Ryu returned home in the early afternoon, the sun still high enough to warm the Hamura estate. He found Dan in the workshop, inspecting a set of newly delivered supplies.
"How did it go?" Dan asked, setting down a wooden crate. "Kaori called ahead. She said you would meet a potential recruit.
Ryu leaned against the workbench. "He's good. His skill is almost on par with Chunin's; despite missing a hand, he adapts well. His physical condition is excellent due to his work."
Dan raised an eyebrow. "Single-handed?"
"Lost his dominant arm in an accident," Ryu explained. "He retired from being a ninja. His remaining arm, which is strong, is due to his work."
"What's his work now?"
"Blacksmith," Ryu said. "Specialise in bladed weapons."
Dan nodded slowly. "If his skills are as solid as you say, he'll be an asset."
Ryu straightened. "There's something else. He challenged me to a smithing contest."
Dan's expression didn't change. "And?"
"I forged a sword using Chakra metal."
"Chakra metal. It must be a good sword then."
"Yes, I turned it into an artefact-grade blade. I named it Senbonzakura and gave it to the Lord Hokage."
"An artefact-grade sword?" Dan muttered in astonishment.
"Yes," Ryu replied. "It was a beautiful sword... You wouldn't believe it unless you saw it yourself. I gave it away for my future plans as an investment."
Dan met his eyes. "Whatever you decide is fine with me."
Dan knows how big of an achievement that was but still trusted Ryu.
Ryu then told Kaori to call Rina. After some time, Rina wheeled herself into the workshop; her expression was curious.
"These are ready," Kaori said, lifting a pair of prosthetic legs from a nearby bench.
The limbs gleamed with polished metal joints and precision-fitted components, designed with auto-adjusting grips custom-measured to Rina's residual limbs.
Ryu nodded. "Try them on."
Rina's eyes sparkled.
Kaori knelt beside Rina's wheelchair. "They have an auto-fitting design. Custom-measured to your exact proportions. The grips will adjust and conform as you wear them."
Together, they helped Rina transfer to a sturdy bench. Kaori carefully positioned the prosthetics, and the mechanisms clicked into place, automatically conforming to her limbs with precision.
Wearing a wide grin, Rina looked at her prosthetic limbs.
"Can you stand?" Ryu said.
She gripped the bench edges tighter, breath steadying, and pushed up. The prosthetics held firm, bearing her weight effortlessly. But when she tried to shift balance, her body swayed.
"Whoa—"
Rina grabbed for support, legs wobbling beneath her.
"Good fit," Ryu said, steadying her elbow. "Now train for balance. Start holding the position, then take short walks with support. Your muscle memory will adapt."
Rina nodded, determination hardening her features as she gripped the bench tighter.
After that, Ryu found Akihiro and Kaia at the training ground. Both were meditating near a tree, doing a leaf-sticking exercise. They had completed their daily conditioning and looked ready for the next phase. Ryu was impressed.
"Good," Ryu said, approaching them. "Your chakra control has progressed faster than expected. You're ready for the next stage."
Kaia's eyes brightened with interest. "We're starting ninjutsu?"
"Nature manipulation," Ryu corrected. "The essence of ninjutsu. Without understanding your chakra's nature, you're just throwing energy around and hoping it works."
Footsteps approached from behind—rapid, energetic.
"Big brother! I'm here!" Naruto called, jogging across the training ground with his characteristic enthusiasm.
"Took you long enough," Ryu said. "Alright. Start with the basics. Run twenty laps around this training ground."
Naruto's grin faltered. "Twenty? That's too much ... and too boring!"
"Then leave," Ryu replied calmly. "The first step to becoming a ninja is endurance and physical strength. If you can't run laps, you can't survive a mission."
Naruto's face scrunched in defiance. "I can run! I run around the village all day."
"Prove it. Or maybe you cannot," Ryu said, his tone carrying just enough doubt to hook Naruto's pride.
"I'll show you! Believe it!" Naruto took off running, determination radiating from every step.
Ryu watched him go, then turned back to the twins.
"Now that idiot is gone," Ryu said, pulling out two C.A.T. seals. "First, we identify your affinities."
He handed one to each twin. "Channel chakra into these. They'll measure your compatibility with each nature."
Akihiro pressed his palm against the seal. Numbers began appearing across the paper's surface, glowing softly before settling into final values:
Earth: 92
Wind: 78
Lightning: 65
Water: 23
Fire: 18
"Strong earth affinity," Ryu read, noting the scores. "Good wind potential, decent lightning foundation."
Kaia activated hers next. Her results materialised quickly:
Wind: 95
Lightning: 81
Fire: 34
Earth: 28
Water: 19
"You have an excellent affinity for wind release, indicating very strong compatibility with lightning techniques," Ryu explained, interpreting her results.
From his storage scroll came training materials—a lump of soft clay and a fresh green leaf.
"Akihiro," Ryu said, handing him the clay. "Earth nature training begins with clay shape manipulation. Your goal is to change its shape through will and chakra alone."
Akihiro held the clay in his palm, feeling its weight.
"Once you master that," Ryu continued, forming hand seals, "you'll learn this."
[Earth Release: Earth Pillar]
The ground beneath Ryu's feet rumbled. A column of compacted earth rose smoothly, lifting him several feet into the air. The pillar was solid, perfectly cylindrical, and formed in less than two seconds.
He stepped down as the pillar sank back into the earth.
"That's the second step. First, understand the nature. Then, apply the technique."
Turning to Kaia, he held up the leaf she'd been given.
"Wind nature training focuses on cutting. Your goal is to slice this leaf in half using wind chakra alone. No tools, no tricks—just your chakra, shaped and sharpened."
Kaia studied the leaf, examining its delicate veins and edges, turning it over in her hands.
"Once you can do that consistently," Ryu said, stepping back and forming different seals, "you'll learn this."
[Wind Release: Gale Palm]
Both palms thrust forward. A concentrated burst of wind exploded outward, powerful enough to kick up dust.
"That's your second step," he said. "Questions?"
Akihiro's hands moved, signing clearly. "How long will this take?"
"Normally? Weeks, maybe months. But I'm not teaching you normally."
Ryu summoned two more seals. "These are new training seals. I call them [R.A.T. Seals]. I train using an old one; these are new and improved with a two-level function. Level one blocks all chakra affinities except the one you're training. Makes it easier to isolate and understand your target nature."
One finger raised. "Level two adds resistance to the affinity you're training—forces you to work harder, push deeper, and refine control to the next level."
Kaia frowned. "Won't that make it harder?"
"Yes. That's the point. You'll struggle more, but you'll master it with greater perfection and power."
He pressed the seal tags to their backs—one Earth-attuned to Akihiro's upper back, one Wind-attuned to Kaia's.
"The seals will handle the technical aspects. You just need to put in the work."
Kaia picked up her leaf, studying it carefully. "What are you going to do while we train?"
Ryu walked to the large tree and sat down, leaning back against the trunk.
"Sleep. I can train while sleeping."
Kaia scoffed suspiciously. "Right. You're just tired and want a nap. You expect us to believe you can train while sleeping?"
Akihiro tilted his head slightly, considering the statement seriously. He'd seen Ryu accomplish too many impossible things to dismiss it outright.
Without another word, Akihiro sat down with his clay and began channelling chakra into it.
Inside Ryu's dream
Ryu opened his eyes to the familiar white expanse of the dreamscape.
The void stretched endlessly in all directions, featureless except for the figure standing a short distance away.
Kiyomizu Ōtsutsuki stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his white eyes watching Ryu with calm assessment.
"Sensei," Ryu said, bowing slightly.
Kiyomizu inclined his head in acknowledgement. "Are you ready to begin?"
"I am."
"Then let's not waste time."
Back to the real world
Naruto had lost count. "Was that twelve laps? Or thirteen?"
Exhaustion from the relentless pace and earlier academy efforts caught up as he slowed to a panting stop, legs trembling.
He saw it.
Ryu was comfortably lying under the tree. Eyes closed. Clearly sleeping.
"Are you kidding me?!" Naruto shouted, hands on his knees as he caught his breath. "I'm running my legs off, and Funny Hair is sleeping!"
He walked closer, confirming what his eyes told him. Ryu's chest rose and fell in the steady rhythm of deep sleep.
"If he can sleep on the job, then I can too," Naruto thought.
Without hesitation, Naruto plopped down beside Ryu, leaning against the same tree. He crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and within seconds—exhausted from running and the sheer effort of trying to prove himself—Naruto fell asleep.
Kaia glanced over at the tree and halted, her focus shifting to Naruto and Ryu sleeping.
She forced her attention back to the leaf in her hand, channelling chakra onto it. A tiny, barely visible cut appeared along one edge.
Kaia's eyes widened. "It's working."
Across from her, Akihiro sat motionless, the lump of clay resting in his open palm. He pushed chakra into the clay—not forcing, but guiding.
The clay responded—a tiny ripple across the surface, barely perceptible.
Akihiro maintained his focus. Slowly, the shapeless lump began to shift. A depression formed on the surface.
When he finally released the chakra, the clay held its new form—a rough but unmistakable bowl, created entirely through chakra manipulation.
Akihiro allowed himself a small smile.
The estate held its rhythm as the day faded into evening.
Two boys slept beneath the tree—both sleeping, but different kinds of sleep: one training beyond reality, the other simply exhausted.
Two others trained with focused intensity, their progress accelerating under the influence of seals that reshaped the fundamentals of chakra learning.
And somewhere beyond the fence line, outside the privacy seals Ryu had placed, a watcher waited for Naruto Uzumaki. He had been observing the developing relationship of Naruto with the Hamura family.
A/N:
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