulas within the walls allowed instant activation of protective barriers, shielding the estate from both physical attacks and sensory techniques.

Behind this traditional facade stood a modern villa with swimming pools, connected by a vast circular courtyard paved in white stone. This arena, complete with chakra-powered statues, could rise to form a combat stage enclosed in protective barriers.

Beneath both structures lay Izayoi's underground base—an expansive subterranean complex.

After completion, Izayoi hosted a series of parties for his allies, including Tsunade and Shizune, treating them to gourmet meals and private hot spring access. Three pools served specific purposes: one for Izayoi, Hinata sisters, and Karin; two others for male and female guests.

The first visitors—Naruto, Sakura, Kiba, and others—stood awestruck.

"Whoa... so huge!"

"I didn't realize the property size during demolition, but this mansion is massive!"

"This luxury must've cost a fortune!"

"I couldn't afford this land with a lifetime of missions, let alone build such a place!"

Even clan heirs like Kiba, raised in privilege, felt overwhelmed. Only Shikamaru, ever perceptive, studied Izayoi with a knowing glance.

It seemed this classmate, just as precocious as him, was hiding significant secrets.

Land in a prime location was priceless.

Buying a plot of this size would cost at least hundreds of millions of ryō.

If memory served, when Izayoi purchased this land, he hadn’t yet revealed his Wood Release.

Back then, he was merely a Ninjutsu prodigy. Even with the Hyūga Clan’s high hopes, investing such a fortune in him seemed unreasonable.

S-rank missions typically paid a minimum of one million ryō, rarely exceeding five million.

Top-secret super S-rank missions rarely surpassed ten million.

Even if Izayoi became an Elite Jonin, he’d need to complete dozens of S-rank missions—or a dozen super S-ranks—to repay this sum.

And that was just the land.

Constructing a house this grand would cost at least as much as the land itself, possibly double.

In other words, this home’s value was conservatively five billion ryō—perhaps even more.

The deer-rearing Nara Clan supplied herbs to the Hidden Leaf’s apothecaries, yet Nara Shikamaru’s family couldn’t afford such extravagance.

Even the wealthy Hyūga Clan couldn’t mobilize this much money in mere months.

Clearly, Izayoi’s explanation was a lie. The funds were likely his own.

But where had he gotten them?

Unquestionably, Izayoi harbored unknown secrets.

Still, Shikamaru saw no reason to expose him.

At that moment, Yamanaka Ino blurted, “Izayoi, aren’t you hanging a family crest plaque?”

“Not yet. Maybe later,” Izayoi replied with a smile.

“Oops, sorry—!”

Ino quickly realized her faux pas, sticking out her tongue while clasping her hands in apology.

Though Izayoi’s identity was confirmed, the Senju Clan had abandoned their surname upon integrating into the Hidden Leaf.

Even the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, was simply “Tsunade,” not “Senju Tsunade.”

Crest plaques typically displayed family names, making her question impolite.

“No worries. Just don’t faint when I finally hang it,” Izayoi said, smirking.

His cryptic remark piqued the group’s curiosity.

Could Izayoi possess Uzumaki blood besides his Senju lineage?

Shino Aburame glanced at Karin, nodding in understanding.

The crest would likely bear the Uzumaki spiral.

The Rookie Nine and their guests began exploring the house.

The boys wandered outside, gaping at the intricate garden like country bumpkins.

Shino stood transfixed before a tree sculpted with Wood Release, muttering, What a perfect insect hive…

At the rear, Naruto Uzumaki and Kiba Inuzuka challenged each other on the training platform.

The barrier rose, and Kiba was swiftly defeated.

Naruto then taunted Sasuke Uchiha, who’d watched with disdain, only to suffer a brutal counterattack.

Sasuke had grown so strong that even Hinata Hyūga and Karin couldn’t match him one-on-one.

Fighting both women together, he’d need caution to avoid Hinata’s Sealing Technique—but victory was still likely.

To catch up, Hinata and Karin needed more than the Gentle Fist and basic seals. They’d require miracles.

Meanwhile, the girls explored indoors.

“W-wow… this walk-in closet is huge!”

“Wait—is that a sewing machine? And these tools? Hinata, do you make your own clothes?”

Inside a spacious room, Ino and Sakura gaped at glass wardrobes filled with designer outfits, rolls of luxurious fabric, and high-end tailoring equipment.

Hinata smiled gently. “I don’t sew. Izayoi-kun made these.”

“Nani?!”

The two girls lunged at Hinata, gripping her arms. “Hinata! Did you save the world in a past life?!”

“Born into nobility, blessed with looks, a genius boyfriend who sews… I’m Jealous!”

“Same here!”

Hinata’s lips curled smugly as her friends wallowed in defeat.

But their torment had just begun.

During the evening hot spring, Hinata’s mature figure left Ino and Sakura too embarrassed to relax.

They rushed to end the bath, desperate to cry under blankets—only to suffer nightmares of Hinata’s superiority.

Next time, they vowed, they’d skip the free spa rather than bathe with her.

Only Karin shared their pain, becoming their acknowledged ally.

Even Tsunade, who visited the next day with Shizune, outclassed Hinata.

To match Tsunade’s… scale, Hinata had years to go.

Karin and Shizune, meanwhile, submerged themselves in the bath, exposing only their noses and eyes, bubbles rising from their mouths.

After two days of hosting, Izayoi finally relaxed.

The next morning, fresh from a swim and wrapped in a robe, he sighed contentedly on the sofa.

“Nothing beats home.”

“Izayoi-kun, you’ve worked hard these past days,” Hinata said, massaging his shoulders with Gentle Fist.

“So have you,” he replied, tilting his head to meet her gaze. His eyes flicked to her outfit, smirking. “That shirt suits you. Cute design?”

Hinata blushed. “It’s… too embarrassing. I’d never wear it outside, but… it is adorable.”

She wore a snug yellow tank top and white shorts, her figure accentuated by the heated room.

To Izayoi, it was ordinary summer wear—until noticing the front print: a smiling Pikachu.

Only he knew its name.

The tight fabric strained over her chest, distorting the Pokémon’s face.

That’s why she’d been too shy to wear it outside.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end