Perhaps it was due to the evolution of his own eyes—the Reincarnation Eye of Izanami. The power awakened during its first fetal movement was not only distinct from Ōtsutsuki Toneri's but also far more stable. Even when his body suffered severe damage, the Reincarnation Eye's power remained intact. Only when his chakra and dōjutsu were completely exhausted would it regress back into the Byakugan.
After evolving, the Reincarnation Eye continued absorbing chakra secreted from the brain, as if storing energy for a future transformation. Just as the Byakugan had spent two years absorbing chakra before evolving, Izanami sensed that the second fetal movement would also take time to arrive.
Even so, Izanami was more than satisfied with the current awakening of the Reincarnation Eye. At twelve years old, he was still a child—but the end of childhood was near. At fifteen, he would step into adolescence—a time when boys often far outpaced girls in raw potential. Even if he did nothing else, his physical growth alone would bring great leaps in strength, just like Ōtsutsuki Toneri on the Moon.
By nineteen, even with no combat experience, he could easily wield the power of another dimension—provided he transplanted a pair of high-purity Byakugan. If Toneri could accomplish this with only a single red entry, then Izanami—with several red entries—would go even further. Awakening the Reincarnation Eye at age twelve was proof enough: he was born with a cheat-like destiny.
"Izanami, is this your original body now?"
After safely enduring the first fetal movement, Izanami finally returned to his team. The moment he rejoined them, Shino Aburame noticed changes in his insects. His gaze behind the sunglasses was filled with disbelief—the insects were afraid.
Had Izanami grown that much stronger in just half a month? What kind of Ninjutsu had he been training?
"Yes," Izanami replied calmly. "My Ninjutsu is complete, so I've returned."
"What Ninjutsu were you working on?" Kurenai Yuhi asked curiously. Her tone was gentle, but she had not noticed the subtle change in Shino's expression due to his collar and glasses.
"Secrets make a man more charming," Izanami replied with a sly grin, raising a finger to his lips. "You'll see it one day, Red Sensei. I promise it'll blow your mind."
Kurenai twitched with annoyance. "Has no one told you you're asking for a beating?"
Izanami turned to Hinata. "Hinata, am I asking for a beating?"
"No," she answered honestly, shaking her head.
"You two…" Kurenai grumbled, sighing. "Are you sure you're not a couple?" She sounded like one of the kids back in the Ninja Academy.
Izanami only smiled, and Hinata's cheeks turned bright red.
After the brief interlude, Team 8 continued their string of D-rank missions. Some days brought one mission, others two or three. Occasionally, they had a break for a few days. Whether it was garbage collection, helping villagers care for children, or tending to crops, the team carried out their duties impeccably. They earned consistent praise from all clients.
During this time, Kurenai Yuhi also offered to pass on her Genjutsu to the team. But both Hinata and Shino declined, choosing instead to focus on their clans' secret techniques. Izanami also refused.
If he hadn't completed his first fetal movement, Izanami might have accepted the offer. Despite his impressive "panel" and the intimidating red entries, before the Reincarnation Eye awakened, his actual combat power hadn't seen significant improvement. He had spent the past few years refining his sensing and healing abilities.
Without the Super Hurricane Serial Spheres and the ultimate technique he was perfecting, his offensive power had been limited to the Wind Release taught by his father and a few Fire Release techniques from the Uchiha Clan.
Thanks to the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and those elemental jutsu, he wasn't afraid of facing Jonin. But with the Reincarnation Eye now awakened—granting him the abilities of Attraction and Amenotejikara—his strength had grown drastically.
He had become a version of Tendo Pain—without Chibaku Tensei—yet still comparable to a Kage-level powerhouse. With powerful offensive, defensive, and support capabilities now in his arsenal, there was no longer any need to accept Kurenai's Genjutsu training.
Thus, Kurenai continued her role as a guide, teaching Team 8 what it meant to be proper Shinobi.
May 1st arrived.
That morning, Team 8 gathered at their usual meeting spot. Kurenai arrived with news.
"Your performance last month was outstanding. None of the missions received negative reviews," she announced with a proud smile. "So today, as a reward, I'll be taking you to receive a higher-level mission."
Hinata's eyes lit up. Even Shino's mouth twitched slightly beneath his high collar.
"A C-rank mission?" Izanami asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes," Kurenai confirmed. "Typically, Genin are restricted to D-rank missions. Only experienced Genin—or those guided by a Jonin—can accept C-rank missions."
She paused, her tone turning serious.
"Unlike D-rank chores, C-rank missions usually involve leaving the village and may come with real danger. You could encounter rogue ninja or bandits. Technically, you've only been Genin for a little over a month. But your performance has been exemplary. So consider this a reward."
"Let's go—to the Hokage's office."
Inside the Hokage Building, Kurenai led Team 8 to the Hokage's Office.
"You wish to accept a C-rank mission?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, pipe in hand, smoke curling above him. He studied Izanami and Hinata, now both tall and mature for their age, and couldn't help reminiscing.
Had those baby-faced children really grown up so quickly?
He remembered how Izanami had once sparred against Uchiha Sasuke—and despite the latter awakening the Sharingan, Izanami had completely overwhelmed him. Hiruzen nodded to himself.
"Very well. Although your team was formed only a month ago, all mission reports have been stellar. Since your Jonin instructor deems you ready, I'll approve this."
The Hokage retrieved a large scroll from beneath his desk, opened it, and let his finger glide across the surface until it stopped.
"Your sensing ability is remarkable. Here's a mission that suits your team well."
He exhaled another puff of smoke. "A mining team visited Konoha recently and is worried about bandits or rogue ninja on their return to the Land of Rivers. They've hired us to escort them back."
He turned to Kurenai. "Is your team prepared?"
"Yes," Kurenai answered respectfully.
Izanami, Hinata, and Shino remained silent—none of them reckless like Naruto.
Hiruzen wrapped his fingers in chakra flames and pressed them to the scroll. A puff of smoke erupted, and a smaller scroll appeared in his hand. He handed it to Kurenai.
"The client's information is inside. Go meet with them."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
With another bow, Kurenai led Team 8 out of the office.
Outside, she opened the scroll and then walked them to a hotel on the edge of town.
"You three wait here," she instructed. "I'll go speak with the client."
She headed toward a large carriage parked outside the hotel. After speaking with a guard, she was taken inside to meet the person in charge.
The carriage bore a flag with the character "Iron" on it—not connected to the Land of Iron, but likely signifying iron ore.
The destination was the Land of Rivers—a region known for its complex geography, with dense forests and mountainous terrain. Most of its population lived in or near these mountains, and the villages were referred to as mountain villages.
As Kurenai entered the hotel, Izanami and the others quietly analyzed the situation.
A mining caravan. The Land of Rivers. Dense forests. Rogue ninja.
Their first true challenge as shinobi had arrived.
End of Chapter 34
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