Speedrunning Naruto to the Top

"Hmm? Why are they fighting all of a sudden?"

Izayoi immediately received real-time updates from his Wood Clone about what was happening with Madara and Itachi.

Upon getting this news, he raised his eyebrows slightly, musing to himself, Has Itachi's undercover identity been exposed?

Seeing Madara attempt to yank out Itachi's soul, Izayoi was about to give orders for the Wood Clone to use Heavenly Transfer Technique, dropping a puppet to seize Itachi's corpse.

After all, Itachi's eyes were the key for Uchiha Sasuke to gain the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. But Madara soon stuffed Itachi's soul back in, evidently not planning to kill him—so Izayoi dropped the idea and began to analyze:

"Itachi's undercover identity definitely got blown."

"Since Madara didn't kill him, it might be out of some promise with Uchiha Izuna; or maybe he values Itachi's talents, deciding Itachi's more useful alive than reanimated. "

"Or perhaps…he's set his sights on Sasuke, who resembles Izuna, wanting Itachi to become a 'whetstone' that forges another Mangekyō Sharingan."

Izayoi considered the latter most likely. Madara's goal was to sever the chain of fate and cast Infinite Tsukuyomi, submerging everyone in dream worlds.

To achieve that, he'd stop at nothing, such as corrupting the pure-hearted Obito. Even if Sasuke—so reminiscent of Izuna—stood in his way, Madara wouldn't hesitate to kill him. In his view, he was only sacrificing a minority to grant happiness to the vast majority. His will in the original story was unshakeable: Naruto's famous "Talk no Jutsu" never swayed him.

But that was the Madara of the final confrontation in the Shippūden era. Even then, with time pressing, he patiently tried recruiting Sasuke.

Only after Sasuke refused did he decide to kill him. Now, with the Three-Tails not yet revived, Madara was resurrected early; Sasuke did not have the power to threaten him, and even Izayoi couldn't fully fathom his thinking. Since Itachi was still alive, that was enough.

"Izayoi, your Jōnin vest is ready. I brought it back for you."

Just then, Hinata's voice arrived. Looking back at the young woman carrying a green vest, Izayoi reached out and pulled her into his arms, first giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek.

He pressed his forehead to hers, complaining softly, "Hinata, you're supposed to be on my team, so why have you been visiting the Hokage's office every day? Don't tell me you plan on apprenticing yourself to Lady Hokage, becoming her student?"

Seeing Izayoi acting childishly for once, Hinata gave a tender laugh, leaned in to brush off the slight dampness from her cheek onto Izayoi's face, then explained, "I'm not becoming Hokage-sama's student. I'm just helping out as a secretary, along with Karin and Shizune-san, learning administrative work."

"How come you suddenly decided to be a secretary? Did the Hokage trick you?" Izayoi asked in puzzlement.

"I need to get familiar with the workflow." Hinata looped both arms around his neck, forehead rubbing his forehead, noses nudging each other. Her cheeks were flushed as she smiled. "That way, once you become the Sixth Hokage, I can be of use."

Izayoi paused briefly, then smiled. "In that case, I guess I have no choice but to become Hokage."

"Heehee…"

Hinata giggled, pressing a kiss to Izayoi's cheek. Lifting her hand, she gently helped straighten his tousled bangs. All of a sudden, she seemed to feel something under his hair. She froze, patted it again, then gave Izayoi a peculiar look. "Izayoi-kun, why is your skull...pointed?"

"Because I'm about to grow horns," he told her without concealment.

"Horns?"

That response seemed beyond her comprehension. Tilting her head cutely, Hinata gazed at him in confusion. Izayoi didn't answer. He silently canceled his Wood Transformation. In an instant, his black hair turned white before her eyes. Realizing the chakra flow, Hinata's eyes went wide. "Your hair turned white, Izayoi-kun? Did you dye it?"

"No, it's a genetic transformation."

Catching on quickly, Hinata asked, "Is it because of those eyes?"

"Mm." Izayoi nodded, refraining from going into detail. The whole "Ōtsutsuki clan" concept was still too big a bombshell for her. It wouldn't be good to tear down her worldview so soon.

Knowing it was from the Tenseigan, Hinata relaxed, then curiously touched his hair and the small pointed lumps on his forehead. "The Sage's Eye is so amazing, it can even turn your hair white and make you grow horns."

"Are you scared?" Izayoi teased.

"Heehee…depends on what kind of horns you get," she said, covering her mouth with a grin. "If you sprout ram horns, Hanabi and I won't dare nap with you."

"In that case, I'll grow bull horns and gore you to death," Izayoi joked, mock-flaring his temper by burying himself in her chest, vigorously nuzzling her. Hinata laughed, hugging his head as they horsed around in the villa's living room.

…

"Cheers!"

That evening, four of them gathered in the dining room of the traditional house to celebrate Izayoi's promotion to Jōnin with a simple banquet.

Holding their fruit juice cups, they clinked glasses. Hanabi immediately sidled up to Izayoi, face brimming with excitement. "Hey, Onii-chan, you're a Jōnin now—remember what you promised me?"

"Promised you what?" Izayoi feigned ignorance.

"You liar, Onii-chan!" She pouted. "You said once you became a Jōnin, you'd let me apply for early graduation and be my own personal Jōnin instructor!"

"Did I say that?" He pretended not to recall.

This time, Hanabi didn't rage and scream; instead she bit her lip, tears glistening in her eyes as she gazed at him pitifully. Izayoi instantly felt guilty. He quickly set down his juice and pulled his little sister-in-law close. "All right, I remember now. That was indeed the deal."

"Hanabi, don't be naughty," Hinata scolded sternly. "Izayoi has important things to do. He doesn't have time to guide you on missions."

"Lies, Sister. Onii-chan doesn't have any big responsibilities," Hanabi retorted tearfully. "Don't think I don't know how your Team Eight works! Now that Onii-chan's a Jōnin, you and Karin are assisting the Hokage as secretaries, and Shino—after making chūnin—went off for Anbu testing. The Hokage said it was a waste to keep the three of you together on missions anyway."

Hinata was left speechless, and Karin hid a grin. Hanabi continued, "And besides, with Onii-chan's reputation, he might become Sixth Hokage in a few years. Then he'll be far too busy to mentor me."

Izayoi stroked her hair gently. "You're right, your info gathering and analysis is quite good—you do meet the standard for an early graduation. If that's the case, I'll go talk to your father tomorrow. As long as he agrees, I'll ask the Hokage if I can personally be your sensei."

A one-on-one Jōnin-sensei arrangement wasn't unprecedented in Konoha. Orochimaru and Anko were an example.

"Father already said no," Hanabi mumbled, hugging Izayoi's neck and rubbing her cheek against his. "But if you talk to him, I'm sure he'll say yes. I'm counting on you, Onii-chan…"

Izayoi melted at her cuteness. Hinata sighed, "You're indulging her, Izayoi." She didn't stop them, though.

…

The next day, Izayoi visited the Hyūga clan for the first time in months. Despite having established a relationship with Hinata last year and obtaining free access, he'd only come once since then—for Hanabi's birthday.

The clan's formal atmosphere always unsettled him, and being near his future father-in-law left him ill at ease. If not for Hanabi, he might have delayed the visit longer.

"Lord Izayoi!"

Izayoi entered the Hyūga compound unimpeded. Seeing him, the Hyūga clan—both Main and Branch Houses—bowed respectfully, many gazes fervent.

Especially the female clan members who admired him openly. Were he not promised to the Main House's future heiress Hinata, they might have flocked to him.

The same was true for countless other women in the village. On the way here, Izayoi had disguised himself with a Wood Clone and slipped out quietly. If he went out openly, he'd attract huge crowds of admirers.

Izayoi's fame was simply that towering: after the final battle concluded, he was recognized as one of the ninja world's four super-tier warriors—and among the Five Nations, the strongest.

In a world governed by the Five Great Nations, he had become Konoha's "trump card" and a sign of hope against evil. Uchiha Madara and the Akatsuki leader were labeled "evil." The Five Nations now preferred that Izayoi or Toneri triumph.

They absolutely didn't want Madara or Nagato's plot to succeed. Following the Five Kage Summit, the five daimyō had all signed an alliance.

Although they hadn't formed a ninja coalition to take down Madara and the Akatsuki yet, they agreed that should Akatsuki make a move on any of them, they'd unite immediately.

"Uncle, it's been a while."

Standing at the entrance to the clan leader's home, Izayoi once again saw Hiashi and his two daughters. Their formality made Izayoi uncomfortable, but he politely gave a bow. Hiashi bowed as well, then said gravely, "You've come at a good time—I have something to tell you and Hinata. Come inside."

Izayoi and Hinata exchanged a baffled glance but followed him in.

"Hanabi, wait here," Hiashi barked at his younger daughter who tried sneaking along. "Don't you dare try following, and don't open your Byakugan. Or I'll punish you severely."

"Yes, Father," Hanabi muttered, puffing her cheeks unhappily.

~~~

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