"Wow… I didn't realize Itachi was that amazing—he actually mastered both the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God and the Fourth's Rasengan!"
Uchiha Izumi clung tightly to Itachi's hand, reluctant to ever let go.
At that moment, she felt that her life had already been fulfilled.
Even if she never did another thing…
The knowledge Itachi had shared would benefit her for the rest of her days.
Thanks to the bond formed by her Mangekyō Sharingan ability, Ōkuninushi-no-Mikoto, and the red string that linked them, Izumi mastered techniques in the blink of an eye that others couldn't learn in a lifetime.
Wind nature transformation, Wind Release, Sound Release, Talk no Jutsu, Fire nature transformation, Blaze Release, Rasengan, Flying Thunder God, Water Release, Shadow Clone Jutsu—the list went on. She wielded them effortlessly, instinctively, as though she had trained for decades.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for mastering Wind Release: Sound Release. Transmission to partner successful. Reward: Heavenly Demon Zither!]
[Heavenly Demon Zither – A legendary instrument from the film Six-Fingered Demon. A deadly guqin capable of producing powerful shockwave attacks through music. Coveted by warriors throughout the world for its mysterious might.]
[A song that breaks the heart; where in the world can one find a soulmate?]
"Konoha within, the Sound Village beyond… the Sound-Soul Duo returns to the shinobi world!" Itachi declared. "Izumi, from now on I'll be Heaven's Cripple and you'll be Earth's Defect. These shall be the names we walk the shinobi world under."
"Alright," Izumi answered sweetly.
"The Sound-Soul Duo… Heaven's Cripple and Earth's Defect."
...
Hyūga Clan Compound.
Hyūga Hiashi reviewed the latest intelligence scrolls.
One rises, and those around him soar.
The Aburame Clan's insects were being bought in bulk by the Uchiha. Rumor had it the Second and Fourth Hokage's research notes were being used to develop a fusion of insect abilities and ninja technology.
In the near future, Aburame insects might be equipped with nano-scale surveillance capabilities. If so, the entire Hidden Leaf—maybe even the entire shinobi world—would tremble under their constant watch.
The Inuzuka Clan, meanwhile, had found themselves swamped with requests for guide dogs, pet dogs, and all kinds of trained canines. Thanks to the Uchiha's adorable little dog mascot helping promote their brand, they had won over children and girls all across the village. A dog-raising boom had swept through Konoha.
Even the Konoha Police Force had begun incorporating Inuzuka ninja dogs into their operations.
Word was, once the daimyo stepped down and the Uchiha rose to power, business for both clans would only get better.
Backed by the Uchiha's promise, Hyūga Hiashi had already issued an order: the Caged Bird Seal would no longer be used within the clan. Anyone who dared steal a Byakugan would be hunted down—no matter how far they fled.
The announcement triggered a wave of celebration among the branch families. Hiashi's prestige had never been higher.
"Pour another drink! No, make it two!"
"Was all this coincidence… or part of the Uchiha's plan?" Hiashi muttered, staring at the scrolls in his hands.
The attack on Konoha by the Land of Fire's rogue factions had inflicted heavy losses on the Koharu and Mitokado clans—but most others escaped unharmed.
Hiashi recalled something Uchiha Fugaku had once said, and a chill crept up his spine.
Did Fugaku somehow predict all this?
How else could his judgment have been so precise?
He picked up another scroll.
Clan Head Uchiha Itachi has invited the Sound-Soul Duo, Heaven's Cripple and Earth's Defect, who recently arrived from the Land of Wind, to join the Konoha Police Force. The duo declined.
However, they agreed to serve as guest instructors at the Konoha Ninja Academy on a part-time basis.
Their condition: Konoha must support the establishment of a Sound Village in the Land of Rice Fields, where they intend to teach Sound Release.
"The Land of Wind… Heaven's Cripple and Earth's Defect?" Hiashi frowned. "Why does that sound familiar?"
"Oh right—Fugaku once said:
Land of Grass: The War God returns!
Land of Wind:Heaven's Cripple and Earth's Defect.
Land of Water: The Dragon King arrives!
Land of Earth: Iron-Boned Sovereign.
Land of Lightning: Lord of Thunder and Lightning!
Land of Fire:The Evil Fire Cloud God!
'The War God returns' likely refers to the Fourth Hokage and his wife storming the Land of Grass like divine warriors—obliterating resistance and bringing the Uzumaki Clan back into the fold.
Now that Heaven Cripple and Earth Scar have appeared in the Land of Wind… does that mean they'll destroy it next?
But the intel says they're passing through the Land of Fire to settle in the Land of Rice Fields.
Does that mean they're planning to build a village to counter Sunagakure?"
"But the Land of Wind and the Land of Rice Fields are worlds apart… how would they even launch an offensive?"
Hiashi couldn't wrap his head around it.
As he mulled it over, a voice called respectfully from outside.
"Clan Head, it's nearly time to depart for the Land of Fire. Who shall we send to escort the prisoners?"
"Who's leading for the Uchiha? And the other clans?" Hiashi asked.
"Uchiha: Itachi and Izumi.
Inuzuka: Hana and Tsume.
Aburame: Torune and Ryoma."
"Torune? That kid just joined the Academy, didn't he? And Ryoma—wasn't he a Jōnin from Root? He's still alive?" Hiashi was surprised.
"Torune was specifically requested by Itachi. As for Ryoma, the Aburame Clan sided with the Uchiha from the beginning. He didn't take part in the Root and Anbu civil war, so he survived."
"I see…" Hiashi stroked his chin.
"Very well. From the Hyūga Clan, send Hinata and Neji. Have Hiemon, Takashi, and Iroha accompany them as Jōnin escorts."
"Yes, sir!"
...
At Konoha's village gate…
Uchiha Itachi and the rest were already assembled, waiting.
Once Kazuma, Sora, Chiriku, Kitane, and the monks and samurai of the Fire Temple were sealed, their hands bound, the group prepared to move out.
Kazuma glanced at the escort team: Itachi, Izumi, Hyūga Hinata, Hyūga Neji, Aburame Torune, Uchiha Sasuke, and Naruto Uzumaki. His expression darkened.
Is Konoha looking down on us?
They sent a bunch of brats to guard us? Aren't they afraid we'll revolt on the spot?
"Lady Hinata, please stay close to me. If danger arises, I'll cover your escape."
Neji's face was serious, his tone respectful.
He had once looked at Hinata with nothing but disdain, but after seeing his father resurrected through the Reanimation Jutsu the previous night, all his resentment had melted away.
Now, all he felt toward Hinata was the protective warmth of an older cousin.
"Okay… Thank you, Neji-niisan."
Hinata nodded bashfully, then cast a shy glance at Naruto.
Naruto was bickering with Sasuke, while Sasuke shot jealous daggers at Izumi for clinging to Itachi's arm.
"Woof woof!"
Inuzuka Hana clutched her pup, Akamaru, feeling emotionally gutted. Her Itachi… was gone.
Meanwhile, Aburame Torune was quietly releasing insects, setting up a perimeter.
"Hey, Uchiha brat—aren't you afraid Danzo might come for us? Use us to threaten Konoha?" Kazuma growled.
"No," Itachi replied with a serene smile. Danzo was long dead—and his soul was bound, imprisoned by Itachi's own jutsu.
What was there to fear?
"…Damn."
Kazuma scowled. Itachi's confidence was unshakable.
He was certain now—Konoha must have hidden forces nearby, waiting for Danzo to show.
But would Danzo really take such obvious bait?
Far behind them, after the party had vanished down the path, a seemingly ordinary tree silently transformed into a pale-skinned, green-haired figure…
and sank into the earth without a sound.