Chapter 94: Hinata Hyuga Takes the Initiative Again, the Humble Flatterer

Chapter 94: Hinata Hyuga Takes the Initiative Again, the Humble Flatterer

After becoming a Chūnin, Izayoi could finally enter and leave the Hidden Leaf Village openly.

Following a simple celebratory dinner with Hanabi Hyuga and Team 8 to mark his and Hinata Hyuga’s promotion, Izayoi set off the next morning with Hinata to pick up Karin.

The journey felt like a carefree trip with his future sister-in-law—snapping photos, sightseeing, and dawdling along the way to Cherry Blossom Street.

This was Hinata’s first time leaving the village alone with Izayoi, and she acted like an excited child, unusually proactive. She snatched the camera from Izayoi’s hands, refusing to let it go, and insisted he pose or use Transformation Techniques to capture solo shots and couple portraits.

There was Izayoi at a waterfall, hands clasped behind his back, floating midair as he balanced a swirling Storm Release sphere on one palm—a commanding, almost regal image.

Another photo showed him transformed into his childhood self, awkwardly stiff-lipped as Hinata cradled him in her arms, captured by her Shadow Clone.

There was the jealous princess using the same Transformation Technique to shrink down, fulfilling her dream of riding on Izayoi’s shoulders, fingers intertwined with his as they beamed at each other.

In moments of privacy, Hinata’s boldness surged—looping her arm through Izayoi’s, leaning her head on his shoulder with a blissful smile, only to gasp in surprise when he stole a cheek kiss.

And when Izayoi playfully begged her to swim in a waterfall pool below, Hinata blushed but relented, wearing a school swimsuit that turned heads as she emerged from the water, waves of admiration in her wake.

Months had passed since buying the camera, and both Izayoi and Hinata, being prodigies, had mastered photography. Their skills in lighting, angles, and composition were near-flawless. Every developed photo could’ve graced a magazine cover. They stored these treasures in separate photo albums, keeping them private.

On their previous mission, there’d been no time to tour with Hinata. To make up for it, Izayoi took her to every village, town, and bustling city along their route, sampling local delicacies. Whenever Hinata’s eyes lit up at a dish, Izayoi secretly sent a Wood Clone back to buy the recipe from the owner, planning future surprises to warm her heart.

After all, love thrives on mutual effort and care.

They spent over a week traveling before reaching Cherry Blossom Street. Along the way, there were shared hotel stays—bathing together, back-rubs, and even Tenketsu Striking massages.

Though Hinata had washed Izayoi’s back before, it was during his Rinnegan awakening phase when he was blind. Back then, her concern outweighed her shyness. Now, with Izayoi fully sighted, the act left her flustered. Even wrapped in a bathrobe, her face flushed crimson, breath shallow, as if steaming in a sauna.

She didn’t faint this time, though—a sign her tolerance had grown.

——

“Izayoi-kun, Hinata Hyuga-sama, you’re here!”

As Izayoi and Hinata approached the Cherry Blossom Street villa, Karin greeted them at the door, as if she’d sensed their arrival.

“Karin, long time no see,” Hinata waved gently. “Just call me Hinata.”

“Then I’ll take you up on that—Hinata, long time no see!” Karin grinned, bowing playfully.

Izayoi studied Karin with a satisfied nod. “Good. Your vitality’s improved. You’re finally living up to the Uzumaki name.”

“Haha… All thanks to Izayoi-kun’s cooking. I’m worried I’ll get fat if I keep eating like this!” Karin pinched her slim waist, laughing.

“Haven’t slacked off, have you? Did you master that technique?” Izayoi asked.

“Yep! I’ve learned the Rasengan!”

Karin nodded eagerly, conjuring a swirling blue-white chakra sphere in her palm.

“Excellent. That means your chakra control and shape transformation skills are both top-notch.” Izayoi smiled, stating their purpose. “Pack up. We’re taking you back to the Hidden Leaf Village for the next phase of training.”

Karin’s eyes lit up. She snapped upright, beaming. “Yes, sir!”

Though her current life felt like paradise—plenty of food and advanced ninjutsu to practice—nothing compared to being by Izayoi’s side. Even breathing the same air felt sweet.

Just being assigned to a Shadow Clone had satisfied her for days. Now, finally joining the Hidden Leaf Village meant she could see Izayoi anytime, even train under his real body. The thought made her giddy, a silly grin spreading across her face.

Watching Karin drift into a dreamy haze, Hinata tilted her head, her gaze soft with pity.

Just joining the village made her this happy? Her past life must’ve been hellish.

Hinata resolved to treat Izayoi’s kin with extra kindness.

Inside the villa, Izayoi sent Karin and Hinata to tour the house while he descended into the basement.

Inside stood rows of human puppets—not crafted from raw materials, but reanimated corpses. These puppets retained their former abilities, their bodies modified to wield hidden weapons and fire Light Bullets.

The corpses came from Root agents and others who’d perished in the Hidden Leaf’s collapse. Leading them was Danzō Shimura, his severed arm reattached, his right eye’s Sharingan capable of transforming into a Mangekyō.

Though Kotoamatsukami was now beyond his reach, his Dōjutsu power remained intact. With Hashirama Cells grafting his arm, his Mangekyō’s chakra drain was a fraction of what Itachi endured—nearly blindness-proof.

Combined with his innate skills, Danzō remained a shadow-level powerhouse. Now, he was Izayoi’s strongest puppet.

Once Izayoi mastered Yin-Yang Release, Danzō would regain Kotoamatsukami, his power surging further. He was the perfect leader for this puppet army.

Even in death, the ninja world’s shadows kept guarding it—a touching legacy.

Izayoi sealed the puppets into large scrolls, then approached two safes. He stored the Kado treasure’s safe into another scroll, then opened the second, revealing countless scrolls of varying sizes.

Among them was the Forbidden Scroll, stolen from the Hidden Leaf. He pulled out a red scroll labeled with the Uzumaki crest, then retrieved a yellow scroll from his robes, sitting at the desk to unroll both.

The red scroll brimmed with Uzumaki sealing techniques. The yellow one was blank.

With hurried, messy strokes—clearly copied in haste—Izayoi transcribed every technique onto the new scroll.

As a supposed Uzumaki-Hyuga hybrid, his chakra-based Might Ultimate Fist could be explained as a bloodline trait. But Uzumaki sealing techniques required a cover story.

The Hidden Leaf was only sixty years old; Izayoi’s family history was traceable. If his parents had possessed sealing scrolls, their social status wouldn’t match.

Thus, Izayoi’s bloodline had to be framed as a dormant inheritance.

To let Hinata and Sasuke Uchiha openly train in Yin Seals and Uzumaki techniques, Karin would serve as the perfect front.

Once the copying was done, Izayoi sealed the second safe away, slung the two scrolls over his shoulder, and ascended from the basement.

Izayoi located Hinata Hyuga and Karin, then handed the yellow scrolls to the latter with a grave expression. "Karin, these are the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Technique scrolls. From now on, practice the techniques within. If anyone asks about their origin, say they were your mother's inheritance—hidden in a secret location until you left the Grass Village, when you finally led me to them."

"Understood!" Karin nodded solemnly.

After accompanying Izayoi to the Land of Waves and witnessing his legendary Kekkei Genkai, Karin knew he harbored countless secrets. But she didn’t care. Even if Izayoi were a villain, she’d gladly become one too. Hinata felt the same.

During the third exam finals, Hinata noticed Izayoi’s Shadow Clone competing and deduced he was involved in the Hidden Leaf’s destruction plan, evidenced by his Mighty Ultimate Fist and Yin Seal techniques.

After packing up, the trio returned to the Hidden Leaf, arriving on September 10th. Izayoi created a Shadow Clone to store the scrolls before taking Karin to meet Tsunade.

"You’re Karin?" Tsunade asked, studying the nervous girl who avoided eye contact. Her gaze softened. "Welcome to the Hidden Leaf. You’ve endured much."

Tears welled in Karin’s eyes. "T-thank you, Hokage-sama!" She bowed repeatedly, stunned by how easily she’d been accepted.

"Need housing arranged, or would you prefer becoming my apprentice and secretary?" Tsunade offered, her voice tinged with urgency. As someone bearing both Senju and Uzumaki bloodlines, she understood the Uzumaki Clan better than anyone.

The Uzumaki were sealing and medical prodigies—those awakening unique abilities became geniuses among geniuses. If Karin had inherited the Adamantine Chains, she’d make the perfect Jinchūriki, like Uzumaki Mito and Kushina. Even without it, her potential was undeniable.

"Wha—? Really?!" Karin stammered, glancing at Izayoi for help.

"She’s my subordinate and family", Izayoi said.

Tsunade scoffed, crossing her arms. "We share the same blood. You’re my subordinate, making her mine too. Who better to nurture her talents?" She leaned forward. "Let her refine her skills under me—sealing, combat, sensing, medicine. She’ll become a multi-talented ace."

Karin’s eyes sparkled. Tsunade’s words resonated: becoming stronger to aid Izayoi. But she hesitated, awaiting his approval.

Izayoi finally nodded. Karin immediately bowed. "Hokage-sama, I accept!"

Tsunade feigned offense. "Hokage-sama? Try ‘Master’."

"O-oh! Master!" Karin blushed, scratching her head with a Naruto-like grin.

Tsunade’s heart melted, seeing echoes of Kushina. "Live with me."

Karin refused instantly. "I want to stay with Izayoi-kun."

Tsunade relented. "Be here at 9 a.m. daily."

---

Outside, Hinata congratulated Karin. "You’ll help him more this way", Karin beamed, scratching her head. Izayoi smiled silently.

Tsunade’s tutelage would unlock Karin’s potential—Byakugō, Shikkotsu Forest’s Sage Techniques, and combining her innate abilities with Uzumaki sealing and Yin Seal. She’d surpass even Sakura Haruno, becoming a new Legendary Sannin. Plus, Karin’s bond with Tsunade might convince the Slug Sage to let Hinata contract Shikkotsu Forest too—a two-birds-with-one-stone scenario.

---

Days later, Izayoi and Hinata met Shino Aburame for their first Chūnin mission.

"I thought you’d forgotten me", Shino muttered, eyeing their new green vests.

"Karin’s arrival delayed us", Izayoi laughed.

Shino’s silence spoke volumes. Izayoi changed the subject.

As they left, Shino’s hidden smirk faded. Without Kurenai-sensei, I’ll be stuck between these two lovebirds…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end