BORING!! This training class is so boring."
Ayaka is sitting on top of a tree while the rest of the class spars with their respective partners.
"Why do I have to attend the academy with the rest of the people?" She grumbles to herself.
--Flashback-No-Jutsu--
"Onii-san!! Mom! Dad! Academy is so boring. I don't want to attend anymore. Most of the stuff they teach there, I have already mastered it a long time ago. I want to learn from Onii-san; his training is way better." Ayaka complains.
Sigh…
Izuna sighs and pats her head.
"I know. I can teach you way better compared to the academy. Even the kids of the other clans won't learn much from attending the academy…"
"See! Even Onii-san agrees with me." Ayaka puffs her chest.
"But! That's not the key point. If you immerse yourself in training, you will lose the fun of training. Academy is not just a place for learning; it's also a place for making friends and enjoying your childhood.
The friends you make during this time will have your back in the future when you form a three-man squad. So, don't be rude to your classmates."
Izuna ruffles her head as Ayaka puffs her cheek.
"Fine!!"
--
Hmm…
"Today is Naruto Onii-san's birthday. I have to give him a surprise birthday party. But I can't do everything on my own. Let me ask my classmates for help."
She jumps from the tree and approaches a group. The chattering of the group falls in her ears.
"One day, I will surpass my grandpa and become a great hokage."
A kid with short spiky brown hair and blue eyes is holding a shuriken in his hands.
"You can do it, Konohamaru!"
Another kid with short brown hair cheers for him. The kid has a drip of snot hanging from his nose as circular glasses frame his dark eyes.
"Go! Go! Konohamaru!"
A girl with orange hair tied in two big pigtails cheers for the boy.
Ayaka watches them and notices the position of shuriken in Konohamaru's hand. She rolls her eyes and approaches them.
"He is going to miss the target!"
Ayaka stands beside the boy and girl and remarks.
"No way! Konohamaru…"
The boy and girl yell and turn around to argue. They notice Ayaka and their voice remain stuck in their throat as memories of a past incident flash through their mind.
--
A few days ago,
In a playground,
"Oye! Look at those creepy eyes. She is one of those Hyuga freaks." One of the kid remarks.
"Oye! Oye! But isn't she from one of the four noble families?"
"Humph! What noble families? People from noble families like that are always stuck up. Look at those eyes, they are looking down on us!"
"You want to gang up on me for losing in the spar earlier. So be it, I will fight with you."
Hanabi takes a stance.
Gulp…
One of the kids gulps his saliva.
"Oye! Tajiro! What are you afraid of? We are three and she is one. We can easily beat her."
"Y… Yaass!!" Tajiro clutches his fist and runs towards Hanabi.
Haah…
Hanabi engages in a fight with the three of them but soon is forced on the defensive.
On a nearby bench,
"Udon! Should we help her? They are three and we are also three." The orange-haired pigtail girl asks the brown-haired spectacle kid.
"Moegi! I heard that Kashio's big brother is already a genin. Hanabi is a member of the Hyuga clan, so she would be fine; but… but… what about us? Won't his big brother beat us up?"
The brown-haired spectacle kid argues.
"But…" Moegi stutters and stops.
"Humph! Pathetic!"
A powerful, sonorous voice drags their attention. Ayaka calmly strides towards the group and stands in front of Hanabi.
She ignores the three boys and turns to Hanabi.
"What are you afraid of? You can easily beat these brats up."
"But… but… I…" Hanabi murmurs.
"Hey! Isn't this that Uchiha girl? The class Queen!!"
Kashio remarks.
"Hmph! I remember she punched me during the spar and knocked me out." Tajiro complains.
"Then let's beat her up too."
Kashio cracks his fist.
"Humph! A bunch of weaklings."
Ayaka folds her hands in front of her chest and mocks the civilian kids.
"YOU!!"
The three kids dash towards and surround her.
BAM… BAM… BAM… Bang…
She knocks out the kid and walks towards a swing.
"I don't even know who you are!" She remarks to the unconscious kids.
"Thank you!" Hanabi thanks her.
"Mmm… I am your rival right! Then get stronger, if you don't want to be left behind."
Ayaka notices Udon and Moegi, but she ignores them.
A while later,
Kashio slowly stands up and notices Ayaka on the swing.
"Damn! This girl! I will ask my Nii-san to beat her up."
He wakes up his buddies and runs out of the playground.
"Just you wait!"
Five minutes later,
A rotund boy with burly arms boy enters the playground. He has a forehead protector tied around his belly. The three civilian kids are following him closely.
"She is the one!" Kashio points towards Ayaka.
Hmm…
The rotund boy notices the Uchiha and Hyuga symbols on Ayaka's and Hanabi's clothes. He flinches a little but walks towards them.
Huh!
Ayaka lifts her head and notices the towering shadow of the big, rotund boy hovering over her. He stops her swing and speaks in a hoarse voice.
"Apologize to my brother and his friends!"
Hmm…
Ayaka frowns and stares him in the eyes.
"And why should I apologize?!"
The big, rotund boy is taken aback by Ayaka's remark. He turns to his brother questioningly.
"Nii-san! Just now she beat us up."
Hmm…
He frowns and remarks.
"I won't allow you to bully my younger brother even if you are from a noble family."
"Huh! But your brother was the one bullying. I just taught him a lesson." Ayaka turns to Kashio.
"NO! Nii-san! She is lying. Look how she beat me up?"
Kashio points towards his swollen eye.
"So that's how it is." The genin is convinced by his younger brother's words.
"Whatever!" Ayaka stops arguing.
"If you want a beating, I will give it to you."
Ten seconds later,
Bang…
The big rotund boy sprawls on the ground with his eyes swollen.
"If one punch won't work, then I will punch you twice."
"…"
Moegi and Udon stare at Ayaka with a wide-open mouth.
--
Swoosh…
Konohamaru throws the shuriken and misses the target.
"What?!"
Moegi and Udon stare at Ayaka in astonishment.
"Can she predict the future?"
"Yes, it has to be."
Both of them nods their head.
"What's this future nonsense? It's just his hand wasn't positioned correctly.
Ayaka waves her hand.
"Anyway, I need your help with something."
"Oh! I will help too."
Konohamaru walks towards them.
"It's nothing much. I just want to hold a surprise birthday party for Naruto Nii-san." Ayaka nonchalantly waves her hand.
"Boss Naruto?!" The eyes of Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon shine brightly.
"We will help too." All three of them nods their head.
"I will help with the cake. My family runs a bakery." Moegi waves her hand.
"Then I will help with the decoration." Udon adjusts his spectacles.
"Alright! It's settled then. Konohamaru, I and Hanabi will invite his friends." Ayaka pulls Hanabi towards her.
"Ok!"
Hanabi nods her head.
"Good! Let's start the preparation."
Swoosh…
The gang rushes out of the academy.
"Hey, kids! The academy isn't over yet."
Iruka yells at the departing kids, but they ignore him and dashes out.
Sigh…
"These kids! They are at the top of this batch. Guess, skipping one day won't matter for them. But they shouldn't make it a habit in the future."
Iruka sighs to himself.
'What am I even thinking as a teacher? But how can I stop that girl? Never mind!'
In training ground three,
Yawn…
Naruto slowly opens his sleepy eyes.
"I fell asleep again while training."
He slowly stands up and notices the sun overhead.
"It's almost time for lunch. I will eat some ramen from Ichiraku."
Gulp…
Naruto gulps his saliva as small drool leak from his mouth.
Whoosh…
He flickers to the nearby lake and washes his face.
Ten minutes later,
"I am here."
Naruto walks towards the ramen stall.
"Boss! Give me a bowl of Char-sou Ramen. Make it extra-large."
"Alright! Aye! Coming right up."
Teuchi nods his head as Ayame walks out of the shop.
"It's been a while Naruto since I last saw you."
"Oh! I was busy completing some missions."
Naruto scratches his head. He looks around the shop as his gaze lingers on the calendar.
"Uh! Ayame-san! What's the date today?" Naruto asks Ayame.
"Oh! It's 10 October."
Ayame answers him as she prepares the flour.
"October 10! Which means…"
Naruto mumbles to himself.
Bam…
Teuchi places the bowl in front of him.
"Your ramen kid! This one is on the house."
"It has been a while since you last visited us and also today is a special day."
Teuchi winks at him.
Sob…
Naruto's eyes turn teary.
"Thank you, Boss!"
"It's nothing much." Teuchi shakes his head.
Naruto slowly eats his ramen as various thoughts flow through his mind.
'No one came to wish me a happy birthday. Did they forget about it?! No, it can't be.'
He shakes his head.
'There must be a surprise party for me. It has to be. I have to check it out.'
Naruto's mood cheers up and he slowly savors the ramen.
Meanwhile,
Hanabi and Konohamaru invite all of Naruto's friends.
Ayaka returns to her house.
"Mom! Today is Naruto Nii-san's birthday. I want to give him a surprise party."
"Oh! Our little Ayaka has grown up. She is even planning a birthday party." Akira chuckles and ruffles her hair.
Hmph…
Ayaka puffs her cheeks and smugly folds her hands in front of her chest.
"Of course!"
"Alright! Your Onii-san already told us about it." Aiko waves her hand.
"Then help me with the celebration. Let's decorate Tsunade Nee-san's house." Ayaka tugs her sleeves.
"No! This time the venue is a little different."
Aiko shakes her head.
"Oh! Tell me! Tell me!" Ayaka jumps in excitement.
"Let's wait for your Aunt Mikoto and Fumiko. We will go there together."
"Alright!"
Ayaka nods her head.
--
In the Konoha Hospital,
"Here!"
Izuna takes out a set of keys and passes them to Minato.
"These are…"
Minato questions him.
"The keys to your house. After your supposed death, I bought your house with all the money I had saved from my missions. I am quite rich, you know."
"Haha! You brat! You are bragging in front of me. Remember the days when I lent you the money to buy the material for your Fuinjutsu training."
Kushina chuckles.
"Alright! Let's go. I can't wait to see Naruto."
Minato shakes his head.
"There is still some time before the surprise. Before that, why don't you meet someone else?" Izuna walks towards the window.
"He is already here."
Swoosh…
Izuna opens the window and a long white-haired man in red haori jumps inside.
"Oi Uchiha brat! Why did you call me on such note…"
Jiraiya's jaw drops midway, and he gasps in astonishment.
"M… mmm… Minato!!... K.. kukuku… Kushina!!"
"Hey! Sensei!"
Minato waves his hand.
"How are you, Jiraiya-Sensei?! It's been a while."
Kushina also waves her hand.
Haah…
Jiraiya takes a deep breath and turns to Izuna.
"Oi brat! Is it one of your weird Genjutsu again? If it… it's not funny."
Jiraiya grabs Izuna's collar.
Sigh…
Izuna sighs and signals to Kushina.
Swish…
Kushina pinches Jiraiya's ears.
Aww… Aww…
Jiraiya winces in pain and hurriedly turns to Kushina.
"See Sensei!! You feel pain. So, it's as real as it can be. It's not a dream and not a Genjutsu." Minato chuckles and walks towards Jiraiya.
"Also…"
Minato whispers something in Jiraiya's ear whose expression turns pale.
Hmm…
Izuna perks his ears to eavesdrop on their secret.
"Stop! Stop!! You are the real Minato. I believe you."
Jiraiya hurriedly stops Minato from speaking further, yet Izuna is able to hear a few words.
'Tsunade… Panties!! Oh!!'
Izuna's mouth opens wide as he stares at Jiraiya.
'This is a big scoop… definitely a big scoop.'
He calmly stares at Jiraiya's panicked expression.
'I will let it slide this time.'
Somehow, Izuna feels pity for Jiraiya and looks at him with a sympathetic gaze.
"Oye! Oye! What's with the pitiful gaze of yours? Why do I feel like you are making fun of me?"
Jiraiya stares at Izuna with hatred.
Ahem…
"I am also here." Kushina clears her throat.
"…"
Minato sweat drops and retreats. Kushina glares at him and turns to Jiraiya with a smile.
"Sensei! Looks like I need to have a long chat with Tsunade-san!"
"No!"
Jiraiya panics as he hastily performs a dogeza in front of Kushina.
"Kushina… Why don't you let bygones be bygones?"
Creak…
The door to the room opens up.
"Huh?! What's the matter? What bygones?"
Tsunade enters the room.
Whoosh…
Jiraiya hurriedly stands up and clears his throat.
Ahem…
"Nothing!! Nothing!! I was just reminiscing some memories with my student."
Haah…
Jiraiya's eyes turn teary as he stares at Kushina and Minato.
"I would have to live with the fact that my Sensei and student departed right in front of me while I was helpless to do anything. Looks like I can finally die in relief."
Bam…
Tsunade elbows him.
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"You old pervert!! Don't raise a flag!!" Izuna shakes his head.
"Alright!"
Jiraiya takes a deep breath as his expression turns serious.
"So, will anyone fill me on the details?"
Half an hour later,
"So, that's the gist of it?"
Minato finishes narrating the entire series of events.
"I see."
Jiraiya turns to Izuna and nods his head.
"Brat! I never knew you were this capable."
Izuna rolls his eyes.
"Don't try to act cool, you pervert! Besides, I am more capable than you think." Izuna retorts.
"Yeah! Whatever!" Jiraiya shrugs his shoulder.
Clap…
Izuna claps his hands to get their attention.
"Let's go for Naruto's birthday party celebration. This time Ayaka has planned a surprise birthday party for him."
"Oh! Ayaka!! I can't wait to hug her." Kushina hugs herself with a flushed face.
"…"
Izuna sweat drops as he remembers the bear hugs Kushina used to give him in his childhood.
'Ayaka! Your brother is with you. I will pray for you from a distance.'
--
In the evening,
Sigh…
Naruto sighs to himself as he exits the Uchiha compound.
"No one! There is no one at home."
Just now, he paid a visit to Sasuke's house and Uncle Fugaku told him that Sasuke, Itachi, and Shisui left for a clan mission.
"Even Izuna Nii-san is not at his house and Ayaka is probably at the academy."
Sigh…
He sighs again and walks towards the Senju compounds.
"Wait, a sec! Could it be they are preparing a surprise party at home?"
Naruto cheers up in excitement.
Whoosh…
He hurriedly dashes through the streets and reaches the Senju compound.
"I am home."
Naruto pushes open the door in excitement.
"Oh! You are back, Naruto. Wash up and I will prepare dinner."
Shizune greets him.
"It's only you, Shizune Nii-san! Where is Tsunade Baa-san?" Naruto asks depressingly as his excitement dies down.
"Tsunade-san is busy with her hokage duties. The next chunnin exam is on the horizon and she has to make arrangements for it." Shizune responds to him as she enters the kitchen.
"I… I see…"
Naruto enters the bathroom and washes himself up.
"Guess, everyone forgot about my birthday!"
He mumbles to himself while bathing.
"Naruto Nii-san!! Help! Naruto Nii-san!!"
Ayaka's weak voice falls in Naruto's ears.
Huh!
Naruto immediately stands up from the bath and quickly wears his outfit.
He walks towards the gate and notices Ayaka in a battered state with some blood leaking from her mouth.
"Naruto Nii-san!"
Ayaka weakly falls to the ground.
Whoosh…
Naruto flickers towards her and supports her
"What's going on? What happened? Who did this to you?"
His expression turns gloomy and anger rises from the bottom of his heart.
"Nii-san, it's a chunnin. I beat up his brother, and he called his elder brother for revenge." Ayaka hugs him tightly as tears flow from her eyes.
Naruto remembers some previous incidents where Ayaka beats up many bullies including some chunnins.
'But for a chunnin to beat her like that?'
"How dare he?!"
Naruto's eyes turn red as a wisp of red chakra leaks from his body. The whiskers on his cheeks become more prominent.
"Ayaka!! Just tell me where is he?" Naruto growls in anger.
"Yes. Follow my directions!"
Ayaka points out the direction, and Naruto quickly follows the path.
Soon, they arrive in front of a two-story house with an orange-tiled roof.
"He lives there."
Ayaka points towards the house.
"Alright! Leave it your big brother."
Whoosh…
Naruto flickers in front of the door.
Bang…
He forcefully kicks the door, breaking it in the process.
"Come out! How dare you bully my sister?"
"…"
"SURPRISE!!"
Naruto stops in his tracks as these words greet him.
POP… POP…
The lights in the room lit up with a burst of party popper.
"Happy Birthday Naruto!!"
The group wishes a warm and hearty birthday greeting to Naruto.
Ah!
Naruto is flabbergasted to see this. He turns to Ayaka.
"I am sorry, Naruto Nii-san!"
Ayaka jumps in front of him and wipes the bloodstain and undoes her transformation.
"It's a surprise, after all."
Ayaka sticks out her tongue.
"You guys!!"
Tears burst out from Naruto's eyes as he stares at the group of people.
Sob… sob…
"I thought you all forgot about it."
Naruto wipes his tears and turns to the group.
"Thank you, everyone!"
"If you want to thank someone, then thank Ayaka." Sasuke remarks.
"Yes, she planned to hold this celebration. We just lent her a hand." Shizune enters the house from the broken door.
"Ayaka!! Thank you so much!" Naruto tries to hug Ayaka with tears and snot.
"Of course, I am your imouto. I have to take care of you." Ayaka smugly folds her hand in front of her chest.
Haha…
The rest of the group laughs at her antics.
Izuna walks in front of Naruto and taps his forehead.
"Naruto you remember the promise I made to you, right!"
"You mean…"
Naruto jumps in excitement as Izuna's promise freshens up in his mind.
'Soon Naruto! Soon… you will meet with your parents.'
He looks around for a while but fails to see anyone else besides the people he already knew.
"Nnn… Nii-san…"
Whoosh…
Suddenly, a pair of hands gently block Naruto's vision.
Eh…
Naruto freaks out and touches the pair of hands. Somehow, he feels a sense of familiarity from these pairs of hands. Numerous emotions surge through his heart as those warm pairs of hands give a familial feeling.
Kushina's motherly instinct triggers the moment her hands touch Naruto.
'Naruto! Mother has missed you for so long.'
Tears erupt in her eyes as she lovingly gazes at Naruto.
'You have grown up, Naruto. Eleven years have passed since then. I could only watch you grow from a distance… never able to ease your pain, loneliness, and sorrow. But now I won't leave your side.'
Kushina silently pledges to herself.
"Mo… Mo… Mom!"
Naruto unconsciously mutters these words as a stream of tears flows from his eyes.
He immediately turns around and hugs Kushina. The once familiar body warmth makes his heart flutter. He silently sobs into his mother's embrace.
Kushina gently caresses Naruto's head and ruffles his hair.
"Yes… Naruto!! Mama is back!"
Tears stream down from Kushina's eyes as she tightly embraces Naruto in her bosom.
Sob… sob…
Naruto continues to shed tears in his mother's embrace. The tears of bitterness, loneliness, sadness slowly flows away.
He separates from Kushina and a sweet smile blooms on his face.
"Welcome home, Mom!"
"Yes, I am back!"
Kushina wipes her tears and gently smiles at him.
"And I won't leave your side never ever again!"
The rest of the members of Konoha 11 silently stare at the reunion of Naruto with his family.
"I am so happy for you, Naruto-kun!"
Hinata wipes tears from her eyes.
"Youth! This is youth!" Lee clutches his fists.
Only Shikamaru notices Minato, who is silently standing beside Naruto with a warm smile.
"He is…"
Shikamaru's eyes widen in shock. He quickly gazes at the Hokage monument from the window to confirm his guess.
"It can't be. He is…"
He compares Naruto and Minato's looks. The close resemblance leaves him flabbergasted.
"I see! Well, whatever. What a drag!"
Shikamaru shrugs his shoulders.
The eyes of Aiko, Fumiko, and Mikoto also widen in surprise. All of them glare at their respective sons for an explanation.
Shisui and Itachi tacitly turn to Izuna.
Izuna notices their piercing gaze and gulps his saliva. He turns towards Shisui and Itachi for help.
Whistle… whistle…
Shisui and Itachi whistle and ignore his glare. Izuna signals to them with his eyes.
'Get ready for double training!'
'We will do triple the amount of training. Just don't drag us into your mess.'
Shisui and Itachi signals with a smug smile.
Hnngh…
Izuna grits his teeth but raises his hands in surrender before the power of the Mother gang.
The Mother gang nod their head and turn to Naruto and Kushina with motherly love in their eyes.
"What about me? Are you upset with your dad?"
Minato ruffles Naruto's hairs.
"DAD!!"
Naruto tightly hugs Minato.
"I missed you Dad!"
"Dad missed you too!! You have grown well Naruto!"
Minato laughs heartily and pats Naruto's head.
"Happy Birthday Naruto!!"
"Thank you, Dad!"
Naruto flashes a brilliant smile.
"So, did you like my birthday present?"
Izuna smiles at the family reunion.
"Yes, Nii-san. It's the best gift ever."
Naruto wipes his face as tears and snot leak out, making a mess of his face.
"Ok! Alright! For starters, go and wash yourself. The party hasn't even started yet." Minato pats Naruto's head.
"Yes, Dad!"
Naruto nods his head.
"Come to Mama!"
Kushina waves her hand.
"Mama will help you bath. I never got a chance to bathe you."
"But… But… I have grown up."
Naruto awkwardly rubs his head.
"It's fine. You are still a kid to me."
Kushina forcefully drags Naruto in the bath.
Haha…
The rest of the group laughs at their antics.
"That's just like Kushina. She hasn't changed at all."
Tsunade remarks.
"Of course, she is still the Red Hot-blooded Habanero of Konoha."
Izuna laughs.
"Alright! Now tell us everything in detail."
The Mother gang turns their gaze to Izuna.
Gulp…
"It's like this."
Izuna hurriedly recounts the major details while skipping a few important parts.
Hmph…
Bam… bam…
Two giant lumps rise on Izuna's head.
Izuna silently uses the Mystic Palm Technique to heal himself as he turns to Tsunade.
'I can understand why mother bonked me; but why even you?'
"Haah! That helped me shook off some pent-up frustration. I feel so relaxed now." Tsunade stretches her arms.
Izuna swallows his words and walks to the middle of the room. He clears his throat and addresses everyone.
"The news about Minato and Kushina-san is a very confidential matter. It can disrupt the fragile balance of peace among the five shinobi nations.
Sunagakure already suffered a crushing defeat under our hands and the entire world is aware of our alliance with Kirigakure.
I bet Kumogakure, and Iwagakure are already on tenterhooks at the moment. Iwa had to bitterly swallow the taste of humiliating defeat during the Third Shinobi War, whereas Kumo has suffered way too many losses under my hand.
Now if they come to know about the presence of the previous Hokage, then they might as well as join hands and ally with neighboring small countries to attack us."
Izuna pauses as he stares at the expression of all present here.
The adults nod their heads in affirmation whereas the kids except for Sasuke, Shikamaru and Neji are slightly clueless.
The revival of Minato is a huge matter. He acts as a major deterrance to the Shinobi world with his feats recorded during the Third Shinobi War.
"Good! I think everyone is aware of the graveness of this matter. With that being said, let's continue the celebration."
--
Later at night,
On top of Hokage Monument,
Izuna is silently staring at the starry night as the huge moon flickers in the sky.
'I have four years to search for a solution. Although, I have already harnessed the Six Paths Chakra. It's not enough to heal the damage in my body.
Perhaps I will get my answers from the Otsutsuki shrine in Land of Demons. But that shrine is so elusive. I haven't been able to track its whereabouts at all.'
Izuna slightly tilts his head as Mei appears in his vision.
"Wow! It's such a wonderful place to look at stars." She remarks.
"Yes, it is."
Izuna hugs her in his embrace.
Ahem…
"So, Izuna, why did you call us here?"
Kakashi coughs slightly.
Izuna lifts his head and remarks.
"Kakashi, can't you pretend to be air for a bit while."
"…"
"I have been here for the past half hour. Isn't that long enough?"
Kakashi rolls his eyes and takes out a book from his pocket as he grumbles.
Besides him, Guy is climbing back and forth on the backside of the Hokage monument with one hand. As for Yamato, he is standing still like a tree.
Whoosh… Whoosh…
Several figures gather in front of him.
"Alright! Since everyone is here. Let's start the meeting."
"Alright! Since everyone is here. Let's start the meeting!"
Izuna jumps towards the backside of the mountain and the rest of the group follows him.
Swish… swish…
While in mid-air, Izuna makes some One hand signs.
Swoosh…
A spatial tunnel opens in front of the group.
Kakashi, Itachi, Guy, and Tsunade are surprised for a moment as they curiously stare at the tunnel.
"Come in!"
Izuna gestures for them to enter.
Whoosh…
The tunnel closes after everyone enters it.
Soon, the group appears in a dark space with a vast stretch of emptiness.
Izuna takes a step forward and the place lights up. He walks deeper into space.
The rest of the group follows him.
"Hmm… this seems to be a small independent dimension."
Minato senses the surrounding space and mumbles.
"Yes, I created this small, independent space. It's only the size of a clan compound." Izuna informs them.
"That's quite incredible!"
Minato is amazed by this small dimension.
"It's all thanks to your guidance, Minato-san."
Izuna scratches his head.
"Anyway, this is going to be the new headquarter of our organization. After some renovation, this place won't' be much different from our previous place and it is much more secure compared to the previous one."
He nods his head in satisfaction.
'I can't help but steal the idea from Kara.'
The other members curiously inspect the space.
"it's like a pocket in space," Kakashi mumbles to himself.
'I wonder if I can access Kamui from this dimension.'
Kakashi activates his Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Kamui."
A small tear opens in space. Kakashi infuses more chakra to expand the tear.
Fwoosh… Poof…
A powerful fuinjutsu seal surrounds the tear and forcefully closes the tear.
"I knew it."
Kakashi is taken back by the Fuinjutsu seal. A trail of blood leaks from his eyes as he deactivates his Sharingan.
"Here! Kakashi Senpai!"
Yamato passes a handkerchief to Kakashi to wipe the blood.
"I forgot to mention, this place is sealed by Space-time Fuinjutsu seal, and the space in this area is locked.
Unless you have the key to the seal, you won't be able to influence the space in this dimension."
Hmm…
Minato takes out a kunai from his pocket.
Swish…
He throws the kunai in a random direction and tries to use the Flying Thunder God Jutsu.
Clank…
The kunai falls on the ground while Minato is still in his previous position.
"There is no doubt about it. Abilities like teleportation, blink, and portal formations are restricted here."
Minato nods his head.
'I spent almost a year studying the formation around Ryuchi cave and Shikkotsu Forest. This is the product of my research.'
Izuna proudly stares at his creation.
"Looks like I can't fall behind in my training or else Naruto won't even look up to me."
Minato chuckles.
"You will forever be Naruto's hero. The hero who fought against Nine-tails and saved the village."
Izuna shakes his head.
"If I am Naruto's idol then you are the person he strives to be like."
"Then that's more of a reason for me to restart my training."
Minato picks up his kunai.
"Minato-san, I have a few things to discuss with you."
Izuna walks deeper into space. Minato, Mei, and Tsunade follow him.
"Minato-san, you already know the specifics of my organization."
Mmm…
Minato nods his head with a serious expression.
"Our enemy is way too powerful. We must prepare in advance to deal with them. It's the part of the reason you found In-yō."
In-yō is the name of Izuna's organization. It translates to Yin and Yang, which is synonymous with Light and Shadow.
Hmm…
Tsunade and Mei stare at each other with apparent confusion.
"Minato! Izuna! Was this a part of your plan?"
Tsunade asks them out of curiosity.
"Pretty much!"
Minato nods his head and reveals the information about the purple-robed guy.
"Tsunade-san, our enemy is immensely powerful. He possesses God-like powers and we can't even comprehend the limit of his power."
Minato takes a deep breath.
"Not only this, I am afraid there are more powerful beings like him secretly eyeing our world."
Minato reveals the secret information he read in the records of Mount Myoboku, Shikkotsu Forest, and Ryuchi cave.
"What?!"
Tsunade and Mei's expression turns grave.
"If that's the case, then won't our lives be at the whims of these beings."
"Not really!" Izuna shakes his head.
"From the information, I have gathered; there are two powerful factions. And these factions are at odds against each other. So, we still have around 15 to 20 years to prepare before a full-blown war starts."
Izuna recounts the incident of future events from his memories.
'My presence has drastically changed the shinobi history but it shouldn't have any major impact on Otsutsuki and otherworldly forces, right?"
Izuna questions himself.
"When the time comes, In-yō will deal with these otherworldly threats. Currently, it has two branches, the Light and the Shadow branch. The members of the Light branch are the major fighting force of the organization whereas the members of the Shadow branch are responsible for gathering intelligence, reconnaissance, and assassination."
Mmm…
The group nods their head in understanding.
"The members of the Light branch include Minato-san, Kakashi, Guy, Shisui, and Itachi. Naruto and Sasuke will join once they grow up. As for the members of the Shadow organization, I can't reveal their identity."
Izuna shakes his head.
"I made a promise to hide their identities. Currently, there are only four members with codenames Pride, Wrath, and Envy, and Sloth. Members of the Shadow branch will report to me."
Hmm…
"That makes sense. But there are only 11 people; if you exclude Sasuke and Naruto, then only 9 remain. Would such a number be enough?" Tsunade raises a question.
"It's more than enough." Izuna firmly nods his head.
"At such a level of fight, numbers won't matter anymore. What matters is the combat prowess of the individual."
'In his new body, Minato-san is easily as strong as Naruto in his Nine-tails Chakra mode. Also, he has Sage Mode to top it off. Itachi and Shisui will reach Grandpa's level once they awaken their EMS. Guy is also a monster with the perfected version of Eight-Gates. Kakashi is a genius in the art of combat. He created an A-Rank jutsu at the age of 12.
Let's not talk about Naruto and Sasuke; both of them have the plot Armor of the main character.'
Mei, Tsunade, and Minato helplessly shake their head sensing Izuna's firm gaze.
"Still, in case of a full-blown war, we definitely need an army to hold the enemy," Minato argues.
"Hmm… if that's the case, then we must inform other nations of the impending threat." Tsunade proposes.
"Yes, I don't think we can overcome our enemies just by ourselves. An alliance is necessary to counter our enemies. What do you think Izuna! Mizukage?!"
Minato curiously stares at Izuna and Mei for an answer.
"Kirigakure is already an ally of Konoha. So of course, we will lend a hand. Besides, this matter concerns the future of the shinobi world." Mei agrees immediately.
'Minato-san's leadership skills are exemplary. From the very start, I planned to make Minato-san the leader of In-yō. There is a ticking time-bomb in my body and I have to search for a solution.'
Izuna places a hand under his chin as he is lost in thinking.
'As for the matter of the alliance; In the normal course of history, Akatsuki will force other nations to join hands. The name of Madara Uchiha is enough to instill fear in the hearts of every shinobi.'
Sigh…
'Although I am stronger than Grandpa in his prime; I lack feats to match my strength.'
Izuna shakes his head in despondency.
'I wonder what Akatsuki will do next?!'
Tsunade, Minato, and Mei notice his expression.
"Is there any problem?"
Tsunade questions him.
"No! It's just that…"
Buzzzzzz…
Suddenly, a buzzing sensation spreads through his head.
Whirl…
The chakra in his body starts to circulate on its own.
"I… I…"
Izuna clutches his forehead and falls to the ground.
"IZUNA!!"
Mei, Tsunade, and Minato hurriedly support him.
IZUNA!"
Mei, Tsunade, and Minato hurriedly support him.
Izuna feels a heating sensation in the optic nerves around his eyes.
Swoosh…
His body furiously absorbs the Nature energy of the surroundings. The Nature energy fuses with his chakra and forms a wisp of dense cyan chakra.
This chakra circulates in his body and moves towards the optic nerves in his eyes.
'Don't tell me it has finally manifested…'
Fwoosh…
Izuna loses consciousness as his skin turns pale.
The expression of the rest of the members turns grim.
"What?! What happened to him?" Mei grimly asks Tsunade.
Hmm…
Tsunade inspects Izuna's body. After a while, she heaves a sigh of relief.
"It's not anything major. At least for him!"
She raises her head and notices the worry in other's eyes.
"He is suffering from Acute Chakra Deficiency. His chakra is drained to the very last wisp."
"Isn't that harmful? If a person ran out of chakra, then won't his body substitute it by draining his vitality." Kakashi remarks.
"If it was someone else, then that might be the case. But Izuna is a Sage; his body is absorbing the Nature energy of the surroundings to replenish his chakra." Tsunade picks up Izuna.
"Minato! Let's get out of here. He needs an environment with rich Nature energy to recover." Tsunade instructs Minato.
"Alright!"
Minato makes some hand signs and a spatial tunnel opens in front of them. The group exits the small dimension.
Swish… swish…
"Reverse Summoning Jutsu"
Tsunade makes some hand signs and slams her palm on the ground.
--
Whoosh…
She reappears in the Shikkotsu forest atop the giant tree.
"Tsunade-sama!!"
Katsuyu walks out of a nearby cave. She notices Izuna in Tsunade's lap.
"Katsuyu, Quick!! Send some of your smaller clones to help Izuna. He is suffering from chakra deficiency. Allow your clones to help gather Nature energy for him." Tsunade orders Katsuyu.
"I am on it. Tsunade-sama!"
Katsuyu immediately summons her clones. The clones crawl over Izuna's body and absorb Nature energy. Their body glows with a cyan hue.
"Good!" Tsunade nods her head and carries Izuna to the treehouse on top of the Giant tree.
She lays him on the bed and walks out onto the balcony.
A stream of fleeting clouds blocks the radiant moonlight as they shine with a silvery hue. The fleeting clouds occasionally cast a shadow over the Giant tree.
Haah…
Tsunade takes a deep breath, a breath full of vitality and vigor.
"He will be alright! It's not his first time!"
Tsunade shakes her head as her hairs flutter in the winds. Like the fleeting clouds, she discards her worries.
"It's pointless to worry too much. I have to return to Konoha."
Tsunade leaves with some instructions to Katsuyu.
--
"Where am I?"
Izuna groggily opens his eyes as the familiar white space appears in his vision.
"My mindscape?!"
Crack… crack…
Izuna cracks his neck and slowly stands up.
"What's going on? Why am I in my mindscape?"
Soon, Izuna recounts the earlier chakra outburst near his eye nerves.
"It's about time to awaken my Rinnegan. Thirteen Years! It took me thirteen years to awaken my Rinnegan."
He slowly stands up and walks towards the center of his mindscape.
Various floating orbs with elemental energy appear in his vision.
Numerous chakra orbs revolve around a dense purple chakra orb in orbits.
"This reminds me of the solar system."
Izuna closely inspects the floating purple chakra orb.
"No! To be precise… it is like an atom."
Whoosh…
Izuna waves his hand and the chakra orbs halt and float towards him.
He looks around but fails to notice anything out of ordinary.
"Hmm… let me feel the changes in my body first. Maybe I might get some clue about my current situation."
He closes his eyes and inspects his body.
His body is absorbing vast amounts of Nature energy at an incredible rate. The dense cyan chakra has accumulated around his optic nerves.
"The consumption of chakra is too much. At this rate, the chakra would be evenly distributed among my eyes and I will awaken a normal Rinnegan in both eyes."
Izuna tightly clenches his fists.
"I won't allow it. I want to awaken a Kekkei Mora, not a Kekkei Genkai!"
The words of Hagoromo echoes in his mind.
'Kekkei Mora isn't a power, it is a divine state. A divine state that uses the principles of all creation to command all things in Nature. It is a manifestation of Natural Law and Order.
To acquire this ability, severe training and refining of chakra are needed or the effect would be too small to make a difference. No matter the suffering that goes against one's steel conviction, one cannot give up. To achieve Samsara and Destiny's guidance, only those who carry these traits will be given the power to temper the laws of the world, the power to wield concepts.'
Izuna grits his teeth in pain.
"The Rinnegan awakened by Grandfather and Sasuke is a Kekkei Genkai. Since they don't have any understanding of the Law and Concepts behind the abilities; they can only awaken a set of predestined abilities. But I am different! I have shed blood and sweat to master these abilities.
After coming this far, how can I settle with a Normal Kekkei Genkai Rinnegan? I won't give up!"
Haaah…
As if feeling Izuna's desperation, the orbs around him tremble violently.
Shiing…
A giant Rinnegan eye opens in his mindscape.
Whoosh… whoosh…
Space and time orb flies towards the Rinnegan and merges with it.
Shiing…
Two tomoes appear in the innermost circle.
"It's not enough. Aah…"
Izuna urges the rest of the orbs to fuse with the Rinnegan.
Whoosh…
The purple orb flies towards the Rinnegan and fuses with it. A third tomoe appears in the innermost circle of the Rinnegan.
"To create a Kekkei Mora, I have to fuse all elements. However, the current me is not capable of such a feat. I have to search for an alternative."
Izuna focuses his entire spirit on the Rinnegan as his mindscape trembles violently.
"Kekkai Shi is a precursor to Kekkei Mora. What if I fuse more Kekkei Shi with the Rinnegan?"
An incredulous idea pops into his mind.
"Whatever, if I fail here; the worst case will be my death. Anyway, I am fated to die in four more years. Then I might as well take the risk and make a go for it."
Clarity returns to his mind as he focuses his entire attention on the various orbs floating around him.
"I have to choose four distinct elements to combine out of the five elements. The number of such possible combinations is five. I have already created the Electromagnetic Release which leaves me with four possible combinations."
Izuna solely concentrates on the floating elemental orbs around him.
"Merge!"
He urges the orbs to merge with each other. As if sensing Izuna's intention, the orbs furiously repel each other.
Haah…
"I can't fail after coming this far."
Izuna bites his lips and urges the orbs with his entire being. After countless failures, he manages to create four more Kekkei Shi orbs.
"Go!"
Izuna weakly waves his hand to direct the orbs towards the Rinnegan.
Swoosh… swoosh…
The orbs merge with his Rinnegan and four more tomoe appear in it.
"There are a total of seven tomoes. I guess I won't be able to awaken a nine tomoe Rinne-Sharingan."
Sigh…
Izuna helplessly shakes his head and sighs to himself as his vision deteriorates.
Whoosh…
The Light and the darkness orbaround him tremble and shoot towards the Rinnegan.
Wham…
The two orbs merge with the Rinnegan and nine tomoes appear on the Rinnegan.
"Finally… my heart can rest easy!"
Izuna feels heavy as darkness shrouds him.
In the outside world,
The Nature energy of the entire Shikkotsu forest furiously pours into his body. Anenormous amount of chakra accumulates around his left eye.
Shiing…
Izuna's Mangekyo Sharingan awakens on its own.
Swirl…
The pattern of his Mangekyo changes as the sclera turns purple.
Five concentric rings form on the sclera.
Shiing… shiing…
The concentric rings are followed by nine tomoes which arrange themselves in the inner concentric rings.
The rings continue to rotate for awhile before it eventually calms down. The colorof the Rinnegan changes to blue, red, golden and it finally settles to purple.
Bzzz…
The awakening of the Rinnegan sends a jolt through Izuna's body.
--
In a faraway dimension,
Hmm…
A pale white figure with four crooked horns resembling a crown slowly opens his eyes.
"The Heavenly eyes of Samsara have awakened in its truest form. It's the most exalted eyes comparable to Pure eyes."
Tap… tap…
The figure taps his finger on the armrest of his throne as an attendant appears in front of him.
"Our clan has fought this battle for eons. It's finally time to end it for once and for all. Summon the elders of the clan."
The four-horned figure clenches his fist.
"Yes, my lord!"
Whoosh…
The attendant disappears from his position.
"The time has come. The time for the GOD to awaken."