The forest was pitch black and utterly silent.
Rihito Sato stood alert in the darkness, one hand gripping his bow, the other nocking an arrow. His mind began racing through possibilities.
The attacker's identity was unknown, and the ambush had come without warning. But based on how the opponent had moved… this wasn't a jōnin. If it were, Rihito wouldn't even have had time to react.
And he himself? Just a six-year-old Academy student. Even a low-level genin could bully him with ease.
If this were an enemy ninja from another village, they'd have jumped out and started trash-talking by now.
But this attacker was hiding. No frontal assault. No words.
That meant, they weren't confident they could win.
Could it be a classmate? Someone from the Academy who wants to teach me a lesson?
Rihito sifted through recent interactions.
Only one name came to mind: 207. The kid he'd intentionally insulted the other day.
So it's you, huh?
Rihito quietly slipped his poison gas arrow and explosive arrow back into his item space.
Too dangerous. If this really was a classmate, accidentally killing someone would be a nightmare. In the shinobi world, killing an ally was a serious crime.
Having deduced that the attacker might just be another Academy student, he relaxed slightly.
Alright then… let's go with something a little flashier.
The path back to the village from Training Field 13 was about 300 meters through the woods.
That meant… only three arrows would be needed to light the way.
Rihito pulled out a flame arrow, aka the "gasoline arrow." Wherever it landed, fire would follow.
Arson is a felony, he thought dryly, but whatever. Time to run.
With practiced ease, he loosed the arrow. The moment it ignited the treetops in a burst of flame, he bolted, using the firelight as cover.
Suddenly, a figure darted out to block his path.
Rihito's eyes narrowed. Even in the mask and all-black clothing, he recognized them instantly.
White hair. That height…
"Hiruko, what the hell are you doing?"
He burst out laughing.
But the masked figure only sneered, and attacked.
Their fists collided, and Rihito realized instantly:
Not Hiruko. This power… it's Tsunade.
After several exchanges, Rihito jumped back onto a tree branch.
"Tsunade? What are you doing?!"
But before he could finish, someone tried to kick him from behind.
Rihito twisted away mid-air and landed lightly. The fire from his earlier arrow cast enough light for him to spot the second figure.
White hair again. But this one… actually was Hiruko.
Seriously?
Rihito almost laughed out loud.
Both of them had disguised themselves with henge techniques and masks,
But Tsunade had transformed into Hiruko.
And Hiruko had transformed into Tsunade.
There are only two of you! Switching identities just made it more obvious, you morons.
Tsunade turned and immediately scowled when she saw what Hiruko had done.
"Why did you transform into me?!"
Hiruko replied flatly, "You transformed into me first."
Originally, the plan was to flush out Rihito's trump card and retreat. Ideally without revealing their identities. Tsunade especially wanted to gloat the next day:
"Heh, I know your little secret~"
But that plan assumed Rihito wouldn't flee.
Once he bolted, Tsunade had to intercept him herself, exposing her transformation, and giving Hiruko a front-row seat.
Damn it! What a miscalculation!
Tsunade stomped the ground, her little fists clenched.
She glared at Rihito, trying to sound justified.
"Whatever! I don't care! I just want to know what your trump card is!"
Rihito gave her a warm smile.
"A ninja's battle is a battle of information. Intel is our lifeline. You want to know my secrets? What are you offering in return?"
Tsunade froze. What could she offer in exchange?
"What do you want?" she asked seriously.
Rihito leaned in, smiling slyly.
"I want you…"
Tsunade's face instantly turned red.
"…to trade me a jutsu from your family archives. Something of equal value."
Her expression morphed into flustered fury, but she couldn't exactly get mad without sounding like she'd misunderstood.
She turned to Hiruko with an accusing look.
"I'm trading jutsu with Rihito. What's your trump card? Got anything to offer?"
Hiruko went blank.
What trump card? I'm a first-year!
Why the hell did both of them have trump cards already?!
That familiar feeling again… Why am I always the one who doesn't measure up?
"I… I'll just leave then?" he muttered, on the verge of a spiral.
Rihito noticed immediately and cut in gently.
"We're just first-years. It's normal to not have secret jutsu yet."
Tsunade scoffed at that excuse.
"Is it… really normal?" Hiruko asked, dazed.
"It is," Rihito nodded solemnly.
But Tsunade wasn't having it.
To prove her point, she strode over to a tree, about two meters thick, and with one punch, shattered it in half.
"This is a taijutsu technique Grandma taught me, Monster Strength. With precise chakra control and explosive output, I can channel power through my limbs for devastating attacks."
Rihito gave a low whistle in admiration. Then he lifted his right hand.
A pale blue sphere of spinning chakra formed in his palm,
Rasengan.
"I developed this by accident while training. There's a lot of potential to improve it, but… this is it for now."
He pressed it gently against the fallen tree trunk.
BOOM,
A small crater about two meters wide appeared in the bark.
"No hand seals?! How did you do that?!"
Tsunade was stunned.
To shape chakra into a stable, rotating sphere with no seals, that level of control was terrifying.
This guy… is a real genius!
She immediately grabbed Rihito's arm, excitement written all over her face.
"Don't go straight home after school tomorrow. I want you to meet my grandma!"
"Wait, why does this feel like I'm meeting your parents already?" Rihito said innocently.
Tsunade's face flushed again. She quickly looked away.
"Don't get the wrong idea! If you're that talented, Grandma might be willing to teach you a few things, that's all!"
Off to the side, Hiruko watched their interaction with dead-fish eyes.
I should… probably head home.
He turned to leave, only to be stopped by Rihito's voice.
"Hey, Hiruko. Want to learn the Rasengan? I'll teach you."
Hiruko froze.
His eyes stung.
Emotion surged unexpectedly through his chest.
He took a deep breath, steadied himself, then turned back with a beaming smile.
"Yeah! I'd like that."
<150 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter>