Izayoi, who had hit the jackpot, was in no rush to experience the changes brought by the Sage Eye.
He first gathered his thoughts and focused on treating Uchiha Sasuke.
Looking at Sasuke, whose eye sockets were slightly dark, indicating that he had been having a tough time these days, Izayoi's eyes showed a hint of pity.
The Shinobi World was no stranger to orphans with tragic fates, but among those who had once had a happy family only to lose everything, Izayoi could only recall two.
One was Nagato, and the other was Uchiha Sasuke.
But compared to Nagato, who had Yahiko, Konan, and Jiraiya, Sasuke, who had been set up by Uchiha Itachi, was undoubtedly more tragic.
From beginning to end, Sasuke was either on the path of revenge or, after learning the truth, had his revolutionary thoughts immediately suppressed by the only companion he acknowledged.
Afterward, in order to atone for his sins, he spent years gathering information about the Otsutsuki Clan in the Shinobi World, rarely returning home.
If Izayoi didn't change Sasuke's fate, Sasuke would end up even worse than in the original story.
After all, in the original story, Sasuke had been the most popular top student in the academy before graduation.
But now, the top student was Izayoi, the second was Hinata, and Sasuke could only compete for third place.
After graduation, he would continue to suffer setbacks, watching as the dead last, Uzumaki Naruto, surpassed him at an astonishing speed.
"Should I help him?" Izayoi thought to himself.
At that moment, Sasuke, who had been knocked unconscious, woke up.
Seeing Sasuke's bloodshot eyes, Izayoi made a decision and said, "Your current condition is too poor. Go back and rest for a while. Come find me again when you've fully recovered."
Sasuke didn't say anything. Instead, he sat up and looked at his chest, where the wound had healed but a small scar remained.
Involuntarily, he recalled the battle he had just fought.
Whether it was the Taijutsu duel or the Ninja Techniques, he was completely outmatched by Izayoi.
The seamless attacks and the lower body strength that supported that speed were on a completely different level.
Moreover, the scar and the green light he saw when he opened his eyes suggested that Izayoi also mastered Medical Ninja Techniques.
Thinking of all this, Sasuke felt a wave of defeat.
"I lost," Sasuke admitted.
Sasuke wasn't the type to be unable to accept defeat.
Just like Naruto's feelings, he didn't harbor any resentment toward Izayoi.
Although it was an unrestricted duel, his sudden release of a Ninja Technique earlier had been a dangerous move.
So, Sasuke straightforwardly acknowledged his defeat.
"I only won by luck," Izayoi said, patting Sasuke's shoulder and sincerely praising him. "You're quite impressive too. I thought I was the only one in the class who had mastered the Five Elements Release Technique, but it turns out you've got it as well. As expected of a genius from the Uchiha Clan."
After saying this, Izayoi stood up and extended his hand to Sasuke. "I had the upper hand today. Let's fight again next time."
Looking at Izayoi, who showed no arrogance but instead praised him, Sasuke felt a warm feeling surge in his heart.
Feeling acknowledged, Sasuke finally showed his first smile since waking up. He reached out and grasped Izayoi's hand, saying with a smile, "Next time, I won't lose!"
Helping Uchiha Sasuke to his feet, Izayoi extended his index and middle fingers towards him and said, "You'll have to train hard, because I'm really strong."
"Just wait and see!"
Uchiha Sasuke, filled with fighting spirit, formed the Seal of Reconciliation with Izayoi.
This scene was also reflected in a transparent crystal ball.
Watching this, Hiruzen Sarutobi, puffing on his pipe, couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. "New leaves are beginning to sprout," he remarked.
At this moment, Uchiha Sasuke was at his most vulnerable stage. To prevent him from taking his own life, and to fulfill his promise to Uchiha Itachi to take care of Sasuke, as well as to ensure Itachi could focus on his role as a spy, Hiruzen Sarutobi would never leave Sasuke unattended.
The Anbu had long been secretly watching over Uchiha Sasuke from the shadows.
The moment the two left the ninja academy and headed to the abandoned training ground, the news reached Hiruzen Sarutobi's ears.
Fortunately, Izayoi hadn't been talking to himself earlier, and when he was stunned, he had kept his head down, not acting exaggeratedly or strangely.
Otherwise, he might have been subjected to the Yamanaka Clan's Mind Reading Technique.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was no stranger to Izayoi.
This generation of newborns was very special, with the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki and the heirs of major ninja clans all in the same class.
Izayoi, who had managed to surpass them and become the top student, had long caught Hiruzen's attention.
Over the past year of observation, Hiruzen had also discovered that Izayoi had already mastered the Shadow Clone Technique and basic Wind Release, and often trained with the Main Family Lady of the Hyuga Clan at the abandoned training ground.
Every era has its outstanding civilian geniuses.
Like Orochimaru, like Namikaze Minato, like the unknown Yakushi Kabuto…
Even Kakashi Hatake could be considered a civilian genius, as he didn't possess a Kekkei Genkai.
Compared to these civilian geniuses, Izayoi wasn't particularly special, nor could he be called the best.
However, such talent was still enough to warrant focused cultivation.
If nurtured well, he could at least become an all-around Jonin in the future.
If he could master a Forbidden Technique, he might even become an elite Jonin, a key combat asset.
Thus, Izayoi had long been on Hiruzen Sarutobi's watchlist.
…
After parting ways with Uchiha Sasuke, Izayoi headed home while summoning a screen that only he could see.
In the Talent column, the Otsutsuki Bloodline (Red) was now followed by the Sage Eye (Red), replacing the golden Super Kage Aptitude.
The appearance of this Talent hadn't yet brought any noticeable changes to Izayoi.
However, Izayoi was certain that some unknown transformation was taking place within his body.
The Sage Eye was different from the true Sage Eye, the Rinnegan. It was a unique Talent of Indra Otsutsuki, inherited from the Yin Release Chakra and spiritual energy of the Sage of Six Paths, representing the pinnacle of Yin power.
Moreover, this Talent wasn't Indra's Chakra, which meant that the ultimate Yin power Izayoi had obtained wasn't imbued with Indra's will, but rather a pure Yin power derived from Otsutsuki Hagoromo.
Reincarnates still needed to gain recognition or gradually unlock this power through growth and talent.
But Izayoi didn't need to. Like Indra Otsutsuki, his strength would rapidly increase.
In the coming years, Izayoi's spiritual energy and Yin Release Chakra would experience an explosive surge.
'Now, I should be considered the second Indra Otsutsuki,' Izayoi thought to himself with a hidden smile.
If he could see Indra Otsutsuki's talent, Izayoi was certain that it wouldn't be the Uchiha Bloodline but a high-level Otsutsuki Bloodline.
It was this bloodline that granted him a constitution capable of possessing infinite Eye Power without the need for eye transplants.
Considering that he could release the Five Elements Release Technique without forming hand seals, Izayoi didn't need to guess that Indra Otsutsuki's Otsutsuki Bloodline level must also be at the red tier.
As for anything beyond red, that was likely impossible.
Otherwise, the reincarnations of Indra's Chakra wouldn't need the fusion of two extremes to awaken the Rinnegan; they could directly transform their Sharingan into the Rinnegan, just like Otsutsuki Hagoromo.
Now, Izayoi was essentially the second Indra Otsutsuki.
Only by elevating his Otsutsuki Bloodline to a higher level would he become the second Otsutsuki Hagoromo and Hamura Otsutsuki.
(End of Chapter)