Chapter 73: A Reward, Hinata Hyuga's Initiative

Chapter 73: A Reward, Hinata Hyuga’s Initiative

“Lee! Are you okay? Lee, wake up!”

The arena was silent, save for Might Guy’s panicked voice.

No one could blame him for his reaction.

Rock Lee lay motionless, his clothes and skin charred black like a grilled fish. The lingering effects of the Eight Gates Formation and Storm Release still caused his body to emit wisps of steam. Unconscious and barely breathing, he looked more like a roasted corpse than a living shinobi.

Meanwhile, two invisible blue beams of light shot from Rock Lee’s body toward Izayoi.

Though he lost, Rock Lee had proven his resolve to Izayoi through the Eight Gates Formation.

“Cough… Don’t panic. He’s just unconscious,” Hayate Gekkō reassured, pulling out a radio. “Medical team, hurry here—this patient needs immediate attention!”

Moments later, three medics in white coats Body Flickered in with a stretcher, rushing to stabilize Rock Lee before carrying him out. Might Guy, now free after both his students had finished their matches, followed them without hesitation.

No one stopped him.

All eyes remained fixed on the massive black crater where the arena’s wall used to be. Then, as Izayoi descended gracefully, every gaze shifted to him.

From genin to jonin, the way they looked at Izayoi had changed completely.

If his earlier use of Lightning Nature Transformation and Shape Transformation had marked him as a promising future jonin, this battle had redefined him as Konoha’s next ace.

Supreme Art Ninjutsu—S-Rank techniques so rare that even the most dedicated shinobi might never master them. Every ninja who wielded such power became an elite, capable of challenging or even rivaling the Kage themselves.

Izayoi had already reached that level.

Once his wisdom, benevolence, courage, leadership, and combat record matured, his status as an elite jonin would be inevitable.

“Izayoi,” Kurenai Yūhi asked excitedly as he landed, “was that your original technique?”

Beside her, Shino Aburame and Hinata Hyuga stared at Izayoi. The latter’s eyes gleamed with undisguised admiration.

“Yeah,” Izayoi nodded, smirking. “I said it’d blow your minds. Did I deliver?”

“Absolutely. That was incredible,” Kurenai said, clapping his shoulder. “You’ve been holding out on us!”

She’d thought he might be this era’s Kakashi Hatake, but Izayoi had surpassed even Kakashi’s legendary feats. While Kakashi had become a prodigy jonin at twelve and developed the A-Rank Lightning Blade, his Chidori paled in comparison to Izayoi’s Storm Release.

With a student like this, Kurenai suddenly found their earlier bet laughably one-sided. She’d won decisively from the start.

“That kid refined the Rasengan to this level? What a genius!” Orochimaru hissed, his golden eyes gleaming as he nearly licked his lips. Izayoi had delivered a spectacular show worth the wait.

Though he lacked a bloodline limit, Izayoi’s talent reminded Orochimaru of his younger self—and countless other gifted shinobi. Satisfied, Orochimaru slipped away unnoticed.

Meanwhile, the special jonin near Hiruzen Sarutobi used Earth Release to repair the crater. The effort drained immense chakra, reinforcing just how devastating Izayoi’s Storm Release had been.

“Could he have synthesized a bloodline limit by fusing Lightning and Water chakra into Storm Release?” Kurenai wondered aloud.

“No,” Izayoi clarified. “I used the energy sphere as a medium, forcing the two chakra natures to fuse through ultra-high-speed rotation. It’s an advanced composite technique, not a natural bloodline like Bloodline Limit: Storm Release (Byakugō).”

In truth, he’d been shocked too. But after checking, he found no Storm Release bloodline listed on his profile—only his Chakra Control (Gold) ability. It might also relate to his Rinnegan, but he kept that thought private.

The repaired arena resumed the exams. Izayoi and Rock Lee’s match had been the tenth round. Of the original 23 candidates, only Gaara, Tekka Kaito, and Shino Aburame remained.

The screen flickered, pairing Gaara against Tekka Kaito.

Izayoi glanced at Shino with a wry smile. Shino stiffened. “Something wrong?”

“Nope,” Izayoi said quickly.

He wisely avoided commenting on how Shino’s low profile might’ve made the proctors forget he existed.

The eleventh match ended predictably—Gaara crushed Tekka Kaito with his Sand Coffin. Only Hayate’s intervention saved Tekka’s life when Gaara’s sand began compressing him.

Without Sasuke’s cursed seal or Sharingan, Tekka’s chakra absorption paled next to Sakon’s wind techniques. His fate was sealed the moment he drew Gaara.

With the preliminaries over, eleven finalists advanced: Tōsu Ame, Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata Hyuga, Kankuro, Temari, Nara Shikamaru, Naruto Uzumaki, Neji Hyuga, Izayoi, Gaara, and Shino Aburame.

“As I said, the Chūnin Exams mirror the warring nations,” Hiruzen announced. “The final matches will draw nobles and dignitaries. Many may become your future clients. To impress them, you’ll have one month to prepare. Gather at Konoha’s plaza at 10 a.m. sharp.”

Anko Mitarashi stepped forward with a lottery box. The eleven finalists drew their match pairings:

Match 1: Naruto Uzumaki vs. Tōsu Ame
Match 2: Hinata Hyuga vs. Temari
Match 3: Nara Shikamaru vs. Kankuro

【Match 7】Izayoi vs. 【Match 8】Gaara.

【Match 9】Sasuke Uchiha vs. 【Match 10】Neji Hyuga.

The lucky bye recipient: Shino Aburame.

When the matchups were announced, many cast curious glances toward Shino.

Finally, Shino got his wish—experiencing the thrill of being the center of attention.

A faint smirk tugged at the collar of his jacket.

After the draw concluded, the genin followed their Jonin instructors out of the Forest of Death.

No sooner had they emerged than Kurenai Yūhi slung an arm around Hinata’s shoulders, beaming at Team 8. “Let’s celebrate! I’m treating you all to a feast—my treat!”

“Thank you, Kurenai-sensei.”

Team 8, having survived five days of bland rations in the Central Tower, didn’t hesitate to accept.

The sun dipped below the horizon as they dined.

After dinner, night fell swiftly.

Hinata didn’t head home. Instead, she visited Izayoi’s house, where they developed photos together in his room.

“Hinata, that final palm strike of yours was incredible,” Izayoi said, flipping through a freshly developed shot.

“Teehee… Your Storm Release just now was amazing too, Izayoi-kun! I never expected your ultimate technique to be a Wind Release: Rasengan!”

“Then should I work harder so our future kids can inherit it?”

“Eh—?!”

The room was pitch-black except for a single desk lamp, its curtains drawn tight. Izayoi and Hinata sat side by side, admiring photos and exchanging compliments.

But Izayoi’s sudden tangent about children left Hinata flustered. Her face flushed crimson as she stammered, “I… I don’t know…”

Her mind raced—imagining a child with her lavender hair and Izayoi’s blue eyes. Would they have the Byakugan? Or Izayoi’s Rinnegan? Would he prefer a boy or a girl?

Steam practically billowed from her head as her Byakugan spiraled into swirls.

Suddenly, Izayoi’s hand landed on her shoulder, snapping her back.

He leaned in, grinning. “Hinata, remember what I said before the match?”

“W-What do you mean?”

She blinked, still dazed.

“The reward! I won, didn’t I? Don’t I deserve one?” He repeated, feigning indignation.

“Are you Hanabi-chan now?” Hinata retorted, half-amused.

“Hey, Hanabi grew up with us—of course we’re alike!” Izayoi straightened proudly. “She asked for a reward after winning Top Graduate. Now I’ve advanced, so shouldn’t you reward me too?”

“What about mine?”

Hinata surprised him, smiling slyly. “I advanced too. What’s my reward, Izayoi-kun?”

“Oh, you’ll get one~”

He wagged a finger playfully. “But it’ll have to wait a bit.”

Hinata tilted her head, already guessing the answer.

She didn’t press him, asking instead, “So… what reward do you want?”

“Photos!”

Izayoi sprang up, dashing to his closet. He pulled out two gift boxes—delivered secretly by Shadow Clone before the exams.

Due to Hanabi’s interference, he’d never managed to give them to Hinata.

He thrust both boxes into her arms, eyes gleaming. “I want to take artistic photos!”

“Artistic… photos?”

Hinata blushed, suspecting the boxes held costumes. Was it sailor uniform again? Or another of Izayoi’s original designs?

Her cheeks flamed as she tore open the wrapping. The moment she saw the contents, her face turned tomato-red, steam practically erupting from her ears.

“T-This…!”

She stared at the outfit, eyes spiraling. “I-Izayoi-kun, did you mix up the gifts? This must be for Hanabi!”

“Nope—this is all for you.”

Izayoi held up a short-sleeved white top by the collar. “This is a gymnastics leotard, matching the pants. The swimsuit underneath is a school-style one. The other box has a cheerleading uniform and pom-poms.”

“T-Too small…”

Hinata’s head swam. The skimpy outfits looked like they’d fit in a single suitcase.

“Please, Hinata,” Izayoi clasped his hands, pouting. “It’s my lifelong dream!”

Dazed, Hinata found herself in the bathroom moments later.

Though the outfits were tiny, she spent fifteen minutes changing.

When she emerged under the soft bathroom light, clutching the hem of her gymnastics leotard, Izayoi—having already activated his Rinnegan to ensure privacy—felt a sudden rush of heat.

He pinched his nose. Blood.

A pureblooded Otsutsuki, reduced to a nosebleed.

But Hinata’s appearance was a Kekkei Tota-level assault.

The white sailor-collar shirt alone would’ve made her faint in the past.

But after six years of “training” under Izayoi, she’d survived.

Without this bond, she’d have fainted in the bathroom, spiraling eyes and all.

“Gulp…”

Nose stuffed with tissue, Izayoi swallowed hard. “Hinata, lie on your side. Let me show you how to pose.”

“O-Okay…”

Head bowed, she obeyed, unaware of his struggle.

Izayoi dimmed the lights, using only the desk lamp. He guided her to prop herself up with a pillow, flashing a peace sign, while adjusting his camera angle.

Click!

The flash triggered another nosebleed.

Spotting the bloodstain, Hinata gasped. “Izayoi-kun! Are you okay?!”

“Just… the food was too spicy,” he waved her off, eyes glinting with mischief.

“Is something wrong?” she asked, noticing his odd stare.

“Actually…”

He snapped another photo of her flustered face, then hinted, “Did you forget… something?”

“Eh?”

She tilted her head, following his gaze downward.

Whoosh!

Her face erupted in steam.

The next moment, she fainted.

Since Izayoi’s “modifications,” Hinata’s stamina had skyrocketed.

She’d blushed countless times, but never fainted—until now.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end