After Riku happily returned home, he immediately brought up his attribute panel:
[Ninjutsu: Clone Technique (E): lv4 (287/400)]
[Ninjutsu: Transformation Technique (E): lv7 (698/700)]
[Ninjutsu: Substitution Technique (E): lv6 (435/600)]
[Taijutsu: Hyuga Gentle Fist (C): lv6 (2015/3000)]
[Sealing Jutsu: Seal Point Finger Seal (D): lv1 (12/200)]
[Ninjutsu: Body Flicker Technique (C): lv3 (325/800)]
[Dōjutsu: Byakugan (A): lv2 (2025/3200)]
[Ninjutsu: Substitution Technique (E): lv10 (MAX) (Breakthrough available)]
[Chakra Refining Technique (D): lv10 (MAX) (Breakthrough available)]
[Free Experience Points: 11,943]
[Evaluation: Genin, your Taijutsu is a bit out of line!]
The harvest from a single day today was at least comparable to a week of Riku's own diligent training! This was undoubtedly the benefit of having a teacher and proper resources.
Because his training mainly focused on Gentle Fist and the Body Flicker Technique, these two skills had grown the most. Gentle Fist leveled up by one, reaching level six—a mark even a veteran Hyuga Chunin might struggle to achieve. Body Flicker Technique jumped to level three, placing Riku in the top tier among Genin.
What delighted Riku most, however, was the increase in Free Experience Points. In just one day, he gained over a thousand points. At this rate, he might eventually use them to max out a Ninjutsu entirely!
He glanced at the Seal Point Finger Seal, still at level one. The temptation to spend points on it flickered in his mind.
"No," Riku said firmly. "I can't get carried away. Free Experience Points are precious. They're meant for breaking skill limits. For now, I should rely on my own training."
Having convinced himself, Riku ignored the Free Experience Points for the moment. He then studied the panel's evaluation with a knowing smile. Even the system acknowledged his progress. Though it only praised his Taijutsu, it was a good start. One day, he hoped to see the word Invincible displayed there.
"Currently, my Chakra reserves and Ninjutsu aren't very strong, but with Gentle Fist, I'm probably top-tier among normal Genin. Maybe I could contend with a weaker Chunin. Against a Special Jonin or a full Jonin, though… I'd be done in an instant."
Using Hyuga Seisai as a reference, Riku could roughly gauge the true strength of a Jonin. Even if Seisai was lacking in some areas, Riku acknowledged his formidable skill. Being around him constantly made Riku feel that a single mistake could be fatal.
"There's still a lot of room for improvement, but for now… I should focus on my Sealing Jutsu!"
Though he yearned for greater strength, Riku never forgot his original goal: to become a free bird, breaking out of the cage. In the dim, quiet room, the faint sounds of palms colliding and fingers forming seals could be heard. With each motion, the proficiency of the Seal Point Finger Seal increased.
The notifications ringing from the panel encouraged Riku further. He trained until deep into the night, pushing his Chakra close to depletion, and finally collapsed into a deep sleep.
Since Riku's Chakra Refining Technique had reached its maximum level, it had become second nature. He constantly refined his Chakra. When breaking through skill limits, he chose to increase the refining speed, allowing him to fully restore his Chakra in one or two hours. This meant he could train hard the next day without worry.
To make his disguise convincing, Riku even sealed away most of his Chakra beforehand, maintaining the appearance of a newcomer. Even if no one would bother sensing the Chakra of a five-year-old, Riku was careful.
This also had another benefit: by keeping the Seal Point Finger Seal active, his experience points for the skill accumulated steadily. Small gains, but over time, they would be significant.
As Riku slept, a dark figure quietly left the small house and leapt over the adjacent courtyard wall. Under the moonlight, the figure was revealed to be none other than Hyuga Tetsu, missing an arm. His gaze was complex, a mixture of shock, worry, and relief.
"What terrifying perseverance, little Riku," Tetsu murmured. "Don't let down your parents' love. Work hard… I'll watch you spread your wings and soar."
Though he didn't use Ninjutsu or Byakugan, Tetsu had heard Riku's training through traditional eavesdropping. He didn't know exactly what Riku was practicing, but he could sense the dedication. He offered silence and protection—his way of helping.
Life gradually became peaceful for Riku. He adapted to his new identity, training and studying alongside Yuto, who was young and focused on his own growth. Though routine, Riku found joy in the steady progression. Every day, he could see his skills improving, experience points increasing.
Of course, Riku never displayed the full extent of his abilities to others. To them, he only seemed to practice the forms of Gentle Fist, unable to apply it in combat. The other Ninjutsu taught by Seisai were equally restrained. Riku, the supposed uncut gem, appeared stubborn—a fact that infuriated Seisai. Without careful upbringing, Seisai might have given up long ago.
Hinata Katyu, watching closely, could not remain idle. Seeing Riku show signs of slacking, she arranged private lessons overnight: guidance, medicinal baths, training insights—all meticulously organized. With such support, Riku revealed just enough skill to meet her expectations, spurring Yuto to work harder as well.
In Yuto's eyes, Riku had finally reached a level where he could match his grandson. Secretly, however, Riku had developed far beyond that, capable of defeating ten Yutos with one hand if he wished. But such power remained hidden from outsiders.
Thus, Riku continued his quiet training, steadily improving, all while maintaining the facade of a diligent, yet ordinary, student. His path to freedom was long, but every day brought him closer to the wings he yearned to spread.