August 25.
Early that morning, Hinata and Hanabi arrived at Uchiha Sasuke's house.
"Izayoi-kun, Sasuke-kun, today's the Fifth's inauguration ceremony. I brought your clothes—see if they fit."
Hinata and Hanabi weren't in kimonos today. Instead, they wore long pants and white shirts embroidered with a red "Fire" on the back.
Hinata's snug shirt accentuated her ample chest, forming two prominent curves that surely drew eyes on the street, sparking envy and jealousy among women.
"Thanks. Living in the suburbs is such a hassle," Izayoi said, taking the clothes and slinging them over his shoulder, still pinching Hanabi's cheeks.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, glancing at Hinata and Izayoi. A sly grin spread across his face as he took his clothes, saying earnestly, "Thanks, sister-in-law."
"S-Sister… in-law…" Hinata's face flushed crimson, flustered by the term's impact.
Yet her fondness for Sasuke skyrocketed.
Lately, she'd been secretly practicing Izayoi's Strength of a Hundred Fists, planning to test it on Sasuke next spar.
Now? Maybe not.
Izayoi shot Sasuke a surprised look, stunned that the aloof second son would say such a thing.
But he caught Sasuke's mischievous glint instantly.
Grinning, Izayoi said, "Words aren't enough. Let me teach you a blessing."
"What blessing?" Sasuke asked instinctively.
"It's for New Year's, and you can't say it in Japanese. Ahem, listen up…"
Izayoi coughed twice, facing an empty spot, and said slowly in Mandarin, "Big brother, big sister-in-law, happy New Year! You're my boss, I'm your son!"
"Big brother… big sister-in-law… happy New Year, you're my… boss, I'm your… son!" Sasuke mimicked, his accent odd. Spotting Izayoi's stifled laugh, his face darkened. "You filthy trickster, you're messing with me again!"
"Nope."
"You glanced away, jerk!"
"Whoops, caught!" Izayoi feigned shock.
"Onii-chan, he was baiting you. Now you're exposed," Hanabi piped up helpfully.
Izayoi pointed accusingly, righteous. "Sasuke, you're too sneaky. Lying's a bad habit."
"Die!"
Furious at being played, Sasuke lunged to pummel Izayoi.
Izayoi sidestepped effortlessly, poking a pressure point.
Sasuke froze, trembling, paralyzed by numbness, unable to move.
"You've got work to do, Sasuke-kun~~"
Izayoi patted his shoulder with a grin, heading to change.
Hinata and Hanabi, stifling giggles, watched Sasuke, who flushed red and stormed off to change.
Minutes later, four youths in white shirts left the no-longer-desolate Uchiha compound, chatting and laughing, heading for Konoha's central street.
Passing Izayoi's new home site, they saw the house already taking shape.
In a ninjutsu world, many tasks were solved with techniques. Add money, and progress outstripped his past life by miles.
The inauguration was at the Hokage Tower.
The streets below were packed, shoulder-to-shoulder.
Ninja who didn't snag prime spots perched on poles, walls, or rooftops.
Izayoi's group arrived late, stuck at the back.
"Onii-chan, I want a piggyback," Hanabi tugged his sleeve.
"Sure."
Izayoi smiled, crouching to let Hanabi climb onto his shoulders.
Holding her hands, he stood, giving her a high view of the crowd and Hokage Tower.
Tsunade didn't keep the village waiting. She appeared on the tower's rooftop in a teal robe with black trim, holding the Hokage hat.
"Lady Tsunade!"
"She's gorgeous! I'm finally seeing the legendary Princess Tsunade!"
"Lady Tsunade's back! She healed my leg—without her, I'd never be a ninja. I'll follow her forever!"
"…"
Tsunade's appearance sparked cheers and shouts that echoed through Konoha, like fans meeting an idol.
Men, women, clan heirs, civilians—most wore looks of fervor and adoration.
A reverence Jiraiya and Orochimaru could never command.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze's inaugurations paled in comparison.
Such was the weight of the Senju name, Konoha's true legacy.
The First and Second Hokage ushered in peace and a dominant era, winning against four foes at once.
As their granddaughter, Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, was the shinobi world's medical sage.
No one was better suited to be the Fifth Hokage!
Under her, Konoha would surely rise again.
Villagers, blindly trusting the Senju, believed this fervently.
"So pretty!"
Gazing at Tsunade's flowing blonde hair and unyielding figure, Hinata marveled, "If the books are right, the Hokage's 52, isn't she? She looks barely thirty. How does she maintain that?"
Izayoi chuckled, "See the diamond mark on her forehead?"
Hinata and Hanabi activated their Byakugan, scrutinizing the mark.
Even Sasuke, curious, opened his Sharingan.
Izayoi's next words shifted their expressions, with Hinata and Hanabi beaming.
"That's the Strength of a Hundred Seal, the S-rank technique I'm teaching you. It stores chakra, boosts physical performance, heals rapidly, and preserves youth."
"Stores chakra? No wonder you had me read medical texts," Sasuke's lips curled, his study motivation surging.
Hinata felt the same, though her drive was eternal youth.
All girls love beauty; the prettier, the more they crave to preserve it. Hinata was no exception.
Not just Hinata—even seven-year-old Hanabi grabbed Izayoi's hair, whining, "Onii-chan, I wanna learn the Strength of a Hundred Seal too!"
"I'll teach you when you're older," Izayoi teased. "Learn now, and it might mess with your body. You could stay short forever—or grow tall but keep your current figure."
Hanabi glanced at her flat chest, then at Hinata's "big bunnies," shaking her head. "Then I'm not learning!"
Tucked in a quiet corner with the crowd's cheers drowning them out, no one overheard.
Even if they did, Izayoi wouldn't care.
He had solid explanations for Strength of a Hundred Fists or the Seal.
A commanding voice boomed across the street.
"From this moment, I am Konoha's Fifth Hokage."
On the rooftop, Tsunade donned the Hokage hat, declaring a new era under her rule.
Cheers louder than before shook the skies.
A leaderless Konoha was a different beast from one with a Hokage.
Before Tsunade's return, without a Fifth candidate named, Konoha wasn't lifeless, but ninja and villagers alike were lost, fearing enemy raids or sudden war.
Now, with Tsunade in charge, their faces glowed with vitality, their hearts brimming with confidence.
The next day, the Hokage Tower reopened the mission system.
Outsiders, tipped off early, flooded in.
Ninja, idle for too long, dove into work to earn coin.
"I'm off on a mission."
That day, Sasuke packed up, smirking at Izayoi, who lounged on the engawa reading interior design books. "If you're scared living alone in the suburbs, get Hinata to keep you company. Or sneak into the Hyuga clan—let Hinata tuck you in."
"Oh."
Izayoi flipped a page without looking up, saying flatly, "If I go mad from fear, I might forget how to train the Strength of a Hundred Seal. So on your missions, pray daily for my safety."
"…May you live a hundred years!"
Outtalked, Sasuke gritted his teeth, cursing.
He hadn't forgotten Izayoi's goal to transcend lifespan limits.
Spotting Izayoi about to look up, Sasuke flickered away, curse delivered, mood finally lifted.
"Izayoi-kun…"
Moments after Sasuke left, Hinata's voice reached him.
She flickered before him, saying, "Teacher Kurenai sent me. We're to head to the Hokage's office immediately—the Hokage wants to see us."
Izayoi's eyes gleamed.
Considering the timing and their joint summons, he guessed Tsunade's purpose.
Smiling at Hinata, he said, "Hinata, your wish is about to come true."
"Hm?"
Hinata tilted her head cutely.
Izayoi said no more. Tossing his book aside, he pulled Hinata into his arms, scooping her up in a princess carry, and soared skyward.
"Eek…"
Hinata, never flown with Izayoi before, yelped, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.
Gazing at the forest below and the distant village, her eyes sparkled. "Izayoi-kun, the village looks so beautiful from here."
"Beautiful? It's just okay. I got bored after a few looks, but…"
Izayoi paused, lowering his gaze to Hinata, who looked up curiously. He smiled, "Hinata, I never tire of. I could stare at your photos all day."
Buzz…
The sudden sweet talk hit like a fastball. Hinata's face flushed beet-red, her head steaming like a whistle.
Her immunity shattered, she ducked her head, shyly twiddling her fingers in his arms.
But her cherry lips curved upward, her joy and sweetness unconcealed.
Seeing Hinata turn Steam Princess, Izayoi regretted flying.
With her growing immunity and personality shift from the original, shy Hinata was common, but Steam Princess was rare. A photo op with her was nonexistent.
On the ground, he could've slipped a Wood Clone out, tossed a sealing scroll with a camera, and had it snap shots in secret.
Yet this romantic moment etched itself in their hearts, unforgettable for life.
Nearing the village outskirts, Izayoi landed at Hinata's request.
Hinata patted her cheeks, her soft smile returning, and took Izayoi's hand as they walked to the Hokage Tower.
Holding hands was her limit.
Arm-in-arm on the street? That'd need another immunity boost.
At the Hokage Tower's entrance, they let go, entering as comrades outside the office.
Knock, knock, knock…
Izayoi knocked politely.
The door soon opened from within.
A woman in a black-gray robe, with short black hair, refined features, and a calm demeanor, held a pig in one arm. It was Tsunade's bodyguard and secretary—Shizune.
"You must be Izayoi and Hinata. Come in," Shizune greeted with a smile, stepping aside. "I'm Shizune, the Hokage's secretary. Lady Hokage has been expecting you."
"Hello, Miss Shizune."
Izayoi and Hinata replied courteously.
Entering, they immediately saw Tsunade at the desk, hands propping her chin, sizing them up.
"Lord Hokage," Izayoi and Hinata bowed.
"Mm."
Tsunade nodded, cutting to the chase with a serious tone. "I summoned you to meet the Chunin Exams' top two Genin. Your performance in the third round was flawless—two victories against tough foes, the allied princess and the One-Tail Jinchuriki. You crushed their arrogance. Well done."
Her face softened with a smile, praising generously.
Before Izayoi or Hinata could respond modestly, Tsunade's expression turned stern again. "I've reviewed your academy records and exam written scores. They're impeccable."
"So, as the Fifth Hokage, I officially promote Genin Izayoi and Genin Hyuga Hinata to Konoha Chunin!"
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
Izayoi and Hinata bowed again, Hinata's joy shining through.
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