Naruto: Talent Entry Perks

"What a terrifying explosion!"

After the earth-shaking blast dissipated, Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi returned to the battlefield.

Standing atop a treetop, the two of them stared at the massive crater before them—so large that even with river water pouring in, it would take a while to fill. Their expressions trembled.

Asuma suddenly turned to Kurenai and asked, "Kurenai, are you really sure your student didn't awaken the Storm Release kekkei genkai… or even Dust Release?"

"Izayoi isn't the kind of person who lies. Not unless he chooses not to say something," Kurenai shook her head. "I already asked him during the Chūnin Exams. That 'Storm Release' of his is something he forced together using that enlarged Rasengan as the core—then injecting two nature transformations into it. He used ultra-high-speed rotation and top-tier shape manipulation to forcefully create the effect."

"He still can't directly transform chakra into a Storm Release nature."

Hearing this, Asuma couldn't help but marvel. "What monstrous chakra control and ninjutsu talent… This is beyond what you'd even call genius. Not even my old man in his prime could compare."

"Yeah…" Kurenai gave a mixed smile—part bitter, part proud. "Once the Fifth Hokage takes office, I might start thinking about early retirement. If I keep going on missions only to be protected by my own student, I'd die of embarrassment."

"Bwahahaha…" Asuma couldn't hold back a laugh.

But as he laughed, he thought of his own three students—and the smile slowly faded.

One was a lazy bum.

One was a beauty-obsessed team queen.

And one was a chubby glutton…

Kurenai might get to enjoy an early, carefree jōnin retirement, and even on big missions would have powerful subordinates to rely on.

But him?

That thought made Asuma silently light up a cigarette.

Before long, Kakashi Hatake arrived with Might Guy and a bunch of other jōnin, fashionably late as always.

But all the shock and reactions from the jōnin—Izayoi neither knew nor cared.

After tossing out that Dust Release energy sphere, he had instantly teleported back to town with Uchiha Sasuke.

On the way, Izayoi dropped Sasuke off and reconnected his dislocated wrist.

Staring at Sasuke's dark expression and silence, Izayoi chuckled, "Feeling bitter? Hating how weak you are?"

"Yeah!" Sasuke nodded hard.

He hadn't been caught in a Tsukuyomi or forced to relive the massacre a thousand times over like in the original story, so his mental state wasn't as twisted or vengeful—but even now, he burned with the desire for power.

He was just… too weak.

So weak he couldn't even lift a finger against his enemy, even when face-to-face.

"Wanna get stronger?" Izayoi's tone was practically dripping with temptation—just like Orochimaru.

"Yeah!"

Sasuke nodded again, his eyes locking on Izayoi.

Seeing that look, Izayoi smiled. "That Judgment Cannon and Radiant Blast I used wouldn't be enough to kill that man. Even that ultimate technique I just used—despite having a full intel advantage—still couldn't finish off Uchiha Itachi."

Sasuke's eyes lit up. "Izayoi, you have a way to make me stronger? Strong enough to kill him?"

"It's risky, though," Izayoi stared at him with a grin. "You afraid of dying?"

Sasuke froze for a moment—then broke into a twisted smile filled with hatred. "Remember what I said before the Chūnin Exams? If I could gain the power to kill that man, I'd give my life and soul to the devil himself!"

"The real me died five years ago—what's left to fear?"

He looked seriously at Izayoi. "No matter what method it is, use it on me. If I die, that just means I wasn't good enough. If that happens… then please, once you're strong enough, kill that man and avenge the Uchiha Clan in my place!"

After speaking, the proud Second Young Master lowered himself, ready to perform a deep bow.

But a hand grabbed him mid-motion.

"No need to be so dramatic."

Izayoi patted Sasuke on the shoulder and teased, "I said there's risk, not certain death. Besides, I'm taking on my first little brother here—how could I let you die so easily? Once you get your revenge, you still owe me a life of servitude, remember?"

"Once I kill that man, my life is yours," Sasuke swore solemnly.

"We'll talk about that later. For now, get ready for hell-level training," Izayoi waved it off casually, but the grin on his lips couldn't hide his satisfaction.

The second subordinate—perfect as a right-hand man—is in the bag!

"Onii-chan, the scenery here is so pretty!"

Izayoi had just moved into Sasuke's home.

The very next day, the Hyuga sisters came to visit.

On the banks of the Naka River, Izayoi lounged in a beach chair, fishing and cooking with Hanabi.

Cuddled in his lap and munching on her favorite banana, Hanabi looked around before her gaze landed on a waterfall that sparkled like the Milky Way. Excited, she pointed and said, "Onii-chan, look! There's a cave behind the waterfall—do you think there's treasure inside?"

"Nope, just a bunch of rubble," Izayoi chuckled. "That cave was blasted open by me when I was training."

"Wow! You're amazing, Onii-chan!" Hanabi gazed up at him with sparkly eyes.

Soaking up the praise, Izayoi smirked with satisfaction. "Back then, I was only seven or eight—about the same age as you."

Hanabi suddenly pouted. "You were that strong at my age, and you taught Nee-san all sorts of stuff, but you only taught me how to walk up trees and run on water. You're so biased!"

Izayoi gently pinched her cheek. "You're still building your foundation. Count yourself lucky! I only awakened my physical regeneration ability two years ago. Your sister was already ten by then. Once you hit ten, you'll surpass what Hinata could do at that age—in every way."

"In every way?"

Hanabi's eyes sparkled again, but then she glanced at her flat chest and asked hopefully, "Will I be as big as Nee-san too?"

"…Uh…"

That question shut Izayoi right up.

Instead of answering, he turned to the distance and changed the subject. "The fight's almost over—your sister's about to win."

Out on the churning river, Hinata and Sasuke were engaged in an intense taijutsu battle.

Lacking chakra control, Sasuke struggled to move properly on the water and was completely suppressed. With her Byakugan's insight, Hinata's movements were untouchable to him.

But she didn't finish the fight immediately—instead, she gave Sasuke time to improve his chakra control.

Only when he was nearly exhausted or lost emotional stability did Hinata strike with Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists, ending the battle with one palm.

His chakra channels drained, Sasuke collapsed into the river, then climbed ashore soaking wet, panting hard.

"Come rest a bit. We'll start the next phase after that," Izayoi called.

Sasuke walked over, sat down, and quietly wolfed down food to recover.

Once full, he looked up and asked eagerly, "What's the next phase?"

"What's wrong with you?"

Izayoi, currently serving Hinata some grilled meat, frowned. "Hatred can push you to grow stronger—but too much negative emotion can make you weaker, more extreme."

"I get that you want power—but sudden bursts of strength without matching mental stability? That's just a wild beast."

"I was going to teach you the Hyper Hurricane Ball combo… but on second thought, better not. Wouldn't want you blowing yourself up."

Then he pulled out a scroll from a nearby bag and tossed it in front of Sasuke. "You've got half a month. Memorize everything in this scroll. Until you fully digest it, stop all training except chakra control."

"…Alright."

Sasuke didn't complain. He knew something had been off about his mindset lately—he needed to calm down.

And if it were anyone else saying that, he might have scoffed.

But coming from Izayoi? He believed it.

After all, he'd known Izayoi for years. His maturity was deeply ingrained in everyone's impressions of him—polite, respectful, always composed, no matter the situation.

Maybe it was that calmness that allowed him to master so many chakra natures and handle such powerful techniques.

Seeing Sasuke so obedient, Izayoi smiled and gave him a surprise: "I'm not making you read for nothing. That knowledge is the foundation of an S-rank ultimate technique."

Sasuke's eyes sparkled, and he clutched the scroll tightly.

Then Izayoi handed another scroll to Hinata. "Hinata, this one's for you. Read it when you've got free time."

"Mmhmm."

Hinata happily stuffed meat into her cheeks, her face puffing up like buns, and slipped the scroll into her obi.

Izayoi had seen this cute face countless times, but still couldn't resist snapping a photo—right in front of Sasuke, who looked at him with judgment.

"Yay!"

Just before the flash went off, a certain brat popped into the frame with a peace sign.

"Naughty girl—take this!"

"Ow! Onii-chan, I'm sorry!"

By dusk, the four finally packed up and left the Naka River.

After sending the Hyuga sisters home, Izayoi and Sasuke returned to the Uchiha compound.

On the way, Izayoi seemed to remember something and said, "Oh right—tomorrow they're tearing down the old house next to my new place. Come help out. Also, get Chōji to help with cleanup. I'll treat you both to barbecue."

"So annoying… why aren't you doing it?" Sasuke grumbled.

Izayoi replied righteously, "Aren't you my little brother? Isn't this the kind of thing little brothers should do?"

"…"

Sasuke was speechless. He suddenly wanted to go back in time and strangle his past self for agreeing to follow this guy.

But looking at the scroll in his hand… he sighed.

Screw it. Guess I'll take the bitter with the sweet.