It took Natsuhoshi a long moment to calm her racing thoughts. Her light green eyes shimmered with excitement and pride.
"Ryan, I never imagined you'd be this gifted… You're truly a blessing to our Star Village!" she said, smiling warmly. "I'll report this to Lord Star Shadow immediately. I bet he'll let you access the First Star Shadow's jutsu scrolls and training journals. Make sure you don't waste your talent!"
"Thank you, Sister Natsuhoshi!" Ryan nodded earnestly. He was thrilled at the thought of finally getting to train in actual jutsu.
The First Star Shadow had been a borderline Kage-level shinobi—his scrolls and notes were his life's work. To Ryan, they were a treasure trove.
Sure, they couldn't compare to Konoha's fabled Scroll of Seals, but for Ryan—who had chakra in abundance but still lacked the basic strength of a genin—it was more than enough. (After all, he was only six. At best, he might beat a standard genin in a desperate fight, but his overall power was far from polished.)
His greatest advantage lay in his knowledge. He already knew the principles of elemental transformation and could recreate what he'd seen in the original story. Just learning the Rasengan, for example—he knew all three steps from memory.
Over the next few days, Natsuhoshi taught him foundational skills. She wanted him to build a strong base. After all, in the shinobi world, mastering the basics often made the difference between life and death.
Ryan's small frame hid the soul of a determined adult. His unshakable desire to become strong helped him stay disciplined. He trained calmly and consistently, never complaining, understanding that Natsuhoshi's methods had purpose.
When the Third Star Shadow learned about Ryan's chakra affinities, he was overjoyed. Ryan had already shown unusual talent when he mastered the Clone, Transformation, and Substitution Jutsu in record time. Now, with a Lightning affinity like the First Star Shadow himself, the future looked bright. Perhaps, in ten or twenty years, the village would finally produce a true powerhouse.
He immediately granted Ryan full access to the First Star Shadow's scrolls and training notes.
Noon. The sun blazed high in the sky.
In a wooded grove not far from the village, a small figure stood beneath a massive tree—sweating profusely, hands locked in an unfamiliar seal.
"Peacock Secret Technique – Feathered Beast Manifestation!"
With a sharp shout, a large surge of purple chakra burst from Ryan's back, forming a massive, irregular mass. It pulsed upward, rose several meters, and then began condensing. In moments, it shaped into a terrifying beast with glowing eyes and jagged fangs—only to vanish seconds later.
Ryan grit his teeth and changed his hand seal, retracting the chakra wings. Then he collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.
"Ugh… still can't hold it long enough for a real attack…"
But even as he sighed, he didn't seem discouraged. After all, he'd only started learning the Peacock Technique less than a week ago. Reaching this point had already shocked Natsuhoshi.
"I just wanna fly already…" he mumbled, lying in the dirt, not caring that his soaked clothes were caked in mud. Though he panted heavily, his bright eyes stared up at the deep blue sky—and slowly, he drifted off to sleep.
Up above, a small purple dot approached from the sky.
It was Natsuhoshi, flying with her chakra wings—and carrying a metal lunchbox.
She landed softly, stepping up to the sleeping Ryan with a faint smile.
"You stubborn little thing… always training until you pass out," she murmured affectionately.
Clearly, this wasn't the first time Ryan had pushed himself this far. His training schedule had astonished even her. She had tried persuading him to take it easier several times, and while he always agreed out loud… he never actually slowed down. Eventually, seeing that his body could handle it, she simply let him be.
Ryan was lucky in many ways.
Once the Third Star Shadow learned that he didn't want to return to his so-called "home," he personally approved a steady stipend for him. It wasn't much—but it covered all his meals, clothes, and training supplies. Since he rarely left the training grounds, he hardly spent anything.
And Natsuhoshi often brought him food herself, sometimes cooking for him. With his basic needs taken care of, Ryan could focus completely on training.
Compared to the other kids in Star Village… he was blessed.
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