Seeing Riku standing motionless, Itachi thought he had been intimidated by the Uchiha Clan's power. A proud smile crept across the boy's face as his chest puffed out slightly.
"Hyuga Hoshimi," Itachi said, his tone filled with youthful arrogance. "How about it? Isn't my Uchiha Clan far superior to your Hyuga Clan?"
"Ah? Perhaps," Riku replied, sounding genuinely puzzled but still answering honestly.
Itachi was only five years old. Although he possessed remarkable intelligence for his age, his childish pride couldn't be hidden. It was only natural for him to feel proud of his family and clan.
Hearing Riku's calm response, Itachi straightened up and said confidently, "It's good that you understand. We Uchiha are Konoha's strongest Dōjutsu clan—no one else even comes close!"
Riku merely shrugged and didn't bother to argue.
"Alright, alright, your Uchiha are the strongest," he said dryly. "Now, can you take me to pick a ninjutsu already? I've been waiting all day!"
Itachi frowned. "Hmph, how rude. You're really not like a Hyuga at all!"
He pouted but still turned obediently to lead Riku toward his home, where his father, Uchiha Fugaku, was waiting.
As soon as they entered, Riku waved casually and said, "Yo, Uncle Uchiha, we meet again!"
Fugaku, who had been quietly sipping tea, nearly spit it all over the table. As the head of the Uchiha Clan, this was the first time anyone had ever called him "Uncle" so casually.
Looking at Riku's young age, though, Fugaku restrained himself from scolding the boy. Composing his expression, he said in a calm and dignified tone, "Hyuga Hoshimi, I am Uchiha Fugaku, head of the Uchiha Clan. You should address me as Lord Fugaku—or Clan Head Fugaku."
Riku sighed and waved a hand dismissively. "Ai, Uncle, why do you Uchiha always care so much about titles? Fine, fine, I'll call you Clan Head Fugaku, happy?"
"Good. Then, Clan Head Fugaku," Riku continued without pause, "where's the ninjutsu you promised me? Hurry and show me already—I'm dying of boredom!"
Fugaku's mouth twitched. The boy's tone held not even a shred of respect. This brat, he thought, really doesn't act like a member of the Hyuga Branch Family. In fact, he's more like the Hokage's mischievous grandson.
Suppressing his irritation, Fugaku set down his teacup, shook his head, and finally took out several black scrolls filled with ninjutsu techniques. He placed them neatly on the table.
"Don't worry," Fugaku said, a faint smile on his lips. "My Uchiha Clan always keeps its promises. These are all C-rank ninjutsu collected by our clan. Go on—choose whichever one you like."
Riku's eyes widened as he saw more than a dozen scrolls spread before him. His small face practically lit up.
After suffering for years in the Hyuga Clan, he had never seen such an extravagant display. To him, these weren't just scrolls—they were treasures.
Thanks to his experience point panel, Riku could record any skill he practiced or even saw once. But even after becoming Hyuga Sōtai's personal guard, he had rarely come into contact with elemental ninjutsu, let alone had a chance to record them.
He wasn't about to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With a slightly sheepish grin, he asked, "Clan Head Fugaku, would it be alright if I looked through all these scrolls first—to see which one seems easiest to learn?"
Fugaku hesitated briefly, then nodded. If it had been a ninja with extraordinary talent, he would have been more cautious. After all, some geniuses could learn a technique just by glancing at it. But this boy was a nameless branch member of the Hyuga Clan—there was no reason to worry.
In Fugaku's mind, the Hyuga were a bunch of stiff martial purists. Despite having the Byakugan—a dōjutsu perfectly suited for ninjutsu—they rarely practiced elemental arts. They obsessed over their Gentle Fist techniques instead.
It must be said—they were an odd bunch.
But their peculiarity was also convenient; it meant they would never surpass the Uchiha Clan.
What Fugaku failed to consider, however, was that the Hyuga's behavior was deliberate.
Indeed, the Byakugan could see the flow of chakra within the human body, allowing for precise self-control—an invaluable trait for ninjutsu practice. If a Hyuga with an active Byakugan focused on elemental ninjutsu, their combat ability could increase by fifty percent, or even several times more for the talented ones.
One person growing stronger meant little. But an entire clan mastering elemental techniques? That would be a terrifying force. Even if they didn't surpass the Uchiha outright, they could easily crush every other ninja clan in Konoha.
The Uchiha would have pursued such power without hesitation, flaunting it proudly. But the Hyuga were different—older, more calculating, and above all, cautious. They valued stability above all else.
A clan that could devise something as cruel yet pragmatic as the Caged Bird Seal wouldn't risk upsetting the village's balance by flaunting their strength.
"Learn ninjutsu and grow powerful?" the Hyuga elders would scoff. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible."
It was this obsession with stability that allowed the Hyuga to remain Konoha's nominal "First Clan," while the Uchiha, though stronger in battle, faced constant suspicion and political isolation.
In terms of raw politics, the Hyuga Main Family had far sharper instincts. Unfortunately, the Uchiha would never understand that truth.
Even so, while the Hyuga Clan didn't encourage members to study elemental ninjutsu, they didn't forbid it either. So, when Riku chose to learn one or two, no one would interfere.
But Riku's ambition was far greater than that.
As he flipped through the scrolls, messages flashed across his experience panel:
You have learned Ninjutsu: Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique (C)
You have learned Ninjutsu: Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique (C)
You have learned Ninjutsu: Fire Release: Phoenix Fire Technique (C)
Though Fugaku had generously presented more than a dozen C-rank techniques, almost all of them were Fire Release, true to the Uchiha style. Only one was different—Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
Even so, Riku was thrilled. With both fire and wind techniques recorded, his combat options expanded dramatically.
He had already tested his chakra paper earlier and confirmed that he possessed three natural chakra natures: Fire, Wind, and Lightning. Combined with the Yin and Yang affinities hidden within his body, that made five elemental natures in total.
The two elemental ninjutsu before him—Fire and Wind—were perfectly suited for him.
Riku's plan wasn't to master a large collection of techniques. Instead, he would focus on the most distinctive jutsu for each element.
For Fire Release, there was the Great Fireball Technique; for Wind Release, the Great Breakthrough.
With the experience point panel, he could refine these foundational jutsu to master each chakra nature's transformation. From there, he could gradually cultivate the remaining elemental attributes—an efficient, systematic path to power.
This was the same principle followed by most skilled shinobi in the ninja world. Even the so-called "Professor of Ninjutsu," Hiruzen Sarutobi, relied mainly on a few common techniques. What set him apart was not quantity, but mastery.
When perfected, even a basic C-rank jutsu could unleash the destructive power of an A-rank or even forbidden technique.
After scanning every scroll and ensuring they were all recorded in his system, Riku finally picked one—the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique—and tucked it under his arm.
He had originally planned to stay and mooch a meal from the Uchiha household, but when he noticed Itachi's resentful little eyes glaring at him from the side, he coughed awkwardly.
"Right, I'll be going now," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thanks again, Clan Head Fugaku. And you too, Itachi."
Before anyone could stop him, Riku slipped out the door, grinning faintly.
Behind him, Fugaku shook his head with a soft chuckle. "That boy… definitely not a typical Hyuga."
Itachi crossed his arms, still pouting. "He's weird. He doesn't act like any Hyuga I've ever met."
Fugaku smiled knowingly. "Perhaps. But sometimes, Itachi, the ones who don't act as expected are the most dangerous."
Outside, the evening sun bathed Konoha's rooftops in a warm orange glow. Riku walked down the quiet path, the scroll clutched in his hands.
Fire and wind…
The corners of his lips lifted into a determined smile.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, "time to start grinding for real."