Chapter 15 – One Week Later
One week later.
Konoha, Training Grounds.
"Ram → Snake → Boar → Horse → Hare → Ram!"
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
A young voice suddenly cut through the silence of the dense forest. In the next instant, a monstrous flame shot into the sky, incinerating the surrounding emerald-green trees in its path!
Crack…
As Izaya landed gracefully from his mid-air jump, the branches, charred black by his Fire Release technique, finally gave way and snapped, crashing to the ground with a series of heavy thuds.
"It seems I've completely mastered the Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique…" A satisfied smile spread across Izaya's face as he surveyed the scene.
One week ago, after Izaya's persistent request, Uchiha Itachi had finally agreed. Not only did he teach Izaya most of his Fire Release ninjutsu, but he also instructed him in practical taijutsu and shurikenjutsu! Throughout the week, he often brought Sasuke along while teaching Izaya.
And Izaya's talent had completely won over Uchiha Itachi.
In this short span of a week, relying on the tenfold Chakra cultivation speed buff, Izaya had directly boosted the Chakra within his body to the level of a standard chūnin. Furthermore, after consuming the Blaze Fruit, Izaya possessed a unique affinity for Fire Release ninjutsu. He could not only quickly master various Fire Release techniques but also significantly amplify their power!
For instance, the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique he had just released. Although it was only a C-rank Fire Release ninjutsu, its power and attack range could even rival some B-rank techniques!
"Izaya, you're here early today." Just as Izaya was about to continue his training, Uchiha Itachi's voice sounded from behind him. However, unlike usual, Uchiha Itachi hadn't brought Sasuke with him today.
"Where's Sasuke?" After collecting the shuriken he had thrown earlier, a flicker of surprise crossed Izaya's face when he saw Sasuke wasn't with Itachi.
"I didn't bring Sasuke today," Uchiha Itachi replied casually, then walked over to the area where Izaya had performed his ninjutsu. Looking at the scorched earth before him, a trace of astonishment appeared in Uchiha Itachi's eyes.
To be precise, the Izaya standing before him now brought him a new surprise every single day…
When he first promised to train Izaya, Uchiha Itachi hadn't been overly optimistic. Talent was one thing, but transforming that foundation into real strength required more than just talent; it demanded time and relentless effort. Initially, Uchiha Itachi believed that even with Izaya's unusual gifts, it would be basically impossible for him to master the Fire Release ninjutsu he taught within a single week, let alone develop basic combat effectiveness.
But Izaya's subsequent performance… directly proved him wrong.
On the first day of special training, while Izaya was still largely in the familiarization stage, Uchiha Itachi could sense an inexplicable, additional energy within Izaya's body—a power he couldn't comprehend. And this power… even made Uchiha Itachi feel a sense of dread!
What truly shocked Uchiha Itachi, however, was Izaya's performance after that. The progress Izaya made on the second day alone made Uchiha Itachi question his own understanding of the world. He clearly remembered that when they first met, the amount of Chakra in Izaya's body was only at the level of a mediocre genin. But when they met again the next day, Uchiha Itachi discovered that the Chakra within Izaya had undergone a tremendous transformation. Not only had the volume increased substantially, but his physical quality had also drastically improved compared to before!
Thereafter, Izaya improved at a breakneck pace every single day. And now… although Izaya's overall combat power might not yet match that of a standard Konoha chūnin, Uchiha Itachi could sense that Izaya possessed Chakra reserves comparable to one! In the span of a single week, Izaya had directly elevated his strength from genin-level to that of an elite chūnin!
"Hahaha, I didn't disappoint you, did I?" By now, Izaya had grown accustomed to the look of astonishment on Uchiha Itachi's face. After a lighthearted joke, his expression gradually turned serious. "Now I have the ability to protect myself. So, if you need any help, just say the word."
"No… it's nothing. I just hope… you can help Sasuke if he ever encounters difficulties in the future…" Clearly, Uchiha Itachi hadn't expected Izaya to say such a thing. After a moment of internal conflict, he still actively refused Izaya's offer…
"Shouldn't friends help each other?" An ordinary person might have simply nodded upon hearing Uchiha Itachi's words. But Izaya was different. He was a transmigrator. And he knew clearly that within the next week, the plan for the Uchiha Clan Downfall would be set in motion… Uchiha Itachi was about to make the most critical decision of his life. And at this moment, Izaya still intended to help him!
It could be said that the one who suffered the most in the Uchiha massacre incident wasn't Sasuke Uchiha… it was Uchiha Itachi himself. In reality, Uchiha Itachi was tasked by Danzō to ensure the peace and stability of Konoha Village by eliminating the Uchiha clan. To be precise, Uchiha Itachi took it upon himself, for the sake of Konoha's safety, to slaughter the entire Uchiha clan with his own hands. Although the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had always insisted on using negotiation to resolve the conflicts between the Uchiha clan and Konoha, the incident happened so suddenly that by the time Hiruzen learned of it, the Uchiha clan had already been annihilated by Uchiha Itachi… And by the time the Third Hokage reacted, Uchiha Itachi had already left Konoha. Later, to monitor the mysterious rogue organization, Akatsuki, Uchiha Itachi chose to defect from Konoha and join Akatsuki…
Although Uchiha Itachi's character was brilliantly established in the original Naruto story, the time Izaya had spent with him this week… had fostered a genuine friendship between them! Izaya didn't want Uchiha Itachi to join the Akatsuki organization! He didn't want Uchiha Itachi to meet the dismal end he had in the original story! He didn't want his only friend in this world to face such a tragedy!