Learning Fire Release

"Natsu, why are you walking so fast? Wait for me!"

"Zhihui, let's hurry. Ignore him."

Yu Zhihui seemed about to stop and wait for Hyuga Gen, but Hyuga Natsu grabbed her and urged her to hurry along.

Yu Zhihui could only give Hyuga Gen a sympathetic look before following Hyuga Natsu, picking up her pace as they went.

Seeing this, Hyuga Gen felt a faint surge of happiness, but he could only hurry after them in resignation.

The main reason things had turned out this way was that Hyuga Gen hadn't walked home with Hyuga Natsu after school for a while.

Of course, the most important reason was probably that Hyuga Gen hadn't explained to Hyuga Natsu that he'd recently been learning ninjutsu with Uchiha Izumi.

As luck would have it, Hyuga Natsu had discovered them, and at the time, his hand had been supporting Izumi's. Then the secret was out.

After deciding to start learning ninjutsu, Hyuga Gen had taken action. He'd known his chakra affinities for a long time: Fire and Wind.

When he found out that Fire and Wind were his only two affinities, Hyuga Gen felt a little disappointed. It seemed too ordinary. As a transmigrator, shouldn't he have come with all seven chakra natures? But he'd ended up with only two. It was downright embarrassing for a transmigrator.

What comforted Hyuga Gen a little was that both affinities were pretty good, with considerable offensive power. Wind, in particular, suited his expectations.

After learning the Ten-Pulse Divine Sword, he planned to incorporate chakra natures into it and create a new move. Wind Release would pair perfectly with it.

Hyuga Gen had even thought of a name for the move: Wind Release: Void-Piercing Finger. Of course, that was only if he could master Wind Release first.

There weren't many people in Konoha with Wind Release chakra. Hyuga Gen figured he'd learn faster with a teacher, and if he wanted to stand on the shoulders of giants, the first person who came to mind was Sarutobi Asuma.

Hyuga Gen wasn't a ninja yet, so asking Sarutobi Asuma for help now would be bad timing. A guy who wasn't even a ninja wanting to learn Wind Release? Probably not even a fool would take him seriously.

So Hyuga Gen decided to learn Fire Release first, then ask for help with Wind Release once he became a Genin. His desk mate already knew Fire Release, so he could simply ask Uchiha Izumi to teach him.

Fire Release could be considered the Uchiha Clan's signature ninjutsu. Almost every member of the Uchiha Clan knew Fire Release, and they were experts at using it.

During the Fourth Shinobi World War, Uchiha Madara's Majestic Destroyer Flame, Majestic Demolisher Flame, and Dragon Flame Song Technique had been awe-inspiring, their might sweeping across the land.

It had taken more than twenty Allied Shinobi Forces Water Release users casting Water Formation Wall together just to barely stop one Majestic Destroyer Flame. That showed just how powerful it was.

Majestic Demolisher Flame had nearly burned the Five Kage alive. If Ohnoki hadn't stepped up at the last moment and neutralized it with Dust Release, the Five Kage might have been burned to death.

Still, looking back, it seemed Fire Release really hadn't killed anyone in Shippuden. That was rather awkward.

But getting back on track, Fire Release ninjutsu was still very powerful. Of the five basic chakra natures, it had the greatest offensive power. Since he had a Fire affinity, Hyuga Gen naturally had to learn Fire Release.

Once he'd made up his mind, Hyuga Gen got right to it and asked Uchiha Izumi to teach him Fire Release ninjutsu.

So, after school each day for the next few days, Hyuga Gen studied Fire Release with Uchiha Izumi. They spent their days off studying together, too. He planned to study for a week, then figure out the rest on his own.

"Izumi, you're really impressive."

Watching Uchiha Izumi effortlessly perform the Great Fireball and Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, Hyuga Gen praised her sincerely.

It was impressive to learn those two techniques before graduating. Even Sasuke had only managed to perform them after becoming a Genin.

"Not really. I'm nowhere near Itachi."

"Do you know what Itachi's been up to? I haven't seen him around lately."

Uchiha Izumi shook her head slightly.

Hyuga Gen said no more and began learning the two techniques under Uchiha Izumi's guidance.

The Great Fireball Technique was quite common in the Ninja World—or, rather, it was practically everywhere. It wasn't complicated, and Hyuga Gen learned it in a single after-school session.

The Phoenix Sage Fire Technique took him longer to learn than the Great Fireball. It took two after-school sessions.

"I know you held back during the exam, but you held back way too much."

Learning both techniques in three days left Uchiha Izumi finding it hard to believe. She'd spent ages learning them herself.

"That's all thanks to Teacher Izumi's careful guidance. A great teacher produces great students."

Hyuga Gen grinned at Uchiha Izumi.

"Hmph. You really hid your abilities well."

Uchiha Izumi seemed a little unhappy that Hyuga Gen had been hiding his talent.

Of course, the main reason was that Hyuga Gen had never stood out at the Ninja Academy. He always scored somewhere above average on exams—not too good, not too bad, just right.

But judging from how he'd learned ninjutsu over the past few days, Hyuga Gen clearly had exceptional talent and comprehension. She couldn't understand why he always performed so ordinarily on school exams.

"Are there any other Fire Release techniques?"

After learning the two techniques, Hyuga Gen looked at Uchiha Izumi expectantly.

For some reason, seeing that expression on Hyuga Gen's face made Uchiha Izumi want to hit him. But she held back.

"N-no, there aren't."

Uchiha Izumi answered with some hesitation.

"Bingo."

Hyuga Gen's eyes lit up. He'd only been testing her, but it seemed she really did know another technique. For the sake of learning ninjutsu, he was ready to give it his all.

"Teacher Izumi, I knew you had other Fire Release techniques! Please teach me, won't you?"

Hyuga Gen gently tugged at Uchiha Izumi's sleeve and started pleading.

Uchiha Izumi stared at Hyuga Gen as if she'd seen a ghost. She could hardly believe her eyes and wondered if she was dreaming.

She quickly pinched herself. "Ow!" That hurt. She wasn't dreaming.

Seeing Uchiha Izumi's dazed expression, Hyuga Gen couldn't help laughing. This was exactly the reaction he'd wanted. It might not have been unusual in his old world, but in this world, it was like a meteor crashing into Earth.

And with the Hyuga Clan already seeming so serious, the contrast was adorable. Hyuga Gen was sure Uchiha Izumi wouldn't be able to resist.

"Please, Teacher Izumi?"

Hyuga Gen pressed his advantage. Uchiha Izumi came out of her daze, hurriedly took a step back, and stared at him in alarm.

Uchiha Izumi was already a great beauty, the class belle. Seeing her make that expression was quite amusing.

In the end, Uchiha Izumi gave in and taught Hyuga Gen the Great Fire Dragon Technique. She hadn't mastered the technique herself, though, so she only told him the hand seals and a few tips.

When he saw a little fire dragon, about a foot long, shoot from Uchiha Izumi's mouth, Hyuga Gen fought to keep from laughing. He'd been the one to ask again and again, and if he laughed now, the next Great Fireball would probably be spat straight into his face.

Fair is fair. Hyuga Gen decided to teach Uchiha Izumi the Rasengan, so for the next few days and over the weekend, he spent his time teaching her how to learn it.

He'd spent the whole week practicing with Uchiha Izumi, and Hyuga Natsu had awkwardly caught them together. That was how the scene at the beginning had come about.

What Hyuga Gen hadn't noticed was that while he and Uchiha Izumi were studying ninjutsu together, someone else had been quietly watching them from a distance.