Time flew, and a month passed in a blink.
In that time, Team 8 completed three missions: two C-rank and one A-rank.
More precisely, three C-rank missions, with one escalating to A-rank midway.
Any mission involving ninja combat, even against rogue ninja weaker than academy students, fell into B-rank territory.
Wealthy nobles often didn't care about cost, commissioning B-rank or higher missions for strong ninja escorts.
But not everyone was so free with money.
Sly clients, banking on luck to avoid ninja encounters, tried to get B-rank results for C-rank pay.
Team 8's first two C-rank missions went smoothly, no hiccups.
Truthfully, surprises were impossible for them.
Even without his Tenseigan, Izayoi's Kagura's Mind's Eye spanned dozens of kilometers. Hinata's Byakugan reached nearly thirty kilometers for farsight, and Shino's bugs tracked scents.
Their survival skills were absurd.
Unless the enemy wielded space-time ninjutsu, even flight couldn't catch Team 8—they'd spot foes miles away.
Unlike Team 7, fated for nine-out-of-ten mission mishaps, Team 8 was untouchable.
If a client listened, Team 8 would suggest detours around ninja ambushes, taking only C-rank pay.
But their third mission brought a Konoha-grade headache of a client.
He had some cash—not much—yet acted like a noble, haughty and dismissive, ignoring Izayoi's advice.
Izayoi warned of a rogue ninja bandit crew twenty kilometers ahead, suggesting a detour, only to be scolded for lying to waste time.
Unguarded by adults, the young, proud Team 8 decided to teach him a lesson.
When bandits hit, Team 8 moved to abandon the mission, scaring the client witless. He begged to raise it to B-rank, but Izayoi refused, citing their possible defeat.
In the end, the arrogant client bumped the C-rank to top-tier A-rank, a million-ryo reward.
After Hinata and Shino crushed the bandits effortlessly, the client turned meek, not daring to welch.
He knew welching might cost him his life—at the hands of these three youths.
Thus, Team 8's record gained a fluke A-rank mission.
Three missions straight left Shino numb, but Izayoi and Hinata felt no fatigue.
Izayoi led all three.
Beyond periodic scans with Kagura's Mind's Eye and Byakugan, they treated missions like their trip to fetch Karin—a walking tour.
They stuck close while traveling, sat together at meals, leaned on each other during night watches, and even slept taking turns on each other's laps.
Missions or returns, it was the same.
Forget Shino—even his bugs lost their appetite.
Despite nothing eaten, they felt stuffed.
After three missions, Shino couldn't take it, requesting a break for relief.
Hinata's eyes held regret.
In the village, Hanabi, Karin, and even Sasuke vied for Izayoi's attention.
Only on missions was Izayoi hers alone, doting solely on her.
Two months on, Izayoi's new house hit fifty percent completion.
At this pace, it'd be done by mid- or late December.
Sadly, his Wood Release was too broad for delicate work, risking delays if used.
A simple house? One Wood Release: Three-Room Hall Technique would do.
---
Morning, Land of Rice Fields.
In an underground base.
"Ha… ha… damn Third!"
A hoarse curse echoed in a dimly lit room.
Orochimaru stood in a bathroom, rinsing blood streaming from his hands.
Despite searing pain, he couldn't move them.
The agony was soul-deep.
Outside, Kabuto mixed reagents, voice worried. "Lord Orochimaru, losing your arms' souls is causing this borrowed body to reject yours, hastening its collapse."
"At this rate, you must reincarnate within a week, or it'll fully break down."
"I know, no need to remind me!" Orochimaru snarled, his usual composure gone in his foul mood.
Staring at the endless blood, he growled, "I'll reincarnate early. Go to Konoha—bring me Sasuke-kun."
"Too rushed," Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "The curse mark isn't set. With his strength, he can't evolve to Stage Two soon. Even if you reincarnate, you won't gain Jugo's power."
"Heh… Kabuto, don't underestimate that man's brother," Orochimaru sneered. "To kill him, he'd crawl back from hell even dead! That will carries him through any trial. I believe one 'death' will transform him completely."
"I see."
Kabuto nodded, grasping Orochimaru's plan to force Sasuke's evolution.
"Go. Have the Sound Four bring Sasuke-kun to me in three days," Orochimaru ordered.
"Yes, sir."
Kabuto nodded, leaving.
Passing a room in the corridor, he paused.
Hearing pained, weak groans, Kabuto adjusted his glasses, thought briefly, and entered.
---
"Hyah—Boom!"
Dusk, Naka River.
A girl's shout triggered a torpedo-like explosion in the water.
Sasuke, crackling with blue lightning arcs, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan wide, stared at the towering water column, eyes trembling, heart gripped by dread.
The column collapsed into a downpour, drenching him.
Through the rain, he saw a red-haired girl, her crimson eyes—matching her hair—gleaming redder than his Sharingan, like a demon's.
"You woman, were you trying to kill me?" Sasuke roared, his fighting spirit shattered by one punch.
"Eh?"
Karin blinked, scratching her head. "But… didn't you tell me to go all out?"
"I meant a taijutsu spar on the river to train chakra control! Haven't you mastered Lightning Release chakra?" Sasuke sighed, seeing a female Naruto.
"Oh, oh…"
Karin nodded, grinning sheepishly. "Sorry, I've been training Strength of a Hundred Fists. Instinct."
Please, no instincts!
Sasuke's heart jolted, mouth twitching.
Had Karin instinctively used Lightning chakra to boost her cells and flickered for that punch, he'd be greeting his parents and clan now.
Realizing she might be as dense as Naruto, Sasuke dropped Chidori Current, coolly saying, "Forget it, we'll train later."
Inwardly: Never again.
Hinata, his "sister-in-law," was better—quietly sparring until he tired, ending fights without wounding his pride.
He'd train with Hanabi over Karin any day.
She was his counter!
The joy of awakening his Three-Tomoe Sharingan was buried by her punch.
Sasuke flickered away, his back forlorn.
Karin tilted her head at his vanishing spot, puzzled.
Why'd his mood shift so much so fast?
Unable to figure it out, she shrugged it off.
Flickering to Izayoi, who was fishing, she smiled, "Izayoi-kun, it's almost dark. Keep fishing? Want me to cook and bring it?"
"No need, let's head back," Izayoi eyed his full bucket, satisfied, and packed his rod.
"I'll carry the bucket, Izayoi-kun."
"You're soaked—go change first."
"It's fine, my body's strong now. No colds."
"Alright. You've trained hard—fish soup tonight."
"Mm-hmm!"
Beaming, Karin hefted the bucket, sometimes walking beside Izayoi, sometimes hopping ahead, brimming with energy, a stark contrast to months ago.
In Konoha, Karin grew brighter, more open.
She'd thought Sakura Street was paradise.
Yet now, she was happier.
Days started cooking for Izayoi and "that cold-faced pretty boy," then working at the Hokage Tower, where her teacher and senior sister doted on her.
Chunin and Jonin in green vests, once lofty, treated her kindly, even respectfully—no trace of Grass Village's malice.
Her circle included Hinata, a noble heiress, as her best friend, and Hanabi, a quirky little sister.
Such bliss woke Karin from sleep, tears soaking her pillow, fearing it was a dream.
She knew Izayoi gave her this life.
So she trained harder.
She wanted Tsunade's strength and status to aid him.
In downtime, she cared for Izayoi meticulously.
Karin handled all the cooking, laundry, and household chores single-handedly.
If Izayoi wanted, he could live like during his Tenseigan's awakening—a pampered existence with meals served and clothes laid out.
Even Sasuke had grown used to Karin's incidental care.
Back at the Uchiha clan head's mansion, Sasuke, already changed, sat on the engawa reading, waiting for dinner.
Normally, he'd hunt and cook himself.
Otherwise, waiting for Izayoi's cooking might starve him.
While Karin changed, Izayoi stowed his fishing rod, then ducked into his room, emerging with two scrolls he tossed to Sasuke.
Picking them up, Sasuke eyed Izayoi curiously. "What's this?"
"A gift for your eyes' evolution," Izayoi grinned.
Sasuke blinked, warmth flooding his chest.
Still, he huffed haughtily, "Too early. You should've waited for my Mangekyo Sharingan."
Despite his words, a smile tugged his lips as he eagerly unrolled the scrolls.
"These are… genjutsu and Fire Release scrolls?"
Sasuke gaped at Izayoi, firing off questions. "Where'd you get all these genjutsu training methods? And Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame, Fire Release: Great Annihilation, Fire Release: Dragon Flame Release Song—these are Uchiha clan techniques! How'd you get them?"
"I stole them, so you can't say I gave them to you," Izayoi said plainly.
Seeing no lie in Izayoi's face, Sasuke's eyes widened, a realization hitting. "During the Chunin Exams, you weren't the real you?"
"Bingo, no prize," Izayoi pointed, chuckling. "Now you're my accomplice. If I get caught, I'm ratting you out."
"Tch… childish," Sasuke scoffed, but he fondled the scrolls lovingly, his urgency for the Strength of a Hundred Seal fading.
Each Sharingan stage had a name.
One-Tomoe was the Insight Eye, boosting dynamic vision to see through ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu.
Two-Tomoe was the Copy Eye, able to replicate seen techniques.
Three-Tomoe was the Genjutsu Eye, the stage where Sharingan became invincible one-on-one.
No hand seals needed—a glance could trap foes in genjutsu, their heads rolling before they knew it.
Fighting an Uchiha meant losing both eyes was worse than losing an arm.
To unleash the Three-Tomoe Sharingan's full power, vast genjutsu knowledge was key.
Izayoi's scrolls were perfectly timed.
Mastering them would skyrocket Sasuke's strength.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Sasuke's eyes caught something, his face stunned. "Darkness Technique—this is a forbidden jutsu? You've got this?"
"I can whip up S-rank techniques on a whim. You think I'd steal trash ninjutsu?" Izayoi rolled his eyes.
Sasuke went silent, eyes gleaming. "So… you've got more good stuff?"
"Of course."
Izayoi smirked smugly, teasing, "Call me 'godfather,' and I'll give you another."
"Godfather!"
"…"
Now Izayoi stared, dumbfounded.
At Sasuke's outstretched, gorilla-like hand, Izayoi grumbled, "You've got no shame."
"Have I ever had shame around you?" Sasuke's face flushed as he shouted, "How many times have you screwed me over? I said it—now give it!"
Speechless, Izayoi gave a thumbs-up. "Nice. Bend or stand tall—a true hero."
"Don't dodge! Or I'll snitch to Hinata and trash your rep at the Hyuga gate," Sasuke smirked, hitting Izayoi's weak spot.
"…You win!"
Izayoi's mouth twitched, yielding.
He'd hunted hawks all his life, only to get pecked by Sasuke's fledgling today.
As Izayoi stood to fetch the promised gift, his expression shifted, leaving Sasuke confused.
Thud, thud, thud…
Footsteps pounded on wood.
Karin, in casual clothes, rushed from the house to the engawa, face grave, about to warn, "Izayoi-kun…"
"I know," Izayoi nodded, smiling. "Change into your gear. Sasuke and I will greet our guests."
"Yes, sir."
Karin nodded firmly, hurrying back inside.
Sasuke's face hardened. "Enemies?"
"Orochimaru sent folks to fetch you," Izayoi teased.
Sasuke's expression turned icy. "That guy's like a ghost."
"Relax, it's not him—just some lackeys," Izayoi soothed, then added, "But one's pretty strong. Fighting here might wreck your house. I'll meet him first."
With that, Izayoi floated upward.
Sasuke flickered after him.
Soon, Karin, in combat gear, darted out.
Meanwhile, the Sound Four, slipping into Konoha during a sensory team swap, tensed. Tayuya, their genjutsu expert, paled. "What's going on? Wasn't the Uchiha compound just Sasuke? Why're there two massive chakra signatures?"
"Have we been spotted?"
Kidomaru's face tightened, looking to their former leader, a white-haired youth ahead. "Kimimaro, do we keep going?"
"Keep going. I'll handle those two. Your job's to grab Sasuke," Kimimaro said calmly, his sickly pale face bloodless.
Yet his eyes burned with resolve, his voice firm. "Take Sasuke and leave Konoha immediately. I'll buy you time… Lord Orochimaru, since I can't be your vessel, let me dance for you one last time."
His final words faded to a whisper only he heard.
His expression softened, reminiscing about that year, that person, that flower.
Meeting gave his life meaning… Lord Orochimaru, you are my reason to live!
---
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