No matter how turbulent the shadows beneath the surface were, everyday life in the village continued at its usual calm rhythm.
The next morning, after finishing breakfast, Riku went straight to Might Dai and his son to explain that he might not be able to train with them anymore.
Might Dai expressed deep regret.
That past month of training with Riku had been the most fulfilling time of his life. He could feel his strength improving almost daily, and Riku's clever ideas had constantly inspired him—helping him develop new and powerful Taijutsu techniques.
To be honest, Might Dai no longer saw Riku as a mere child but as a true partner in growth.
If possible, Dai didn't want him to leave at all. But he understood—Riku had more important things to pursue. As a partner, his role was simply to support him.
Before parting, Might Dai reminded him, "Come find us whenever you have time!" Then he and Might Guy began another day of fiery training.
Watching the father and son move with such vitality, Riku felt a sense of relief. After observing them for a while, he turned and headed toward the Ninja Academy.
A month later, he once again stepped into the first-year classroom of Class 1.
Under the resentful glare of a certain "old man" with prominent nasolabial folds, Riku sat down beside him, patted his shoulder with a grin, and said cheerfully, "Yo, Itachi-kun, long time no see!"
Uchiha Itachi was clearly surprised to see him—after all, Riku had skipped class for an entire month!
But attendance wasn't the issue burning in Itachi's heart. What he couldn't forget was the crushing defeat from their last encounter—a humiliation that had been etched into his memory.
For the past month, that defeat had driven him. He trained relentlessly, determined to one day return the favor.
So, seeing Riku in class today made his blood stir. "You've finally shown up, you hateful Hyūga!" Itachi declared, eyes blazing. "This afternoon, I'll challenge you again!"
Yes—just a challenge.
Even now, Itachi didn't truly know how strong Riku was. The last time, he hadn't even managed to see his opponent's real power before being defeated in a single move.
But a month of harsh training had changed him—or so he believed. None of his classmates could last even one bout against him anymore. Those successive victories rekindled his confidence, and with that new pride, he issued another challenge.
However, in response, Riku merely cast him a playful glance, then shook his head lightly.
"No," he said simply. "I don't have time."
He wasn't lying. Riku still had plenty of skills to grind and countless training goals to reach. With limited time, he could barely complete his own regimen—let alone waste it on pointless duels.
A challenge from a young Uchiha didn't interest him at all.
If Itachi were already in his adult prime, sparring might have been worthwhile; trading blows with strong opponents is an excellent way to gain experience.
But the current Itachi? Barely more than a child—did he even have the strength of a Genin yet?
Even if he did, the gap between them was far too vast. Fighting him would yield no benefit.
So Riku declined without hesitation.
Itachi, however, misunderstood completely. He didn't know about Riku's priorities—he only knew that this Hyūga had humiliated him once, and he had to win back his pride.
Then a thought struck him. The last time they met, Riku had extorted two C-Rank Ninjutsu scrolls from the Uchiha clan. Back then, he hadn't refused Itachi's challenge either.
So perhaps this time, it was the same reason again. Did Riku expect some kind of payment before accepting?
"It must be that," Itachi thought, eyes narrowing. "What a greedy Hyūga!"
Believing he had seen through everything, he grew smug, even looking down on Riku with a trace of disdain.
People consumed by greed, he reasoned, could never achieve true greatness. He, Uchiha Itachi, would easily surpass someone like that.
Feeling self-satisfied, he straightened his back, his arrogance rising.
"Hmph! You greedy fellow, always chasing profit," he said coldly. "Don't worry—you'll get your reward. As long as you accept my challenge, win or lose, I'll give you one Ninjutsu of your choosing! Of course, nothing above B-Rank."
He crossed his arms and added confidently, "Well then—it's settled. After class, at the usual place."
With that, he turned away, no longer paying Riku any attention.
Riku, left staring after him, was momentarily speechless.
He didn't quite grasp the entire misunderstanding, but one thing he heard loud and clear: a B-Rank Ninjutsu as a reward.
Wait—did that mean B-Rank was on the table?
Such generosity left him genuinely impressed. A B-Rank Ninjutsu wasn't some common technique—it was considered a fairly advanced one.
Most Jōnin only mastered a handful of B-Rank skills, and anything above that often verged on Forbidden Techniques. Ordinary ninja rarely had the chance to even glimpse such scrolls.
Riku couldn't help admiring the casual wealth of the Uchiha clan. For them, throwing around a B-Rank Ninjutsu was apparently no big deal.
He also felt a faint pang of envy—but it was quickly replaced with confidence. So what if he wasn't born into privilege? He had his golden finger, his system that allowed him to gain experience faster than anyone else. That was worth more than a silver spoon.
Still, he couldn't deny the temptation. He'd recently fought Shisui and discovered several weaknesses in his arsenal—most notably, his lack of higher-level Ninjutsu.
In this world, Ninjutsu was the most precious of treasures. Villages rose or fell based on their mastery of techniques.
A single B-Rank Ninjutsu could fetch millions of ryō on the black market. Even within the Five Great Ninja Villages, such techniques were closely guarded secrets. Ordinary shinobi could only dream of them unless they were born into elite clans.
And now, this young Uchiha heir was offering one so casually.
How could he not take advantage of that?
So, despite himself, Riku gave in to Itachi's "money offensive." It wasn't even about greed—he was simply practical. If a bit of his time could earn him a powerful technique, why refuse?
He already had a particular Ninjutsu in mind—something perfectly suited to his fighting style. If things went as he expected, he would soon add it to his repertoire.
The rest of the morning at the Ninja Academy felt unbearably dull for someone like Riku, whose mind and soul were already those of an adult.
First-year classes focused mainly on chakra refinement, something he had long since mastered.
Other subjects included Konoha's history, a topic that made him want to yawn. The lessons, naturally, glorified the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi—his "great achievements," his "unparalleled strength," and, of course, his Will of Fire.
If Riku hadn't already known the real history of the shinobi world, he might have been fooled by the propaganda.
According to these teachers, the Third Hokage was the strongest Hokage in Konoha's history, a shining paragon of virtue and wisdom.
It was hard not to roll his eyes.
Beside him, though, Uchiha Itachi listened with rapt attention. His normally calm eyes gleamed like twin lamps whenever the "Will of Fire" was mentioned.
Clearly, the Third Hokage's ideological brainwashing—what Riku jokingly called "the strongest genjutsu"—had already taken deep root in Itachi's young mind.
Watching this, Riku could only sigh inwardly.
"Old Sarutobi," he thought, half amused, half wary. "As terrifying as ever."
By the end of class, he was more than ready for the afternoon.
After all, while Itachi thought he was proving his pride, Riku saw this "duel" as a golden opportunity—to gain both combat experience and a B-Rank Ninjutsu scroll.
It was, quite literally, being delivered to his door.
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