Before anyone realized it, the first semester was already drawing to a close.
Throughout the entire term, first-year students only had academic classes and physical education. Every day was spent studying, training their bodies, or practicing chakra extraction.
Aside from Class 1, every other class had students who were advised to withdraw.
Ninjas were simply that rare.
Not only was the entrance exam difficult, but the graduation assessment was even harsher. And graduation itself wasn't the real end—anyone who failed to earn the approval of a jonin would be sent back to the Academy to repeat the year. The elimination rate was absurdly high.
And this was merely the step from Academy student to genin.
Above genin were chunin, special jonin, and the fully qualified jonin.
None of this, however, concerned Izanami or the Shikamaru group.
Aside from the first two weeks, Izanami hadn't used his real body to attend the Academy for the remainder of the semester. He wouldn't appear in person unless taijutsu sparring was involved.
After all, Izanami's reason for enrolling in the Ninja Academy was Hinata, Naruto, and Sasuke.
More precisely, he had his sights set on their red entry triggers.
Before graduation, he had to activate at least one or two of them. Otherwise, once they became genin, the difficulty of triggering those red entries would increase severalfold.
It wasn't a matter of strength, but opportunity.
After graduation, chances to meet and exchange blows would drop drastically. In the original timeline, the next time the Shikamaru group reunited after graduating was during the Chunin Exams.
Graduation took place at the end of March, while the Chunin Exams began on July 1st—two crucial annual events, separated by an entire season.
Ring—ring—ring…
As the bell rang, another school day came to an end.
The students, who had spent the entire afternoon in physical training, were still brimming with energy.
"Izanami, want to play ninja games with us?"
"Izanami, shall we walk home together?"
Some students packed up and headed home, while others lingered, forming small groups and inviting classmates along.
Izanami received plenty of invitations. He was extremely popular in class.
Even though only a Shadow Clone attended school—and his real focus was solely on Hinata, Naruto, and Sasuke—Izanami never brushed anyone off coldly. He treated everyone with warmth and a gentle smile.
Even when refusing, he did so gracefully.
Today was no exception.
Facing the invitations from both boys and girls, Izanami's Shadow Clone pressed his palms together and smiled apologetically.
"Sorry, I already have plans. Next time—definitely next time!"
"Eh? Taken already? Izanami really is popular."
"Alright then, next time let's all play ninja games together."
Though disappointed, no one pressed the matter.
After leaving the Academy, Izanami's Shadow Clone slipped into a narrow alley and automatically dispelled itself.
The day's memories and accumulated fatigue flowed back to the main body.
Having already completed his cultivation and resting at home, Izanami absorbed those memories and murmured softly, "Vacation starts in a few days. It's time to make a move."
—
July 20th.
After the morning classes ended, lunchtime arrived.
Some students who lived nearby went home to eat, while others brought bento boxes and ate either in the classroom or outdoors.
Since Izanami usually sent a Shadow Clone to school, he normally ate at home.
But today, his real body had come in person, and he had brought a bento.
He was eating lunch with Hinata in the classroom.
Over the past three months, the two had grown close. While they weren't yet at the stage of sharing everything, they were familiar with each other's hobbies and a few small secrets.
For instance, Hinata enjoyed pressing flowers.
She also knew that her deskmate was usually just a Shadow Clone.
When she first learned the truth, her mouth had fallen open and her pale eyes widened in shock. After that, the admiration in her gaze toward Izanami only deepened.
Mastering the Shadow Clone Technique when the Academy hadn't even taught the Substitution Technique yet was simply unbelievable.
As they ate, Izanami suddenly asked, "Hinata, vacation starts tomorrow. What do you plan to do?"
"I'll probably continue training at home," Hinata replied softly.
"Do you want to train together?" Izanami asked, extending an invitation.
"C-Can I?"
Hinata looked up in surprise, her eyes shining—then she quickly shook her head, her expression dimming.
"I can't. Father won't allow me to go out freely."
Ever since the kidnapping incident, Hinata needed guards whenever she left the compound. On top of that, she couldn't go out too often—she was attending the Ninja Academy, and there was an Uchiha in her class.
For the sake of the clan's honor, she had to train diligently and could not allow herself to be overshadowed by the Uchiha clan.
"Heh… don't worry about that," Izanami said with a grin. "I'm just asking—do you want to go out during the vacation and train with me?"
"…Yes."
Hinata lowered her head, continuing to eat, her reply as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"Good. I'll help you tomorrow. When the time comes…"
Izanami leaned closer and whispered his plan into her ear.
The warm breath against her ear made Hinata's cheeks and ears flush red instantly, her fingers trembling slightly around her chopsticks.
It was the first time Izanami had been this close to her, and all the composure she had built over the past three months vanished in an instant.
Fortunately, Hinata wasn't as fragile as she had been in the original timeline—she didn't faint from embarrassment.
Still, her mind went completely blank, and she failed to register what Izanami had just said.
"…Remember, you have to take the initiative tomorrow," Izanami reminded her. "Otherwise, my plan will definitely be exposed."
"O-Oh…"
Hinata nodded absentmindedly, looking adorably dazed.
Then she suddenly looked up again. "Izanami… what… what did you just say?"
Izanami: "…"
With a crisp snap, he mercilessly flicked her forehead. As Hinata clutched it with a pitiful expression, he patiently repeated the plan.
Her pale eyes sparkled faintly as she listened.
—
The next day, the Ninja Academy officially entered its forty-day summer vacation.
Izanami stepped out of his house and walked into a narrow alley.
Poof.
With a sound like a balloon popping, a blonde girl wearing a hat—though her hair color was still visible—ran out of the alley and headed straight toward the Hyuga clan compound.
If any Class 1 students were present, they would immediately recognize her as Ino Yamanaka.
"Hello, I'm Ino Yamanaka. I'm here to pick up Hinata so we can go out and play. We made plans yesterday."
At the gates of the Hyuga compound, Izanami—transformed into Ino—gave the guards a bright, sweet smile.
The two guards exchanged glances.
"Please wait a moment."
After carefully scrutinizing her, one of the guards bowed politely and entered the compound.
A short while later, he returned.
Behind him was a small girl wearing a white windbreaker.
Hinata.
She ran over and shared a smile with "Ino."
The plan had gone off without a hitch.
The Hyuga clan's young lady had successfully slipped out.