Naruto: Talent Entry Perks

August 25th.

Early in the morning, Hinata and Hanabi arrived at Uchiha Sasuke's house.

"Izayoi-kun, Sasuke-kun, today is the Fifth Hokage's inauguration ceremony. I brought your clothes—see if they fit."

Hinata and Hanabi weren't wearing kimonos today. Instead, they wore long pants and white shirts embroidered with a red flame symbol on the back.

Hinata's shirt, which fit just right, was noticeably pushed up by her ample chest, creating two round bumps that were sure to draw attention on the streets—undoubtedly becoming the focus of many women's envious and jealous stares.

"Thanks. Living out in the countryside does have its inconveniences," Izayoi said as he casually slung the clothes over his shoulder, still pinching Hanabi's cheeks.

At those words, Sasuke raised his eyebrows and glanced at Hinata and Izayoi. Then, with a mischievous smile on his face, he took the clothes and said solemnly, "Thanks, sister-in-law."

"S-S-Sister-in-law…"

Hinata's face instantly turned beet red, completely flustered. That title was far too shocking for her.

But deep down, her fondness for Sasuke skyrocketed.

Lately, Hinata had been secretly practicing the monster strength punch Izayoi had taught her. She had originally planned to use Sasuke as a test subject in their next spar.

Now, she decided to let that idea go.

Izayoi was also surprised. He hadn't expected such a term to come from the typically aloof second son of the Uchiha clan.

But in the next moment, he caught the hint of amusement in Sasuke's smirk.

So, Izayoi chuckled, "Words alone aren't enough. Let me teach you a blessing phrase."

"What kind of blessing?" Sasuke asked instinctively.

"It's used during the New Year—and not in Japanese. Ahem, let me show you…"

Izayoi cleared his throat and, facing an empty spot, slowly said in Mandarin:

"大哥大嫂过年好,你是我的爷,我是你的儿!"

("Big brother, big sister, happy New Year. You are my master, and I am your son!")

Sasuke, mimicking reflexively, repeated, "Dàgē dàsǎo guònián hǎo… nǐ shì wǒ de yé… wǒ shì nǐ de ér…"

But as he noticed the suppressed laughter on Izayoi's face, his expression instantly turned cold. "You damn scoundrel, you're messing with me again!"

"I didn't."

"You flinched—bastard!"

"Ack, I've been exposed!" Izayoi said in mock surprise.

"Onii-chan, he's tricking you. Now you're the one who's been exposed," Hanabi kindly pointed out.

Izayoi immediately went on the counterattack: "Sasuke, you're so shameless. Lying is a very bad habit."

"Die!"

Enraged that he'd been played again, Sasuke lunged at Izayoi, ready to pummel him.

Izayoi easily sidestepped the attack and poked a pressure point on Sasuke's body.

Sasuke froze in place, his whole body trembling. A numbness spread through his limbs, leaving him completely paralyzed.

"You still need more training, Sasuke-kun~~"

Izayoi patted Sasuke's shoulder with a grin before heading off to change clothes.

Seeing the Hyūga sisters trying hard not to laugh and watching him with amused expressions, Sasuke blushed fiercely and quickly went to change as well.

A few minutes later, the four of them—now dressed in white shirts—left the once-cold Uchiha compound, chatting and laughing on their way to Konoha's central street.

As they passed by the location of Izayoi's new house, they saw that construction was already well underway.

In this world of ninja techniques, many problems could be solved with jutsu. Combined with money, progress was leagues faster than in his previous life.

The inauguration ceremony was being held at the Hokage Building.

By this time, the streets below the building were packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people.

Ninjas who couldn't get a good spot had climbed onto utility poles, rooftops, and walls.

Since the four of them had arrived late, they could only stand at the back.

"Onii-chan, I want a piggyback ride," Hanabi tugged at Izayoi's sleeve.

"Okay."

Izayoi smiled and squatted down, letting Hanabi climb onto his shoulders.

Grabbing her little hands, he stood up tall, giving her a better view of the sea of people and the Hokage Building ahead.

Tsunade didn't keep the crowd waiting long. She soon appeared on the rooftop, dressed in her tea-green cloak with black trim and holding the Hokage hat.

"Tsunade-sama!"

"So beautiful! I finally get to see the legendary Princess Tsunade!"

"She's finally back! Tsunade-sama healed my leg—without her, I wouldn't be a ninja! I'll follow her forever!"

The crowd erupted into cheers and screams, like fans seeing their idol.

Regardless of gender or status, nearly everyone's face was filled with excitement and admiration.

This was a level of affection that even Jiraiya and Orochimaru never received.

Not even Hiruzen or Minato had crowds like this during their inaugurations.

That was the value of the Senju name—the true legacy of Konoha.

The First and Second Hokages had brought peace and power to the ninja world.

As their granddaughter, Tsunade was one of the Legendary Sannin and a famed medical ninja.

No one was more suited to be the Fifth Hokage.

Under her leadership, Konoha would rise again—this was the belief of the villagers who had absolute trust in the Senju lineage.

"She's so pretty!" Hinata whispered in awe as she looked at the blonde Hokage on the rooftop. "If I remember right, the books say she's 52 now? But she looks barely over thirty! How does she stay so young?"

Izayoi smiled, "See the diamond-shaped mark on her forehead?"

Hinata and Hanabi immediately activated their Byakugan, carefully observing the mark. Even Sasuke curiously activated his Sharingan.

Then Izayoi dropped the bomb that made their eyes light up.

"That's the Yin Seal, an S-rank technique I plan to teach you. It stores chakra, enhances physical functions, rapidly heals injuries, and helps retain youth."

"Storing chakra… so that's why you had me read all those medical books."

Sasuke smirked—he now had real motivation to study.

Hinata's motivation, though, was all about retaining youth and beauty.

All girls love being pretty—especially beautiful girls like Hinata. She was no exception.

Even seven-year-old Hanabi looked down at her flat chest, then up at Hinata's, and immediately changed her mind.

"I don't want to learn it anymore."

"Good call," Izayoi chuckled. "If you start now, your body might stop growing. Even if you do grow taller, your figure might stay just like it is now."

Since the four of them were in a quieter corner and the crowd was roaring, no one overheard their conversation.

Not that Izayoi would've cared even if they did.

Whether it was monster strength or the Yin Seal, he had perfect cover stories.

Just then, a powerful and clear voice echoed through the streets:

"From this moment on, I am the Fifth Hokage of Konoha."

Tsunade placed the Hokage hat on her head, officially declaring the dawn of a new era.

The cheers that followed shook the sky.

A village with a leader and one without are worlds apart.

Before Tsunade's appointment, without any word of a new Hokage, the village had fallen into anxiety. The people feared surprise attacks, or even war.

But now that Tsunade was officially in charge, life returned to their eyes, and confidence filled their hearts.

—The next day.

The mission system in the Hokage Building was reactivated.

Outsiders who had heard the news flooded in.

Ninjas who had been idle for a while began returning to work and earning money.

"I'm heading out on a mission."

Sasuke finished packing and looked at Izayoi, who was lying on the porch reading a book on interior design.

"If you're scared living out in the countryside alone, have Hinata stay with you. Or maybe sneak into the Hyūga estate and have her lull you to sleep."

"Oh."

Without even looking up, Izayoi flipped the page and said blandly, "If I go crazy from fear, I might forget how to train the Yin Seal. So when you're on your mission, make sure to pray for my safety every day."

"…I wish you a long, long life!"

Sasuke couldn't out-argue him and ended up shouting a curse—though it was really a blessing in disguise.

He hadn't forgotten that Izayoi's ultimate goal was to overcome the limits of lifespan.

As soon as Izayoi started to look up, Sasuke vanished with a shunshin, feeling finally triumphant.

"Izayoi-kun…"

Shortly after Sasuke left, Hinata appeared with a message.

"Kurena-sensei asked me to tell you we're to report to the Hokage's office right away. Lady Hokage wants to see us."

Izayoi's eyes sparkled.

At this time and with both of them summoned, it was obvious what Tsunade wanted.

He smiled, "Hinata, your dream is about to come true."

"Huh?" Hinata tilted her head adorably.

Izayoi didn't answer. He tossed his book aside, pulled her into a princess carry, and soared into the sky.

"Ah—!"

Surprised at being carried through the air for the first time, Hinata instinctively clung to his neck.

Looking at the forests below and the town in the distance, her eyes lit up.

"Izayoi-kun, the village is so beautiful from up here."

"Beautiful? It's alright, I guess. I got bored after a few looks. But…"

He paused, then gazed into her curious eyes with a smile.

"But I could look at you forever, Hinata. I could spend a whole day just flipping through a photo album of you."

Boom—

Hinata's face flushed bright red, her mind whistling like a kettle and letting off visible steam.

She lowered her head, shyly tapping her fingers together, steam practically rising from her head.

Seeing "Steamy-Hinata," Izayoi regretted flying.

As Hinata grew immune to his antics, her personality had strayed far from canon.

It was easy to make her blush, but truly steaming was rare.

If they were on the ground, he could've used a wood clone to throw out a scroll with a hidden camera to capture the moment.

Still, this romantic moment would forever be etched in both their hearts.

As they neared the outskirts of town, Hinata asked to land.

After patting her cheeks and regaining her usual gentle expression, she took Izayoi's hand and headed toward the Hokage Building.

Holding hands was her current limit.

Linking arms in public would have to wait for her immunity to level up again.

At the building's entrance, they let go of each other's hands and approached as simple companions.

Knock knock knock…

Izayoi politely knocked.

Soon, the door opened.

A woman in a gray-black robe with short black hair, gentle features, and a calm demeanor appeared, holding a pig.

It was Tsunade's personal assistant—Shizune.

"You must be Izayoi and Hinata. Please come in," Shizune said with a smile, stepping aside. "I'm Shizune, the Hokage's secretary. Lady Tsunade has been expecting you."

"Nice to meet you, Miss Shizune."

Izayoi and Hinata replied respectfully.

Upon entering, they immediately saw Tsunade seated at her desk, chin resting on her hands, watching them closely.

"Lady Hokage," they both bowed.

"Mm."

Tsunade nodded, getting straight to the point.

"I summoned you today to meet the two most outstanding Genin of the Chūnin Exams. Your performances in the third round were perfect—two wins each, and your opponents were a princess from an allied nation and a Jinchūriki. You thoroughly crushed their arrogance. Well done."

A smile crept onto Tsunade's face as she praised them openly.

Before they could respond with humility, she turned serious again.

"I've reviewed your academy records and written exam results. Nothing to criticize."

"Therefore, as the Fifth Hokage of Konoha, I now formally promote Genin Izayoi and Genin Hyūga Hinata to Chūnin!"

"Thank you, Lady Hokage!"

Both bowed deeply. Hinata's joy was written all over her face.