Evening, by the river.
This was a quiet corner of Konoha, and also a favorite fishing spot that Ruichi often visited.
But tonight, it was unusually lively.
Naruto Uzumaki, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi had arrived early.
"You're way too slow, Ruichi-nii! The fire's about to go out!" Naruto complained, poking the campfire with a stick, boredom written all over his face.
Ruichi arrived carrying a huge bag of meat, with cooking tools and tableware strapped to his back.
"What's the rush? Good food is worth waiting for."
Naruto blinked. "Then why didn't we just go to a barbecue place?"
"You can't bring your own ingredients to a barbecue restaurant," Ruichi replied matter-of-factly. "Relax—my skills aren't any worse than theirs."
When the bag was opened, marinated meats and neatly prepared vegetables were revealed.
"Whoa! It looks even better than restaurant barbecue!" Choji drooled uncontrollably. "I've been craving Ruichi's secret-recipe grilled meat forever!"
"You're just trying to save money, aren't you?" Shikamaru said lazily. "Though… if you're making it yourself, it's probably good."
"That's right. The same amount of meat would cost a fortune at a restaurant. My supply channels can stuff you all full. It's not that I can't afford it—it's just more cost-effective to cook myself."
As he spoke, Ruichi used Earth Release to form a table and chairs, then set up charcoal and an iron plate.
"Fire Release: Barbecue."
With precise chakra control, the heat spread evenly across the iron plate.
Sizzle—
The moment the meat hit the surface, fat crackled and the rich aroma swept across the riverbank.
"…Still ridiculously extravagant," Shikamaru muttered, twitching. "Using ninjutsu just to grill meat."
"Isn't ninjutsu supposed to make life easier?" Ruichi said casually, flipping the meat. "What's the point of power if you can't even cook properly?"
"That's right! As long as it tastes good!" Choji grabbed a slice and shoved it into his mouth, his face melting into bliss.
Naruto, his mouth already greasy, mumbled, "Ruichi-nii, teach me that jutsu! It looked awesome!"
"What nature transformation do you even have?"
Naruto immediately choked. He still couldn't properly perform the Transformation Technique.
They ate and chatted, the atmosphere relaxed and warm.
Ruichi spoke casually, "By the way, I heard some gossip while I was stationed at the border."
"What kind of gossip?" Shikamaru asked, glancing over.
"They say Kirigakure had internal turmoil before, and one branch of the Kaguya clan was wiped out."
"Kaguya… bamboo?" Naruto and Choji looked completely lost.
Shikamaru shrugged. "That's just the Kirigakure branch. There's another branch inside the Land of Fire. They keep a very low profile."
"The Land of Fire has one too?" Ruichi pretended to be surprised.
"Yeah. A village called Taketori in the north, near the border of the Land of Hot Water. You can find it on the map."
"…My map isn't that detailed," Ruichi said with an awkward smile, dropping the topic.
On the surface, he looked relaxed as he continued grilling, but the faint sense of being watched since the picnic began never faded.
At first, he thought it was ANBU monitoring Naruto.
But this felt different.
That subtle pressure was like a pair of eyes hanging directly overhead.
"So it's the Telescope Technique… Old man Third," Ruichi thought calmly.
He had no intention of reacting.
A low-ambition genin who used ninjutsu to cook, gossiped occasionally, and just wanted an easy life—what could be more reassuring than that?
…
Inside the Hokage Office, the crystal ball reflected the riverside scene.
Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a complicated expression.
"Earth Release for furniture, Fire Release for temperature control, Water Release for cleaning… This kid really understands ninjutsu."
With a glance, he saw through it.
Basic techniques weren't difficult, but the simplest applications best revealed fundamentals. At thirteen, Ruichi had already mastered multiple nature transformations, with chakra control surpassing even some jōnin.
More importantly, it showed creativity—using ninjutsu in everyday life.
"No wonder several jōnin were willing to teach him. This talent is worth nurturing."
He recalled Ruichi's file.
An orphan with no bloodline or background. Lazy by nature, yet well-liked and on good terms with children from many families.
Perhaps he could find a chance to guide him a little.
Glug—
His stomach growled, snapping him back to reality. He stood up and dispelled the technique.
"It's time for dinner. Let's go to Q BBQ. Haven't been there in a while."
…
Night fell, and an unexpected guest arrived at Ichiraku Ramen.
It was Hyūga Natsu, a maid from the Hyūga clan whom Ruichi had met before.
"Mr. Ruichi, I apologize for disturbing you so late. Lady Hinata felt it inconvenient to go out at night, so she asked me to deliver this."
She took out a sealed envelope and offered it with both hands.
"Thank you for the trouble, especially so late."
Ruichi accepted it and opened it on the spot.
Inside was a neatly folded letter, written in elegant handwriting, detailing information about the Bamboo Clan of the Land of Fire.
On the back was a hand-drawn map.
Mountains, rivers, villages, even roads—every detail was meticulously marked, far more precise than anything sold in shops.
"This girl…" Ruichi felt a warmth spread through his chest.
Compared to a casual "just check the map," this sincerity was priceless.
"Please thank Hinata for me. This helped a lot."
"It is my duty," Natsu replied respectfully, preparing to leave.
"Wait a moment. I'll get something."
Ruichi disappeared into the kitchen and returned less than a minute later carrying two boxes.
"These are fruit-and-cream mochi. One is for Hinata as thanks. The other is for you."
"Thank you, Mr. Ruichi, but—"
"They're new dessert prototypes, not on sale yet," he said, pressing the boxes into her hands. "Please let me know what you think."
"…Just like last time. Thank you. I'll pass it on to Lady Hinata."
Natsu bowed and left, her steps lighter than when she arrived.
As Ruichi turned back toward the kitchen—
"Ruuuu-ichi-nii!"
A sharp cry rang out from the back.
The mochi he'd given away had originally been meant as a late-night snack for Ayame and Qin.
He'd planned to quietly remake them before anyone noticed.
Too late.
"…This is going to be a pain to smooth over."
------
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