"There you go, four bowls of hot miso ramen. Enjoy it slowly," said Old Man Teuchi, placing each bowl in front of them with practiced precision. The rich, savory aroma instantly filled the air, making their mouths water.
"Time to dig in!!" Kiba exclaimed with an excited grin. Though he had lost earlier to Ryuku, he had finally accepted his teammate's strength and let go of his dream of being team leader — for now, at least. That didn't mean he'd given up on defeating him someday.
"Woof." Below him, Akamaru happily gnawed on a piece of meat.
Meanwhile, Hinata joined her hands together, offering a brief prayer for the food… before diving into her noodles with surprising speed. At the rate she was eating, it didn't look like her hunger would be satisfied anytime soon.
Kurenai's expression stiffened. A faint panic crossed her face — her wallet was not ready for this.
Likewise, Ryuku glanced sideways at the little devourer before looking away.
Damn… I forgot she can eat…!!
He thought, half amused.
While his teammates devoured their ramen — one like a hungry beast and the other with terrifying grace — Ryuku simply sat back, enjoying the mouth-watering aroma in silence. He had already eaten to his heart's content at home and wasn't particularly hungry.
"Ryuku, care to explain how you ended up with so many Jutsu, hmm?" Kurenai asked suddenly, her gaze sharp with curiosity. "And how did you master them to that extent? Those aren't the moves nor the precision expected of a rookie Genin…"
As soon as she spoke, both Kiba and Hinata paused mid-bite, their attention snapping to Ryuku. Naturally, they were just as curious. A Genin who could use high-level techniques so flawlessly — how had he done it?
Remaining calm, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary, Ryuku replied with a faint smile,
"One of them came by pure coincidence, another from a generous benefactor… and the last, the strength-enhancement technique of Lady Tsunade, was something Hokage-sama taught me personally."
He then locked eyes with Kurenai and added evenly,
"As for your second question, Sensei… it's only been a day or two since I learned them. That's the whole truth, not a single lie."
"…" His declaration left them speechless.
"H—uh? You're saying you mastered those high-level Jutsus in a day or two?!? Are you insane?!" Kiba raised his eyebrows in disbelief. Whether it was out of jealousy or fear, it didn't matter in the end. For him, learning and mastering his clan techniques had always been a matter of years—effort built through experience and failure. That's why he was struggling to accept Ryuku's statement, which went beyond his understanding. Still, he didn't think it was a lie.
Unlike him, Hinata was fascinated by her teammate's genius. Her mind instantly brought up the image of Hanabi, her little sister. A true prodigy of the Hyuga Clan—whether it was Byakugan or Gentle Fist—Hanabi was far ahead of where Hinata had been at that age.
Ryuku-kun… he's amazing...
Her pale lavender eyes softened with friendly warmth, and a small smile formed on her lips. Yet, as she compared herself to him, a familiar hollowness rose in her throat. But then, the memory of Ryuku's voice from yesterday echoed in her mind—his words telling her to be confident, reminding her that everyone had expectations of her, even if her father didn't.
Her gaze grew sharper.
I need to work harder… for everyone's sake. She made a silent promise to herself.
Kurenai, meanwhile, stared at Ryuku's calm face in a daze, almost as if caught in a Genjutsu cast by an enemy.
He mastered Shadow Clone, Body Flicker, and Lady Tsunade's technique in just a day or two?
Am I supposed to believe that?
Wait… doesn't that mean he's a genius even above Kakashi's level???
Her thoughts spun wildly without pause. She sat in silence, lost in them, and without realizing it, a small grin began to form on her lips.
Not to mention, his mastery of Genjutsu and Medical Ninjutsu is far beyond his peers… and his Chakra Control should be as well…
In the end, it all comes down to his low chakra reserves. But that won't stay low forever. With training, chakra can be increased. And if that happens… he'll become unstoppable among his generation—and maybe even beyond...
Knowing the future potential of her student Ryuku, Kurenai's mood began to soar. If she directly trained him in Genjutsu—her specialty—and other advanced Shinobi techniques, wouldn't he become an unstoppable force?
Just the thought of it filled Kurenai with excitement.
Coming to a decision, she finally resolved her heart.
Although he's a genius, even a genius needs someone to lead them toward the light… Ryuku already understands the Will of Fire quite well—his introduction yesterday made that clear. But until he becomes a true pillar of Konohagakure, I'll make sure his path remains free from unwanted darkness…!
Giving a gentle smile, Kurenai spoke slowly, "If that's the case, then I won't ask for more. But even if you're a fast learner, that doesn't mean you can neglect other aspects of life. The life of a Shinobi is always filled with danger and hardship—that's why our village promotes the three-man team system after graduation..." She looked directly into Ryuku's calm violet eyes before continuing, "...so you can rely on your teammates when it matters most. They become your partners in life and death. Understood?"
Ryuku considered her words for a moment before nodding. "Sensei, you could've just said not to become arrogant and haughty," he said with a soft chuckle. "But it's alright. I'm well aware of my current strengths and weaknesses. That's why I need to work even harder—to become strong enough to protect our beautiful village one day." With that, he began eating his ramen at his own pace.
"..." The table fell silent. Even old man Teuchi glanced up at Ryuku.
Hoho... the kid's all grown up in just a week... he marveled inwardly.
Kiba muttered with a slight growl, "Tch, what a show-off…"
Hinata silently admired her friend's cool confidence. "Ryuku-kun, you can do it," she murmured.
As for their teacher Kurenai, she smiled warmly. "Ryuku, you will become an excellent Shinobi. I believe it."
Though inwardly, she had a slightly different thought.
Mmm… You stole my moment to shine, bad boy...