Hokage Office.
The Third Hokage looked at Uchiha Izumi in front of him and said with a smile, "Uchiha Izumi, we've decided to promote you directly to Chunin, and you can choose a rare Ninjutsu. Is there anything you like?"
Izumi immediately said, "Hokage-sama, I don't want to learn Ninjutsu. I want to learn Sealing Technique and Barrier Technique, those kinds of Jutsu that use talismans."
"Hmm?" The Third Hokage became vigilant and asked, "Why do you want to learn these?"
"Could it be that the Uchiha are interested in the Nine-Tailed?"
Izumi excitedly said, "I don't lack Ninjutsu; I can learn them just by watching others perform them. These are the things worth studying, aren't they? And I quite like these things."
The Third Hokage thought for a moment, then said, "Alright, I'll give you some of these scrolls. You should study them carefully."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!" Izumi was overjoyed.
The Hokage continued, "You no longer need to go on missions with Muraki and the others. I plan to train you well. Do you want to join Anbu for training, or do you want to do more open and upright work?"
Izumi thought for a moment and said, "I'd prefer open and upright work."
"Oh, can you tell me why?" The Third Hokage asked.
Izumi said to the Third Hokage, "I don't like killing. I prefer to resolve problems peacefully. I took action before because the mission was a priority. Now that I can choose, I'll pick work in the open. Besides, I'm too young; joining Anbu wouldn't be very suitable."
"Hmm, alright. It's good that you think that way. I respect your choice."
"I will assign you to an elite squad composed of Jonin and Chunin. You should be able to grow there."
Izumi immediately smiled and said, "Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
The Third Hokage said, "Wait for me for a moment."
"Yes!"
The Third Hokage went out again for a while, then returned with a scroll and handed it to Izumi.
"Here, these are the Sealing Technique and Barrier Technique scrolls you wanted. Study them carefully. The Village is currently in need of talents in this area. If you're capable, you might even be able to take on this responsibility."
Izumi took the scroll and happily said, "Thank you, Hokage-sama! I will work hard!"
The Third Hokage nodded and said, "Hmm, good. I'll give you a month's vacation. Consolidate your knowledge well, then come back. I'll arrange new teammates for you, and you'll go on missions."
"Yes!"
After Izumi returned home with the scroll, she immediately began to study.
"Hmm, there are still many Jutsu. There are also advanced Perception Ninjutsu. Not bad, not bad."
"Four Violet Flames Formation, Heavenly Canopy Formation... This is great! It looks like I won't be bored for a while."
Izumi immediately began experimenting.
"Izumi! What's burning?" Uchiha Hazuki shouted loudly, "Why is there a smell of burning!"
A sound immediately came from Uchiha Izumi's room: "Water Release! Water Wall!"
"Izumi!"
Izumi opened the door and said apologetically, "Haha, Mom, this was an accident, just an accident!"
Uchiha Hazuki yelled angrily, "Go outside to practice Ninjutsu!"
"Okay, okay, okay!" Izumi immediately grabbed the scroll and fled from the house.
Upon reaching the forest, Izumi created four clones, standing at the four corners, and shouted in unison, "Four Violet Flames Formation!"
A square barrier appeared in the forest, and Izumi shouted joyfully, "It succeeded on the first try! This is great!"
However, Izumi's joy didn't last long. She looked behind her and muttered, "This Chakra is... Uchiha Shisui?"
Indeed, after a short while, Uchiha Shisui arrived. When he saw Izumi, he greeted her, "Yo, isn't this Izumi! Long time no see."
Izumi also said, "Ah, it has indeed been a long time, Shisui-bro."
Uchiha Shisui smiled and said, "Just call me Shisui, like Itachi. Calling me that sounds a bit too formal. You've been quite famous lately."
Izumi covered her head and said awkwardly, "Oh, no, no, I just relied on the Sharingan's ability to copy the enemy's Ninjutsu and luckily defeated the enemy."
Shisui smiled, "Don't be modest. Defeating the enemy relies on your strength. There's no need to underestimate yourself like that."
"Is that so, hahaha..." For a moment, neither of them knew what to say, and the atmosphere became a bit awkward.
Uchiha Shisui suddenly thought of something and asked her, "That Ninjutsu just now was released by you, wasn't it? I saw it from so far away. It's truly amazing."
Izumi quickly waved her hand and said, "Oh, no, no, how can I be as amazing as you, Shisui? Shisui the Teleporter, renowned throughout the Ninja World, who doesn't know of him?"
Shisui shook his head and said, "These are all empty titles. Even if I'm powerful, I can't resolve the conflict between the Village and the Uchiha Clan. You should know about this, right?"
Izumi thought unhappily, "Huh? After trying to fool Itachi, you want to fool me now? I'm not stupid."
Izumi sighed, "Alas, this is a conflict that has existed since the founding of the Ninja Village. However, during the Fourth Hokage's time, the Fourth Hokage, who had no power base, sought to consolidate his authority and reduce the Third Hokage's influence. So he allied with the Uchiha Clan and some other peripheral clans. That's when the relationship between the Uchiha and the Village significantly improved. But now, the Third Hokage has regained power, so it has reverted to the past situation, or even worse."
Uchiha Shisui was surprised and said, "I see, so there's this layer of connection. Izumi, you think more deeply than we do. Do you have a solution?"
Izumi smiled and said, "Alas, actually, all conflicts have a way to be resolved, but it just depends on whether the higher-ups want to resolve them or not."
Uchiha Shisui asked in surprise, "How to resolve it? Do you have a solution?"
Izumi smiled, "There are three methods: upper, middle, and lower, but all of them are very difficult to achieve."
Shisui became interested and asked, "What methods?"
Izumi said confidently, "The best strategy, and also the simplest method, is for someone from the Uchiha Clan to become Hokage!"
"Ah!" Uchiha Shisui shook his head and said, "Impossible!"
Izumi said, "See? This is the simplest method, but also the most difficult. They won't let an Uchiha become Hokage."
Shisui asked, "Then why did you propose this strategy?"
Izumi smiled and said, "There's a reason for that. Tell me, among the young generation of the Village recently, whose talent and strength are as great as yours and Itachi's?"
Uchiha Shisui thought for a moment and said, "Only Kakashi is quite strong, but he's not my opponent."
"Exactly!" Izumi said with a smile, "This is the period when the Uchiha Clan has the greatest hope of becoming Hokage, and also the most difficult period. Konoha's higher-ups won't let the Uchiha Clan become Hokage because they fear the Uchiha will settle scores with them later, and they also fear the Uchiha becoming increasingly arrogant."
"Indeed, that's possible. But, me becoming Hokage?" Shisui shook his head. Suddenly, he thought of Itachi; he might have that possibility.