The Second Otsutsuki Indra

Having hit the jackpot, Izayoi did not rush to experience the changes brought by the Sage Eye.

He first sorted out his thoughts and focused on treating Sasuke Uchiha.

Seeing Sasuke Uchiha's slightly dark eye sockets, evidence that he had surely been having a terrible time these past few days, Izayoi's gaze held a trace of pity.

The world of Naruto did not lack orphans with tragic fates, but Izayoi could only recall two who had first known the happiness of a family, only to lose everything afterward.

One was Nagato, and the other was Sasuke Uchiha.

But compared to Nagato, who had Yahiko, Konan, and Jiraiya, Sasuke Uchiha, whose life had been arranged by Itachi Uchiha, was undoubtedly even more miserable.

From beginning to end, he had either walked the path of revenge, or, after learning the truth and barely beginning to form thoughts of revolution, been immediately suppressed by the only companion he acknowledged.

Afterward, to atone for his sins, he constantly gathered intelligence on the Otsutsuki Clan throughout the Ninja World, going years without returning home even once.

If Izayoi did not change Sasuke Uchiha's fate, then Sasuke Uchiha would suffer even more than he did in the original story.

After all, before graduation in the original story, Sasuke Uchiha had been the school's most popular top student.

But now, Izayoi was the top student, Hinata was second, and Sasuke could only compete for third place.

After graduation, he would also suffer setback after setback, watching with his own eyes as Naruto Uzumaki, the dead last, surpassed him at lightning speed.

Should I give him a hand?

Izayoi wondered to himself.

At that moment, Sasuke Uchiha, who had been knocked unconscious, also woke up.

Looking at Sasuke Uchiha's bloodshot eyes, Izayoi made up his mind and said, "Your condition is too poor right now. Go back and rest for a while. Come find me again once you've fully recovered."

Sasuke Uchiha said nothing. He sat up and looked at his healed chest, where only a small scar remained.

The battle from moments ago involuntarily replayed in his mind.

Whether in taijutsu sparring or ninjutsu, he had been completely outmatched by Izayoi.

Those seamless attacks, along with the stable lower body that supported such attack speed, were simply on an entirely different level.

And judging from this scar, as well as the green light he had seen when opening his eyes, it seemed that Izayoi had also mastered medical ninjutsu.

Thinking of all this, Sasuke Uchiha suddenly felt a wave of frustration.

"I lost."

Sasuke Uchiha was not someone who could not accept defeat.

Just like Naruto Uzumaki, he did not dislike Izayoi.

Although it had been an unrestricted match, suddenly using ninjutsu as he had just done was extremely dangerous.

Therefore, Sasuke Uchiha readily admitted his defeat.

"I only won by luck."

Izayoi patted Sasuke Uchiha on the shoulder and sincerely praised him. "You're pretty amazing too. I thought I was the only one in class who had mastered the Five Elements Release. I didn't expect you could use it too. As expected of a genius of the Uchiha Clan."

After saying that, Izayoi stood up and extended a hand to Sasuke Uchiha. "I had the advantage today. Let's fight again next time."

Looking at Izayoi, who showed no pride whatsoever and even praised him instead, Sasuke Uchiha suddenly felt a warm current surge through his heart.

Having received recognition, he finally showed his first smile since waking up. He reached out, grasped Izayoi's hand, and smiled. "I won't lose next time!"

Pulling Sasuke Uchiha to his feet, Izayoi held out his index and middle fingers toward him. "Then train hard. I'm very strong."

"Just wait and see!"

Filled with fighting spirit, Sasuke Uchiha formed the Seal of Reconciliation with Izayoi.

This scene was also reflected in a transparent crystal ball.

Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi, smoking from his pipe, could not help but reveal a gratified smile. "The newborn leaves have begun to sprout."

At this time, Sasuke Uchiha was at his most vulnerable.

To prevent him from taking his own life, to fulfill his promise to Itachi Uchiha to take good care of Sasuke Uchiha, and to allow Itachi Uchiha to work as a spy without worry, Hiruzen Sarutobi would never simply ignore Sasuke Uchiha.

The Anbu had long been secretly watching Sasuke Uchiha from places he could not see.

The moment the two left the Ninja Academy for the abandoned Training Grounds, word had reached Hiruzen Sarutobi's ears.

Fortunately, Izayoi had not muttered to himself just now. Even when he had stared in shock, he had kept his head lowered and had not acted exaggeratedly or strangely.

Otherwise, what awaited him might have been the Yamanaka Clan's Mind Reading Technique.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was no stranger to Izayoi.

This generation of newborns was exceptionally special. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the heirs of the major ninja clans were all in the same class.

Izayoi, who had suppressed them all to become the top student, had long since caught Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention.

Over the past year of observation, he had also discovered that Izayoi had long mastered the Shadow Clone Technique and Low-Level Wind Release, and often trained at the abandoned Training Grounds with the Young Lady of the Hyuga Clan's Main House.

Every era had its outstanding civilian geniuses.

Like Orochimaru, like Minato Namikaze, like the unknown Yakushi Kabuto...

Even Kakashi Hatake counted as a common-born genius, since he lacked a Kekkei Genkai.

Compared to these common-born geniuses, Izayoi was nothing special—he could not even be considered the best.

Even so, such talent was enough to warrant focused training.

If properly nurtured, he would at least become a versatile Jonin in the future.

If he mastered a Forbidden Technique, he might even become an Elite Jonin and a trump-card combatant.

That was why Izayoi had long been on Hiruzen Sarutobi's watchlist.

After parting ways with Sasuke Uchiha, Izayoi summoned the Light Screen, visible only to himself, as he headed home.

At that moment, the first entry in his perk list, Otsutsuki Bloodline (Red), was no longer followed by the golden Super Kage Aptitude, but Sage Eye (Red).

The appearance of this perk had not yet brought any obvious changes to Izayoi.

However, Izayoi was certain that some unknown change was taking place within his body.

Sage Eye was different from the true Sage Eye—the Rinnegan. It was Otsutsuki Indra's exclusive perk, inherited from the Sage of Six Paths' Yin Release Chakra and spiritual energy, representing the ultimate power of Yin.

Moreover, this perk was not Indra Chakra. That meant the ultimate Yin power Izayoi had obtained was not power containing Indra's will, but pure Yin power separated from Hagoromo Otsutsuki himself.

Reincarnations still needed to gain recognition, or gradually unearth this power through growth and talent.

But Izayoi did not need to. Like Otsutsuki Indra, his strength would rapidly grow.

Over the next few years, Izayoi's spiritual energy and Yin Release Chakra would both surge explosively.

I should count as the second Otsutsuki Indra now, shouldn't I?

Izayoi chuckled inwardly.

If he could see Otsutsuki Indra's Talent Perks, Izayoi was certain that Indra would not possess an Uchiha bloodline, but a high-level Otsutsuki Bloodline.

It was precisely this bloodline that gave him a constitution capable of possessing limitless Eye Power without needing to transplant eyes.

Thinking of how he too could use Five Elements Release without Hand Seals, Izayoi did not need to guess that Otsutsuki Indra's Otsutsuki Bloodline had certainly been Red-tier as well.

As for anything above Red, that should have been impossible.

Otherwise, the reincarnations of Indra Chakra would not need Yin-Yang Release to awaken the Rinnegan. Like Hagoromo Otsutsuki, they could have directly evolved their Sharingan into the Rinnegan.

The current Izayoi was equivalent to a second Otsutsuki Indra.

Only by raising his Otsutsuki Bloodline to a higher level could he become a second Hagoromo Otsutsuki or Hamura Otsutsuki.