Naruto: Talent Entry Perks

Still the same truth...

Until someone's stats reach the level of a super-shadow like from another dimension, battles between genin or even shadow-level fighters are all about information warfare.

For the Sound Ninja Four, their intel on Uchiha Sasuke was stuck at: he'd awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan, was good at the Uchiha clan's basic fire style, had lightning chakra that stimulated his cells, was fast—but not insanely fast.

Since the third exam's official matches didn't feature Sasuke, they didn't even know he had mastered Lightning Release: Chidori.

With that strength, any one of the Sound Four could easily defeat him using just their cursed chakra power.

If all four teamed up, they could kill him in an instant.

But no one expected that only two months later, Sasuke's strength had changed drastically.

They had no clue about Kaori either.

Once the fight started, the Sound Four were quickly stunned.

Faced with Sasuke, whose Sharingan had evolved to three tomoe with built-in genjutsu, who mastered lightning nature transformation and shape-shifting, and who had learned the Chidori style—

The Sound Four were utterly crushed, like facing a Kaguya Kimimaro without his kekkei genkai.

Even with their cursed seal activated at level two, their speed was laughably slow compared to Sasuke's eyes.

With Kaori helping to deal with Jirobo and Dosu, Sasuke quickly killed Kidomaru in one blow before he could even use his spider secret technique, combining Sharingan genjutsu, lightning chakra cell stimulation, and Chidori.

Surprisingly, Izayoi was even faster at handling enemies.

Before Sasuke could even sneer or mock the twins Sakon and Ukon, he, Kaori, and the Sound Four were swallowed by a suddenly advancing forest.

"This is... Wood Release?!"

Sasuke kept dodging indiscriminate attacks from branches as he moved through the forest, eyes wide with shock.

"Izayoi... he's actually a descendant of the Senju clan, and has awakened the legendary kekkei genkai?!!"

At this moment, Sasuke's mind was deeply shaken.

He never expected Izayoi to be hiding something so profound.

No wonder his chakra was so huge!

No wonder he remained calm even against the legendary Sannin.

He even dared to send a shadow clone to the exam while his real body went to steal Konoha's scrolls during the village's collapse plan.

Sasuke thought it was the confidence from his large chakra and mastery of multiple secret techniques.

But he never guessed Izayoi never once used his true power!

Thinking of Izayoi's multiple secret techniques and the legendary Wood Release kekkei genkai, Sasuke couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

But oddly, there was no bitterness or jealousy in Sasuke's heart.

Years ago, every time he lost to Izayoi, he'd feel resentful and train harder.

He even envied Izayoi's talent — stronger than his own Sharingan-empowered abilities.

But at some point, Sasuke had come to fully respect Izayoi, even idolizing him like he once did Uchiha Itachi.

Only in front of Izayoi did Sasuke ever behave like his younger, more lively self.

When the forest stopped advancing, Izayoi controlled things so that Sasuke and Kaori were unharmed.

The Sound Four and Kidomaru's corpses were tied up like bundles and hung from tall trees.

Sasuke and Kaori only needed to finish off the Sound Four—who had been trading blows evenly with Konoha's special jonin and even escaping unscathed—to kill them all.

It was so fast, Izayoi didn't even have time to stop them.

But seeing their decisiveness, Izayoi felt more pleased than regretful.

Landing before them, Izayoi smiled and praised, "Well done."

"Heh... Sasuke could have handled them all by himself. I didn't really help," Kaori scratched her head and laughed.

Sasuke fixed his gaze on Izayoi and said quietly, "Wood Release, huh? You've been hiding that deep."

"It's not me hiding it," Izayoi smirked, "No one can force me to use Wood Release."

"Tch..." Sasuke feigned disdain.

Kaori suddenly looked toward the dark forest and said, "Someone's coming."

Just then, several figures flew in.

Leading them was Shion, who had rushed from the central district after receiving the news.

Seeing Izayoi and the others safe, Shion visibly relaxed and smiled.

"Izayoi, Kaori, Sasuke, the Hokage wants you to come to the Hokage's office."

"Understood."

The three nodded.

"Take down those bodies and send them to the interrogation unit."

"Yes!"

Shion ordered a few special jonin behind her to work, then led the three to the Hokage's building.

Tonight in Konoha was destined to be restless.

The Wood Release—Wood World Arrival—and the glowing Konoha Cannon were making huge noise.

Anyone near the city outskirts could see the towering forest formed by the trees.

The giant mushroom cloud was visible from over half the village.

Inside the forest, there was a huge crater.

Many Konoha ninja had witnessed the forest's birth and knew the mushroom cloud and crater were made by ninja techniques.

Izayoi and his companions hadn't finished reporting to Tsunade yet.

News spread throughout Konoha that Izayoi, who had shined in the Chunin Exams with five nature transformations and Storm Release techniques, had mastered flying ninja arts and advanced from genin to chunin in less than half a year.

He was a descendant of the Senju clan and had awakened the Wood Release kekkei genkai, passed down only from the First Hokage and never mastered by anyone else since.

The entire village was shocked.

It seemed someone was pushing things behind the scenes; even the civilians knew that the forest and mushroom cloud were caused by one of their own — a boy named Izayoi who awakened a bloodline limit no one had since the First Hokage.

Everyone in Konoha — from commoners to ninja clans and high officials — discussed and focused on Izayoi.

The most excited were Konoha's prestigious houses: the Hyuga clan!

Even Hyuga Neji knew about Izayoi's relationship with Hinata, mocking Izayoi to have some self-awareness — that there was no way between him and Lady Hinata.

The clan elders of the main family knew of Izayoi too.

After all, Hinata was different from the original story: her talent was dazzling.

Her Byakugan purity was extremely high; her chakra enormous.

By age twelve, she had mastered secret techniques like Gentle Fist Recovery and the advanced Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists, clearly surpassing Hyuga Hizashi's talent.

For this, the elders often urged and scolded Hyuga Hizashi to firmly "cage" Hanabi, securing her position as first heir.

At first, the elders thought Izayoi's ambitions were fantasy, planning to separate the two once they reached a critical age.

The Hyuga's Byakugan was not to be passed out of the clan.

Hinata's extremely pure Byakugan couldn't be diluted by an outsider's bloodline.

No matter if Izayoi married in, it was impossible.

However, after Izayoi's dazzling performance at the Chunin Exam and his amazing skills, the elders' views began to shift.

Marriage in wasn't impossible.

As long as Lady Hinata liked him.

And Hinata's current strength was partly due to Izayoi's teaching.

Now...

Hyuga Hizashi—the future father-in-law—was still in a daze.

A servant came to notify him the elders had convened a clan meeting and asked him to attend quickly.

Upon arriving, Hizashi heard an elder's pleased voice:

"Clan leader, you've raised a fine daughter."

"Indeed, Hizashi, you deserve praise. Good foresight to not prematurely cage Lady Hanabi."

"The clan leader's eye for talent is sharp. I guess you saw Izayoi's unusually powerful chakra with your Byakugan and suspected his bloodline. I am ashamed."

"Luckily I didn't take it upon myself to warn Izayoi back then, or I would have been the clan's traitor."

"..."

Watching the elders chatter admiringly, Hizashi was completely bewildered.

What is this nonsense?

I'm just a clumsy daughter-fan, that's all.

If my daughter likes him, that's enough.

Even if you elders refuse to allow Izayoi to marry in, I will exercise my authority as clan leader to see Hinata and Izayoi together.

I hope you oppose strongly, so I can push Hanabi to be clan leader and expel Hinata, sparing both girls from the cage.

By then, Izayoi will be Konoha's ace; no one can stop him.

As for Izayoi being a Senju descendant and awakening the Wood Release kekkei genkai—no idea about that!

Hizashi twitched his lips slightly.

But inside, he was ecstatic.

He'd hooked a golden son-in-law!

Luckily, when he found out Hinata's progress and that Izayoi was secretly teaching her, Hizashi didn't separate them.

He thought Izayoi, who mastered shadow clone and low-level wind release at six, self-taught tree climbing and water walking ninja skills, and had genin graduation strength on enrollment, was just a commoner prodigy.

Izayoi's talent and strength shown in the Chunin Exams far surpassed Kakashi Hatake, rivaling Minato Namikaze.

Since then, there was little resistance for Izayoi and Hinata.

Even if Hizashi had forcibly taken his youngest daughter away, he wouldn't care.

Unexpectedly, this commoner prodigy awakened Wood Release kekkei genkai, becoming Konoha's rightful Senju noble.

Such power, talent, bloodline, and status meant one thing:

The Sixth Hokage!

As long as Izayoi didn't die young, he would be the best candidate for Sixth Hokage.

No one else could challenge that.

Konoha was founded by the Senju.

The clans swore allegiance to Senju because Senju Hashirama brought peace with Wood Release.

It's secure!

Hizashi smiled.

Both daughters wouldn't be caged.

No one dared to let the future Hokage marry in—Hyuga clan wouldn't either.

Whether to connect with the Hokage or to help Hyuga descendants awaken Wood Release, Hinata would marry out.

Compared to Wood Release, Byakugan blood leakage was nothing.

That meant Hanabi would inherit the clan.

Once Izayoi became Hokage, Hizashi could push reforms or hand that task to Hanabi.

Thinking of this, Hizashi was so happy he felt like a winner in life.

Then an elder proposed:

"Lady Hinata and Lord Izayoi are a perfect match. I think clan leader should publicly announce their relationship soon."

"Right, Hinata has deep feelings for Izayoi, and he has returned her affections many times. We should help them confirm their relationship early."

"I heard Izayoi's house was damaged during the Chunin Exams and he's still staying with the Uchiha clan. Why not invite him to live with the Hyuga?"

"That's very good..."

Seeing the elders chattering, eager to marry off their daughters and offering all sorts of ideas, Hizashi twitched his lips again.

If only he was older and more senior, he'd speak up:

Elders, watch your image!

But his youth made him unable to understand the elders' fanaticism over Wood Release.

"Clan leader, what do you think of our proposal?"

After finishing, the elders turned to Hizashi, who hadn't said a word since arriving.

Hizashi pondered briefly, then slowly said:

"I believe the feelings of the younger generation should be decided by themselves. But the elders are right. Since Hinata has found someone she likes, and the feelings are mutual, we shouldn't be an obstacle."

"Then, when Hinata's birthday comes, let her invite Izayoi to the birthday party."

Hearing this, the elders brightened immediately.

"Great idea!"

"Right, we should hold a grand birthday party for Lady Hinata, and invite Lord Izayoi specially. I'm sure he will feel our goodwill."

"Also a good chance for clan members to get to know the future son-in-law — killing two birds with one stone."

"Clan leader really has a young mind!"

"Let's decide that. This birthday party must be grand!"

As the elders began chattering again, Hizashi once more felt speechless.

From now on, these respectable elders had no authority in his eyes.