Chapter 12 – Uchiha Itachi's Shock
"So that's how it is…"
After Uchiha Itachi's reminder, Izaya finally understood why the power of the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique he released was so different from the original. In essence, all ninjutsu operated on the same principle. The scale of its power was entirely determined by the amount of Chakra the user possessed and poured into it. A top-tier powerhouse like Uchiha Madara could unleash astonishing combat power even with a simple C-rank Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu. But if the user's body lacked sufficient Chakra, even if they had mastered a top-level ninjutsu, they would be unable to execute it properly due to the Chakra cost.
Even though Izaya had completely mastered the hand seals and theory behind the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, his current Chakra reserves remained his fatal flaw.
"As expected, I still need to strengthen my Chakra cultivation…" In Izaya's memory, the character who used the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique the most in the original work was Sasuke Uchiha. From the very beginning of the plot, Sasuke used this technique. But in the early stages, due to his limited Chakra, using this jutsu even once would often leave Sasuke unable to use it again shortly after. This alone demonstrated that the Chakra consumption of this technique was actually quite severe.
"Learning ninjutsu requires a gradual process. You are being too impatient." After finishing his demonstration, Uchiha Itachi slowly walked over to Izaya, a wry smile on his face. Although he hadn't known Izaya for long, Itachi could sense a genuine kindness from him. This was also the fundamental reason why Uchiha Itachi was willing to teach Izaya ninjutsu.
"Okay." Izaya nodded. He then moved to the open space again, preparing to attempt the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique once more! This time, Izaya didn't pursue quantity. Instead, he planned to follow Uchiha Itachi's previous guidance.
Hand seals. Mobilize the Chakra within the body. Release the ninjutsu.
After mentally rehearsing the entire process, a trace of confidence appeared on Izaya's face.
"Ram → Snake → Boar → Horse → Hare → Ram!"
"Fire Release!"
"Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
The moment the final seal was formed, a flame roughly the size of a basketball shot forth from Izaya's mouth, aimed at a large tree about ten meters away.
Boom!
As the fireball collided with the tree, a sharp explosion echoed from the point of impact!
"Yes!"
Although the tree wasn't completely destroyed, a flicker of excitement crossed Izaya's face as he saw the fireball that now possessed genuine combat capability. Compared to the standard Phoenix Sage Fire Technique from the original story, Izaya's version was just a single fireball, and due to his lack of proficiency, he couldn't yet use Chakra to control its trajectory. But this was already a significant improvement!
Simultaneously, a hint of surprise flashed across Uchiha Itachi's face as he stood behind Izaya.
Uchiha Itachi hadn't had any missions recently. Seizing this rare break, he had brought his younger brother, Sasuke, to the training grounds behind the mountain, intending to teach him shurikenjutsu. He hadn't expected to run into Izaya here. Seeing Izaya also practicing, Itachi had casually stepped out to greet him and offer some guidance. But… he truly hadn't expected Izaya to be able to use this alternative method to successfully execute the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, and with such notable power!
"This guy…" Suddenly, Uchiha Itachi's perception of Izaya shifted slightly. When he first met Izaya, Itachi had simply regarded him as an ordinary Konoha civilian. But now, it seemed Izaya's talent for ninjutsu wasn't low! At least in terms of Fire Release, he was certainly no worse than the average person.
"Izaya." A thought suddenly occurring to him, Uchiha Itachi called out.
"Huh?" Izaya looked over, puzzled.
"Are you really practicing this ninjutsu for the first time?" Uchiha Itachi himself was one of Konoha's top geniuses and could naturally judge Izaya's innate talent. Furthermore, Itachi had previously looked into Izaya's background—the student with the longest repeating record at the Konoha Ninja School. Under normal circumstances, being able to release a rudimentary form of the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique within a month would be considered quite good. But… this guy Izaya had succeeded on just his second attempt! This result naturally made Uchiha Itachi feel a sense of doubt…
"Well, counting this time, it's the second time." Faced with Uchiha Itachi's inquiry, Izaya didn't hide the truth. He sat down casually on the ground, beginning to recover the Chakra he had just consumed, all while gazing with curious eyes at the little boy standing beside Uchiha Itachi.
"This…" Seeing that Izaya didn't seem to be lying, Uchiha Itachi was even more astonished! On one hand, it was due to Izaya's apparent talent. On the other hand, it was because… Izaya seemed different from what he had initially imagined…
"Is this your brother?" Seeing the shock on Uchiha Itachi's face, Izaya didn't press further. Instead, he shifted the topic to the little boy in front of him. In truth, the moment Izaya had first seen this boy, he had been almost certain. The little boy behind Uchiha Itachi was none other than the second male lead of the original Naruto story—Sasuke Uchiha!
The boy's dark, spiky hair and his cool, slightly aloof expression were tinged with a hint of wariness upon seeing Izaya, a stranger. His two delicate hands tightly gripped Uchiha Itachi's clothes. While looking at Izaya with suspicious eyes, he hid himself behind his older brother…
"I didn't expect Sasuke to be so shy when he was a child." Looking at this version of Sasuke Uchiha, so different from the one in his memories, a smile touched Izaya's lips.
"Yes, my brother." Uchiha Itachi nodded. He then gently guided Uchiha Sasuke forward and said in a soft, warm tone, "Sasuke, this is Big Brother Izaya. He is a good friend of your brother."
"A good friend?" Upon hearing Uchiha Itachi's words, Izaya was genuinely surprised. He never thought he would be considered a friend in Uchiha Itachi's heart. From what Izaya remembered of the original Naruto, Uchiha Itachi had no real friends aside from Shisui Uchiha. As for Kisame Hoshigaki… he was more of a comrade-in-arms.
"This is an unexpected windfall." While Izaya was secretly musing, he slowly stood up, walked over to Uchiha Sasuke, and smiled. "Hello, Sasuke. You can just call me Izaya."
At that moment, Uchiha Sasuke finally spoke in a soft, timid voice, "Hello… Big Brother Izaya…"