Still the same old saying…
Until someone hits that "super-Kage level" stat range—basically, another dimension of power—it doesn't matter if you're a genin or a Kage-class ninja. In the end, it's all about intel. That's where the fight really happens.
On the Sound Four's side, the intel they had on Uchiha Sasuke was way out of date: they thought he only had two-tomoe Sharingan, could do some low-level Uchiha Fire Release, and knew how to amp his cells with Lightning Release chakra—quick, but not in any godlike way.
Because Sasuke never showed up in the final round of the third exam, the Sound Four had no clue he'd already picked up Lightning Release: Chidori.
With those old assumptions, they figured any one of them, powered by their Curse Mark, could beat him easily. All four of them teaming up would be an instant kill—at least, that was the plan.
They never expected that in just two months, Sasuke's strength would skyrocket so dramatically.
As for Karin? They had no info on her whatsoever.
So once the battle started, the Sound Four got scrambled right away.
They were up against Sasuke, whose Sharingan had evolved to three tomoe and came loaded with Sharingan illusions. He'd also nailed both form and nature manipulation of Lightning Release, plus he'd learned how to channel the Chidori through his body.
To them, it was like squaring off against a pre-illness Kimimaro—completely outclassed on every stat sheet.
Even using their Curse Mark Stage 2 hardly helped; they were still pathetically slow in Sasuke's eyes.
And with Karin keeping Jirōbō and Tayuya occupied, Sasuke used his Sharingan illusions + Lightning stimulation + Lightning Release: Chidori to instantly cut down Kidōmaru before the guy could so much as set up his Spider technique.
Turns out Izayoi wrapped up his side of the fight even faster.
Sasuke didn't even get a chance to sneer or mock Sakon and Ukon—he and Karin, plus the Sound Four, got swallowed by a surging sea of trees that just came rolling in.
"This is…Wood Release?!"
Leaping from branch to branch to dodge the wild onslaught, Sasuke's expression was all shock. "Izayoi is from the Senju clan? And he actually awakened the legendary Kekkei Genkai?!"
Right then, Sasuke's world got turned upside down. He never imagined Izayoi was hiding something so huge.
No wonder that guy's chakra reserves felt bottomless.
No wonder he could stay so calm even against one of the Legendary Sannin.
He even dared to send a shadow clone into the exam against that gourd-toting dude, while his real body snuck off during the Konoha Crush plan to steal some village scrolls.
Sasuke thought Izayoi's confidence came down to massive chakra and a bunch of secret ultimate jutsu. Who knew he'd been holding back his real power this whole time?
Realizing that aside from several mastered techniques, Izayoi also had Wood Release—the stuff of legends—Sasuke couldn't help his eye from twitching a bit.
And yet, weirdly, Sasuke didn't feel any bitterness or jealousy.
A few years ago, losing to Izayoi would've driven him nuts—he'd train like crazy afterward.
Sometimes he even envied Izayoi's talent, which seemed to surpass the gift of the Uchiha's eye.
But somewhere along the way, Sasuke started fully respecting him—almost like the way he once looked up to his brother, Itachi.
Izayoi's the only person around whom Sasuke can act like his old, lively self from childhood.
When the forest finally quit expanding, Sasuke and Karin were safe, thanks to Izayoi's control over it.
As for the Sound Four—and Kidōmaru's corpse—they got wrapped up in tight bundles and were now hanging from the treetops like big, dangling cocoons.
Sasuke and Karin just had to finish the job. In no time, they wiped out the Sound Four—who'd once gone toe-to-toe with Konoha's Special Jōnin and made it out alive. Now they were dead so fast Izayoi couldn't even intervene.
Seeing how decisively the two of them had acted, Izayoi was more impressed than anything else.
He dropped down in front of them and smiled. "Nicely done."
"Heh heh… Honestly, Sasuke-kun could've handled them on his own. I barely did anything," Karin said, rubbing the back of her head.
Sasuke fixed Izayoi with a deep look and spoke up quietly. "Wood Release… So you were keeping that up your sleeve."
"It's not that I was hiding it," Izayoi replied with a slight, confident grin. "It's just…nobody's ever forced me to use it."
"Tch…" Sasuke acted like he scoffed.
Suddenly, Karin glanced into the dark forest. "Someone's coming."
Right after she spoke, a group of figures flashed into view. Leading them was Shizune, who had rushed over from the central district after getting the news.
Once Shizune saw Izayoi and the others were okay, she let out a visible sigh of relief. Then she smiled. "Izayoi, Karin, Sasuke—Lady Hokage wants you three to come see her."
"Got it," they all answered.
Shizune gave a quick order to a few Special Jōnin to handle the bodies and send them to the Interrogation Department, then led Izayoi's team to the Hokage Tower.
Tonight, Konoha was anything but calm.
The sheer noise and impact of Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence and that gigantic "mushroom light cannon" were too huge to ignore. Anybody on the outskirts could see that new forest of towering trees, and half the village could see the giant mushroom cloud.
If you went in there, you'd notice a massive crater, and some of the Konoha shinobi actually watched the forest spring up in real time. They also knew exactly which jutsu caused the crater and the mushroom cloud.
Izayoi, Sasuke, and Karin hadn't even finished their report to Tsunade when word ripped through Konoha: the newly minted Chūnin who'd shown off five nature transformations, used Storm Release, and flown during the exams—despite having graduated just half a year ago—was actually a descendant of the Senju clan and had awakened the legendary Wood Release.
The entire village exploded with chatter.
Someone seemed to be fanning the flames because even ordinary citizens heard it was their own people who caused the forest and the mushroom cloud—a young ninja named Izayoi who'd resurrected the very same Wood Release no one had wielded since the First Hokage.
In an instant, Konoha's population—civilians, clans, and higher-ups—was all about Izayoi.
And the most fired up among them? The Hyūga clan, Konoha's current high-status family.
Even Hyūga Neji had once sneered that Izayoi was kidding himself if he thought he could be with Lady Hinata. Naturally, the Hyūga elders in the main family also knew of Izayoi.
After all, Hinata here wasn't the same as in the original story—her talent was off the charts. Her Byakugan's purity was incredible, she had massive chakra reserves, and by age twelve she'd mastered the clan's Rotation technique and even advanced secret arts like Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists. She was so talented she outshone Hyūga Hiashi himself.
Hence, the elders kept pressuring and scolding Hiashi, telling him to hurry and stamp the Caged Bird Seal on Hanabi, ensuring Hinata's position as the main heir.
At first, they just figured Izayoi was delusional. They planned to break them up well before "the dangerous years." They wouldn't allow the main family's Byakugan to go to an outsider—certainly not Hinata's, which was way purer than her father's.
Sure, they considered letting Izayoi marry into the Hyūga. But realistically, they saw it as impossible.
But once Izayoi put on that show during the Chūnin Exams—exhibiting crazy mastery over ninjutsu and basically outclassing Kakashi—the elders changed their tune a bit. Maybe letting him marry in wasn't so ridiculous after all, especially if Hinata really did like him.
After all, Hinata's strength was partly thanks to Izayoi's private coaching.
And now…
Hiashi, the girl's father, was still trying to process this new reality when a servant showed up to tell him the elders wanted an immediate clan meeting.
The moment he stepped in, he heard an elder speaking in a delighted tone:
"Clan Head, you raised an amazing daughter."
"Truly… Hiashi, your foresight is remarkable. Good thing we didn't brand Lady Hanabi too early."
"I guess you saw through Izayoi with your Byakugan all along, huh? You must've realized his chakra was special and guessed his bloodline. We're humbled!"
"Whew, good thing I never sent anyone to scare him off. Otherwise, I'd be our clan's biggest sinner."
…
Listening to them chirping about it, Hiashi just stood there in a daze.
What's going on here?
I'm just a socially awkward dad who dotes on his daughters. Even if you guys said no to Izayoi, I'd have used my authority as Clan Head so Hinata could be with him anyway.
Honestly, I was hoping you'd make it really difficult, so I'd have a reason to let Hinata leave the clan—and take Hanabi, too—so neither daughter would get the Caged Bird Seal. By that time, Izayoi would be so powerful, you couldn't stop it.
But this new revelation, that Izayoi's from the Senju with Wood Release? That's news to me too!
Hiashi's mouth twitched, but inside he was ecstatic.
They'd basically landed the jackpot.
Years ago, he realized Hinata's sudden progress was thanks to Izayoi coaching her on the sly, and he didn't separate them.
He'd assumed Izayoi was just a one-in-a-million "civilian prodigy," the kind who could use Shadow Clones and basic Wind Release at age six, plus the tree-climbing and water-walking exercises that most kids don't even learn in the Academy. Basically, a genius who could've graduated upon entering.
When he saw Izayoi's performance at the Chūnin Exams—eclipsing Kakashi and matching Minato—Hiashi figured nobody would be able to stand in their way. He hadn't minded letting Izayoi whisk Hanabi off either.
But who would've guessed, that "civilian prodigy" was actually a rightful Senju who awakened Wood Release?
Hiashi knew perfectly well what that meant in terms of ability, skill, and status.
No one grasped it better than he and the Hyūga elders: this was prime material for the Sixth Hokage.
So long as Izayoi made it to adulthood safely, he'd be the village's top pick. Honestly, there wouldn't even be a vote—Konoha would absolutely back a Senju with Wood Release for Hokage.
After all, Konoha was established by the Senju, and the clans swore loyalty to them thanks to the First Hokage's Wood Release that ended the Warring States Era.
In other words, it was practically a done deal.
A smile crept across Hiashi's face.
Neither of his daughters would need that Caged Bird Seal ever again. Who would dare make the future Hokage "marry into the clan" and give up any Byakugan secrets? Not even the Hyūga themselves would have that audacity.
Plus, forging ties with a future Hokage is a huge boon—and maybe their descendants could even unlock Wood Release themselves. So Hinata would definitely be marrying out. Compared to the chance of having Wood Release in the family, losing Byakugan is small potatoes.
Which means Hanabi naturally becomes the next Clan Head.
Then, once Izayoi is Hokage, Hiashi—or Hanabi, when she takes over—can push for reforms or do something even better to change the clan system from within.
So yes, Hiashi was now on cloud nine, feeling like he'd won life's lottery.
Just then, one elder proposed, "Clan Head, Lady Hinata and Izayoi are a perfect match. I believe we should officially announce their relationship soon."
"Yes," another elder agreed. "Hinata's totally into him, and he's escorted her home so many times. It's mutual. We should just let them be together."
"I also heard Izayoi's house got wrecked during the Chūnin Exams, so he's been staying with the Uchihas. Perhaps we can have him move in with the Hyūga?"
"Great idea, great idea…"
Watching them buzz around like they couldn't wait to marry off his daughter—and all so eager to be helpful—Hiashi couldn't help another twitch at the corner of his mouth.
"Elders…try to keep your dignity," he thought.
But since he was younger, and tradition held the elders in higher standing, he didn't say it out loud. And he couldn't entirely relate to their obsession with Wood Release either.
Then one elder turned to him. "Clan Head, what do you think of our suggestions?"
Hiashi paused, then answered, "I believe the kids should handle their own relationships. However, you're right that if Hinata's found someone and it's mutual, we shouldn't stand in their way."
He added, "Since Hinata's birthday is coming up, let's have her invite Izayoi to the celebration."
The elders' eyes lit up immediately.
"Excellent idea!"
"Yes, we'll host a proper party for Lady Hinata's birthday and send Izayoi a personal invite. He'll definitely see our goodwill."
"Gives the whole clan a chance to meet the future son-in-law. Perfect."
"As expected of the Clan Head—young folks are always full of good ideas."
With that, they started chattering again about how to hold an especially grand celebration for Hinata. Hiashi just stood there, speechless.
These venerable elders? He would never see them in the same austere light again.
~~~
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