NOVEL NEXT Chapter 11: CHAPTER 8.
The sun cast a warm, orange glow as it began its descent toward the horizon, illuminating the stillness of the late afternoon. Near a small, tranquil lake, Sasuke Uchiha was practicing his fireball ninjutsu, a technique he had been honing diligently. For the past week, Ryuga had quietly observed Sasuke's training sessions from a distance. Despite not interacting directly, Ryuga had come to understand a great deal about Sasuke's fire-style techniques.
In that week, Sasuke had almost exclusively practiced his fireball jutsu, perfecting the size and intensity of the flame, while also working on his shuriken and kunai throws. Ryuga, in turn, had also mastered the fireball jutsu, imitating the hand signs and chakra control required. He had even adapted the technique in his own unique way.
Ryuga's Fire Dragon Breath
The fireball jutsu was built on a straightforward concept—drawing a large amount of chakra into the lungs, transforming it into fire nature chakra through a series of hand seals, and then releasing it in a powerful burst. The hand signs were crucial for focusing and transforming the chakra, releasing it as a fireball capable of incinerating targets.
But Ryuga had taken the technique further. Instead of gathering chakra in his lungs and expelling it, he manipulated the surrounding chakra directly with his palms, channeling it outward in a continuous stream that resembled a dragon's breath. He named this new technique Fire Dragon Breath. Unlike the fireball jutsu, Ryuga's technique didn't rely on rapid bursts but instead created a steady flow of controlled fire, the flames roaring out like a dragon's exhalation.
With his Wisdom Core, Wiz, Ryuga analyzed and simulated the jutsu's mechanisms, determining that if he could master elemental chakra nature transformation, he could develop similar techniques with other elements, like water, light, and darkness. Wiz had already mentioned that learning chakra nature transformation would allow Ryuga not only to manipulate the appearance and behavior of his fire techniques but also control their temperature and destructive potential. Fire Dragon Breath was just the beginning.
As Ryuga continued observing Sasuke's progress with his new skills, he noticed two figures approaching Sasuke from a distance. They were Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke's older brother, and Shisui Uchiha, Itachi's closest friend. Sasuke's face lit up as he spotted them, and he hurried over to greet them.
"Brother Itachi! Brother Shisui! You're back!" Sasuke called out, his voice filled with excitement. "Did your mission go well?"
"Yes," Itachi Uchiha replied with a gentle nod, his gaze resting affectionately on his younger brother. "I finished the mission, so I thought we could spend some time together—and maybe fit in some training, as you keep asking."
"I've been looking forward to seeing how you're doing," added Shisui Uchiha, a close friend of Itachi's and a skilled shinobi himself. "It's been a while since I last saw you."
As the three Uchiha conversed, Ryuga realized it was time for him to leave. Living on his own since he turned five, Ryuga had learned the importance of self-sufficiency in the shinobi world. Like all orphans in the village, he received a small monthly stipend from the village, meant to help him survive independently and prepare him for the future rigors of long-term missions where he would need to fend for himself.
Ryuga turned to leave, hoping to slip away unnoticed, but his escape was cut short when he suddenly felt the sharp edge of a kunai pressed against his neck. A cold voice, calm yet imposing, spoke from behind him.
"Who are you? And why are you watching Sasuke from a distance?"
Ryuga remained still, his mind quickly processing the situation. He knew this was bound to happen sooner or later. After all, Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke's older brother and a notoriously protective "bro-con," wouldn't tolerate anyone watching Sasuke without knowing their intentions. He'd only been planning to observe from a distance, but now he had been caught.
Composing himself, Ryuga answered calmly, "I was observing Sasuke's training to learn from him. I wanted to see his fireball ninjutsu up close and try to improve my own skills. That's the only reason I'm here."
Itachi was silent, listening carefully as Ryuga continued. "I'm an orphan, so there's no one to teach me ninjutsu. Sasuke and I are in the same class, and he's always at the top. He excels in every test and skill. I thought if I watched him train, I might be able to follow his example and improve myself."
Itachi's expression softened slightly, but his voice remained stern. "Then why didn't you ask him directly? Why didn't you try to befriend Sasuke instead of lurking in the shadows?"
Ryuga hesitated, then answered, "Sasuke isn't like this at school. He doesn't talk to anyone, let alone become friends with them. He's very distant, and anyone who tries to get close is quickly brushed off. I was honestly surprised to see him this cheerful around you two."
After hearing this, Itachi seemed to consider Ryuga's words. Slowly, he removed the kunai from Ryuga's neck. It seemed that Ryuga's explanation had given Itachi pause, especially the part about Sasuke having no friends at school. Without another word, Itachi took hold of Ryuga's shoulder, and, in a swift movement, they both disappeared from the spot.
One moment, Ryuga was standing alone; the next, he found himself standing in front of Sasuke and Shisui, who looked startled to see him there. Glancing at his surroundings, Ryuga asked Wiz silently, 'Wiz, did you catch what Itachi just did?'
Wiz responded in his usual analytical tone:
'ANSWER: AFFIRMATIVE. THE INDIVIDUAL NAMED ITACHI UCHIA JUST EXCHANGED YOUR POSITION BY REPLACING A LOG IN YOUR PREVIOUS POSITION.'
Ryuga's mind quickly pieced together what Itachi had done. "So, he used the Body Substitution Jutsu to swap my position with a wood log, then immediately followed up with the Body Flicker Jutsu to move us both here." The realization struck Ryuga just how advanced Itachi's skills were. Performing two jutsu back-to-back with such precision was a feat beyond most shinobi. "Yeah, he's on a completely different level," Ryuga thought, glancing at the two figures in front of him with admiration and a hint of awe.
Sasuke and Shisui turned as Itachi appeared with Ryuga at his side. Sasuke's face was filled with surprise, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make sense of Ryuga's unexpected presence. Shisui, on the other hand, remained composed; he had noticed Ryuga's presence from the moment they arrived.
Earlier, as Itachi and Shisui approached Sasuke, they had spotted a young boy watching from a distance. Judging by his size and age, he looked to be around Sasuke's age—likely a classmate. Shisui and Itachi exchanged a glance, then silently observed the boy for fifteen to twenty minutes, watching closely for any signs of hostility or ill intentions. But the boy's gaze was steady and focused, as he watched Sasuke's training.
"It seems he's been observing your training from afar," Itachi explained, looking pointedly at Sasuke. "So, I brought him over to train with you—and so you two can become friends."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he stared daggers at Ryuga. Ryuga, not wanting to meet Sasuke's intense gaze, looked elsewhere. He hadn't expected Itachi to go this far; all he'd wanted was to watch Sasuke train. Now, Itachi was suggesting they should become friends?
"Brother!" Sasuke protested, his voice laced with frustration. "Why do I have to train with him? I don't even know his name, let alone want to be friends!"
Itachi simply smiled, then flicked Sasuke's forehead gently with his two fingers—a familiar gesture between the two brothers. "Then get to know him. You can learn his name right now, and you'll be friends by the end of today. Besides, I won't train you alone anymore unless he joins."
Sasuke looked up at Itachi in dismay, clutching his forehead where he'd been flicked. Turning to Shisui with pleading eyes, he hoped his older friend might intervene. But Shisui only shook his head, his expression sympathetic yet firm.
Realizing there was no getting out of this, Sasuke shot a glare at Ryuga, silently blaming him for the situation. Sasuke had hoped to impress his father and become stronger like Itachi, and now, this boy he barely knew had suddenly become a roadblock in his plans. Ryuga felt the weight of Sasuke's glare but chose to ignore it, focusing instead on the opportunity before him.
Itachi had his reasons. He understood that Sasuke was ambitious and determined, but he also saw the importance of Sasuke having friends. In the shinobi world, bonds could be a source of both strength and solace. Just as he shared a deep bond with Shisui, Itachi hoped that Sasuke could build meaningful relationships of his own, even if it required a little push.
Observing the unfolding scene, Ryuga felt a mixture of amusement and relief. He hadn't anticipated that his simple desire to observe Sasuke's training would lead to this. But now, with Itachi's encouragement, he would have the chance to learn from some of the most skilled ninjas of their generation.
Embracing the opportunity, Ryuga stepped forward and extended a hand. "Hello. My name is Ryuga. I'm eight years old, and I'm an orphan. I go to the same school and class as you, Sasuke," he said, glancing at Sasuke with a smile.