Speedrunning Naruto to the Top

"Hey, Onii-chan, time to get up! It's not snowing today, so let's go on our mission!"

As usual, Hanabi pushed open the door to Izayoi's room, hopped onto his bed, and prepared to do her usual "bang-sweep hand + tapping Izayoi's nose" routine to wake him up.

But the next instant, she saw Izayoi lying there with his eyes wrapped in white bandages, and her expression instantly turned anxious.

"Onii-chan, what happened to your eyes? Are you hurt? I'll go get Onee-chan and Karin-nee right away!"

She was on the verge of tears as she spoke, practically scrambling to hop off the bed. Izayoi reached out and pulled his little sister-in-law into his arms, smiling. "I'm fine, Hanabi. My eyes are just…evolving."

"Evolving…your eyes?" Hanabi blinked in confusion, then propped herself on Izayoi's chest, questioning, "Onii-chan, you too have a dōjutsu?"

"Yes, that's Onii-chan's biggest secret. Right now only Hinata and Father know," Izayoi replied with a laugh. "Do you want to know it?"

"Mhm, mm!" Hanabi nodded eagerly, eyes shining. "Is that secret related to whatever Father and you talked about last year?"

"More or less." Izayoi gave a small nod.

"Onii-chan won't be able to see for a few days. During that time, I'll be at my weakest. Hanabi, please don't tell anyone else. Until Hinata returns, I'll be counting on you to look after me."

Immediately, Hanabi's eyes lit up with excitement. "No problem, I'll take great care of you, Onii-chan."

"I'll send a Shadow Clone back to inform Father. I'll stay here for the next few days."

It was just like two years ago with Hinata. For as long as she could remember, Hanabi had basically been raised by Izayoi—he was her hero, as reliable as always.

He made her feel safer than even her own father could. Now that the one who always took care of her suddenly needed her care, it felt novel.

But unlike Hinata—who felt responsible—Hanabi found it much more "fun."

Hence she applied the same methods she used in D-rank missions (childcare) to "take care" of Izayoi like a toddler.

"Onii-chan, are you thirsty? Want me to pour you some water?"

"Onii-chan, are you tired lying in bed? Should I Transform and help you walk outside?"

"Onii-chan, do you want something to eat?"

"Onii-chan…"

Just like a little sparrow, Hanabi chattered nonstop around Izayoi's ears. At first, she nestled quietly next to him. Then she started crawling all over his bed, shifting position while continually talking. She was like a hyper child with ADHD.

Izayoi knew she was just trying to be helpful, and let her have her way. Every time she asked something, he'd politely nod and say, "Sure, I'll be counting on you, Hanabi."

"Heehee… It's no trouble at all, Onii-chan! Just give me orders!" she squealed happily, her mood shooting sky-high.

Thus Hanabi kept pouring him water, bringing him snacks, even using the Transformation Technique to adjust her height so she could help Izayoi walk around the house.

In truth, he didn't need her help. This was the final "fetal movement" of the Tenseigan. Once it finished, Izayoi would cross beyond his current threshold, stepping into a genuinely different realm—"Six Paths–level."

To ensure everything went smoothly, he recalled half of his Wood Clones from their outside assignments. He stationed them in his underground base, rotating them to warp out and absorb Yin-Kurama's chakra, then returning to methodically channel large amounts of Ōtsutsuki chakra into the ground, checking for any White Zetsu that might have sneaked in via Mayfly Technique.

The other clones monitored everyone in Konoha from a distance, courtesy of Tenseigan's farsight and x-ray vision, on guard for odd behaviors.

The moment they saw anyone acting suspiciously, the clones would use Wood-Clone Technique to capture and seal them.

Meanwhile, whichever clones were still deployed externally continued surveilling Madara, Obito, and "Ōtsutsuki Toneri."

Inside his traditional house, all the barriers were activated. Unless someone hid in another dimension while wielding enough power to threaten both Izayoi's Wood Clones and his puppet army, no one could interrupt him.

Madara's Limbo Shadows might manage that, but Izayoi's Tenseigan was now akin to Sasuke's Six Tomoe Rinnegan in being able to see those Limbo Shadows.

Indeed, when Madara used Limbo to "educate" Itachi, Izayoi's clone had confirmed that. Plus, Izayoi's final fetal movement only temporarily suppressed his Tenseigan's power, not affecting his Wood Release or other abilities.

If he himself didn't let anyone approach, they couldn't exploit him. Perhaps in this world someone could threaten him, but not a Flying Thunder God user. So, unlike his previous fetal movement spent in the basement, this time he was rigorous behind the scenes but outwardly relaxed.

…

"Iza… Izayoi, your eyes—what happened?"

By afternoon, Hinata and Karin came home from work to make dinner. Karin, seeing the white bandages covering Izayoi's eyes, rushed over anxiously, sleeves rolled, "When did this happen? Let me see if my healing can fix—"

Meanwhile, Hinata pouted slightly, a bit jealous at seeing her sister playing caretaker so zealously.

Her "exclusive mission" was gone! But her mood bounced back to cheerful as soon as Hanabi said, "Karin-nee, Onii-chan's fine. He's just…awakening a dōjutsu."

"Dōjutsu?!" Karin repeated in shock. "But Izayoi-kun is from the Senju and Uzumaki lines, how can he have a dōjutsu?"

"Right, Onii-chan? How come?" Hanabi joined in, staring at him with confusion.

"Wait 'til I'm done; you'll all see," Izayoi said with a laugh.

Hinata straightened her posture and reminded them: "Remember, this is Izayoi-kun's biggest secret. Aside from us three, tell nobody—not even Lady Hokage or Shizune!"

Seeing Hinata so serious, Karin realized the gravity of it and nodded, "Don't worry, I won't say a word."

"Onii-chan already warned me, too," Hanabi chimed in. Only then did Hinata relax. She turned to Izayoi, "We can request some leave to stay here with you, or send a clone to watch you, if you'd like?"

"No need," Izayoi beamed confidently. "I've got a feeling it'll be over soon. I've arranged everything—Hanabi can look after me. You guys carry on as normal."

"All right." Hinata and Karin didn't push it. Being the Hokage's secretaries, they couldn't just vanish without stoking suspicion. So Hinata quietly pulled Hanabi aside, teaching her how to look after Izayoi.

She explained that his eyes were undergoing a metamorphosis, needing peace and quiet, so if Izayoi didn't initiate conversation, don't interrupt him. Hanabi felt a guilty pang, realizing all her chatter may have disturbed him.

Afterward, when the two were alone, she switched from being a hyper kid to a well-behaved caretaker.

She'd either perch with her chin on her hands, sit next to him, or lie near him, simply watching Izayoi's handsome, still figure.

Only when Izayoi got bored would she revert to her playful side. And if he was tired, she'd quietly prepare the hot spring or give him a gentle massage with her Hyūga-style acupoint technique.

Thus two days passed. The Tenseigan's final fetal movement still wasn't complete, but Izayoi's [Ōtsutsuki Bloodline (Multi-Color)] advanced first, unlocking a new entry:

[Ding! Your body has mutated, granting the talent entry [Skysway (Gold)], which cannot be dismantled.]

All at once, Izayoi felt as if shackles had fallen away, his body light as a feather. He no longer needed to rely on gravity manipulation.

With one mere thought, he could float into the air. Before, "flight" basically meant controlling power to move himself around. Without [Chakra Control (Gold)], he couldn't do it as deftly as Earth Style's Light-Weight Rock Technique, nor accelerate while flying.

That was why Nagato used Shura Path for a speed boost when airborne, and why Izayoi, despite oceanic chakra reserves, never dared attempt flying to the moon.

After all, if an enemy's attack speed overshadowed his chakra manipulation, he couldn't evade midair.

But now Izayoi possesses the ability to freely fly. By growing horns and unlocking his pure-blooded Ōtsutsuki trait, he'd escaped the biological limits of ordinary humans, evolving into a being of a different dimension.

In the original story, aside from those who manifested horns via chakra modes or physically sprouted them, no one else could truly fly. Earth Style fliers like Ōnoki or the Second Tsuchikage were using ninjutsu.

Others who soared also used jutsu. Actual flight was a hallmark of the Ōtsutsuki clan. With that, even if he lacked coordinates for a space portal, he could simply fly to the moon.

Despite obtaining this new ability, Izayoi didn't frolic like a child with a new toy but calmly awaited the Tenseigan's final metamorphosis. Possibly thanks to [Ōtsutsuki Bloodline (Multi-Color)], that third fetal stage took just three days to finish.

Konoha Year 62, January 9—nighttime.

Under the watchful eyes of Hanabi and Karin, Hinata gently undid Izayoi's bandage. He slowly opened his eyes, and immediately, in full view, Hanabi and Karin's faces froze with visible shock.

"Izayoi-kun, your—?"

Karin pointed tremulously at his eyes, unable to finish her sentence.

"Gulp…" Hanabi swallowed, also quavering, "Onii-chan, could you be—?"

"That's right. I am Ōtsutsuki Toneri."

Izayoi broke into a confident smile like never before. Slowly, his hair lost its black hue and turned pure white. Two sharp horns jutted from his forehead. He cradled Hanabi's and Karin's chins in either hand, smiling, "Kept you waiting, huh? This is my true form."

"S-so cool!"

After a brief stupor, Hanabi and Karin squealed and threw themselves at him.

"Izayoi-kun, you were hiding so much from us!" Karin huffed in mock indignation before running her fingers admiringly through his hair. "But white hair suits you so well!"

"Onii-chan, these horns…they're for real?"

Hanabi asked, gingerly touching the pointed tips. "Why are they so small, so sharp?"

Izayoi said nothing, eyes closing. He silently activated his Shikotsumyaku.

"They—they're growing—oh my gosh, they're huge…really thick…!" The startled cries of Hanabi and Karin echoed. Izayoi opened his eyes and summoned a floating mirror. In it, the two small horn tips had expanded into a pair of dragon horns. Then at a mere thought, they began twisting in a spiral around his head, forming a beige crown.

"A-amazing…" Hinata and the other two stared in awe.

Izayoi curled his lips in a half-smile, musing inwardly, So horns really are bone. Once they sprout, I can manipulate them with the Dead Bone Pulse.

That was good news. It meant his horns were not just ornamental but could become a weapon as hard as steel.

If he mastered the Bloodline-Web–level "All-Killing Ash Bones," Izayoi could theoretically shoot them from his horns. Imagine him grappling at close range, then suddenly firing a deadly bone arrow from his forehead. Lethal. Kaguya just never developed such tactics, being too naive in actual combat. A real waste.

"Step back a bit, I want to test out Tenseigan's new powers," Izayoi said, gently nudging them aside in his eagerness to sense Tenseigan's final-stage abilities.

Just as Madara had mentioned, the Tenseigan's evolution paralleled the Sharingan's path from single-tomoe to Mangekyō to Eternal Mangekyō, culminating in a dimension-transcending trial.

The Byakugan and Tenseigan's first two fetal movements merely unlocked ordinary abilities that, though able to reach super-tier power, remained bound by humanity's upper limit on Earth. But the final movement truly transcended dimensions. It lets one evolve from human into…a god.

His far-vision and x-ray abilities both improved again, now scanning the entire ninja world. Aside from those basics, only one new power was unlocked:

"Tenseigan Chakra Mode—Activate!"

Izayoi abruptly floated off the ground. An aqua-green chakra aura enveloped him, like some ethereal sprite. The horns on his forehead turned into a green crown resting over his head.

"This…feels so wondrous…"

Hovering aloft, Izayoi gazed down at Hinata and the other two, stunned below, then at his chakra-shrouded hands. He chuckled, "Right now, it feels like I can do anything!"

It was akin to entering Sage Mode—mind quiet, fully merged with nature. Izayoi felt like Obito conquering the Ten-Tails' will, ascending to a new domain at the dawn of Six Paths power. Then, before he could deepen his experience of Tenseigan Chakra Mode, a system prompt rang inside his mind:

["Ding! Your body has mutated. The entry [Chakra (Gold)] has completed an Ascension.]

Izayoi frowned slightly, calling up the personal interface only he could see:

[Host: Izayoi]

[Talent Entries: Ōtsutsuki Bloodline (Multi-Color), Kekkei Genkai · Tenseigan (Multi-Color), Sage Physique (Red), Skysway (Red), Six Paths Aptitude (Red), Kekkei Genkai · Wood Release (Gold) ...]

"It's gone…"

He looked somewhat dejected. So it's just as I suspected—once the Tenseigan completes its final evolution, [Prince of the Byakugan (Red)] vanishes…

More than that: not only [Prince of the Byakugan (Red)], but also the [Sage Eye (Red)] that he had extracted from Sasuke were gone. Now Izayoi only had three red-tier entries left—his upgraded [Sage Physique (Red)], the newly unlocked [Skysway (Red)], and his high-potential [Six Paths Aptitude (Red)].

After a moment's melancholy, Izayoi gave a wry smile:

No wonder I could finish all three Tenseigan "fetal stages" before truly hitting my growth spurt—it was the Sage Eye (Red) that sped things along.

Right from the first stage, Izayoi surmised that the reason he awakened the Tenseigan so much earlier than Toneri likely wasn't just thanks to [Prince of the Byakugan (Red)], but also [Sage Eye (Red)].

The former represented purity, the latter the pinnacle of Yin-based power. Fusing that with his [Ōtsutsuki Bloodline (Red)] effectively opened two acceleration hacks. He felt grateful for not merging that [Uchiha Bloodline (Purple)] from Sasuke back in the day—otherwise, [Sage Eye (Red)] might have targeted the Sharingan for advancement instead of the Byakugan.

Without the Tenseigan's repulsion, attraction, and puppet-control abilities, even an Eternal Mangekyō user wouldn't be able to reach what he'd achieved.

A single decision can shape the entire future…

He reflected on the "butterfly effect." Then, turning his attention back to the new entry, he closed his eyes, letting its abilities flow.

Soon, his gaze glowed with burning excitement. "What a perfect name!" he thought happily.

He finally understood why the flight entry was labeled [Skysway (Gold)] instead of [Flight (Gold)]. That skill could do far more than just fly.

Pure-blood Ōtsutsuki possessed time–space aptitudes that the system hadn't enumerated. The term [Skysway] implied controlling or steering space.

Its base tier gave free flight, but as he developed it further, it would unlock deeper time–space potentials. And if it ascended to [Skysway (Red)], he would begin harnessing space itself—moving objects within a certain range as if they were his personal weapons.

Eventually, like Ōtsutsuki Hamura, he could create a portal connecting to the moon or even conjure a full-blown space-time gate. Indeed, this entry would be his stepping stone to the fabled Kekkei Mōra.

"The Ōtsutsuki truly are the ultimate hacks," he mused.

Having both [Ōtsutsuki Bloodline (Multi-Color)] and [Tenseigan (Multi-Color)], Izayoi finally appreciated just how vast the gap had been between his old self and brothers Hagoromo and Hamura.

~~~

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