As a Chunin, Izayoi could finally come and go from Konoha freely.
After a simple dinner with Hanabi and Team 8 to celebrate his and Hinata's promotion, he set out the next morning with Hinata to fetch Karin.
The journey felt like a vacation with his little sister-in-law. They snapped photos, toured leisurely, and meandered toward Sakura Street.
Hinata, on her first solo trip with Izayoi outside the village, bubbled with childlike joy, taking the initiative.
She seized the camera, clicking nonstop, and shed her usual reserve. She posed Izayoi for shots or had him use Transformation Technique, capturing solo and duo photos.
One showed Izayoi at a waterfall, floating with hands behind his back, a Storm Release orb in one palm, exuding regal dominance.
Another caught him transformed as his younger self, cradled in Hinata's arms, face torn between awkwardness and a forced smile, snapped by her Shadow Clone.
A jealous princess Hinata, also transformed young, fulfilled her piggyback dream, perched on Izayoi's shoulders, fingers interlocked, beaming brightly.
In a private moment, Hinata's boldness surged. She linked arms with Izayoi, resting happily on his shoulder—only for him to sneak a cheek kiss, capturing her startled yelp.
Then, at Izayoi's "shameless begging," Hinata blushed but agreed, donning a swimsuit to swim in a waterfall's pool, her stunning figure breathtaking as she emerged.
Months after buying the camera, genius photographers Izayoi and Hinata had mastered their craft.
Light, angle, composition—every shot was near flawless.
Each developed photo could grace a magazine cover.
These treasures filled their private albums, locked away.
Their last mission left no time to enjoy with Hinata.
To make up for it, Izayoi took her through every village, town, and bustling city en route, sampling local delicacies.
When Hinata's eyes lit up, eating extra of a dish, Izayoi secretly sent a Wood Clone later to buy or barter the recipe from the chef, planning future surprises.
Love was mutual—effort warmed the heart.
After over a week of fun, they reached Sakura Street.
Their trip included shared inn stays, back-scrubbing, hair-washing, and acupressure massages.
Hinata had helped Izayoi bathe during his Tenseigan's awakening, when he was blind, her care outweighing shyness.
Now, washing his back with him fully aware was overwhelming.
Despite her bathrobe, Hinata's face burned, breath short, teetering on collapse, like a steamy bath without a vent.
No fainting meant her immunity was strong.
---
"Izayoi-kun, Lady Hinata, you're here!"
As they arrived at the Sakura Street villa, Karin greeted them at the door, as if sensing their approach.
"Karin, long time no see," Hinata waved, smiling softly. "Just call me Hinata."
"Then I will—Hinata, it's been a while," Karin nodded, grinning.
Izayoi eyed Karin, nodding approvingly. "Looking good. Your spirit's stronger—now that's an Uzumaki."
"Hehe… all thanks to you, Izayoi-kun. Eating so well, I'm worried I'll get fat," Karin teased, pinching her slim waist.
"You haven't slacked off, right? Mastered that technique?" Izayoi asked.
"Mm-hmm! I've got Rasengan down."
Karin nodded eagerly, forming a blue-white energy sphere.
"Great. That shows solid chakra control and shape transformation," Izayoi said, revealing his purpose. "Pack up, come with us to Konoha, and we'll start your next training phase."
Karin's eyes sparkled, snapping to attention. "Yes, sir!"
Her current life was paradise—food, shelter, advanced ninjutsu training.
But she craved being near Izayoi.
His presence made even breathing sweet.
Even working for his Shadow Clone felt fulfilling.
Now, joining Konoha meant seeing him anytime, maybe training under the real him. Karin trembled, giggling foolishly.
Hinata tilted her head at Karin's dreamy, silly grin, pity in her eyes.
So thrilled just to join Konoha?
Her past must've been hellish.
Hinata resolved to treat Izayoi's kin kinder.
Inside the villa, Izayoi had Karin show Hinata around while packing. He headed to the basement.
It now housed a legion of puppets.
None were mere constructs—each was crafted from corpses, retaining their abilities, modified to sprout weapons or fire energy blasts.
Their materials? Root ninja and casualties from the Konoha Crush.
Leading them was Danzo, reattached arm and all, his right eye's Sharingan able to morph into a Mangekyo.
Though he couldn't use Otherworldly Deity, the Mangekyo's power remained, backed by Hashirama's cells in his arm, reducing strain far below Itachi's, nearly blindness-proof.
With his own skills, Danzo stayed a Kage-level powerhouse.
Now, he was Izayoi's strongest puppet.
Once Izayoi mastered Yin-Yang Release, Danzo could wield Otherworldly Deity again, his strength soaring.
Worthy leader of the puppet army.
The shadow of the shinobi world, even in death, served in darkness, a touching sacrifice.
Izayoi sealed the puppets into a large scroll, then approached two safes.
He stored the one holding Kado's wealth, then opened the other, filled with scrolls of all sizes.
Among them, a massive one—the stolen Scroll of Seals.
He pulled out a red scroll labeled "Uzumaki," then drew a yellow scroll from his person. Sitting at a desk, he unrolled both.
The red scroll listed numerous sealing techniques.
The yellow one was blank.
With hurried, almost illegible strokes, Izayoi copied the sealing techniques onto the new scroll.
As a Senju-Uzumaki hybrid, he could explain Strength of a Hundred Fists as chakra burst talent.
But Uzumaki sealing techniques couldn't be passed off as family heirlooms.
Konoha's sixty-year history traced his family clearly.
If he had sealing scrolls at home, his parents wouldn't have been so ordinary.
His bloodline could only be latent awakening.
To let Hinata and Sasuke openly train the Strength of a Hundred Seal and Uzumaki sealing arts, Karin would be his shield.
With her carrying this scroll into Konoha, it'd be airtight.
After copying, Izayoi stored the second safe, slung the two large scrolls over his back, and left the basement.
Finding Hinata and Karin, he handed the yellow scroll to Karin, saying gravely, "Karin, this is the Uzumaki sealing technique scroll. Train with it. If anyone asks its origin, say it's your mother's legacy, hidden somewhere secret. You led me to it after leaving Grass Village."
"Yes, sir!" Karin nodded seriously.
Having assisted his Shadow Clone in the Land of Waves and seen legendary kekkei genkai, she knew Izayoi hid secrets.
She didn't care.
Even if he was a villain, she'd follow suit.
Hinata felt the same.
During the Chunin Exams' third round, she'd realized Izayoi's contestant was a Shadow Clone, hinting he'd joined the Konoha Crush, doing unseen deeds.
Strength of a Hundred Fists and the Seal were proof.
Packed up, the trio headed back.
They reached Konoha on September 10.
After registering Karin's entry, Izayoi sent a Shadow Clone to guard the scrolls, then took her to see Tsunade.
"You're Karin?"
"Y-Yes, Lord Hokage."
In the Hokage's office, Tsunade studied the nervous Karin, who avoided her gaze. Her scrutiny softened to warmth. "You've suffered these years. Welcome to Konoha."
"T-Thank you, Lord Hokage," Karin bowed repeatedly, stunned at how easy joining was.
"Need a place to stay? Or want to be my secretary and disciple?" Tsunade offered, eager for talent.
As a Senju-Uzumaki hybrid, she was among the best at understanding Uzumaki.
They were sealing and medical prodigies, with unique abilities marking the elite.
An Uzumaki with Adamantine Sealing Chains was a perfect Jinchuriki candidate.
Mito Uzumaki and Kushina Uzumaki proved it.
Even without the chains, Karin's talent made her ideal to inherit Tsunade's mantle.
A few years under her wing, and Konoha would gain a versatile ace—combat, sealing, sensing, healing.
"Eh?! T-That's…"
Karin, floored by Tsunade's regard, glanced desperately at Izayoi.
He smiled, saying, "Lord Hokage, Karin's my family and subordinate."
"So what?" Tsunade crossed her arms, huffing. "We share blood—you're both my family. I'm the Hokage, you're my subordinate, so your subordinate's mine too. What's wrong with borrowing her?"
She scoffed, "Besides, at your age, can you train her? Don't you have missions? With me, Karin's talent will bloom fast, unleashing Uzumaki potential."
Izayoi's brow furrowed—she had a point.
Before he could reply, Tsunade told Karin, "I know you want to repay him. That's why you should stay with me. I'll make you a great ninja, strong enough to help him with status to match."
Karin's eyes lit up.
Her gaze shifted from pleading to hopeful.
The girl was swayed.
But without Izayoi's nod, she wouldn't decide.
Above being the Hokage's disciple, she valued his opinion.
In the original story, Karin rivaled Sakura and Obito for ultimate devotee. Her humility was unshakable.
Her upbringing had warped her into a severe people-pleaser.
Without Izayoi's intervention, Hinata might've ended up similar.
Soon, Izayoi nodded.
Seeing it, Karin told Tsunade, "Lord Hokage, I'll be your disciple."
"Still calling me Lord Hokage?" Tsunade feigned displeasure.
"T-Teacher," Karin corrected, scratching her head with a Naruto-esque goofy grin.
Tsunade's expression softened, seeing Kushina's shadow, her fondness growing.
She added, "Live with me from now on."
"No way," Karin refused instantly, glancing at Izayoi. "I want to live with Izayoi-kun."
"Fine, but starting tomorrow, be here at nine sharp every morning," Tsunade didn't push.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Now go. Come to me if you need anything," Tsunade waved, diving back into work.
"Karin's the Hokage's disciple?"
Outside, Hinata, waiting at the entrance, blinked in surprise, then smiled warmly. "Congratulations, Karin."
"Hehe… as long as I can help Izayoi-kun," Karin grinned, scratching her head.
Izayoi stayed silent, smiling.
He'd agreed because Tsunade was better suited to train Karin.
He had Strength of a Hundred Fists, Uzumaki sealing arts, and countless ninjutsu and forbidden techniques.
But he lacked two things.
First, Tsunade's Creation Rebirth.
Second, the Slug Forest summoning scroll.
Mount Myoboku and Ryuchi Cave had unique sage arts. As one of the three holy sites, Slug Forest surely did too.
As a Sage Body descendant, Karin was primed for sage training.
Mastering sealing, Strength of a Hundred Fists, medical ninjutsu, Strength of a Hundred Seal, Creation Rebirth, sage arts, and her three unique abilities, Karin's strength would top the Kage, outshining Sakura as a new Sannin for the final battle.
As Tsunade's disciple and Slug Forest contractor, Karin could convince Tsunade or Katsuyu to let Hinata sign the contract too.
A perfect two-for-one.
Izayoi's lips curved slightly.
He changed the subject, smiling, "Let's shop for Karin's essentials. Tonight, we'll call Hanabi for a welcome party."
"Mm-hmm!"
One man, two women, they shopped like mad.
That night, the four held a banquet at Sasuke's house.
Sasuke was still out on a mission.
Half a month, no return.
Having been to the Land of Rivers, Izayoi and Hinata weren't surprised.
With Team 7's protagonist aura, nine out of ten missions hit snags. Sasuke was likely battling somewhere.
After the party, Izayoi escorted the Hyuga sisters back to their clan's edge.
Thus, Karin officially joined Konoha, beating Sakura as Tsunade's second disciple, poised to… defy fate!
---
"I thought you forgot me…"
Days later, after a month's rest, Izayoi and Hinata took their first Chunin mission.
Shino Aburame, waiting at their usual spot, eyed the pair in green vests, leading their first mission. He spoke flatly.
Maybe it was their imagination, but both caught a hint of resentment in his tone.
Hinata glanced aside.
Izayoi laughed it off. "The Hokage had me fetch Karin, took a bit. Soon as I was free, I called you guys."
Shino, hands in pockets, said nothing.
But they swore his shades hid a scornful stare.
"Cough… let's grab the mission."
Even Izayoi averted his eyes, coughing to pivot.
The corner of Shino's mouth twitched under his collar, letting them off.
But his smile froze.
A terrifying realization hit.
No Kurenai-sensei, Izayoi leading—this trip… wouldn't he become an Inuzuka, stuffed with dog food?
---
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