Chapter 5: Izayoi's Invitation, Summer Vacation

  Unconsciously, the first term was already nearing its end.

  During this term, the first-year students only had academic csses and physical education. Every day was spent either studying, exercising, or extracting chakra. Except for Css 1-1, students from other csses had already been advised to withdraw.

  Ninjas were just that rare. Not only was the entrance exam difficult, but the graduation assessment was also extremely challenging. Graduation wasn't truly the end; if they couldn't gain the acknowledgment of a Jonin sensei (in the team test), they would still have to return to the academy to repeat the year. The elimination rate was absurdly high.

  And this was merely the process for an apprentice ninja to advance to Genin. Above Genin, there were Chunin, Special Jonin (Tokubetsu Jōnin), and the Elite Jonin.

  However, none of this concerned Izayoi and the Konoha 9 (Nine Rookies) for now.

  Apart from the first two weeks, Izayoi hadn't sent his main body to school. He wouldn't come personally until Taijutsu sparring began. After all, the reason Izayoi entered the Ninja Academy was primarily for Hinata, Naruto, and Sasuke. To be precise, he had his sights set on their Red-rank talent traits.

  Before graduating from the Ninja Academy, Izayoi had to acquire their Red traits – or at least obtain one or two. Otherwise, once they graduated, acquiring those Red traits would become exponentially more difficult. Not because of a gap in strength, but because the opportunities to meet and fight them would drastically decrease.

  In the original story, after graduation, the Konoha 9 didn't meet again until the Chunin Exams. Graduation at the end of March, Chunin Exams on July 1st – these were important dates every year. A whole season passed in between.

  *Ding ling ling...*

  As the bell signaling the end of css rang, another day concluded. The students, despite an afternoon of physical education, were still full of energy.

  "Izayoi-kun, want to py ninja game with us?"

  "Izayoi, walk home together?"

  Some students left school to head home, while others stayed behind, inviting cssmates to form small groups.

  Izayoi received many invitations; he was a very popur figure in the css. Although it was only his Shadow Clone attending school, and his targets were solely Hinata, Naruto, and Sasuke, Izayoi didn't give anyone else the cold shoulder. Instead, he treated everyone with a friendly smile. Even his refusals were very tactful.

  Today was no different.

  Facing the invitations from both boys and girls, Izayoi's Shadow Clone put its hands together apologetically and said with an embarrassed smile, "Sorry, I already made pns with someone else. Maybe next time, definitely next time!"

  "Aww, someone asked you out again? Izayoi-kun is so popur."

  "Okay then, next time. Let's all py ninja game together."

  The cssmates looked disappointed but didn't insist.

  After leaving the school, Izayoi's Shadow Clone ducked into a small alley and automatically dispelled itself. The memories and fatigue all returned to his main body.

  Processing the day's memories, Izayoi, who had already finished his training and was resting at home waiting for the clone's fatigue to transfer, muttered to himself, "Vacation starts in a few days. It's time to make a move."

  ---

  On July 20th.

  After the morning csses ended, it was lunchtime. Some students lived close by and chose to go home for lunch. Others brought bentos (packed lunches) to school, eating either in the cssroom or outside.

  Usually, since it was his Shadow Clone attending school, Izayoi would "go home" for lunch. But today, Izayoi rarely came in his main body, and he even brought a bento.

  He ate lunch with Hinata in the cssroom.

  Over the past three months, Izayoi and Hinata had become friends. While not yet the type to share absolutely everything, they knew each other's hobbies and some small secrets. For example, Hinata's hobby was making pressed flowers. And Hinata knew that her deskmate was usually just a Shadow Clone.

  When she first found out, Hinata's small mouth had formed an 'O', her beautiful eyes wide with astonishment. Afterward, her gaze towards Izayoi held even more admiration. With the school not even teaching the Three Basic Techniques yet, Izayoi had somehow already mastered the Shadow Clone Technique – it was simply unbelievable.

  As Izayoi ate his bento with Hinata, he suddenly spoke up, "Hinata, tomorrow starts the vacation. How do you pn to spend it?"

  "Probably training at home, as usual," Hinata replied softly.

  "Want to train together with me?" Izayoi extended the invitation.

  "C-can I?" Hinata looked at Izayoi, overjoyed. Then, before Izayoi could answer, her mood dampened, and she shook her head. "No, Father won't allow me to go out freely."

  Ever since the kidnapping incident, Hinata needed an escort if she wanted to go out alone. Moreover, she couldn't go out frequently; she was now enrolled in the Ninja Academy, and there was even an Uchiha in her css. For the sake of the cn's honor, she had to train hard and not be overshadowed by the Uchiha cn.

  "Heh... don't worry about that." Izayoi grinned. "Let me just ask you, do you want to go out and py during the vacation, and train together with me?"

  "...Mm," Hinata lowered her head, focusing on her food, and responded with a voice as quiet as a mosquito's hum.

  "Alright, I'll help you tomorrow. When the time comes..." Izayoi leaned close to Hinata's ear and whispered his pn.

  The warm breath tickled her ear, causing Hinata's cheeks and ears to rapidly turn red. The hand holding her chopsticks trembled slightly. Being this close to Izayoi for the first time, the 'immunity' she had built up over the past three months instantly dropped to zero.

  Fortunately, Hinata's personality wasn't as extreme as in the original story; she didn't faint from shyness. However, her mind went completely bnk, and she forgot what Izayoi had just said.

  "...Remember, you need to be proactive tomorrow, otherwise my pn will definitely be seen through," Izayoi urged.

  "Oh, oh..." Hinata nodded bnkly, looking adorably clueless. Then, she looked up at Izayoi, "Izayoi-kun, w-what did you just say?"

  Izayoi: "..."

  *Thwack!* He unceremoniously flicked Hinata's forehead. Under the girl's pitiful gaze, he repeated the pn once more.

  Rubbing her forehead, Hinata's beautiful eyes lit up slightly.

  ---

  **The Next Day**

  The Ninja Academy entered its forty-day summer vacation.

  Izayoi left his house and entered a small alley.

  *Poof!* A sound like a balloon popping echoed in the alley. Then, a blonde girl wearing a hat that couldn't completely hide her hair color ran out, heading straight for the Hyūga compound.

  If any cssmates from Css 1-1 had been there, they would surely have recognized the girl as Ino Yamanaka.

  "Hello, my name is Ino Yamanaka. I'm here to hang out with Hinata. We made pns yesterday."

  Arriving at the gate of the Hyūga compound, Izayoi, transformed into Ino Yamanaka using the Transformation Technique, gave the gate guards a sweet smile.

  The two guards exchanged gnces.

  "Please wait a moment." One of the guards scrutinized Izayoi briefly, gave a polite bow, and entered the cn grounds.

  Shortly after, he returned. Following behind him was a small girl wearing a white windbreaker coat – it was Hinata.

  Hinata ran over lightly, and she and Izayoi (disguised as Ino) exchanged a knowing smile.

  The pn went smoothly. The young dy was out.