By the time Chiya arrived at Uchiha Izumi’s home, the sky had turned completely black.
“Chiya-kun, you’re too slow.” As soon as Chiya stepped through the door, Izumi greeted him, brushing the accumulated snow off his clothes and taking his scarf and coat, just like a devoted wife.
“Sorry, sorry, got held up by something.” Chiya apologized as he took off his ninja boots.
He had to admit, these shoes were mediocre at best; although they were comfortable enough, they left his toes exposed.
If it weren’t for his Tiangang Art protecting him, he really wouldn’t be able to stand them.
“Never mind, as long as you’re here.” Izumi prepared a pair of slippers for him.
“Sit by the kotatsu (heated table) for a while, I’ll go heat up the dinner.” With that, she carried the dishes on the table into the kitchen.
Chiya sat boredly by the kotatsu, channeling his cultivation technique.
He maintained a continuous release of sensory perception to scan the surroundings, confirming no one was spying on him, before finally focusing his attention on the system.
“System, open my personal panel.” [Ding!
System panel opening.] [Host: Fujiwara Chiya Gender: Male Chakra Affinities: Fire, Lightning, Earth, Yin, Yang Chakra Volume: 30 “Kakashi-units” Secret Art: Tiangang Art (Reached 4th Level, includes Aura Shield and Flash skill) Ninjutsu: Fire Release: Great Fireball, Phoenix Sage Fire, Great Dragon Fire, Shadow Clone Technique, Three Basic Jutsu, Body Flicker, Summoning Jutsu (No summon currently) Genjutsu: Kyōka Suigetsu (Once the enemy has witnessed the initial release, it directly acts upon their soul and manipulates their five senses, spiritual perception, and chakra sensing ability, even in the Naruto world.) Taijutsu: Konoha Basic Taijutsu, Tiangang Art Techniques, Uchiha-style Shuriken & Kunai Throwing.
Chakra Nature Transformations: Fire, Lightning, Earth Inventory: Zanpakutō Kyōka Suigetsu, Kunai x15, Shuriken x11, various clothing, space storage scroll, substitution logs x9] Looking at the panel, Chiya was stunned for a moment.
He muttered, “Since when did I have Yin and Yang chakra affinities?
And this massive amount of chakra…
is this all thanks to the Tiangang Art?” Chiya stopped his technique and exited Sage Mode.
Suddenly, his chakra affinities reverted to just Fire, Lightning, and Earth, and his volume dropped back to 3 “Kakashi-units.” In other words, the 4th level of the Tiangang Art not only increased his base chakra but provided a nearly tenfold boost when active.
“Looks like in the near future, I can become a ‘Chakra-ton’ monster myself,” Chiya mused.
He looked toward the kitchen where Izumi was busy, a flash of solemnity in his eyes.
The Uchiha Massacre was less than two years away, and Uchiha Shisui would soon be returning from the front lines of the Land of Water.
Shisui would surely be naive enough to reveal the power of his Mangekyō Sharingan to the village leadership, only to have his eyes stolen by Danzo.
By then, it would be time for him to take action.
…
Winter passed and spring arrived, a season of warmth and blooming flowers.
Chiya was now in his sixth year, and the Ninja Academy welcomed a new batch of freshmen.
“When the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames.
The fire’s shadow illuminates the village and lets new leaves sprout…” On the podium, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was giving his usual lecture on the opening day of school, tirelessly indoctrinating the freshmen with the “Will of Fire.” In the sixth-year classroom, Chiya stood by the window, looking down at the scene, feeling nothing but disdain.
Illuminate the village, let new leaves sprout?
Give me a break.
You’re just burning down all of Konoha to light up your own reign as Hokage and help the Sarutobi clan sprout.
If it weren’t for the fact that he’d seen how the Sarutobi clan managed to field an entire army during the Fourth Great Ninja War, he might have actually believed the old man’s lies.
Hiruzen Sarutobi…
you’ve rotted from the inside out, becoming nothing but a parasite draining the life from the Great Tree of Konoha.
“Chiya-kun, what are you looking at?” Izumi walked up to him, startled for a moment by his deep, dark eyes.
Seeing that it was his real self and not a shadow clone, she asked, “Huh, you actually came in person today.” “Nothing…
just thought I’d drop by once in a while.” Chiya shook his head with a light laugh, his gaze sweeping over the nine children on the playground below: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi, Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame.
Counting Neji, Tenten, and Lee, who had enrolled last year, the “Konoha 12” were finally complete.
“Chiya-kun, you seem to have something on your mind lately.
Ever since the New Year, you’ve seemed a bit melancholic,” Izumi said, sitting down beside him with concern.
“Relax, I’m fine.
I’m just lamenting how fast time flies.
In the blink of an eye, six years have passed.
Even that ‘Sasuke’ kid who Itachi used to hold is in school now,” Chiya chuckled.
“Chiya-kun, it’s rude to call people by nicknames.
I’ve told you so many times, his name is Sasuke, Uchiha Sasuke, not some ‘Sasuke-kun (Sasuke-column/pillar-kun),” Izumi corrected him.
“Got it, Uchiha Sasuke-kun,” Chiya said with an amused smile.
“Whatever, call him what you want, just make sure our Clan Head doesn’t hear you…” Izumi sighed helplessly at Chiya’s mischievous attitude, leaning in to whisper in his ear.
Changing the subject, she gripped his hand affectionately and said, “But Chiya-kun, if you really do have something on your mind, you have to tell me immediately…” “I will.” Chiya’s gaze drifted out the window.
Sorry, Izumi.
The things that are about to happen…
you’re better off not knowing.
At 5:00 PM, school let out.
For once, Chiya didn’t go to train; instead, he chose to walk Izumi home.
“Chiya-kun, it’s been such a long time since we walked home together after school,” Izumi skipped ahead of him, hands behind her back, tilting her head with a smile.
“Yeah, it really has been a while.” Chiya walked beside her.
“From now on, until graduation, I’ll walk you home every day.” “Really?” Izumi beamed, though she couldn’t help but feel worried.
Even though she was happy to spend time with him, Chiya had been acting way too strange lately.
“But don’t you need to train?
Will you really be okay with this?” “It’s fine, it’s not like a little time will make a difference,” Chiya laughed.
Just as he finished speaking, a young, arrogant voice rang out from behind them: “Hmph!
Finally realized the gap between you and my brother?
No matter how much you train, you’ll never catch up to him!”