By the time Chiya reached Uchiha Izumi's house, it was already completely dark.
"Chiya, you're late." The moment Chiya stepped inside, Uchiha Izumi came to greet him. Like a devoted wife, she brushed the snow from his clothes and took off his scarf and coat.
"Sorry, sorry. Something came up." Chiya apologized as he took off his ninja sandals. He had to admit, they weren't very good. They were comfortable enough, but left his toes exposed. If not for the protection of the Heavenly Steel Art, he probably wouldn't have gotten used to wearing them.
"It's all right. You're here now." Uchiha Izumi brought Chiya a pair of slippers. "Sit by the kotatsu for a while. I'll go warm up the food."
As she spoke, Uchiha Izumi carried the dishes from the table into the kitchen one by one.
Chiya, meanwhile, sat beside the kotatsu with nothing to do. He activated his technique and kept releasing his sensory power, checking the area around him. Only after confirming that no one was watching him did he turn his attention to the system.
"System, open my status panel."
[Ding! Opening the Lolicon Panel.] [Host: Fujiwara Chiya Gender: Male Age: 11 Chakra Natures: Fire, Lightning, Earth, Yin, Yang Chakra Amount: 30 cards Secret Technique: Heavenly Steel Art (at the fourth level; includes Body Protection Qi and Flash Step) Ninjutsu: Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique, Shadow Clone Technique, Transformation Technique, Body Flicker Technique, Summoning Technique (no summoned beasts yet) Genjutsu: Kyoka Suigetsu (An enemy need only see its initial release once. It requires no disruption of chakra and can directly affect the soul, controlling the five senses, spiritual perception, and more. It can also control chakra sensing in the Naruto world.) Taijutsu: Konoha Basic Taijutsu, moves included with the Heavenly Steel Art, Uchiha Style Shurikenjutsu, Kunai Throwing. Chakra Nature Transformations: Fire, Lightning, Earth Inventory: Zanpakuto Kyoka Suigetsu, Kunai ×15, shuriken ×11, assorted clothing, Space Storage Scroll, Substitution Logs ×9 ]
Looking at the system panel before him, Chiya paused, then murmured to himself, "When did I get Yin and Yang Release Chakra? And that enormous amount of chakra—could it be because of the Heavenly Steel Art?"
Chiya stopped circulating his technique and exited Sage Mode. Sure enough, his chakra natures had reverted to Fire, Lightning, and Earth.
His chakra amount had also dropped to three cards. In other words, the fourth level of the Heavenly Steel Art had increased his base chakra by a certain amount while also giving him nearly ten times that much extra chakra.
Looks like before long, I'll be a chakra tank too. Thinking this, Chiya looked thoughtfully at Uchiha Izumi, busy in the kitchen, his eyes passing over her with a hint of gravity.
Come to think of it, less than two years remained until the Uchiha Clan Massacre, and Uchiha Shisui would soon be returning from the border with Kirigakure.
When the time came, Uchiha Shisui would surely be naive enough to reveal the ability of his Mangekyo Sharingan to the Konoha High Command.
Then Danzo would take his eye.
That would be the time for him to act.
Winter turned to spring, and another season of warm, blooming flowers arrived.
Chiya was in his sixth year, and the Ninja Academy welcomed a new class of students.
"Wherever the leaves dance, fire will continue to burn. The fire will illuminate the village and help new trees sprout. The Will of Fire will never die."
As usual, on the first day of the new school year, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the podium and tirelessly instilled the Will of Fire in the new students through a speech.
In the sixth-year classroom, Chiya stood by the window, looking down at everything below and inwardly sneering.
Illuminate the village and help new trees sprout, huh?
This old guy burned the whole village to illuminate himself, the Third Hokage, and help the Sarutobi Clan sprout.
If he hadn't seen the Fourth Shinobi World War, where the Sarutobi Clan had produced an entire battalion, he might actually have believed the old geezer.
Hiruzen Sarutobi. You've grown rotten, reduced to a parasite that does nothing but leech off Konoha, that great tree.
"What are you looking at, Chiya?" Uchiha Izumi walked up beside him. She looked into his deep, dark eyes and paused. When she realized it wasn't a Shadow Clone, she asked in surprise, "Oh? You actually came in person today."
"Nothing. I thought I'd stop by and take a look for once."
Chiya smiled and shook his head. His gaze swept over the nine students on the playground—Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, Akimichi Choji, Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino—then he returned to his seat.
Come to think of it, with Hyuga Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee having enrolled last year, all of the Konoha 12 were here now.
"Chiya, has something been bothering you lately? Ever since the New Year, you've seemed down," Uchiha Izumi said as she sat beside him, looking concerned.
"Don't worry, nothing's wrong. I'm just marveling at how quickly time flies. Six years have passed in the blink of an eye. Even that little guy in Uchiha Itachi's arms back then has started school." Chiya smiled.
"Chiya, giving people random nicknames is rude, you know. How many times have I told you? His name is Sasuke, Uchiha Sasuke, not 'Second Pillar.'" Uchiha Izumi corrected him.
"Sure, Uchiha Second Pillar." Chiya grinned.
"Fine, call him whatever you want. Just make sure our clan head doesn't hear you." Seeing the mischievous look on Chiya's face, Uchiha Izumi sighed helplessly, then leaned close to his ear and whispered.
She changed the subject, returning to what she'd said before. "But Chiya, if anything's bothering you, you have to tell me right away, okay?"
As she spoke, she clasped Chiya's hand, her eyes full of affection.
"I will." Chiya's gaze drifted out the window as he murmured inwardly, I'm sorry, Izumi. It's better if you don't know what's coming.
At five in the afternoon, classes at the Ninja Academy ended.
Unusually, Chiya didn't go to train. Instead, he chose to walk Uchiha Izumi home.
"Chiya, it's been a long time since we walked home from school together." Uchiha Izumi hurried ahead of him, her hands resting behind her waist. Leaning forward slightly, she walked backward with a smile.
"Yeah, it really has." Chiya came up beside Uchiha Izumi, and they walked shoulder to shoulder. "From now until graduation, I'll walk you home every day."
"Really?" Uchiha Izumi's face lit up. She was delighted that Chiya would walk her home every day, but he'd been acting so strangely lately that she couldn't shake the feeling something bad was going to happen. She asked worriedly, "But don't you need to train? Are you sure that's okay?"
"It's fine. It won't make much difference." Chiya smiled.
As soon as he finished speaking, a young, haughty voice rang out behind them. "Hmph! You've finally realized how far you are from my brother, haven't you? No matter how hard you train, you'll never catch up to him."
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