Chapter 54: The Weight of a Kage
For the first time, Ryuzen had truly fought against someone of Kage class. The experience left deep impressions.
The gap between Kage level and elite jōnin was absolute—a chasm that couldn't be crossed by talent or hard work alone. When he faced Zabuza Momochi, Ryuzen had seen countless flaws in the Demon's technique. Openings. Weaknesses. Opportunities for exploitation.
Against Uchiha Itachi, he had seen nothing.
Nothing.
Not a single flaw. Not a single opening. Not a single moment where Itachi's concentration wavered or his positioning suffered.
Was Ryuzen's sword slow? Not at all. His draw speed had been honed through years of daily practice, through countless repetitions, through the inherited muscle memory of the world's greatest swordsman. Yet Itachi's Sharingan had tracked every movement, allowing him to dodge with contemptuous ease.
When Ryuzen unleashed his sword energy—a technique Itachi had never encountered, with power that should have been unpredictable—the Akatsuki member had simply used a D-rank substitution technique. The most basic evasion in any ninja's arsenal. And it had worked perfectly.
Itachi's eyesight, his strength, his psychological fortitude—all were top tier. During their brief exchange, he had clearly been holding back. His kicks carried only moderate force. He allowed Ryuzen to deflect them, to counter, to maintain the engagement. He never once used his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Ryuzen hadn't used his full strength either. He was confident that against a restrained Uchiha Itachi—one who wasn't trying to kill—he could hold his own.
But in a true life-or-death battle?
The probability of Ryuzen's death was extremely high.
Amaterasu's black flames would burn anything they touched. Tsukuyomi could trap him in an illusory world where Itachi controlled space and time itself. And Susanoo—with its Sword of Totsuka that sealed anything it pierced, and its Yata Mirror that could block any attack—was a complete nightmare.
Unless he reached the realm of a true Great Swordsman, Ryuzen suspected his slashes would be useless against the Yata Mirror's absolute defense. And a single hit from Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, or the Totsuka Blade meant death or worse.
That wasn't even mentioning Izanagi and Izanami—the ultimate Uchiha forbidden techniques that could rewrite reality itself.
Uchiha Madara. Uchiha Obito. Uchiha Itachi. Ryuzen sighed internally, his mood growing heavy. The three most troublesome figures in the Uchiha clan. All of them live up to their reputations.
He couldn't continue like this.
Against elite jōnin, his current abilities were sufficient. But against true Kage level opponents—especially those with hax abilities like the Mangekyō—his shortcomings became glaringly obvious.
The Breath of All Things needed to reach Great Swordsman level as soon as possible. His two types of Haki needed further development. He needed to find answers, find counters, find a way to bridge the gap between his current self and the monsters who shaped the ninja world's destiny.
"Kakashi! Are you alright?"
While Ryuzen was lost in thought, Kurenai and Asuma had already reached Kakashi, who was picking himself up from the shattered tree.
"Ah... I'm fine." Kakashi rose, looking somewhat disheveled but otherwise unharmed. "I just didn't expect Uchiha Itachi's perception to be so terrifying. He read my movements completely."
Ryuzen approached the three jōnin and nodded to Kurenai. "Kurenai-sensei. I'll be going now."
"Of course." Kurenai nodded, then gave him a pleased smile. "Ryuzen. We were lucky you were here today."
"It was nothing. Just a coincidence." Ryuzen shook his head, then acknowledged Kakashi and Asuma with a brief nod before turning and disappearing into the forest.
Kakashi watched him go, his visible eye thoughtful. "He's really something special."
"His strength is already on par with ours," Asuma commented, biting down on his cigarette.
Kurenai nodded in agreement. "The second day after graduation, he defeated me in our survival exercise. Completely shut down my genjutsu by blindfolding himself. Then on his first C-rank mission, he killed Zabuza Momochi—one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—without a scratch."
She paused, remembering the devastation she had witnessed.
"During the Chunin Exams, he unleashed a slash with the power of S-rank ninjutsu. He's already begun to take on the characteristics of a Kage."
Kakashi was silent for a long moment.
Then, quietly: "A twelve-year-old Kage. Just like the Third Hokage said."
Ryuzen, unaware of the conversation he had left behind, arrived at the small valley that held so many memories.
Afternoon sun hung high in the sky, casting golden light across the water. Two figures stood on the surface—one tall, one short—both having already mastered the basics of water walking.
He watched Hanabi for a long moment, then shook his head with a mixture of amazement and amusement.
"Hinata. Your Hyūga clan has a natural advantage in chakra control."
It was true. When he was young, learning to walk on water had taken him two days of constant effort. Hinata had mastered it in half that time. And Hanabi?
Hanabi had accomplished in a single morning what had taken Ryuzen two full days.
On the shore, Hinata covered her lips with her hand and smiled at his comment.
In the water, Hanabi—soaking wet, her clothes clinging to her small frame—looked at Ryuzen with obvious anticipation.
"Hey, Ryuzen-nii! Did I do well?"
Ryuzen nodded without hesitation. "You've perfectly cleared the first stage."
"Yes!" A bright smile bloomed across Hanabi's cute face.
Then she looked at him with burning eyes. "Ryuzen-nii! What's the second stage?"
Ryuzen reached out and brushed a strand of wet hair from her face, then rubbed her head gently. "Don't rush. You've just learned to walk on water. We'll start the second stage once you're completely comfortable with it."
"Mm-hmm!" Hanabi nodded eagerly—the motion so reminiscent of Hinata that Ryuzen's smile softened further.
Her impatient heart calmed by his words, Hanabi's expression grew serious as she focused on her new skill. Her bare feet stepped carefully across the water's surface, each step sending small ripples spreading outward. The cool sensation beneath her feet fascinated her—a new experience, a new feeling.
Born into the Hyūga clan, Hanabi had received training only in Gentle Fist techniques and basic acupuncture knowledge from her father. Tree climbing, water walking—these fundamental ninja skills had never been taught at home. And the Academy hadn't covered them either.
Experiencing water walking for the first time, Hanabi had fallen instantly in love.
While Hanabi focused on her practice, Ryuzen walked to the shore.
Hinata stood beneath a large tree, watching him approach. His slight smile, the look in his eyes—she recognized that expression immediately. Her face began to heat.
She stepped back instinctively, finding herself pressed against the tree trunk. Her eyes grew misty as she looked up at him.
"Ryu... Ryuzen-kun... should we really do this here? Hanabi is still—mmph!"
Her protest was cut short as his lips covered hers.
On the water, Hanabi continued her practice. She walked. Then she began to run, her small feet pattering across the surface. When she managed a small jump and landed successfully, she turned with a bright smile, ready to show off her achievement to Ryuzen.
What she saw made her freeze.
One hand flew to cover her mouth. The other covered her eyes.
Then, slowly, she spread her fingers just enough to peek through. Her face burned with vicarious embarrassment as she secretly watched the scene beneath the tree.
The two people on shore were completely lost in each other, unaware of their audience.
Hanabi's eyes grew progressively more misty. Her body temperature seemed to rise. Her chakra control—usually perfect—wavered.
SPLASH!
The sound of a heavy object falling into water broke the spell.
On shore, two figures suddenly snapped back to awareness.
In the water, Hanabi spluttered and flailed, having completely lost her footing and plunged face-first into the river.
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