Although Izanami didn't awaken the full power of the Sage Body, he couldn't help but feel a hint of regret. However, the fact that he had triggered the Uzumaki Bloodline was already an incredible stroke of luck. This bloodline, like the ones of the Senju, Uchiha, and Kaguya clans, was a branch of the ancient Ōtsutsuki Clan. As descendants of the Sage of Six Paths, both the Whirlpool Clan and the Senju Clan inherited not only extraordinary vitality but also vast reserves of Chakra.
Moreover, the Uzumaki Clan was renowned for its expertise in Sealing Jutsu, possessing three unique and powerful abilities. These were:Mind's Eye of the Kagura: One of the most potent sensory techniques in the ninja world.Adamantine Sealing Chains: A versatile ability that combined offense and defense. It could also create barriers and perform Sealing Jutsu, making it nearly impossible for even a Tailed Beast to break free once bound.Physical Healing: This technique allowed the user to consume Chakra in order to heal injuries, either their own or others', offering remarkable restorative capabilities.These three abilities were top-tier support techniques. However, not every member of the Uzumaki Clan could awaken them. In the original timeline, Naruto Uzumaki hadn't awakened any of these powers until after gaining Kurama's recognition. Only then did he begin to exhibit the same sensing abilities as Uzumaki Mito. The reason the other abilities remained dormant was either because the true Sage Body was too overpowering, or simply because the original story didn't want to bestow too many advantages on Naruto.
However, the fact remained: Naruto Uzumaki, as the reincarnation of Asura's Chakra, had a highly pure bloodline. And now, Izanami had unlocked the Uzumaki Bloodline from Naruto. If he was fortunate, he might even awaken one of the three major abilities. If he, like Karin, managed to unlock all three abilities simultaneously, he could rise to the top of the ninja world in terms of sensing, sealing, or healing.
Even if he didn't awaken any of these abilities, the immense vitality inherited from the Sage Body would still make him formidable. Either way, it wasn't a loss.
Izanami, pleased with his progress, dismissed the light screen and watched the ongoing matches. One by one, the taijutsu rounds concluded, and the final test—the newly added survival exercise—was about to begin.
Before that, however, Iruka Umino led the students to the infirmary for any necessary medical treatment. Afterward, they were escorted to the props room, where Izanami and the others could select items for the survival exercise.
This survival exercise was different from the bell-snatching trial for Genin. It was a hide-and-seek challenge, designed to test the students' proficiency in stealth techniques, such as the Body Flicker Technique and the Three Body Technique. The students were expected to move undetected and avoid being caught. High scores would be awarded to those who excelled, while those who struggled would receive opportunities to improve, just like in the Chunin Exams.
For Izanami, who had long mastered the Three Body Technique, this was a simple task. He breezed through the exercise, effortlessly avoiding detection and once again securing a perfect score. Though the results wouldn't be announced until the new semester in April, the title of top student was already within his grasp.
"See you tomorrow at the usual spot, Hinata," Izanami called out as they parted ways at an intersection.
"Okay!" Hinata replied with a smile.
Though Izanami no longer took her to the abandoned training ground—the one near the Uchiha Clan's compound—he still trained regularly with her. The location had simply shifted from the old, abandoned site to either the school's playground or the courtyard at Izanami's house.
Unlike Naruto Uzumaki, whose inheritance had been seized by the village, Izanami's parents, both ninjas, had left him an inheritance that included a two-story detached house with a small courtyard. His living situation was far better than Naruto's. While Naruto's scarf, once a cherished memento of his mother, was thrown into storage, Izanami's circumstances were far more fortunate. His parents had been ordinary ninjas, so the village had handled their affairs with a modicum of decency.
The Ninja Academy ran on a three-semester system, and aside from the long summer break, the other holidays were short. Before long, April 1st arrived, marking the start of the new school year. The sixth-year students had already graduated, and the newly acknowledged Genin had begun taking on missions. Those who weren't acknowledged either repeated the year, joined special departments, or dropped out, realizing they lacked the aptitude to become ninjas.
The first through fifth-year students moved up a grade and began switching classrooms. The vacant first-year class welcomed new students who had passed the entrance exam.
On this day, the area in front of the notice board was buzzing with students, all checking their classroom assignments or the final exam results.
"Hey, Izanami-kun! Have you seen the results on the notice board?" someone called out.
"Amazing! Izanami, you're our year's top student!" another student exclaimed.
"As expected of Izanami! Even Sasuke can't compare to you."
"Izanami's the top student, and Hinata's second! You two desk mates took the top spots—amazing!"
As soon as Izanami entered the new classroom, he was surrounded by excited classmates, both male and female, eager to congratulate him.
Izanami wasn't impatient at all. Instead, he stood there, smiling, engaging in friendly conversation with his classmates for a long while. From their chatter, it was clear that Izanami had claimed the top spot, but surprisingly, the second-place position wasn't held by Uchiha Sasuke—it was Hinata.
Izanami wasn't shocked by this. He knew how hard Hinata had worked. Her academic performance had always been among the best. During the first stage of the Chunin Exams in the original timeline, she and Sakura Haruno were the only two girls in the Twelve Rookie Nine who didn't resort to cheating.
Thanks to Izanami's guidance, Hinata had come a long way. In her first year, she'd mastered tree-climbing and water-walking, skills that helped her overcome her introversion. Her combat hesitations had diminished, and she'd become far more decisive in battle. If she had lost to Uchiha Sasuke now, Izanami would have been tempted to find a block of tofu to smash his head against.
In fact, Sasuke should count himself lucky that he didn't face Hinata in the Taijutsu matches—otherwise, he might not have even secured third place. After all, Shino Aburame wasn't one to be underestimated.
Izanami only returned to his seat once the conversation started winding down, as the bell for class was about to ring.
"Good morning, Izanami-kun," Hinata greeted him as she arrived early, as usual.
"Morning, Hinata," Izanami replied with a smile. They exchanged pleasantries before continuing their conversation.
"Congratulations on being the top student," Hinata said, clearly having checked the results herself.
Izanami chuckled and replied, "And congratulations to you for taking second place. With that, your father will have even less reason to stop you from going out now."
Hinata nodded eagerly, her smile widening. It was clear she understood that her father had known about her and Izanami's plan all along. Still, the fact that she wasn't grounded and could go out freely meant her father had tacitly approved of her interactions with Izanami.
Hinata's thoughts drifted back to the times she practiced water-walking at home. Despite being caught multiple times, she'd never faced any consequences or harsh questioning. She now realized that her progress, combined with the fact that she had earned second place in her year, must have contributed to her father's approval. After all, Izanami—who had been guiding her—was the top student.
Her heart swelled with joy at the thought. If her father knew just how much Izanami had helped her, he would no doubt approve of him even more.
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