The Konoha Mission Assignment Center was not only where missions were turned in—it was also where shinobi registered departures from the village.
"Even though I didn't lose any arms or legs on the border, my young heart suffered immense trauma!" Ruichi declared dramatically. "Facing hordes of Hidden Mist shinobi while also managing food supplies for an entire outpost—I was stressed, I couldn't sleep, my hormones were completely out of balance!"
The clerk behind the counter stared at the energetic boy in front of him with a deadpan expression.
"So… that's your reason for applying to visit the Land of Hot Springs?"
"What, is there a problem?" Ruichi asked calmly.
"…Fine. I'll submit it like this. Go home and wait for the result."
That afternoon, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Ruichi's leave request and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Never mind… he's still just a kid."
The next day, instead of approval for leave, Ruichi received a mission.
Deliver a letter to Master Chiriku at the Fire Temple.
A D-rank mission.
No reward.
Travel expenses covered personally.
Time limit: one week.
"…On the way, huh. That's basically tacit approval."
---
Fire Temple
Built against the mountains, the Fire Temple stood solemn and majestic, one of the most famous ninja temples in the Land of Fire.
When Ruichi arrived at an unhurried pace, the setting sun had already dyed the ancient structures a deep gold.
"I'm a ninja from Konoha. I've come to deliver a letter."
At the gate, a young monk pressed his palms together. "Amitabha. Thank you for coming all this way."
After checking the documents, the monk nodded. "Please follow me. The abbot is in the inner courtyard."
Passing through several courtyards, Ruichi was led into a meditation room.
Seated inside was a middle-aged monk—Chiriku.
The moment Chiriku saw Ruichi, his eyes widened slightly, before instantly returning to calm.
"I have received the letter. Thank you for the trouble."
"It's nothing. Since it's already late, would it be possible for me to stay the night?"
"Of course—"
"I don't want to chant sutras! I don't want to meditate! Leave me alone!"
A child's shout suddenly echoed from outside.
Chiriku smiled helplessly. "Please excuse that. A child from the temple is throwing a tantrum again. Dinner will be ready soon—please join us."
---
After the meal, Ruichi felt a bit stifled in the guest room. He used Earth Release to make a rocking chair and lay down under the eaves to cool off.
A small boy—around six years old—walked past, muttering to himself and kicking pebbles.
"What are you staring at?!" the boy snapped when he noticed Ruichi.
"My name's Ruichi. I'm a ninja," Ruichi said with a smile. "You're Kong, right?"
Kong glared warily. "Are you here to lecture me? Get out of my way!"
He kicked a pebble straight at Ruichi.
Ruichi casually caught it between two fingers.
"So energetic. Want to play a game?"
He drew a circle on the ground with his foot and stepped inside it.
"Rules are simple. If you hit me, or force me out of the circle, you win."
Kong froze.
No fear.
No scolding.
No pity.
Just… play?
"You're looking down on me?!"
Anger flared instantly.
"If you win, this is yours."
Ruichi produced a small bag of snacks—leftovers from his trip.
Kong's eyes darted between the snacks and Ruichi's infuriating smile.
"Take this!"
Kong charged, swinging his fists. Ruichi casually sidestepped.
Punches, kicks, thrown pebbles—nothing landed. Ruichi slipped away every time, like an eel.
Ten minutes later, Kong was panting heavily.
"…About time."
Even the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki was still just a child—stamina had its limits.
When Kong threw a weak straight punch, Ruichi "accidentally" tripped over a pebble.
Kong reacted instantly, grabbing Ruichi's sleeve.
"I got you!"
"You win," Ruichi said with a smile, handing over the snacks.
Kong beamed. "Can we play again tomorrow?"
"I'm sorry. I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Oh…" Kong drooped, then quickly cheered up again. "Then I'll sleep early. I have morning sutras."
As Kong skipped away, several monks watching from a distance exchanged astonished looks.
Chiriku approached, admiration in his eyes. "Your approach is quite unusual. May I invite you to talk further in the meditation room?"
---
Late at night, the scent of tea filled the room.
"Lord Ruichi, thank you for today."
"For what? I didn't really do anything."
Ruichi took a sip of tea. "Kids throw tantrums because they've got excess energy and emotions. Instead of lecturing them, let them burn it off."
"Then why did you deliberately let him win?"
Chiriku, once one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, had seen it clearly.
"Too much frustration kills motivation," Ruichi replied calmly. "From the start, I decided that if he endured until the end, I'd let him win."
Chiriku nodded thoughtfully. "Such insight at your age is rare."
"I don't have insight," Ruichi waved it off. "I just go with the flow."
"Following nature?"
"Exactly."
Ruichi set down his cup and began explaining ideas of "natural balance" and "non-action," straight-faced and utterly convincing.
To Chiriku, it sounded like a complete and mature philosophy.
From the moment they met, he had sensed the faint gathering of natural energy around Ruichi.
Could it be… this lazy young man was the disciple of some reclusive master?
Chiriku pressed his palms together. "Your thoughts have greatly benefited me. Though different from Buddhist doctrine, they are still a form of cultivation."
Ruichi smiled inwardly.
Another one fooled.
He wasn't profound—just lazy.
But when wrapped in lofty philosophy, even laziness sounded enlightened.
"Are you leaving tomorrow, benefactor?"
"Yes. I'm heading to the Land of Hot Springs."
The next morning, after a free breakfast, Ruichi departed the Fire Temple, with Chiriku personally escorting him to the mountain gate.
Watching the boy's figure disappear, Chiriku clasped his hands.
"That sense of harmony with nature… I've only seen it in truly enlightened practitioners."
"Amitabha.
Konoha… has produced someone extraordinary."
------
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