"Izayoi, Hinata, here are your vests."
Shizune handed over two green flak jackets with a smile.
"Thank you, Miss Shizune."
Hinata's soft smile shone with gratitude. If her kimono weren't so restrictive, she'd have slipped the vest on right then.
Izayoi smiled too, but inwardly cringed at the green vest.
It was just too ugly.
He resolved that, even as a Jonin, he'd dress like Yuhi Kurenai—however he pleased.
Once you built a reputation, people cared about your name, not your Chunin or Jonin vest.
Seeing them take the vests, Tsunade dropped her stern demeanor, chuckling, "You're squadmates. It's rare for two from the same team to become Chunin together in the exams. So, decide beforehand who'll lead."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Izayoi and Hinata nodded, exchanging a knowing smile.
Tsunade, fresh back, either didn't know them well or was teasing.
With Izayoi's strength and his bond with Hinata, Team 8's leader was obvious.
"As Chunin, you can lead missions and handle village exit permits. Without a Jonin sensei, the leader gets the highest pay, with Chunin teammates earning more than Genin," Tsunade explained the perks, then waved them off. "You're dismissed."
As Hinata prepared to bow, Izayoi spoke up, "Lord Hokage, I'd like to recommend someone to join Konoha."
Tsunade, about to dive into paperwork, and Shizune, setting a teacup on the desk, turned their attention to him.
Tsunade's brow furrowed. "You're the top graduate and now a Chunin. You know Konoha's role in the Fire Country. To prevent spies, ninja or civilian, we need verifiable lineage. Without clear ancestry, joining is tough. Does your candidate meet this?"
"I believe they do," Izayoi nodded.
"Tell me then—is it a civilian or a ninja?"
Tsunade, intrigued, set down her pen, sipping the tea Shizune poured.
But before she could swallow, Izayoi's words made her choke.
"A ninja. She's an Uzumaki descendant."
"Pfft…"
Tea sprayed across documents, but Tsunade ignored the mess, staring at Izayoi in shock, suspecting she'd misheard. "What did you say? Descendant of what clan?"
"An Uzumaki descendant. She's my kin," Izayoi repeated, dropping another bombshell.
"Cough, cough…"
The remaining tea caught in Tsunade's throat, making her cough, face red.
Shizune gently patted her back, pressing a pressure point.
She, too, gaped at Izayoi.
No wonder his chakra was so vast—he was Tsunade's distant kin.
When Tsunade caught her breath, her eyes gleamed with excitement and a hint of doubt. "You… you're an Uzumaki descendant?"
"Yes."
Izayoi nodded. Before she could press further, he rolled up his sleeve, offering his forearm to Hinata.
Understanding, Hinata took his arm, gently biting down.
Blue chakra shimmered at the contact between her mouth and his skin.
The chakra flowed like water into Hinata's body.
"Physical healing…"
Tsunade's expression softened, distant memories surfacing.
Since her grandmother's death, she hadn't seen this familiar yet alien healing in years.
Snapping back, her gaze on Izayoi warmed with kinship.
She'd known his strength and talent from Shizune's reports, stunned by his Super Hurricane Chain Sphere and dual- or triple-nature fusion techniques.
But strength alone didn't warrant a Hokage's favoritism toward a Genin.
At most, she'd quietly support his rise, letting him become another Kakashi Hatake.
Among the new generation, only Jiraiya's student—Minato and Kushina's son, Naruto, who helped her overcome hemophobia and echoed Dan and Nawaki—earned her special care.
Now, another joined that list.
The Uzumaki were distant Senju kin. Favoring family was only natural.
"I never imagined you're a latent Uzumaki descendant."
Tsunade eyed his black hair, chuckling, "Awakening as an Uzumaki is rare, and even fewer gain physical healing. Your bloodline must be pure, but black hair instead of red? That's unusual."
"Maybe because I also carry Senju blood," Izayoi lobbed another grenade. Under Tsunade, Shizune, and even Hinata's stunned gazes, he raised his right hand, a green sapling sprouting from his palm.
"…"
The Hokage's office fell deathly silent.
From Izayoi's view, Tsunade and Shizune's faces slowly morphed into gobsmacked exaggeration.
"Eh—"
A yelp shattered the silence, shaking the Hokage Tower.
Without guards outside or anyone in the hall, Tsunade and Shizune's cry would've summoned ninja bursting through the door.
Had there been no chakra flare, the Anbu would've flickered in instantly.
"W-Wood… Wood Release…"
Tsunade, the bold heroine, stammered at the sapling.
Shizune stared in disbelief, unable to fathom the legendary kekkei genkai appearing like this.
The shock was like a starving beggar learning he's a billionaire's sole heir, with his father on death's door.
Hinata covered her mouth, awed and elated.
She knew more than Tsunade or Shizune—she alone knew of Izayoi's Tenseigan.
She'd thought that mysterious dojutsu was his kekkei genkai.
Yet he was an Uzumaki-Senju hybrid, awakening the fabled Wood Release.
If this spread, it'd rock Konoha, the Fire Country, and the shinobi world.
The God of Shinobi, who pacified the Warring States and forged the One Country, One Village system, was as legendary as the Sage of the Six Paths founding ninjutsu.
Unlike the Sage's mythic tales, the God of Shinobi's story was mere decades old.
Many old monsters in the shinobi world had lived through his era.
The kekkei genkai that tamed chaos held special meaning for Konoha.
It wasn't just a legend—it was the noble title of Konoha's true legacy.
If Izayoi revealed Wood Release, neither her father nor clan elders would oppose her relationship with him.
Hinata's heart raced with excitement.
A gust swept through as Tsunade flickered before Izayoi, grabbing his wrist, channeling green chakra into him.
Sensing something, her face lit with ecstasy.
"Hahaha… such vitality and Yang Release chakra—it's true Wood Release!" Tsunade slapped Izayoi's shoulder, laughing. "You little punk, awakened this kekkei genkai ages ago but kept it hidden. How'd you stand it?"
"I wanted to use it," Izayoi said with a cryptic smile. "But a 13-year-old wiping out the shinobi world's top clan overnight and escaping Konoha's barrier? Who'd dare show it?"
Tsunade's grin faltered.
Seeing Izayoi's knowing, mature demeanor, she guessed he'd awakened Kagura's Mind's Eye. Pity flickered in her eyes, though she nodded approvingly. "Well hidden. You did right."
Then, a proud smirk returned as she slapped his shoulder again. "But from now on, no more hiding. I've got your back."
"That's what I was waiting for, Lord Hokage," Izayoi crushed the wilted sapling, sharing a grin with Tsunade.
From this moment, his status and standing would shift dramatically.
Before, he'd have needed strength to win over the Hyuga or talent to prove his worth.
Now, one flash of Wood Release, and the Hyuga would grovel.
No one in Konoha—or the shinobi world—could resist Wood Release's allure.
"Oh, where's the person you're recommending?"
Tsunade, recalling, asked, "Are they a latent Uzumaki like you, or a red-haired descendant?"
"Her name's Karin, a red-haired Uzumaki, currently settled on Sakura Street in the Fire Country," Izayoi said truthfully. "Hinata and I met her in the Forest of Death during the Chunin Exams. She was a Grass ninja, used as a healing pack for awakening physical healing. Without my Uzumaki knowledge and Kagura's Mind's Eye sensing our shared blood, she might've died from overexerting her life force."
Tsunade's eyes chilled, sneering, "Such fools. Just because her chakra's weak, they ruled out Uzumaki lineage? Since when is red hair common in the shinobi world? No wonder Konoha's weakened in just a decade."
She turned to Izayoi, commanding, "Your recommendation's not enough. Bring Karin here—I'll vouch for her."
"Yes, ma'am."
Izayoi smiled, nodding.
This was a key reason he revealed Wood Release.
A Chunin or Jonin's word meant Karin, a former Grass ninja, would face the Torture and Interrogation Unit.
Locked in a cell, who knew what twisted methods they'd use—genjutsu hypnosis or mind-reading to pry into her memories.
That'd expose secrets, like Yamato being in his custody.
But a Legendary Sannin or Hokage's guarantee bypassed all that.
Such figures could bend rules.
"Izayoi-kun, that's amazing!"
Leaving the Hokage Tower, Hinata couldn't contain her excitement, diving into Izayoi's arms, hugging his waist, and squealing softly.
Izayoi hugged back tightly, forehead to forehead, grinning. "Happy?"
"Mm-hmm!"
Hinata nodded vigorously.
Beyond the joy of becoming Chunin, she was thrilled that nothing stood between her and Izayoi.
Perhaps emotion overrode reason, as shy Hinata looked up boldly, saying, "Izayoi-kun, I…"
Her words cut off as Izayoi pressed a finger to her lips.
Glancing around, he smiled, "Someone's watching. Let's move."
"Oh, oh…"
Hinata nodded, following him away.
Turning into a narrow alley, Izayoi asked, "Hinata, what were you going to say?"
"N-Nothing…"
Calmed, Hinata ducked her head, twiddling her fingers.
No steam, but her face was surely red.
Only she knew how bold she'd been.
With that impulse gone, she lacked the courage to speak.
But she didn't notice Izayoi's tender gaze.
He knew exactly what she'd meant to do.
That's why he stopped her.
Such romantic words deserved a more romantic moment.
And how could he let the girl confess first?
Taking her hand, Izayoi grinned, "Hungry? How about barbecue today?"
"Mm-hmm!"
Hinata nodded with a smile, then glanced at the scroll tucked in her obi. "Izayoi-kun, we're both Chunin now. Should we treat everyone to a meal?"
"They're probably out on missions. Let's throw a big feast when the new house is done," Izayoi mused, shaking his head.
"Okay, then let's find Hanabi."
"Sounds good. School's starting soon for her—let's hang out with her these next few days."
"Mm-hmm!"
Hand in hand, the young couple strolled down the path.
Sunlight cast their shadows, faintly showing two kids in snowman costumes, also hand in hand, trailing behind.
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