Uzumaki Naruto sat on the swing, his solitary figure looking pitiful.
But Izayoi didn't feel sorry for him at all.
Because only Izayoi knew that this guy was about to start his power-up journey.
Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke, these two rivals, like the reincarnation chakras within them, represent the extremes of yin and yang, and their fates are just as opposite.
Throughout the six years at the ninja academy, Uchiha Sasuke was one of the prominent figures.
If it weren't for Izayoi, Sasuke would've been the top student.
In the original story, these were the years when Sasuke was at his peak.
But after graduation, he started facing setbacks continuously.
In contrast, Uzumaki Naruto, always at the bottom, began his comeback journey and started powering up.
In just a few months, he surpassed the top student.
Naruto might look pitiful now, but by nightfall, he was going to unlock one of the best techniques suited for his Sage Body and the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
The Multi Shadow Clone Technique—this was one of the forbidden jutsus that Izayoi was especially envious of. The more chakra one had, the more one would desire to obtain this technique.
In the Fourth Great Ninja War, Naruto used his shadow clones to perform the Multi Shadow Clone Technique, and with each clone wielding a Rasengan, they were able to block Uchiha Madara's Wood Style: Secret Tree World Descendant.
Even the weakest Five Elements Ninjutsu, when cast by hundreds or thousands of clones, would have a disaster-like effect.
If Naruto had mastered the Wind Style: Great Breakthrough during the Chūnin Exams, he wouldn't have needed to fart to defeat Inuzuka Kiba.
The combination of the Multi Shadow Clone Technique and Wind Style: Great Breakthrough would've wiped out most of the Chūnin Exam participants.
Naruto would be suppressed and face setbacks, but Izayoi wouldn't.
If he were to get the Multi Shadow Clone Technique, his strength would undergo a dramatic change.
Thinking of this, Izayoi paused for a moment as he played with Hanabi's hair.
A bold idea began to form in his mind.
Perhaps, tonight, he could obtain this forbidden jutsu!
If his Byakugan hadn't been upgraded to a golden level, Izayoi would never have considered such a thing.
After all, only he knew that the Multi Shadow Clone Technique had been specifically prepared for Naruto by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The first forbidden jutsu in the Forbidden Sealing Book was the Multi Shadow Clone Technique, and the book was purposely placed in a very visible place, which also seemed suspicious.
If Izayoi dared to focus on the Forbidden Sealing Book or even appear in the forest at night, Sarutobi Hiruzen would surely keep an eye on him.
Then, he would have to face the mind-reading techniques of the Yamanaka clan.
But Izayoi didn't need to get close to Naruto or go near that forest to obtain the Multi Shadow Clone Technique.
His Byakugan had an eighty-kilometer range of vision.
The entire Hidden Leaf Village was within his grasp.
As long as he was prepared, he could easily memorize the method of practicing the Multi Shadow Clone Technique when Naruto opened the Forbidden Sealing Book.
With that in mind, Izayoi immediately made up his mind.
"...Izayoi-kun, do you think we'll be placed in a small team during the class division the day after tomorrow?"
Half an hour had passed.
Hanabi had fallen asleep in Izayoi's arms.
Izayoi placed her gently on the bed and returned to the sofa.
Then, he pulled Hinata's delicate shoulders toward him.
Hinata, who was nestled against Izayoi's chest, asked with an expectant look in her eyes.
"The chances are slim, but it's not impossible."
Izayoi gently twirled a strand of Hinata's hair, then said slowly, "Class divisions are based on balancing strength. Since you and I have been in the top three of the class for years, the chances of us being in the same team are small."
"But, because we've been inseparable these past few years, the teachers must have noticed our teamwork."
"If the division is left to the teachers, they might take our chemistry into consideration and place us in the same team."
Hinata made a praying gesture with her hands and wished, "I hope Izayoi-kun and I can be placed in the same team."
Izayoi couldn't help but chuckle. As he continued to play with her hair, he gently pinched her chin and her soft cheek.
He didn't want to discourage her, but the chance of them being placed in the same team was nearly zero.
The one who would decide the class divisions was Sarutobi Hiruzen, and in the original story, only Sakura, who was liked by Naruto, had the luck to enter the circle of ninja clan children.
The rest of the top eight, including Naruto and Sasuke, were placed in one team, while the new generation's Ino-Shika-Cho were in another, and the Inuzuka, Hyūga, and Oil-Nin families were in their own teams.
This year, there was no team that combined clan ninjas and civilians.
Similarly, these ninja clan teams would be led by acknowledged Jonin instructors.
Civilians in their own teams faced a high elimination rate.
If the division didn't follow the traditional format, Izayoi, being the top student, could easily replace Sakura.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't going to break tradition, especially since Izayoi and Sasuke were friends. What if the two of them ended up isolating Naruto?
A team with two boys and a girl could easily lead to conflicts between the two boys, with the girl either mediating or picking sides.
If there were three boys in the team, it would explode like a powder keg.
Considering that Ino-Shika-Cho wouldn't be split up, the Seventh Team, due to its uniqueness, would be just like in the original story.
The only team that Izayoi could possibly fit into was Team 8.
But if Izayoi did join, Sarutobi Hiruzen would offend either the Inuzuka or Oil-Nin clans.
If Inuzuka Kiba and Oil-Nin Shino were just regular members, it wouldn't be a problem. After all, Izayoi, as the top student, had proven his worth.
But both were clan heirs, the next generation of ninja clans.
Placing them in a regular team and having regular Jonin instructors might be dangerous if they encountered a mission with high risks.
The Inuzuka Clan was known for their sensory and combat ninjas, and they provided ninja dogs as summoning beasts. The Oil-Nin Clan was famous for their insect users, which were feared across the ninja world.
Izayoi wasn't sure if Sarutobi Hiruzen had the courage to take that risk.
Thus, the chances were very slim.
However, Izayoi didn't know that it wasn't just Hinata who wanted to be placed in the same team as him. Even Hyūga Hiashi, her future father-in-law, was quietly taking action.