Chapter 18: Two Months LaterDaily Life
Two months had passed since Team 8's formation.
Unlike the rigorous training schedule many new genin endured, Team 8 had not been flooded with missions. In all this time, Kurenai had only led them through seven D-rank assignments—finding lost cats, watching over children, cleaning garbage from public spaces—the usual fare for freshly graduated teams.
The remaining time split evenly between rest and what Kurenai called "instruction."
In practice, she had little actual teaching to offer.
Both Shino and Hinata specialized in their clan's secret techniques, neither showing any aptitude for genjutsu. Ryuzen's swordsmanship lay completely outside her area of expertise. The only skills she could realistically impart were the same ones Kakashi would eventually teach Team 7—tree climbing and water walking.
These two exercises improved chakra control significantly, allowing ninja to use techniques more efficiently by reducing wasted energy. They would benefit Shino well enough.
For Ryuzen and Hinata, they were entirely redundant.
As a reincarnated soul, Ryuzen's greatest advantage had always been his foreknowledge. Though seven years had blurred many minor details, he hadn't forgotten foundational training methods. Tree climbing, water walking, nature transformation exercises, even the principles behind the Rasengan—all of it remained accessible in his memory.
He had mastered tree climbing and water walking years ago, teaching Hinata alongside him. By the time Kurenai introduced these exercises, both already performed them as naturally as breathing.
When Kurenai realized this, she understood the situation clearly. Her two clan heirs had been training privately for years, and her top student possessed abilities she couldn't begin to teach. With nothing left to offer, she simply gave them space to train independently while she waited for mission assignments.
Ryuzen, however, had not let this opportunity pass unused.
He approached Kurenai about the Body Flicker Technique.
She provided him with a scroll detailing Konoha's standard Shunshin—a D-rank technique that, despite its low classification, formed the foundation of advanced movement abilities.
The principle behind Shunshin was straightforward enough: gather chakra in the feet and legs, then burst forward at speeds that appeared teleportation-like to untrained observers. Proper control meant adhering to surfaces during movement—too little chakra and you'd slip, too much and you'd launch yourself uncontrollably.
In essence, anyone who had mastered tree climbing and water walking possessed the fundamental skills needed for Shunshin.
Higher-level variations required more: the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God, the Fourth's improvements upon it, the raw physical power of the Eight Gates, the Fourth Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode, or the late Uchiha Shisui's legendary teleportation that left afterimages so real they appeared solid.
Understanding this progression, Ryuzen devoted himself completely to mastering the basic Shunshin.
Half a month later, he could use it at will.
The technique demanded precise chakra control—during the burst of speed, one had to maintain perfect adhesion to every surface crossed. A single mistake meant veering off course or crashing into obstacles.
But Ryuzen had spent three years practicing cuts while standing on water. His chakra control, while not quite matching Hinata's natural talent, still exceeded most jōnin's expectations. Ground adhesion came easily.
Combined with his Kenbunshoku Haki, he could now Shunshin through even the most treacherous terrain without concern. The Haki warned him of obstacles before he reached them; his body adjusted automatically.
During cat-catching missions, Ryuzen alone handled most of the work. His perception located targets instantly, and his Shunshin caught them before they could flee. What should have taken hours ended in minutes.
But speed wasn't his only focus.
Physical conditioning continued relentlessly. Push-ups, frog jumps, pull-ups, two-hour runs around Konoha's perimeter—every day without fail. Beneath his seemingly lean frame, Ryuzen had developed a physique of coiled strength and defined musculature.
Hinata could attest to this personally.
During outdoor training sessions, she had fainted multiple times from catching glimpses of him without his shirt. The sight simply overwhelmed her.
All this effort served one primary purpose: mastering Armament Haki.
Once achieved, everything would improve—his weapons, his strength, his defensive capabilities. The comprehensive boost would elevate him to entirely new levels.
A New Mission
Today found Hinata arriving at Ryuzen's house as usual.
Finding the living room empty, she made her way to the training hall.
There she found him seated in perfect stillness, deep in the sword meditation he called "tōken." His eyes were closed, breathing so shallow as to be nearly undetectable, presence somehow both there and not there.
"Ryuzen-kun?" She spoke softly. "Kurenai-sensei wants us to gather."
The words pulled him back from that other place.
His eyes opened—crimson and clear, focused immediately on her face. "Understood."
He rose smoothly, lifting the bamboo sword from his lap. Crossing to the weapon stand against the wall, he carefully replaced Shigure Kintoki on its designated rack. Then his hand closed around a different hilt.
A proper katana.
There were distinctions among swords, based primarily on length and shape. Blades exceeding three shaku but shorter than five were classified as tachi. Ryuzen's new weapon measured exactly three and a half shaku—approximately 116 centimeters—placing it firmly in that category.
Seeing him set aside the familiar bamboo sword that transformed into steel, Hinata tilted her head in confusion. "Ryuzen-kun, you're not bringing Shigure Kintoki?"
A faint smile crossed his features. "For where I am now, any quality blade serves equally well—unless we're speaking of truly exceptional weapons. Shigure Kintoki was a beginner's gift. It fulfilled its purpose accompanying me through my earliest days as a swordsman."
"Oh..." Hinata didn't fully understand, but she trusted his judgment completely.
He secured the tachi at his waist, and together they left the house.
The Assignment
At their usual meeting place, Kurenai and Shino already waited.
"Kurenai-sensei." Ryuzen greeted her as they approached. "Another D-rank mission?"
"Not this time." Kurenai's gaze flickered briefly to the sword at his waist—different from his usual weapon, she noted. Then she smiled. "These past two months have given you all a foundation in teamwork. With your abilities, there's nothing more D-ranks can teach you."
She paused, letting anticipation build.
"Today, I'm taking you to accept a C-rank mission."
Hinata's eyes lit up immediately.
Ryuzen and Shino showed no visible reaction—Ryuzen from practiced control, Shino behind the permanent barrier of his sunglasses and collar.
"Return home and prepare whatever you need. Meet at the Hokage building in fifteen minutes."
Then she vanished in a swirl of leaves, leaving her three genin to their preparations.
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