The Calm Before the Storm (Signed)

PS: Signed the contract, seeking support.

By the time Fujiwara Chiya arrived at Uchiha Izumi's home, the sky had turned completely dark.

"Chiya-kun, you're too slow." As soon as Chiya stepped inside, Uchiha Izumi greeted him, brushing the accumulated snow off his body and removing his scarf and coat as if she were a devoted wife.

"Sorry, sorry, I was held up by something." Chiya apologized while taking off his ninja boots. He had to admit, these shoes were truly subpar; while they were comfortable enough to wear, they left his toes exposed. If not for the protection of his Heavenly Steel Art, he really wouldn't have been able to get used to them.

"Forget it, as long as you're here." Uchiha Izumi prepared a pair of slippers for him. "Sit by the kotatsu for a while; I'll go heat up the food."

As she spoke, Uchiha Izumi carried the dishes from the table into the kitchen one by one.

Chiya sat by the bedding, bored, and began circulating his internal energy. He continuously released his perception to scan the surroundings, and only after confirming that no one was monitoring him did he turn his attention to the system.

"System, open my personal panel."

[Ding, Loli-con panel opening.]

[Host: Fujiwara Chiya Gender: Male Age: 11 Chakra Natures: Fire, Lightning, Earth, Yin, Yang Chakra Reserves: 30 Cal Secret Technique: Heavenly Steel Art (Reached the fourth level, comes with Body-Protecting Qi and Flash skill) Ninjutsu: Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu, Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu, Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu, Shadow Clone Jutsu, Three Basic Jutsu, Body Flicker Jutsu, Summoning Jutsu (No summoning beast yet) Genjutsu: Kyōka Suigetsu (Once the enemy has seen the initial release, it directly affects the soul without needing to interfere with chakra, manipulating the five senses and spiritual energy perception. It can also manipulate chakra sensing in the Naruto world) Taijutsu: Konoha Basic Taijutsu, Heavenly Steel Art techniques, Uchiha-style shuriken throwing, kunai throwing. Chakra Nature Transformation: Fire, Lightning, Earth Warehouse: Zanpakutō Kyōka Suigetsu, Kunai x15, Shuriken x11, various clothing, space storage scroll, substitution logs x9]

Looking at the system panel before him, Chiya was slightly stunned and murmured to himself, "When did I gain Yin and Yang chakra natures? And this massive amount of chakra—could it be because of the Heavenly Steel Art?"

Chiya stopped circulating his energy, exiting Sage Mode, and was shocked to find his chakra natures had reverted to Fire, Lightning, and Earth.

His chakra reserves also shrank back to 3 Cal, meaning that the fourth level of the Heavenly Steel Art not only increased his base chakra but also amplified it by nearly tenfold.

"It looks like in the near future, this Fujiwara fellow might just become a 'Chakra-ton' powerhouse." Thinking this, Chiya looked thoughtfully at Uchiha Izumi, who was busy in the kitchen, a hint of gravity flashing in his eyes.

Come to think of it, there was less than two years left until the Uchiha Clan Massacre, and Uchiha Shisui would soon be returning from the borders of Kirigakure.

At that time, Uchiha Shisui would surely be naive enough to reveal the abilities of his Mangekyō Sharingan to the Konoha higher-ups.

And then, he would have his eyes stolen by Danzo.

When that time came, it would be time for him to take action as well.

Winter passed and spring came, another season of blooming flowers.

Chiya was in his sixth year, and the Ninja Academy welcomed a new batch of students.

"Where the leaves of Konoha dance, fire shall burn. The firelight will illuminate the village and allow new trees to sprout. The Will of Fire shall never fade."

On the podium, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was performing his customary opening day speech, tirelessly instilling the Will of Fire into the new students.

In the sixth-grade classroom, Chiya stood by the window, looking down at everything below, feeling a secret sense of disdain.

"Illuminate the village and allow new trees to sprout," indeed.

Good grief, you burn everyone in Konoha to illuminate yourself, the Third Hokage, and let the Sarutobi clan sprout.

If he hadn't seen the Fourth Great Ninja War, where the Sarutobi clan produced an entire battalion, he might have actually believed this old geezer.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, you have already rotted; you have become a parasite that only knows how to drain the great tree that is Konoha.

"What are you looking at, Chiya-kun?" Uchiha Izumi walked to Chiya's side and looked at his deep, pitch-black pupils. She was slightly startled, and upon realizing it wasn't a Shadow Clone, she said with some surprise, "Oh, you actually came here yourself today."

"Nothing. I should come over and take a look once in a while."

Chiya smiled and shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the nine people on the playground below—Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, Akimichi Choji, Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino—before returning to his seat.

Come to think of it, if you count Hyuga Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee who enrolled last year, the Konoha Twelve are all here.

"Chiya-kun, do you have something on your mind lately? Ever since the New Year, I've felt like you've been depressed." Uchiha Izumi sat down beside Chiya, looking worried.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. I'm just lamenting how time flies. In the blink of an eye, six years have passed. Even that 'Second Pillar' who was in Uchiha Itachi's arms back then has enrolled," Chiya chuckled.

"Chiya-kun, it's impolite to give people random nicknames. I've told you so many times, his name is Sasuke, Uchiha Sasuke, not some 'Second Pillar'." Uchiha Izumi corrected him.

"Alright, Uchiha Second Pillar." Chiya smiled.

"Forget it, call him whatever you want, but don't let our clan leader hear you." Seeing the mischievous look on Chiya's face, Uchiha Izumi sighed helplessly and leaned in to whisper in his ear.

Changing the subject, she returned to their previous topic: "But Chiya-kun, if you have anything on your mind, you must tell me first, okay?"

As she said this, she held Chiya's hand with deep affection.

"I will." Chiya's gaze drifted toward the window, and he whispered in his heart: I'm sorry, Izumi. It's better if you don't know what's coming next.

At five o'clock in the afternoon, the Ninja Academy let out.

Chiya, for a rare change, did not head off to train, choosing instead to walk Uchiha Izumi home.

"Chiya-kun, it's been a long time since we walked home from school together." Uchiha Izumi quickened her pace to get in front of Chiya, placing her hands behind her back and leaning her upper body forward slightly. She walked backward while smiling at him.

"Yeah, it really has been quite a while." Chiya walked up beside Uchiha Izumi, and the two began to walk side by side. "From now on, until we graduate, I'll walk you home every day."

"Really?" Uchiha Izumi's face lit up with joy. Although she was delighted that Chiya would walk her home every day, Chiya had been acting far too strangely lately. She couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen, so she asked with a hint of worry, "But don't you need to train? Is it really okay to do this?"

"It's fine, this little bit of time won't make a difference," Chiya chuckled.

As his voice trailed off, a childish yet haughty voice rang out from behind them: "Hmph, so you've finally realized the gap between you and my brother! No matter how much you train, you'll never be able to catch up to him."