Izayoi's Strength, His First C-Rank Mission

Since it had evolved from his own eyes, the ability Izayoi's Tenseigan awakened during its First Fetal Movement was not only different from Otsutsuki Toneri's, but its power was also incredibly stable.

Even if his body suffered severe damage, Tenseigan's Power would not disappear.

Only when his Chakra and Eye Power were exhausted would his Tenseigan regress back into the Byakugan.

After the Byakugan evolved into the Tenseigan, his eyes continued absorbing the Chakra secreted by his brain, as though storing energy.

Once that energy was fully charged, the Second Fetal Movement would arrive.

Just as the Byakugan had absorbed Chakra for two years before evolving into the Tenseigan, Izayoi had a feeling that his Second Fetal Movement might take some time to arrive.

Still, Izayoi was already very satisfied to have awakened the Tenseigan now.

At twelve, he was still in his early years, with childhood only just coming to an end.

He would not enter his growth phase until fifteen.

By that age, girls would be completely unable to compare to boys.

Even if Izayoi did nothing, once his body entered its growth phase at fifteen, his potential would rapidly be realized, just like Otsutsuki Toneri on the moon.

By nineteen, even without any combat experience, all he needed was to transplant a pair of exceptionally pure Byakugan to gain mastery over the power of other dimensions.

If even Otsutsuki Toneri, who possessed only one Red Perk, could achieve that much, there was even less need to mention Izayoi, who possessed several Red Perks.

Awakening the Tenseigan at twelve was the best proof that he was practically cheating.

"Izayoi, are you the Main Body now?"

Having safely passed through the First Fetal Movement phase, Izayoi finally returned to the squad.

The moment he came back, Shino Aburame immediately noticed the changes in his insects. His gaze at Izayoi was full of shock.

The insects... were afraid!

Had Izayoi become this much stronger after only half a month apart?

Just what kind of ninjutsu had he been developing?

"Yeah, my ninjutsu is complete now, so I came back." Izayoi nodded with a smile.

"What ninjutsu have you been training?"

Since Shino Aburame wore Sunglasses and had his collar pulled up so high, Red Yuhi had not seen the change in his expression. She was merely curious about what kind of ninjutsu Izayoi had been training during this time.

"Secrets make men more charming."

Izayoi still raised his index finger to his lips, keeping them in suspense. "When the chance comes, Teacher Red, you'll get to see it. I guarantee it'll make your jaws drop."

"Izayoi, has anyone ever told you that you have a very punchable face?" A large vein popped up on Red Yuhi's forehead.

Izayoi turned to Hinata and asked, "Hinata, do I have a punchable face?"

"No." Hinata honestly shook her head.

"Are you two really not a couple?" Red Yuhi voiced the same complaint as their academy classmates.

Izayoi merely smiled without answering, while Hinata's cheeks flushed red.

After that little interlude, Eighth Squad continued carrying out D-Rank Missions.

Sometimes they completed one a day, sometimes two or three a day, and sometimes they took several days off before resuming missions.

Whether it was cleaning up trash, helping villagers care for children, handling crops, or anything else... Eighth Squad completed every task excellently and received unanimous praise from their clients.

During this time, Red Yuhi also wanted to teach her genjutsu to Eighth Squad.

However, Hinata and Shino Aburame both refused. They only wanted to train their Clan Secret Techniques.

Izayoi refused as well.

If he had not yet completed his First Fetal Movement, Izayoi would have been willing to accept the favor.

Although his Status Panel was extremely impressive, and several Red Perks looked quite intimidating, in reality, before awakening the Tenseigan, Izayoi had spent the past few years improving only his perception and healing. Those Red Perks had not significantly increased his combat strength.

Without Super Hurricane Combination Sphere and the Ultimate Technique he was still perfecting, Izayoi's only offensive methods were the Low-Level Wind Release left behind by Father and several Fire Release ninjutsu from the Uchiha Clan.

With the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and those ninjutsu, Izayoi feared no Jonin.

As long as he completed that Ultimate Technique, he would become an Elite Jonin capable of threatening a Kage, just like Kakashi Hatake.

Izayoi's previous strength had been on par with a Jonin.

Now that he had awakened the Tenseigan and possessed the two great abilities of Gravity and Repulsion, Izayoi was now like Deva Path Pain without Planetary Devastation, on par with a Kage-level Expert.

He no longer lacked offensive, defensive, or support abilities.

There was no need for him to accept Red Yuhi's favor.

So, just like in the original story, Red Yuhi merely served as a guide, teaching Eighth Squad how to become qualified ninjas.

And so, time came to May 1st.

That morning, Eighth Squad gathered at Old Place as usual.

"Your performance last month was very good. Not a single mission received a bad review."

As soon as Red Yuhi arrived, she brought Eighth Squad some good news. "As a reward, I'm taking you to claim a higher-ranking mission today."

Hinata's expression immediately lit up at the news.

If Shino Aburame took off his Sunglasses, they would have seen his eyes brighten slightly as well, while the corners of his mouth beneath his collar curved upward faintly.

"Is it a C-Rank Mission?" Izayoi asked despite already knowing the answer.

"Yes."

Red Yuhi nodded. "Genin can generally only carry out D-Rank Missions. Only experienced Genin, or Genin led by a Guidance Jonin, can take on C-Rank Missions."

"Unlike D-Rank Missions, which are merely odd jobs, most C-Rank Missions require leaving the village. You may encounter unknown enemies, and there is a risk to your lives."

"Normally, you only graduated a little over a month ago and are not yet qualified to carry out C-Rank Missions. But considering your excellent performance during this period, I'll reward you."

"Let's go. To the Hokage Building."

Red Yuhi led the expectant Eighth Squad to the Hokage Office in the Hokage Building.

"You want to take on a C-Rank Mission?"

Holding a pipe and puffing out clouds of smoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi studied Izayoi and Hinata, who stood head and shoulders above others their age, his gaze turning slightly dazed.

Had those two chubby-cheeked children really grown this much already?

Then he recalled the scene of Izayoi fighting Sasuke Uchiha. Even after the latter had awakened the Sharingan, he had been completely suppressed. Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "Very well. Although your Eighth Squad has only been formed for a little over a month, every mission has received praise from the client. Since even your Guidance Jonin believes you are qualified, I'll arrange a C-Rank Mission for you."

After speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi took out a large scroll from beneath his desk.

Opening the scroll, Hiruzen Sarutobi lightly ran his finger across its surface before quickly stopping.

"Your sensory abilities are quite good. There's a mission here that suits you very well."

Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke and said slowly, "Recently, a Mining Convoy came to Hidden Leaf Village to do business. They are afraid of being robbed by Bandits and Rogue Ninja on their way back, so they have commissioned Hidden Leaf Village to escort them back to the Land of Rivers."

"I'll leave this mission to you. Any problems?" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Red Yuhi.

"No."

Red Yuhi nodded respectfully.

Izayoi and the other two said nothing.

Chakra flared around Hiruzen Sarutobi's fingers as he pressed them against the scroll.

With a poof, a small cloud of smoke dispersed.

A scroll small enough to fit in one hand appeared in Hiruzen Sarutobi's grasp.

Hiruzen Sarutobi tossed the scroll to Red Yuhi. "The client's information is on there. Go discuss the details with him."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Red Yuhi responded respectfully once more.

Then she led Eighth Squad out of the Hokage Office.

From beginning to end, Hiruzen Sarutobi had not spoken directly to Eighth Squad, and none of them was as rash as Naruto Uzumaki.

After leaving the Hokage Building, Red Yuhi opened the scroll and led Eighth Squad to the front of an inn.

"Wait here. I'll go negotiate with the client."

After leaving those words behind, Red Yuhi walked to a carriage parked outside the inn and spoke with the person guarding it.

Before long, that person led Red Yuhi into the inn.

A closer look revealed that a flag hung from the carriage, bearing the character for iron.

Since their destination was the Land of Rivers, this iron had nothing to do with the Land of Iron.

Mining Convoy... it probably referred to iron ore.

Izayoi vaguely remembered reading that the Land of Rivers had a complicated terrain, with mountains and forests covering its territory. Its citizens seemed to live on the mountains or at their foothills, and its villages were also known as mountain villages.

The three of them analyzed it inwardly.