Before anyone noticed, the first semester was almost over. In this semester, the first-year students only had cultural and physical education classes.


    Every day consisted of either studying, physical training, or chakra extraction.


    Except for Class 1-A, students from other classes had already been advised to withdraw.


    Such was the rarity of becoming a ninja.


    Not only was the entrance exam difficult, but the graduation assessment was even more challenging.


    Graduation wasn’t true graduation either. If a student didn’t receive the approval of a jōnin, they’d have to retake the course, resulting in an absurdly high elimination rate.


    And this was only the promotion from trainee ninja to genin.


    Above genin were chunin, special jōnin, and the all-rounder jōnin.


    But all of that had nothing to do with Izayoi.


    Except for the first two weeks, Izayoi hadn’t attended school in person at all afterward.


    Unless there was a taijutsu match, he wouldn’t bother going.


    After all, the only reason Izayoi enrolled in the ninja academy was because of Hinata, Naruto, and Sasuke.


    More precisely, he had his eyes on their red innate talents.


    Before graduation, Izayoi had to extract their red innate talents—at least one or two of them.


    Otherwise, once they graduated, it would become significantly harder to do so.


    Not due to a power gap, but because opportunities to meet and engage would greatly decrease.


    In the original story, after graduation, the original class didn’t meet again until the Chunin Exams.


    Graduation was in late March, and the Chunin Exams were held on July 1st—both important annual events.


    There was a whole season in between.


    Ding ling ling…


    As the dismissal bell rang, another day came to an end.


    Even after an afternoon of physical education, the students remained full of energy.


    “Izayoi-kun, want to play ninja games with us?”


    “Izayoi, want to walk home together?”


    Some students went home, while others stayed back to form small groups and play together.


    Izayoi received many invitations—he was a very popular figure in the class.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Even though it was only his shadow clone attending school, and his goal was solely Hinata or Naruto, Izayoi didn’t treat others coldly. He always greeted everyone with a smile.


    Even his rejections were polite.


    Today was no different.


    Facing the invitations from classmates, Izayoi’s shadow clone put his hands together and smiled apologetically:


    “Sorry, I already made plans with someone else. Maybe next time, okay?”


    “Aww, got snatched again? Izayoi-kun is so popular.”


    “Let’s play ninja games next time then.”


    Though disappointed, the classmates didn’t insist.


    After leaving the school, Izayoi’s shadow clone entered a small alley and dispelled itself.


    All its memories and fatigue returned to the main body.


    After digesting today’s memories and finishing his training, Izayoi, now resting at home, muttered:


    “Just a few more days until vacation... it’s time to act.”


    ...


    July 20th.


    After the morning classes ended, it was lunchtime.


    Some students who lived nearby went home to eat. Others brought lunchboxes and ate either in the classroom or outside.


    Since Izayoi usually sent a clone to school, he always ate lunch at home.


    But today, he came to school in person, which was rare—and even brought a lunchbox.


    He and Hinata ate together in the classroom.


    After three months, Izayoi and Hinata had become friends.


    Though they weren’t super close, they already knew each other’s hobbies and a few little secrets.


    For example, Hinata’s hobby was flower pressing.


    And Hinata knew that her desk mate was actually a shadow clone. When she first found out, she was stunned—her small mouth slightly open, eyes wide in surprise.


    From that moment on, her admiration for Izayoi only deepened.


    To have mastered the Shadow Clone Technique in a school that hadn’t even taught the Three Basic Techniques yet—this was simply incredible.


    As they ate, Izayoi suddenly asked:


    “Hinata, tomorrow’s the start of vacation. Got any plans?”


    “I’ll probably just stay home and train,” Hinata replied softly.


    “Want to train with me?” Izayoi invited.


    “C-Can I?” Hinata looked at him with surprise and joy.


    But before Izayoi could respond, she lowered her head and said gloomily:


    “No... Father won’t let me go out freely.”


    Ever since the kidnapping incident, Hinata needed escorts to leave the house.


    And she couldn’t go out frequently either. Now that she was in the ninja academy—and there was a Uchiha in her class—she had to work hard for her clan’s honor and not fall behind.


    “Hey... don’t worry about that,” Izayoi grinned. “I’m just asking—do you want to go out and train with me during vacation?”


    “...Yes.”


    Hinata responded softly while eating, almost like a mosquito’s buzz.


    “Great. I’ll help you tomorrow. So...”


    Izayoi leaned close to Hinata’s ear and whispered his plan.


    The warm breath on her ear made her cheeks and ears flush red, and her hand holding the chopsticks trembled slightly.


    Even after three months of building tolerance, her immunity score instantly dropped to zero from this close interaction.


    Luckily, Hinata’s personality wasn’t as extreme as in the original story—she didn’t faint.


    But her mind went completely blank, and she forgot what Izayoi had just said.


    “...Remember, tomorrow you have to take the initiative. Otherwise, my plan will be exposed,” Izayoi reminded her.


    “Oh... okay…”


    Hinata nodded blankly, looking adorably confused.


    Then, she looked up at Izayoi again:


    “Izayoi-kun… what… what did you just say?”


    “…”


    With a light flick, Izayoi tapped her forehead.


    As she held her forehead with a pitiful look, he repeated the plan.


    Hinata’s eyes sparkled slightly.


    ...


    The Next Day.


    The ninja academy entered a 40-day summer vacation.


    Izayoi left home and entered a small alley.


    With a puff sound like a balloon popping, a blonde girl wearing a hat—her hair color still visible—ran out from the alley and headed straight for the Hyuga residence.


    If any classmates from Class 1-A were around, they would’ve immediately recognized the girl as Yamanaka Ino.


    “Hi, I’m Yamanaka Ino. I’m here to take Hinata out—we made plans yesterday.”


    Standing at the Hyuga gate, Izayoi—disguised as Ino using the Transformation Jutsu—smiled sweetly at the guards.


    The two guards exchanged looks.


    “Please wait a moment.”


    One of the guards carefully examined Izayoi, bowed politely, and went inside.


    Soon, he returned.


    Behind him was a little girl in a white cloak—it was Hinata.


    Hinata ran up and exchanged smiles with the disguised Izayoi.


    The plan had gone smoothly—the noble lady had successfully left home.