"Yay! I'm finally out of the hospital!" Izumi exclaimed excitedly as she jumped right off the bed.
The nurse, carefully removing her bandages, looked at her in surprise. "How did you recover so fast? It's only been a few days! Even a bone injury doesn't usually heal this quickly."
Izumi smiled proudly. "I can't help it — my body's just like this. Hahaha!"
Her mother, Uchiha Hazuki, sighed with a mix of relief and mild reproach. "Alright, settle down. You've been a bit reckless lately, Izumi. Girls should be more ladylike."
Izumi laughed and nodded. "Okay, okay, I'll behave." She followed her mother out of the hospital obediently.
Hazuki gently took Izumi's small hand and asked softly, "Does it still hurt?"
Izumi giggled. "Of course not! Dad's Senju bloodline gives me a strong recovery ability. But I'm mad I missed the Chunin Exams! It's so frustrating."
Hazuki smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, there's always next time. To cheer you up, I'll take you out to eat."
Izumi's eyes lit up. "Really? I want hot pot!"
"Alright, hot pot it is."
"Yay! Hot pot!"
---
The next day, Izumi found herself summoned to the Hokage's office.
Standing before the Konoha High Council—composed of four of the village's highest-ranking officials—Izumi faced a serious interrogation.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked at her thoughtfully. "Uchiha Izumi, I heard you recently learned a Ninjutsu technique from Kumogakure and successfully drove off an enemy. Is this true?"
Izumi nodded confidently. "Yes, that's true. I learned their Ninjutsu, but after using it, my whole body ached terribly. I was hospitalized for a long time and was only discharged yesterday."
Homura Mitokado, adjusting his glasses, added, "We'd like you to demonstrate this technique for us. Based on your performance, we plan to re-evaluate your rank."
Izumi's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Does that mean I can be promoted directly to Jonin?"
Utatane Koharu chuckled lightly. "Don't be so hasty. Promotion requires a process: first Chunin, then Jonin. You need to take it step by step."
Danzo Shimura's impatient tone cut through the conversation. "Enough talk. Show us the technique immediately."
Izumi eagerly replied, "Yes, esteemed sirs! I'll perform it now. Is it here?"
The Third Hokage exhaled a puff of smoke from his pipe and said, "No. You will perform it at Training Ground Three."
---
At the training ground, the four officials and several ninja stood observing Izumi.
She closed her eyes and began preparing.
Raising her small fists, she shouted, "Ha! Burn, my little cosmos!"
The officials exchanged confused glances. None of them had heard of such a hand seal or technique.
Danzo frowned and asked, "Are you ready yet?"
Izumi replied, "Almost."
The Third Hokage raised an eyebrow. "What does shouting 'burn cosmos' mean? Is it part of the Jutsu?"
Izumi immediately waved her hands. "No, no! I just think it sounds cool! Don't you think shouting that makes the technique seem more powerful?"
Danzo scowled darkly. "Remove that."
Izumi nodded honestly. "Okay, if you don't like it, I'll stop."
After a moment, Danzo asked again, "When will you be ready?"
"Soon, soon!" Izumi said, eyes closed in concentration. "This requires precise chakra control. It's difficult."
Suddenly, a surge of lightning-style chakra erupted around Izumi's body, enveloping her in a crackling aura. This was the Lightning Chakra Mode from Kumogakure, but more refined and controlled than before.
Izumi kept quiet about how she could finely balance speed, strength, and defense through chakra distribution.
"Wow!" murmured some onlookers.
"Huh?" others stared in disbelief.
The Third Hokage, clearly impressed, said, "This really is Kumogakure's Nin-Taijutsu." The expressions on the officials' faces shifted — some surprised, some wary, some smiling thinly, others grim.
Danzo suddenly created a clone of himself and ordered, "Fight this clone. Show me your strength."
Izumi's eyes hardened. "Yes, as you command."
Danzo's clone drew two kunai and blew on them twice, transforming them into large spinning wind blades. He hurled the deadly weapons toward Izumi.
But she vanished in an instant.
The officials narrowed their eyes, impressed by her speed.
Izumi's punch missed its mark as Danzo's clone dodged swiftly. But she was relentless, pressing forward.
"Damn! She's too fast! Hard to use Ninjutsu against her!" Danzo muttered.
The clone formed a Vacuum Blade with a kunai by blowing on its tip, creating a slicing air blade.
The blade slashed toward Izumi, who blocked it with her kunai. The two combatants froze for a brief moment, locked in a clash.
Izumi's other palm stabbed forward, aiming for Danzo.
Danzo pushed her away, dodged, and opened his mouth to call a halt, "Stop, I—"
But Izumi was already accelerating, thrusting her palm toward his head.
Danzo's clone barely dodged, but Izumi twisted her arm sharply, and with a sharp snap, severed the clone's head.
With a loud "bang!", the clone vanished.
"You! You—" Danzo started angrily, but Hiruzen interrupted with a smile.
"Danzo, it's just a clone. Let it be."
The officials' expressions varied — some smiled, others looked cautious or angry.
Izumi deactivated her chakra mode and sat down, panting heavily.
"Hokage-sama, I'm not yet fully accustomed to this Jutsu. It's exhausting, and my body still aches."
The Third Hokage applauded softly. "Very good, very good. I believe you now. When do you think you can fully adapt to this technique?"
Izumi thought for a moment. "Probably in one or two years, the side effects will lessen."
Hiruzen laughed heartily. "Is that so? It seems our village may have gained a powerful new ninja."
He smiled warmly. "Come to my office tomorrow. We will discuss your rewards then."
Izumi wiped sweat from her brow and left with a bright smile.
---
After she left, the Third Hokage turned to the others. "What are your thoughts?"
Utatane Koharu said, "The bad news is that she is from the Uchiha Clan. The good news is that she's still young and joined the Uchiha later in life, so her loyalty to them isn't deeply rooted."
Danzo's eyes gleamed coldly. "Hiruzen, hand her over to me. I will train her. I guarantee she will become powerful."
The Third Hokage replied calmly, "I've decided she will work alongside me. A ninja like her cannot remain with the Uchiha indefinitely. We must foster her sense of belonging to the village."
Danzo sneered, "That still ties her to the Uchiha. Only by following me can she sever those ties completely."
Hiruzen shot back, "Danzo, haven't you recruited children from various clans already? What I'm doing is already an exception. Don't be greedy."
Danzo's lips curled into a sneer. "We'll see about that…"
Hiruzen interrupted, eyes sharp. "Remember, I am the Hokage. This matter is closed."
Danzo clenched his fists but said nothing more. "You'll regret this, Hiruzen." With that, he stormed out.
Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu smiled faintly. "This is good too. Being under your care will let her experience the Will of Fire more directly. Excellent, Hiruzen. We'll be taking our leave."
"Mm, I should return as well," the Third Hokage said.
---
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