Chapter 52: The Youngest Student
Early the next morning.
A rare foggy day shrouded Konoha in mist, softening the edges of buildings still scarred from the invasion. The village was beginning the slow process of rebuilding, both physically and emotionally.
Ryuzen had just exited his sword meditation when the door slid open.
"Now then, big brother, please teach me how to train!"
Hinata had arrived as usual, but today she wasn't alone. A smaller figure peeked out from behind her, then darted forward the moment she spotted Ryuzen.
Hanabi Hyūga—seven years old, standing just one point three two meters tall, barely reaching Ryuzen's stomach—positioned herself directly in front of him. Her pure white eyes seemed to sparkle as she gazed up at him with unabashed admiration.
"I want to become as strong as my sister too!"
After watching Hinata's match against Naruto in the Chunin Exams, Hanabi had finally realized that her sister—the sister she had always been told was weak, the sister who had lost to her when they were younger—had surpassed her completely. And after seeing Ryuzen's overwhelming power during the invasion, she had pieced together the truth through careful questioning over the past two days.
Her sister hadn't grown strong by accident. She had grown strong because of him.
So Hanabi had woken early, pestered Hinata relentlessly, and followed her here. She wanted to meet her idol. More importantly, she wanted to become as powerful as her sister.
Ryuzen, who had just been contemplating the nature of his swordsmanship, looked down at the enthusiastic little girl. Then he raised his eyes to Hinata, who stood behind Hanabi with a helpless expression.
Meeting his surprised gaze, Hinata apologized softly: "Ryuzen-kun, I'm sorry... Hanabi kept insisting on coming. I hope she's not disturbing you."
"There's no need to apologize between us."
Ryuzen shook his head gently. He reached down and placed his hand on Hanabi's head, feeling her soft, silky hair. A knowing smile played at his lips.
"Your name is Hanabi, right?"
"Mm-hmm!" Hanabi nodded eagerly, then looked up at him with obvious hope. "Can I call you Ryuzen-nii?"
The honorific caught him slightly off guard, but he nodded with a small smile. "Of course. If you have time in the future, you can come with your sister."
Hanabi's eyes literally sparkled. "Really?!"
Ryuzen nodded again. He gently pulled Hanabi to her feet, then lowered himself slightly to meet her eyes directly.
"You want me to train you? To make you as strong as Hinata?"
"Mm-hmm!" The nod was vigorous, almost violent in its enthusiasm. The motion was so reminiscent of a younger Hinata that Ryuzen felt his smile soften involuntarily.
But his expression turned serious. "Have you made up your mind? I don't like children who give up halfway."
Gulp.
Looking into Ryuzen's red eyes, Hanabi felt an inexplicable pressure. She swallowed nervously but met his gaze without flinching. When she spoke, her young voice carried unexpected firmness:
"Yes. I want to become as strong as my sister."
Ryuzen studied her for a long moment. Then suddenly, he smiled—a genuine, warm expression that transformed his usually cool features.
He looked at Hinata. "She's much braver than you were at this age."
Hinata didn't show any disappointment at the comparison. Instead, she smiled with approval and said: "Yes. Father has always placed the clan's important responsibilities on her."
"In that case, we can't be perfunctory." Ryuzen rubbed Hanabi's head again, then suggested: "Let's start with tree climbing and water walking. Then we'll move on to weighted training. What do you think?"
Hinata nodded in complete agreement.
Hanabi looked between them with confusion, having no idea what they were discussing.
"Let's go." Ryuzen lifted his tachi from the weapon stand and headed for the door.
Hinata took Hanabi's hand and followed.
As they walked through the village and into the surrounding forest, Hanabi held her sister's hand and looked up curiously.
"Sister, where are we going?"
Hinata's face showed a hint of nostalgia. Her voice grew soft, almost dreamy.
"A very special place. It's where Ryuzen-kun and I used to train together."
She was speaking of the small, hidden valley where she had first discovered Ryuzen's secret training ground years ago. The place where she had mustered the courage to step out from behind that tree. The place where their fate had truly intertwined.
If she hadn't taken that chance back then, she might still be too shy to even express her feelings to him now.
Ryuzen, walking ahead, caught the nostalgic tone in her voice. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
That place... neither of us could ever forget it.
"So... so romantic!"
Hanabi's eyes sparkled again. She might not fully understand, but she recognized the feeling in her sister's voice.
The comment made Hinata blush slightly.
Then Ryuzen stopped abruptly.
Both sisters nearly walked into him. Hinata looked at his suddenly serious expression with confusion.
"Ryuzen-kun? What's wrong?"
"Ah... there's something I need to handle." Ryuzen didn't look at her. His gaze was fixed in a specific direction, his Kenbunshoku Haki painting a clear picture of what was happening some distance away. "Hinata, take Hanabi to the valley first. I'll catch up."
Hinata's Byakugan activated briefly—the veins at her temples bulging, then receding. She saw nothing immediately threatening, but she trusted his perception completely.
"Be careful, Ryuzen-kun."
He nodded once, then vanished.
Forest clearing. Riverbank.
Four figures stood in confrontation.
"It really is you, Uchiha Itachi." Asuma Sarutobi stared at the two men who had removed their cloaks, his voice low and hard. "You who killed your own clan members actually dare to return here? You have some nerve."
Kisame Hoshigaki grinned, his shark-like face splitting into a pleased expression. "Oh? You know Itachi-san? Then allow me to introduce myself as well."
Kurenai Yūhi studied the massive figure with the wrapped weapon on his back. Her voice was steady as she recited from memory:
"Hoshigaki Kisame. Former ninja of Kirigakure. One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Wanted for assassination of the Daimyo and engaging in activities to destabilize the country. S-rank missing-nin from the Land of Water."
"Ooh, you've done your homework." Kisame's grin widened. "Then I suppose I'll be asking for your guidance in combat."
Asuma produced his signature weapons—the Chakra Blades "Flyingswallow"—and returned the grin with one of his own. "If you have a future to worry about. I'll kill you here."
"It's been a while, Asuma-san. Kurenai-san." Uchiha Itachi's greeting was calm, almost gentle. "Please leave us alone. I don't want to kill you."
"Hah. That doesn't sound like something you'd say." Asuma bit down on his cigarette, his stance ready.
The atmosphere grew heavy. Tense. Four killers measured each other, waiting for the first move.
FWOOSH—
A whirlwind stirred fallen leaves along the riverbank.
Kisame exploded into motion, his massive Samehada swinging directly at Kurenai.
CLANG!
Metal shrieked against metal. Asuma's Flyingswallow had intercepted the strike, the blades locked against Samehada's scales.
Kurenai leaped backward, creating distance. Her eyes fixed on Itachi as her hands began forming seals.
The world twisted. Shifted.
A massive tree materialized behind Itachi. Tentacle-like branches spread from its base, wrapping around his body, binding him in place. Above him, Kurenai leaned out from the tree's trunk, kunai in hand, ready to strike.
Itachi looked up at her calmly. His Sharingan spun—three tomoe blurring into motion.
Kurenai's vision changed.
Suddenly she was the one bound to the tree. Branches wrapped her limbs, her torso, held her immobile. And standing before her, kunai raised, was Uchiha Itachi.
Genjutsu rebound!
Kurenai's face went pale.
Itachi's kunai descended toward her—
And stopped.
SWISH—
A silver sword light flashed past Itachi's waist like a shooting star.
Itachi glanced down at his body—split in two at the waist. Then he looked sideways at the silver-haired boy who had appeared beside Kurenai.
"Fast sword," he observed calmly.
POOF.
The bisected body dissolved into smoke.
Kurenai's beautiful eyes went wide. "A shadow clone?! When did he form the seals?!"
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