Time passed quietly, and before anyone realized, it was already the 62nd year of Konoha.
Looking back to the 61st year, several major events had occurred in just twelve months.
First was the Cloud Village Incident, which began at the end of the 60th year but spread across the entire ninja world in the 61st year.
Then came the Five Kage Conference—convened again after decades.
At first, everyone believed the Akatsuki organization had attacked Cloud Village, sparking a retaliatory war.
No one expected that the true mastermind was a visitor from the moon.
Otsutsuki Toneri, bearer of the Sage Eye and the Samsara Eye, launched a war to reclaim the Outer Path Demon Statue and orchestrated the conflict between Cloud Village and Akatsuki behind the scenes.
After that came the decisive battle at the Valley of the End between the God of Shinobi and the Asura of the Ninja World—a clash that once again redefined the limits of power.
A flaming meteor shower, a sea of trees like a tsunami, a towering hundred-armed Buddha statue, and a massive repulsive storm… The ninja world witnessed another legendary duel.
From that point on, the era of the Sage's Eye began.
The leaders of Akatsuki and Toneri Otsutsuki, both appearing around eighteen or nineteen years old, seemed poised to dominate the ninja world for decades. People believed the Five Great Ninja Villages might soon be swept away.
Toneri's puppet army constantly attacked the villages, using the elite of each to train his forces. It only reinforced everyone's belief that once the final battle ended, the five villages would meet their doom.
But the final battle came sooner than anyone expected—and the victor was neither Toneri nor the Akatsuki leader, nor the mysterious Wood-Style ninja.
It was Uchiha Madara, resurrected after decades of death.
Apparently, the legendary Samsara Eye could fully resurrect a person.
Even more shocking, the Akatsuki leader who revived Madara remained unharmed, with seemingly no side effects.
But no one dared covet his eyes.
Madara, once revived, took back the Samsara Eye from the Akatsuki leader without resistance.
Even without the eyes, the Akatsuki leader remained a peak combatant, thanks to his powerful Wood Release.
The Hidden Rain Village—home to two such powers—suddenly became the strongest force among the ninja villages.
Still, despite their dominance, Madara and the Akatsuki leader showed no signs of attacking the other villages, and Toneri and Izayoi did not move against Hidden Rain.
A strange balance settled over the ninja world.
It was clear to everyone: this calm was temporary.
When the next opportunity arose, a war more intense than the last was bound to erupt.
To avoid the theft of their deceased and strengthen their forces, the Five Great Ninja Villages agreed to exhume the graves of their fallen heroes. Their bodies were sealed away, leaving only relics in the tombs.
Compared to desecrating corpses, desecrating souls was worse.
But if the dead could speak, they would agree—they wouldn't want to one day become enemies of the village they once protected.
These were the major events of the 61st year.
Meanwhile, minor developments unfolded across the villages.
For example, Mei Terumi, after leading Mist Ninja against Toneri's puppets for two months, earned the trust of her people and officially became the Fifth Mizukage by the year's end—much earlier than in the original timeline.
The Fourth Raikage began passing down power to Darui and headed to Cloud Thunder Gorge with Killer Bee to train, aiming to master the legendary "strongest spear and shield."
Ohnoki tried to get Deidara to return to Hidden Stone and practice Dust Release. After being rejected again, he finally agreed to teach others—like Huangtu and Kurotsuchi—how to change chakra nature, hoping they could develop their own Dust Release techniques.
Gaara, having completed his academic training, began leading missions and became a Jonin in the Sand Village. He slowly earned the trust of his people and even gained his own fan group.
And Konoha?
The changes there were just as drastic.
From the 60th class of graduates, Izayoi was not only the first to become a Chunin but also the first Jonin of the new generation.
With Izayoi's promotion, Team 8 became more symbolic than practical.
Hinata quickly reached Chunin level too, followed by Shino. As Tsunade had said, sending this team on missions was a waste.
Team 8 was dissolved, only to reunite for emergency missions.
Izayoi became Hanabi's mentor after persuading Tsunade and Hiashi. Hanabi graduated early and spent more time with him than Hinata did.
Hanabi knew Izayoi was destined to become the Sixth Hokage. Once he did, he would no longer have time for her. So she treasured every moment with him.
Izayoi, unaware of her thoughts, simply noticed she had become even more clingy.
He didn't object to mentoring her—he no longer needed much practice.
Mastering all seven chakra natures and his enhanced Rasengan earned him the Ninjutsu Genius (Blue) trait, quickly upgraded to Ninjutsu Master (Purple). After mastering the Truth-Seeking Orbs, he might ascend even higher.
The Otsutsuki clan's space-time talent made it easy for Izayoi to learn techniques like Flying Thunder God.
Before becoming Hokage, Izayoi had already learned most of the forbidden jutsu from the Scroll of Seals.
The only thing he lacked now… was time.
After his birthday, Izayoi would enter his true growth period.
Though he had already grown impressively in the first two years, the changes ahead would be on another level.
Naruto was proof—he grew from the shortest in Team 7 to 1.66m in Shippuden and 1.8m as an adult.
Izayoi, with the Sage Body (Red), Sage Eye (Red), and the superior Otsutsuki bloodline (Color), far outclassed Naruto physically and spiritually.
He already had overwhelming power before even maturing.
Now, he would undergo even greater transformation.
In the two years since graduation, Izayoi had already grown from 1.63m to 1.78m.
Such a height was rare in the Land of Fire for his age.
Besides his bloodline, Izayoi had another advantage—the Gray Stone Vein.
Somehow, the private hot spring he used now had green water, and its bottom was covered with Gray Stones.
This water was rich in life and natural energy.
With it, Izayoi's growth surpassed everyone.
Hinata, Karin, and Hanabi also benefited.
Hinata now stood at 1.68m—taller than her Shippuden and movie versions.
Karin had reached 1.65m and was well-developed, but Hinata's overwhelming presence made her feel inferior.
Thankfully, Hinata usually wore a kimono. If she wore T-shirts, the visual impact would rival a Tailed Beast Bomb.
No one except Tsunade or Samui could compare.
In Izayoi's past life, Hinata was the kind of girl who could drive a G-Class Mercedes as a teen—a true heiress.
Whenever Team 7 or 10 came to Hokage's office, Sakura and Ino would be crushed.
Not only was Hinata wealthier, stronger, and more talented, but even in looks and figure, she outshined them.
With Izayoi's chakra, the Gray Stone, and Tsunade's guidance, Hinata and Karin were now very powerful.
Hinata, with her newfound toughness, mastered the Yin Seal.
Karin awakened all the Uzumaki clan's special abilities, learned the Senju clan's Chakra Burst, and became a sealing expert with her Adamantine Sealing Chains.
She could destroy anyone she bound—just like the Outer Path Demon Statue trapping tailed beasts.
Karin also had entries like Physical Healing and Medical Genius (Blue), and her healing jutsu rivaled Shizune's.
In another year or two, she'd surpass her.
Both Hinata and Karin passed the Special Jonin exam at the end of the 61st year.
Hinata was promoted every year. Karin went from Genin to Special Jonin in one year.
Their fame spread not only in Konoha but also to other major villages.
Everyone in Konoha knew: Hinata and Karin were Tsunade's top aides and Izayoi's personal secretaries.
Hinata was his girlfriend, and Karin lived with him.
Civilians and shinobi alike showed them deep respect.
Hanabi, meanwhile, had changed the least.
At graduation, she was 1.32m tall. After two years, she was 1.4m.
Because of her age, Izayoi didn't dare spoil her too much.
She only absorbed his chakra—he never let her bathe in the Gray Stone water.
Still, for a third-year student, she stood out.
Naruto was only 1.47m when he graduated.
In two more years, Hanabi could catch up.
She had good genes. She might grow into a 1.7m goddess like her future Boruto self.
Physical healing + Gray Stone is indeed a great combo.
Beyond the girls around Izayoi, many from the 59th and 60th classes had grown dramatically.
In the first half of the Chunin Exams in Year 61, Sasuke, Shino, Neji, Shikamaru, Hinata, and Karin were all promoted.
In the second half, Lee, Naruto, and Choji joined them. Naruto could no longer make the leap from Genin to Hokage.
Sasuke and Neji decided to wait before taking the Jonin exams.
Shino joined the Anbu, vanishing from public view.
Only three Genin remained: Sakura, Tenten, and Ino—held back only because their teammates outshone them.
But in the next exam, they should make Chunin as well.
By the time the first half of Year 62 ends, the most extraordinary generation of new shinobi would all be Chunin.
Promoted one or two more ranks, they'd become the pillars of their respective clans—and Konoha's future backbone.
This was the story of Konoha's 61st year.
January 6, Year 62 of Konoha.
Winter lingered. Snow still blanketed Konoha.
Izayoi woke up early—not roused by Hinata or Hanabi.
He didn't wake naturally either. He woke because… he was itching!
An impossible thing for someone with the Otsutsuki Bloodline (Color) and Sage Body (Red).
But it was real.
The itch wasn't on his skin—it was above it.
He scratched his head and felt something sharp. Instantly awake, he rushed barefoot to the bathroom.
Lifting his hair, he saw two small, sharp beige horns poking out of his white hair.
The corners of his lips curled up slightly.
"They finally grew out," he murmured. "I wonder if the Shikotsumyaku can control these horns too?"
Before he could test it, a second surprise followed.
"Hiss…"
In the mirror, his eyes suddenly twitched, warping the reflection in a disturbing way.
He instinctively covered his eyes and drew in a breath of cold air.
Then, slowly, he smiled again.
"What a surprise. One wave after another… Today must be my lucky day!"
The third fetal movement of the Samsara Eye, and the final one, had begun.