A full year had passed in the blink of an eye. The morning sun spilled through the curtains, casting soft golden light across the small bedroom. Izumi stirred from her sleep, rubbing the drowsiness from her eyes. She stretched her small arms overhead, then hopped lightly out of bed.
Her morning routine had long since become a habit: a short session of Tai Chi to warm up her body and circulate her energy, followed by brushing her teeth and washing her face. The water was crisp and cold, instantly banishing the last traces of sleep from her mind.
Over the past year, Izumi had discovered a remarkable change in herself. Absorbing spiritual energy hadn't just enhanced her mind—it had strengthened her body far beyond what was normal for a girl her age. Though she still had the frame of a child, the strength and endurance in her limbs rivaled that of seasoned Genin.
With the combination of spiritual energy and chakra, her physical conditioning sessions yielded far better results than those of her peers, who relied solely on chakra. It was a quiet advantage, but one she cherished.
From downstairs came a familiar voice.
"Izumi! We're leaving!" her mother called.
Izumi's head perked up.
"Oh! Coming!" she replied brightly.
She darted to the door, grabbed her small bag, and hurried down the steps. Her mother was waiting with a gentle smile, and Izumi quickly slipped her small hand into hers.
Today was special. It was the first day of the Ninja Academy.
She had decided to change her usual hairstyle for the occasion—no ponytail today. Instead, she let her dark hair fall loose around her shoulders, giving her a slightly more mature look. Her outfit was carefully chosen: a soft purple long sweater paired with a short skirt and fitted pants underneath. It was both warm and comfortable, and it swayed lightly as she walked.
Hand-in-hand with her mother, she made her way to the Academy, the street bustling with other children and parents heading the same way.
The Will of Fire Ceremony
The Academy courtyard was already filling with students and their families. Teachers moved about, guiding the children into orderly rows, while the parents stood behind them, smiling with pride and perhaps a hint of nostalgia.
Izumi's gaze swept across the crowd and landed on familiar figures—Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto. They were standing together, their eyes warm with pride as they looked at their son, Uchiha Itachi.
Beside Izumi, her mother, Uchiha Hazuki, sighed softly.
"Time really flies," she murmured. "She's already starting school."
Soon, the murmurs quieted as the Third Hokage himself stepped onto the stage. His presence carried a calm authority, but his smile was kind.
"Everyone, congratulations on your enrollment," he began warmly. "From now on, I hope you will aim to become fine shinobi. Study diligently, train hard, and always uphold the Will of Fire…"
His speech stretched on, full of encouragement and ideals. Izumi listened politely at first, but after several minutes, she felt her attention slipping. Judging from the fidgeting and whispered chatter among the children around her, she wasn't alone.
Glancing to the side, she spotted Itachi among the students. When their eyes met, she raised a hand in greeting. He gave a small nod in return.
Class Assignments
When the speech concluded, the students were sorted into classes. To Izumi's mild disappointment, she and Itachi were placed in different groups. In fact, none of the Uchiha children were in his class. She suspected it was intentional—Itachi was the clan head's son, and the elders clearly wanted him mingling with children who adored the village above all else.
Sure enough, he was surrounded by cheerful, patriotic types—Naruto among them—who never missed an opportunity to praise the village and repeat the ideals they'd been taught. Izumi could only sigh inwardly. It was a clever strategy by the elders: isolate him from his clan early, and immerse him in village loyalty from a young age.
First Training Session
In their first shuriken practice, Izumi took up a kunai and began throwing. Her aim was deliberately imperfect at first. After several attempts, one finally struck dead center. She jumped up, unable to resist celebrating.
"Yay! It hit!"
A boy nearby snorted.
"Tch. You're that happy just because you hit once? Seriously… women."
Before Izumi could reply, another boy stepped in with a smile.
"Hey, that was great! You're getting closer and closer to the bullseye—it looks like you've got the knack!"
Izumi studied the difference in their attitudes. No wonder people naturally prefer those who speak kindly… the contrast is glaring.
She grinned at the second boy.
"Hahaha… That's right! I think you're pretty good too—you hit way more than he did! I'll have to ask you for tips sometime."
"No problem! Haha!"
The arrogant boy bristled.
"What did you just say? I'm not as good as him?"
Izumi tilted her head innocently.
"That's right. Look—he's much better than you."
"That's because he threw more! You didn't see all the ones he missed—he's nowhere near my level!"
The other boy shot back immediately.
"That's not true! I am better than you!"
Izumi crossed her arms.
"Don't look down on him."
"Hmph! I do look down on him—so what?"
"Oh? Then let's settle it. Whoever loses calls the winner Dad. Do you dare?"
"Bring it on! Who's afraid of who?!"
"Alright, I'll be the referee—" She paused mid-sentence. "Huh? Where did she go?"
The boys turned to find Izumi gone. She was already watching from a safe distance, chuckling as their "match" devolved into a scuffle.
Girls' Chatter and Itachi's Aura
Later, during break, a group of girls gathered by the window, whispering excitedly. Curious, Izumi joined them and looked outside—Itachi was walking across the training field.
"Look, Itachi's over there!"
"Where, where?"
"There! Ah… he's so handsome."
Another girl added,
"But he's kind of aloof. I talked to him once, and after that, I didn't really want to again."
"Yeah, but his grades are amazing! I heard he's first in the whole year."
"He's the clan head's son—of course he's excellent!"
"If only he were a bit more approachable…"
Izumi stayed silent, observing quietly. Better to keep my head down for now, she thought.
Suddenly, one of the girls squealed.
"He's looking this way! Ahhh!"
Nearby boys groaned in annoyance.
"Ugh, how annoying!"
"Let's go challenge him!"
Izumi remembered how this scene played out in the novel. Before things could escalate, she stepped in, activating her Sharingan just long enough to scare them off. She played up her role, feigning modesty even as pride swelled in her chest.
Just as in the original story, those same boys later became Itachi's little followers. Children really are simple, Izumi mused. But growing up means leaving that simplicity behind… and that's not always easy.
Secret Training Observations
One afternoon, she tailed Itachi to a secluded training ground deep in the forest. From a hidden perch, she watched him practice.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
In a brilliant display, he created shadow clones—each unleashing a Great Fireball that collided in midair with a thunderous boom.
Izumi's attention shifted when another presence arrived—Uchiha Shisui. She observed intently as the two sparred and exchanged kunai techniques. Her Sharingan tracked every movement, analyzing chakra flow, muscle tension, and throwing angles.
"Amazing… they can make kunai collide midair and still hit the target."
Her admiration slipped out in a whisper. When Shisui's gaze flicked toward her hiding spot, she quickly withdrew, retreating before they could confront her.
Back Home
That evening, Izumi returned home and got to work in her yard, setting up both concealment and illusion talismans. Once satisfied with the protections, she formed seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive sphere of flame roared from her mouth, blazing against the evening sky. She couldn't suppress a grin.
"Who says only certain people are geniuses? In the world of Hokage, if you're not a genius… you can't survive."
Füll bōøk àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (Gk31)