Several weeks passed in silence and shadow. Beneath the Forest of Death, Raven's shadow clone continued her relentless work: harvesting natural chakra, weaving it into the reservoir of her infant body, and shaping her power into something sharper each day. One clone always remained with Riko, guiding her through drills and lessons far from Danzō's gaze.
Riko stood before her now, chakra burning visibly in her hands as faint wisps of fire energy flickered across her palms. Raven lowered her mask and studied her carefully. "You're doing excellently. Your advanced chakra channeling and control are progressing smoothly. Your extraction efficiency has tripled, and your control over fire chakra is showing real promise. Soon you'll stand out under Danzō's training. Though I wouldn't expect a sudden promotion, you'll likely be placed on a more advanced team."
She let the words sink in before adding, "Later on, we'll begin foundational work in espionage and infiltration, along with several advanced methods I've developed myself."
Riko lowered her hands, sweat glistening on her brow. Her gaze was steady but uncertain. "Your training is pushing me forward rapidly. Is all this really necessary so quickly?"
Raven shook her head slowly. "Yes. I'm not sure how long I'll be able to remain in contact with you. If we lay the foundation now, you'll progress steadily on your own. Delay is dangerous. Preparation is survival."
She unfurled several scrolls across the stone table, the seals etched in red and black glowing faintly in the lamplight. The air thickened with chakra resonance as Raven tapped a particular sequence. "These are foundational seals. Learn their patterns, learn their meaning. Without these, your future chains will snap apart."
Riko bent over them, tracing the marks with a finger. Her eyes narrowed in recognition. "Oh. I know this one. It's one of the characters from my Seal of Obedience."
"That's right," Raven confirmed. "This is part of the real Seal of Obedience. It's why you've felt those compulsions so strongly. What I'm giving you now is a version of it—reshaped, mine—to use when you begin converting Root kunoichi to our cause."
Riko straightened, firelight catching in her eyes. Determination replaced hesitation. "Then I'll master this. If I can turn his own tools against him, it'll be my revenge every day I live."
Raven gave a single nod. "Exactly."
Later, the scrolls were set aside, and the chamber filled with the heat of training. Raven motioned Riko forward. "Since your chakra affinity is fire, we'll start with the foundation. Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu—the Great Fireball. Focus chakra in your chest, knead it with fire nature, then expel it in one controlled breath. Nearly every Uchiha learns this at the academy. For you, it will be your cornerstone."
Riko lifted her hands, weaving through the seals Raven demonstrated. "Tiger at the core," Raven reminded her. "Without it, you'll waste chakra. Consistency matters."
Riko inhaled sharply, chakra surging through her body, and exhaled. A plume of fire burst forth, collapsing into a ragged flame that sputtered against the far wall. She cursed softly under her breath.
"Again," Raven said, calm but firm.
Again Riko tried, each attempt stronger than the last, until her breaths came ragged and her chakra thinned. Raven corrected her stance, adjusting her shoulders and breathing rhythm. "Control first. Power later. You'll burn yourself hollow if you rush."
Three hours passed. The walls bore scorch marks, the chamber hot with smoke. Riko finally sagged to her knees, rubbing her head. "I can't keep this up. My body's giving out."
Raven said nothing, only set down a small cup of tea beside her. Riko eyed it warily, then drank. The warmth soothed her throat, but almost immediately her eyes grew heavy. She blinked, glaring faintly. "Seriously… you drugged me again, didn't you?"
Her head lolled to the side, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.
When she opened her eyes, it was to the ceiling of her own bedroom. Familiar shadows filled the corners, her blankets neatly tucked. She exhaled sharply, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Seriously, you've got to quit abducting me all the time for these lessons."
A puff of smoke appeared above her, dissipating to leave a folded note drifting down. She caught it before it hit her chest.
She unfolded the slip. One word stared back at her, written in Raven's careful hand: Sorry.
For a moment, Riko simply stared. Then a faint smile tugged at her lips. She channeled her fire chakra into her palm, igniting the note until it crumbled into gray ash. Watching the flakes drift upward, she whispered, "At least she's apologizing this time."
Join my patreon today to read up to chapter 100 in advance your support is my inspiration join for only 3 to 5$
patreon.com/everstone