Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, four years had passed since Ryan began his solitary training in the depths of Bear Country's great forest.
He was now twelve years old.
Over the years, Natsuhoshi had occasionally taken him out on B and C-rank missions, giving him firsthand experience of real battle—and blood. Ryan's personality and mindset had matured immensely as a result.
His first kill had been difficult.
Having grown up in the peaceful society of his previous life, Ryan didn't exactly take joy in taking lives. He hadn't thrown up or broken down, but taking a life with his own hands… was not something he enjoyed. Especially when the targets included the old, weak, or sick—it made his hands hesitate.
But when he saw the hatred and hopelessness in their eyes… he realized: in a world ruled by violence and hatred, they were living a miserable, fearful existence. Maybe, by ending it quickly, he was showing them mercy.
After several such encounters, he got used to it.
The Third Hoshikage didn't assign him missions just to earn bounty or prestige. He wanted Ryan to experience the taste of blood, to hone his instincts, and develop his fighting spirit. Otherwise, having talent and power would be meaningless if one froze in a real battle.
To the elders' satisfaction, Ryan found the perfect balance. He wasn't overly merciful—but he wasn't bloodthirsty either. He kept a clear head in every mission.
Deep within the hidden valley of Bear Country's forest…
The silver-white cascade of the waterfall roared as it struck the massive boulders below, splashing water high into the air.
Standing atop one of those boulders, two meters wide, was a boy—bare-chested, about 165cm tall, with a toned and chiseled physique. His long black hair flowed past his shoulders, and his sharp features radiated calm strength.
His eyes were closed.
He stood still beneath the full force of the waterfall, letting the crashing water slam against his body. Yet his stance didn't waver in the slightest.
It was a stunning sight.
Though the waterfall wasn't enormous, letting twenty meters of plunging water crash onto your body was something most grown men couldn't endure—let alone a twelve-year-old boy. But Ryan Arcloom wasn't most people.
"Chii—chii—chii—!!"
Suddenly, amid the thunder of the waterfall, a shrill sound pierced through the air—like the chirping of a thousand birds.
And incredibly, the waterfall's roar couldn't drown it out.
Electricity exploded from Ryan's body in a dazzling burst. Countless arcs of blue lightning surged out from his frame, crackling violently in every direction. The energy crackled and screamed, as if trying to break free from him entirely.
The arcs of lightning spread across the entire pond, even shooting up the waterfall against the current. Steam rose as the electrical reaction split the water into hydrogen and oxygen, blanketing the valley in dense, blinding mist.
Moments later, the thunderous chirping of a thousand birds… vanished.
Only the waterfall's sound remained—and even it had been briefly subdued.
Then, slowly, it began to roar back to life.
As the mist cleared, a figure emerged from the pond—Ryan, now walking slowly and calmly to shore.
His soaked black hair clung to his back, his flawless white skin gleamed with vitality. There wasn't even a trace of frailty—only strength.
"Four years… I think it's time to go out and see the world again," Ryan whispered, flicking the droplets from his hair as he looked toward the direction of Star Village.
He was no longer the small boy who had come here to train.
Over these four years, his growth could only be described as astonishing. With his body finally matured, he was now able to learn and execute even high-level jutsu. He had completely mastered all the Lightning Release techniques left behind by the First Hoshikage.
Ryan now possessed proficient control over both Fire and Lightning chakra natures. Wind Release, on the other hand, remained incomplete—it was, after all, the hardest among the five basic natures. He could already slice leaves easily, but cutting through a waterfall? Not quite yet.
Still, it was just a matter of time.
But Ryan's progress didn't stop at ninjutsu or nature transformation.
With his ever-increasing physical strength, he had successfully absorbed half of the "Star" chakra—the mysterious energy Star Village used for training. The remaining half was still sealed within his heart.
Even so, his current chakra reserves were monstrous.
He might not match Hoshigaki Kisame, the "tailless tailed beast," but he definitely had far more chakra than someone like Orochimaru.
As for the Peacock Method, Star Village's unique chakra technique—it was no longer a secret to him.
He had mastered it completely, even refined and evolved it.
The greatest weakness of the original Peacock Method—aside from the harmful side effects—was its vulnerability to close-range attacks. In the original timeline, Naruto had easily bypassed it with a simple Transformation Jutsu.
But Ryan had patched that flaw completely.
His improved Peacock Method could cloak his entire body with solidified chakra, forming a near-impenetrable barrier against close-range attacks.
And that wasn't all—it could do much more than just shield.
With a swift shift of chakra, Ryan dried himself instantly and pulled on a tight-fitting suit of purple and white combat gear.
"Peacock Method: Wings!"
Donning a gas mask—no one knew from where he pulled it—Ryan swiftly formed a hand seal. Instantly, a pair of purple chakra wings erupted from his back.
Each feather on those wings was distinct, perfectly aligned, and eerily lifelike. The shimmer of flowing chakra ran through them, making them look more like divine artifacts than jutsu constructs. Even if someone from Star Village saw them, they likely wouldn't recognize this as the Peacock Method at all.
With a gentle flap of those purple wings, Ryan soared into the sky, speeding off in the direction of Star Village…
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