Learning Fire Style

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

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

Yu Zhihui seemed to want to stop and wait for Hyuga Gen, but Hyuga Natsu grabbed her and urged her to keep moving.

Yu Zhihui had no choice but to cast a sympathetic glance at Hyuga Gen before quickening her pace to keep up with Hyuga Natsu.

Seeing this, although Hyuga Gen felt a faint sense of joy in his heart, he had no choice but to helplessly hurry after them.

As for why this situation had arisen, it was mainly because for the past few days, Hyuga Gen had not been walking home from the Ninja Academy with Hyuga Natsu.

Of course, the primary reason was likely that Hyuga Gen hadn't clearly explained to Hyuga Natsu that he had recently been learning ninjutsu with Uchiha Izumi.

As luck would have it, Hyuga Natsu had discovered them, and at that very moment, he had been holding Izumi's hand—and thus, the secret was out.

Ever since he decided to start learning ninjutsu, Hyuga Gen had taken action. He had long since discovered his chakra affinities: Fire and Wind.

When he found out he only had two affinities, Hyuga Gen felt a bit disappointed, feeling it was far too mediocre. As a transmigrator, shouldn't he be fully equipped with all seven? Having only two felt like a disgrace to transmigrators everywhere.

What gave Hyuga Gen some comfort was that both affinities were quite good, and their offensive power was relatively strong—especially the Wind affinity, which perfectly matched his expectations.

After mastering the Ten-Pulse Divine Sword, he planned to integrate his chakra affinity into it to create a new technique; Wind Style would be a perfect fit.

Hyuga Gen had even thought of a name for this move: Wind Style—Void-Piercing Finger. Of course, the prerequisite was mastering Wind Style first.

Having Wind-affinity chakra was rare in Konoha. Hyuga Gen felt that to learn it well, finding a teacher would be faster. Wanting to be someone who stands on the shoulders of giants, the first person who came to mind was Sarutobi Asuma.

Hyuga Gen wasn't a ninja yet, so the timing to ask Sarutobi Asuma for guidance was wrong. If someone who wasn't even a ninja wanted to start learning Wind Style, he figured even a fool wouldn't pay him any mind.

Therefore, Hyuga Gen decided to learn Fire Style first and ask about Wind Style after becoming a genin. After all, his desk-mate knew Fire Style, so he could simply ask Uchiha Izumi for guidance.

Fire Style could be considered the signature ninjutsu of the Uchiha clan; almost everyone in the clan knew it. They were experts at using Fire Style.

During the Fourth Ninja World War, Uchiha Madara's Majestic Destroyer Flame, Majestic Demolisher Flame, and Dragon Flame Song Technique were truly awe-inspiring, possessing power that could swallow the world.

A single Majestic Destroyer Flame required over twenty water-style ninjas from the Allied Shinobi Forces to release a Water Wall just to barely block it, showing just how immense its power was.

The Majestic Demolisher Flame had nearly burned the Five Kage to death; if Ohnoki hadn't stepped up at the last moment to neutralize it with Dust Release, the Five Kage might have been incinerated.

However, looking at it that way, it seemed that in Shippuden, Fire Style never actually managed to kill anyone, which was admittedly a bit awkward.

But returning to the point, Fire Style ninjutsu was still very powerful. Among the five basic affinities, it had the highest offensive output. Possessing a Fire affinity, he naturally had to learn Fire Style ninjutsu.

After making his decision, Hyuga Gen immediately took action and began asking Uchiha Izumi for instruction in Fire Style.

So, for the past few days after school, Hyuga Gen had been studying Fire Style with Uchiha Izumi, and they even spent their days off together practicing. Hyuga Gen planned to study for a week, then rely on his own slow exploration afterward.

"Izumi, you're truly amazing."

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

Being able to master these two techniques before graduation was truly impressive; one had to remember that even "Number Two" only managed to perform these after becoming a genin.

"It's nothing. I'm far behind Itachi."

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

Uchiha Izumi shook her head slightly.

Hyuga Gen didn't say anything more and began learning the two techniques under Uchiha Izumi's guidance.

The Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique was quite common in the Ninja World—or rather, it was everywhere. It wasn't complex, and Hyuga Gen learned it in just one afternoon after school.

The Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique took Hyuga Gen longer to learn; it took him two afternoons after school to master it.

"I know you were holding back during the exams, but you're holding back way too much."

Learning these two techniques in three days left Uchiha Izumi feeling somewhat incredulous, knowing how long it had taken her to learn them.

"That's all thanks to Teacher Izumi's diligent guidance. A great teacher produces brilliant students, after all."

Hyuga Gen looked at Uchiha Izumi with a cheeky grin.

"Hmph, you really are a deep one."

Uchiha Izumi seemed somewhat dissatisfied with Hyuga Gen's habit of hiding his true strength.

Of course, this was mainly because Hyuga Gen had no eye-catching performances at the Ninja Academy, always maintaining a position in the upper-middle tier during exams—neither too good nor too bad, just right.

But judging by his performance in learning ninjutsu these past few days, Hyuga Gen's talent and comprehension were undoubtedly extremely high. She couldn't understand why he always performed so mediocrely in school exams.

"Are there any other Fire Style techniques?"

After finishing these two techniques, Hyuga Gen looked at Uchiha Izumi with anticipation.

Seeing this expression, for some reason, Uchiha Izumi felt a sudden urge to punch him, though she held it back.

"N-no, there aren't."

Uchiha Izumi replied with a hint of hesitation.

There's a chance.

Hyuga Gen's eyes lit up. He had only meant to test the waters, but he hadn't expected there to actually be more. For the sake of ninjutsu, he decided to go all out.

"Teacher Izumi, I know you have other Fire Style techniques. Please, just teach me, pretty please!"

Hyuga Gen tugged slightly on the corner of Uchiha Izumi's sleeve, acting spoiled.

Uchiha Izumi stared at Hyuga Gen with an expression as if she had seen a ghost; she could hardly believe her own eyes, suspecting she was caught in a dream.

She hurriedly pinched herself. "Sss~," it stung—this was no dream.

Seeing Uchiha Izumi's dazed expression, Hyuga Gen couldn't help but smile. This was exactly the effect he wanted; while such a thing might not be uncommon in that other world, in this one, it was akin to a meteor colliding with the earth.

Coupled with the naturally stern reputation of the Hyuga clan, this contrast was incredibly effective. Hyuga Gen didn't believe Uchiha Izumi could resist it.

"Won't you, Izumi-sensei?"

Hyuga Gen stoked the flames further. Uchiha Izumi snapped out of her trance and hurriedly took a step back, looking at Hyuga Gen with a face full of alarm.

Uchiha Izumi was a great beauty, the class flower of their cohort, and seeing her make such an expression was quite amusing.

In the end, Uchiha Izumi predictably gave in and taught Hyuga Gen the Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Technique. However, since she hadn't mastered the jutsu herself, she could only pass on the hand seals and a few techniques to him.

When she saw a tiny fire dragon, only about a foot long, puff out from Uchiha Izumi's mouth, Hyuga Gen fought hard to suppress his laughter. This was something he had repeatedly requested, but if he laughed now, he figured the next Great Fireball would be aimed directly at his face.

Courtesy demands reciprocity, so Hyuga Gen decided to teach Uchiha Izumi the Rasengan. Thus, for the next few days and the weekend, he spent his time teaching her how to learn the Rasengan.

He had spent the entire week practicing with Uchiha Izumi, and they had even been awkwardly caught by Hyuga Natsu, which led to the scene at the beginning.

Of course, what Hyuga Gen didn't notice was that while he and Uchiha Izumi were learning ninjutsu together, someone else was watching it all quietly from afar.