Ryoma was still somewhat self-aware.
But since Sako liked it, he naturally indulged her a little.
Now, however, if both daughters wanted him to accompany them, favoritism was out of the question.
A compromise, then—turn play into cultivation. Just like the old "bell-grabbing" training method. Wasn't that far more interesting?
With that thought, Ryoma smiled and looked at Naruko.
"My good daughter," he said gently, "didn't you just say you wanted me to accompany you to play?"
Naruko immediately felt danger.
The strange malice hidden in her father's tone put her on full alert. She remembered what Sako had said about cultivation, then recalled the recent changes in her father's behavior. The realization struck instantly.
Her voice trembled.
"D-Dad… you're not planning to make me train with you, are you?!"
"Cultivation can be fun too," Ryoma replied calmly. "Don't you see? Your sister Sako has already found joy in it."
"No! No! No!" Naruko shook her head violently.
Night fell.
Naruko hated cultivation.
Seeing the sheer resistance written all over her face, Ryoma couldn't help but reflect. Perhaps… he really had spoiled this younger daughter far too much in the past.
"It seems," he muttered to himself, "the timing still isn't right."
He waved his hand casually.
A pitch-black rift suddenly tore open in the void.
Yomotsu Hirasaka
One of the space–time techniques of the Ōtsutsuki clan.
With this ability, the user could freely travel through space, opening black portals at will—moving within the same dimension or crossing between different realms with ease.
Just as Ryoma lifted Naruko with one hand like a struggling kitten—
A sudden presence arrived.
"Kakashi!"
The Kakashi before them was no longer a child.
He had grown into a sharp, cold-eyed young man. Unlike his original self, he bore no Sharingan. This was not the Copy Ninja—but something far more dangerous.
An assassination-type shinobi.
His techniques were inherited from Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang, refined further under Ryoma's personal guidance.
Ryoma raised an eyebrow.
"What happened?"
"In the past two weeks," Kakashi reported solemnly, "four jōnin have disappeared."
Ryoma paused.
"Four jōnin?"
Kakashi nodded.
"Yes. From different villages."
Those words caught Ryoma's full attention.
"Kai. Hakura. Nakayoshi. Troy."
Four names.
Four shinobi.
Four different regions.
They had vanished within a single week—no trace of life or death.
In the current era, disappearances were rare. And for someone like Ryoma, such matters usually wouldn't escape notice.
But what truly alarmed him… was something else.
Each of the four missing shinobi possessed a Kekkei Genkai.
Iwagakure's Kai — Steel Release (Kōton)
Sunagakure's Hakura — Swift Release
Kirigakure's Nakayoshi — Dark Release (Meiton)
Kumogakure's Troy — Storm Release (Ranton)
An unmistakable pattern.
Ryoma narrowed his eyes.
"So that's it…"
After a moment's thought, he said, "Kakashi, take the ANBU and investigate immediately. We should have results within a few days."
As he spoke, Ryoma's brow twitched slightly.
"Also," he added, "call Rin and Terumi here."
"Yes, sensei," Kakashi replied, vanishing in a blur.
Not long after, Rin and Terumi arrived.
They bowed respectfully.
"Teacher."
"Lord Ryoma."
Ten years had passed.
Rin and Terumi had both grown into remarkable women.
Terumi had become the strongest female ninja of her generation. Rin, having escaped her tragic fate, rose as one of Konoha's top medical ninjas—her skill now even surpassing Shizune.
Ryoma looked at them and spoke calmly.
"Rin, take Sako with you. She will cultivate at Ryūchi Cave."
Sako's eyes instantly lit up.
"Really?! Dad, I can finally train Sage Mode?!"
Ryoma smiled.
"Yes. The timing is right for you now."
Naruko, however, immediately protested.
"Dad, I don't want to—"
"No," Ryoma interrupted firmly. "You're going too."
"If you can't master Sage Mode at Mount Myōboku, then you'll stay there until you do."
Naruko froze.
Then—
"Dad, you're bullying me!"
Her voice cracked, tears welling up in her eyes as they threatened to spill over.
Ryoma was honestly at a loss for words.
Naruko had always had a strong personality—but ever since becoming a girl, she cried at the drop of a hat!
Then again…
Thinking about it carefully, the original Naruto wasn't exactly stoic either. He cried plenty.
Was this… fate?
Terumi looked from Naruko to Ryoma and asked hesitantly,
"Sir, is there something… unspeakable about Naruko?"
Naruko immediately nodded hard.
"Yes! Sister Terumi really understands me!"
"I understand your size!"
Pop.
Ryoma flicked Naruko's forehead without mercy.
Naruko clutched her head, looking utterly wronged as she protested,
"I don't want to go to Mount Myōboku! Those toads are disgusting!"
Ryoma froze.
…What?
Toads.
Disgusting?
On second thought, for a girl, being sent to live among a group of slimy toads was a bit cruel.
But then again—Ryūchi Cave wasn't any better.
As for the Shikkotsu Forest… at least that one was relatively gentle.
Ryoma turned his gaze toward Sako, but before he could speak, she beat him to it.
"Dad, I'm fine with it," Sako said calmly. "I think Ryūchi Cave is quite good. I've wanted to go there for a long time."
Ryoma nodded, then looked back at Naruko.
"Then… Naruko, you'll go to the Shikkotsu Forest."
Naruko's eyes lit up instantly.
"Okay! I'll go to the Shikkotsu Forest!"
"Mom trained there too!"
Ryoma couldn't help but laugh as he nodded.
"Fine. Go. If you don't master Sage Mode, don't even think about coming back."
Naruko snorted confidently.
"Dad, just wait! I'll definitely be faster than Sako this time!"
"I must've inherited Mom's talent—cultivating Shikkotsu Sage Mode will be as fast as a rocket!"
Sako glanced at her sister, saying nothing.
Naruko immediately bristled.
"Sister Sako, are you underestimating me again?!"
"This time, I'll show you the genius of Naruko!"
"I'm not weaker than you at all!"
Ryoma could only laugh helplessly.
Had he… changed history again?
Naruko cultivating Shikkotsu Sage Mode?
Just thinking about it made his head spin.
However—
Things never developed the way Ryoma expected.
(End of Chapter)
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